Eldritch Assassin: Reincarnated With An SSS-Rank Devouring System
Chapter 37: Trial Of Dominion

Chapter 37: Trial Of Dominion

A sharp ding sounded in Kael’s mind and the system’s interface flared to life.

———

[Initiating the Trial of Dominion.

Quest Type: Side Quest

Difficulty: D+

Objective: Face that which stands five steps ahead of you. Face yourself. Or fall.]

The rewards scrolled past:

1. Title: "Breaker of Fate"

>Effect: Increases resistance to mental corruption and external will-manipulation by 40%.

>Enemies 5+ levels above Kael have a 15% chance to misjudge his combat potential.

2. Bonus Experience: +5000 EXP

3. Bloodline Advancement:

>Devourer Bloodline Stabilization

The corruption threshold now rises slower.

>Passive regeneration of +1 Blood Point every 12 hours outside of combat.

>Unlocks the ability to sense other bloodline hosts (corrupted or evolved) within a 1 km radius]

———

Kael whistled softly, the rewards were tempting but the task was equally daunting. A Level 12 version of himself wouldn’t be an easy opponent.

Another prompt followed:

———

[You now face the version of yourself that surrendered to power. This is not a copy. It is a possible future outcome from a failed calamity trial. Defeat it, or stray into the path of becoming it.]

———

"Calamity Trial? What the heck is that?" He muttered, baffled by the ominous feeling he was getting just from seeing the name.

The system didn’t answer his question and instead, a few words appeared: [Your current authorization level is inadequate for that inquiry. Insufficient progression to retrieve requested data]

Kael’s jaw tightened. A future where he lost control, consumed by his Eldritch Devouring Bloodline. "When I reach the bridge, I’ll find a way to cross it." he sighed.

He glanced at Sera, her face set with determination. "Be careful when you get in," he said. She nodded, stepping toward a door marked with a flame-like rune.

Kael chose another, its rune shaped like a coiled serpent, and pushed it open. Darkness swallowed him.

The door slammed shut, and Kael found himself in a vast, circular arena, its floor cracked obsidian and its walls pulsing with crimson veins that bled faint light.

The air was thick and heavy with the scent of iron and decay. Across the arena stood his opponent—Kael, the Hollow Devourer. A Lvl 12 warrior.

His build was identical, his face a mirror of Kael’s with the exception of a single, stylized droplet of blood that seemed to drip downwards, even when his head was still.

The eyes were also different—pitch black with crimson spirals swirling within. Gray skin stretched taut over pulsing veins, and his tattered cloak moved as if alive, writhing with faint shadows.

The Abyssal Fang Dagger gleamed in his hand, its edge sharper and its aura darker. Five obsidian knives hung at his belt, their poison dripping onto the floor, sizzling.

The Hollow Devourer’s lips curled into a cold smile, his voice Kael’s but stripped of warmth. "Still clinging to control, are you?" he said, stepping forward, his boots silent on the obsidian floor. "You’ll fight it every day—the hunger, the power to devour all. Why resist such a beautiful gift? You’ll break eventually."

Kael’s grip tightened on his dagger, his silver eyes narrowing. "I’m not you," he said, his voice steady. "I won’t be."

The Hollow Devourer laughed, a hollow sound that echoed off the walls. "You already are." He vanished, his speed blinding, reappearing behind Kael, the Abyssal Fang slashing for his throat.

Kael ducked, his enhanced dexterity barely keeping up. The blade grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. He countered, hurling an obsidian knife. The Hollow Devourer tilted his head, the knife missing by inches, embedding in the wall with a hiss.

"You’re pathetically slow," the Devourer taunted, lunging again. His dagger flashed, a flurry of strikes that forced Kael to weave and parry.

Each clash sent sparks flying, the Lvl 12’s mastery overwhelming. Kael blocked a thrust, but the Devourer’s obsidian knife followed, slicing his forearm. Poison burned through his skin, his vision blurring. His bloodline surged, devouring the pain, but the gap in power between them was clear.

Kael leaped back, hurling two obsidian knives. The Devourer deflected one with his dagger, the other grazing his shoulder, poison sizzling. He didn’t flinch, his gray skin pulsing as if feeding on the venom.

"You think these toys can stop me?" he sneered, his body shimmering.

"—Eldritch Metamorphosis—" he called out.

His arm elongated, claws sprouting from his fingers, veins glowing crimson. He slashed, the air screaming, forcing Kael to dive aside. The claws carved trenches on the obsidian floor.

Kael rolled to his feet, his breath heavy. The Devourer’s speed, strength, and cruelty were Kael’s own, amplified by five levels and a bloodline unbound by restraint.

"You’re fighting a losing battle," the Devourer said, circling like a predator. "Every kill, every drop of blood—it pulls you closer to me. Sera, Mira, the royals. You devoured their negative emotions, didn’t you?"

Kael’s jaw clenched, the words cutting deeper than the dagger. He charged, his dagger flashing, aiming for the Devourer’s chest. The Lvl 12 warrior parried it effortlessly, his obsidian knife slicing Kael’s thigh. Blood sprayed, pain flaring, but Kael pressed forward, his—Merciless Resolve—boosting his strikes.

He landed a shallow cut on the Devourer’s arm, poison seeping in. The Devourer laughed, his black eyes gleaming. "Pathetic."

The fight became a blur with Kael dodging, striking, and bleeding. The Devourer’s claws raked his shoulder, tearing flesh. Kael hurled another obsidian knife, catching the Devourer’s side, but the wound closed almost instantly, his bloodline devouring the damage.

Kael’s health dropped his vision swimming, wounds piling up. The system warned: [HP: 42%]. He was losing, drastically fast at that.

The Devourer’s voice grew softer, almost pitying. "Give in. Let the bloodline take over. No more pain, no more guilt. Just power." He lunged, his dagger aimed for Kael’s heart.

Kael blocked, but the force sent him skidding, his back hitting the wall. Blood dripped, pooling beneath him. Thankfully, there was no timer this time around, but the stakes were clear—defeat this monster or stray onto a path of becoming one.

The system suddenly chimed:

———

[Eldritch Reversal triggered. HP below 30%. Controlled Mutation Phase activated]

———

Kael’s body suddenly trembled, his muscles tightened and his senses sharpened, covering the arena. His silver eyes glowed, crimson flecks dancing within. His Strength, dexterity, and Mental Cognition spiked, the arena snapping into focus.

The Devourer paused, his black eyes narrowing. "Interesting," he muttered.

Kael moved, his speed now rivaling the Devourer’s. He ducked a claw swipe, his dagger slashing the Devourer’s chest, poison seeping in. The Lvl 12 warrior grunted, his regeneration slowing down the tiniest bit.

Kael hurled two obsidian knives, one striking the Devourer’s thigh, the other his shoulder. The poison stacked, his crimson veins dimming. "You can’t outlast me," Kael said, his voice low and steady.

The Devourer roared, his body growing further—arms elongating, claws lengthening, his cloak writhing like tendrils. He charged, a whirlwind of claws and blades. Kael weaved through the attacks, his boosted stats keeping him alive, landing cuts where he could.

Blood sprayed, both theirs, the arena slick with it. The Devourer’s strikes grew desperate; his taunts had gone silent, and instead, his black eyes burned with rage.

Kael’s—Eldritch Reversal—timer ticked: [10 seconds remaining]. He had to end it now.

He feinted left, dodging a claw, and hurled his last obsidian knife. It struck the Devourer’s neck, poison flooding his system. The Lvl 12 warrior staggered, claws retracting and his gray skin paling.

Kael lunged, driving the Abyssal Fang into his chest and twisting it continuously. The Devourer gasped, his black eyes wide open in shock, the crimson spirals fading. "You... can’t... stop it," he choked, collapsing.

The arena trembled, the Devourer’s body dissolving into shadow, leaving only the Abyssal Fang. Kael sank to his knees, blood dripping, his—Eldritch Reversal—fading.

The system chimed:

———

[Trial of Dominion completed.

Rewards granted:

Breaker of Fate

Bloodline Advancement

Bonus Experience Gained: +5000 EXP]

———

[System Alert]

[You have acquired primal energy of Lvl 12 Hollow Devourer]

[Total Essence Absorbed: +5200 EXP]

[Blood Points: +2]

[Experience Points: 6690/4600 EXP]

[Level-up Progress: Lvl 7 → Lvl 8]

[Experience Points: 2090/5100 EXP]

———

A portal opened, light spilling through.

Kael stood, retrieving his dagger, his wounds healing slowly thanks to his bloodline.

The Devourer’s words lingered—"You’ll break eventually". He shook his head, stepping through the portal, his silver eyes resolute. "Surely not today," he muttered.

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