————

—Well, fuck. It worked, but let's not do this anymore.

There is absolutely no way we will be able to move this huge thing anywhere. The tunnels aren't safe enough to properly take its essence using my technique, seeing how long it required me to go over what little was in the spiders. It still baffles me how could I just sit in one spot for a week and not even notice. Maybe if I collapsed the tunnel on both ends around the thing? Seems like a bad idea, what if the whole thing comes crushing down?

The oversized bastard was harder then I imagined; broke most of the guard's weapons we've found in the tower and used for this trap —Crap, I shouldn't have secured them so strongly to the tunnel - as they say: What doesn't bend, breaks. Didn't want to risk it just ripping them off, though maybe reinforcing the wall was a bit of an overkill. Losing those magic weapons stings my tiny greedy heart.

Now I'm sensing the mana escaping from their broken enchantments, I want to try and gather it but the fucking slob is in the way and its body is interfering with the attempt. Looking at the frozen head I kick the one remaining eye in anger and it breaks into glistering icy shards.

I'm warming up to ice magic, a bit flashy but it gets the job done without making much mess. When you set something on fire they tends to trash around and scream in pain — Ice though? So much cleaner, and it even keeps them in place.

-This could have gone much better. Those weapons were supposed to be joining my collection when we actually manage to haul it back here. Maybe I could have offered them in a deal to a mortal in exchange for something nice and useful, like a spell book. Now they were mostly ruined under this oversized bastard.

—At least I've gained a class level out of this.

> Red Rosen-Maiden Imp reached level 4.

Before something shows up to get a piece of my kill and ruin my mood even more I wish to retrieve that spear - can still feel one somewhat intact inside its gut, so not all was lost.

Anyway, whatever we are going to do let's better make it quick. This whole stunt was a very noisy affair and the thing didn't go down quietly either. The old fashioned way would be to literally consume the body to get the essence, -I could try it I guess, even if it seems impossible due to its size. It might taste like crap with all the taint, and won't be fast at all either, seeing how massive it is. Not to mention this method also lacks control over the process —Don't want to turn into a freak bug myself. Maybe I worry for nothing.

-Luckily we might have just the ability for it.

Vampiric Embrace it is then, it did a good job when I tested it on the rabbit few weeks ago, and it was very fast. The roots can work on the remains as I try to gather what can still be used, and maybe salvage the scrap as well.

I dispel my ice magic that froze its head to make it easier and I'm able to take some of the released mana back - which is a nice bonus not mentioned in the core ability's description. Rose is very eager to dig in and her roots start to reach for the dead bug; moving inside through the wounds, between the cracks, and spread under its tough carapace.

—Wonder if there is a way to preserve the body parts of killed demons, usually when I'm done with them there is only salty rock and dust left. But the big bones of my old lair seemed to have been somewhat preserved over however long they were buried, and I'm also positive I've seen demons use bones as material. Unfortunately experimenting would require time and we don't have much of it right now. Would those big armor plates even fit inside the hole leading to the tower?

One of the vines cuts its way inside of the beast and pulls out one of the spears. The only one with a shaft that didn't snap soon after the bastard impaled and tore itself on them. Its not even that badly damaged, the angle it went in must have been pretty lucky.

I can feel the rush of power, as part of what Rose drains from it starts to spill into me as well. There's a lot of essence, much more then expected considering the things level, but I guess the sheer size count for at least something. I break off the fragment of the armor carapace from one of the segments when the body under it falls off and dries up. -Maybe we can take it with us, test some thing out.

As we go digging deeper into the corpse I can feel another presence appear on the other side of the tunnel, blocked from view by the body. It's rather weak so I'm not that worried - still we are currently being robbed off our spoils. I'm not one to share after all the work and sacrificed treasure, so it won't like it when I can reach it.

-Actually we don't have to be so frugal with mana anymore. Especially with all the power I feel now flowing into Rose from this giant's remains. We should be able to afford ourselves some more magic.

Whomever you are out there on the other side, tough luck. Using my senses to guide me on target I attempt to trap it in the ice. Mana flows through the vines that snake along the wall further down to where the tunnel isn't completely blocked. Magic comes to life with a flash, ice crystals bloom and grow —I think I've got them somehow. It tried to run from an unseen attack after feeling the gathering magic but it's now half frozen to the wall. It can now wait its turn after we are done dealing with this kill.

I always wondered where Rose stores all that taint she gathers; but as the roots spread over the thing and drain more from it, they also grow faster - there is so many roots. There is no way this all would be able to fit back inside my small frame at this point were they to retreat into my body. There is so much of them now, worming their way inside flesh, draining blood —Yet still, I know they will fit anyway. Magic and demons are weird like that. -How can I take in all this mass back?

We might actually be able to consume the whole thing in at this rate, which is great. I hate waste and don't want to leave it to scavengers that could soon show up. Another sword gets liberated from the corpse, its not broken, just twisted. Maybe we can fix it, although some of its magic is leaking from the damage. They were really well made...

Even with me being cautious and overdoing things, I still kept the scimitar we used earlier and it's safe in the tower. But having a spare is always good—

> Hell Spawn** reached level 6.

–Oh, a level up to my race came as well, this wasn't such a bad day after all..

We make a better progress than I though, and only had to kill a trio of low level centipedes that randomly showed up behind us. Thorn armed vines and a wind blade were enough to dispose of them; without the threat of the giant bug I'm done dealing with their shit and don't hesitate killing the bastards. I honestly expected many more of those to show up after that commotion. All the bugs are low level but there is a lot of them in there ruins, and they seem to cooperate.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

We are half inside the corpse and the roots are now spread through the whole thing, draining it at an increased rate. The flowers covering me are in full bloom and almost vibrating with energy. Even the armor pieces that covered the demonic thing are now being pierced by sharp tips and turn into grayish stone-like material as their residual energies are siphoned out of them by the gluttonous plant. I also roughly guide any escaping essence into myself, helping the process.

We can hear some strange noise as another demon arrives on the other side, and I immediately freeze it to the floor where it joins the previous one. As I can fell the mana flood into me from Rose there is no need to be cheap with it, actually storing it all might be a challenge. Even with the backlash affecting me, I can do at least this much. Guiding the magic along the walls to trap the offenders isn't a problem now.

We aren't bothered anymore, and soon the whole empty husk of a copse collapses in a cloud of salty dust when the armor carapace loses the support of the 'flesh' inside. Rose licks every last bit of blood from the ground as well. It feels amazing.

—I could get addicted to this rush. it's a much different feeling compared to my usual method, not as meticulous and precise but it's fast and intoxicating.

*Aahhhhh, That was good.

I am a bit worried about some strange traits getting to me, but almost everything goes through Rose first and I feel some assurance that things won't turn out weird.

> Rose Symbiote +1

Wow, she also gets an upgrade – which is a bit odd, but I will have to check what is available later, as we have our guests to entertain.

All the roots start retreating, snaking along the walls and waving through the air. A giant mesh of thin tendrils and thick taproots just seem to disappear inside me, like they weren't filling half of the tunnel just moments ago. Conservation of mass can go cry in the corner, hell was just build differently I guess - it is a spirit realm after all. Strange tendency to imitate the material world not withstanding in this case.

The sight that greets me after the dust settled was unexpected. A pair of small green —I don't even know what these are. They are wearing brown robes made of unknown rough fabric that hide most of their features - little guys are even shorter then me. Odd somewhat reptilian faces with big yellow eyes, more like a frog when you think about it since there are no scales on their short snouts.

They remind me of something from the before, but I can't put my finger on it. Both are trapped in ice, and the smooth green skin that is visible through the clear crystal already started losing color. Their strange eyes look at me full of hate as I appear from the mass of dark growth and raised dust - approaching them while still trailing a massive amount of writhing roots and thorn covered vines through the tunnel.

Like some kind of rose decorated robe with oversized train; they grew from all over my body including the back of my neck and both shoulders, and now slowly slip back under my spread out cloak —The sight must be a bit creepy as they sway around me, grasping for any leftover essence. I notice some of them even grew tiny flowers, those also disappear when pulled inside me.

Now, I'm not sure what to do with this guys. Those are clearly intelligent enough to wear clothing and I do need some answers, but the looks they give me make me think that talking might not be in the cards. Those short blades they carry look nasty and hold some odd magic I'm unfamiliar with. One is stuck to the floor, ice climbing all the way to its hip. The other was caught in the shoulder by the magic spreading from the wall, half of its torso suffering from heavy frostbite.

They are flexing this strange magic of theirs but it gets taken by the ice, making the attempts at escaping the prison only worsen their state. -This ability is stronger then I thought.

"Who are you guys?" Nothing in response, only more murder glares. Are they perhaps mute?

> Hell Spawn (4), Pug (6)

?

That's new.

–Where did they come from? haven't seen them around before. Were they drawn here from somewhere further away after hearing the commotion? What to do...

I have an idea but first I'll need to secure my loot. Rose pulled back completely as I studied our 'guests' and I can feel a great deal of power swirling inside of us. We practically vibrate from the excess of essence and the mana pouring in. This might get to my head if I don't meditate on it fast, but the little guys threw a wrench into this plan.

Just killing them seems like a wasted opportunity.

I leave them there and grab what was left after the feast. They should be able to survive for a bit longer...

——

I'm starting to have second thoughts on my idea.

Following the green skins isn't all that hard, those are a bit stealthy, sure. But their mana shines like a beacon to my ability; they can somehow avoid being detected by the bug-like demons roaming around though, Centipedes just ignore them as they slowly pass through the tunnels. Whatever ability this is, it works in a strange way.

I've left them trapped in the ice without killing them and moved to bring what I could to the tower. The entrance wasn't far from where we've set up my trap so it wasn't long before I came back. Since talking wasn't an option I decided to just keep them to struggle there and slowly lose strength, before dispelling the ice from the distance and out of sight. Hidden with illusion and my Mischief skill, we are following them now through the maze. I should be able to find out where they came from this way and plan for the future.

Staying hidden while buzzing with the excess energy is harder then I thought, but the Pugs seem oblivious to my presence as we trail them - good. Hopefully it won't take long, I have a lot to deal with already.

-Surprise, surprise... There are secret passages in these ruined ancient sewers. Someone went through a lot of trouble to install hidden doors around here — purely mechanical so I couldn't see them without looking carefully. The lack of ambient mana in hell makes my sense unable to find such corridors.

I should have guessed a sewer system this big would have seen some illicit activity back in the day. Didn't expect demons to bother with such things though, like what even are the rules and laws around here? To me it looked like law of the jungle and all for themselves, but some demons like the goats in the outer Rim do form groups for one or another reason — and then yes, there was that huge battle not long after I went to hell, there was structure to the army that captured me as well.

Never wandered far beyond the Rim, even after learning illusion magic. Upkeep for it was hard on my mana back then and I didn't feel like finding out what the Clans would do to me if they found my red ass again. Those ruins are a first proper sign of 'advanced civilization' I've seen. The huts used by the goats couldn't really count as a town. All the armor and weapons that the demons carry must come from some hell forge I guess, or maybe they magic it into existence, or loot the mortal world? The books I've read when apprenticing under the Hag had surprisingly little information about hell. Not like I would expect a demon to willingly talk to mortals about it.

—Now the path is rather long and moves up on a small incline. It is very slow following those two through this narrow passage, they are not in a hurry and somewhat hurt. Sigh, I'm tempted to go back and come back later after marking the hidden doors. Don't really have to deal with this right now.

But as we pass by some underground caves that were connected to this corridor I can't help my curiosity. Few of them collapsed like a lot of the ruin, but some look like they were partially carved out by hand. They now lay empty but this looks like some sort of smuggling operation took place in hell long ago —What gives. What were they smuggling, holy water?

Soon the path cuts off abruptly like someone just blew the rest of it off. The sight of towering cliffs on both sides of the entrance and a thin slip of the gray above proves we are now on the surface...

I would be glad to finally see the sky after spending weeks underground - but it sucks, as this is still hell. We emerged at the bottom of a deep ravine that opens into a valley filled with smooth sand; walls of stone on the opposite end show this is some wide canyon, likely cutting through the desert, whole thing is rather wide.

There is a camp set up under the rock wall to the left.

I can feel a strong presence there so we won't risk getting close, but they seem to be packing up? It is more of those little green guys, tearing down tents and even loading up wagons pulled by big beasts of burden. I blink at the unexpected sight.

—There is still so much to learn about hell...

Since the exit from the ravine is blocked right now by a camp of dozens of demons wielding unknown magic, it is time to - at least for now, head back home. Unless this place also gets buried under the sand, we have found our path to the surface —This bet was likely worth it.

On the way back we are forced to hide in one of the adjacent caves as another group of little green skins walks up from the ruin. I wonder what they were doing down there, don't seem to carry anything back unless it's hidden under their robes. One of them stops in front of the entrance for a moment making me tense up, but then moves on after the rest. —Could it feel me? Can't start underestimating others while still in a weakened state.

Let's hurry back, I can't hold for much longer if I don't start meditating soon to calm this rampant power.

——