The Damned Demon

As the dark, writhing tendrils continued to constrict Asher, he realized with a growing sense of alarm that they were part of the Kraken's internal structure, emanating from the very walls of the passage.

He grimaced as the tendrils secreted a corrosive substance that seared his flesh, filling the air with the acrid scent of burning skin. Time was running out, and he had to act fast.

His eyes darted to the remaining Bone Spikers, who were rearing up for another volley of spikes, eager to capitalize on his vulnerability. A mix of urgency and determination ignited within Asher as he formulated a quick plan.

With a forceful gesture of his hand, he called his ring blades back to him, the weapons slicing through the air and decimating four of the Bone Spikers in a shower of chitin and gore.

With six of the Bone Spikers still remaining, Asher didn't relax. He quickly summoned the Shadow Roots, ethereal tendrils of darkness that surged forth from the ground, snaking around the remaining parasites with ruthless efficiency.

The six Bone Spikers found themselves immobilized, their bodies entwined in the unyielding grip of the Shadow Roots. Their attempts to shoot more spikes at Asher were thwarted as the Shadow Roots tightened their grasp, stifling the parasites' movements.

With the remaining Bone Spikers temporarily neutralized, Asher could finally focus on freeing himself from the Kraken's tendrils.

"Ugh…"

Pain radiated from the points where the corrosive substance seared his skin, but he gritted his teeth and refused to be deterred by the agony.

Without wasting a single moment, Asher summoned the dark green flames that pulsed within his veins, channeling their intense heat though his four ring blades.

The weapons blazed with an eerie, verdant glow, poised and ready for his command.

His eyes narrowed, and even if he knew his limbs were highly restricted, he could barely move his wrists. And so, with a flick of his wrist, Asher sent the flaming ring blades slicing through the air.

He was able to gather enough force to make the ring blades bounce off the internal walls of the Kraken before whizzing towards the tendrils.

The razor-sharp edges cut through the tendrils that bound him, their dark green fire searing the flesh and neutralizing the corrosive substance.

As the severed tendrils recoiled, Asher felt his limbs loosen, finally freed from the vice-like grip.

He quickly regained his balance, steadying his breath as he took in the sight of the charred remnants of the tendrils scattered around him.

However, he didn't forget about the remaining immobilized Bone Spikers and sent his ring blades flying at them while charging ahead.

The blazing ring blades scorched their thick shells before severing their flesh apart again and again by bouncing off against the walls. Since it was a closed space, the Bone Spikers were helpless to defend themselves against the continuous volley of blades tearing away at their flesh again and again.

The Shadow Roots had dissipated right as Asher finished them all off, making him feel like Thorin wasn't kidding.

The dangers inside the Kraken were enough to make him realize how much more powerful it truly was than he thought.

Still, he was determined to keep going and moved cautiously through the ever-narrowing passages of the Kraken's innards, the stench of its organs filling his nostrils.

The walls pulsed with life, and every step brought him closer to his ultimate goal. Just as he was about to reach what seemed to be the heart of the behemoth, a chilling sensation crept down his spine. The air around him grew unnaturally cold and heavy, as if reality itself was being distorted.

The sound of slithering echoed through the passage, and Asher's eyes darted in every direction, searching for the source. His breath caught in his throat when he spotted the writhing forms emerging from the darkness, making their sinister entrance.

Their black scales shimmered with an eerie, otherworldly sheen, and the dark void within their gaping maws seemed to swallow all light and hope.

Their eyes glowed with malevolence, leaving no doubt in Asher's mind that these creatures were as vicious as they looked.

But he recognized them as Darkscale Serpents, far stronger and more formidable than any parasite he had faced thus far.

He was beginning to wonder if he had underestimated how tenacious the defenses of the Kraken were on the inside.

He was concerned because all these Darkscale Serpents were at least at the Soul Hunter rank, and there were five of them!

He was able to see through their strengths, all thanks to his high INT. But that also made him realize that some of these Darkscale Serpents were stronger than him, enough to give him pressure especially due to their advantage in numbers as well.

*Hisssss*

As the Darkscale Serpents slithered ever closer, their hissing filled the chamber. Asher realized he couldn't become too stingy on his MP.

If he was to face these 5 with his usual abilities, he would lose a lot of mana while probably not losing any of his health.

However, there was one way he could at least avoid expending too much mana at the cost of gambling his health - using his newfound powerful skill he acquired when he broke through to Soul Hunter rank.

Skill:

[ Chain of Despair : Your blades of damnation link with each other, transforming them into chain-like weapon for 20 seconds. Each successful attack weakens the DEF and STR of your foes by 2% of your HP and STR while increasing yours by the same amount. But by invoking this damned power you immediately sacrifice 50% of your health. Gained power lingers in your body for 1 minute (0/12) (Cost: 1500 MP) (Cooldown: 20 minutes) (Cast time: 5 Seconds) ]

He knew this was quite a powerful skill that came at a great cost. Each blade can be manipulated to lash out and wrap around opponents, restraining and cutting them with their razor-sharp edges while the damned power slowly saps their strength and transfers it to him.

So he let the Rakshasa power go dormant since he didn't need four arms to use this Skill while also letting his INT and DEX return to their normal levels.

And taking advantage of the Darkscale Serpents slowly slithering towards him, he uttered the incantation, invoking the cursed Chain of Despair. The blades of damnation began to pulsate with a sinister dark green aura, linking together in a fluid dance of death.

The chain-like weapon seemed alive, snaking through the air, eager to strike down its foes.

However, the cost of such power was not without sacrifice.

Just as he invoked the Chain of Despair, he immediately felt the immense cost it demanded.

"Urrgh!"

The sudden sacrifice of 50% of his health sent shockwaves of pain throughout his body, causing his muscles to seize and spasm. It felt as if his very life essence was being siphoned away, leaving him breathless and disoriented.

Asher's vision blurred, and the world around him took on a hazy, ethereal quality. His heart raced, hammering against his ribcage as it struggled to supply his weakened body with the blood it craved. The once-steady flow of energy within him began to ebb, trickling away like water through a cracked dam.

His legs wobbled beneath him, threatening to buckle under the sudden onslaught of fatigue. A cold sweat clung to his skin, the moisture causing his hair to stick to his forehead. Asher gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, desperately attempting to anchor himself to reality and maintain control over his body's rebellion.

Through sheer willpower, Asher managed to steady his breathing, even as the sensation of ice-cold daggers pierced his flesh. His strength had been greatly diminished, but a flicker of defiance burned deep within him, refusing to be snuffed out.

With the Chain of Despair in hand, Asher steeled himself for the battle that was about to unfold.

*HISSS!!*

The Darkscale Serpents noticed the intruder getting weakened and charged at him, intending to take advantage of their prey's vulnerability.

However, Asher had already pulled himself together as he expertly wielded the weapon.

Seeing these vicious serpents about to attack him at the same time, he let out a grunt as he unleashed his Chain of Despair on them.

*Whoooosh!!*

Slashing and whipping it through the air, the chains struck the Darkscale Serpents with devastating force. Each hit drained the serpents' strength and defense, siphoning their vitality to augment Asher's own power.

Since it was a chain, he was able to attack five of them at the same time, granting him 10% bonus to his DEF AND STR! His total HP had already increased by more than 900!

And since his DEF also increased, it would mean he would take less damage while his increased STR would allow him to kill these vicious creatures quickly the more he attacks them.

The Darkscale Serpents hissed and writhed in fury, attempting to close the distance between themselves and Asher.

However, he deftly used the extended reach of the Chain of Despair to his advantage, keeping the fearsome creatures at bay while continuously weakening them.

He had only 20 seconds, and he intended to make every second count.

Even though his body ached with fatigue as the loss of his health took its toll, the adrenaline coursing through his veins fueled his resolve to see the battle through.

Sweat dripped down his brow as he evaded the serpents' attacks, the chain-like weapon weaving a deadly pattern through the air.

The Darkscale Serpents' movements grew sluggish and desperate as their strength rapidly waned.

Asher, sensing the tide of the battle turning in his favor, pressed on with relentless determination. The Chain of Despair's sinister power accelerated the demise of the serpents, their once-fearsome forms succumbing to the might of Asher's damned magic.

As the final serpent fell lifeless to the ground, Asher breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

20 seconds was over, and he managed to kill all of them while only expending 1500 MP.

Asher felt mind blown by the sheer power of this Skill. Not even he ever thought he could kill 5 Soul Hunters within 20 seconds. Anybody else also would feel the same.

But he knew he wouldn't be this lucky against those with higher intelligence or experts.

He stifled his awe and immediately took out a health potion and chugged it down, letting his health gradually increase. Fortunately, since only his life force was sapped, the health potion would do its job perfectly by letting him recover completely soon. He can then activate the blood sacrifice and restore his MP as well.

With the Darkscale Serpents defeated and their lifeless forms strewn across the darkened, gore-stained pathway, Asher took cautious, deliberate steps forward.

His pulse still raced from the strain of invoking the Chain of Despair, but a sense of urgency urged him to press on, refusing to let his body surrender to the relentless pain.

After coming all this way, he was even more determined to finish what he set out to do. He also couldn't take rest since more parasites might gather and attack him together in the same place.

The oppressive atmosphere within the Kraken weighed heavily on his shoulders as he moved deeper into the monstrous beast. Each step felt like a challenge, a struggle to keep moving toward his objective, as the surrounding darkness seemed to coil around him like a living, breathing entity.

As he rounded a slimy bend, Asher found himself questioning just how much farther he had to go. Would he reach the Life Pearl in time, or would the trials within the Kraken prove too much for him? His thoughts, however, were abruptly interrupted as his eyes were drawn to an ethereal, murky green light pulsating in the distance after a curve before him.

Asher's heart skipped a beat as the glow caught his attention. A surge of hope coursed through his veins, dispelling the lingering tendrils of doubt that had threatened to envelop him.

"This is it…" He realized that he had finally reached the coveted location, the resting place of the Life Pearl.

There was strangely no acidic water in front of him like Thorin said. But he didn't care since this only made it so much easier for him.

His lips curved into a smile as he eagerly yet cautiously approached the place where the Life Pearl was.