Eldritch Assassin: Reincarnated With An SSS-Rank Devouring System
Chapter 63: First Floor Cleared

Chapter 63: First Floor Cleared

The mage tried to retreat, but Kael was faster.

He ducked under a bolt of lightning, slid along the forest floor, and sliced across the mage’s Achilles tendon. The man collapsed, shrieking, and Kael ended it swiftly—[EXP +975].

He stood, chest heaving, and turned.

There were only ten left.

The last ten Primal Warriors stared at him—no longer with aggression, but fear in their soulless eyes.

This wasn’t the same Kael they’d faced before. This was something else entirely.

His movements were fluid, too precise. His eyes? Cold and focused. The blood dripping from his blade only made him look more terrifying.

The leader among them barked an order.

They charged, this time in proper formation—five in front, five behind, a pincer meant to overwhelm.

Kael didn’t run, he welcomed them with open hands.

The first warrior lunged—Kael sidestepped, used the man’s momentum, and drove his dagger through the armpit, letting him fall with a gasp—[EXP +1025].

Another came with a spear. Kael ducked low, punched the shaft aside, and slashed at the knees. The man fell. Kael’s blade found his throat—[EXP +975].

The others tried to press the attack, using reach and numbers. One nearly got him—his blade grazing Kael’s ribs.

[HP: 18%]

But Kael grinned through the pain.

The Eldritch Reversal was still in effect.

He spun into the warrior’s guard, grabbed his helmet, and slammed it into his face. Once. Twice. He didn’t need style—just pure and raw brutality.

The man collapsed—[EXP +1000].

Seven left.

The rear group closed in. One with twin daggers danced forward, his movements light and quick.

Kael recognized the rhythm. He mirrored it.

Clang. Parry. Slash. Counter.

The two moved like shadows in a deadly dance.

But Kael’s boost gave him the edge. His dagger nicked the man’s shoulder, then his thigh. A misstep followed soon after—and Kael pounced, slamming his knee into the man’s face and finishing it—[EXP +975].

He rolled forward as a greatsword cleaved the spot where he’d been. The wielder cursed.

Kael twisted around and stabbed into the man’s calf. He howled, staggered, and Kael used the opening—dagger to the neck—[EXP +975].

Five left.

A silence fell on the surroundings. The last five backed up, forming a semi-circle.

Kael didn’t wait.

He dashed in, choosing the tallest—likely the squad leader. The man was skilled. His sword met Kael’s dagger mid-air, sparks flying.

But Kael was faster now. Stronger.

He used the man’s block to spin behind him, elbowed him in the spine, and followed with a dagger strike to the kidney. The man dropped—[EXP +1000].

The rest moved together, attacking in pairs.

Kael was almost out of stamina now, but it didn’t matter.

He ducked under a swing, jabbed forward, and felt the dagger pierce something vital—[EXP +975].

The second warrior screamed and thrust his blade. It caught Kael’s side—[HP: 14%].

Kael didn’t flinch.

He let the pain anchor him. Grabbed the man’s arm, pulled him close, and whispered, "Too slow."

Then stabbed upward into his jaw—[EXP +1000].

Two left.

They hesitated. The boost’s time was almost up. Kael felt it—his breathing getting heavier again, his limbs just starting to drag.

The Eldritch Reversal was fading.

But he wasn’t done.

He ran at the last two before they could regroup. They braced themselves, side by side.

Kael feinted left. One took the bait and swung—Kael ducked under it and shoulder-rammed him into his partner.

Both stumbled.

Kael surged forward, slammed one into a tree, and stabbed him over and over—[EXP +975].

The last one managed a wild slice.

Kael blocked it with his forearm—[HP: 10%]—and drove the dagger into the man’s eye with a final, violent thrust—[EXP +1025].

[Progress: 100/100 Enemies Defeated]

[First Floor Trial Completed]

Kael stood still for a moment. The forest was quiet again and only the sound of his ragged breathing remained.

The system window flickered before him, glowing faintly through the blood splatter.

[Congratulations: Final Phase Cleared.]

[Bonus Reward Unlocked:

> +5 Strength

> +5 Constitution

> +5 Mental Cognition]

Kael didn’t smile, instead, he just dropped to his knees and exhaled.

The Eldritch Reversal had ended. His limbs now felt like jelly and ached again. His head throbbed. His HP was still dangerously low, but...

He was alive. Barely, but that was all that mattered.

He pulled himself toward a nearby rock, slumped against it cross-legged, and let the silence settle. The ground was littered with bodies. Blood, steel, scorched earth, it all felt real.

The system suddenly chimed.

[Level Cap Reached: Tier Advancement Possible]

[Condition Met: Lvl 18 → Tier Breakthrough Available]

[Initiating First Rank Evolution Stage: Primal Warrior Awakening]

Kael blinked slowly. His mind, though heavily drained, sharpened instantly. Something deep inside stirred like a current. Not like air flow. This was older, wilder—Primal Energy.

He didn’t move. He Couldn’t. His body was too drained. But the world around him began to shift.

The rock under him vibrated faintly and ripples of energy were being absorbed into his body from the surroundings. His bones followed suit. A low hum built inside his chest, as though something caged was rattling its prison. His fingertips twitched, and then—he felt it.

Primal Energy. No—more than Primal Energy. It wasn’t just flowing anymore. It was surging like a tidal wave. Crashing through his channels like a dam had broken.

Kael’s head snapped back. He clenched his jaw to stop himself from screaming.

[Initiating: Core Expansion Phase]

Every inch of his body tensed. The veins in his arms bulged, dark and hot. His meridians widened forcibly, tearing and healing at once. He felt it—tiny ruptures followed by quick patches. Agony followed by numb relief. Again and again, a continuous circle.

His heart beat once—then twice, harder, and stronger.

His Essence Core, once a steady flicker in his dantian, now pulsed like a star. It began to swell. Golden strands of condensed energy wrapped around it, layering, hardening.

It wasn’t just growth. It was transformation from mortal to the first form of evolution.