Lucifer's eyes locked onto the wolf-like creature, an unyielding gaze that sparked a surge of tension through the air. The crackle of impending doom surrounded them, as he stood motionless, his body coiled with restrained power, refusing to reveal his inner turmoil.
The atmosphere thickened, suffused with an eerie energy, as Lucifer summoned his Ghost transformation skill once more.
But the creature, a blur of fur and menace, dissolved into thin air before his very eyes, leaving him stunned. It vanished without a trace
Just then a bone-chilling presence slithered up Lucifer's spine, and he felt a cold shiver run through his veins. Quick as a flash, his Ghost Transformation skill enveloped him, wrapping him in an ethereal cloak. Without hesitation, he defied gravity, soaring skyward with supernatural grace, evading the impending danger lurking below. But even in his ghostly state, he was not invincible.
The creature's claw tore through his spectral form, hurling him like a missile towards the unforgiving arms of a nearby tree. Agony exploded through his body, a searing shockwave of pain reverberating to his very core.
Returning to his human form, Lucifer gasped for breath, his mind reeling from the bewildering effects of the claw's strike. But before he could regain his bearings, the creature materialized once again, a formidable specter towering over him.
In a split second, its claw sliced through the air, aiming unerringly for his vulnerable chest. Instinct kicked in, and Lucifer tapped into his telekinetic prowess, redirecting the claw's trajectory at the eleventh hour, narrowly escaping a fatal blow.
But fortune slipped through his desperate grasp. The claw found its mark on Lucifer's left hand, bones cracking with sickening finality. An anguished cry erupted from his lips as he was mercilessly flung through the air, crashing brutally onto the unyielding ground. Broken and battered, he cast a desperate gaze towards the approaching beast, its predatory eyes gleaming with malevolence.
Facing his impending demise, Lucifer refused to succumb to despair. His mind raced, searching for any possible escape from this dire predicament. Harnessing his telekinetic skill, he attempted to lift the entire creature, hoping to throw it away. Yet, to his dismay, the skill that could effortlessly lift 500 kg proved ineffective against this formidable wolf weighing no more than 300 kg.
Time seemed to crawl as the beast closed in, its insatiable hunger radiating from every fang, every sinew of its monstrous form. With his energy reserves dwindling, Lucifer teetered on the edge of oblivion, desperately seeking a lifeline, a means to elude certain death.
The wolf-like creature bared its fangs. In a final act of merciless aggression, it lunged forward, jaws snapping, targeting Lucifer's neck with savage ferocity. Once again, Lucifer employed his telekinetic skill, attempting to deflect the attack and protect his vulnerable spot.
But the power of telekinesis fell short, and the wolf's teeth found their mark on Lucifer's head, the sickening sound of flesh being ripped apart and bones shattering echoed through the night. Blood sprayed out like a twisted shower of crimson, painting the scene with a macabre hue.
Yet, in a stunning defiance of all reason, the beast's body crumpled to the ground, its head impaled on a mysterious horn that had erupted from Lucifer's skull. The lethal spike pierced the creature's brain, fulfilling its destructive purpose. As swiftly as it had emerged, the horn dissolved into nothingness
[Skill Energy has reached zero]
Lucifer lay motionless on the ground, his body trembling from the aftermath of the brutal encounter. Slowly, hesitantly, he opened his eyes, confronting the reality of his survival. His gaze settled on the fallen wolf, and a surge of overwhelming emotions engulfed him, leaving him uncertain of what to feel.
The magnitude of his survival was incomprehensible. Emerging unscathed from the jaws of a ravenous beast, he had defied all logic. The Devil Transformation skill had been his last resort, summoned in desperation. With only ten units of skill energy remaining and a limited understanding of the skill itself, he had risked everything, for there had been no other choice. Against insurmountable odds, fate had inexplicably favored him, granting him the gift of survival.
A sigh of relief escaped his lips, swiftly overshadowed by the excruciating pain coursing through his body. Groaning, he struggled to lift himself, but his left arm remained limp and unresponsive, submerged in an ocean of unbearable agony.
"Damn it, is it broken?" he cursed, attempting to move the lifeless limb once more, but met with futility.
With a painstaking effort, Lucifer resorted to crawling, using his right hand and legs to drag himself towards a nearby tree trunk. Propping himself up against it, he surveyed the wreckage of his body. Shredded garments clung to his form, stained with both his own blood and the creature's. The pain was all-encompassing, preventing him from discerning the extent of his injuries. But the unmistakable agony in his left hand left no room for doubt.
His right hand trembling, Lucifer reached out to touch his throbbing head. His fingertips grazed sticky blood and the unmistakable indentation of teeth marks.
Tearing fragments from his tattered clothing, he fashioned makeshift bandages, winding them tightly around the wounds that still oozed crimson life-force. Uncertain of their efficacy, he clung to this meager attempt at self-preservation—it was all he had left.
Raising his gaze skyward, he beheld the moon's radiant glow, casting an ethereal light upon the surrounding forest. The mountain, previously vanished, now revealed its rugged visage with unwavering clarity.
"Was that one of the wolf's abilities?" Lucifer muttered, observing as the oppressive darkness that had surrounded him previously returned to the normal night. A small triumphant smile emerged on his lips as he fell unconscious.
.....
Lucifer's eyes slowly opened, greeted by the moonlit night that cast its shimmering light upon him. A shiver ran down his spine, and his body trembled, still reeling from the harrowing encounter.
Uncertainty plagued his mind as he questioned whether it was still the same night or if the next one had descended upon him.
With a slow, deliberate movement, he struggled to sit upright, a fresh wave of pain coursing through his body. The injured left arm remained a useless weight at his side, a cruel reminder of his vulnerability in this desolate place.
"Damn it, damn it all," he muttered under his breath, frustration dripping from his words. The bitter realization gnawed at his mind—while he lay unconscious, defenseless, another beast could have seized the opportunity to snuff out what remained of his fragile existence.
Grimacing, Lucifer gathered his scattered thoughts, slowly assessing his situation. His gaze fell upon the indicator of his progress—the accumulated soul points earned by killing the ferocious beast.
A mix of astonishment and dread washed over him as he beheld the staggering total of 500 soul points. It was equivalent to the level of a cultivator in the Qi Condensation Realm, where both mortals and martial artists possessed 250 soul points.
The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. Had the fallen creature he faced been a formidable opponent at the Qi Condensation Level? The rapid pounding of his heart echoed in his ears as he thanked the heavens for the fortuitous outcome. Surviving against a Qi Condensation foe without the aid of the Ghost Transformation skill was an insurmountable challenge he could never have accomplished.
Without further thought, he instinctively commanded the system to convert his Soul Points into Skill Energy.
As the conversion process commenced, the wolf's desires aggressively assaulted his mind.
The wolf's insatiable yearnings tore into his consciousness, an onslaught fueled by an unyielding motherly instinct to protect her child. This force transcended ordinary desires, surrounding Lucifer in a primal storm that threatened to engulf his entire existence. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced, an intense tempest that could consume him completely.
Nevertheless, Lucifer stood strong, unwavering against the onslaught. His own desires and ambitions burned within him, a resolute blaze of determination. They surpassed the invading forces, asserting their dominance with unwavering strength. His thirst for power and his deep hatred towards the Phoenix Feather Sect formed an impenetrable fortress, impervious to the assault of these external desires. They crumbled before the indomitable strength of his will.
Still, to ensure that these desires wouldn't disrupt him during crucial moments, Lucifer devoted an additional hour to deep meditation. He sought to quell them entirely, to render them dormant and powerless.
As the meditation drew to a close, Lucifer found himself perplexed by these desires. They defied his expectations, for he had anticipated the gnawing hunger or animosity towards humans commonly associated with such creatures.