The Mana Depths pulsed with an eerie glow, walls of jagged crystal refracting light into jagged shards. Beelzebub descended, Steel Sword in hand, aura a twenty-meter tide of cold dominance—doubled by his Devourer profession. Level 12, 1275 EXP, stats a towering testament to Gluttony—Strength at 295, Speed at 242, Luck and Charisma at 82. But the whispers clawed louder now—Ghoul Lord's malice, Wraith's despair, Wisps' fleeting pleas. Take… who are you… why? His head throbbed, a fracture in his calm. He gripped his sword tighter, smirk faltering. "I'm Beelzebub," he growled, voice steady but strained. "Nothing else."
The quest glowed: "Seek the Mana Core. Retrieve it from the Depths. Reward: 200 EXP, 80 Copper, Blessing." His aura flared, shattering loose crystals—a flex to silence the voices. Ahead, Mana Golems lumbered—Level 10, hulks of animated stone infused with blue energy, four of them guarding a spiraling path.
"Trash," he sneered, lunging with Razor Rush. Speed at 242 cleaved through the first, sword sparking against stone. It crumbled. "Ding! Strength +8, Speed +6, Defense +5, Mana +10, Luck +1, Charisma +1." The others swung—fists like hammers. He dodged with Phantom Step, teleporting behind, then unleashed Necrotic Pulse—decay rippling (Mastery to 4/10). Three more fell, stats stacking: Strength to 319, Speed to 260, Defense to 205, Mana to 172, Luck to 85, Charisma to 85.
The voices surged—Power… stone… mine—Golem fragments now, cold and unyielding. He snarled, aura crushing the path ahead. "Shut up!" The strain pulsed, a flicker of doubt: was he absorbing them, or were they absorbing him?
Deeper, the chamber widened—a glowing orb pulsed at its center, the Mana Core, guarded by a Mana Sentinel—Level 15, a towering figure of crystal and light, wielding a staff. Its voice boomed, ethereal: "You seek what you cannot wield, Devourer."
"Watch me," Beelzebub replied, aura a storm. The Sentinel thrust its staff—mana bolts arced. He flickered with Phantom Step (Mastery to 2/10), dodging, then charged with Horned Frenzy, Speed spiking to 390 for ten seconds. Basic Slash bit into crystal (Mastery to 10/10—maxed), cracking its arm. It retaliated—mana wave slamming him back, HP dropping 15%. Minor Life ticked it up slowly.
Pain sharpened his grin. "Weak." Bone Ward rose, blocking a second wave (Mastery to 4/10), then Razor Rush shattered its chest. The Sentinel collapsed, light fading.
"Ding! Mana Sentinel defeated. Absorbed: Strength +40, Speed +35, Defense +30, Mana +50, Luck +5, Charisma +5, Mana Surge (Skill). Loot: Crystal Shard x3, Copper x400."
Strength: 359 Speed: 295 Defense: 235 Mana: 222 Luck: 90 Charisma: 90 Skills: Mana Surge (Boost Mana by 50% for 30 seconds, Mastery: 1/10)
"Ding! Quest Complete. Reward: 200 EXP, 80 Copper, Blessing (Minor Magic: +5% Mana Regen)."
"Ding! Level Up! Reached Level 13. EXP: 1475/1400."
The Mana Core pulsed in his hand—warm, alive. Its voice whispered, not through Gluttony, but the world itself: "Power binds. Power breaks." He smirked, pocketing it. "I'll break first."
POV Shift: Elara, the Priestess
Elara stood in Eldrin's temple, hands clasped over her Life sigil. Beelzebub's aura pulsed from the Depths—darker, heavier. Her trust sat at 20%, teetering. "Goddess of Life," she prayed, "is he salvation or ruin?" A faint vision flickered—him, towering, gods kneeling. She shivered, torn between fear and a pull she couldn't name.
Back in Eldrin, Beelzebub delivered the Core to the Magic priestess. Her eyes widened, blessing bestowed: "Minor Magic: +5% Mana Regen, Mastery: 1/10." "You're… remarkable," she said, trust ticking to 10%.
"Tell your goddess," he replied, flirty yet cold. "She's next."
The twins waited outside—Lia restringing her bow, Mira sharpening her dagger. "Level 13?" Lia asked, awed. "Top boards already?"
"First step," he said, winking. "Fame's yours—power's mine." Mira scowled. "We'll catch you. Watch." Her rivalry burned; Lia's ambition glowed.
Ryn emerged from an alley, cloak shadowing her scars. "Guild's pleased," she said, trust at 25%. "They're watching you now."
"Good," he teased, aura brushing her. "Stay close, Blade. You'll see more." Her gaze lingered—intrigue deepening.
Kael stormed past, Level 10 now, Warrior profession gleaming. "Level 13 won't save you," he spat. Beelzebub's aura splintered a cobblestone. "Trash dreams loud. I'll bury you soon." Kael retreated, rage masking fear.
A new quest pinged: "Unveil the Rune. Decipher the Tablet in Eldrin's Library. Reward: 150 EXP, 60 Copper, Lore." Beelzebub headed there—crystal shelves towering, air thick with mana. The Tablet glowed—runes cryptic, ancient. He traced them, Gluttony straining as Mana Sentinel whispers joined the chorus: "Realms… bind… truth…" His head split—memories clashing. He growled, shoving it down. "I'm me. That's enough."
The runes clicked: "Eternal Realms holds a secret. Gods guard it. Break them." His smirk returned, colder. "Challenge accepted."
POV Shift: Lia, the Twin
Lia watched from the library's edge, Level 8 now. Beelzebub's aura was a storm—unrelenting, magnetic. "He's… unraveling something," she whispered. Mira, beside her, gripped her dagger. "He's trouble. Fame's ours—we don't need him." Lia nodded, but her eyes lingered. Power drew her, fame or not.
Beelzebub stepped out, aura a warning. The voices quieted, but the strain lingered—a crack in his identity. "Gods next," he muttered, flirty edge masking doubt. "Then the truth."
Tracker
Level: 13 (EXP: 1475/1400)
Stats: Strength: 359 | Speed: 295 | Defense: 235 | Mana: 222 | Luck: 90 | Charisma: 90
Talents: Gluttony (Error) – No stat gains from leveling; absorbs all attributes, skills, bloodlines, blessings from defeated beings; duplicates enhance mastery
Powers/Skills: Horned Dash (5/10), King's Roar (6/10), Horned Frenzy (1/10), Basic Slash (10/10), Razor Rush (1/10), Shadow Cloak (2/10), Bone Ward (4/10), Necrotic Pulse (4/10), Phantom Step (2/10), Mana Surge (1/10)
Profession: Devourer – Gluttony absorption +50%, Devourer's Mark (Aura potency x2)
Bloodlines: Human
Blessings: Minor Life (+5% HP regen, 1/10), Minor Magic (+5% Mana Regen, 1/10)
Harem: No bonds yet (Twins Lia and Mira intrigued, Priestess Elara at 20% trust, Assassin Ryn at 25% trust, Magic Priestess at 10% trust)
Recent Gains: Strength +64, Speed +53, Defense +40, Mana +80, Luck +8, Charisma +8, 1 Skill, 1 Blessing
Loot Drops: Crystal Shard x3, Copper x540 (total: 2260), Health Potion x1