The Damned Demon
chapter-167

Asher chuckled as he took a look at his rewards,

[ +10,000 Life Crystals ]

[ +1 Shadowstep Boots ]

Item Name : Shadowstep Boots

Level: 15

Grade: Legendary

Durability: 900 / 900

Effect: Step through shadows upto a maximum range of 10 meters [ Cooldown : 30 seconds ]

Bonus: +50 DEX

Passive: When surrounded by darkness, +50 DEX

"So what are these rewards based on? The one who quickly figures out jumping to death is the way out?" Asher asked curiously since the rewards he got were quite handsome but he didn't figure out the riddle until he got desperate.

Sabina silently looked at him for a moment, her eyes narrowed in thought, "I'm not entirely sure myself," she admitted, "but from my experience, it seems to be a combination of factors."

She gestured towards Asher and continued, "You managed to defeat more than fifty spirits, which is an impressive feat. To put it into perspective, the most any other expert has managed to kill was around forty or so. After that, it just became too difficult for them to continue."

Asher's eyes widened at this revelation, realizing the magnitude of his accomplishment.

Sabina continued, "That's why only 'death could save them from what was ahead.' The trial was designed to push candidates to their limits, but also to see if they know to acknowledge their limits instead of foolishly pressing on."

With a smirk, Asher chuckled and said, "Well, it's a good thing I wisened up in the end, isn't it? So, are you still up for letting me lend a hand with your experiments today?"

Sabina's lips curved into a sultry smile, her eyes shining with mischief, "Oh, I thought you had forgotten about little ol' me," she purred playfully, "But since you remembered and asked so nicely, why don't you come to my castle this evening? I promise to make it a memorable day for you."

A sense of danger seemed to linger behind her words, and Asher couldn't help but feel like he was stepping into the tigress' den. Still, never one to back down from a challenge, he met her gaze with his confident, unwavering eyes, "I'll be there," he replied with a curve of his lips.

…

In the training room,

Asher was sitting cross-legged, ready to comprehend the next part of the 'Tome of Fallen Souls'.

He could feel he was ready to comprehend the next part after reaching level 13.

The pages containing Rakshasa's abilities were unlocked. And so he closed his eyes to begin engraving the runes in his mana circuit.

But the moment he did, he gasped as he found his mind getting sucked into somewhere else and losing sense of his surroundings, "What the…"

Asher blinked in surprise as he found himself standing in a hellish landscape, the air thick with a sulfurous stench and the ground beneath his feet burning hot.

He looked around, disoriented for a moment, before his gaze was drawn upwards to the colossal figure looming before him.

The Rakshasa stood tall, its gargantuan form nearly scraping the crimson skies above. Asher could feel the immense power radiating from the spirit, its presence an oppressive force that made it difficult to breathe.

The Rakshasa's four arms flexed menacingly, its eyes burning with an intensity that seemed to pierce through Asher's very soul.

He knew it was just a fragment of the soul of the real Rakshasa that was contained in the grimoire.

"You dare to learn my secrets, mortal?" the Rakshasa boomed, its voice echoing through the hellscape like rolling thunder, "Then watch closely and see if you have what it takes to comprehend my power. It won't be as easy as that weakling Girgal. But know this: failure means your doom."

"This wouldn't be my first rodeo," Asher refused to let the spirit's intimidating words shake his resolve, making the Rakshasa let out a snort.

Asher narrowed his eyes, focusing all his attention on the Rakshasa as it began to unleash its abilities. The Rakshasa moved with incredible speed and agility, despite its colossal size, displaying an almost artistic mastery of combat and spellcasting.

With each passing moment, Asher struggled to keep up with the Rakshasa's movements, desperately trying to absorb every nuance of its terrifying power.

He pushed his mind to its limits, attempting to deconstruct and analyze the Rakshasa's techniques and spells, even as he fought against the crushing weight of the spirit's presence.

As the lesson continued, the boundary between reality and the hellish realm Asher found himself in began to blur. He could feel himself teetering on the edge of destruction, acutely aware that one misstep could send him plummeting into oblivion.

And yet, Asher refused to surrender. Fueled by an unyielding determination, he pressed on, determined to learn the Rakshasa's secrets and emerge victorious against all odds.

Asher stared in awe as he witnessed the Rakshasa in action. The spirit's body seemed to pulsate with raw power, its four muscular arms moving with deadly precision.

It was both terrifying and captivating to watch. As he observed the Rakshasa's movements, he began to grasp the complexity of its abilities.

The Rakshasa's multiple arms seemed to extend and retract with an almost unnatural fluidity. Asher realized that this ability not only allowed the spirit to attack and defend with a ferocious speed but also made it extremely unpredictable.

Each arm could move independently, acting as a separate entity while working in tandem with the others.

This made the Rakshasa an incredibly formidable opponent, as it could simultaneously engage multiple adversaries or overwhelm a single target with a barrage of strikes.

In addition, Asher noticed that the Rakshasa was capable of casting multiple spells at once, further enhancing its combat capabilities.

The spirit's eyes glowed with an otherworldly energy as it weaved complex incantations with each of its hands.

Asher marveled at the sheer mastery of magic the Rakshasa demonstrated, effortlessly unleashing torrents of elemental fury and powerful curses upon its enemies.

He lost the sense of the passage of time and didn't know how many hours, days, or weeks had passed. Time seemed to be the least of his concerns.

As Asher continued to watch, he suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of dread wash over him.

The Rakshasa let out a guttural roar that seemed to shake the very air around it. This roar had the power to instill paralyzing fear into the hearts of its foes. Asher felt his legs wobble, and for a moment, it seemed as if his body would betray him.

"No…Don't give…in…" He took a deep breath, fighting against the creeping terror that threatened to consume him. Through sheer force of will, he managed to resist the Rakshasa's fear-inducing abilities.

The Rakshasa finally came to a halt, its massive form still exuding an aura of menace. It turned its fiery gaze toward Asher, its voice booming as it spoke, "Impressive, mortal. I did not expect you to last this long in the face of my power. You have managed to grasp some of my powers, but do not let pride cloud your judgment."

Asher's chest heaved as he panted, sweat dripping from his brow as he tried to catch his breath.

The intense pressure from the Rakshasa's presence had taken its toll on him, and he could feel the exhaustion creeping into his limbs. He didn't even have the energy to speak.

The spirit continued, its voice tinged with a mix of amusement and grudging respect, "What you have witnessed today is but a fraction of my true capabilities. There is much more to learn, young one. Your journey has only just begun, and when you are ready to delve deeper, you shall discover the full extent of what I have to offer."

As the Rakshasa's words echoed through the hellish landscape, Asher felt a surge of determination wash over him.

He knew that he had only scratched the surface of the Rakshasa's powers, but he also realized that he had come farther than he ever thought possible.

With a final nod of acknowledgment from the Rakshasa, the hellish realm began to fade away, and Asher found himself back in the world of the living, his mind filled with the knowledge he had gained during his harrowing ordeal.

As he took a moment to catch his breath, he couldn't help but feel both humbled and emboldened by the experience.

Without even bothering to freshen up, he weakly smiled as he checked out the messages that popped into his head,

Talent (Active: Rakshasa -> -30% DEX -20% INT ):

[ Havoc Arms - You possess the ability to grow four arms of the Rakshasa, allowing you to cast multiple spells at the same time at 20% less cost (0/10) )

Skill (Active: Rakshasa):

[ Rakshasa's Roar - Unleashes the powerful, terrifying roar of the Rakshasa that instills fear and chaos among your enemies. Upon activation, all enemies within a 25-meter radius around you have their DEX reduced by 30%, and their ability to cast spells crippled for 5 seconds. (Cost: 2000 MP) (Cooldown: 10 seconds) ( Cast time: 1.5 seconds) (0 / 5) ]

Asher slowly stood up, and he couldn't help but break into a grin as the knowledge of the Rakshasa's abilities settled within him. He could almost feel the raw power coursing through his veins, urging him to embrace the darkness and unleash whatever he learned.

For a moment, he simply stood there, basking in the newfound power. The ability to grow multiple arms, casting numerous spells at once, and the terrifying Rakshasa's Roar—all these abilities were now within his grasp.

He flexed his muscles and imagined the rush of battle, using the abilities he learned now.

However, he knew his time would come when he could test his newfound abilities in a real battle.

For now, he felt it was time to call it a day since he checked the time, and it was already evening.

A certain lady was waiting for him, and as a gentleman, he couldn't keep her waiting. Can he?