Chapter 161: Hidden Helper
Damian’s eyes fluttered open, the familiar ceiling coming into view with its ornate chandeliers hanging above him. There was no relief in his gaze, no excitement at returning to his body. What filled his expression instead was caution, a quiet unease that refused to fade.
The Abyss had submitted too easily.
That alone made no sense.
An entity like that would never yield without reason, and the absence of resistance only made its intentions more suspicious. Damian could not see through it, not completely, and that uncertainty sat heavily in his chest. But how was a mortal supposed to fully grasp the schemes of something that had existed for tens of thousands of years?
’I’ll just be careful.’
That was the only conclusion he could reach.
He pushed the thought aside, unwilling to dwell on something he could not yet resolve, and shifted his focus to what he had gained. His body remained still, pinned beneath the warmth of his wives who were still fast asleep, their breathing soft and steady. He did not want to disturb them.
[Possession activated!]
Buzz.
His soul tore free from his body in a violent surge. One moment he lay on the bed, the next he stood at its foot, weightless and detached.
The world had changed.
Color drained from everything, leaving behind a dull, gray expanse where forms still existed but lacked life. The air moved differently here, thick and fluid, as though he stood beneath deep waters where every motion carried resistance.
"This is the spirit world?" Damian asked, curiosity flashing through his eyes.
[Incorrect. This is the veil standing between the mortal and spiritual. Consider it a safe zone where mortal souls wait until they are retrieved by angels or demons and guided to the afterlife.]
"I see..."
He nodded slowly, taking in the explanation with genuine surprise. He had always imagined the spirit realm as a reflection of the world, a place where the dead simply continued to exist. It seemed he was wrong. Death truly meant removal from this world entirely.
His gaze drifted toward the window, curiosity pulling him forward as he wondered what lay beyond the room. He took a step, but before he could move further, the sound of chains dragging echoed faintly.
His expression tightened.
Looking down, he saw it clearly.
At the center of his chest was a small, swirling black void, and from it extended a thick, dark chain that stretched back toward his physical body, which still lay on the bed surrounded by his wives.
[The chain links you to your mortal body. If it is severed, your body dies.]
Damian frowned slightly at the sight. The chain felt intrusive, exposed, a visible reminder of his vulnerability despite knowing its importance. Still, the system had stated that this place was a safe zone, so there was no immediate danger.
He let it go.
With a simple motion, he moved toward the window, his body gliding effortlessly as if swimming through invisible currents. He passed through the glass without resistance and emerged outside.
The city stretched before him, yet everything was muted. Buildings stood tall, streets were filled with motion, yet all of it felt distant and hollow. Sounds reached him, but they were dulled, as though filtered through layers of reality.
"Not the best view, but not bad," Damian murmured, nodding in quiet approval. It was different, unfamiliar, and that alone made it interesting.
"Can I use my abilities in this form?"
[Yes. Your authority resides within your soul, not your body. That is why those who seek your power must consume your soul. Losing fragments of your soul means losing fragments of your authority. Once fractured enough, others can challenge your will and your control over all forms of power you possess.]
Buzz.
A cold chill ran down his spine as the meaning settled in. His eyes widened slightly, realization striking him with full force.
"Thieving swines..."
So that was it.
That was the true goal of the Abyss.
By collecting his soul fragments, it could eventually strip him of his authority entirely. It would not just take his power, it would make him dependent, forcing him to pay for access to abilities that were originally his.
Damian’s expression darkened as anger rose within him. He had let that thing walk away without crushing it, and now he saw the full extent of its intentions.
It had planned to use what belonged to him... to steal everything from him.
"Why didn’t you tell me about the dangers of selling my soul fragments?" he growled, his voice laced with frustration as he turned his attention inward toward the system.
[You did not ask.]
The response was simple.
Too simple.
Damian’s jaw tightened, irritation flaring at the answer. He knew better than to believe the system was purely mechanical. He had interacted with it long enough to understand there was something more behind it. That response felt deliberate.
Yet, just as quickly as the anger rose, it faded.
A different thought replaced it.
"What are you, exactly?"
[A system constructed and maintained by the remnants of your predecessors, designed to guide you and prevent you from repeating their mistakes while assisting you on your journey.]
"Ooh?"
Damian blinked, genuine surprise flashing across his face. He had always assumed the system came with the inheritance of Lust itself, but now he understood it was something left behind intentionally. A tool, crafted and refined by those who came before him.
That realization changed everything.
At first, the system had been distant, almost indifferent, but the moment he accepted his role, it began responding more openly, offering information without resistance. He had never questioned it before.
Now he saw it clearly.
There was no greater advantage than this.
A source of knowledge that could answer anything he asked.
He did not need to rely on anyone else.
Not even his wives.
Damian narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts sharpening as he decided to test this new understanding.
"What do you think the Abyss is trying to do by returning my soul fragments and relinquishing control?"
Silence followed.
Then the system responded.
[Based on accumulated experience, it is most likely baiting you into relying on its power. By upgrading its talent tree, its strength will increase enough to stage another rebellion, but on a larger scale. Demons and angels are petty. They do not release resentment easily.]
...
Damian went completely still.
For a moment, he said nothing, his mind racing as he processed the answer.
He did not know which unsettled him more.
The fact that the system could analyze something this deeply or the fact that the Abyss was even more dangerous than he had imagined.