Chapter 11: The Greedy Devourer (1)
Sayeni’s words sent a chill through Qin Chu’s heart. Although her power had dissipated, Sayeni remained highly sensitive to demonic and bizarre existences – her sense was absolutely unerring.
“This man is an illusion demon, an offshoot of the demon race, adept at transformation but with average combat ability,” she explained. “Their work often involves intelligence gathering and occasional assassinations. This one has already left a mark on you…this mark can guide lurking demonic assassins in the city to attack the target.”
Without hesitation, Sayeni sided with Qin Chu, for her current existence depended on him. Should Qin Chu die, Sayeni too would vanish. One could say the former dread witch was now Qin Chu’s most devoted ally in this world, having never considered other demons as her kin.
Qin Chu recalled after the previous banquet, he had been escorted under heavy guard to his residence. A hero’s existence posed a grave threat to demons who would stop at nothing to eliminate him. Though the Celestial Continent’s leaders were a bunch of scoundrels, they were no fools.
On the contrary, they were far more cunning than most, maintaining oppressive rule over the commoners through great skill. They were well aware of the precarious, perilous position a hero occupied – not only providing elite protection, but even keeping Qin Chu’s movements strictly confidential to avoid being targeted. Multiple decoy carriages were even arranged as diversions.
Yet despite such meticulous arrangements, Qin Chu was still ambushed by demons that very night, nearly losing his life.
It seemed this illusion demon had indeed left a mark on him, enabling the attack.
“What do you plan to do?” Sayeni nonchalantly asked from his shoulder, her silver tresses swaying.
“Don’t you think this guy is a decent experience package for the currently powerless us?” Qin Chu mentally responded with a raised brow.
For revenge, power was paramount. Though his schemes had thoroughly humiliated Loseweisse, no substantive damage was inflicted. Currently, he was no match for her, lacking even basic self-defense capabilities.
Qin Chu urgently needed to bolster his combat strength quickly, and his abilities were a crucial asset. Most important was the Greed ability’s “Devourer” special effect, allowing him to seize others’ power and abilities for himself.
Of course, recklessly devouring without sufficient strength could easily backfire fatally.
But as Sayeni mentioned, illusion demons were demonic oddballs whose magical might grew with levels, yet possessed ordinary human-level combat ability at best. Their skills focused solely on transformation, with rudimentary illusory magic being their only offense.
Higher-leveled illusion demons became increasingly adept at flawless metamorphoses, fooling even close loved ones externally.
The highest could leave no openings – perfectly mimicking not just appearance, but also voice, mannerisms, speech patterns, habits and subconscious gestures. They could completely replace their target, living undetected in the human world.
The real Donaldson was likely already slain. With so many experts like Wozwoz, Monique, Augustus and the Thirteen Sages present, none could discern this illusionist’s true nature.
One criterion for achieving Great Sage status was reaching Level 80 while mastering numerous spells, including at least one transcendental and three high-rank spells.
Wozwoz, Monique and Augustus’ power exceeded that, likely around Level 90.
To conceal its demonic identity before such experts, this illusion demon must be over Level 60 at minimum.
In other words, the Donaldson Count before Qin Chu was a super-sized experience package with negligible threat – how could he let this opportunity pass?
Devouring it, Qin Chu believed his magic power would soar dramatically.
He was also highly interested in this illusion demon’s transformation ability, sensing its acquisition could prove immensely advantageous later.
Sayeni didn’t dissuade Qin Chu, both sorely lacking power currently.
“Have you figured out how to explain this?”
“Of course, I have arrangements in place.”
As Qin Chu conversed with Sayeni, Donaldson’s slitted, bean-sized eyes scrutinized the hero, a sliver of disdain and killing intent flickering behind his ingratiating smile despite initially dismissing the newly summoned hero as feeble.
Even at peak power, a freshly summoned hero remained as weak as an ant to him currently.
Though ill-suited for combat himself, he was confident he could slay the hero on the spot.
However, killing the hero here amidst the banquet’s many experts would surely seal his demise. Professionals were better left to handle such tasks – simply leaving his mark to guide other assassins was sufficient.
Smiling lightly, the illusion demon disguised as Count Donalsdon spoke again, “Then I shall take my leave, Hero. The Count’s manor is always open to welcome you.”
With gentlemanly courtesy he made to withdraw his hand, not wanting to monopolize the hero’s time from other waiting nobles – an unbefitting act for one of aristocratic bearing.
Yet Donaldson found his hand tightly gripped by Qin Chu, unable to break free despite instinctively exerting more force. Qin Chu’s grasp was vise-like, his wrist trapped as he looked up at the hero in bewilderment.
The moment he saw Qin Chu’s expression, Donaldson’s voice caught in his throat as inexplicable dread permeated his being.
He couldn’t pinpoint the issue – the face was the same, still bearing a gentle smile. But upon meeting those eyes, his body convulsed with an icy chill of primal fear.
Those jet-black orbs seemed to pierce through everything, as if all his secrets lay bare before this man.
Though merely a newly summoned, powerless hero easily slain by even his feeble self, why did he emanate such profound dread?
In that daze, Donaldson envisioned the man shrouded in a thick, bloody mist surrounded by innumerable shredded demonic corpses drenched in rivers of blood.
Gulk…gulk…gulk…
Overpowering terror caused strange gurgling sounds to involuntarily emerge from his throat.
“H-Hero…what are you d-doing?” Donaldson’s teeth chattered violently. Had the hero seen through his true nature?
No…impossible.
If even the Pope, Matriarch and Emperor couldn’t pierce his disguise, how could this newly summoned, powerless hero?
Qin Chu slightly parted his lips in a slight smile towards Donaldson.
This smile raised every hair on Donladson’s body, his scalp feeling near explosion.
In the next instant, Qin Chu’s lips moved.
Devourer.
In that moment, the horrifying scene driving Donaldson to utter despair manifested.
An overwhelming, terrible force seemed to emanate from Qin Chu’s palm, siphoning his demonic energy like a vacuum, draining at a frenzied rate!
