Chapter 47 - The Devil's Interest

Oliver felt a throb in his chest where his heart is. The pain from the unbecoming power had made his body unstable and both his circulatory system and Mana Core were getting overwhelmed by a feeling of pressure.

He could feel his consciousness starting to fade as he was getting torn apart from both inside and out. Despite his desperate clings to getting out alive, he knew that he was going to die if he didn't do something that could tip the scales in his favor.

The power that bloomed from within was coursing through his mana channels now.

Although Oliver's combat prowess was significantly more than that of a normal person, his understanding of Mana was completely different. There was no way for him to know what to do in this scenario but to completely lose control.

The power from the devil had made him more desperate as the seconds passed. Oliver winced from the pain. There are a few ways to deal with this situation but he couldn't think straight from his senses getting overwhelmed

The corrosion has gotten deeper into his skin and the pain was getting even more unbearable.

Second after second, inch by inch, Oliver felt like there was something that was ripping into his very soul. Until he couldn't take it anymore.

Finally, something broke. A burst of Mana radiated from Oliver's body and the pain started to subside. Oliver knew he had to keep pushing the Mana out from his Mana Core but he was surprised that he did so without that much of a hitch.

It was the first time that he had ever felt something of a Mana discharge but he was surprised to find out that he could do it so easily. The Mana discharge was strong enough to cancel out the corrosion and wrap Oliver in dark energy.

Oliver felt strong like he could possibly take on the entire world.

In a few moments, the dark energy finally managed to rip the creature that swallowed him from the inside. It took a lot more out of Oliver than he had originally thought but the dark energy was still growing.

From the initial release of energy, the dark Mana was still continuously growing more and more out of control. Oliver couldn't stop it. The Mana was swallowing and overwriting the pure Mana that Oliver originally had. No matter what he did, he was spiraling out of control.

He suddenly let out a loud shout into the sky as he felt he was being swallowed by the devil from the inside. The truth was that was exactly what was happening to him.

In reality, Oliver had signed a contract with the devil and had inadvertently let his Mana Core become a gateway for the devil's power to come out. He became a beacon for the devil he contacted to come out and play. By play, it meant to wreak havoc all over.

Slowly losing control of his body, Oliver did what any sensible person could do.

Close his eyes and try to reenact what and when it went wrong.

He reached out to the voice that called out to him inside the plant creature to strike up a conversation. No matter how much he lost feeling in his body, he was still able to focus on what he was trying to accomplish.

"Oi!" Oliver yelled out from his inside his head, "I came to talk to you!"

The devil's smile suddenly showed up in his head and let out a sneer before saying, "what else could you offer me, human?" in a mocking tone.

"What... what the hell are you doing to me?!" Oliver lashed out in anger. The devil's grin was mocking him but it was the only thing that he could see.

"What indeed," the devil scoffed at the lower being's question. "You want power, yes? Then, I shall grant it to you, in exchange for your soul!"

The dark Mana from the gateway started to pour out more than before. Oliver felt as if his own body was seriously tearing him apart from the inside and there was no way to stop it. Although the overwhelming power was something that he longed for, he only now realized that this probably was the wrong way to go about it.

Regardless, Oliver tried to muster his strength. He couldn't use brunt force this time around when dealing with something that was coming from inside him. Oliver thought of only one way to get this devil off him.

He grabbed his [Darkened Edge] dagger from the ground. Now in a very sorry state, he raised the tip and aimed it at his own chest, where his Mana Core was, and stabbed.

Despite all logic, this was the only thing that made sense for Oliver to do. There was no way out of the devil's contract but instead of letting it wreak havoc using his body, it would be much safer if the devil didn't come out at all.

"Oh," the devil said, impressed. "Interesting. You're at least a lot more interesting than the rest of the humans out there, heh."

"You think I care?" Oliver said while continuously trying to push the dagger in further but it won't budge. "I'm not going to let you play me so easily."

The resisting dark Mana was pushing back the dagger that is near its breaking point. It seemed that the end was nigh but the devil suddenly offered a different proposal.

"Alright, what about this, human?" the devil said in a conniving voice, "seeing you struggle this hard has made me nostalgic of back when before I attained devilhood."

The devil paused before laughing in a devilish manner, "I won't take over your body, but... in exchange, you will become my eyes and ears into the surface world."

"I...," Oliver hesitated before blood started to come out from his lips.

"You're getting on my patience, boy!" the devil pushed his dark Mana harder into the gateway, making Oliver topple to the ground. "Do you accept?!"

Oliver gritted his teeth and said, "I... accept."

The dark Mana finally alleviated from his Mana Core and the gateway managed to close but instead of dissipating, the dark Mana flew into the [Darkened Edge] dagger.

A spectacle occurred. The dark Mana violently wrapped around the weapon and started to change the structure of the dagger itself. It was as if the will of the devil was being transferred into a different item.

[Item Updated!]

It wasn't soon after that the window appeared.

[Devil's Laceration]

Bladed Weapon

Durability: Infinite

Attack Power +10% of the user's Agility

Weapon Requirements: Mana Bond, Trial of the Foolish Devil

A one-sided dagger that is infused with the power of the Foolish Devil, a being of pure darkness. Evolved from weapon [Darkened Edge].

Additional Passive Skill: The Devil's Interest

- When equipped, increases the user's Agility and stealth in dark areas but reduces all damage dealt in daylight.

Additional Passive Skill: The Devil's Medium

- Dark Affinity +15. This dagger has a soul of its own and cannot at all times follow your commands.

Additional Active Skill: Soul-searching Strike

- Infuses the weapon with the power of the devil's darkness, dealing 50 true damage to the target enemy.

- Cooldown: 2 minutes

The dagger was instantly Mana Bonded to him after the transformation, after all.

Oliver read the information and only now realized that this wants the devil meant that he will become the eyes and ears of the surface world. Turns out, a part of the devil's soul had become tied to this weapon and, at the same time, Oliver as well.

The windows that popped up weren't done.

[Trial of the Foolish Devil Complete!]

[Skill Unlocked!]

[Liberation: Darkness Unbridled]

Active Magic Skill

Instantly reduce HP and Mana by half upon activation. Increases Strength, Agility, and Stamina by 50% and changes all none Attributed attacks to the Dark Attribute. Lasts for 15 seconds.

The skill was costly, to say the least, and the duration didn't last very long either. Regardless, Oliver was glad he turned out alive. That way, he could still carry out his revenge on Shyft. Speaking of...

'Where is he?' Oliver looked around, only to find that the killer was nowhere in sight. He was sure that Shyft had gotten away but Oliver needed to find him.

He took a single step in the direction that he last saw him, only to suddenly collapse to the ground.

There was a lot that happened in the past few minutes and he was too consumed with what happened to notice what his condition was. Oliver was riddled with wounds and a lot of dark spots and signs of corrosion that would make an ordinary person.

If he looked at his HP, it was near rock bottom. That so-called "trial" could've killed him.

Despite his worse for wear condition, Oliver tried to stand back up but his body won't listen to him. That wasn't all because as soon as his body failed, his consciousness was next.

Not long, Oliver passed out.