Creed and the Fiend Demon swam for their lives, frantically kicking toward the distant shore.
Every stroke was a desperate struggle, the water thick and murky, seeming to pull them back even as they pushed forward.
The wraith, however, moved with terrifying speed, closing in on them like a nightmare. Creed's chest burned, his muscles screamed, but he pushed through, his mind turning colder and sharper with each stroke.
His only thought was survival.
He pushed harder, his movements precise and controlled, reaching the shore with all his might.
Then, from the corner of his eye, Creed saw a purple glow flare in the water behind him. The wraith was charging its energy, and in a blink, it surged forward with incredible speed, slicing through the river as if it were nothing.
Creed barely had time to register what was happening before the creature was upon them. He felt a sickening pull as darkness closed over him, swallowing him whole.
In that horrific instant, the wraith had swallowed both him and the Fiend Demon whole!
Shua!
The river returned to its dark, silent state, the wraith sinking back below the surface as if nothing had happened. The once thrashing waters was calm once more.
Deep inside the creature's belly, Creed lay motionless, drifting in unconscious darkness for what felt like an eternity.
When he finally jolted awake, he gasped, choking on the foul, acrid air around him. His skin stung as if it were on fire, his clothes clung to him in wet, acid-soaked rags, and a sickly burning sensation covered every inch of his body.
He was trapped in a hot, sticky chamber that pulsed and flexed around him. The walls seemed alive, coated in slimy, corrosive liquid that smelled like rotting flesh.
Creed's eyes widened in horror as he realized where he was—the creature's stomach.
He had been swallowed alive!
Nearby, he spotted the Fiend Demon's body, limp and unmoving, half-submerged in the creature's digestive fluids.
Creed felt a wave of dread—if that demon was unconscious, this place was even deadlier than he'd thought.
He swallowed hard, fear tightening in his chest. 'This acid… it's making us weak, knocking us out,' he thought. He could already feel his own energy slipping away as the corrosive juices crept over him.
Struggling, Creed tried to peel himself free from the thick slime, but it clung stubbornly to his skin, pulling him back down.
He cursed under his breath, his mind racing. He knew he had to find a way out, but the sticky sludge held him fast. "If only I had a weapon," he muttered desperately.
Anything sharp could cut through this slime—and maybe even through the stomach walls.
Then, just as the words left his mouth, a bright red glow erupted from the ring on his right index finger.
Startled, Creed watched as the ring pulsed, brighter and brighter, until, with a sudden flash, it transformed into a massive red greatsword.
The weapon was huge. It was six inches wide and over four feet long, its blade gleaming with a cold, deadly edge.
Even in the beast's stomach, it was shimmering with an unnatural red gleam, making it look mystical despite it's simple design.
Creed stared, stunned speechless. "Where did… how did I not know this?" he muttered in disbelief. If he'd known about this weapon, his fight with the Fiend Demon might've gone very differently.
He would have been able to also wound it's thick carapace and maybe even gain the upper hand.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
He gripped the sword tightly, using its edge to slice away the sticky slime that clung to his arms and legs.
As he cut himself free, his mind grew clearer, his strength returning with each stroke. With newfound strength, he hacked through the glue like liquid, freeing his limbs.
Freed from the stomach acid, he took a deep, steadying breath. 'All right, let's get out of here.'
Just as he raised the blade to cut through the creature's stomach walls, the sword began to tremble in his hand, vibrating with an intense energy.
Before he could react, it wrenched itself free of his grip and slashed at him, the blade grazing his shoulder. Creed froze, horror twisting in his gut. 'Is it… attacking me?'
He tried to dodge, but his cramped surroundings offered no room to move. Fortunately, the sword's strike only left a shallow cut, a single drop of blood beading at the wound.
As it absorbed the blood, the sword reverted back into the red ring and pulsed once more, glowing an intense, almost furious red.
Then, to his shock, the ring faded and disappeared, merging with his skin and sinking into his body.
"Gah!"
An excruciating pain flared from his chest, making him double over as a strange voice echoed in his mind.
[Ding! System initialization complete.]
Creed gasped, clutching his chest as the pain spread like wildfire. The voice continued in his mind, calm but powerful, resonating with ancient authority.
[Scanning host for talents…]
Another jolt of agony shot through him, sharper and deeper, making him feel like his insides were being torn apart. His breath came in shallow gasps as the voice resumed.
[Talent discovered: Demon Lord.]
Creed's vision blurred, a searing pain concentrating in his abdomen as if something was forming, growing within him.
[Awakening Talent.]
The pain reached a peak, his entire body trembling under its force. Just when he thought he couldn't take it any longer, something deep inside him clicked, and the pain transformed.
It became power—pure, untamed, and coursing through him like a river of fire.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have awakened the Demon Lord talent.]
The words echoed in his mind, leaving him breathless. His whole body hummed with new strength, his veins pulsing with dark energy. He took a deep breath, his vision sharpening, his senses heightened.
For the first time, he felt a primal force rising within him, powerful and vast, a part of him yet something beyond him.
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