Chapter 158: Asmodesus’ Offer
The Ninefold Samsara Firefox Skill had been his trump card for a long time now. It was the technique he relied on when things got desperate, the edge that allowed him to stand against enemies far stronger than himself. Yet it had always carried a limitation that held him back from unleashing its full potential.
Volume.
The skill was a technique that created several compressed white flames shaped like eyes. Each one carried a portion of his consciousness, allowing them to track and hunt their target no matter how far they ran. It was precise, deadly, and relentless, but it was limited.
There was a cap.
Every time he fought against enemies like Duke Haborym, he was forced to improvise. He had to release all the stored compressed flames at once and manually manipulate them just to match the overwhelming volume of attacks thrown at him. It strained him, slowed him down, and left openings he could not afford.
That limitation was gone now.
He finally had access to the Samsara Fox Fire just like he did with every other fox flame.
No compression. No cap. No restriction.
This was the biggest upgrade he had gained today. The thought of combining this with his newly unlocked three-tailed physiology made his blood surge with excitement. If his flames were already terrifying, multiplying that power threefold would push them into something far beyond ordinary.
Damian could feel it already. The difference was not subtle.
It was overwhelming.
A faint grin spread across his face as a dangerous thought crossed his mind.
He was itching for a rematch with Duke Haborym.
"If only I had this power when I fought that bastard. I wouldn’t have lost face by relying on the abyss." He sighed, his tone filled with regret.
He would have preferred to beat Duke Haborym into the ground with his own strength, break his pride, and send him crawling back to the underworld with nothing but humiliation to cling to. The kind of defeat that would make a demon of his caliber question his own existence.
That would have been satisfying.
Far more satisfying than watching the Abyss devour him.
Abyss.
Damian’s expression turned cold instantly as his gaze shifted toward his second talent tree. The black, oppressive structure stood silently in the distance, radiating an eerie presence that never failed to unsettle him.
But then his eyes narrowed.
Behind it, partially concealed within the desolate landscape, stood another tree. Smaller, quieter, yet undeniably present.
[Asura Talent Tree Rejuvenation Process: 0%]
[Living Arts: 0%]
[Primal Soul: 0%]
[Elder Arts: 0%]
"What?" Damian’s voice came out low, laced with genuine surprise.
He knew he had absorbed the power of an Asura, but he had not expected it to manifest as a complete talent tree of its own.
"Don’t tell me you are surprised?" Asmodeus’ amused voice echoed from the gates.
Damian did not turn, but his attention shifted instantly.
"Why do you think you cannot access those powers despite them residing within you?"
A faint tremor passed through the space as the voice continued.
"It is because the Abyss gatekeeps them all. Imagine gaining the power of a Sin with the help of the Abyss. It would be useless because you will not be able to use it against me, and even if you try to use the power of the Abyss against me, it will be useless because you will just be handing over the power of Lust to it as well. Can you see the flaw in Lin Qui’s plan?"
Buzz.
Damian’s eyes narrowed slowly.
The logic was sound. Too sound.
Any power he gained through the Abyss came with a cost. Not just his soul, but control. Everything remained within its grasp.
So what was the point of gaining strength if he could not truly wield it?
"Instead of relying on its strength, you can rely on mine to break its authority."
Buzz.
Damian finally turned his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the massive gate. He remained silent for several seconds, weighing every word carefully. Asmodeus was not someone to trust, but neither was the Abyss something he could handle alone.
"What do you mean?" Damian asked, his voice cold and controlled.
A soft, mischievous giggle echoed through the darkness. Asmodeus was in no rush. The fact that Damian had not rejected him outright was enough.
"First, you need to understand what you are up against."
The space trembled under his voice.
"Just like us, the Abyss is sealed away, but it is much stronger. Because of this, it can manifest its will beyond the seal and challenge your authority. However, the will beyond the seal has limited power, a power only an original Prince of Hell can tame."
Damian’s frown deepened as suspicion crept into his thoughts. The explanation made sense. Too much sense.
"So how are you supposed to handle it when you are sealed?"
For a moment, silence followed.
Then three pairs of eyes opened within the darkness of the gate. Their cold, ancient gaze fell on him, heavy and suffocating.
"Grant me permission to lord over your vessel briefly, just like it does. Only in my hands can your true potential be displayed."
Damian’s hand rose slowly, covering his lips as he pondered. The request was outrageous.
Letting Asmodeus take control of his body was no different from handing himself over to the Abyss.
What if he never gave it back?
"We can sign a Faustian bargain if you fear I will not relinquish control. Not even gods can go against their word." Asmodeus added, his voice smooth and deliberate.
It felt like the demon could see through every layer of his thoughts.
"And what is in it for you?" Damian asked, his eyes sharp.
Why would a being like this help him for nothing?
"While you regain control of all the abilities acquired using the Abyss’s power, I wish to remain in possession of those four soul fragments we will recover, and one more for the effort."
"No."
Damian turned immediately and began walking away toward the desolate plains of his consciousness.
"Wait, we can forget the extra soul fragment!" Asmodeus called out, his voice laced with urgency, but Damian did not stop.
The entire point of confronting the Abyss was to reclaim what was his. There was no scenario where he would recover his soul fragments only to hand them over to another demon.
He might not be the smartest, but he was not a fool.
There was no way he would allow someone like Asmodeus to gain control over him.
He would rather deal with the Abyss himself.
Still, the conversation had not been useless. Damian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he continued walking. Now he understood the problem clearly.
If he could overpower the Abyss, then everything would return to him. His soul fragments, stolen powers and authority.
And for that He needed no one.