**Chapter 10: The Awakening of the Inner Demon**
The night air crackled with tension, the metallic scent of blood thick in the air. The moon cast its dim glow upon the battlefield, illuminating the chaos unfolding within the dense forest. Elton stood firm, his blade glimmering with residual Ki Essence, facing the demonic cultivator Varric. The six other warriors battled desperately against the Demonic Goblin Variant, their injuries mounting with each brutal exchange.
Varric smirked, his yellow eyes burning with sinister amusement. "You're persistent, I'll give you that," he sneered. "But persistence won't save you."
Elton gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on his sword. He had already utilized the **First and Second Bright Blade Stances**, yet Varric was still pressing him back. His attacks felt inadequate against the demonic cultivator's relentless dark flames.
*"He's too strong,"* Elton admitted internally.
*"Of course he is, fool,"* the inner voice sneered. *"You're holding back. Use the **Third Stance**."*
Elton hesitated. The **Third Bright Blade Stance—Shattering Starfall**—was still incomplete. He had yet to fully master its flow, and in a real battle, it could be dangerous to attempt. But what choice did he have?
Summoning all his energy, Elton adjusted his stance, Ki crackling around his blade as he prepared the technique. His sword trembled with power as he surged forward—
—but Varric was faster.
Before Elton could fully execute the technique, Varric's **Demonic Flame Chains** lashed out, coiling around his arms and legs. The searing pain burned through his flesh, sending shockwaves of agony through his body. With a forceful pull, Varric slammed him into the ground.
The impact knocked the wind from Elton's lungs. Blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to rise.
*"Pathetic,"* the inner voice spat. *"You're getting tossed around like a ragdoll. Is this really all you amount to?"*
Elton growled under his breath. "Shut up," he hissed, staggering to his feet.
Varric chuckled. "What's wrong? You look frustrated." He raised his palm, black flames surging. "Don't worry. I'll put you out of your misery."
Meanwhile, the six Silver-Tier warriors were locked in a grueling struggle against the **Demonic Goblin Variant**. Though they had successfully severed one of its arms and taken one of its eyes, the beast fought with even greater ferocity.
"Damn thing won't die!" one warrior cursed, gripping his side where a deep gash bled profusely.
Another warrior fell to the ground, unconscious from the goblin's earlier blow. A third clutched his limp arm, the bone shattered beyond use.
"We need to finish this now!" a warrior barked. "Before we all end up dead!"
With renewed determination, they surged forward, dodging the goblin's wild swings. Every strike had to count now. Their survival depended on it.
Back in his own battle, Elton's vision blurred. He was reaching his limit. Even after switching to **Star Lightning Speed Skills**, Varric continued to overpower him, the gap between their strengths proving insurmountable.
His body ached. His movements slowed. His grip on reality faltered.
Then—
Something inside him snapped.
A foreign sensation flooded his being, consuming him whole. For a fleeting moment, his mind drifted into unconsciousness…
…and something else took control.
Elton's body suddenly straightened, his wounds seemingly forgotten. His aura flared violently, Ki swirling like a storm. His once-determined eyes now gleamed with a new, chilling light—one filled with arrogance, amusement, and sadistic glee.
Varric, who had been closing in for the kill, instinctively took a step back. Something about Elton had changed. His presence had become oppressive, dangerous.
Elton cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders as if testing his body for the first time. Then he grinned—a sharp, confident smirk. "Oh? I was getting beaten this badly?"
Varric's brow furrowed. "What—"
In a blink, Elton was in front of him, a **Silver-Tier 2** aura exploding from his body. His sword slashed through the air, faster and sharper than before.
Varric barely raised his defenses in time, but the sheer force of Elton's strike sent him skidding back.
"What the hell?!" Varric growled.
Elton chuckled. "What's wrong? Weren't you having fun beating me down?"
Varric gritted his teeth. "Damn brat—"
He lunged forward, summoning a massive **Demonic Hellfire Spear**, thrusting it at Elton's chest.
Elton didn't move.
At the last second, his body flickered, moving at impossible speed. He reappeared behind Varric, his hand crackling with electricity.
**"Lightning Spear."**
A bolt of condensed lightning formed in Elton's palm before he hurled it straight through Varric's chest.
A searing hole burned through the demonic cultivator's torso. He stumbled, his mouth opening and closing, as if trying to form words.
"This… This is impossible…" he croaked before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
Elton smirked, admiring his handiwork. "Tch. Too easy."
The remaining warriors had finally cornered the goblin, their exhaustion evident. Just as they prepared for their final strike—
A **Lightning Spear** shot from the darkness, piercing straight through the goblin's throat.
The monstrous creature choked, its body convulsing before collapsing with a deafening thud. The warriors turned in shock to see Elton, standing tall, lightning still crackling around his fingers.
"Elton?" one warrior panted. "You… finished it?"
Elton's smirk remained for a few seconds longer—then his expression shifted. His body wavered, his knees buckling as reality returned. The arrogant confidence in his gaze faded, replaced by confusion and exhaustion.
"What… happened?" he muttered before collapsing to one knee.
### **Aftermath and Return**
The warriors gathered around him, all of them battered and worn. Though the battle had taken its toll, they had emerged victorious.
"Thank you, Elton," one warrior said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "We wouldn't have survived without you."
Elton, still dazed, could barely recall what had transpired. His mind felt fragmented, as though someone else had taken control. But for now, that didn't matter. They were alive.
After tending to their wounds, the group made their way back to the Bright Blade Subsect. The mission had been far more dangerous than they had anticipated, but it had also proven one undeniable truth—
Something inside Elton had awakened.
Something terrifying.