Eldrin's Underdistrict reeked of mana rot—alleys twisted, shadows writhing like living things. Beelzebub stood at its heart, Steel Sword in hand, aura a twenty-meter shroud of cold dominance, amplified by his Devourer profession. Level 15, 2025 EXP, stats a towering edifice—Strength at 489, Speed at 405, Luck and Charisma at 100. The Umbral Stalker loomed ahead—Level 18, a cloaked figure of pure darkness, dual blades glinting with malice. Its voice hissed, a whisper on the wind: "You devour… but what remains?"
"Me," Beelzebub snarled, aura flaring—shattering cobblestones. The voices clawed—Storm… sky… shadow… who?—Wyrm's rage, Drake's pride, now Stalker's menace bleeding in. His head throbbed, a storm of stolen wills. "I'm Beelzebub," he growled, shoving it down, smirk cold but strained.
"Bow or break," he commanded, King's Roar booming (Mastery to 9/10). The Stalker flinched, then flickered—blades slashing. He countered with Phantom Step (Mastery to 5/10), teleporting aside, then struck with Razor Rush, Speed at 405 carving its cloak. Shadows bled, but a blade grazed him—HP dropping 12%, Minor Life and Magic ticking it back.
The voices surged—Dark… hunt… mine—Stalker's intent now, sharp and predatory. His vision swam, a memory flashing: crypto screens, his old laugh, drowning in shadow. "Shut up!" he roared, aura crushing a wall—a flex against the chaos within. Mana Surge flared, Mana spiking to 558 for thirty seconds. Arcane Breath blasted—mana fire searing its form, Mastery to 3/10.
The Stalker darted, blades weaving—Bone Ward rose (Mastery to 6/10), cracking under a strike, HP dipping 8%. Horned Frenzy pushed Speed to 607 briefly—Necrotic Pulse rotted its arm (Mastery to 7/10), Storm Call summoning lightning to rend its chest. It shrieked, shadows lashing—Defense at 325 tanked it, HP dropping 5%. He grinned, cold and cruel, then Phantom Step flickered him behind—Strength at 489 driving the Steel Sword through its core. The Stalker dissolved, darkness pooling.
"Ding! Umbral Stalker defeated. Absorbed: Strength +50, Speed +45, Defense +35, Mana +60, Luck +5, Charisma +5, Shadow Bind (Skill). Loot: Stalker's Cloak x1, Copper x450."
Strength: 539 Speed: 450 Defense: 360 Mana: 432 Luck: 105 Charisma: 105 Skills: Shadow Bind (Immobilize foe with shadows, Mastery: 1/10)
"Ding! Quest Complete. Reward: 200 EXP, 80 Copper, Favor (Mage Guild Trust +5%)."
"Ding! Level Up! Reached Level 16. EXP: 2225/2000."
The voices screamed—Hunt… shadow… who am I?—Stalker's will now, relentless. His head split, a cacophony of stolen minds—Ghoul's hunger, Wyrm's storm, Stalker's silence. He staggered, aura flaring wildly—crushing a stall into splinters. "I'm me!" he roared, fists clenched, shoving it down. The strain pulsed—Gluttony devouring too much, identity fraying into a patchwork. His smirk returned, colder, a mask over the crack.
POV Shift: Ryn, the Assassin
Ryn watched from an alley, cloak shadowing her scars. Beelzebub's aura was a void—Level 16, a force unbound. Her trust hit 30%, her past as a cursed player pulling her closer. "He's breaking," she whispered, dagger steady. "Or becoming something else." His power echoed her lost glory—salvation or a mirror to her damnation. She stepped closer, drawn.
Beelzebub emerged, aura a storm, Stalker's Cloak—+10 Speed, +5% Stealth—draped over him. Eldrin's square hushed—players staring, NPCs shrinking. Elara approached, trust at 20%, eyes flickering with fear. "You're… consuming too much," she said, voice trembling.
He leaned close, Charisma at 105 weaving charm into menace. "Enough to swallow your goddess, priestess." She stepped back, trust dropping to 18%—fear winning.
The twins rushed up—Lia at Level 11, Mira at 12, both sharper now. "Level 16?" Lia breathed, ambition glowing. "Help us—a dungeon, please?"
Mira scowled. "We'll catch you solo."
He winked, flirty yet sharp. "Prove you're worth it, ladies. I don't carry ants." Lia's resolve flared; Mira's rivalry burned.
Kael stormed in, Level 14, Warrior's armor scarred. "Shadow-killer now?" he spat. Beelzebub's aura splintered a cart. "Trash talks big. I'll end you soon." Kael retreated, rage veiling terror.
The Mage Guild called—trust at 35% now, wary. The priestess, eyes tense, offered a tome: "Lore: Gods chained the Realms to trap a truth. Free it—or become it." "Your goddess hides it?" he teased, flirty and cold. Her trust fell to 8%—dread overtaking.
POV Shift: Beelzebub's Mind
The voices clawed—Shadow… storm… who?—Stalker's hunt, Wyrm's thunder, more bleeding in. His head split, a memory flashing: his old life, a laugh, now buried in shadow. "I'm Beelzebub," he growled, aura flaring in the guild—cracking crystal. Was he? Gluttony's cost gnawed—identity a tangle of stolen wills. He smirked through it, pride a blade. "I'll take it all—then I'll carve me out."
A new quest pinged: "Seek the Fallen. Slay the Corrupted Paladin in the Ruined Temple. Reward: 250 EXP, 100 Copper, Favor." He headed east—Ryn shadowing him. "Still here, Blade?" he called, flirty edge sharp.
"Curious," she replied, trust ticking to 32%. "You're… fracturing."
"Stay close," he teased. "You'll fracture with me."
The Ruined Temple loomed—stone cracked, air thick with decay. The Corrupted Paladin stood—Level 20, armor rusted, sword glowing with dark light. Beelzebub grinned, aura a storm. "Bow or break."
Tracker
Level: 16 (EXP: 2225/2000)
Stats: Strength: 539 | Speed: 460 | Defense: 360 | Mana: 432 | Luck: 105 | Charisma: 105
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 (9/10), Horned Frenzy (1/10), Basic Slash (10/10), Razor Rush (1/10), Shadow Cloak (2/10), Bone Ward (6/10), Necrotic Pulse (7/10), Phantom Step (5/10), Mana Surge (1/10), Arcane Breath (3/10), Storm Call (1/10), Shadow Bind (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 18% trust, Assassin Ryn at 32% trust, Magic Priestess at 8% trust)
Recent Gains: Strength +50, Speed +45, Defense +35, Mana +60, Luck +5, Charisma +5, 1 Skill
Loot Drops: Stalker's Cloak (+10 Speed, +5% Stealth), Copper x530 (total: 4410), Health Potion x1