Eldritch Assassin: Reincarnated With An SSS-Rank Devouring System
Chapter 69: Trial Of Adaptation (I)

Chapter 69: Trial Of Adaptation (I)

The wind howled through the canyon like a beast mourning its dead.

Kael’s boots sank slightly into the gravelly soil as he stepped forward, mist swirling around his knees. The terrain felt unstable, patches of stone giving way to soft dirt without warning. His senses flared, reading every vibration, every shift in pressure. The environment itself felt alive—hostile.

He tightened his grip on the Abyssal Fang Dagger, its edge gleaming faintly. The blade pulsed with silent hunger. No primal energy. No flashy techniques. This was raw combat. Blade versus flesh. Instinct against instinct.

The first ripple of movement came from the left.

A silhouette emerged from the fog—tall, armored, wielding twin sabers. Its steps were soundless, yet the weight of its presence pressed against Kael’s chest like a boulder.

Then another form appeared—this one lean, robed, holding curved daggers that flickered with cold steel. A third came up the slope, its massive greathammer dragging behind it, gouging a trench in the ground.

Three enemies. All level 21. No Primal Energy. No martial skills. Just physical strength and killing intent.

Kael didn’t wait.

He dashed forward, low and fast, closing the distance with the saber-wielder. His dagger flashed out in a horizontal slash aimed at the ribs, but metal clashed on metal—the enemy parried with swift precision and countered with a brutal knee.

Kael twisted his core, taking the hit along his side instead of the gut, and grunted as pain flared through his torso. No energy meant no reinforcement—every blow landed real.

The greathammer-wielder bellowed from behind and charged, the ground trembling with each step. Kael ducked as the sabers whirled down, pivoted into a roll, and sprang toward the dagger user on the right.

That one was fast. Too fast.

Their blades danced—slashes and parries, thrusts and deflections. Kael’s shoulder caught a nick, the sting sharp and immediate. Blood dripped. The enemy pressed forward, footwork aggressive.

Kael used it.

He feigned a stumble, baited an overextension, and buried his knee into the opponent’s ribs. A satisfying crunch echoed. The enemy staggered, opening its guard—but the saber-user was already on Kael’s flank.

A shallow cut bloomed along his back.

Kael’s breathing quickened. This wasn’t just a trial—it was a siege. These enemies fought with coordination. They adjusted. Learned. Each moment he bought, they adapted.

He spun and met the saber-user head-on, dagger and blade clashing in a flurry of sparks. The greathammer came from behind again—Kael sidestepped just in time, the weapon smashing the canyon floor, sending dust and rock flying.

He couldn’t fight them all at once. Not without energy. He had to break the formation.

Kael kicked off a rock ledge and darted up the slope, forcing the trio to chase. Loose gravel slid underfoot, the terrain shifting with every step. Just as he reached a small outcrop, the earth gave way.

He fell.

Only a few meters, but he hit the ground hard—his shoulder jolted, ribs aching. The greathammer user leapt after him, swinging down with deadly intent.

Kael rolled to the side, barely avoiding the crushing blow. He jabbed upward mid-roll, his dagger slicing across the enemy’s thigh. It roared, staggered—but didn’t fall.

Pain throbbed in Kael’s ribs. His breath was ragged now. Every movement scraped against raw bone. But he kept moving.

He backpedaled into the mist, using the shifting terrain to break line-of-sight. Predator’s Instincts burned behind his eyes—he didn’t need vision. He needed silence.

The moment his foot brushed against solid stone again, he crouched, body stilling, breath shallow. He could feel them spread out, searching. Their footsteps grew quieter, smarter.

A rock clattered to his right.

He spun and ducked—just in time to evade a thrown dagger. It embedded into the rock behind him with a loud thunk. The assassin-like one had found him.

But Kael was ready now.

He burst from the fog and closed the gap in two strides. His dagger slashed down—met with a parry—but he didn’t stop. His free hand grabbed the enemy’s wrist, twisted it, and drove his knee into their stomach. Twice. Three times.

The body crumpled.

One down.

Not dead—just out. Kael could feel it in the way its aura flickered to nothing.

He turned—just as the greathammer swung sideways.

The blow connected with Kael’s arm and sent him flying. He crashed into a jagged rock wall, breath driven from his lungs, body screaming in agony.

His vision blurred for a moment.

System Ping—[Warning: HP reduced to 44%].

He coughed, blood flecking his lips.

The saber-user closed in.

Kael pushed himself up, muscles trembling. His right arm dangled limply—dislocated or fractured. He couldn’t tell. Couldn’t afford to care.

He flipped the dagger into his left hand and set his stance.

The saber struck.

Kael parried awkwardly, feet slipping slightly on the gravel. The enemy’s follow-up cut a line across his hip. He hissed, spinning wide to avoid a finishing blow, then reversed into a sudden lunge.

Steel met flesh.

His dagger plunged into the enemy’s abdomen. Not deep—but enough.

He twisted, ripped it out, and ducked low, sweeping the enemy’s legs. The saber-wielder crashed backward into a sharp boulder, unmoving.

Two down.

Kael didn’t have time to breathe. The last one was already on him.

The greathammer slammed down, Kael barely leapt away, but the shockwave sent him tumbling. His head struck stone. Stars danced in his vision. Blood trickled down his brow.

He rolled to his feet, panting.

His left hand shook. Vision doubled. Every breath hurt.

The enemy came again. Slow and deliberate.

Kael smiled through blood-stained teeth.

So was he.

They clashed once more—Kael ducking under wild swings, darting in with precise strikes. The enemy blocked with raw strength, forcing Kael back with each step.

Then the terrain shifted again.

The canyon floor cracked—Kael stumbled as a ledge collapsed behind him, forcing him to retreat toward a narrow ledge near the cliff face.

A trap.

He was being cornered.

The greathammer lifted high for the final blow.

Kael didn’t retreat. He charged in.

The weapon came down—and Kael slid under it, his knees screaming. Dust exploded as the hammer struck the ground. Kael came up on the other side, dagger flashing in a reverse grip—

And drove it into the back of the giant’s knee.

The enemy howled, stumbling forward—and Kael leaped, wrapping his arm around its neck, his legs anchoring against its back. He twisted hard, dragging the dagger across the throat.

The monster crashed forward.

Three down.

Kael dropped to his knees, gasping. Blood soaked his side, arm numb, body screaming in protest. He dragged himself upright using the dagger like a cane.

System Ping—[Trial Phase 1 Complete. Next Phase Initiating in 60 seconds.]

He blinked slowly. "Phase one?"

His lips curled. "You’re kidding me..."

The canyon shifted again—cliffs groaned, mist thickened, and new shadows formed at the edge of his vision.

Kael clenched his jaw, wiped the blood from his eyes, and stood. Barely.

If this was only the beginning, then he’d have to dig deeper.

Much deeper.