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Join the ServerEve Wells weaved through the enemy lines, entering and exiting as she pleased. To this point, she had sustained no damage, save for what she inflicted upon herself, and her condition remained almost entirely pristine.
A thought began to form in the minds of many elves.
‘Is this creature truly a demon?’
‘What kind of demon wields Holy Light?!’
‘Not only can this Holy Light heal, but it can also be used for offense and defense?!’
‘Even more outrageous, it can even heal itself!’
‘One trick, yet it conquers all, doesn’t it?’
Its combat style, fluid yet utterly savage, was akin to a killing machine prioritizing pure efficiency.
‘Can we truly defeat such a monster…’
Staring at the masked demon, which seemed like a god descended from the heavens to fight a multitude, many elves felt a profound sense of bewilderment. Valorman was no exception.
It wasn’t merely bewilderment; the youth was utterly crushed, retreating into himself.
Valorman loosed several arrows, all of which the demon effortlessly evaded. Even one arrow, poised for a direct hit, was casually kicked apart in mid-air, as if it were a mere shuttlecock.
Along with the arrow, his spirit fractured.
Valorman realized how utterly useless he was.
Seven years ago, when his mother succumbed to a grave illness, he could only sit by her bedside, clutching her hands as they grew cold, losing their warmth and pulse.
Three years ago, when his father was forced to leave the Elf Forest for the Holy See to secure the future of the elven race, Valorman had been powerless to stop him.
The ‘grandfather’ who had doted on him since childhood, treating him as his own son, was now shattered into ash by the demon, right before his eyes.
One by one, his loved ones departed, and he could only watch helplessly.
Now, the warriors of the elven race were also falling, one after another, in their desperate struggle against the masked demon.
Valorman dropped to his knees with a thud. The hatred and rage in his eyes slowly transformed into resentment, regret, and profound confusion.
He clenched his fist and slammed it against the ground, yet not even a dent appeared.
His body froze in place.
It wasn’t until a tear unexpectedly dampened the wooden bow lying on the ground that his body began to tremble.
“I can’t do anything…”
‘If only… I could be a little stronger! Even just a tiny bit stronger, wouldn’t I have been able to save all of them…’
‘And avenge them all…’
‘Power! I crave power!’
‘Be it from gods or from demons…’
‘My life, my soul…’
‘As long as it grants me the strength to enact my revenge!’
‘No matter the cost…’
‘I am willing to pay it all!’
The man wept inconsolably.
Just then, a woman’s soft chuckle echoed from the void.
[You crave power?]
Valorman’s body jolted.
He looked around, seeing only the elven warriors preoccupied with battle. No one was speaking to him, nor did anyone else seem to hear the woman’s voice.
‘Could it be… that his plea had finally reached that supreme, transcendent being?’
[I can grant you power.]
[But, do you believe you can bear the immense weight of this power?]
“I need that power! I’ll do anything! I must kill them!!”
Valorman was completely consumed by hatred.
He couldn’t bear the thought that if the masked demon continued its unrestrained slaughter, the future and fate of the elven race would be irrevocably lost by his inaction.
Now, with a glimmer of hope and opportunity appearing before him in this desperate situation, Valorman would not give up for anything.
He would seize the future!
He would not allow them to slaughter the elves indiscriminously.
He would absolutely not let them freely butcher the elves!
Valorman took a deep breath, clearing all distracting thoughts from his mind. Then, he knelt, facing the void with profound reverence.
“I am willing to sacrifice everything!”
“As long as you grant me enough power to exact my revenge and protect the elven race!”
“I offer my soul, my life, my very essence!”
Valorman abruptly looked up, his voice resounding through the void.
“I am willing to surrender everything!”
“I am willing to surrender everything!”
The woman’s voice from the void suddenly deepened.
[Are you certain?]
A look of unwavering resolve settled on Valorman’s face.
“I am certain!”
[Very well, as you wish.]
As the woman’s voice faded, Valorman suddenly felt a surge of immense power erupt within his body.
He felt his body rapidly expanding, his bones, muscles, and even internal organs undergoing a profound, transformative change.
Green demonic markings spread across his skin, tracing from his arms all the way to his chest, radiating a chilling aura.
‘This is… mutation?!’
Valorman was stunned. He hadn’t anticipated that the power he sought would manifest in such a way.
“What is this?!”
The woman’s voice turned cold.
[This is Fel Energy.]
[It is a power capable of destroying everything.]
[However, you will also pay a heavy price.]
[You will gradually lose yourself, transforming into a complete and utter demon.]
[You will be corrupted by Fel Energy, becoming its s*ave.]
[You will live in eternal torment until death.]
[And most importantly…]
The woman’s voice paused abruptly, a hint of mockery in its tone.
[Your power was given by me.]
[I can reclaim it at any time.]
[You are my puppet.]
[Whatever I command, you must obey.]
Valorman was utterly horrified. He had never imagined that this power would come with such conditions.
“You… you tricked me!”
The woman chuckled softly, a note of derision in her voice.
[I did not trick you.]
[You yourself said you were willing to sacrifice everything.]
[Therefore, everything you possess is mine.]
Valorman’s fury blazed, but the immense power surging within him choked his protests.
He felt his soul burning, his consciousness gradually fading.
This was the backlash of the Fel Energy!
Valorman roared in agony, yet no one heard his cries.
His voice was suppressed by the overwhelming Fel Energy within him.
“No… don’t…”
Valorman watched helplessly as his body grew increasingly grotesque, his heart filled with despair.
He did not want to become such a demon.
He did not want to live in torment.
He did not want to be a puppet.
He only wanted revenge!
He only wanted to protect the elven race!
But he had run out of chances.
Valorman’s consciousness completely blurred, and his body fully transformed into a monstrous demon.
The hope of the elven race had utterly perished.
“Hehehe…”
The woman’s voice from the void chuckled softly, a hint of satisfaction in her tone.
[Behold, this is my puppet.]
[This is the power I require.]
[Now, be a good puppet, and slaughter all those elves for me.]
[Slaughter everything in my name.]
Valorman’s body surged forward, transforming into a streak of green light that shot towards the direction of the elves.
The sacred lands of the elves once again faced a storm of blood and carnage.
****
‘My own! And the future of the elven race!’
[Hahahaha… I admire your resolve. Come, embrace this power. Let me see how far your conviction will take you.]
A cluster of grey light materialized before Valorman.
Valorman’s eyes widened. Sensing the chilling aura emanating from the light cluster, he didn’t hesitate. He struggled forward, crawling, and desperately reached out his hand towards the grey light.
“Power!!”
The moment he touched the cluster, a formless grey light slowly climbed from Valorman’s hand, enveloping his entire body.
What followed was an unbearable, tearing agony.
Even having a peacock egg kicked to pieces wouldn’t compare to this intense pain.
This torment ravaged Valorman’s body, forcing screams from his throat as he curled into a fetal position like a shrimp.
Yet, Valorman clenched his teeth, enduring the pain and steadfastly continuing to accept this power.
He knew this light cluster was remodeling his body, making him capable of wielding such immense power!
The pain was the price, and also the trial and tempering bestowed upon him by that great being!
‘To give up now would be to lose!’
The scenes of his loved ones departing, one by one, remained vivid in his mind…
Valorman couldn’t help but throw his head back and roar in defiance.
“My suffering transcends this!”
From Valorman’s center, waves of destructive grey energy erupted outwards.
This tremendous upheaval naturally drew the attention of everyone on the battlefield.
Although “Eve” paid no heed to the commotion, instead seizing the opportunity to relentlessly pick off enemies and boost her kill-death ratio, Eve herself observed Valorman’s sudden power surge through the proxy’s system perspective.
“Hiss… this familiar grey demonic energy, it seems just like Yulim Wilivia’s.”
“Are they taught by the same master?”
Eve Wells muttered a complaint, then turned to the system. “System, can you tell me what’s going on with him?”
[The target is in an unselectable state. Cannot view.]
“Ah? There’s an unselectable mechanic?”
Eve Wells was somewhat surprised, but she quickly understood.
After all, Valorman wore a crown and had a high level, clearly indicating he was no ordinary foe. At the very least, he seemed like a mini-boss-level unit.
In most games, many bosses typically have multiple phases, during which the unit becomes invincible and untargetable during transition animations. It wasn’t that strange.
“But, I remember we haven’t even touched him yet?”
“How did he just suddenly transition phases?”
‘Did he transition phases based on time?’
Eve Wells didn’t quite understand, but seeing the enemy’s numerous special effects, she nagged the system again: “System, take it easy. Don’t let them one-shot you.”
System: “…”
Eve Wells had originally intended for the system to be a bit more cautious and stable. However, for some reason, after she spoke, “Eve’s” combat style became even more brutal and aggressive.
After swiftly eliminating all the elven mages, she immediately turned her attention to the elven archers launching arrows from the trees.
“Eve” didn’t bother climbing the trees to pursue them. Instead, she infused her leg with Holy Light and delivered a direct whip kick, sending both archer and tree flying, leaving her opponents no time to react.
Even if their leg bones snapped, a quick ‘bling’ and they were restored to normal.
The unlucky elves: “…”
It was precisely at this moment that Valorman’s power surge concluded.
As the grey mist dissipated, a tall, voluptuous blonde woman, crowned and wielding a grey battle spear, stood in his place.
A clear, melodious female voice, imbued with the mature charm of a grown woman, yet laced with furious indignation, cried out.
“Witness my new power and form! You damned masked demon!”
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