As Lucifer strolled through the outer city, he couldn't help but overhear discussions about an impending Wolf Tide that was supposedly going to attack the city this very day. However, something struck him as odd—the citizens didn't appear to be panicking or showing any signs of fear. It seemed as though they had already experienced and adapted to numerous wolf attacks.
"It seems like the city walls will shield them from witnessing the wolf tide firsthand," Lucifer contemplated. He couldn't help but draw a comparison to Greenfield Village, where things were entirely different. He guessed that the formidable cultivators in the city would be strong enough to fend off a wolf tide, while utilizing the support of the city walls.
Curiosity sparked in Lucifer's mind as he wondered about the number of wolves that would be in the tide. The idea of collecting the souls of these wolves crossed his thoughts. However, he hesitated when considering whether it was the right thing to do. He had observed that absorbing the souls of different species would replace the Soul Points he had accumulated rather than adding to them.
"Hmm, what should I do?" Lucifer pondered, feeling indecisive. He realized that if he absorbed the souls of the wolves and they weren't enough for him to evolve into the 'Devil', it would be a wasteful endeavor. Because he had feeling that he wouldn't be able to handle the desires of wolves when converting their soul point into energy.
Arriving at William's house, Lucifer decided to set aside his dilemma for the moment and focus on checking on Emily and Frederick.
Upon entering William's house, Lucifer's attention was immediately drawn to several servants carrying an ancient mirror out of the house. Intrigued by this, he decided to first pay a visit to Frederick.
As he stepped into Frederick's room, he was taken aback by what he saw. Gone were the candles and lamps he had seen before.
Instead, two inscription lightsource devices, typically used as street lamps in the inner city, were affixed to opposite sides of the room. They emitted such a dazzling brightness that it even caused discomfort to Lucifer's Ghostly Eyes.
Remarkably, the lights remained active even in broad daylight, illuminating every nook and cranny, leaving no dark corners. Additionally, he noticed the absence of any mirrors throughout the entire room.
Lucifer couldn't help but let out a chuckle at the scene before him. After a thorough search of the room, realizing that Frederick was nowhere to be found, he decided to visit Emily . As he was quite certain that Frederick had already learned his lesson from the changes he could see in his room.
As Lucifer was heading towards Emily's room, a sudden realization dawned upon him. He had overlooked one of his most crucial and straightforward skills— [Ghostly Vision]. Feeling a bit foolish for not utilizing it earlier, he swiftly activated the skill, allowing him to gain an instant comprehensive view of the entire house.
He noticed that Emily was sitting on the bed in one of the rooms, her face displaying a combination of shock and fear. Meanwhile, Frederick was kneeling in front of her, pleading and saying something. Seeing this Lucifer swiftly made his way there.
"Miss Emily, I'm truly sorry for all the hurtful things I've said to you. I deeply regret my actions. If there's anything I can do to make it right and earn your forgiveness, please let me know. Your forgiveness means a lot to me, and I genuinely want to make amends"
As Lucifer listened to Frederick's plea, he couldn't help but question the validity of his own ghostly eyes and ears. He was astounded by the drastic shift in Frederick's demeanor. How could a man who had been so arrogant and proud, consistently demeaning and insulting an eight-year-old girl for nearly a week, suddenly find himself on his knees, begging for forgiveness from that very same girl?
Lucifer had initially believed that he would need to frighten Frederick a few more times before he could truly dissuade him from bothering Emily. However, the idea of making Frederick beg for forgiveness had never crossed his mind. He had assumed that Frederick's pride would be too great for him to ever stoop to such a level, especially considering his previous behavior.
The sudden reversal of Frederick's attitude left Lucifer perplexed. He grappled with the stark contrast between Frederick's previous arrogance and his current display of submission. It was a puzzling turn of events that left Lucifer questioning the true nature of human behavior and the depths to which one could change.
Although Lucifer felt a sense of satisfaction with this change, he couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed by Frederick's quick change of heart and the missed opportunity to utilize his skills for "good" purposes.
Lucifer quickly left William's house after achieving his objective there, as he still needed to decide whether to absorb the souls of the wolfs or not. And the only way to make that decision better, was to see the size of the wolf tide and the preparations city had regarding it.
.....
As Lucifer arrived at the city walls, he maintained a cautious distance from the cultivators and martial artists congregated there. Although he had become invisible to martial artists after his energy ceased leaking out, he remained unsure about the cultivators and decided to exercise caution.
Observing the scene, Lucifer noticed a group of twelve individuals stationed on the wall, spanning the entire length that faced the forest. He deduced that they were the cultivators of the city, drawing from the knowledge he had acquired through infiltrating sects and eavesdropping on conversations. Cultivators were the only individuals capable of harnessing qi and executing long-distance attacks.
Directing his gaze upwards, he spotted the old city lord gracefully hovering in the air, aware that such aerial manipulation of qi was only achievable by cultivators at the Foundation Establishment realm and beyond.
Shifting his attention, Lucifer surveyed the two hundred martial artists who had gathered inside the walls near the closed gates, prepared for any unforeseen incidents that might occur.
'Hmm, with so many martial artists and cultivators gathered, the wolf tide this time around must be quite big'
'It seems they are planning to employ the tried-and-true strategy of bombarding the wolves with a barrage of different attacks from above the walls.'
"System, can I increase the absorbable area of Soul Points?" Lucifer questioned, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.
[Absorbable area can be increased to 100 meters by using 400 Soul Points]
As Lucifer glanced at his Soul Point counter, he noticed that there were just enough Soul Points to proceed with increasing his absorbable area.
However, just as he was about tell the system to proceed an unexplained chill sent shivers down his spine, causing a momentary unease.
Ignoring the sensation, he commanded the system to increase his absorbable area, resolute in his decision to use the wolves to complete his evolution into the being known as "Devil."
.....
The wolf tide surged closer to the city, a writhing mass of darkness emerging from the depths of the forest. The cultivators, their faces etched with confidence, gathered their qi, their energies intertwining as they prepared to unleash their formidable might upon the approaching menace.
But before their combined power could be unleashed, a sudden, ear-splitting noise shattered the air. The inscriptions adorning the city walls blazed with an ominous glow, casting an eerie light that danced upon the bewildered faces of the cultivators. Confusion and apprehension clouded their eyes as they tried to comprehend what was going on.
Then, with a cataclysmic burst, the city walls exploded into fragments. The ground trembled beneath their feet, as if the very earth had groaned in anguish. Colossal rocks, dislodged from their ancient resting places, hurtled through the air, their descent accompanied by a haunting symphony of destruction. The sky transformed into a tempestuous battlefield, obscured by a torrent of debris and tumultuous winds.
The cultivators stationed atop the walls were caught off guard, their bodies tossed into the abyss with merciless velocity. The screams of agony mingled with the dissonant clamor of crashing stones as their fragile forms crashed upon the unforgiving earth. Bones shattered, internal organs ruptured, and life was extinguished in a horrifying harmony of pain.
As the martial artists beheld the devastating spectacle, panic seized their hearts. Desperation etched upon their faces, they ran with reckless abandon, their bodies propelled by a primal survival instinct. But the rain of rocks showed no mercy. Some were unlucky, their bodies crushed under the sheer weight of the descending boulders. Blood erupted from their broken forms, staining the ground in gruesome patterns.
Others, though spared the fatal blow, were not so fortunate. Limbs were crushed, mangled flesh torn asunder, and cries of anguish echoed through the chaos. Each step became a desperate gamble, a dance with death as the martial artists dodged and weaved, their bodies subjected to the merciless assault from above.
Within the city's once-hospitable homes, families sought refuge from the chaos of the wolf tide, entrusting their safety to the cultivators and martial artists who had vowed to protect them. But fate dealt a cruel hand, as the rocks tore through roofs and walls alike, descending upon the unsuspecting inhabitants. Families were torn asunder, their bodies broken and lifeless, the promise of safety shattered in an instant.
The air itself grew heavy with the scent of blood, mingling with the acrid taste of terror. Streets once bustling with life became a macabre tableau of destruction, strewn with the fallen and bathed in crimson. The cries of the wounded and grieving reverberated through the city, a haunting chorus that resonated with the weight of tragedy.
And as the onslaught raged on, the wolf tide continued its relentless advance, undeterred by the carnage. The city stood battered, its spirit fractured by the unyielding barrage. Lives were extinguished, dreams shattered, and hope dimmed beneath the weight of a catastrophe beyond comprehension.
As Lucifer looked upon the unfolding calamity, his gaze frozen in disbelief, a sudden, jarring ding shattered the air, cutting through the cacophony.
[Sufficient Soul Points have been accumulated for the evolution into the 'Devil'. Please click on the "Evolve" button to proceed.]