Chapter 12:

The abyssal demons originated from the Demon Temple deep within the Winter Forest. This fact is almost universally known across the continent today.

In the eyes of most scholars and clergy, the Demon Temple was built by a Demon Lord in ancient times. After being defeated by the great goddess, the demon Lord, unwilling to accept defeat, left an endless curse within the Demon Temple to bring endless disasters to mankind, ultimately to exterminate all life on the continent.

The power left by the Demon Lord infected and transformed the creatures near the Demon Temple into the terrifying abyssal demons.

However, the Demon Temple itself is considered to be without consciousness, merely a building storing powerful forces.

But now, in Adrian's memory,

Years ago, a heretic, who was executed by the church, had claimed that a deity resided in the Demon Temple! If this deity was pleased, it would grant endless treasures, powerful abilities, or even infinite vitality! The condition was that you had to pay a certain price!

Of course, you also had to be extremely lucky! After all, those who could find the Demon Temple were rare. The Church firmly denied such claims and burned the heretic who made these statements alive.

At that time, as a fairly devout believer, Adrian believed in the Church'S statement.

However,

Now, Adrian couldn't help but start pondering the truthfulness of those words,

Because, after hearing that statement and turning around,

A sphere radiating with crimson light and surrounded by countless blood-colored butterflies suddenly appeared in Adrian's vision! The moment he saw this sphere, an unknown pressure from the depths of his soul forced him to kneel on the ground!

There was no powerful energy pressure around the sphere, no magic, no innate energy, nor the abyssal demon's unique black shadow energy. It was simply emitting light, and yet this touch of crimson light made Adrian tremble uncontrollably, gasping for breath.

His instincts told him,

This seemingly powerless sphere was more terrifying than any being he had ever encountered! Even the giant grey wolf he had encountered earlier could not compare to it!

At that time, even the abyssal demons growling in the distance fell silent at the appearance of the sphere!

Under Adrian's shocked gaze, those demons actually prostrated themselves on the ground!

"What is this...?"

Moreover,

'This place'

'Seems to be an abandoned temple, right?'

'An ancient temple in the Winter Forest, surrounded by abyssal demons?!'

'My God, have I really stumbled upon the Demon Temple?'

Realizing this, Adrian immediately held his breath, sweat involuntarily dripping down his forehead. After silently observing the red sphere for a moment, Adrian tremulously asked,

"Is this... is this the Demon Temple?"

"Uh, this..."

Hearing Adrian's words, the sphere seemed somewhat speechless, and then its tone even carried a hint of helplessness,

"This name... sigh, nevermind. If you're referring to the place where abyssal demons were born, then yes. This is the Demon Temple."

"Then, are you the Demon Lord?!!"

"Uh..."

The sphere fell into a brief silence again,

"I really don't understand where these titles come from. Anyway, just think of me as the demon lord"

"Is, is that really true?!"

Upon receiving the affirmative answer from the sphere, although Adrian's heart was still uneasy, he began to feel an indescribable excitement!

If what the heretic had said was true! If he was fortunate enough to come to the Demon Temple! Then he had the chance to make a deal with the Demon Lord! As long as he was willing to become a servant of the Demon Lord, he could gain powerful strength! With this, he could return to his territory and annihilate his uncle's family and all those foolish people who betrayed him!!

Being thrown into the Winter Forest might not be a disaster, but an opportunity!

Realizing this,

Adrian suddenly started kowtowing frantically to the sphere in front of him! Blood splattered everywhere,

"Demon, Demon Lord! I, Adrian, am willing to serve the Demon Lord forever! I only hope that the Demon Lord can grant me enough power to achieve my revenge!! After that, I..."

Adrian kept shouting excitedly,

Trying to show his worth to the sphere in front of him, his desire for power was written all over his face!

After expressing his loyalty, Adrian anxiously watched the sphere, waiting for the final answer from the Demon Lord,

"Hehe~"

A laugh without any discernible emotion echoed in Adrian's mind,

"Okay~. I was planning to help you anyway, your willingness just saves me a lot of time."

The next moment,

Under Adrian's expectant gaze, a crimson space magic circle outlined itself in front of him! As the magic circle operated, a gem emitting purple light appeared in front of Adrian!

Feeling the vast energy emanating from the purple gem, akin to a sea of stars, Adrian's eyes sparkled with greed!

At this moment, the sphere's voice, like a devil's whisper, slowly transmitted into Adrian's mind,

"Hold this gem, and it will give you strength. It will rapidly enhance your abilities."

"Hold it?! I understand!!"

Hearing this, Adrian's face showed no more unease, only unprecedented excitement. The fallen noble didn't hesitate and scrambled towards it,

"But remember, you must let go after reaching the sixth tier. If you absorb too much energy, you bear the consequences,"

"I understand!"

Adrian hastily responded and then immediately grabbed the purple gem without any hesitation!

Boom~~

With a ground-shaking force! The moment he held the gem, a strange purple energy, like liquid, burst out from the gem! Like a tsunami, it swept over the entire hall! Then this violent power continuously surged into Adrian's body through his arm!

'??!!'

'Ah~~~!!'

'This feeling! It's amazing!!'

Feeling the increasingly powerful energy in his body, Adrian unconsciously showed an intoxicated expression, even his brown eyes gradually revealing a hint of madness.

Fourth level,

Peak of the fourth level,

Fifth level,

Peak of the fifth level!

In just a few seconds, Adrian had ascended directly from the fourth to the sixth level! It should be noted that even for a person with exceptional talent, advancing from the fourth to the sixth level would typically require several decades! And him? He had reached this unattainable tier for ordinary people in just a few seconds!

A feeling of ecstasy spread wildly in Adrian's mind like a virus.

After reaching the sixth level,

According to the sphere, he should have stopped. However, the rapid expansion of his strength and the side effects of that strange power made Adrian's greed in his heart soar alongside his growing power!

He didn't plan to stop!

'Just a bit more power! I... I might become a Saint level(level 7)! At that time, I could do whatever I want in the entire kingdom!!'

Thinking this,

Under the indifferent gaze of the sphere, Adrian kept absorbing the power within the gem!

'A bit more,'

'And a bit more...'

Moments later,

Adrian's actions abruptly stopped. Not because he had become a Sage, but due to an intense feeling of discomfort inside his body. His body suddenly showed numerous cracks, which rapidly increased in number and spread wildly...

"Eh??!!"

After Adrian uttered a small exclamation, an overwhelming power uncontrollably burst from his body, causing his flesh to explode,

Boom!!

Accompanied by splashing blood and flying internal organs,

Adrian exploded on the spot, turning into a pile of fragmented flesh…

--

Watching this scene unfold,

The red sphere, which is the consciousness condensate of Yumo, sighed helplessly and with frustration,

"Ah, why did it fail again."

'Damn it'

'How many times has it been now...'

....

The Shadow force is the primary energy within the abyssal demons. This power is stronger and more terrifying than magic, fighting spirit, and even the holy power of the Church! It is the source of the abyssal demons' strength!

However,

This power has a significant flaw.

Those who use this power tend to be extremely violent, and if the recipient is not strong enough, they might fall into an uncontrollable frenzy. This is why most abyssal demons are mindless, bloodthirsty monsters.

At the same time, this power also stimulates the desire for power within the organism....

The purple crystal summoned by Yumo is a concentrated form of Shadow force she personally crafted. The moment Adrian touched the crystal, the pale purple Shadow force surged into his body, transforming the body of this marquis' son!

It granted him immense power,

But at the same time, the side effects of the Shadow force activated his hidden desire for greed. If Adrian could control this desire, he could undoubtedly succeed and become a terrifying being with the Shadow force.

But, reality has no ifs.

Controlled by greed, Adrian aimed to gain more power, to reach the seventh level. But his body did not have the capacity to withstand it, and he was ultimately killed by the rampaging Shadow force.

Exploded on the spot.

What was left was only the scattered flesh and blood...

"Ah, failed again,"

The red sphere, the collective consciousness of Yumo, sighed helplessly,

Then, with Yumo's permission, the abyssal demons lurking on the other side of the lake quickly flew over the lake and entered the palace! Greedily devouring the flesh and blood on the ground, absorbing the remnants of the Shadow force in the air.

After all

'We Can't waste it, right?'

Besides, Yumo doesn't like her body (inside the temple) being littered with such nauseating remains...

As the abyssal demons excitedly devoured the gift given by their mistress, the purple crystal slowly floated in front of Yumo.

Looking at the crystal she had painstakingly created,

Yumo's surrounding red light gradually dimmed, seemingly displaying her disappointment, as this was not the first failure.

"Sigh, I must improve it."

Yumo muttered to herself with mixed feelings,

And as she pondered,

A huge grey figure slowly entered the hall from the entrance. It was a giant wolf covered in snow-white fur, radiating intense Shadow force. If Adrian were still alive, he would be astonished to find that this giant wolf was the very abyssal demon that had been relentlessly chasing and toying with him.

His finding the Demon Temple wasn't just good luck...

The giant wolf, filled with a violent aura, stepped into the hall, even crushing Adrian's exploded head under its foot, scattering brain matter. With this, the remains on the ground were completely dissociated from their original form.

Seeing the giant wolf come home, Yumo shifted her attention from the crystal, and a gentle voice sounded,

"Welcome back, Limo."

Hearing Yumo's words, the giant wolf's tail seemed to wag excitedly,

Then,

A terrifying surge of grey Shadow force erupted from the giant wolf's body, forming a huge energy vortex around it!

As the power flowed and the magic circle emerged,

The body of the giant wolf began to shrink visibly and gradually transformed into a human form.

After a wave of grey light subsided,

The energy vortex dissipated,

And a naked, slender girl appeared in front of Yumo,

Her skin was delicate and pure white, but with long red hair draped over her shoulders, her exquisite features could drive anyone insane. Combined with her fluffy beast ears and large tail, she appeared even more lively and adorable! However, as the girl opened her blood-red eyes,

Her eyes filled with brutality and bloodlust,

Her sharp canine teeth also revealed in her mouth,

The atmosphere around the girl suddenly changed, becoming filled with a deadly aura, like a beast about to attack! A cold air unreservedly emanated from her, rapidly dropping the temperature in the hall! The abyssal demons feasting on Adrian's remains felt this chilling aura and shuddered,

That higher-level oppression was not something they could resist.

Feeling the terrifying gaze locked onto them,

The common abyssal demons, usually terrifying to ordinary people, pitifully whimpered and then fled the Demon Temple, hiding in the forest.

For a moment,

The vast Demon Temple became empty once again,

Leaving only the floating red sphere, the surrounding blood butterflies, and the fiercely looking beast-eared girl.

However,

Seeing the abyssal demons wisely retreating, the beast-eared girl, Limo, reined in her hostile aura. The icy sternness on her face instantly vanished, replaced by a particularly bright smile!

"Mommy!! I'm back!!"

Under Yumo's helpless gaze,

Limo hopped over to her,

"Mom, Mom!! I've captured those exiled guys you wanted!!!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the girl gently waved her hand,

A grey Shadow force burst out of her, forming two grey energy chains! Under the girl's control, the grey chains swiftly shot outside the hall, directly dragging two unconscious men into the hall,

Pulling them in front of Yumo,

Then, Limo waved her hands in front of her mother, seemingly excitedly claiming credit,

"Look, look, these are the two!!"

Looking at the two bloody, half-dead men on the ground, missing arms and legs, Yumo felt a sense of helplessness in her heart.

These two fifth-level men must have tried to resist Limo, or they wouldn't be in such a state,

'Sigh,'

'This child, her hands are neither light nor heavy...'

'Hmm,'

'Well, at least it's better than before. In the past, when she went out to capture people, she always brought back a pile of mincemeat.'

Thinking this, Yumo let it go,

The words she wanted to use to teach Limo a lesson were swallowed back down,

A red Quiet Shadow force gently rippled around the sphere, forming a hand shape, and gently rubbed the beast-eared girl's head,

"Very good, my little child is really amazing~"

"Hehe~~"

Limo responded with a sweet smile, her beast ears twitching, and her tail wagging excitedly. After all, for her, nothing was more delightful and pleasing than receiving her mother's praise.

However,

The next moment,

Yumo's tone suddenly changed,

"But, Limo! How many times have I told you! After transforming into a human, remember to wear clothes!! You silly girl!! Are my words just wind in your ears?!"

Limo: "Meow??"