Shadow Slave novel Chapter 3215

Chapter 3215: Pandora’s Box

Shadow remained motionless, studying the Demon of Desire with a sense of trepidation.

Most of his senses were useless, as if Hope wasn’t there at all. That was because she was suppressing her presence, sparing the world the unfathomable burden of her resplendent divinity — she was known to be a patron of humans, after all. If Hope did not hide her true splendor, merely being near her would have crushed mundane souls.

So, Shadow could only see her.

Even then, her figure was nebulous. All he saw was an elegant white dress outlining the shape of a graceful figure, and yet somehow, it felt as if there was nothing beneath the soft fabric at all.

It felt as if the white fabric hid a cosmic infinity, a vast abyss woven out of purest darkness, purest light, and then shaped carelessly to resemble a human.

He shivered, overwhelmed by her breathtaking beauty.

He shuddered, overcome by an alien sense of revulsion.

He felt compelled to fall to his knees in blind worship. He felt his heart drowning in terror, barely suppressing an impulse to flee.

Every emotion, every desire, every passion he had known and tried to forget suddenly ignited with an insurmountable intensity, setting his lightless soul aflame.

Shadow gritted his teeth and suppressed these frenzied flames, pacifying his soul.

Just as he did, a voice that sounded like the wind that blew between distant stars and the sound of countless prayers resounded in the still darkness of the night.

That voice was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard, but also the most harrowing.

"You shouldn’t exist."

Shadow trembled.

Hope simply shared her thought, but even if she did not put any intent into her words, the world shifted slightly, reshaping itself to fit them. He felt his existence growing a little more vague than it had been before, and had to call upon his Will to solidify it.

Only then did Shadow have a chance to consider Hope’s words.

’I... shouldn’t exist?’

It seemed he and the Demon of Desire shared the same thought. Shadow was tired of his endless existence, after all.

Still...

What exactly did she mean by that?

"Why should I not exist?"

Hope stood beneath the statue of War God. The statue was illuminated by starlight, while Hope’s silhouette was drowning in darkness.

Her nebulous voice resounded again, making the Shadow shiver.

"Because you are not allowed to exist."

Taking a step forward, she seemed to study him for a moment.

Then, an ethereal chuckle echoed in the wind.

"And you do not wish to exist, either."

Her words sounded certain, but carried a subtle hint of a question.

Shadow frowned, feeling lost. When he sensed the ethereal but irresistible call, he knew that the Demon of Desire had summoned him. But now that he faced her, it was difficult to understand why.

Perhaps it was idle curiosity, no more.

As he considered what to say, Hope turned slightly, looking north.

"The Shadow Realm... that is what you desire?"

Shadow flinched, feeling like his soul was laid bare in front of her. He hesitated for a moment, then bowed.

"Yes, indeed. That is why I entered your kingdom, my lady. I am merely a traveler passing through."

Hope remained motionless, her face still hidden from view. Yet, Shadow felt as if he glimpsed a subtle smile woven out of starlight, glinting in the strange darkness that his sight could not pierce.

"Little shadow, you seem to have forgotten who you are. Do you not wish to remember? If so, I will respect your desire."

Suddenly, she was standing just a step away from Shadow, peering into the depths of his being. He felt impossibly small under her gaze... but strangely enough, her attention was not overbearing and crushing. Instead, it was gentle and soothing as a cool spring.

"But are you sure that you want to face a god? Gods are the reason you are not meant to exist, after all."

Shadow trembled, but forced himself to remain still. He did not really understand what the Demon of Desire meant... but it seemed that she meant him no harm, at least.

As for her question...

Shadow’s lips slowly twisted into a crooked smile.

"And yet they are the reason I do exist. So, I think gods owe me an explanation."

A gust of wind blew across the world, and the tip of War God’s spear seemed to glisten in the starlight. Hope’s laughter resounded in the darkness, pleasing like the murmur of a clear brook.

"If so, I will not stop you. Go, little shadow... you have my blessing. May it help your wishes come true."

As those words settled in the silence of the night, Shadow felt the world shifting once again, obeying the beautiful daemon.

Hope’s curiosity seemed to be sated. Sparing him one last glance, she turned, as if wanting to leave.

"Wait!"

Shadow himself was surprised by his impulsive call. He froze, startled by the sound of his own voice, as well as by the indescribable longing that awoke in his soul when he saw her leave.

Hope did linger for a moment.

He struggled to contain himself for a moment, then asked in a tense, trembling voice: