Chapter 48: Updating Stats

Damian groaned as he reached to the side to grab Hazel and pull her into his embrace, but the bed was empty. He froze. His hand swept across the sheets again and again, slapping against cold fabric, yet there was no one there.

How does a man with three wives wake up alone in bed?

His mind lurched into emergency mode. His eyes snapped open as he looked left and right, but the space beside him remained vacant. Then he heard movement downstairs. Only then did he release a slow breath, clutching at his pounding heart. For a moment, he had nearly tested his powers, just to confirm they were still there, to ensure everything up to this point had not been some elaborate dream.

Yesterday he had gained five levels each from Ruby and Racheal. Clara had given him a small measure of experience as well. On his way back, he had stopped at a store and purchased a black and purple fox mask along with several new outfits in preparation for his meeting with Twenty tonight. He had intended to do further digging after returning home, but his wives had ambushed him and claimed their share of his attention before he drifted into exhausted sleep.

He had already been worn thin by the long day.

“Let’s see how many levels they got me,” he muttered, focusing on the messages tucked at the corner of his vision.

[Congratulations, you defeated Bathin]

[New Abyssal puppet acquired.]

“Abyssal puppet?” Damian stiffened in disbelief.

Thankfully, the system provided a brief explanation.

[The abyss does not destroy, it devours. Anything consumed by it becomes a part of it, and thus a slave to it.]

Damian shuddered as he read the words, his eyes widening. If his understanding of that message was correct, then everyone was in trouble.

“I’m the demon lord already. Yep, it’s done.” He sat upright, fear and exhilaration warring in his gaze.

The power of the abyss was unrivaled, yet his first use of it remained vivid in his memory. A piece of him had been replaced with something from that endless darkness. It was not a small price, especially when he had only twenty four uses left before he risked losing himself entirely.

“I understand why he told me to save it for my brothers only. From now on, I’ll focus on upgrading my lust talent tree.”

He continued scrolling through the notifications. For killing Bathin, he had not received experience points but talent points instead.

[Congratulations, you defeated Bathin]

[New Abyssal puppet acquired.]

[+50 Talent Points.]

[Level up!]

[Level 50 → 80]

[Attribute points: +6.0]

[+120 Demonic Force]

[Dark Miracle Skill Unlocked]

[Corruption Skill Unlocked]

[Curse Skill Unlocked]

[Name: Damian]

[Race: HumanDemon] [Hybrid]

[Rank: Lesser Demon]

[Sins: Lust/abyss]

[Talent Points: 75]

[Talent Tree:][Lust/Abyss]

[Level: 80] [5%]

[Strength: 12.0] [Agility: 12.0] [Constitution: 12.5] [Charisma: 12.0] [Demonic Force: 335/335]

[Name: Dark Miracle]

[Type: Active]

[Description: You can perform dark miracles but in adherence to the laws of the universe. Nothing goes for nothing, something goes for something. For every miracle bestowed a target and equivalent level of curse must follow]

[Name: Corruption]

[Type: Active]

[Description: User can induce corruption on a target. For mortals, a corruption of the soul means deviation from the right path. Using the corruption ability you can turn even the most righteous souls into cruel entities. However, for angelic beings, this is a fatal skill as corruption kills angels. It is like cancer. An equivalent of the angelic purge skill.]

[Name: Curse]

[Type: Active]

[Description: User can place a curse on the target but it must be with reason and the reason must align with the curse. A righteous target cannot be cursed, only corrupted souls guilty of evil can be cursed in accordance with the evil they have committed.]

As he studied his status, Damian noticed something else. After becoming a Lesser Demon at level 50, his attributes began increasing by 0.2 per level instead of the usual 0.1. He was also receiving five talent points every ten levels rather than three.

“Is it because I became a Lesser Demon?” Damian asked.

[Correct. Stat improvement is directly linked to your race’s talent. The greater your bloodline and race, the greater the benefits with each level upgrade.]

“I see…” he murmured.

He leaned back against the headboard, reviewing each skill again. Though their descriptions seemed simple, he could sense the terrifying potential hidden within them.

With every new ability unlocked, the urge to establish a church or a cult grew stronger.

“That’s why I have to make this deal with Twenty work tonight.” He exhaled heavily and swung his legs off the bed, landing smoothly on his feet.

His gaze shifted to the glass wall that had mysteriously repaired itself after he lost control of his demonic force. So many strange events had unfolded around him, and he had never truly questioned them.

But now things were different. Back then, it had only been him and Hazel trying to untangle each other’s lives. Now all his wives were here, and the Hill family stood complete. It was time for a family meeting, time to share ambitions and decide the path they would walk together.

This war against angels and demons was not his alone. They were bound to it together until the end. The days of endless indulgence and meaningless labor were over. It was time to carve direction into his life and give purpose to his power.

With swift, fluid movements, Damian stripped and stepped into the bathroom, turning the hot water to its highest setting and filling the tub with rising steam.

Without hesitation, he lowered himself into the scalding water, submerging fully. The heat felt perfect against his skin. Unbeknownst to him, his body began excreting dark substances that bled into the water, staining it pitch black.

Even Damian was underestimating the speed at which he was transforming. It’s only a matter of time before he ceases to be human and becomes a full-fleged demon.

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