Incubus Ascension

Liam stood in the dimly lit back room of Patrick’s shop, the air thick with the scent of oiled steel and old leather. His fingers still ached from the earlier skirmish, but it was nothing compared to the knot of unease twisting in his gut. The girls—Ast and the others—hovered close, their faces pale but determined. He had dragged them into this mess, and the weight of that responsibility pressed on him like a physical thing. ’I won’t let them get hurt again. Not after everything.’

He turned to Ast, voice low but steady. "What’s the problem with this one?"

Ast lifted one of the knives from the bundle. Its edge gleamed with an unnatural violet hue, catching the lantern light like spilled poison. She met his eyes, her usual sharp confidence tempered by something darker. "This knife is very dangerous, you know."

She turned it slowly in her hand, letting the violet edge shimmer. "Beyond the sleeping effect... it has another. It can drain the power from whoever it cuts and transfer it straight to the holder. And this doesn’t have a time limit."

Liam’s stomach tightened. Power theft with no expiration. That kind of weapon didn’t belong in ordinary hands. Before he could respond, a familiar blue window flashed in his vision.

**Quest Received: Destroy the Viper Fang Factory**

**Time Limit: 3 Days**

**Failure: Death of Liam and the girls.**

The words burned behind his eyes. Three days. Failure meant the end—for him and for them. His jaw clenched as cold resolve settled over the fear. He had failed people before. Not this time.

Liam snatched the violet knife and held it up, shaking it in front of Patrick. "Where are these knives made? Whose viper is behind this?"

Patrick ran a hand over his balding head, sweat beading on his brow. The merchant looked smaller now, cornered by the truth. "Viper... he’s the local manager for the Nyx Group in this town. The knives come from his hideout. Base is in the Eastern District." He swallowed hard. "That zone is lawless. Even the Knights turn a blind eye. They can’t afford to clean it out."

Liam lifted the knife toward the lantern, watching how the edge seemed to drink the light rather than reflect it. An unnatural hunger radiated from the metal. ’Dark energy might work well with this,’ he thought, but Patrick was still watching. Revealing that card now would be reckless. He lowered the blade.

"Where’s my salary?" Liam asked, keeping his tone even.

Patrick muttered something under his breath and hurried upstairs. He returned moments later with a fat pouch that clinked heavily. "This is your salary... plus the reward for the extra work." He pressed it into Liam’s hand, avoiding his gaze.

Liam weighed the pouch—more gold than he’d seen in weeks. Enough to keep the girls safe for a little while longer. He nodded to Ast and the others. "We’re leaving. Nearest decent hotel. Now."

The walk through the evening streets felt longer than it should have. Lanterns flickered in windows, casting long shadows that made every alley feel like a threat. Liam kept the girls close, one hand never far from his weapon. He could see the exhaustion in their posture, the way they glanced at him for reassurance. They trusted him. That trust was both anchor and burden.

The hotel owner, a grizzled man with a scar across his cheek, took one look at Liam and the cluster of girls and simply nodded. He had clearly seen every kind of arrangement the city could offer. "Single room. Top floor. Quietest we’ve got."

Inside the modest apartment, Liam finally let some tension bleed from his shoulders. The girls settled on the beds, murmuring quietly among themselves. He dragged a wooden chair to the center of the room, sat down, and activated the violet knife.

Dark energy surged into the blade instantly, far more eagerly than it ever had with his previous weapons. The metal drank it in like a living thing, veins of violet light pulsing along the edge. It felt... right. Too right.

Curiosity won over caution. He inspected the material.

**Cold Night Metal**

**Forged from the bone marrow of children tortured over extended periods. Conducts dark energy with exceptional efficiency. Absorbs ambient life force.**

Liam’s blood ran cold. The words hit like a punch to the ribs. Children. Tortured. He stared at the blade, then at the girls resting across the room. Their faces were soft in the low light—vulnerable, depending on him. ’This Viper bastard isn’t just some thug. This is worse. Much worse.’

He set the knife down carefully. "We head to the Eastern District tomorrow. Gather information on this Viper first. No rushing in blind."

The girls nodded, trust shining in their tired eyes. For the first time in hours, Liam allowed himself a small, determined smile. They would face this together.

---

Morning came too soon, gray light filtering through cracked shutters. They ate a simple breakfast of bread and cheese in silence, the weight of the quest hanging over them. Then they stepped into the Eastern District.

The change was immediate and brutal. No proper roads, just muddy paths winding between sagging shacks and piles of refuse. The air smelled of rot and desperation. Eyes watched them from doorways and rooftops—predatory, calculating. Liam kept his posture relaxed but ready, every sense sharpened.

They found a dingy bar leaning crookedly against a collapsed wall. The moment Liam pushed open the door, every conversation died. Dozens of eyes flicked toward him and the girls, sizing them up, searching for weakness. He ignored the stares and walked straight to the counter.

"Where can I find Viper?" he asked the barkeep.

The man’s face went slack with shock, as if Liam had spoken a death curse. "Don’t know him," he muttered, turning away.

Liam nodded once and headed for the exit. A massive figure stepped into the doorway, blocking it completely. The man was built like a bull, muscles straining against dirty leather. His gaze locked on the violet knife at Liam’s belt.

"That knife is mine," he growled.

"Oh?" Liam said calmly.

The brute lunged, meaty hand shooting forward. Liam caught the wrist mid-air, twisted hard. Bone cracked like dry wood. Before the man could scream, Liam drove a fist into his belly, lifting him off his feet and sending him crashing through the doorway into the street.

The thug rose, roaring with rage, and charged again. He grabbed Liam’s shoulder, trying to hoist him. Nothing happened. Liam didn’t budge an inch.

’Enough playing,’ Liam thought.

Devil Obsession Mode activated. Power flooded his veins. He wrenched the man’s arm wide and slammed a devastating strike into his torso. The upper body exploded outward in a spray of gore. The half-corpse hit the ground with a wet thud.

Silence fell over the bar.

Liam glanced toward a dark corner where the shadows seemed too thick. "You’ve seen enough. Why don’t you show yourself?"

A slow clap echoed. A lean, sharp-featured man emerged, smiling like a predator. "You managed to kill him in one blow. Impressive."

Liam met his stare. "And you nearly bored holes in my back watching the whole thing."

The man stepped closer. "It seems you’ve been looking for me."

Liam nodded. "I have something to show you. Needs a more private place."

Viper studied him for a long moment, then shrugged. "Follow me. Let’s go to my base."

As they walked through the twisting slums, Liam kept the girls slightly behind him. He couldn’t shake the feeling of walking into a trap, but the quest timer ticked relentlessly in his mind. "You seem very confident," he said, "inviting a stranger to your base and turning your back on him."

Viper glanced over his shoulder, smirking. "Because I know you simply aren’t strong enough to threaten me."

Liam’s lips curved slightly. "Who knows."

They reached a fortified shelter half-buried in the district’s filth. The moment Liam stepped inside, crushing sleepiness washed over him. His limbs grew heavy, thoughts sluggish.

Viper smiled wide and raised a hand. "How about my masterpiece? This entire room is lined with Cold Night metal. Whoever enters... gets massively weakened. Unless it’s me."

He drew his sword and advanced slowly, savoring the moment. The blade rose high above Liam’s head.

Just as Viper began to swing—

Liam grinned through the haze. Devil Time Mode surged to life. Time stretched. The crushing weakness shattered like glass.

Viper’s eyes widened in shock. "How are you able to move in this room?"

Dark energy coiled visibly around Liam. Viper recoiled. "An Exile? But how—aren’t you a Bearer?"

Liam didn’t answer. He unleashed his strongest attack, blades of darkness screaming through the air.

Steel clashed against darkness in a deadly frenzy. Liam held his ground, matching Viper blow for blow, but he could feel the timer on Devil Time Mode burning away. He had to end this fast.

His gaze flicked to the Cold Night metal walls and the girls waiting outside. An idea sparked amid the chaos. He could turn this trap into the Viper’s grave.