Liam's Second Spirit?
Since his arrival, he had mapped out the terrain in his mind, dividing it into three distinct zones of peril.
The shoreline teemed with lurking water beasts, always ready to strike at the unwary. It certainly wasn't a good place to stay for more than a few minutes.
At the center of the island, hills rolled into dense forests, waterfalls cascaded into hidden pools, and a massive rock formation loomed like a sentinel in the area.
It was the perfect hiding place for any beast or demon. If he were a beast or a demon, Liam was sure he would choose it to hide!
For days, Liam had skirted this treacherous heart, staying in what he considered the safer middle zone. But now, having reached the second realm and feeling a surge of newfound strength, he was ready to take the risk.
Mary's confidence bolstered his resolve as they set off toward the island's core.
Eternal Doom Island wasn't vast—its six-kilometer radius could be crossed in under an hour at their current pace. Yet, every step into the central area felt like a journey into the unknown. As they moved deeper, the air grew thick with tension; the forest echoing with unseen threats.
Liam tightened his grip on his weapon, eyes scanning the underbrush for any sign of movement. A rustle here, a distant growl there—each sound heightened his senses.
Just 33 minutes after Liam's decision, they reached an important point in their journey and began the climb up the hill ahead.
"The strongest demons must live here. Just feel how much denser the mana is in this area," Liam said with a smile.
Mary noticed it when she saw how the mana seemed to be denser in higher places on the hill they were climbing. 'Why is that?' she wondered silently as she walked behind him, checking the surroundings.
Liam spotted a footprint characteristic of demons he had seen in the past few weeks and slowed his pace, becoming more cautious.
He didn't feel any aura at first, but judging from the density of mana in the area, he thought he was close to potential enemies and changed his behavior accordingly.
"We must be close. Be ready to use your power at any moment," Liam cautioned, his voice low but firm. He glanced at Maria, who nodded, her eyes sharp with readiness.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than two three-meter tall demons emerged from behind a rocky outcrop. Their skin was as dark as ebony, eyes glowing with an intense red light that seemed to burn with malevolence.
Long, twisted horns jutted from their heads, and their membranous wings, reminiscent of a giant bat's, spread menacingly.
Liam's heart raced. These were unmistakably 9-Star demons from the first realm.
As they prepared for battle, positioning themselves defensively, a sudden chill ran down their spines. From a cave nearby, the shadow of a third demon materialized, its aura radiating a palpable, oppressive force.
Liam felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. This one was different—more powerful.
In the distant recess of Liam's mind, the incubus stirred. The moment the aura reached it, it opened its eyes, rising from the platform where it had been silently meditating.
Its presence, once dormant, now seemed to resonate with the dark energy emanating from the cave.
Liam tightened his grip on his weapon, eyes locked on the emerging shadow. "Stay sharp, Mary. This one's unlike any we've faced before."
Maria nodded, her expression steeled with determination. Together, they stood ready to confront the dark force that loomed before them.
'Thal'Korr, the Shadow Destroyer.'
Liam heard the voice of the incubus and realized they knew each other.
'Are you going to help me this time, or do I have to fight alone?'
'I can't help you even if I wanted to... If you want to defeat Thal'Korr, don't let him touch you. Control yourself against his aura of fear and don't miss the opportunity to kill him. The only way to deal with the Shadow Destroyer is to kill or die.'
Liam swallowed his saliva before feeling the incubus move away from him once again, his mind snapping back to reality and focusing on this being that looked similar to the other two demons, but had a superior cultivation.
With the strength of 1-Star Spirit Lord, Thal'Korr would be no easy opponent for Liam!
"What should we do? This demon is clearly superior to the other two!" Mary muttered, her voice tight with fear.
"We have no choice but to fight." Liam's heart pounded as he clenched his fists.
"These are Shadowfiends, Liam. They won't be easy to deal with," she warned, her eyes flicking nervously between the approaching demons.
Subconsciously, she knew escape was not an option.
There were many races of demons, including the rare breed of incubus, another rare breed, the succubus, but also the powerful and less rare breed, the Shadowfiends.
Shadowfiends, masters of shadows and darkness, were renowned for their espionage and assassination skills. Their ability to merge with the shadows made them formidable and elusive adversaries.
"I know," Liam replied, his voice steady. "Control your heart and mind, Mary. It'll try to influence us with its aura of fear. Focus on the other two. I know you can handle them. I'll take on the strongest."
"Are you sure about that?" Mary's voice wavered, her hands trembling.
"I have a plan. Trust me." He smiled at her as if everything was fine.
Mary took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Okay, I'm with you."
She believed him easily, even though Liam obviously hadn't thought of anything to use against the Spirit Lord demon.
Still, Liam was not a young man who would just give up on life after everything that had happened to him!
'Shadowfiends are not invincible. All beings have their weaknesses. With this type of demon, its weakness is its mind. Mary should be able to deal with both of them while I deal with Thal'Korr...
If I can get an opening for a lethal attack, I might overcome it and force a Spirit Pact.'
There were various methods of forming a Spirit Pact, including ones Liam didn't know about, such as the one used by the incubus demon. Among the ones the young man knew were the most common: the conquest of the stronger by the weaker in battle and an agreement between the parties.
Not every agreement had to be between enemies. Sometimes, the Spirit Master and the being behind the spirit to be connected to the master's powers could even be friends or companions. But more often than not, the dominating side would act against their target, leave them on the brink of death, and then offer the Spirit Pact.
Through the Spirit Pact, a magical being could escape certain death and live on as the spirit of the Spirit Master.
This was Liam's plan!
While Liam pondered, Mary summoned her spirit. At the same time, the three demons muttered incomprehensible things, approaching them and showing signs they would fight.
When the two weaker ones moved, Liam skillfully dodged and showed the difference between the one with the higher cultivation realm and the weaker one.
Though there was only a one-level difference between him and the two demons, the gulf between their realms made this difference monumental.
Liam easily parried their initial attack, swiftly closing the distance to stand three meters before the stronger demon. Meanwhile, Mary unleashed her mental powers, a black mist swirling at the edge of the slope as she targeted their two opponents.
As the mist enveloped the demons, Mary's mental assault began. Shadows twisted within the fog, taking the shapes of creatures from the demons' own race, stirring fear and confusion.
Liam mirrored her actions, projecting thoughts into Thal'Korr's mind, thoughts that no creature of his standing should entertain.
Thal'Korr's heart pounded erratically as he saw familiar shapes in Mary's mist. His confidence wavered, disturbed by the mental images assaulting him. Though aware that this wasn't a physical threat, the psychological impact was undeniable.
Liam knew his own powers of seduction and mind manipulation were less effective on males, especially those not of his race. But he needed only a moment of hesitation to gain the upper hand.
Thal'Korr's eyes flickered with doubt for just an instant. It was enough.
Liam lunged, his weapon glinting in the dim light as he struck with precision. The demon staggered, momentarily dazed by the combined mental and physical onslaught.
Just as it expected to feel the contact of its enemy's stone weapon with its arms, it felt a stab in the middle of its back, and Liam's body in front of it turned out to be nothing but a pile of mist.
"Shit!"
The word escaped Thal'Korr's horrified mouth before it let out a cry of pain and turned around to feel a puncture wound at the level of its left lung.
Tasting the blood in his mouth, this Shadowfiend changed its gaze completely, realizing the young man who had awakened his powers through a demonic ritual was not as simple as he had first appeared.
Knowing that one blow wouldn't be enough to accomplish his goal, Liam moved in and began his series of attacks on the demon. He wanted it to be his second spirit!