—————

-I would say we are now 15% full, give or take. Sure is hard to replenish your internal reserves without almost any any ambient mana in the surroundings. That's why I hate spending it while in hell.

> ...Time remaining: 31 days.

This —what?

"Seven days?" My eyes open wide at the surprising revelation. These meditation sessions I've been having are taking so much longer then I thought. Blinking at the message I tilt my head confused - it felt like a day at most.

Finally having a way to measure time I'm only finding out now - after who knows how long, that I've been spacing out for weeks on occasion... So glad this was always done while in a relative safety of my lair, or at the hidden valley of the rose. When you don't need to sleep or rest unless you expend a lot of magic, your internal clock goes haywire.

Good thing we didn't attempt it in the dungeon. Not like I could do that, since most of the undead's essence would be gone in a blink of an eye soon after they were destroyed.

-When I said they were similar to demons I meant it. Something about how they are tethered to the mortal realm by the strange miasma. Is there a realm full of undead somewhere? An underworld? I wouldn't be surprised at all, the crown mentioned something about a Shadow Realm so there is likely more of them.

Anyway. I've been sitting here in the sand for a week...

Admittedly I've been having some difficulties during this one, something just didn't want to click -maybe because of the backlash? And I was being extra careful not to pick up some strange Trait, but there wasn't all that much essence to go through with this one. What even―

> Essence absorbed: Hell Beast (4), Arachnida (4)

>

> Agility +1

>

> Dexterity +1

>

> Perception +1

Yea, not a big change. Something that a summoning ritual can accomplish in just few moments took me―

> New Attribute available: Dexterity- supporting attribute increasing the precision and fine control you have over your physical body. Important to all who consider their craft an art. From high level artisans, assasins to spell casters.

―so many days...

What. The. Fuck?

This is a thing!? You could get new attributes... And this is the first time I'm seeing a description for one. The hell?

I have an ability that allowed me a high degree of control over my tail — before the thing seemed to have it's own life. But didn't even know that gaining new Attribute like Dexterity was an available option in the first place. I mean, there are those hidden attributes like Luck and Charisma but that's what I thought they were. -It was somehow common story trope in the before.

Standing up from the sand I stretch and examine myself. -Don't feel much different. Moving and flexing my fingers I can't really tell what changed.

It is just a single point and backlash might be making it even harder to notice.

I form a basic seal with my hand, something I've picked up from mortals and... Maybe? I'd need to invest more points in this to be sure, but do I want to? Hmm, those seals are sometimes used to help with spell casting but as a demon I don't really need them - they are like runes but not quite; meant to help with control. l can see how this Attribute could help with those if it works as it says on the tin —I can also see how having to many attributes could be bad if you were to spread yourself thin.

I knew there were different attributes out there from the many skill descriptions I've read, but to just be able to earn it this way...

Hand to my chin and the tail swaying behind I contemplate on what all this could mean, and the validity of the new option I was given. ―Still not a word from Circa...

...

Speaking of options. There was this one ability on the list I saw under the symbiote trait, back when I increased her Magic Affinity, that I should really consider now - especially after that whole disaster of a dungeon dive. -Was too confident I would be able to defend myself from mind fuckery; being able to detect magic and sense mana. Also from what I knew about the stuff after reading the description on the skill list, and dealing with the stuff before up in the mortal realm, it didn't seem as such a big threat to me.

-Boy was I wrong, should have known better. Not surprisingly the description I've got from the system was not helpful in fully realizing the danger a high level mind magic could pose.

Compared to the Hag, this cambion was much more powerful and skilled at it. I didn't notice anything till it was too late. No, in hindsight I did notice something was wrong, but wasn't able to break out of that effect and act on it.

I still have a skill point and it's possible to get the Mind Magic Skill as an option, hoping it would give me something to defend myself from the nasty thing —But I dislike the thought of learning it, really. This is something that I hate... a lot. The idea of someone messing with my head using magic. Being a hypocrite and doing it myself? Pass.

There might also be other options somewhere later. I saved that skill point for when there is a need for 'get out of a hairy situation free card' in case something unexpected happened. Being able to pick something that would let me worm my way out ―Ignoring that such event could've likely been avoided, were I to already have other good skill - or that there might not be enough time to pick. But that's the nature of making choices. You gamble with your life every day, or so they say.

Now I face another dilemma. Do we need it now? With a glance to the big flower on my shoulder a decision is made.

"I will be counting on you for this one as well Rose." She's already irreplaceable to me.

> Mind Barrier (rose symbiote): Your symbiote is able to protect your mind from external influence.

"Alright, for now let's see what else is there in this ruin." I let out a long *Sigh, and get ready to head out. For whatever reason altering Rose Symbiote doesn't end with to much pain.

——

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*Shrieeeeek!

> Hell Beast (1), Chilopoda (1).

-I shouldn't have used fire.

That was stupid of me. The demon centipede's screech was surprisingly loud, but in my defense I didn't know that bugs can scream like this! -Stop fooling around me, our current situation is rather serious considering the Backlash and low mana reserves —No matter how funny the 'kill it with fire! idea seemed to be at first when it popped into my head after we saw the bug.

A quick hand gesture, and wind blade quickly decapitates the creature putting an end to the noise it produced.

My recent explosive growth is really getting to me, and that might cause problems. I guess it's the 'Become rich- get richer faster' thing. Easier to grab more power if you already have some. Even with backlash active my stats are higher than they were not so long ago.

-Remember that day! I'm still at the bottom. I remind myself again of what is out there. Getting carried away is what gets you killed.

I glance at the hole in the stone floor of the room, two stories lower from where we encountered the spider; the big stone tiles were broken, their pieces now littering the ground around the opening. -It looks almost as if those fragments were moved out of the way. There doesn't seem to be any more demons around, but both of the denizens I've found in this ruin appeared to favor stealth. Walking up to it and peering inside, shows it leads to some kind of a sewer. Some of the stone blocks and bricks lay there after the old masonry collapsed —Or it was destroyed. Hey, There's even shit there.

Black tar, covers the bottom and parts of the walls down below. That is where all the miasma is coming from, we are not going to run out of that at least.

We are in the basement of what looks like a guard tower, now buried deep under the sand but still in a relatively good shape. There's not much to find in here; it was emptied and what wasn't looted, broke or turned to dust.

-Well, with one exception.

I climb back up stairs after confirming the place doesn't hold any more nasty surprises, Rose wrapped the bug in her roots to bring it with us. I likely won't bother to absorb the essence from this level 1 demon —Heh, times sure have changed. But knowing how long it takes to process essence put some things into perspective. -So go ahead girl, it's all yours.

I check the object of interest while slightly distracted by the sound of carapace *cracking and gore spilling out on the floor behind me, as it gets constricted and crushed by Rose's vines.

There is a big enchanted locker on the 'ground' floor; the only thing in here that retained any magic. It looks impressive, made to last - a magic safe really, even if the enchants protecting it are frayed at this point and in pretty bad shape - it also looks like someone already tried to get inside. Dark thorny vines start moving onto the 'loot box' —I mean the locker. Wrapping around it and start to grind the thing, shredding the magic like chain saws.

It holds strong.

I raise my tail towards the runes and activate Mana Burn, making the enchantments burn through their mana at a much higher rate while they are trying to resist the Chaotic Magic of the thorns ability —Wish we could somehow drain those of their magic, but whomever crafted this was an expert - nothing is leaking out even under our assault. Still, time already did most of the work for us.

The enchantment gives up with a sharp *Snap! Making me once again curse how loud I'm being in an unknown territory. But what greets my eyes after the door was open wipes away my annoyance.

*Whistle~

Nice - mostly useless but nice. This seems to be some kind of a secure weapon rack. Spears and blades of dark metal glint with magic —What even is this place? I mean there was a huge battle between two armies on the first day after my arrival, so the demons do organize themselves to at least some degree and likely not all of the realm is a barren or gloomy wasteland... but still. A guard station with weapons kept under lock? Definitely beyond my expectation.

I can't go out to check since the gate leading outside of this tower is currently blocked under a fuck ton of sand. The big, dust covered stone desk in front of them had its drawers emptied long before I've found it.

But this locker... I grab one of the spears appreciating the simple design.

> Black Spear of the Guard: Spear issued to the guards of the Old Empire. Enchanted to provide both defense and offense. It was corrupted from the exposure to high amounts of Taint of Sin. Medium bonus to Perception, Strength and Agility.

Oh, so the locker wasn't as tightly sealed as I've thought. Miasma here will offten corrupt and eventually even destroy items brought to hell. Odd for these to end like this though, imported goods it seems?

There is five of those in here –And I want to take them all... but they are way to long for this little imp, and I have no way of carrying them with me. With a heavy heart I put it away, I'm no warrior type anyway.

Next I bring out a long – and In my case a very long, curved sword. It already had a two-handed grip so it's a bit much for my small claws, the blade is turning wider at the end.

> Black Scimitar of the Guard: Scimitar issued to the guards of the Old Empire. Enchanted to provide both defense and offense. It was corrupted from the exposure to high amounts of Taint of Sin. Medium bonus to Strength and Agility. Keen Edge.

Wide grin forms on my face.

-At least you are coming with me, I've no idea how to use it beyond 'pointy end toward the enemy' but I will be taking something with me even if just as a souvenir. Where is...

-Fuck! scabbards and armor must have been kept elsewhere. There is another locker here, sadly laying broken on the floor, *Sigh.

...

Where there is a need there is a way... or so they say. -Sometimes they are wrong. I tried to make some makeshift harness with the webbing in the room above but the sharp blade cuts right through it. Without proper materials I can't really do much. The tower was looted thoroughly of anything useful not bolted to the floor.

Although I could potentially cannibalize one of the other weapons? It's such a waste to break them... When we get our strength back I plan to move them to my lair or—

An idea occurs to me. This place seems to have weak demons spawning and Is rather secure. There was the worry I would have to move away from the Rim anyway if my fears were proven right.

There is also plenty of Taint for Rose... -Moving my hoard will be even more of a pain in the ass though!

Before making any plans I should scout the underground first, no need to avoid Taint anymore when Rose actually needs it. Or rather, We need it for mana while in hell —She really is a blessing in here.

——

Deep under the dark gray dunes of what what once was a sea – although there was never any water there and size-wise it was more akin to a giant lake. Stretches a series of partially collapsed tunnels. Tightly laid bricks and stone form a high arched ceiling with some corridors being wide enough for two wagons to pass each other. Smaller passages branch off from the main waterways of the ancient sewage system; part of them collapsed, other keep going leading into the unknown. Dark sludge marks the walls and slowly flows in the canals laid through the floors.

From one of those, exits a red imp. Wearing a gray, badly made cloak and carrying a long - too long, scimitar over its right shoulder. The blade is almost black and adorned with a row of tiny runes running along its edge, more runes cover the grip and the S shaped guard that goes all the way to the pommel. Little demon looks around carefully scanning the corridor left to right —seemingly unaware of the danger behind.

A demonic spider has been stalking it for some time, master of stealth and ambush. Big red eyes on its prey, dark brown body close to the ground but carefully not touching the viscous tar like substance filling the narrow channel in the middle of the path.

Such demonic beasts are born without developing a higher intelligence, but are often cunning predators. Without a way to sort and filter the chaos that spawned them their minds simply cannot form properly. Down here in the old tunnels such methods are few and far between.

Given enough time though; it's not impossible for even this spider to one day awaken to a greater reality, as order finds it way even into hell —But here and now there is no more time, the hunt is calling. Imp takes a step forward into the wider pass and the Spider jumps, pouncing for the head.

Only for the small red creature to drop down on three of its limbs like a beast while spinning around, tail swiping the air. Claws grip the ground, the sword is raised with the hand carrying it and delivers a slash to the soaring spider's underside. Sharp edge glints in the dark, the cut is deep - half of the legs fly away, now separated from the body while ichor rains down unto the black covered stone.

...

The more tainted the mind, the harder it becomes to develop intelligence.

——

-Seriously, this isn't my style but I just couldn't resist trying out this razor. The boost to my Strength while using it is substantial.

This level 3 thing just kept stalking me, almost all the way here from the tower, but wouldn't take the bait until we reached this wider section. Shrug

Magic is awesome but there is something about carrying a big sword. Man's romance it was called, eh? I can see it.

-Now then, what do we do? I've been picking up a lot of weak mana signatures throughout this place but left them for later, no reason for wasting food if I'm just scouting the area and don't plan to get their essence. I hate waste so now I will head back and deal with this scrub. Might be I can gain more dexterity from it, especially now when I know what was causing me all this trouble trying to absorb the previous one.

A new attribute. This could be huge or a big waste of time.

Sword on my shoulder the vines grab our kill and I'm headed back to the tower —Let's hope I remember the way.

...

I still fucking hate Taint. Who built this damn place?

————