Chapter 4: Chapter 4 - Dance of Shadows
The verdant embrace of Star Dou Forest seemed to breathe with life, each leaf a heartbeat, each whisper of the wind a melody.
"Ahh... fresh air."
The memories of the Demon King felt long, almost as if centuries or more had passed.
The once smoggy lands he reigned had filth and decaying vitality.
The air now held a newfound clarity, a contrast to the lingering echoes of the Demon King's reign.
It was no longer depressing nor cold.
[ Ding! ]
[ Configuring the powers received from the previous life. ]
[ Divine Body ] - Your spirit energy and physical prowess growth are tripled. It can now grow above the limits of this world. (Updated)
[ Ice Heart ] - You are less prone to negative emotions and mental attacks. Your intelligence and mental fortitude increases. (Updated)
[ Almighty ] - You have the power to change the past.
In this tranquil haven, I felt a profound sense of rebirth, an awakening from the emptiness that had clouded my identity.
[ 1st Ring (Physical Prowess) - First Layer of the Divine Body 0/3 ]
[ 1st Ring (Spirit Energy) - First Condensation of the Divine Body 0/3 ]
'Huh? How does this work?'
I wondered how I could fill the fraction to a 3/3.
'Is it similar to re-cultivating in those cultivation novels?'
I closed my eyes and felt a strange connection similar to a string, but it was too far.
Every time I tried to grasp the string, chains would sprout from the void zapping my spirit energy.
[ Your strength is still insufficient. ]
"Is this the Demon Realm? It seems that I am still too weak to open it."
'But, it feels like I could use the portals.'
I felt the energy of darkness shudder from my back, causing two or three portals to appear.
"Ugh..."
'3/4 of my spiritual energy was consumed in this meager summon…'
"Let me try testing it on the ten-year spirit beasts.'
As I ventured deeper into the heart of the forest, the atmosphere changed.
'I sense something.' I muttered while I stood still, waiting.
Shadows danced beneath the thick canopy, and the air crackled with latent energy.
It was in this surreal dreamscape that I encountered the first challenge – a hairy baboon, its eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and hostility.
It jumped at high speeds in straight lines from the trees, arriving within a few seconds like a mirage.
But, through the battle instincts of the Demon King. I dodged it effortlessly with minimal movement.
It grunted as it landed on the ground while glaring at me.
"You'll be the first challenger."
Without hesitation, I called upon the power of the Godhand.
The black gauntlets materialized on my hands, emanating an otherworldly aura.
The sensation was exhilarating, a surge of power coursing through my veins like pure darkness.
"Hmph! Come at me, you dirty mongrel."
I stomped on the floor, taking a Muay Thai stance with one leg up, with both hands up to my chest facing the afterimage of the Baboon's provoked face.
"Awoo!"
The baboon lunged forward with primal aggression, and I met its onslaught with a display of newfound strength.
It struck with its claws while I dodged all of its attacks before it reached my skin.
My fists, encased in the dark gauntlets, struck with precision and force, hitting every weak point of the Baboon, bursting its tendons with just one punch each.
The baboon, despite its ferocity, was no match for the Godhand-infused blows.
Each strike sent tremors through the air, a symphony of power that echoed through the forest.
Then, I kicked it's chest, sending it flying at a tree while the sounds of its ribs breaking resounded.
"Too weak." I frowned, feeling that it wasn't enough to satisfy my curiosity.
It soon lay limp on the floor with its chest and head only left before a white ring materialized.
As the baboon lay defeated, I felt a strange compulsion – the Sin of Gluttony, an insatiable hunger that whispered promises of strength through consumption.
Without hesitation, I invoked the power of Gluttony, absorbing the spirit ring and the body of the fallen Baboon.
The act felt both primal and transcendent, a communion with the very soul of the dormant Godhand's energy was now filled, with the negative emotions of the deceased baboon.
[ You have gained 10 points of Gluttony ]
[ The Martial Soul 'Godhand' has increased the trait of the Sin of Gluttony. ]
[ The Dormant Emotion of the Sin of Gluttony has increased. ]
[ Gluttony 17% ] - Absorbs the remnants of the deceased existence and converts it into Spirit Energy. (Evolution is possible after reaching 100%)
[ 17%+ Spirit Energy Acquisition ]
'If I were to convert that margin of rational numbers, it would be 0.17+ Spirit Energy. Not too much, but once it evolves. It'll be a broken ability...'
As the Gluttony points accumulated from the absorption process, my Spirit Level surged from 1 to 2, a manifestation of my evolving connection to the Sin-Authority that bound me.
In the midst of this transformative experience, the forest bore witness to a macabre ballet.
"Awo!"
"Huh?"
A baboon, witness to the demise of its kin, called out to its brethren.
The response echoed through the trees, a cacophony of enraged howls that heralded the impending onslaught.
"Hahaha. So, you want vengeance? This is perfect. All of you pathetic insects will be nourishment for more power."
The Demon King's previous ego seemed to have integrated into me, but I didn't mind since it felt natural. It was as if I had gained another side of me.
The baboons, fueled by vengeance, encircled me. Their eyes, burning with primal fury, met my nonchalant gaze.
'Ajetus'
In a seamless motion, I summoned the Demonic Spear, Ajetus, a manifestation of the Demon Realm's Legendary Weapon stowed in the Demon King's Treasury.
The dance of shadows began.
With fluid grace, I moved amidst the baboons, the Demonic Spear cleaving through the air like a dark comet. Each strike was a testament to my newfound prowess, a symphony of death and power.
As the last baboon fell, the forest fell silent once more.
The remnants of my enemies lay scattered before being absorbed into the Sin of Gluttony. My Spirit Level ascended further, reaching an astonishing 8.
[ Gluttony 67% ]
"I didn't expect there would be so many experience points."
I smiled satisfyingly at the artistic bloody scene while sitting on top of the remaining mountain of corpses of the lifeless Baboons while slowly absorbing from bottom to top, with the shadow gnawing the corpses from below.
-"At last! I found a human with a mental attribute!-"
-"Whoa! Did you do all of this?"
My crimson eyes turned to the giant white worm.
"Who are you?"
I questioned with a nonchalant tone.
-"Hehehe. I am the Great Ge! The embodiment of heroism and chivalry, and the most beautiful of all spirit beasts-"
"Alright, silence. I do not wish to hear your boring and inept long introductions, worm. Your name is enough."
"Hey! That's rude! You're such a condescending human! Also, I am not a worm! I am the Skydream Ice Worm. The highest life years recorded in this continent! 1 million years!"
'What's the difference?'
I frowned and asked, "So, what do you want from me?"
"This...! I want to become your first spirit ring! You and me are both compatible!"
"Oh? Why should I?" I joked around a bit, but my tone seemed to carry a cold icy intent.
'Crap. I didn't mean that.'
"Huh? W-what? Aren't humans supposed to kowtow to a great spirit beast like me?!"
The Skydream Ice Worm seemed to have met its match as it wiggled.
"Ugh! Why are you like this?! I've never been treated like this! Even the Titled Douluos respected me!"
"Respect is earned, not granted."
"Fine! Ge can boost all of your mental abilities better than any other spirit beasts out there!"
"Hm... sufficient." I nodded and opened my arms wide, as I finished absorbing the mountain of corpses.
-"Eh? How did you do that?"
"This?"
"It's my Martial Soul. Now, enough of that. I, the Great Demon King shall grant you the permission to be my first Spirit Ring."
-"Ge, you're a self-centered human!"
The Skydream Ice Worm stopped complaining as it entered my consciousness, I sat down in a lotus position while entering my consciousness.
"Eh? Your body is really strong for a Trainee!"
As the Spirit Ring Absorption began to fill my body with endless energy, amplifying my Spirit Energy and Physical Prowess thrice before arriving at 17.
[ 1st Ring Cycle (Physical & Energy) is Complete! ]
[ The Divine Body has grown! ]
[ 2nd Ring Cycle (Physical) - 1/3 ]
[ 2nd Ring Cycle (Energy) - 1/3 ]
I felt the rupture of muscles and rapid energy coalesced into every fiber of my being.
I could feel my cells breaking down. This process went on for a long time.
I gritted my teeth at the unbearable pain, as I disliked the thought of showing weakness due to my previous Pride as the Demon King.
I only frowned without screaming. If it had been other people, they would've collapsed already.
'I have to endure it, otherwise, I won't be able to absorb the Spirit Energy...'
"..."
-"Ge is really surprised that you're able to continue absorbing the energy without fainting!"
"..."
As the Spirit Rank stopped at 20. The condensation of spirit energy and the physical body stopped at 3/3 due to the limitations set by the Douluo Dalu Realm.
I tried to stand up, but the dizziness and the rapid spinning of the world, caused me to kneel to the ground before I breathed heavily trying to maintain my consciousness.
Alas, it was an inevitable consequence of absorbing all of the energy within the Skydream Ice Worm's ring.
My consciousness blacked out.
There, I saw the two figures of Tang Ya and Bei Bei looming from the bushes before being embraced in darkness.
"W-what's this?!" Ge yelled as he felt the otherworldly presence within the world of consciousness.
It was probably the Demon King's power, the Godhand, which was the link of the Seven Deadly Sins and the Demon Realm.
What was even astounding was that a desolate landscape stretched as far as the eye could see.
Dark, ominous clouds hung low in the sky, perpetually casting the land in a gloomy twilight.
The Dark Castle itself, a massive structure of blackened stone, loomed atop a craggy peak, its spires reaching towards the stormy heavens.
Lightning crackled in the distance, illuminating the silhouette of the foreboding fortress.
"Ge has never seen a consciousness like this!"
Suddenly, the burst of energy from the Necromancer reached the Skydream Ice Worm.
"Strong... so strong! Why is there another strong power here?!" Ge yelled as it felt the deadly energy from the remnant of the Necromancer's soul.
But, the energy didn't seem to target the Skydream Ice Worm, instead, it seemed to reach another direction, almost as if it was moving subconsciously.
"Whew... that scared the crap out of me."
Suddenly, the Skydream Ice Worm snapped as it glanced in all directions, throwing a tantrum at the unknown power.
"I am here! Who dares try to pick a fight with me?"
The Skydream Ice Worm launched its energy as a counterattack inside the world of consciousness, but it sent Ge flying backward from the collision of the storm within the realm.
"Ouch! What happened?!"
"Who would have thought I would still have some soul remaining..." An eerie voice resounded in the sky.
"Eek!"
The Skydream Ice Worm glanced at a massive black dragon sleeping atop the spire of the Dark Castle.
It didn't look so obvious due to the color of the Castle, but when Ge carefully glanced in the direction of the Castle. It shuddered in fear.
"W-what is that?! Is that you?! It's so massive. I've never seen a spirit beast as big as that..!"
"No... I am right here." A white-haired figure walked from the bridge while glancing at the Skydream Ice Worm, with a cold look.
"What is that?" Ge trembled while pointing at the forlorn Castle..
"..." The Necromancer shook his head.
"I just woke up. The power of this realm has helped recover a piece of my strength. As for that dragon, I don't know."
"Ugh."
Somehow, the voice of a boy took the attention of both of them.
"Little brother! You're finally awake!"
"Huh? This place..."
'When I broke through, I was able to finally connect to the Demon Realm?'
"Do you know anything about this world?" Ge asked in a curious tone.
"It isn't just a world. It's a piece of a broken Divine Realm."
The Necromancer glanced at both Ge and Huo Yuhao.
"A Divine Realm?"
I became confused at the Necromancer's proclamation.
The Demon Realm was another space that was connected to the Demon King.
It was similar to consciousness, but the real consciousness was within this realm, making the Demon King invincible when it came to psychic defense.
'It is like a cell membrane. There is an interior and an outer membrane. The nucleus is the central consciousness. If it is destroyed then the Demon King and the Demon Realm disappear.'
'I guess the Necromancer misunderstood the realm as a Divine Realm. But, was it possible to turn my consciousness into a Divine Realm? A Divine Sense was possible, but a Divine Realm seemed odd. I don't even know how I could do such a ridiculous feat.'
I moved my steps towards the ruined bridge, with the fast current of the river rampaging like a tidal wave.
"H-hey! Where are you going?"
The Skydream Ice Worm and the Necromancer both followed.
As I approached the Castle, raindrops pelted the earth relentlessly, creating a haunting symphony of drumming against the cold, hard ground.
'This place... it's so familiar.'
The exterior walls of the castle were slick with moisture, and the gates, wrought with menacing spikes and intricate demonic symbols, seemed to absorb the perpetual rainfall.
The air was thick with an otherworldly chill, and the scent of damp earth and ancient stone filled my senses.
Upon crossing the threshold, the interior of the Demon King's Castle revealed a labyrinthine maze of shadowed corridors and grand chambers.
The walls were adorned with macabre tapestries depicting scenes of battles and conquests, all rendered in deep shades of crimson and midnight black.
The constant sound of rain echoed through the stone halls, creating an eerie ambiance that seemed to seep into the very bones of those who dared to venture inside.
"Why is this place so... scary?!"
Ge yelled while carefully looking at the ancient sculptures and pictures. The interior of the Castle was forlorn, forgotten in history.
"..."
I closed my eyes as I walked through the silent hallways. It was once adorned by the smiles of the people, who were soon cursed by the corruption of the Otherworld God.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone