Chapter 254: 254: The Shadow Dimension

Chapter 254: Chapter 254: The Shadow DimensionDimensions exist in every universe, not just one or two, but in the hundreds to thousands, forming clusters of countless dimensions within which many worlds or even clusters of worlds exist.

Dimensions can exist separately or in accordance and conjunction with multiple other dimensions.

They vary in size, range, and scope, with some stretching vast distances before reaching their limits within the expanse of the universe.

Like planets and solar systems, dimensions are governed by World Trees and their energies.

A World Tree, in its early stages of life, governs one or two planets.

After reaching a certain stage of growth, its governance expands to encompass an entire solar system.

As it grows further, its influence extends beyond the solar system, reaching other worlds, then multiple solar systems, and eventually entire dimensions.

Should a World Tree continue to grow, its governance may spread across multiple dimensions.

The planes follow a similar system.

However, unlike the countless dimensions scattered throughout the universe, the planes are far more definitive in nature.

Most dimensions within the universe exist between the Lower, Upper, and Supreme Planes.

The remaining dimensions, which do not fall under these three planes, are those devoid of life or those that were created without a World Tree to govern them.

Most of these lifeless, energy-devoid dimensions are known as Null Dimensions, or what Damian prefers to call ‘Prison Dimensions’.

He calls it the Prison Dimension because Damian considers it the best possible form of confinement.

It was not a place that any soul, living or dead, could venture into, making it the perfect location to serve as a prison.

Since these dimensions contained no energy, any imprisoned being would be unable to recover their strength or cultivate, even if they were gods.

These dimensions were prisons through and through, ones that Damian was very much looking forward to using.

These Null Dimensions possess nothing of value and no energy capable of sustaining any form of existence.

In fact, they hold no connection to creation or destruction, the fundamental processes necessary for maintaining existence within the universe.

They simply remain dormant, awaiting the day a World Tree gains access to them, allowing them to become viable dimensions and part of existence.

Regardless of their state, most Null Dimensions are unremarkable.

However, there exists one dimension that is neither a Null Dimension nor a dimension within the three planes that are part of existence.

It is a vast dimension, nearly as large as an entire plane, known as No Man’s Dimension, or as Damian prefers to call it, the ‘Shadow Dimension’.

It is called No Man’s Land because it is a dimension that is extremely harmful to all living and non-living beings alike.

It is a place where no soul, living or dead, has any business setting foot.

Damian calls it the Shadow Dimension because of its unique property.

It is the only dimension connected to all other dimensions, regardless of their location or the plane to which they belong.

This connection is established through shadows, or rather, through the essence released from shadows.

The Shadow Dimension is a special realm where the waste and garbage of the universe ultimately end up.

Anything that was once part of creation or existence, but was reduced to something useless, incomplete, destructive, unwanted, or unnecessary during the processes of creation and destruction, is cast into this dimension.

This is why it came to be known as a place where no soul, living or dead, should ever tread.

As the literal dumping ground for essences, materials, and energies that failed to properly integrate into creation and the cycle of existence, the Shadow Dimension is inherently hostile.

Anything that has successfully become part of existence is treated as an anomaly within it and is forcibly reduced into a failed state, turned into refuse and absorbed as part of the Shadow Dimension itself.

Every material radiates some form of energy.

Even waste garbage generates heat and stench, and a dimension formed from universal and cosmic refuse naturally radiated its own unique energy known as [Shadow Essence].

It was a peculiar energy with many strange and unique properties.

Unlike elemental essence, Shadow Essence was not primarily used as an energy source, as it could not function that way.

Instead, its true value lay in construction rather than consumption.

“Let’s see,”

Damian muttered as he began circulating his newly acquired energy from within his energy core.

The moment he did, his hair turned pitch black, and his pupils darkened, tinged with a faint violet hue.

Within seconds, a thick black substance seeped from his arms, coating them like viscous slime before hardening.

The substance reshaped itself, forming a blade that extended from his forearm, as if his arm itself had become a thick, sharp black weapon.

“It works,” Damian smiled, satisfied.

The primary property of this unique energy was its ability to be molded into any shape or form and then hardened to extreme levels, surpassing even the hardest metal in the universe.

And this was only one of its many possibilities.

Such was the terrifying potential of Shadow Essence.

Using this energy, Damian could create any weapon or construct of any form, entities that would not decay with time, environment, or external forces.

“Just now, what did you do?” Victoria asked in shock. “I felt your presence expand abnormally fast.”

She had heard rumors of her nephew’s ability to instantly grow stronger by absorbing external matter and converting it into power.

Even hearing about it sounded absurd.

“I attained attunement to Shadow Essence,” Damian replied. “And yes, it just increased my strength by several dozen levels while allowing me to develop multiple abilities and traits in the process.”

“I knew it,” Victoria said grimly. “I felt it, yet I can’t sense the depth of your presence at all. Just how strong have you become?”

“It’s obvious you’re unable to determine the extent of his capabilities,” the Primordial of Beginning interjected calmly, as if stating a trivial fact. “If the Seven Primordials are taken as a scale, then he has already surpassed all beings except us.”

“Like she said,” Damian added honestly, “it’s best if you don’t try to judge my power.”

He said this because he was a unique existence, one that could not be replicated.

Comparing others to him would only lead to disappointment and frustration.

“Let’s go to the library, shall we?” Damian said.

He joined his hands together, forming a symbol with his fingers as he precisely circulated Shadow Essence.

A black substance spread over his hands, layering them like a second skin.

There were very few ways to enter the Shadow Dimension.

Those that existed were nearly impossible to access.

One method required the direct intervention of either the Three Supremes or the Seven Primordials.

Another involved becoming one of the failed fragments of existence itself, essentially universal garbage, at which point the System of Existence would discard you into the Shadow Dimension along with the rest of the refuse.

There was a third method, but it was unusable for anything considered part of successful existence.

This method was used by the System of Existence to dispose of failed creations and destructions into the Shadow Dimension, and it was carried out through the Shadows.

Well, not exactly shadows.

Shadows were like gateways to the Shadow Dimension, but the problem was that only the system of existence or those who governed the continuity of existence could access them, and these gateways were naturally incomplete.

Think of it like a cell gate: it had countless openings that anyone could see or sense, yet none could pass through.

To use the shadows to enter the Shadow Dimension, Damian had to make the gateway complete, and that was where Shadow Essence came in.

It possessed the capability to perfect the gate, as the gate itself was formed from Shadow Essence.

To pass through a gate of Shadow Essence, one also had to possess the ability to wield it.

Shadow Essence gathered around Damian’s hands like another layer of black skin.

It began to melt away, dripping onto the ground before moving as if it had a mind of its own.

The black substance merged together, forming a smooth, pitch-black hole that slowly expanded, then lifted into the air, hovering before him like a dark portal.

“That should do it,” Damian said with a smile, looking at the black gateway.

“Who’s coming with me to the place where the cosmic garbage is sent?” Damian asked, glancing at everyone present. “I mean, the Library.”

“The Library that the Law Forger came from?” Elfie asked, eyes wide.

“Yes,” Damian nodded. “And I’ll also show you who’s responsible for letting the Norse gods get their hands on it.”

“Oh yes… I can’t believe I forgot,” Elizabeth muttered suddenly, recalling something as Damian mentioned the Library.

“What did you forget?” Grace asked, confused.

“I’m talking about Kagetsu,” Elizabeth said.

“Oh, I see,” Lenora nodded, as if something had finally clicked.

“That explains how the Law Forger mysteriously got into the lower plane,” Avaline chuckled, clearly amused.

“You should have trained him more, darling,” Amelia added with a laugh.

“I know. Back then, I didn’t think much of him messing things up. Well, it doesn’t matter now, since I’ll be carrying him with me all the time from now on,” Damian sighed, smiling.

“I miss that little black pushie,” Sasha added.