*BANG!*

“Ughh,” Jason groaned as his legs strained under the impact of the devil. He stumbled but barely managed to keep himself upright, as the devil right in front of him began savaging his torso.

The form of this devil was even more bizarre than the last. It possessed a hideous semblance that was the foul mixture of both humanoid and insect countenance. Its torso lay parallel to the ground, and on its sides eight fleshy human arms, four on each side, supported it. Its head lay on the edge of its torso, oval like that of a spider’s, with eight human eyes but the fangs of a spider. Along with its dark grey skin that camouflaged with the surroundings, it was quite the monstrosity.

And right now, this monstrosity stood right before him, metal spike-tipped arms scrabbling to rend his chest.

It was unsettling, to be gazed at by those uncannily human eyes. He finished forming his claws as he jumped back to dodge the sweeping claws. Scanning for an opening, he found that the top of the devil spider was the only place he could safely attack. Unfortunately, he had limited fighting experience, and it was all he could do to not die.

The devil spider always paused for a moment after it scythed its claws to him to draw them back to strike, but it could be a feint. He would have to take a gamble.

It lunged at him once more, and this time, as he jumped back, he braced himself, and leapt at it the moment its claws passed mere inches from his chest.

He saw its hideous body grow closer and closer as he tried to grab onto its vulnerable back. He could win this!

*Shhnkk!*

It was a feint.

The devil spider leaned on its back legs, facing its head up and impaling Jason with its fangs.

“Aaagggh!”

The two massive fangs pierced straight through his abdomen, the two combined half his width. He spat a flood of mist that seemed to be his blood, as molten lava seemed to run through his entire body.

Adrenaline coursed through his body as he focused intensely like never before.

‘If I die, I’ll take you down with me!’

Pure, primal rage empowered him as his claws somehow lengthened, before he savagely dug into the back of the spider devil.

“Screeeeee!!!”

The spider screeched in agony as he tore it apart. He dug through its tough skin, ripping apart flesh and muscle and tearing it off. He found bone, and swung his claws down to crush them. They cracked but held. Beneath him, the spider retaliated, and widened its fangs.

He coughed out more mist. If this continued, it would tear him in half!

He focused his assault, seeking its core and vital organs. He raised his claws over his head, smashing down on the ribcage of the spider over and over again, shattering it and exposing its vitals. It was weakening, tearing him apart slower, although he could barely tell through the sheer agony he felt.

He grasped unidentifiable organs and ripped them out, digging into its flesh. The spider’s legs scrabbled around, clicking on the stone floor as it attempted to end him sooner as it felt its own end approach. Its screams grew higher and higher in pitch.

He laughed victoriously, as he finally found the heart of the creature where its core was stored, and tore it out.

[ committed. +5 Essence of Sin]

It squealed in pain, and in a final act of defiance, it finally cut through, tearing both him and his victory celebrations in half.

He collapsed to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut.

“AAAAAAHHHH!!”

He screamed, as his mist-shrouded entrails spilled out. So his body was solid after all, judging from his very real and solid organs now scattered across the dusty stone ground.

He gazed at his only lifeline, the heart with the core embedded inside, as well as the soul of the creature. ‘Should I torment it to induce negative emotions? Ah, I just ripped out all its organs, I think that will do. Shit, I really should stop brushing with death like this.’

Hesitating no longer, he quickly devoured the heart. ‘Oh, I hope it doesn’t spill out.’ His gaping maw opened once more and quickly rent the heart to tiny pieces that he quickly swallowed.

The familiar energy bloomed within him once again, and he could feel the agony that wracked his entire body start to lessen.

[ granted. +100 Essence of Sin]

He quickly searched the rewards list for something to aid him.

[110 Essence remaining.]

[: The core of a Darkmyst Shapeshifter Devil. Can raise soul power by 30. Cost: 100 Essence]

‘I suppose a core from my own species would help stimulate my bloodline better.’

[ chosen. -100 Essence]

A small crystal appeared, the size of a fingernail. Well, at least as big as a fingernail if his fingers had nails. It was dark, mist seemingly trapped inside the crystal mixed with the colour of smoke and iron. He supposed that he had one inside himself.

Without further delay, he swallowed the crystal, and its energies flooded his body. His soul pulsed with a color not unlike the crystal, and its power and size increased slightly.

*DING!*

[100 soul power reached. Qualifications for Devil Esquire reached. feature unlocked. Beginning Evolution]