Although Ery had survived the battle against the grand magus summoner, he found himself grappling with a new challenge. His injuries were severe, and his devouring ability had absorbed more than just spirit energy—it had also drawn in a deadly curse, a hex from the summoner's law of death.
It was a malevolent force that threatened to consu him from within. Fortunately, Ery was not entirely unprepared for such dark magic. He had encountered similar powers before, most notably when he had dealt with Magus Hecate of the Kronos faction. His past experiences had given him so insight into combating such curses.
However, the two cosmos grand magus was leagues beyond Hecate in strength, their power almost a hundred tis apart. The hex was far more potent, and it took Ery hours of intense concentration and willpower to begin breaking free from its grip.
As he struggled, he felt the familiar sensation of his soul force increasing exponentially. The absorption process was excruciating, each surge of power accompanied by waves of discomfort. [Soul force increases exponentially]
[Soul force increases exponentially]
Despite the pain and the constant battle within his own body, Ery could sense his strength growing. His soul force was reaching new heights, each incrent a testant to his resilience. However, this growth ca with its own set of concerns. Ery could feel a disturbing imbalance between his darkness and light energy, a disparity that threatened his equilibrium.
The darkness within him had always been a powerful force, but now it seed to be growing unchecked. The light, which had once balanced it, was being overshadowed, creating a dangerous instability. This imbalance was a source of anxiety for Ery, as he understood the risks it posed. If he lost control, the darkness could consu him, turning him into sothing he feared.
Hours later, Ery finally awoke in a comfortable bed, his body still aching but no longer in imdiate danger. As his vision cleared, he saw three won standing near him: Morgana, Rosia, and Tessa. Their expressions were a mix of relief and concern.
"You finally awake… this is great," Tessa said with joy, her smile lighting up her face.
It took Ery a few seconds to fully grasp his surroundings. The mories of the vault battle flooded back, and he recalled the dark flas that had helped him survive. He turned his gaze to Morgana, his expression serious.
"What you did was really dangerous," Ery said.
Morgana's eyes softened, but she remained silent. Ery found himself incredibly fortunate this ti. Facing a peak two-cosmos grand magus had been a daunting challenge, and any slight mistake could have led to disaster for both him and Morgana. As their eyes t, an unspoken bond passed between them. Morgana could feel his worry for her, just as Ery could sense her willingness to sacrifice herself for him.
Ery's thoughts raced. It was his lack of strength that put Morgana in danger, his inability to control his primal form led to such recklessness. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on him. Determined to beco stronger and more capable of protecting those he cared about.
His gaze softened as he looked at Morgana and earnestly said "Thank you," Afterward, Ery learned from Tessa about what had transpired during the 48 hours he had been unconscious. He absorbed the information with much relief. Once Karat's healers had checked on his condition, he walked outside to the yard of the guest villa, taking in the fresh air and the serene surroundings.
Standing under the open sky, Ery called forth his inner power and began to assess his condition.
[Analyze stat…]
[Law of Nature: 26 %]
[Law of Light: 21 %]
[Law of Space: 31%]
[Law of Devour: 14 (17) %]
[Law of Gravity: 10 %]
[Law of Sword: 5%]
[Law Comprehension: 107 (110)]
[Soul Force: 1102 (1168)] Ery noted the significant soul force gains from devouring a powerful grand magus proficient in darkness. However, he realized that the law of death, an unfamiliar domain, had not contributed to his comprehension, aside from augnting his Law of Devour.
He then allowed his soul to enter his domain, eager to assess the changes.
[Domain Size: 110 (125) square miles]
[Energy balance: Darkness 63 (67)%, Light 37 (33)%]
Once again, the balance grew further apart, worsening even before the use of the Myriad Spring of Life. There was a certain unrest within the spirit energy collected inside his domain. The expanding dark mountain and the newly created dark plains behind it were filled with ominous energy. Another major unrest lay on the island where the star-devouring beast rested. Ery could sense a growing restlessness within the devouring beast that was affecting his emotions.
This inner turmoil manifested as a gnawing hunger, an insatiable desire to devour anything in its path. Whispers filled his mind, insidious words that seed to erode his ntal stability.
"Who is it?" Ery muttered, feeling the unsettling presence
Knowing that the beast's soul was a projection of his own, Ery could only think of one higher being that was intertwined with all of this—the mysterious Khaos entity itself.
The situation was alarming enough for Ery to consider stopping the use of his primal transformation or devouring abilities until he had a feasible solution to his condition. Ery's thoughts were disrupted as he sensed the arrival of soone powerful. It was Grand Magus Hassa himself.
Seeing his arrival, Tessa said, "Father... Why are you here already? Just let him rest first..."
Lord Hassa's usual smile disappeared instantly. After giving a deep sigh, he said, "What an ungrateful daughter... I was also badly wounded, you know. Why don't you be concerned about my health?"
"But... but... you are fine already," Tessa replied in panic.
After a little chuckle, the Karat Lord stroked his daughter's head with a smile and then approached Ery. "I ca to personally express my gratitude for your help. For the faction, for , and for my daughter, thank you."
With a respectful deanor, Ery answered, "Lord Hassa, your daughter has helped us so much. It's only natural for us to return the favor."
"No, no, no… I know well what you and my daughter did together... It was mutual cooperation. This ti, however, we are clearly in your debt," Lord Hassa replied.
Everyone was surprised. Tessa and Rosia both gasped as they saw the Karat Lord bend his head to Ery, a gesture of deep sincerity and gratitude.
Lord Hassa straightened, his eyes filled with determination. "Now that you have recovered, let's talk about what we can do to repay the favor."
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