Chapter 440: Absorption

Helag couldn’t discern any significant power differences among the five dog-headed creatures, as he had swiftly dispatched them all.

A breeze carried the scent of blood away.

Helag collected usable weapons like the spiked club for future use.

Uncertain of his surroundings, he gathered anything potentially useful.

After securing the weapons, Helag quickly left the area.

He checked Tessa’s body, confirming she was beyond saving.

A necromancy specialist might have been able to summon her spirit for questioning.

Lacking such skills, Helag moved on.

Searching Tessa’s body, he wondered why her spatial ring was missing.

Her injuries suggested multiple attacks, with varying recovery stages indicating different times.

The dog-headed creatures likely stumbled upon her, as she was already near exhaustion when they found her.

A first-level crystallized wizard, reduced to this state by a club to the head, made Helag ponder his own vulnerability.

Glancing in the direction Tessa had come from, he saw forested areas.

The desert’s edge was near; moving forward might lead to other intelligent beings.

Tessa’s flight indicated danger in that direction.

Helag decided to investigate further.

Retracing his steps seemed pointless, likely leading into the desert with slim chances of finding valuable clues.

Moving forward, though riskier, promised more potential for valuable information.

Resolved, Helag prepared to leave.

He paused, looking back at Tessa’s body, and cremated it with a fireball.

Though they had no enmity, both hailed from the wizard plane, deserving basic dignity, not to become food for other creatures.

After several fireballs, Tessa’s body was reduced to ashes.

With renewed caution, Helag proceeded.

Vegetation thickened, revealing a hidden stream winding through the grass.

Following Tessa’s path, Helag soon discovered a cave.

The cave was well-hidden, underground, with an entrance sloping down and surrounded by dense shrubs.

Without environmental detection, Helag might have missed it.

At the entrance, he found footprints matching the dog-headed creatures.

Detection revealed another creature sleeping inside.

The cave contained various items, including animal and human bones.

“Shadow Corner.”

Helag’s large form transformed into a shadow, gliding silently toward the sleeping creature.

The shadow moved unhindered, reaching the creature.

Helag emerged, wielding his sword, and struck down.

The creature, unaware, died instantly in its sleep.

A wisp of black mist rose from the body, which Helag quickly absorbed using his Demonic Power.

The demonic aura settled around his body.

Helag closed his eyes, sensing the aura’s effects.

No dramatic change, just a slight physical enhancement.

“Deep Blue, what changes did the demonic aura bring?” Helag asked.

“Calculating…”

“Demonic aura increased strength, agility, and constitution by 0.1 each.”

“An increase of 0.1.”

Helag hadn’t expected such a boost, given his already formidable strength.

Any enhancement at this level was significant.

Helag considered the potential of amassing demonic aura to greatly enhance his physical power.

Regretting the wasted aura, he continued exploring the cave for valuable items.

Finding nothing of note, he sought written materials, hoping for insights into the local civilization.

Without such finds, Helag left the cave.

The surroundings transformed into a forest, strangely devoid of large animals, only small creatures.

A forest of this size should teem with wildlife.

Yet, within Helag’s detection range, not even a rabbit appeared, defying logic.

He recalled the creatures’ apparent starvation.

Their proximity to the forest, with their strength, should have ensured ample food.

Tessa’s injuries suggested danger in the forest.

Considering these factors, Helag concluded the forest harbored hidden threats.

Cautiously entering, he relied on environmental feedback, finding no anomalies yet.

After half an hour, he found droppings.

Realizing he was in an animal’s territory, Helag heightened his vigilance.

His shadow paused briefly by the droppings before moving on, soon hearing a distant roar.

Following the sound, Helag soon saw the source.

A tiger-like creature, slightly larger than a normal tiger.

“Is this controlling the forest?” Helag wondered.

Its size suggested it wasn’t overly powerful; the dog-headed creatures should have been able to challenge it, rather than cowering at the desert’s edge.