Chapter 11: Trial of the Devourer
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Darkness surged across the ruined catacombs like a suffocating tide. The corpses of the corrupted beast spirits shimmered faintly, their essence already dissolving into the air. Rael stood in silence, his blade lowered, his breathing unsteady. Behind him, faint echoes of the system still flickered in the recesses of his mind.
> [You have defeated: Shadow Warden (D-Rank Elite Spirit)] [Devour has been triggered.] [Spiritual Threshold surpassed.] [Accessing hidden trait: Devourer's Domain.] [Warning: Initiating Trial of the Devourer.] [All external communication severed.] [Soul Isolation… complete.]
Everything went black.
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Unknown Plane – The Soul Abyss
Rael's body vanished from the physical world, though to an outside observer, he merely slumped forward, his body still breathing, surrounded by faint black wisps.
Within his mind, Rael stood on an endless obsidian plain, beneath a swirling sky of red and violet. Jagged, crystalline tendrils jutted from the ground, pulsing like veins through the void. There was no wind, no warmth, no direction.
Only presence.
A voice that was not a voice echoed from the nothingness.
> "You who bear the Devourer's brand… you have fed upon enough death to awaken me."
Rael turned, only to see a towering silhouette emerging from the mist. It wore no face, no form—just a vast cloak of shadows and writhing spectral limbs that glimmered like stars within the void.
A system prompt materialized in glowing red before his eyes.
> [Trial of the Devourer Initiated] Origin of Class: Spirit Contractor (Legendary – Awakened Lineage) Hidden Trait Activated: Devourer's Lineage – Fragment Unsealed Objective: Survive the Devourer's Trial. Failure will result in soul annihilation.
Rael clenched his fists.
> "So this… is inside me?"
> "It is what you are," the voice replied. "The Devourer does not merely consume. It inherits. It remakes."
Suddenly, the void cracked—and from the darkness rose three figures.
Each was a mirror of Rael—but older, stronger, twisted.
The first bore golden armor stained with blood and eyes filled with madness.
The second was lean, cloaked in obsidian robes, his very presence radiating malice.
The third smiled calmly, with a glowing chain of souls wrapped around his arm—like a collector of death.
> [Devourer Echoes – Phase I Initiated] Defeat the fragments of yourself… or become one of them.
Rael summoned his blade—but it shattered in his hand.
> "What?!"
The calm version of himself stepped forward.
> "You think power lies in weapons? The Devourer is the weapon."
Then the onslaught began.
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Battle Within the Soul
The golden-armored version of Rael struck first, a whirlwind of raw power. His blows shattered the ground, each swing of his phantom halberd threatening to erase Rael's essence entirely. Rael dodged, rolled, but took a direct hit to his shoulder.
> -45 HP (Soul Damage)
Searing pain exploded through him—not of the body, but of the spirit.
The robed version cast shadows that swallowed Rael's movement. Spectral chains coiled from beneath his feet, dragging him down as the air thickened into a noxious fog.
The collector stood back, watching, waiting—his eyes glowing.
> "You are not ready," he said. "You fear what you could become."
Rael roared, drawing on his inner strength.
> "I've feared everything. Hunger. Silence. Being forgotten. But not anymore!"
The system flickered again.
> [Soul Limit Reached… Synchronization Allowed.] [Spirit Integration: Fang Ghosthound – Initiated]
A familiar surge of energy returned—his first bonded spirit. Ghostly claws extended from his fingers. His agility surged.
> [AGI +3] [Howl Slash – Available]
He lunged at the armored version, slashing across its side with a feral cry. The impact was real—fractures spread across the illusion's body.
> [Echo Stability – 67%]
Rael panted, adrenaline surging.
But the collector finally moved.
With one finger, he snapped—and all of the shadows surged toward Rael like a wave of ink. His body was engulfed, crushed, and for a moment… he saw memories that were not his own.
A field of burning cities.
A sky split by gods.
A throne built from bones.
> "These are your possible futures," the Devourer's voice said. "Every death you feed upon brings you closer to these paths. Will you choose one?"
> "Or will you forge your own?"
Rael screamed—and something inside him snapped.
> [Devourer Core – Fragment Resonance Achieved] [Partial Awakening Unlocked – Trait Gained: Devourer's Will] Passive: Resist spiritual corruption. +20% Soul Resistance. Active (Locked): Abyssal Form
Power erupted through him. His broken soul ignited with sapphire and violet flame.
He stood again, fists clenched, shadows swirling around him not as enemies—but armor.
> "I choose my own path."
With a roar, he dashed forward—faster than before—piercing through the armored Echo, his ghostblade driving into its core. The figure shattered into motes of light.
> [Echo Defeated – Stability Collapse 33%]
The robed Echo hissed—but Rael was already upon him. With a sweep of his clawed hand, he tore the veil of shadow apart and rammed his fist into the specter's chest.
> [Echo Defeated – Stability Collapse 10%]
Only the collector remained.
He smiled. "You've passed… for now."
Then he exploded into light.
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Return to Reality
Rael gasped as breath returned to him. His body jerked upright in the catacombs, eyes glowing dim violet. Sweat dripped down his face, his tunic soaked through.
Around him, nothing had changed… and yet everything had.
> [Trial of the Devourer: Passed] Rewards: – Trait Gained: Devourer's Will (Passive) – Bonded Soul Slot +1 – Spirit Core Capacity Upgraded (Tier I) – Skill Unlocked: Spirit Sight (★★☆☆☆)
> Description: Briefly view the spiritual signature and essence health of all nearby entities.
> [Warning: You are being watched.]
Rael stiffened.
A new message blinked across his interface—one he hadn't seen before.
> [Unknown Entity Logged] Identity: REDACTED Affiliation: ??? (Ancient Court) Message: "So the boy survived. Curious."
He spun around—but the catacombs were silent.
Alone.
But he could feel it.
Something had noticed him.
And it wasn't human.
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Back at Velaria Academy – That Same Night
Far above, beyond the catacombs and through the layers of city stone and royal defenses, a cloaked man sat in a glass tower overlooking the royal spire of Velaria.
He sipped dark wine and stared at a translucent crystal hovering in the air.
Rael's face hovered within the crystal, flickering like a flame.
> "He's awakened too soon," the man muttered. "But the chain reaction has already begun. The Devourer has chosen another vessel."
Behind him, a woman dressed in silk with eyes like shattered mirrors stepped forward.
> "Should we kill him?"
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he smiled.
> "Not yet. Let's see how deep he can descend before he learns what it means to truly devour."
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