Andrew was overjoyed after his recent triumph, but his elation quickly turned to terror as he sensed an unnerving presence. He felt an inexplicable force resisting the siphoning force of his spirit body and tugging at his very soul.
Abruptly, he lifted his head and witnessed a thick, black cloud oozing from Anabel's lifeless body, pulsating like ocean waves. His heart pounded as he grasped that something sinister was afoot before his eyes.
He quickly triggered his book totem and used ten units of mana and mentality to cast his rank-one innate spell [sword of light].
Suddenly, a beautiful sword materialized before him, emitting a ghostly luminescence. He swiftly pushed it toward Anabel's corpse, aiming to scatter the menacing black cloud before it could cause any harm.
The sword of light plunged into the dark and ominous cloud, crackling and hissing as it made contact. But to Andrew's dismay, it seemed to have little effect in stopping the transformation that was already taking place within Anabel's body. Her once beautiful form was now contorting into a grotesque and otherworldly shape, like that of a freak of a creature from the depths of hell.
Andrew stood frozen in terror, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
The sight before him was so ghastly and disturbing that he felt as though he was staring death itself in the face. As he watched in horror, he couldn't shake off the sensation that he was witnessing the descent of a demonic king, and the fear and dread that gripped him were all too familiar from memories of his past life.
Run!
Andrew immediately sprinted towards the magical pagoda, his heart thumping wildly. He knew he had to act fast as he could feel the enemy's presence growing more potent and looming behind him like a dark cloud, threatening to consume him at any moment. With a sense of urgency, he cast his [shadow jump] spell repeatedly, his form flickering through shadows until he reached the safety of the pagoda's mirror portal.
His heart was still racing from the adrenaline rush as he landed on the pagoda's fourth-floor lobby, and he knew he had to act quickly. "Little Hydra!" he called out urgently, "I need your help. We're about to face a powerful adversary, and I need all the defensive arrays activated immediately."
Little Hydra appeared beside him in a flicker of light, ready to assist. "Tell me, Forefather," she asked, "how strong is the enemy we're about to face?"
Andrew didn't miss a beat. "I'd say it's probably rank four or five," he said, his mind racing with possibilities. "I think it's a projection of a king-level rank-six demon, with combat power equivalent to that of a saint or slightly higher. It's likely trying to take over one of the demon bodies I just killed."
Little Hydra was immediately on high alert. "I have now detected the enemy," she announced. "It's that demon girl. You're right - there's something strange about her. She seems to have gained immense strength all of a sudden. How is that even possible?"
Andrew, who was always one step ahead, replied calmly. "As I said, it's not her, but a stronger demon possessing her body. We can't underestimate the power of this new foe. Do you think the pagoda's defensive array can withstand her might?"
"We can make use of the pagoda's offensive arrays and tap into our energy reserves to annihilate any enemy below rank six," Little Hydra replied.
"Really?" Andrew asked with a hint of skepticism in his voice. He trusted Little Hydra, but they were about to face an opponent who could effortlessly destroy mountains and oceans with a single spell. Andrew needed to be sure of their plan before they engaged in battle.
"I assure you, Forefather," Little Hydra declared confidently, "I am an intelligent artifact spirit and the soul of this magical pagoda. With half of the reserve energy, I can unleash a rank-six offensive spell using the pagoda's arrays. Just give me the green light, and I'll take care of the rest."
"Do your best then," Andrew said while bursting into the expansive hall on the pagoda's eighth floor. "Let's launch the attack and obliterate the enemy immediately!"
Hydra's voice was filled with excitement as she exclaimed, "Okay, Forefather!" In an instant, the artifact spirit being's magic conjured a three-dimensional projection of a 'certain' area outside the pagoda right before their eyes.
Andrew's attention was immediately drawn to a grotesque figure on display. It somehow resembled Anabel, the once beautiful demon princess he had just defeated. But now, she had transformed into a horrendous shadow-like creature with six arms and a snake tail. She was hovering outside the pagoda, emanating a demonic aura so terrifying that Andrew could barely muster the courage to face her.
As he looked at her, she seemed to sense his gaze. The transformed Anabel's eyes bore into his, and she spoke straight into his mind, "Young man! I see you."
The words echoed through Andrew's mind, sending chills down his spine. Her cold voice reverberated through his soul space, causing him to shiver uncontrollably. The sheer force of her spiritual attack made his nose bleed, leaving him stunned and disoriented.
Andrew gritted his teeth as he resisted the spiritual shock coursing through his body. "Damn it!" he cursed under his breath, struggling to maintain his balance.
He understood that losing focus was not an option, especially when facing a formidable demon that might possess above-rank-four battle prowess. In a swift motion, he glanced at the still-shocked pagoda spirit and issued a command. "Little Hydra, what are you waiting for? Launch the offensive arrays now!"
Little Hydra nodded and, in a moment, transformed into a ferocious mythical creature, exuding an aura of invincibility. Andrew's shock intensified as he watched the pagoda come to life, its offensive arrays crackling with energy.
Suddenly, a mind-blowing spell materialized outside the pagoda. It was a rank-six spell of immense power that unleashed an awe-inspiring Area of Effect [Lightning Storm Hell].
It was a breathtaking sight as the spell summoned a barrage of chain lightning strikes that pounded the demon mercilessly, leaving it in utter misery. The entire episode was over in a flash, leaving Andrew exhilarated and amazed at the immense power of the pagoda's offensive arrays.
But before he could sigh with relief, the demon's voice sounded in his mind once again, "Young man! You might have destroyed my projection with the help of the pagoda today, but I have remembered your soul aura. For killing my daughter, I will destroy everything you care about and hunt you to the ends of this universe. Mark my words."
As soon as Andrew heard the demon's threat, he scoffed. However, he didn't let his guard down and watched as the [Lightning Storm Hell] unleashed by the pagoda gradually subsided, revealing the demon's terribly scorched body.
"Finally! Is it finally dead?" Andrew asked with a glimmer of hope in his eyes, turning towards Little Hydra.
"Yes, Forefather!" Little Hydra exclaimed, pride brimming in her voice. "I have destroyed the enemy's soul."
"Thank you, Little Hydra."
A rush of relief washed over Andrew, and he breathed a heavy sigh, feeling a sudden wave of triumph surge through him.
After all the danger and obstacles he had faced, he had finally managed to eliminate all the demons that had been threatening his life. With Aeon's inheritance secured, he could now leave the hidden dimension behind and embark on a new journey.