41 Advancing to Rank 1
Erick, with his Spirit Mind focused on Zatiel and his companions, was puzzled by their lack of pursuit. But when Zatiel snapped his fingers, Erick sensed imminent danger. Inside his stomach, a small sphere began to glow before exploding, destroying his abdominal organs.
"When did..." Erick murmured, unable to withstand the attack. He plummeted from the sky, but before he could hit the ground, chains ensnared him, bringing him to Zatiel.
"We need to leave before anyone else arrives," Zatiel stated, taking the cocoon containing Erick and departing with Sophia and Ezequiel.
Once at a safe distance, Zatiel unleashed a massive fireball at the battle site. Black flames erupted, consuming everything in their path.
...
Hours later, a man appeared at the scene, confronting the persistent flames. He created a vortex of green wind, attempting to extinguish the fire, but it stubbornly continued to burn. Finally, Jhon managed to put out the flames using wind blades.
'Since when can Erick use this type of flame?' Jhon wondered, dismissing the possibility that an apprentice could be responsible for the resilient fire. He found no evidence in the charred remains and left, presuming Zatiel and his group had perished.
...
Two weeks later, Zatiel, Ezequiel, and Sophia reached the frozen lake near the ancient Magus's laboratory. Zatiel's injuries, including his lost arm, had healed completely thanks to Sophia's medicines.
Examining the cocoon, Zatiel noted Erick's comatose state and partially healed injuries. 'The explosion was more effective than anticipated,' he thought, recalling the small sphere he had implanted in Erick during their fight.
"Let's enter!" Zatiel declared, breaking the ice and leading the way into the water, enveloped in dark flames. Sophia and Ezequiel followed, protected by their respective spells.
Fifty meters deep, they found a submarine cave entrance to the laboratory. After hours of navigating, they arrived at massive, broken doors littered with destroyed equipment and vials.
"You didn't go beyond this point, right?" Zatiel asked Sophia.
"No. I only took a blood vial from here; I didn't dare to go deeper," she replied, sensing the danger lurking within.
Zatiel assessed the damage. "Someone powerful, likely beyond a rank 1 Magus, came here but probably perished during exploration. These marks are centuries old."
Ezequiel voiced his concern about the feasibility of exploring such a dangerous site. Zatiel, however, was determined to proceed, despite the risks.
He barely stepped through the doors when a force sent him flying back, breaking his ribs and causing him to cough up blood. If not for his armor and chains, the damage would have been more severe.
Ezequiel and Sophia quickly moved to defend him, but no enemy emerged.
Gasping in pain, Zatiel consumed a pink pill from a ring—formerly Erick's—and readied himself to continue. Ezequiel, now in possession of Erick's spatial sack, stood alert for any further threats.
After consuming the pill, Zatiel's injuries began to heal, and he analyzed the recent event. 'The attack was purely physical, suggesting it might be a magical automaton guarding the laboratory.'
Assuring Ezequiel and Sophia that the threat seemed limited to guarding the entrance, Zatiel prepared to proceed with an alternate plan. Drawing runes with his blood, he completed an array and placed Erick at its center. Unlike before, Zatiel used his energy to summon the consciousness of the Abyss.
The presence of the Abyss was overpowering, materializing as a massive, grotesque mouth. Erick, regaining consciousness at the worst possible moment, witnessed his own demise as he was devoured whole by the abyssal entity.
Zatiel requested the consciousness to transport something from its domain. A vial containing a drop of blood emerged from the abyssal mouth before the entity vanished. Holding the vial, excitement filled Zatiel's eyes.
"Master, you are going to advance to Rank 1!" Ezequiel exclaimed, understanding Zatiel's intention. The advancement to Rank 1 was a significant milestone for a Neo-Demon, requiring a combination of abyss aura, mastery of a potential Rank Spell, and assimilation of a powerful bloodline into their Chaotic Cores. This process would grant them the strengths of a specific bloodline without the inherent limitations, a hallmark of the Neo-Demons' formidable nature.
Zatiel, acknowledging Ezequiel's excitement, began to meditate, preparing for the advancement. Ezequiel and Sophia positioned themselves protectively around him.
After hours of preparation, Zatiel activated his Chaotic Core, which began to rotate rapidly. He then made a deep cut over his heart, from which tentacles of runes extended. Breaking the vial, he allowed the tentacles to envelop the blood and bring it directly to his core, simultaneously healing the wound.
The moment the blood integrated with his core, Zatiel experienced an excruciating pain unlike any he had felt since his arrival in this world.
