My eyes opened gradually after emerging from the portal, adjusting to the new surroundings. The air here was heavy with a damp, musty scent, and the limited light sent chills down my spine. I couldn't help but feel uneasy, despite my racial advantage as a demon that allowed me to see in the dark. The lack of light suggested that my current group might be struggling to see.
A sound behind me indicated the girl's arrival, followed by a thud that further heightened the eerie atmosphere.
I gracefully dismounted from Tsu's head, who had been unusually silent throughout the transition. Yolm's voice broke the silence, expressing his concern, which was understandable given the frigid temperature of this place.
"Is... is this really where the portal led? We could have died," he stammered, trembling either from fear or the bone-chilling cold that enveloped us.
Beretta huddled close to Yolm, her presence a comforting reminder that we were not alone in this unnerving darkness. Her voice added to the growing sense of unease, stating, "It is unsettling."
Tsu, too, appeared restless, and the overall mood seemed to be plummeting.
"Don't worry," the girl's voice reassured us, breaking the eerie silence, "this is a good thing. The maze has just started moving, which means we can actually proceed."
She strode ahead, passing by Yolm and Beretta, heading towards what looked like a narrow pathway. I could sense its structure, but there was another presence that loomed in the shadows, one I couldn't fully comprehend yet. It existed as a foreboding entity, casting an ominous aura that clung to the cold air.
:Ah- lady, you.. don't step forward!
The ominous presence in the shadows gradually took shape, coalescing into a monstrous form that sent shivers down my spine.
It resembled a colossal figure, akin to a golem but far more sinister. Its body was composed of an eerie, ethereal substance, like a swirling mass of darkness given form.
Glowing, malevolent eyes burned with an unholy light within its shadowy visage, and its grotesque silhouette seemed to loom menacingly.
Tsu's eyes widened, not out of excitement, but from the primal instincts of survival kicking in. She immediately sprang into action, urging me to move quickly with a sense of urgency.
"Master!"
She scooped me up off the ground and ran.
Her form moved swiftly and gracefully, guiding me away from the hostile shadows. The shadow monster lurched forward, its eerie form elongating and stretching towards us, but Tsu's speed kept us just ahead of its grasp.
The close encounter with the shadowy monstrosity had left us all shaken. Tsu gently placed me on the ground, and together, we observed the unsettling scene before us—the girl paralyzed by fear and the grotesque shadow creature.
In that moment, it became painfully evident that the girl lacked the strength to defend herself. Regardless of her reincarnation, she was fragile and ill-prepared to face the dangers of this world. It struck me how much of an advantage I possessed—I had time to grow in strength, whereas she had been thrust into peril without the means to protect herself.
Without hesitation, I activated my [Divine Step], gliding gracefully across the floor to reach the girl. The shadowy entity's massive hand morphed into contorted faces, each one screaming in torment. This colossal palm of suffering was poised to crush the girl, but I managed to reach her just in the nick of time.
Employing [Mind Acceleration], I altered the flow of time itself. Everything around us slowed to a crawl, granting me the ability to scrutinize every intricate detail of the monstrous hand. The haunting faces within the hand reached out for us, their anguished cries echoing around us. I caught a fleeting glimpse of the shadow creature's crimson eyes, mere slits concealed within the darkness.
I called upon the system, seeking an analysis of our adversary. A page of information materialized before me, and I absorbed its contents with remarkable speed.
"This is a Semi-Second Grade magical beast, Curse Type. It's composed of soul essence similar to the ones you collect for the [Humidification] skill, as well as [Mammon: Lord of Greed]," I relayed the information to the girl, urgency lacing my words.
She queried whether I could absorb it, and I inquired about the consequences. The system's response was chilling—absorbing it would result in death.
Determined to explore every avenue, I questioned if it were possible to imprison the creature and chip away at it over time. The system confirmed its feasibility but warned that everything within the prison would likely perish.
I opted for a different approach. I extended my hand and crafted a shield of dark, metallic goo, which served as an absorption medium. The shadowy hand descended upon the barrier, causing it to tremble under the immense pressure. However, the shield held its ground. I utilized [Analyze], confirming that my plan had succeeded—the goo had absorbed a substantial portion of the shadow's essence, bolstering its defenses.
The girl gasped, her astonishment evident as she looked up at me. The goo-formed barrier stood about seven feet tall, a protective bubble enveloping us.
"That shouldn't have happened... the books say-"
:Well, the books lied to you this time, get over it. We have a bigger issue—a monster that not even my ultimate skill has trouble dealing with.. Not saying it can't, but...
"You don't have to say anything else. I have an idea," she murmured, her gaze locked on the barrier, deep in thought.
Impatience gnawed at me as I considered the looming threat, the girl's plan, and the safety of Yolm, Beretta, and Tsu.
"I've got it! We meet up at the Baransu, after having collected the first two fragments on the respective sides," she declared to me. However, my lack of comprehension was evident, and she frowned at my response.
:I have- no clue what that means, but.. yay?
Her exasperation was palpable as she facepalmed, and the barrier trembled once more.
:System, how is the barrier holding up?
A rush of information flowed from the system, detailing the fruits of my risky maneuver. I had absorbed 34,893 MP and a staggering 182 C-Rank souls. However, a hefty 8,900 MP was currently being utilized to maintain the barrier's integrity, depleting almost half of my available MP.
The system's query regarding the activation of [Lord of Greed] caught me off guard. Had it not been activated all this time? Anxiety had gnawed at me, fearing that this encounter was insurmountable at my current level. Still, a spark of determination ignited within me, and I looked at the girl with a newfound resolve.
:I have a plan... Yours is a backup. Even though I don't understand how you intend to separate us, it will have to suffice if my plan fails.
With that decision made, I dismissed the barrier, just as the looming hand descended upon us.
[Appraisal]!
The being, which I now recognized as "The Absorber," was subjected to my scrutiny:
The Absorber
Class: B
HP: 5000/5000
MP: 2000/3000
SP: 0/1
XP: 3,000
The detailed listing of its attributes and skills offered insight into its nature:
**Skills:** [Shadow Limbs] [Shadow Body] [Limb Manipulation] [Berserker] [Soul Absorption] [Soul Amplification] [Aura Sense]
**Unique Skills:** [Key] [Body Shift]
I marveled at how creatures in this world possessed distinct attributes, their stats laid bare by the system.
Despite the danger looming over us, the shadow creature abruptly redirected its attention away from the girl and me, turning its sinister gaze towards Tsu and the others. Reacting swiftly, I lunged forward using [Divine Step], but my progress was stymied by yet another shadowy appendage sprouting from the beast's stomach.
In a frantic attempt to evade its grasp, I leaped into the air, but to my dismay, the limb followed, seizing my leg. Though minuscule compared to the colossal hand, this appendage held a tenacious grip, rendering me partially immobilized.
The girl's voice pierced through the chaos, calling out my real name.
"Niji!"
I looked back down at her terrified face. She knew me.. she knew me all this time.
I was being lied to.. again. Right before my death, too? The gods had a funny definition of amusing..
(Touya POV)
I sprinted towards Niji, his form ensnared by the menacing grip of the golem's hand. Panic churned within me as I faced another dilemma—another looming threat in the form of a stretched-out hand, poised to strike Yolm and Tsu. Whose life should I prioritize?
"Save yourself, Touya," a chillingly familiar voice resonated in my mind.
It was him—the God of Sacrifice and the Underworld. He appeared once more, his presence a constant torment, seeking to manipulate me into embracing the wretched power he had bestowed upon me.
"You always intended to betray him after he aided your escape, didn't you?" he taunted, playing idly with his pendant.
My loathing for this deity consumed me. Every fiber of my being despised him—body, soul, and mind. He had first approached me on the day I was ensnared by another reincarnate and imprisoned in this forsaken realm. I had been condemned to an eternity of suffering, awaiting the judgment of a fellow reincarnate to determine my release.
The entire ordeal, from the guards to the prison itself, had been an elaborate ruse, designed to mimic a real penitentiary. Through my magic, I had managed to pinpoint Niji's location, exploiting his unconscious state to manipulate his own Mana against him.
"Consider using the power I bestowed upon you... my blessing," he jeered, observing as my anger flared into an inferno. I could see his amusement as he prodded at my emotions.
"The 'blessing' you offer demands blood sacrifice for survival—an immoral proposition, no matter the circumstances!" I retorted vehemently.
There was more beneath the surface, a wellspring of emotions that the god could sense. Beneath the anger lay a simmering sorrow and anguish that brewed within me.
But he misjudged me, for my intentions were not solely to escape. My desire extended beyond vengeance upon Clover, the hero who had imprisoned me due to my powers and their inherent nature. I had yet to commit any wrongdoing, at least not as of now.
"You were deemed a threat to the church, but you needn't be so harsh on yourself," the god remarked callously. "Perhaps the other reincarnates won't take notice of your ascent to the First Level, provided you manage to escape," he chuckled.
My gaze shifted downward, resting on the dagger that I had procured from one of the genuine guards dispatched to oversee the mindless sentinels.
I unsheathed the blade, its glint reflecting the torment I felt within. The god watched with amusement, anticipating my next move.
With determination in my heart, I raised the dagger, its blade poised for a fateful strike.
"Grant me the ability of... Teleportation."
As the dagger's tip punctured my chest, time itself seemed to halt, a surreal pause before the god's voice once again intruded upon my thoughts.