100X Returns System: I Dominate the Age of Gods - Chapter 323. Shadow’s warning

Astral Plane….

Lumen, the true spirit of light, sat comfortably on his radiant throne. His expression was a mix of boredom, curiosity, and nonchalance, as if the very air obeyed his presence. In front of him floated two translucent screens, each displaying a different scene.

One of them showed Elijah Hurricane, the ten-year-old monster who was already on the verge of dominating his entire continent. Elijah had awakened at the age of five, something unheard of, while most others only awakened at fourteen. His talent and growth were absurd and unnatural.

Watching him had become Lumen’s daily source of amusement. There was something really entertaining about witnessing such raw, unstoppable potential unfold.

But today, Lumen’s attention was not on Elijah.

Instead, his gaze rested on the second screen, and his expression darkened slightly. A faint frown formed on his face as he watched the events unfold—Lux’s actions, his decisions, his interference.

“Hah!” Lumen let out a short, irritated laugh, leaning back slightly on his throne. “Does he think that impressed me? That fucker really believes he’s manipulating me to believe that his fuckery would help me build a following and influence … when I just don’t give a fuck about my image, following, or anything; he is just pointing the gun from my shoulders, pretending to be a light god.”

His voice carried annoyance rather than anger, as if Lux’s actions were more bothersome than threatening. He did not bother talking to him; he did not care what happened with his name; he only engaged with people he felt worthy of his attention.

His eyes flickered once more toward the image of William’s lifeless body. For a brief moment, there was a trace of mild interest in his gaze, but it faded quickly, like a passing thought.

“A pity,” he muttered quietly.

With a lazy wave of his hand, the screen showing Lux’s actions disappeared, dissolving into light.

Lumen shifted his focus back to Elijah’s life, and this time, his interest returned fully. His posture relaxed again, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of his throne as he observed.

Then suddenly, the entire radiant realm of Lumen trembled. The light around him flickered.

Something foreign had intruded upon his domain.

Lumen’s eyes sharpened instantly. He turned his head toward the entrance, his brows knitted together in irritation.

A tall woman stood there.

She wore a simple, plain dark tank top; her appearance was almost too casual for someone who had just entered a lumen’s realm uninvited.

Her pale skin contrasted sharply with the surrounding light, and her figure carried a natural, effortless grace. Her curves gave her a clear hourglass shape, but what stood out the most was the calmness in her posture.

She smiled faintly as she looked directly at Lumen.

Lumen’s expression hardened. “Shadow,” he said coldly, “I don’t remember inviting you into my realm.”

Shadow let out a soft chuckle. With slow steps, she began to walk toward him. Each step she took dimmed the radiance of Lumen’s realm slowly.

“Funny,” she replied, her tone light but edged with meaning. “I don’t remember inviting you to send your pest near my child.”

Lumen’s brows furrowed deeper, and irritation flashed across his face. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, Shadow raised a hand slightly and interrupted him.

“Look what I did with your puppy,” she said with a chuckle. Her finger was pointed toward one of the screens.

Lumen’s gaze followed her instantly.

The scene showed Elijah sitting silently in his room, but then, slowly, shadows began to rise.

They crept out from every corner of the room, slithering across the walls, the floor, and the ceiling. They moved like living things, twisting and curling as they approached him.

Before Elijah could even react, shadowy tentacles surrounded him.

They wrapped around his limbs, his torso, and his neck, binding him tightly.

A thick, grotesque tentacle forced its way into his mouth, and in that instant, Elijah lost all control over his body. His eyes widened, but he could not move or resist.

His body lifted into the air, suspended helplessly.

More tentacles gathered around him, coiling and tightening, as if preparing to tear him apart piece by piece.

“SHADOW!!! STOP IT NOW!!”

Lumen’s voice thundered across the realm. His teeth clenched tightly, his hands gripping the armrests of his throne. He tried to interfere, tried to exert his power but every attempt was blocked.

The shadows resisted him completely.

“Consider it a warning, Lumen,” Shadow said calmly; her tone was no longer playful. “I am not some old hag. My reach extends much further than you think.”

She turned slightly, preparing to leave.

“Do not meddle in the affairs of my child, because if you do, then even Mother Darkness won’t be able to stop me from ruining your little source of amusement.”

Her voice carried a quiet threat. Lumen’s anger burned visibly now. His jaw tightened as he watched the screen again.

The shadows finally released Elijah. The boy’s body dropped to the ground, completely unconscious.

Lumen’s fists clenched.

He knew exactly who Shadow’s blessing was… and how he had interfered.

“That bastard Lux…” he muttered under his breath. “He just can’t let me live in peace.”

Just as Shadow was about to leave completely, she suddenly paused.

She turned her head slightly, her gaze returning to Lumen.

“Don’t kill Lux,” she said casually. “His head is reserved by someone else now.”

Lumen frowned deeply at that. “Then how do you expect me to change anything, brat?!” he snapped, frustration clear in his voice.

Shadow simply waved her hand dismissively as she began to walk away again.

“Lie to him,” she said. “Betray him. Fuck him up so badly that he forgets how to speak… and only remembers how to bark like a dog when his time comes.”

Her tone was calm, but the cruelty in her words was unmistakable. Then, for the last time, her voice turned sharp.

“And stop giving him weapons.”

With that, she disappeared completely, leaving the realm as if she had never been there.

The light around the realm slowly stabilized again. Lumen exhaled deeply and leaned back into his throne, his expression still tense. After a moment, he turned his attention back to Elijah.

Raising his hand, he used his power gently this time.

A soft glow enveloped Elijah’s body.

The damage caused by the shadows began to fade. His breathing steadied, his body relaxed, and soon he was placed into a deep, healing sleep.

“When he wakes up…” Lumen muttered quietly, “…he’ll just think it was another nightmare.”

***

Holy Sun…

A single drop of rain fell from the sky, then another.

Soon, a few scattered dribbles followed, tapping softly against the ground.

Gradually, the rain grew heavier, turning into a steady downpour that covered the night in a quiet, endless rhythm. The moon glowed faintly behind thick clouds; its light was barely piercing through.

Annasthasia stood still in the rain.

In front of her lay William’s lifeless body.

Tamasya clung tightly to him, her hands gripping his clothes as if refusing to let go. Her face was wet, not only from the rain but also from her tears, which continued to fall without pause.

Annasthasia stepped forward slowly.

She bent down and gently lifted William’s body into her arms. His weight settled against her. The massive sword that had pierced through him remained lodged and hung in the air.

Tamasya, who had been slightly pushed aside in the process, looked up at Annasthasia.

For a brief second, her expression was blank, and then the grief returned all at once, overwhelming her again.

Her body trembled as she stared at William. Annasthasia turned her head slightly and glanced at Yue Qinglan and then at Andrea.

Then, without another word, she rose into the sky, carrying William’s body with her.

Yue and Andrea both looked sad and nervous, but when they saw Anne’s expression, they followed her at once.

Tamasya saw them leave.

For a moment, her sobbing paused, as if her body had forgotten how to cry. But her lips continued to tremble, her breathing uneven and broken.

Then she forced herself to move. She followed them into the sky.

Rain poured down heavily around them.

As Tamasya flew, the water soaked through her completely. She didn’t try to block it, didn’t try to shield herself. Her tears blended with the rain, disappearing into it.

Her eyes remained fixed ahead.

Annasthasia moved quickly through the sky, her direction clear and unwavering.

She was heading to a place she remembered very clearly.

Her gaze slowly shifted downward, settling on William’s face.

There was still a faint, subtle smile on his lips.

Even in death.

Her expression softened slightly.

“Mother won’t let you die,” she murmured under her breath.

And as she spoke, a faint and distant memory began to surface in her mind. Memory of the past, sixteen years ago, when she still carried William in her womb.