“Alright,” Bella said, her voice laced with satisfaction as she nodded approvingly.
“I will send an official notice appointing you as the new Baron of Dark Valley,” she continued, her tone firm and decisive, as if the matter was already settled. The weight of her words hung in the air, solidifying Aengus’s new position.
She then turned her attention to Vespera, her expression shifting from indulgent to commanding. “Let’s go, Vespera. We need to prepare our forces to march into their hideout. Let’s see who dares to invade our territory,” Bella declared, her voice cold and resolute.
Her eyes glinted dangerously, a reminder her words were not be taken lightly.
“Okay, Mistress,” Vespera responded resolutely, her tone steady as she acknowledged Bella’s command.
Bella turned back to Aengus, her gaze softening slightly as she addressed him.
“Sweetheart, you don’t need to join us for now. You can’t handle at your condition,” she said with a slight smile.
“For now, you need to focus on increasing your strength.” Her voice was gentle, but there was an underlying firmness that made it clear this was not a suggestion but an order.
She paused, reaching for the space bracelet on her wrist. The bracelet was a delicate piece, shimmering with a subtle iridescence that hinted at its otherworldly origin.
Aengus couldn’t help but feel intrigued.
A space bracelet was a rare and valuable artifact, capable of storing vast amounts of items in a small, easily accessible space. Its convenience was undeniable, but he knew its price must be equally Astronomical.
“There are a total of 500 low grade Cores inside,” Bella continued, withdrawing a few small pouches from the bracelet and handing them to Aengus. Her jade-like hand extended gracefully, the gesture both generous and commanding.
“These cores will increase your Nether energy and strengthen your physique slightly,” she explained, her eyes meeting his with an intensity that underscored the importance of what she was giving him.
“Don’t let me down. Use your talent wisely, so that we can continue on this path unhindered.”
“Thank you, Mistress!” Aengus replied, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. He accepted the pouches with a slight bow.
He opened one of the pouches and peeked inside, revealing the glowing cores within. They were of various colors—black, red, yellowish, brown—each representing the essence of a different type of demons. These demonic cores, extracted from the bodies of powerful demons, were potent sources of energy that could be absorbed to enhance one’s strength.
Aengus’s eyes gleamed with determination as he looked at the cores.
As Bella and Vespera left the room of the Baron’s mansion, Aengus found himself alone in the dimly lit chamber.
The silence was heavy, pressing in on him from all sides, but his thoughts were anything but quiet.
He looked at the demonic cores in his hands with a mixture of fascination and anticipation. Each core pulsed with a dark, almost hypnotic glow, the nether energy within churning like a storm trapped inside a small, hardened shell. These cores held the essence of demons, which can only be consumed by the demons.
If a human attempted to consume these, they risked becoming something monstrous—mutated, wild, devoid of reason. Yet, Aengus felt no fear. Instead, he saw only the potential for growth, the opportunity to harness the power of these demonic essences and bend them to his will.
With resolve, he began consuming the cores one by one. The first one was bitter on his tongue, its taste sharp and acrid, but as he swallowed, the core seemed to dissolve instantly in his stomach, its energy flooding his veins. He felt a rush of power surge through him, followed by a series of notifications echoing in his mind:
[Strength +1]
[ Agility +2]
[Strength +1]
[ Defense +1]
[Agility +1]
Each core brought with it a new wave of energy, the dark, swirling essence melding with his own. His muscles tightened, his reflexes sharpened, and he could feel his body growing stronger, more resilient with each core he consumed.
MANAS advised that the most effective way to use them for now is by eating them. While his Gluttony of Darkness ability could do the same, it wouldn’t give Nether energy. That’s why he chose to consume them directly.
The essences didn’t only focus at his physical attributes. He felt his Nether energy reserves also expanding, the dark, shadowy power within him growing more potent, more responsive:
[Nether Energy +1]
[Nether Energy +2]
[ Nether Energy +1 ]
….
The process was invigorating, yet there was an undercurrent of something primal, something dangerous, in the way his body absorbed the demonic energy. The cores melted into pure energy, dissolving into particles that spread throughout his body, strengthening him from within.
By this point, he had consumed nearly half of the demonic cores. Some provided a 0.5-point boost to his stats, while others offered as much as 2 points. The most significant increase, however, was in his Nether Energy core.
The remaining half of the cores stayed in his pouch, as he felt fatigued and strained. It was as though a wild energy surged within him, needing to be released for his body to adjust to the growing power.
With a thought, he examined his new improvement in stats.
[ Name: Aengus Degaro ]
[ Occupation: Demon Servant ]
[ Race: Half-Human Half-Demon ]
[ Bloodline Lineage: Beelzebub (Partial-Royal) ]
[ Level: 20 ]
[ Class: None ]
[ Age: 18 ]
[ Strength: 70 ]
[ Agility: 66 ]
[ Defense: 80 ]
[ Mana: 26/8190 ]
[ Nether Energy: 180/180 ]
[ Attribute points: 0 ]
[ Skills: ]
– [ Active: Doombringer Fortification (C) Inferno Leap-59 (D), Earth Manipulation-12(D), Azula Sword Strike- 35 (E), Paralyzing Breath-10 (E), Shadow Step -9 (E), Razor Claws – 4 (E), Netherhorn Burst (E) ]
– [ Passive: Blaze Guard-8 (E), Fire Serpent’s Digestion -5 (E), Predator’s Instinct -23 (E), Health Regeneration -4 (E), Minotaur’s Outburst (E) ]
[ Special skills: Monster Breeding (Level-1) ]
[ Demonic Abilities: Gluttony of Darkness (Basic), Darkness Pulse (Basic), Darkness Veil (Basic), Darkness Haki (Basic), Heart of Darkness (Peak), Blood Regeneration (Basic)]
[ Unique Skills: Appraisal (Basic), Skill Absorption (Mythic), Universal Synthesis (Ultimate) ]
[ Equipment: None ]
—
He looked at the screen, feeling satisfied. His base stats had increased by 30 to 40 points, though his level remained unchanged.
This meant that the concept of levels no longer applied to him. A new, insurmountable gap was forming between him and both humans and demons. He now possessed the physical strength of a demon combined with the power of humanity’s system.
However, that didn’t mean he could confront a high-level human powerhouse with physical strength alone. Demons generally had far greater physical power than humans, yet they often couldn’t win against them because of the humans’ powerful skills.
Not everyone had bloodline powers like Bella and others. Most demons relied on their physical strength and their common species ability: Blood Regeneration, which wasn’t bad in itself.
Aengus stood still for a moment, feeling the changes within him. His strength had increased, his agility had improved, and his defenses had solidified. More importantly, his Nether Energy core had expanded significantly.
Aengus felt as though he could crush an adult Minotaur with ease. He was now comparable to a Greater Demon in power.
