The abyss within; Rominary yellow bandit base

The cold night air carried the lingering scent of blood and death, mixing with the acrid stench of burning corpses. The aftermath of the battle with the Rominary Yellow Bandits left the area in ruins, yet one figure still remained in the shadows.

Leonel took a deep breath, his golden eyes flickering under the dim moonlight. His heart still pounded from the battle, but excitement coursed through his veins. He had excused himself from Sheon under the pretense of "cleaning up"—but in truth, there was something else calling him.

The system rewards.

According to the system, they were stored somewhere within the bandit base. That alone was enough to pique his curiosity. With his current strength, he had no doubt he could handle whatever lay ahead.

As he approached what remained of the bandits' stronghold, his gaze darkened. The entrance was barely visible beneath the debris, but as he stepped closer, a strange energy pulsed beneath his feet.

"An underground structure? How unusual for mere bandits..."

With a flick of his wrist, a burst of compressed mana shot forward, shattering the rubble blocking his path. Dust and smoke billowed into the air, revealing a hidden staircase that spiraled downward into darkness. The eerie silence was unsettling, yet Leonel felt an unexplainable pull—something powerful lay ahead.

Without hesitation, he descended into the abyss.

Deep Inside the Bandit Base

The corridor was long, narrow, and damp. The walls were lined with torches flickering with a sickly green flame, casting dancing shadows that twisted like sinister specters. Every step Leonel took echoed through the hallway, yet he felt no presence—no bandits, no guards, nothing.

Minutes passed before he reached a massive chamber. His steps halted as his eyes widened in shock.

"Cells...?!"

Iron bars lined both sides of the chamber, containing grotesque creatures unlike anything he had ever seen. Misshapen bodies, distorted limbs, eyes burning with primal rage—each one radiated a violent, corrupted aura. They snarled and clawed at the bars, their twisted forms writhing as though in constant agony.

Leonel's brows furrowed.

"What the hell were these bandits planning? A monster army?"

A sinister realization struck him.

"No… these things are pure evil!"

The very idea sent chills down his spine. The corrupted energy emanating from them felt familiar, but far more potent than ordinary demonic energy. It was something stronger, darker—royal demonic energy.

[System Alert!]

[Detected individuals fused with royal demonic energy. Would you like to absorb it?]

[Warning: Absorption will result in their immediate death.]

Leonel's breath hitched.

"These things… were once humans?!"

A bitter taste formed in his mouth. He had seen horrors before, but this? The Rominary Bandits weren't just criminals—they were experimenting on people, turning them into monstrous abominations.

Hatred surged within him. There was no saving these creatures. Their bodies were already lost, twisted beyond recognition, their minds consumed by rage and despair.

The only thing left was mercy—and power.

A dark grin crept onto his lips.

"Absorb it all. Don't leave a single drop."

[Command Confirmed.]

A deep purple mist seeped from the abominations, flowing toward Leonel like a raging tide. The creatures shrieked in agony as the last remnants of their wretched existence were drained away, their bodies withering into dust.

Leonel shuddered as the overwhelming energy flooded into him, his veins burning with newfound strength.

[Absorption Complete.]

[You may convert it into 50 Evolution Points or use it to break through all stats.]

There was no hesitation.

"Break through."

A torrent of power exploded within him. His entire being shifted, his bones crackling under the immense pressure of sudden growth. His muscles tightened, his mind sharpened, and his very essence evolved beyond his previous limits.

[System Update!]

Name: Leonel

Title: Hero / T*********R

Class: Hero

Strength: 7th Order (0%)

Speed: 7th Order (0%)

Intelligence: 7th Order (0%)

Physicality: 7th Order (0%)

Mana: 7th Order (0%)

Evolution Points: 35

Talents:

Quick Learning

Quick Adaptation

Hero's Will

Swordsmanship

Magic Affinity

Equipment:

11th Grade Demonic Ring (Currently: 7th Grade)

(Skills: Demonic Summon (1/3), Demonic Absorption, Anti-Demonic Magic, Partial Transformation)

Leonel clenched his fists, his entire body trembling from the sheer power now coursing through him.

"This… is incredible."

His grin widened, sharp and wicked.

"With this, I could wipe out an entire city with a single spell."

The realization sent a thrill down his spine. He was no longer the same. His power had multiplied tenfold in mere moments. No one of the Seventh Order could stand against him—he was beyond them.

"That little princess won't be a problem anymore."

But this was only the beginning.

His eyes fell on a massive door at the end of the chamber—sealed with mana inscriptions and anti-magic barriers.

"Whatever's behind there must be important."

Placing his palm against the surface, he pushed.

CRACK.

The sheer force of his strength—over a million kilograms—shattered the door into dust.

Leonel stepped forward.

The Hidden Chamber

The room was dimly lit, filled with ancient scrolls and scattered documents. At the center of the chamber, atop a dusty wooden shelf, a mask materialized in his hands.

[System Alert!]

[Rewards Initiated!]

- Unknown Reward: Absorption of experiments & Mirage Mask

- Key Information: The Cult of Mammon

Leonel's eyes flickered.

[The Rominary Bandits were a front. They served the Cult of Mammon—a faction worshiping the Primordial Demon Mammon. Their goal? To create the "Perfect Race" by fusing humans with the essence of Mammon's son: Vorgtith. Their ultimate project, Vor'Drath, is an entity known as the Unchained Calamity, cultivated in the Erebus Wastes.]

Leonel scoffed.

"And why should I care about a lunatic cult?"

Tossing the document aside, he focused on the mask.

[Mirage Mask – 9th Grade Artifact]

Abilities:

Masks the user's aura and mana level.

Can increase the user's aura two levels above their own.

Can alter the user's face with high-level illusion magic.

Ineffective if seen being put on or if the opponent is far stronger.

A slow smirk formed on Leonel's lips.

"With this… I can grow stronger right under Sheon's nose."

His grip on the mask tightened.

"Do I really need her anymore?"

The thought lingered as powerful purple flames erupted, consuming the entire chamber in a sea of destruction.

The past was dead.

Only power mattered now.