Eldritch Assassin: Reincarnated With An SSS-Rank Devouring System
Chapter 66: Trial Of Suppression (I)

Chapter 66: Trial Of Suppression (I)

Kael lunged.

His blade scraped against the Construct’s thigh. Just a flick, but it was enough to force a shift in its footing. The thing’s arms came up again, faster this time—angled tighter.

Kael’s heart pounded. His lungs burned. He knew his own rhythm was starting to falter, but he couldn’t stop.

Not yet.

The chamber’s stone floor was slick with sweat, dust, and his own blood. Every movement now sent pain lancing through his limbs, but it was the kind of pain that sharpened things. Like fire to a blade.

The Construct moved again. Another straight jab. Kael dodged sideways—barely. He stepped into the opening and slashed upward.

Clang!

A blocked hit.

Kael grunted. His arm jarred from the impact, but he twisted his wrist and pulled the blade back before the Construct could grab it.

Its fist flew toward his ribs again.

He dropped to one knee, letting it pass overhead. Then, with his free hand, he punched its kneecap—full force.

Crack!

The Construct jerked slightly. It didn’t scream in pain or give any reaction. But Kael could feel it. That joint wasn’t as firm anymore. A weakness had sprout.

It retaliated instantly, slamming a palm down toward Kael’s skull.

He rolled sideways and sprang to his feet, his breathing ragged. Blood trickled from his brow and mixed with sweat.

Still no break. Still no hesitation. His chest tightened.

’I need a rhythm shift.’

Kael backed off, weaving to the side, keeping his distance now. Just long enough to breathe.

The Construct didn’t chase immediately. It watched him. Its posture had changed again.

Less brute. More technical offensively. Its arms held a guard now—like a trained fighter. As if the longer they fought, the more refined it became.

Kael cursed under his breath. "This thing... is learning from me."

He sheathed the dagger briefly and raised his fists.

The chamber dimmed, flickering torches casting wild shadows. Dust danced between them, curling around like ghosts.

Kael stepped forward again, this time with open palms. He jabbed once—twice—testing range.

The Construct didn’t bite.

Then he feinted low and struck from the side with a sharp elbow to its ribs.

Smack!

A clean hit. Not deep, not dangerous. But it landed.

And the Construct responded immediately, hammering a fist toward his face.

Kael ducked and used the motion to drive a knee into its stomach.

Whump!

The Construct staggered back a step.

His eyes sharpened.

"Found it."

Its core. That’s where it was slightly off-balance. The torso was bulked, armored, but not flexible. It couldn’t adjust to inside hits as well.

Kael went in again with low feints, quick strikes to the sides, then cut across the middle when it braced high.

Three exchanges... Four.

He was carving seconds—slivers of opportunity. But it was risky. Too risky.

Because every time he landed something, it responded harder.

Bang!

The Construct landed a punch to his chest that sent him sprawling backward.

Kael hit the floor with a grunt, his blade skidding across the stone.

[HP 61%]

His lungs wheezed, trying to suck in air.

He lay there for a moment—just a second longer to catch his breath. Long enough to feel his ribs shift back into place. Nothing broken... yet.

But he couldn’t stay down. The Construct was already walking toward him, step by heavy step.

Kael pushed off the ground and ran—toward it.

He dove to the side at the last second, scooped up his blade mid-slide, then came up behind it and slashed.

Shhkkt!

A clean cut across its back.

The Construct spun around, elbow swinging. Kael ducked and drove his dagger into its thigh.

Metallic resistance again—but this time, he forced it in deeper with a twist.

It retaliated by slamming both fists downward.

Kael rolled aside, but the shockwave still caught him—[HP 54%]

He stumbled, breathing harder now. His vision blurred for a moment.

’Too fast. Too strong.’

And he was slowing.

He leaned on the wall for a second, blinking sweat from his eyes. His body screamed for rest. His muscles quivered, bones throbbed.

Then he remembered.

’This is the Trial of Suppression.’

Not a normal fight. Not a kill test. It wasn’t about brute force.

It was about pressure. Survival. Will. And most of all, control.

Kael’s grip tightened on the dagger. His eyes narrowed.

No more rushing in. He would drain it, step by step, slash by slash, hit by hit. Make it waste movement. Make it adjust again and again until it faltered.

He shifted his stance. No wide lunges and no explosive bursts this time around. He controlled his breathing and centered his weight.

He met the next clash with his blade tight against his forearm, deflecting blows instead of absorbing them. Like water bending around stone.

Slash.

Block.

Pivot.

Slash again.

It became a dance—sharp and brutal.

The Construct pressed harder, but Kael no longer fought on its terms.

He gave ground when needed. Struck only when openings truly appeared.

Minutes passed. Maybe ten. Maybe more.

The Construct’s attacks began to grow... stiffer. Less adaptive. Its movements weren’t slower—but the flow was breaking.

Kael saw it. The first sign.

It wasn’t learning anymore. It was only repeating the previous movements.

Kael grinned through cracked lips.

"You’re not perfect," he whispered.

The Construct lunged.

Kael ducked, swerved right, and spun low—slashing across both knees.

Chhk!

It staggered, and this time—didn’t recover fully.

He didn’t let up.

A shoulder check to its side. A low strike across its hip. A knee to the gut. Then a thrust straight into the solar plexus.

The blade sunk halfway in.

It didn’t roar. It didn’t bleed. But it froze.

Just for a heartbeat.

Kael’s body screamed in protest—but he pulled the blade out and kicked the Construct full in the chest, sending it crashing to the floor.

Dust billowed.

He stood there, hunched, panting. Every breath scraped his throat. His arms trembled. His legs threatened to buckle.

The Construct didn’t rise. Kael took two steps back. His chest rose and fell. His lips split into a smirk, thinking he had defeated his opponent.

"Still standing," he muttered. "Still in this."

And then—

The Construct stirred.

Kael’s smile faded and his smirk turned ugly.

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