The Damned Demon

As Asher stirred from his meditative state, Merina swiftly rushed to his side, her eyes filled with concern and curiosity. The rustle of her skirts seemed to echo her racing heartbeat.

"Master," Merina began hesitantly, her voice gentle and lilting, "have you succeeded in your reaping quest?"

Her gaze was filled with a mixture of admiration and caution as she held out her hand to help him up.

He took her hand, feeling the warmth of her touch, and allowed her to assist him as he rose to his feet. 

"I actually failed the quest," Asher's response caught Merina off guard, causing her eyes to widen in disbelief. It was hard for her to imagine someone as capable as him failing at anything, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for him.

However, Asher quickly added, a proud smile playing on his lips, "But I did manage to create my own cult and even recruited a few members already. One of them is as strong, or perhaps even stronger than a peak-level Soul Purger."

Merina's eyes widened further, and she let out a gasp of astonishment. She realized that she had underestimated his capabilities once again. To have never heard of anyone his age and strength obtaining such a powerful Soulservant, especially during their first reaping quest, was truly extraordinary.

"I... I don't know what to say, Master," Merina stammered, her eyes shining with admiration. "This is really wonderful. I am sure the queen would feel proud and happy to hear this."

Her heart swelled with pride for him, and she couldn't help but feel even more drawn to her enigmatic master who continued to defy expectations. 

Asher smiled but then his focus shifted towards the pop-up he had received when he came back,

[ Chaos Reach of your cult increased -> +500 ]

[ Bonus reward received - > +1000 Life Crystals | +100 to each Soulservant ]

[ Your cult ranking is in top 70% ]

[ Next bonus reward at top 60% ranking ]

[ Life Crystals : 36,371 ]

As Asher processed the information appearing in his mind, he couldn't help but feel curious about the term 'Chaos Reach'. He looked at Merina and asked, "What exactly is Chaos Reach?"

Merina raised her brows, wondering if his Chaos Reach had already increased, and replied, "From what I understand, Master, Chaos Reach refers to the extent to which your cult has caused chaos and disruption in the human world. The higher the Chaos Reach of your cult, the more influential and feared your cult becomes."

Asher mulled over this information, finding it intriguing and similar to Hunter Guilds as far as he knew, "So, higher the Chaos Reach, the more rewards my cult earns?"

Merina nodded in agreement. "Yes, Master. Every respected nobles have their own cult, and their cults are a huge source of strength and wealth for them."

Asher's mind drifted back to the time when he had considered joining a Hunter Guild but ultimately decided against it. He had always valued his freedom and didn't want to be tied down to any organization. It was Aira's advice at the time that had solidified his resolve to remain independent.

Now, with a cult of his own and the potential to grow its influence and power, Asher felt a renewed sense of determination.

"I can't check the rankings of the cults above me?" Asher asked as he only could see the rankings of the cult below him, and to his shock, there were at least tens of thousands of cults. But he could guess that most of the low-ranking cults were basically useless and weak. They existed only in name and probably had next to zero influence.

Merina shook her head and answered, "As far as I know, you can only check the ranks of cults weaker than yours. But once your cult reaches the top 200, then you can see every cult's rankings."

Asher squinted his eyes as he said, "Interesting…I guess I have a long way to go before I get there."

Merina nodded with a smile, fully confident that he would get there. And being attentive to her master's needs, she spoke up with a gentle tone, "I wanted to let you know that I've made all the necessary arrangements for you to rest, including preparing a revitalizing drink to help you recover after your return. I hope it helps you feel better."

She then hesitated for a moment, her cheeks flushing slightly as she shyly asked, "Would you like me to prepare a bath for you as well, Master?"

Asher looked at her with a knowing smile and said as he gave a peck on her soft lips, "Yes, prepare the bath for me. However, I'll need to level up first before I can fully relax."

Merina's cheeks reddened as her eyes sparkled with admiration and warmth. She could see the determination in her master's eyes to grow stronger, and she said, "Of course, Master. I'll have everything ready for you when you're done with your leveling up."

With a plan in place, Asher prepared himself for the task at hand while Merina bustled about, ensuring that everything would be perfect for her master's relaxation and recovery.

Asher retreated to a quiet corner of the room, allowing himself to enter a meditative state. His mind's eye focused on the web of the mana circuit that coursed throughout his body, pulsing with refined mana just waiting to be absorbed. 

This network of channels connected every aspect of his being, allowing him to harness the full potential of his magical energy.

As he concentrated, Asher could almost see the shimmering threads of mana, glowing with a dark light, humming with power. He took deep, steady breaths, synchronizing his breathing with the rhythm of his mana circuit. This process required utmost focus and patience, as any disruption could hinder the proper absorption of mana, potentially stalling his progress.

Gradually, Asher began to draw the refined mana into his body, allowing it to permeate every fiber of his being. The energy coursed through his muscles, bones, and organs, strengthening and rejuvenating them with its potent force. As the refined mana seeped into his cells, he could feel his body evolving, adapting to the next level of power.

The sensation was both exhilarating and intense, a rush of energy that threatened to overwhelm him if he did not maintain control. Asher persevered, his focus unwavering as he guided the mana through its transformative journey. 

As the last remnants of refined mana settled into place, Asher slowly opened his eyes, a newfound sense of strength and vitality coursing through him. 

He smiled as he successfully leveled up and took a look at his stats,

Level : 9

Rating Points : 634 / 1600 

HP : 1165 -> 1561 / 1561

MP : 2585 -> 3245 / 3245

STR : 444 -> 700

DEF : 233 -> 312

INT : 517 -> 649 

DEX : 168 

-

Asher nodded with a look of satisfaction and knew his DEX was literally crying with resentment for ignoring it. However, he planned to let his DEX catch up next time since he had Girgal's ability which allowed him to compensate for his ridiculously low DEX temporarily.

However, his Strength and Intelligence were on par with a low-level Soul Slayer. If he had fought Dreven now, even if he would get severely injured, he wouldn't end up in a near-death state after using his Hellbringer abilities.

Now that he was done with his reaping quest, Asher decided to let his newly evolved mana circuit settle down while he used the rest of the days of the week to train those five. 

But he smiled, thinking that Rebecca must be feeling quite distracted now that her precious son was in a coma. Still, he knew the five demons she selected were collectively stronger than the batch he got.

And so he decided to not depend on her mental state and diligently train them.

—

The dark sun rose on what promised to be an eventful day for Asher, as he prepared to face off against Rebecca, albeit indirectly. Their respective batches of candidates would be attempting to pass the first trial in the Tower of Hell. And he had to make sure everyone in his batch would pass, though he knew he might not be done with that.

Asher arrived at the Tower of Hell punctually, a confident smile gracing his lips. 

He scanned the area and quickly spotted Onyx, Graven, Zizola, Thetis, and Nereus. The group stood together, their expressions a mix of excitement and anxiety as they anticipated the upcoming trial. Upon seeing Asher, their faces lit up, and they greeted him with enthusiasm and reverence.

"Master Asher!" Onyx, Graven, and Zizola called out, their voice strong despite the nerves that threatened to take hold. 

"We're ready for the challenge!" Nereus and Thetis, the siblings, said in unison out of sheer excitement and vigor.

Asher nodded, acknowledging their determination, "During the past week, you all did well. So I have faith in each one of you to pass this trial."

His gaze drifted around the area, taking note that Rebecca had surprisingly not yet arrived. 

He considered the heartache she must be feeling as she tended to her comatose son and realized that her absence was, perhaps, not surprising. 

Nonetheless, her batch of demons was already present, waiting patiently for their mentor's arrival.

As the tense minutes ticked by, the atmosphere grew thick with anticipation. 

Finally, a hush fell over the crowd as Rebecca emerged, her expression composed but her eyes betraying a hint of the pain and bitterness she was surely feeling. 

And the moment she saw Asher, her gaze became as sharp as a blade.

"You are late, Warden Rebecca. Is everything alright?" Asher asked with his arms crossed, his eyes smiling.