The Abyssal Maw

The distant screams of burning demonic kobolds reverberated in his ears as icy sweat beaded on his forehead.

'I messed up!'

Despite his earlier self-reminder, he still blundered in this battle.

Some would say no one could have predicted that the leader would transform, that dark tentacles oozing abyssal mist would replace its cut limbs, or that its pierced chest would squirm under his blade.

But deep down, he knew he should have adapted his plan to cover the 'what ifs'.

'In my worries for my subjects, I made things worse. And now I can't use my demonic essence, or I'll go zerk and kill them myself after the leader. Even if I don't, without the tier-up healing, I'll suffer from long-term issues.'

He gritted his teeth, the weight of this lapse in judgement weighing on his shoulders as he lept back before the leader could strike him.