Free Web NovelChapter 312: Upgrading My Asura Bloodline
Damian remained seated at the center of the azure cube while sand, demonic force, and countless attacks battered its outer walls from every direction.
The Soul Lantern flames trembled violently with each impact. Waves of blue fire rippled across the cube’s surface as cracks of spiritual pressure spread through the construct. Outside, Bachi’s clones assaulted it relentlessly while Mudhhib’s desert domain ground against it like a giant millstone attempting to crush a gemstone into dust.
Yet within the cube itself, silence reigned.
Damian sat cross-legged with his eyes closed and his breathing steady. The raging battlefield outside seemed distant, almost unreal. Every roar, explosion, and tremor faded into the background as his consciousness sank deeper and deeper into his sea of awareness.
His figure descended gracefully through endless darkness. Below him stretched a familiar wasteland.
At the center of it all stood the towering Abyssal Tree, its roots twisting through the barren landscape like the claws of an ancient god buried beneath the world.
Damian landed lightly upon the cracked earth and immediately felt a familiar gaze settle upon him. Beyond the wall of dead trees, a colossal crimson eye stared back.
The Abyss.
Its burning gaze followed him with visible amusement.
Unlike before, there was no surprise in those ancient eyes. It was almost as though the creature had expected this exact moment from the beginning.
A deep chuckle echoed throughout the desolate realm.
"I did warn you that strength would be needed if you intended to survive these dangerous times."
The voice rolled through the wasteland like distant thunder.
Damian stopped walking and slowly raised his head. For several moments he simply stared at the enormous eye. His expression carried all the contempt of a man looking at someone who had chosen the worst possible moment to start a conversation.
Normally he would have argued. Unfortunately, there were four demigods outside trying very hard to cave his skull in.
Time was a luxury he did not possess.
Without saying a word, Damian turned away from the Abyss entirely.
The massive eye blinked in surprise and for the first time since Damian met it, genuine confusion appeared in its gaze.
Did this human just ignore it?
Damian calmly walked around the Abyssal Tree. Eventually he arrived before another towering tree. Unlike the Abyssal Tree, this one radiated an overwhelming sense of violence.
Every branch resembled sharpened weapons and every root looked like twisted muscles. The trunk itself appeared forged from crimson metal and ancient bone.
The Asura Bloodline Tree.
Immediately, glowing text appeared before him.
[Asura Talent Tree Rejuvenation Process: 0%]
[Living Arts: 0%]
[Primal Soul: 0%]
[Elder Arts: 0%]
The Abyss stared at the display.
Then stared at Damian.
Then stared back at the display.
"Wait."
Its enormous eye widened slightly.
"You skipped my power for that?"
Damian slowly turned his head and looked toward the crimson eye.
The expression on his face carried enough disappointment to make it seem as though the Abyss had personally offended him.
The creature remained speechless.
Without responding, Damian raised his hand and invested talent points directly into the tree.
The crimson branches trembled and the entire tree shuddered as ten points vanished.
Ding!
[Name: Asura Body]
[Type: Passive]
[Description: The body of an Asura is naturally stronger than most races. Their muscles, bones, organs, and blood are all infused with demonic power.]
The moment the notification appeared, Damian felt something awaken inside him.
His bones vibrated, his blood grew heavier and his muscles tightened. A strange sensation spread through every part of his body. It felt as though something ancient had finally opened its eyes within him.
"Ooh?"
Damian blinked.
"So all this time I’ve been running around with nothing but my human body?"
Genuine shock filled his face.
Looking back, it suddenly explained a lot.
He had spent months relying on his inheritance, his authority, his bloodlines, his throne, and countless external abilities.
Yet the body carrying all that power had remained fundamentally human.
The realization was ridiculous.
Unfortunately, there was no time to appreciate it. Damian immediately invested more points.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Forty.
Fifty.
The tree glowed brighter.
Ding!
[Name: Battle Instincts]
[Type: Passive]
[Description: An Asura’s combat senses cannot be rivaled. They sharpen further the longer an Asura remains in battle.]
A wave of information surged into his mind. Countless combat insights poured into his mind. It felt less like learning and more like remembering something he had always known.
His eyes widened slightly. This ability alone was absurd. Still, Damian continued.
Sixty.
Seventy.
Eighty.
Ninety.
One hundred.
The tree exploded with crimson light.
Ding!
[Name: Six-Armed War Form]
[Type: Transformation]
[Description: Gains the true form of an Asura and grants access to the Asura Weaponry ability.]
Before Damian could react, another notification appeared.
Ding!
[Name: Asura Weaponry]
[Type: Weaponry]
[Description: Can summon weapons from the deepest pits of the Asura Infinite Vault of Weaponry forged through rage and anguish.]
Damian froze and covered his mouth with both hands.
His pupils trembled.
"Two abilities?"
His voice carried genuine disbelief.
"Two ability unlocks at once?!"
Damian quickly looked around. "Thank the heavens Rin isn’t here."
The thought alone made him shiver.
If the fox discovered he had finally obtained additional abilities from the system, Damian would never hear the end of it.
The damned creature had spent months insulting his life choices. Now it would feel completely justified. The thought alone gave him a headache.
After calming himself, Damian shifted his attention back toward the talent tree.
His remaining points hovered at one hundred.
For the first time, he studied the structure carefully. Then his eyes narrowed upon realizing mething stood out.
Living Arts.
The section occupied a surprisingly significant portion of the tree. In fact, it carried almost the same weight Elder Arts possessed within the Lust inheritance.
That alone made it suspicious.
Damian examined the display again.
[Asura Talent Tree Rejuvenation Process: 5%]
[Living Arts: 10%]
[Primal Soul: 0%]
[Elder Arts: 0%]
His gaze lingered on Living Arts and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.
If Elder Arts represented the highest combat abilities of Lust, then Living Arts likely occupied a similarly important position within the Asura inheritance.
Just as Damian prepared to invest further—
BOOOOOM!
The entire world shook violently. Even the massive crimson eye narrowed slightly. Damian’s expression immediately darkened.
His head snapped upward.
Though his consciousness remained within his inner world, he could still feel the condition of the battlefield outside.
The Soul Lantern Cube was weakening rapidly. The blue flames protecting him were shrinking.
Their pressure was fading.
The relentless assaults from Bachi and Mudhhib had finally begun breaking through.
Cracks spread across the cube.
More appeared.
Then more.
Every second brought him closer to being dragged back into the battlefield.
Damian clenched his jaw.
His plans had barely begun.
There were still upgrades he wanted.
Skills he wanted.
Paths he wanted to explore.
Yet the idiots outside had apparently decided to become competent.
"Dammit!"
His curse echoed throughout the wasteland.
Above him, the entire sky shook once more as another violent impact struck the cube.
Time was running out.
And Damian suddenly found himself faced with a choice he hated.
Leave now and fight with what he had.
