Chapter 69 - A Real Monster

Adam's monstrous, contorted body began to stir beneath the massive pile of rubble, the stone debris trembling as his grotesque limbs pushed against it. A deep, guttural growl emanated from the ruins, signaling his determination to rise again, his cracked exoskeleton glistened with dark ichor, dripping onto the desecrated temple floor. Despite his wounds, Adam's instincts drove him to fight, even in the face of something far beyond his comprehension.

Abbess Xinhui, now a towering figure of corrupted magnificence, strode forward slowly, her steps deliberate and predatory. Her lips curled into a macabre smile as she observed Adam's struggle. The crimson glow in her eyes burned brighter with every step, and her laughter echoed through the ruins, low and menacing.

"It’s so wonderful that you’re still alive."

She mocked, her voice dripping with derision as she halted a few paces away. She tilted her head, examining Adam as if he were an insect beneath her heel.

"I suppose I should thank you... because of you, I have been reborn."

Her fingers traced the edge of her jawline as her eyes roved over her own form, and then she began, her voice tinged with something almost akin to wonder.

"Look at me, the gray hue of my skin... how it glistens under the faint light. This hair…"

She ran her claws through her flowing black locks, the strands seeming to writhe like living shadows.

"...So much darker, so much richer than before. These eyes, they pierce through the veil of life and death itself."

The Don turned slightly, glancing down at her robes, which now clung to her enhanced figure. Her lips parted in a wide grin, revealing her elongated fangs.

"And these curves..."

She mused, her tone both vain and amused.

"Even my body has transformed for the better. I’ve never looked more... captivating, wouldn't you agree? These robes fit me so perfectly now, accentuating everything."

Her claws extended with a sickening metallic sound, each sharpened nail gleaming with deadly intent. She flexed her fingers, marveling at her newfound weaponry.

"And these are just the beginning. My fangs, my strength... this body is perfection. I’ve never felt so alive!"

As she admired herself, she licked her lips, her tongue gliding across her fangs. A sinister light glimmered in her eyes as she continued.

"And there's something else... something far greater. I can feel it."

She closed her eyes for a moment, placing a hand over her chest.

"Information. It’s flowing into me. All of it—the abilities, the techniques, the knowledge of this heart. It’s as if I’ve been chosen to wield the powers of this magnificent new race."

Her laughter filled the air, loud and unrestrained.

"I was wrong all this time! My old beauty was nothing compared to this! Nothing! The strength, the power... and the feeling of superiority coursing through my veins—oh, boy, you have no idea what you’ve unleashed."

Adam finally broke free from the rubble as if on cue, his form emerging with a guttural roar. He stood tall despite his broken body, the wounds across his face and limbs grotesquely distorted yet still healing. His chest expanded as he let out another furious roar, attempting to summon the spectral army that had obeyed him so loyally before… But nothing happened.

The air was heavy with tension as Adam’s bestial eyes darted around. The ghosts—his ghosts—were no longer at his command, they lingered in the shadows, trembling and recoiling, as if paralyzed by an unseen force. Their once-fearsome forms now seemed diminished, cowed by a presence far greater than Adam’s influence. Abbess’s laughter grew louder as she watched.

"Do you see it now? They are mine now. Every single one of them."

She taunted, her voice mocking yet triumphant, her eyes sparking with malice as she stepped forward.

"I’ve evolved beyond anything you could ever hope to control. I am now a Jiang Shi of Tier 4—a master of the dead. These ghosts, these creatures, they kneel before me. And you..."

She paused, a wicked grin spreading across her face.

"Now that I mention it... Kneel!"

Her voice reverberated through the ruins, amplified as if spoken through a thousand megaphones. The sheer power of her command sent shockwaves rippling through the air. The ghosts around them immediately collapsed to their knees, their spectral forms bowing in reverence to their new mistress. Even the corrupted infected dropped to the ground, their bodies quivering as they obeyed.

Adam staggered under the immense pressure of the woman’s command. His body buckled, his knees threatening to give way. He roared defiantly, his monstrous limbs trembling as he fought against the overwhelming force. His legs bent slightly, but he refused to collapse entirely, his claws dug into the ground as he strained to remain upright, his entire body quaking from the effort, making Abess raise an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Interesting, you resist me. How is that possible? No undead can defy the command of a ‘Lord of Undeads’."

She mused, her tone laced with curiosity. Her crimson eyes narrowed as she studied Adam more closely, her mind racing with new revelations.

"You’re not fully undead, are you?"

She said, her voice softer but no less menacing.

"There’s something else within you... something that doesn’t belong. That mutation of yours—it wasn’t natural to begin with. It’s not a part of the undead order."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully, her sharp nails leaving faint scratches on her ashen skin.

"Could it be? That ‘other’ part of you... is that what gave you the strength to mutate? To resist me? Fascinating. Whatever it is, it won’t save you. It only means I’ll have more fun breaking you apart and discovering what you truly are."

She grinned, a malicious glint in her eyes, and then her laughter rang out again, echoing across the battlefield as Adam continued to struggle, his monstrous form quivering under the weight of her command, locked in place.

His blank, white eyes shone with a fierce glow, his expression filled with raw determination. Despite the grotesque nature of his mutated features—jagged, insect-like mandibles and a cracked carapace—there was a primal fury etched into his face, as though his very being refused to surrender.

Abbess stepped closer, her movements elegant and unhurried, savoring her complete dominance over the situation. A sly smile curved her lips as she leaned toward Adam, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement. She reached out with one of her slim, clawed fingers, tracing it delicately along the jagged edge of his chin.

"You’re magnificent."

She murmured, her voice low and almost affectionate as her fingertip slid across his grotesque mandibles. The jagged plates of Adam's monstrous jaw twitched at her touch, but she was undeterred.

"You’ve surpassed my expectations, you know. I was going to destroy you out of hatred just a minute ago, but now... I’ve changed my mind."

Her smile widened, revealing her elongated fangs, as she chuckled softly.

"I think I’ll enjoy this more than I expected. You’re going to be my eternal experiment. Immortal, just like me, and bound to my will. We’ll push the limits of what your body can endure. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?"

Her voice dripped with mockery, though there was a strange sincerity in her tone as she continued.

"I admit, I’ve come to appreciate you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have this perfect body. So, in a way, as I said earlier, I owe you my gratitude."

Her words were cut short as Adam's body surged with sudden strength. With a guttural roar, he broke free of the force holding him down, his massive form springing upward with explosive power. His mandibles snapped forward in a violent bite aimed directly at Abbess’s throat.

But Abbess didn’t flinch. Her expression remained calm, her movements fluid as she shifted her body slightly to the side, effortlessly avoiding the attack. Adam's fangs clamped shut on empty air, and she chuckled softly.

"Impressive, but far too predictable."

She remarked, tilting her head as though observing a wild animal, however, now fully freed, Adam unleashed a flurry of attacks, his mutated appendages striking with ferocious speed and precision. His claws sliced through the air, his extra limbs darting in vicious arcs as he sought to tear Abbess apart. The ground beneath him cracked from the force of his movements, each strike carrying the weight of his monstrous power.

But Abbess didn’t block, nor did she counter. She simply moved with uncanny grace, weaving through the onslaught as though it were a mere inconvenience. Her movements were so fluid, that it seemed as though she were dancing amidst Adam’s frenzied attacks.

"How beautiful, I can see everything so clearly now. It’s as though time itself has slowed. Your speed, your strength... they’re nothing compared to what I’ve become."

She said, her voice tinged with genuine admiration. Adam roared again, his frustration palpable as his attacks became even more relentless. He lashed out with every mutated limb, his strikes coming from all angles in an attempt to overwhelm her. His body erupted with new, bladed appendages, which shot outward like spears, aimed to impale her from every direction.

This time, Abbess didn’t move as the bladed limbs closed in, cutting through the air with deadly precision. But just as they were about to reach her, a swarm of ghastly figures materialized around her.

Ghoul-type and Feral-type ghosts, skeletal forms with jagged claws and lupine features, interposed themselves between the Don and the oncoming attack. Their bony hands and razor-sharp teeth caught Adam’s blades mid-strike, halting his assault entirely. The specters hissed and growled, their forms writhing as they shielded their new mistress.

Abbess let out a laugh, a rich, mocking sound that echoed through the ruins.

"That wasn’t necessary, you know."

She said, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement as she regarded the spectral army surrounding her.

"I could have handled it myself, but... it’s nice to test their loyalty. Don’t you think so?"

She extended a hand toward the ghosts, her fingers moving in a slight gesture of command and the spirits immediately responded, shifting into an orderly formation around her.

"You don’t need to worry about them, they’re under my care now. And I’ll treat them well—better than you ever could."

She said with a smirk, and with a flick of her wrist, she gave a silent command, making the ghosts turn their attention to Adam. Their hollow eyes gleamed with malice as they lunged forward in unison, a cacophony of snarls and shrieks filling the air. The Ghoul-types crawled across the ground with unsettling speed, their skeletal limbs clattering against the stone. The Feral-types bounded forward on all fours, their wolf-like forms a blur of motion as they closed in.

Adam braced himself, his monstrous body coiling in preparation for the oncoming onslaught. His roar echoed through the battlefield as he prepared to face the very army he had once commanded, now turned against him.

The tide of the battle had changed, now it was Adam who found himself overwhelmed, caught in a relentless onslaught as the spectral army swarmed him. The Ghoul-types lunged at him with skeletal claws, their bony fingers tearing at his flesh, while the Feral-types pounced with ferocity, sinking their fangs into his carapace. Their hollow, glowing eyes showed no hesitation, no mercy.

Adam roared, his voice guttural and filled with frustration, as he lashed out with his bladed appendages. He sliced through dozens of spirits with each furious swing, their forms dissipating into wisps of smoke as they were destroyed. Yet, for every ghost he obliterated, more surged forward to take their place, their numbers seemingly endless. His monstrous claws crushed skulls and tore limbs, his mandibles snapping with enough force to shatter bone. Still, the relentless tide showed no signs of stopping.

Through the chaos, Adam’s glowing eyes locked onto Abbess. She stood at the center of the battlefield, calm and unmoving, watching the spectacle with a manic smile. A primal instinct surged within him, if he was going to survive, he had to reach her, she was the source of his torment, the puppeteer controlling these spectral horrors.

Driven by sheer desperation, Adam surged forward, tearing through the phantoms that blocked his path. His movements were frenzied yet purposeful, each step leaving shattered spirits in his wake. Ghostly claws tore at his mutated body, rending flesh and cracking his carapace, but he ignored the pain, after all, his body healed as quickly as it was damaged, flesh and bone regenerating in a grotesque cycle as he pressed onward.

Adam’s bladed limbs stabbed, slashed, and swiped, carving a gruesome path through the spectral army. He roared as a Feral-type latched onto his shoulder, its jaws sinking deep into his carapace. Without hesitation, he grabbed the creature and crushed its skull in his claws before hurling the shattered remains aside. Another ghost clawed at his back, raking through the armor-like plates that covered him. He retaliated with a violent sweep of his appendages, obliterating the attacker and several others nearby.

Step by agonizing step, Adam drew closer to the woman, his monstrous body dripping with ichor from countless wounds. His breathing was ragged, his chest heaving as he pushed through the sea of spirits. Finally, with one final burst of strength, he leaped forward, his claws extended toward her.

Abbess didn’t move, she waited until Adam’s bladed limbs were nearly upon her before raising her hands. With a manic grin, she deflected his attack using her own elongated, razor-sharp nails. The clash of their blows sent sparks flying, the sound of metal scraping against metal echoing through the battlefield.

"You’re still trying?"

Abbess taunted, her voice laced with mockery. Her movements were smooth, almost leisurely, as she blocked Adam’s furious strikes one after another.

"This is exhilarating. Come on, give me more!"

Adam roared, his strikes growing faster and more erratic as he lashed out with all his strength. His claws slashed in rapid succession, each attack carrying enough force to shatter stone. Abbess met every blow with ease, her long nails flashing like blades as they intercepted his strikes. Her expression was one of pure delight, her eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.

The two clashed violently for what felt like an eternity, the ground beneath them cracking from the force of their movements. But Abbess decided it was time to end the game. As Adam swung horizontally with a bladed arm, aiming to cleave her in two, she shifted her weight and ducked under the attack, moving so quickly it seemed as though she had vanished.

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Before the boy could react, the Don was upon him. Her clawed hand shot out, gripping his face with a crushing force, using the momentum of her dodge to slam him into the ground with devastating strength. The impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield, the ground splitting apart beneath them. Adam’s body rebounded from the sheer force of the blow, momentarily suspended in the air before crashing down onto his back.

For the first time, weakness showed on Adam’s monstrous face, his glowing eyes dimmed, and his limbs twitched weakly. He couldn’t move... The force of Abbess’s attack had left him paralyzed, his once indomitable strength now fleeting.

The woman landed in front of him in a blur of motion, her grin widening as she crossed her arms. Dark energy began to coalesce around her claws, crackling with a sinister aura while she laughed maniacally, the sound piercing and unnerving as the energy around her intensified.

"This is it, now rest, sweet pet."

She declared, raising her arms with a savage cry, slashing downward in an X-shaped motion and releasing the accumulated energy in two devastating strikes. The dark energy formed the shape of a massive, spectral skull, its jaws snapping shut in a violent, aesthetic bite as it hurtled toward Adam. The attack struck him full force, the energy tearing through his body with terrifying precision.

The boy’s roar turned into a gurgled cry as his body was torn apart. One of his arms and a leg were severed, the limbs flying off into the distance. His insect-like appendages shattered, and pieces of his carapace scattered across the battlefield. Dark ichor poured from his wounds, his once-mighty form reduced to a broken shell.

When the energy subsided, Adam’s mutilated body fell to the ground with a heavy thud. He lay there motionless, his breathing shallow and ragged. A faint, pitiful groan escaped his lips, the sound more animalistic than human… The once-ferocious warrior was now a shattered creature, beaten and broken beyond recognition.

The battlefield was silent except for the faint sound of Adam’s ragged breathing, while Abbess stood a short distance away, her crimson nails glinting under the faint, flickering light of the ruined chamber. A pleased smile adorned her lips, her demeanor calm yet tinged with a palpable sense of amusement.

She began walking toward Adam, her steps slow and deliberate. Her bloodied claws hung at her sides, swinging slightly as she moved, the hem of her tattered, flowing robes dragging along the cracked stone floor. Her heels clicked against the ground, a sharp sound that matched the rhythm of her measured approach. Her glowing red eyes fixed on the boy’s battered form with a look of curiosity and cruel satisfaction.

Adam’s body twitched as his regeneration instinctively worked to close the gaping wounds across his torso and seal the ragged gashes left by Abbess’s attacks. Yet the damage was so extensive that his body seemed overwhelmed, his severed arm and leg remained missing, and no amount of healing could restore them. The best his regeneration could manage was to halt the bleeding and mend the jagged edges of flesh where the limbs had been torn away.

Abbess stopped a few feet away and tilted her head, studying his struggling regeneration with an amused smirk.

"Oh, don’t worry, when I begin my experiments on you, I might consider giving you back your arm and leg... perhaps. No promises."

She said mockingly, crouching slightly to lower her gaze to his level, her laugh was sharp and cruel, echoing off the shattered walls.

As she straightened herself, she tapped a claw against her chin thoughtfully.

"Now, how should I make you suffer? It’s such a rare treat to find someone as intriguing as you. Should I turn you into one of my subordinates, I wonder?"

She mused aloud, her voice almost playful as she stepped closer, baring her gleaming fangs as she contemplated the idea. The pale blue glow of her skin seemed to brighten momentarily as dark energy swirled around her, the aura of a predator considering its prey.

"No…"

She decided abruptly, shaking her head with a small laugh.

"That would make you an obedient little slave, wouldn’t it? And where’s the fun in that? No, I want to see you squirm... I want to see the pain written all over that face of yours."

Her eyes lingered on Adam’s expression—a mixture of defiance, exhaustion, and agony. She smiled, her lips curling into a cruel grin.

"Yes, you’re quite beautiful like this... so fragile."

She murmured to herself, meanwhile, Adam gritted his teeth and groaned. Despite the overwhelming pain coursing through his body, he managed to roll himself onto his side, his insect-like appendages scraping against the ground. His breathing was labored, his movements weak and unsteady. He tried to push himself upright, his claws digging into the cracked stone for support, but his strength failed him, and he collapsed again with a pained grunt. Abbess noticed his efforts and let out a low, condescending laugh.

"Oh, don’t bother, you’ll only hurt yourself more. For your own good, just stay there. I’ll decide what to do with you soon enough."

But before she could continue, a golden blade suddenly shot through the air toward her. It gleamed with radiant energy, aimed directly at her chest. Abbess’s eyes narrowed, and with minimal effort, she sidestepped the attack. The blade whizzed past her, embedding itself into the ground with a sharp clang.

"What...?"

Abbess turned to see the skeletal figure of the Sacred Guardian of Envy, the golden undead warrior Adam had summoned earlier. It stood at the far end of the chamber, its hollow eyes blazing, though cracked and battered, the guardian still clung to its duty, its loyalty to its master unbroken.

The Don raised an eyebrow, her lips twisting into an intrigued smile.

"How curious, an undead daring to attack me? How is that even possible?"

As she spoke, the guardian’s mouth began to glow with an ominous “black light”. Without hesitation, it unleashed the [Onyx Hex of Envy], a dark curse that materialized as crimson chains wrapping themselves around the woman.

Abbess stood still, her expression calm as the chains closed in. Then, with an almost casual motion, she flexed her aura and the chains shattered instantly, breaking apart like fragile glass. She let out a laugh, throwing her head back as if the entire display had been a joke.

"A sealing curse? Oh, how quaint. Did you think that would work on someone like me?"

In a blur of movement, Abbess darted toward the guardian, her speed incomprehensible. Before the skeletal warrior could react, she drove her clawed hand into its chest, piercing through its golden armor as though it were paper. The force of the blow caused the guardian’s glowing flame, housed within its chest cavity, to flicker violently.

"So, this is where your soul resides. That explains why you can still resist my influence."

Abbess mused, leaning in close to the guardian’s hollow face. She then twisted her hand slightly, eliciting a faint crackle from the guardian’s armor before withdrawing her claws.

The guardian collapsed to the ground, its body crumpling as the faint light within its chest dimmed. Abbess straightened herself and turned her gaze back to Adam, who watched the scene with a mix of rage and helplessness.

"Let me explain something."

She said arrogantly, addressing both the fallen guardian and the boy.

"Beings like me, ones who have ascended to this level, possess passive abilities that render curses useless. But there’s more to it than that."

She crossed her arms, her eyes glowing with an eerie light as she continued.

"Now that I’m beginning to recover certain memories, I know I’m capable of even greater things. One day, I’ll become a fifth-rank Jiang Shi... a true master of dark and cursed energy."

Her voice grew softer, almost reverent, as she tilted her head upward. Tears of blood streamed from her eyes, streaking her pale cheeks.

"When that happens, even the strongest curses won’t weaken me. They’ll only make me stronger. Such a beautiful gift... thank you, Lord Varek."

Her voice echoed softly in the chamber as her tears fell, her expression one of manic devotion. Then she stepped closer to Adam, her glowing red eyes narrowing as she observed his battered, motionless body. The flickering light of the ruined chamber cast shadows across his mutilated form, his head was tilted to one side, his breathing shallow but audible, and the trembling of his muscles was the only sign of life.

But just as she leaned in closer, she stopped abruptly. A strange sensation rippled through her, her expression shifted into one of mild confusion, then sharpened into wary curiosity… something felt... off. There was no visible movement, no audible sound, but deep within Adam’s broken form, she could sense something watching her. It was subtle at first, like the faintest whisper brushing against her awareness.

"What is this?"

She muttered to herself, her voice low and sharp. She focused her senses, honing in on the disturbance, the feeling emanating from Adam’s head—no, from something inside his head. It was as though there was another presence, yet it felt fragmented, half-formed, and mutating with an unnerving fluidity. It wasn’t alive, but it wasn’t fully dormant either. The woman’s frown deepened as she reached out, her clawed hand extending toward Adam’s face.

“How peculiar… What are you hiding in there, I wonder?”

Despite the strangeness of the sensation, she dismissed it as unimportant for the moment. Whatever it was, it would reveal itself in time, and she had more pressing matters to attend to.

Her fingertips brushed against his cheek, cold and unyielding like the surface of a frozen lake. The instant contact was made, Adam’s body jerked violently. His head snapped upward, and his eyes, though unfocused, locked onto hers with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine. His mouth opened wide, unnaturally wide, and from the depths of his throat erupted a sound so otherworldly and harrowing it seemed to warp the very air around them.

The scream that tore from Adam’s mouth was not human. It was a visceral, bone-chilling wail, like the sound of countless souls in torment crying out at once. The walls of the chamber trembled as the sound filled the air, reverberating with a dreadful resonance.

[ Skill: Undead Empress's Torment Lv10 ] ⌠A high-tier ability that unleashes an ear-piercing banshee scream that reverberates through the fabric of existence, tearing into the minds and souls of all who hear it. The sound carries the weight of countless unresolved grievances and unending despair, paralyzing weaker enemies with fear and anguish while dealing severe damage to their spiritual essence. Any affected target will receive the status effect [Paralyze], [Terror], and [Vulnerability].⌡ ⌠Cursed Vision Knowledge⌡ ⌠Notice: The skill’s power intensifies in areas heavy with death or negative energy, amplifying its reach and potency.⌡ ⌠Warning: Enemies who are spiritually weak or lack inner balance are at greater risk of succumbing entirely to its overwhelming force, their wills broken and their souls left exposed to further attacks.⌡

Abbess staggered back, her crimson eyes widening in shock, her ears rang, and for the first time in centuries, a pang of fear gripped her. Her hand flew to her temple as if to shield herself from the sound, her claws digging into her scalp.

“What... is this?!”

She hissed through clenched teeth, her voice trembling with both rage and disbelief. The scream seemed to tear through her defenses, reaching into the core of her being. Her body shook uncontrollably, and her knees buckled slightly as she struggled to remain upright. When the sound finally ceased, the chamber was eerily silent, the woman stood frozen, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. She glanced down at her right hand and noticed it was trembling violently, her brow furrowed in frustration as she clenched her fist, trying to steady it.

“This is impossible… how can this... child... make me tremble?”

Despite her words, the fear in her expression was undeniable. As she steadied herself, she felt a sudden shift in the energies around her, and her gaze snapped to the edges of the room, where her spectral army had stood moments before. One by one, the ghostly figures began to dissolve, their translucent forms dissipating like smoke caught in the wind. Abbess's eyes widened as she raised her hand, shouting.

“Stay! I command you!”

But her words held no power. The spirits vanished entirely, leaving the chamber barren save for Adam, the faintly glowing guardian, and herself.

“What is this madness?”

She whispered, spinning around to take in the now-empty room. For a long moment, she simply stood there, staring at the place where her spectral army had been, as if willing them to reappear. But nothing happened... The oppressive silence that followed was almost suffocating, so she turned back to Adam, her expression darkening.

“You are far more troublesome than I anticipated. A strange variable...”

She spat, her voice seething with frustration, and stepping closer once more, though more cautiously this time.

“Very well, If you insist on being a nuisance, I’ll ensure you’re properly contained. It’s time to begin your suffering… Perhaps you should get used to it... or not, better yet, don’t get used to it. I want you to feel every moment of agony as fresh as the first. Forever.”

She raised her right hand, and dark energy began to gather in her palm. The air around her grew heavy, crackling with a malevolent force. A pentagram formed in her hand, glowing with a deep crimson light. As the symbol took shape, a yin-yang emblem appeared at its center, then the pentagram absorbed the yin half, leaving only the yang, a stark representation of the corrupted, cursed energy she wielded.

“You should feel honored, I will use a technique reserved for the strongest Jiang Shi. A skill so ancient and cruel it has been forgotten by all but the most powerful.”

She paused, her eyes gleaming with sadistic glee.

“The [Torture of the 1001 Curses]. Let’s see how long your spirit can endure it.”

She said with a smirk, her voice brimming with arrogant pride. She then laughed, the sound echoing in the ruined chamber as her malevolent energy surged, casting long, jagged shadows across the walls.

The energy swirling in the Don's hand surged with malicious intent, and the symbols she had conjured—the yang and the glowing pentagram—began to shift. The searing crimson light snaked its way from her outstretched palm, weaving intricate patterns in the air before latching onto Adam’s still-prone body.

As the symbols burned themselves onto his flesh, his body convulsed violently. Dark tendrils of cursed energy seeped into him, burrowing deep into his skin. One by one, the 1001 curses began to take hold, each one generating a system window of information that would have overwhelmed any conscious mind. Yet Adam remained still, his eyes glassy and unfocused, as if he were unaware of the torrent of malice flooding through his veins.

Abbess watched intently, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

“A weak vessel like you shouldn’t last through even a fraction of this.”

She relished the idea of his soul splintering under the sheer weight of the curses. But then, something began to change.

The curses, instead of ravaging his body and tearing him apart as she had anticipated, seemed to produce an entirely unexpected effect. Adam’s breathing, ragged and shallow just moments ago, began to steady. His muscles, once trembling and frail, now tensed with renewed strength. Abbess’s smirk faltered as she sensed the shift in his energy.

“This… this isn’t right.”

She muttered under her breath, narrowing her crimson eyes. Her fingers twitched as she analyzed the growing anomaly before her. Each curse should have sapped his vitality, bringing him closer to death. Instead, his energy was rising—rapidly. Faster than she thought possible.

How? The boy should have been barely clinging to life by the time the 1001 curses ran their course. Yet here he was, his energy surging to a degree that defied reason.

The cursed energy pouring into Adam reached a critical mass, and then it happened. A deafening crackle tore through the air, followed by a blast of cursed energy so intense it was visible, swirling around his body in a violent vortex. The air grew heavy and stifling, the pressure alone enough to make even someone as powerful as Abbess falter for a moment.

“No!”

She growled, her instincts screaming at her. Without hesitation, she leapt forward, her claws aiming to seize Adam before the surge could stabilize. But just as she was about to reach him, an enormous spectral arm materialized out of the maelstrom of energy.

The arm was colossal, its translucent, sinewy musculature glowing faintly with an otherworldly hue. Thick, jagged claws at the end of its hand raked through the air as it slammed into Abbess Xinhui with bone-shattering force, the impact sent her hurtling backward at an incredible speed, crashing through one wall, then another, and another.

She finally managed to halt her momentum, slamming her claws and heels into the ground. Sparks flew as she dug into the floor, dragging herself to a stop. She growled low in her throat, her crimson eyes blazing with fury.

"What?!"

She spat, shaking off the debris as she launched herself back toward the ruined chamber. When she landed, the sight that greeted her froze her in place.

Adam’s body now stood upright, radiating an aura so intense it felt like the very air around him was on fire. His once mangled frame was regenerating before her eyes. Flesh and sinew wove themselves together with astonishing speed as his lost arm and leg reformed, almost as if time itself were rewinding. His insectoid mutations, which had once disfigured him grotesquely, now receded to reveal a mostly human appearance. His skin was pale, but unmarred, and his body was lean but unnaturally well-defined. The only remnants of his monstrous form were the sharp, arachnid-like legs that jutted out from his back, glinting like black steel, and faint, chitinous patterns that shimmered along his forearms.

Around him, three figures loomed, each radiating an aura of raw, terrifying power.

Behind him stood the source of the spectral arm that had struck her. It was an enormous, ethereal beast, its towering frame dwarfing even the shattered walls of the chamber. Its bulging, translucent muscles pulsed with energy, its clawed hands twitching in anticipation. Massive, jagged horns jutted from its head, curling like the roots of an ancient tree. A pair of vast, tattered wings unfurled behind it, and a long, barbed tail lashed the air with an audible crack. Its glowing eyes burned with malevolent intent, its form barely contained by the spectral energy that made it seem more like a nightmare given shape.

To Adam’s right, another figure emerged—a colossal skeleton clad in gleaming, golden armor. The skeletal monstrosity stood at an imposing ten feet tall, its four elongated arms ending in golden scythes that gleamed with an otherworldly light. Each scythe pulsed with energy, as if eager to rend flesh. Its two elongated skulls bore sharp, serrated teeth, and atop each rested a crown of gold, tarnished and ancient. Its insect-like legs, long and segmented, gave it a predatory stance, while a fierce, blue flame blazed within its ribcage, illuminating its hollow interior with an eerie glow.

And finally, floating just to Adam’s left was a third figure, eerily silent but no less terrifying. This humanoid specter lacked defining features, its form unnervingly slender and naked. Its head was replaced by a swirling orb of smoke, constantly shifting and writhing as though alive. Yet, despite its faceless form, Abbess could somehow feel the echo of laughter—a maddening, cacophonous mirth that seemed to emanate from the smoke itself.

The Don clenched her fists, her claws digging into her palms as she stared at the scene with uncharacteristic hesitation. Her heart raced, and for the first time in what felt like centuries, she felt a creeping unease.

“This isn’t him...”

She murmured, her voice barely audible. Her crimson eyes flicked toward Adam, but the being standing before her no longer felt like the boy she had cursed. Whatever had awakened within him had taken his place.