Chapter 37 - Devil in Human

Bong's fury ignited within him as the adventurers' arrogant demands continued. Anger surged through his veins, and he felt an overwhelming urge to put an end to their insolence.

With a cold determination, he prepared to shatter their pride of being part of the Empire and bring them to their knees. In an instant, he lunged forward, his movements swift and deliberate. Shadows seemed to coil around him, lending an eerie darkness to his figure as he advanced.

The adventurers, taken aback by his sudden aggression, hastily unsheathed their weapons and assumed defensive stances.

"Shadow Manipulation, " Bong activated the skill, his eyes glinted with a mixture of malice and superiority as he faced them. Without a word, he raised his hand, and the air around him seemed to quiver with an unsettling energy. Shadows stretched and writhed, manifesting into dark tendrils that shot forth towards the adventurers.

Caught off guard, the adventurers attempted to dodge and deflect the shadowy attacks, but Bong's mastery over his powers was undeniable. His attacks were relentless, striking with precision and speed. The battle raged on within the confines of the Dungeon, the clash of steel against shadows echoing in the dimly lit space. Bong's shadow tendrils engulfed the adventurers, casting them into an endless darkness that sent shivers down their spines.

As the fight intensified, Bong's expression remained unwavering, his eyes gleaming with a sinister resolve. The adventurers struggled to keep up with his onslaught, their defenses gradually wearing thin. Bong's movements were fluid and unpredictable, evading their attacks effortlessly while delivering precise strikes of his own. It became evident that he was not to be trifled with - his mastery over darkness and shadows was an overwhelming force to be reckoned with.

In the midst of the battle, a sense of dread began to settle over the adventurers. Their arrogance had been replaced by desperation, as they realized that they were facing an opponent far beyond their expectations.

With each calculated move, he drew closer to asserting his dominance over the situation, leaving the adventurers with a chilling realization: they were at the mercy of an entity that transcended their comprehension. In the face of absolute power, your status, symbols, and nobility do not matter.

As the battle reached its climax, Bong's eyes burned with an intensity that matched the inferno of his rage. His mastery over Hemokinesis came to the forefront, and he seized the opportunity to display its devastating potential. The blood of the fallen adventurers on the battlefield became a canvas for his sinister artistry.

With a sweep of his hand, Bong summoned the blood from their bodies, his fingers dancing with an almost macabre grace. He manipulated the crimson liquid with unparalleled finesse, causing it to swirl and writhe in the air. As the blood obeyed his command, it began to take on a different form - thousands of glistening, blood-red arrows emerged, their points sharp and deadly.

In an instant, the blood arrows shot forth like a torrential storm, hurtling toward the remaining adventurers with blinding speed. The air was filled with a haunting melody of whistling as the arrows sliced through the space, their malevolent aura casting a shadow of dread. The adventurers, still reeling from the earlier onslaught, had little time to react.

The blood arrows found their mark with unerring accuracy, piercing through armor and flesh alike. Agonized cries filled the air as the adventurers were struck, as the last of the blood arrows embedded themselves in the adventurers, with a final, commanding gesture, Bong dispersed the blood arrows, leaving behind a grim tableau of defeat and despair. Amidst the silence that followed, he stood as a dark sentinel, a harbinger of a force that defied mortal boundaries and spoke of an authority born from darkness itself.

"You were not even worthy to be in my command. Once filled with the pride of the Empire, now feel the weight of your shattered pride as you become my sustenance," Bong declared with a mixture of disdain and dark amusement. He stood poised, his fangs ready, and one by one, he bit each adventurer, draining them of their lifeblood.

As Bong began to sink his fangs into each adventurer, a dark aura enveloped the scene. The lifeless bodies of the adventurers started to disintegrate into dust, disappearing into the abyss.

[ALERT]

[Skill 'Nyxian Blood Eclipse' Activated]

[Skill 'Gluttony' activated. Obtained new Skill: 'Summoning']

[Skill 'Gluttony' activated. Obtained new Skill: 'Illusion Casting']

['Summoning' will convert to a class-specific skill.]

[Skill Acquired : 'Shadow Summon']

[Desc :This skill allows you to shape shadows into a creature. This spectral entity is composed of inky darkness and moves with eerie grace. It follows your commands, enveloping foes in darkness, draining their energy, and even hiding within shadows. They can also be used to eavesdrop while they hide in their shadow or to protect or attack the person to whom they are attached]

[Skill 'Illusion Casting' and 'Nightmare Illusion' can be combined Y/N]

"Yes," Bong ordered the system to combine those two skills.

[Skill Combined : 'Haunting Mirage' ]

[Desc : Skill have the power to create vivid and terrifying illusions that penetrate deep into the minds of their victims, invoking their darkest fears and anxieties]

[ALERT]

[LEVEL UP]

[LEVEL UP]

.. x3

[Passive Skill Acquired : Ephemeral Bloodbond]

[Desc : Your shadow and blood attack now add a debuff, enables the skill to strike a target with an attack that not only deals physical damage but also inflicts lingering shadow-based damage over time or blood-based damage over time]

"Show my status, " Bong commanded.

[ALERT]

[Name: Bong Jum]

[Species: Immortal Bat]

[Class: Shape Shadow Bat]

[Level: 75]

[Health: 105800/105800]

[Mana: 92000/92000]

[Innate Skill: Immortality, Gluttony]

[Skills: Shadow Stealth (Proficiency: Masterful), Sonic Sense (Proficiency: Masterful), Shadow Manipulation (Proficiency: Masterful), Dark Flight (Proficiency: Masterful), Hypnotic Transfixion (Proficiency: Expert), Mimicry Mastery (Proficiency: Masterful), Hemokinesis (Proficiency: Proficient), Haunting Mirage (Proficiency: Skilled)]

[Passive Skill: Nyxian Blood Eclipse (Proficiency: Masterful), Bane Cleansing (Proficiency: Skilled), Ephemeral Bloodbond (Proficiency: Beginner)]

As the intense fight between Bong and the adventurers came to an end, a somber silence settled over the dungeon. Bong found himself seated on a rock, lost in contemplation as he looked for his newfound skills and checked all the alerts from the system.

Suddenly, within the shroud of shadows, a figure appeared. Eventually, the figure knelt before Bong, a gesture of deference and submission.

"Master, please forgive my grievous error. I am filled with shame and regret for arriving late and leaving you to face those pathetic humans alone. Your mercy is all I seek," Eclipse implored, his voice trembling with sincerity as he knelt before Bong, his demeanor a mix of humility and loyalty.

"You need not worry; it has been a considerable amount of time since I last interacted with humans. In a way, it was quite an amusing encounter," Bong responded.

"Eclipse, you see, there is a peculiar joy in dismantling the pride of humans. It's a satisfaction that surpasses even the act of breaking their bones," Bong added with a slightly eerie grin, a gleam of amusement in his eyes.

"Yes, Master. Your words carry profound wisdom. I shall etch them into the very core of my being," Eclipse replied, his respectful tone filled with a sense of determination as he knelt before Bong.

"By the way, I can't see Seraphina. Where is she?" Bong inquired, his curiosity tinged with a hint of concern.

"Master, Seraphina is currently attending to matters in the nearby village, diligently ensuring the preservation of our facade and maintaining control over the situation," Eclipse replied with a touch of respect and unwavering loyalty in his expression and tone.