Host, Please Be Honest! What Exactly Are You?

~Drang!

He jumped through the portal and moved his fingers like crazy.

Time. Time. Time.

Hup! Hup! Hup Hup!

His actions were so hurried that everyone soon noticed the impending danger... Especially when Haru began to begin the countdown.

"12 more!"

Dorian continued, speaking faster than ever.

"11..."

He took talismans out and stamped them on the couple's face and that of the creatures kneeling before them.

"10...."

He began the permanent ritual of exchange, beginning things back to the way they were.

The little shadow aura gathered in the coupe was quickly drawn away and sent back to their shadows resting on the faces of the kneeling shell creatures.

"5!..."

Dorian continued, causing many to die of anxiety.

Dammit!

"4!..."

"From Shadow, you are... and shadow, you shall return.

~Swish!

He sent the shadows back!

And when they arrived in the Mirror World, the couple was again taken aback by the grotesque and hideous appearance.

They kept clawing at the portal, wanting to slice the couple to pieces.

['Host, nothing has been such in and there's no shadow essence detected either.']

'Hmmm...'

He figured as much.

You have to know that while he took care of the couple's problem, he also cleared the entire space within the formation, just in case something hid around the scene.

"3!..."

Dorian closed his eyes and began causing a whirlpool of wind in the room

" 2!..."

Finally, the portal began closing.

And when Dorian opened his eyes, he saw his shadow, smiling at him.

["One day, I'll be free from you~"]

Unlikely.

Dorian refuted in his heart.

Before the event ever made a move on him, he would have to prepare against it.

How annoying.

His shadow was nothing like him personality-wise.

.

"1!..."

The portal vanished into thin air right before their very eyes.

From there, the mirrors returned to their normal state, reflecting what they should.

Plop.

Everyone slumped to their knees in cold sweat, thinking of what disasters might have been if the countdown reached zero.

Even Haru had to admit that he would never venture in there to save someone unless he reached a certain level.

Or else, if he couldn't do things on time, then wouldn't he unleash hundreds and hundreds of shadows into the world instead?

In truth, he didn't have to rescue the victims immediately.

He could go in, find them, tell them to stay where they were before heading out and later come back to rescue them after knowing exactly where they were.

It was just that if he moved a too far distance away from the orbital, he might not make it out, getting trapped in the mirror world too.

He needed to boost his cultivation and speed, to move and fly just as Dorian did.

This world was dangerous.

And the shadows would no doubt try to catch him, stall his time and prevent him from leaving.

Not to talk of the voice that would penetrate his head, trying to confuse him.

One had to get a certain skill level before stepping into the mirror world.

And if they were newbies, it was best to go in a group.

The couple looked at Dorian gratefully, seeing they were no longer as stiff as stone.

The shadow essence had been drawn out... Though there were repercussions to it all.

Dorian nodded at the couple, pointing to the ground.

"Look."

Everyone peered wide-eyed in fascinated alarm.

F***! F***!

The victims were growing shadows!

That's right. When they were dropped in, many saw that they didn't have shadows, just as the Grandmaster had said.

They were truly like Dracula.

But now, their shadows were slowly growling out, like a flower shooting from the ground to the sky.

And soon, the shadowy silhouette stabilized to a particular height.

I'll be damned!

Many were once again mortified, knowing that they were always walking about with the shadows with them.

No!

From today henceforth, if there was something they needed to hide, they would stand completely still as a rock.

Who knew when their shadow would come for them, using their secrets against them?

Sorry.

They just couldn't see the black images on the floor the same again.

.

The couple were also very fazed, looking at their shadows coming back to them.

Also, a strange feeling swelled up inside, making them feel whole.

It was as though a hollow hole had been filled within them.

That's right.

Humans can't live long without a shadow.

It was unnatural.

The couple were still excited, so much so that they hadn't discovered the giant elephants beside them.

"Heavens!"

The couple quickly backed away, leaning on the formation's walls.

What the hell was this?

They stared at the shell creatures, wanting to not only like but bleach their eyes away.

They thought what they saw in that strange world was already a rat enough.

But how could they know it was nothing compared to these guys kneeling before them?

Horrible! Horrible!

The hunger that had attacked them the moment they arrived quickly curbed away in disgust

Half of the creatures' faces had vanished, as though someone had punched and created a deep dent.

However, this was all because their shadows that were used as face masks were no longer there!

.

"Haru, Bewoh... Enter."

Vmmm!

An opening was created, and the duo marched in with the wooden boxes at hand.

Today was their first time performing a true exorcism since taking the heavenly vow.

Haru and Bewoh were inwardly smirking, too excited to get started.

~Swish!

An ancient-looking book floated between the duo.

Flip. Flip. Flip.

The pages flickered, abruptly stopping on a specific page.

"Be ready!"

"Yes, Grandmaster!"

Everyone saw Dorian flick his wrist, withdrawing the coins on the creatures' faces.

The rest of their bodies were still pinned. But their faces could freely move.

Dorian chanted a spell to keep them suppressed before finally stepping back.

Alright.

It was time for the Exorcists-in-training to show their worth.

They had taken too long for this matter.

But finally, it was over.