image [https://i.imgur.com/xcQhW8Y.jpg]

“Well, what have we here?” Aurelia’s voice dripped like honey, sweet and alluring.

The weight of her gaze settled on me, sending a thrilling shiver through my veins.

Am I lusting over her already, like some Isekai bookworm virgin?

What? Don’t take it personally. I know you love me. Wink.

Her eyes twinkled with mischief, lips curling into a knowing smirk. Drawn in, I felt like a moth mesmerized by a flame, yet wary of its searing touch. Even with blurred vision—somewhat eased by keeping a system screen floating around, like focusing on a distant object to mitigate car sickness—I remained alert.

Aurelia was undeniably captivating. Clad in a tight-fitting robe that hugged her curves, the fabric shimmered against her porcelain skin, complementing her flowing black hair and the fiery sparkle of her red eyes. Her features bore an unexpected Latina essence, an intriguing contrast to her accent. Desire welled up within me, unusual and intense. Was this lust, not love? I’d never been so instantly smitten.

Her gaze seemed to cast a hypnotic spell, rooting me to the spot despite every instinct screaming to flee. Panic and an inexplicable joy clashed within me as I realized my escape routes were blocked, pinned beneath the shelving as if it were my destined place.

“Ah, don’t worry. I’ve gone through a lot of trouble to bring your soul from beyond the veil. The last thing I want to do is hurt you,” Aurelia mused, a playful tone in her voice. “However, I must admit, I didn’t expect your soul to cling to a dungeon slime and pudding of all things, especially after I collected so many promising corpses for you. It must’ve been fate or a god being mischievous, but we’ll work with what we’ve got. Let’s see what we’re dealing with, shall we?”

A spark of light flashed from Aurelia’s ring, sending a tremor through me. Any thoughts of hiding evaporated. Exposed and vulnerable, I felt stripped of all defenses, quite literally, given my lack of attire in this new form.

“You seem to have clung to one of my little specimens. Whatever shall I do…” she pondered aloud, her gaze shifting as she spoke over her shoulder. “Oh, Olin, be a dear and retrieve—my, belove—our champion, would you?” With a flick of her wrist, she commanded the decaying ghoul.

This won’t end well!

As the ghoul shuffled towards me, a bizarre desire surged through me, wild and raw, like a lioness eyeing a carcass.

Eww! Don’t do it, Blake. Don’t do it!

A deep, primal hunger overtook me as the ghoul’s clouded, cataract-filled eye came into view. My body twisted and contorted, each movement imbued with a grotesque, fluid unnaturalness. Disgust surged within me, yet the overwhelming urge was unstoppable, like a tidal wave crashing over me.

The ghoul had crawled on hands and knees, peeking beneath the shelf. Instinctively, I lunged, driven by a force beyond my control. I pounced, unable to stop the primal impulse.

NO! No! No—oh… Mmmm.

Olin shrieked in pain, rolling on the ground, desperately clawing at his face to peel me off. His efforts were in vain as I slipped past his fingers, burrowing into that hazy eyeball, sinking into warmth and what felt like pure, delicious bliss. He writhed and clawed, yet I clung on, lost in an euphoria so potent it felt intoxicating, surpassing any pleasure I had known.

Oh, god, this is incredible. Oh yes! Yes! YES! This feels better than sex! Oh, my GOD!

“Olin, I command you to stop resisting!” Aurelia’s voice cut through the chaos.

Defiantly, the undead ghoul let out a screech, his body twisting in rebellion against Aurelia’s command. But before I could process the unfolding scene, he slammed his head against the cold, unforgiving stone floor. The sickening splat of impact resounded through the chamber, leaving behind a gory mess in a widening pool of red.

V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE

BattleResult

Enemy Defeated: [Ghoul]

Current Level: 4

Initiate [Absorb] on [Ghoul]?

> YES

> NO

V:\>

The pain that slammed into me was like a tornado, violent and sudden. But as quickly as it arrived, it morphed into a tidal wave of elation. The source of this pleasure became painfully clear as I devoured the ghoul’s decomposing flesh. Despite the revulsion, burrowing into his empty eye socket triggered an intense sensation of delight. The very thought of my actions made me recoil in horror, yet I couldn’t stop myself. Overwhelmed by this conflicting turmoil, I dissolved into the moment, savoring the gruesome feast with a disturbing eagerness.

Absorbed in my grisly feast, I barely noticed the absence of any level gains. It dawned on me that he might not yield experience because he wasn’t a dungeon monster. Wasn’t there a First-Time Alert for gaining more skills from dungeon entities? Could he really be that weak? I mean, weaker than baby spiders?

Well, that’s just pathetic, Olin.

Aurelia’s lips spread into a wide grin. “This is the third time I’ve lost him this year.”

Oops!

As I tore through the undead ghoul, the ease of it alarmed me. Aurelia approached with an unsettling grin. Though disgusted with myself, I couldn’t stop. Flavors of cinnamon and apples overwhelmed me, pulling me deeper into bliss.

My body moved autonomously, burrowing into the ghoul’s chest cavity with each bite proving more delightful than the last. I was likely purring when I reached his intestines, utterly captivated by their decadent taste. Before surrendering completely to this macabre feast, I mentally clicked yes on the absorb option.

Instantly, I was pulled away from my indulgence, spreading over what remained of Olin’s corpse like a cozy blanket.

V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE

SkillUpdate

[Absorb] [Ghoul] Successful

New Selectable Skills Available:

- [Blight]

- [Fear]

- [Life Drain]

V:\>

Huh, that’s a lot of skills for a non-dungeon monster.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

His remains vanished as swiftly as the ordeal had begun, and I quickly shrank back—though not to my original size, as I first thought. Observing my new form, I realized I was no longer the minuscule, tarantula-sized creature of before. I was now… approximately the size of a Yorkie. Yep! I was still insignificant.

The universe has to be either punishing or mocking me!

Aurelia’s wide and ferocious grin could make even the most notorious villains from horror films seem tame. She leaned over, and with a flick of her wrist, a tiny orb of light emerged from within me. A shiver ran through my body as the orb drifted up to her palm, leaving me chilled and confused.

“Don’t worry, my dear—little pool of death. It’s only Olin’s soul. It’s a shame, though. I had acquired that body from one of the dungeon denizens below, hoping it would last him longer.”

Dungeon denizen? Is that why I gained so many skills from him?

As Aurelia leaned in, her breath felt like a cool breeze against my gooey skin. My own sanity began to feel like a distant memory. Surprisingly, there was no urge to eat her—at least, not in a homicidal sense.

“Hmm, it’s unfortunate I’ll be replacing his body sooner than expected. But next time you decide to eat Olin, be careful. It’s quite difficult to find durable bodies for his soul.”

With a sharp flick of her wrist, Aurelia sent the glowing orb sailing over her shoulder toward a nearby table. Despite my small size, I strained to see what was happening. A grotesque, yet unmistakably human, gasp followed the orb’s landing.

“Olin, be a dear and clean up this mess you made. I’ll be off with my dear Bowen to meet the others.”

Who the hell is Bowen? Ugh, don’t tell me she’s mistaken me for someone else. If only I could speak! I have so many questions for her.

“Yes, Mistress,” a young boy’s voice responded.

As I tried to get a better look at the child on the table, Aurelia’s form obstructed my view. Yet, as I stretched around her, my body elongated like a malleable substance pulled by an unseen force. The child looked to be about two or three years old. I couldn’t place his nationality, but his five o’clock shadow was perplexing—perhaps he was a gnome? His hazy green eyes met mine, filled with intense hatred.

Bracing myself for another confrontation with this child—or gnome—ghoul, Aurelia lifted me up like a small doll. As she carried me away from the undead menace, I felt a strange security being held against her perky chest like a teddy bear, a stark contrast to the terror I felt just moments ago.

I can’t say I mind, but how am I not melting her?

“We’ve got a lot of work ahead, the two of us, but first, you should meet the others. They’ll just love you! And if they don’t, well, you can eat their remains once I’m done,” Aurelia chuckled softly as she spoke.

As Aurelia carried me through the narrow hallway, the stone walls seemed to close in around me. Her strength was surprising as she held me effortlessly, like a precious object. Although my vision had improved—it felt like stepping off a spinning carnival ride onto a still, yet annoyingly fast, merry-go-round—her swaying and bouncing movements only intensified my nausea, pushing my queasiness to new heights.

V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE

Sickness Detected [SD]

Resist Status: No Immunity [Inactive]

Affliction: Sickness

Effects Applied:

* Decreased Stamina

* Lowered Defense

* Impaired Cognitive Functions

* Reduced Skill Damage Output

* Increased Vulnerability to Other Status Effects

V:\>

Every step Aurelia took echoed through the dark and winding corridor, the sound bouncing off the damp stone walls like a ghostly symphony. The flickering torchlight cast an intermittent glow, illuminating each room we passed. These chambers were filled with macabre displays: alchemy bottles and bubbling potions that radiated an eerie, unnatural light. Skeletal remains scattered across some floors contrasted starkly with other rooms, which housed inscrutable, shadow-shrouded objects.

Despite the unsettling surroundings, Aurelia’s humming—a melody that resonated off her chest like a gentle lullaby—filtered through the air. This beautiful sound calmed my frayed nerves, offering a rare moment of serenity amidst the chaos of my new, terrifying existence. Nonetheless, the harsh reality that this bizarre world was now my own continued to gnaw at me, a bitter reminder of the drastic change in my circumstances.

V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE

Cleansing Skill Detected [CSD]

Status: Cured [Active]

Action: Remove All Negative Status Effects

You have been [Cleansed] by [Aislinn]?

V:\>

“All better?”

Wait, she knew I had that affliction—and, who’s Aislinn?

My question hung silently in the air as we stepped into an enormous chamber. Awe struck me at its vastness, with dozens of green-flamed firepits casting eerie shadows along the walls. Pillars that stretched several stories high loomed overhead, creating a cathedral of dread. The skeletons standing motionless, adorned in ancient-looking armor with spears and shields, sent a chill spiraling down my nonexistent spine. My vision blurred—ironic for someone supposedly with a panoramic view—overwhelmed by the sheer eeriness of the scene.

As we ascended the steps to a large elevated platform, the environment shifted. Several individuals were lounging on shabby couches or embroiled in heated debates with a fierce-looking Niamh; some disputes even turned physical. A noticeable sinkhole had opened up in the floor, marking the room as a perilous zone.

Clearing her throat to rise above the clamor, Aurelia announced, “Everyone, I present to you our Dark Champion!”

Retreating back to beneath the shelf from earlier seemed increasingly appealing right now. The chamber fell abruptly silent, the cacophony of earlier disputes replaced by a suffocating stillness. Attention snapped to us. Even Niamh paused mid-confrontation, her hands locked around the throat of a small woman with gray cat ears, both of them frozen in the sudden quiet. My gooey heart raced, the weight of every gaze pressing down on me, as the unsettling realization settled in: I was the center of this sudden, eerie calm.

Dark Champion? Ha. Ha… Are they expecting me to be their evil hero or something?

Yay! How thrilling... I think?

“Is that a slime?” a frog-faced man in a hooded black robe inquired, curiosity piqued.

The chamber erupted in laughter as the succubus, unable to contain herself, chortled, “No, Vorigan, it’s a Black Pudding! Aurelia, you’ve truly outdone yourself this time! Why didn’t you tell me this delightful mess was your candidate? Oh, by the Crone of the goddess you all worship, this is too funny!”

“Shut it, Niamh,” Aurelia snapped, her fingernails pinching into me.

The sensation was more intriguing than painful, a peculiar kind of pleasure under the scrutinizing gaze of an audience. As Aurelia retracted her sharp nails, my focus shifted to a new figure cloaked in black, approaching us with the silence of a stalking reaper. His hood obscured most of his face, revealing just the sickly pallor of his skin and the intense, fiery red of his eyes, which seemed almost demonic.

“Daughter, we already have six candidates undergoing the trial. You’re too late to submit your creature. What makes your abomination any different?”

Her father? Yikes!

“Lord Demidicus,” Aurelia responded with calm authority, “he’s special.”

He?!

Niamh burst out laughing again. “Special? It’s a slime, you dimwit vamp!”

“Silence, demon,” the ancient vampire commanded, turning his unsettling gaze back to us. “Special or not, your candidate is too late for the trial. We had an agreement.”

What if I don’t want any part of this trial?

“He only just awoke, Lord Demidicus,” Aurelia contested, her voice steady but tinged with an undercurrent of loathing. “Based on our agreement—when I successfully integrated the summoning ritual you used on my soul with the ancient leveling system—we decided that each elder could select their own candidate to be summoned as levelers to compete to be the Crone’s champion. My candidate should be permitted to compete. I ask only for additional time to prepare him for the dungeon.”

Well, that’s a lot to unpack—hey! I’m not a man, damn it! And what’s this about a dungeon?

“We don’t have additional time. If the Ascended Gods find out what we’ve done, we’ll be doomed,” the ancient vampire replied, his tone grave. “We can only successfully conceal one of them by surrendering them to the Crone, as per our arrangement with the goddess.”

He took a deep, measured breath, his gaze sweeping over the gathered crowd before returning to Aurelia. “Your creature can compete, but you may not receive additional time. Toss it into the depths now,” Lord Demidicus decreed with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Toss me into the depths?

Drawn toward the sinkhole, I watched Niamh barely stifle another burst of laughter as she peered into the abyss, her body quaking with mirth.

Wait, can we talk about this first?

“Aww, don’t worry, your pretty little head, body snatcher,” the succubus growled, her wicked smile widening. “I’ll do it for you. Pfft!” Niamh taunted, her voice dripping with mock sympathy.

Aurelia drew me closer to her face and whispered, “Make it out, my beloved, and back to me.” Her eyes, gleaming with mischief and malice, shifted back to the demon.

Your beloved? Ugh, she thinks I’m this Bowen dude. This is the worst! Why can’t she fall in love with me instead?

“Alright, Niamh, fine,” Aurelia agreed reluctantly.

I really don’t like where this is going!

Without any further warning, Aurelia thrust me forward. A revolting splat echoed through the chamber as my viscous form collided with the demon’s unsuspecting face, enveloping us both in a grotesque embrace. Time seemed to suspend; in a burst of pure desperation, I lashed out, grappling her head with tendrils of ebony ooze. Glued to the succubus’s face, we spiraled over the sinkhole’s edge and plummeted into the voracious chasm below.

As we descended deeper into the abyss, Niamh’s distressed, muffled shrieks echoed off the dark walls, intertwining with Aurelia’s mocking laughter. Their sounds, along with distant murmurs about resummoning costs and the fates of demons, gradually faded into mere whispers, swallowed by the enveloping darkness of the chasm.

I really do hate my new life—though, this bitch tastes grrreat!

image [https://i.imgur.com/573uknc_d.jpg?maxwidth=520&shape=thumb&fidelity=high]

The last time, I tried to use image addresses from Discord, but they turned out to have expiration dates. Hopefully, now that I'm using Imgur, that won't happen again... I hope!