Chapter 18 : The Scavenger of Souls
The chaotic energy of the dimensional vortex subsided, leaving John standing on ground that was more nightmare than earth. The air, heavy with the stench of brimstone and decay, instantly pressed against the polished plating of his Ultimate Magus Armor. It was a masterpiece of fusion—sleek, obsidian nanite shell laced with intricate, glowing silver runes that were not etched on the surface, but woven into the material itself.
John took a moment, ignoring the immediate danger, to examine the dimension. The sky was a terrifying swirl of blood-red and sickly green, the obsidian spikes of the terrain reflecting the infernal light. This was a perfect realm for a Magus—a place where the rules of the universe were malleable, and power was the only law.
With his [Superior Runic Crafting] skill, supercharged by millions of points in INT and WIS, John set about optimizing his gear. He focused his will, his armor humming as he channeled pure mana into its core. He began to weave a new, specialized sigil onto the armor's gauntlets and chest plate—a crimson, multi-layered rune designed specifically for this plane of existence. He christened it the Essence Devourer Sigil.
The purpose of this Sigil was simple: every demonic entity killed would have its inherent power—its magical essence, its lifeforce, its very being—stripped away and instantly funneled into the armor's core. Not only would this accelerate his EXP gain, but it would literally make the armor a living entity of ever-increasing power.
The First Feast
The silence was shattered by the screeching rage of the dimension's inhabitants. Drawn by the massive power signature, the first horde arrived—a chaotic tide of thousands of lesser fiends, razor-toothed shadow creatures, and leathery-winged imps.
John didn't move an inch. He allowed the first wave of low-level imps to descend upon him, a tide of claws and hate.
Then, with an effortless, almost casual flick of his wrist, he commanded his [Advanced Kinetic Sovereignty]. An invisible, crushing sphere of kinetic force erupted around him. The effect was absolute. The thousands of imps in the immediate vicinity didn't just die; the immense, instantaneous pressure from a STR stat in the millions reduced their frail, demonic forms to fine, ethereal dust.
[EXP Gained: 1,500,000 EXP!]
The immediate burst of EXP was a secondary concern. The main event began with the next wave of larger, sturdier fiends.
John raised his newly enchanted gauntlet, the crimson Essence Devourer Sigil flaring to life. He unleashed a magical beam, not designed for mass destruction, but for extraction. The beam, a sickly green torrent of pure mana, slammed into the thousands of advancing demons.
The moment the energy touched them, the demons screamed, not in pain, but in sheer terror as their power was being forcefully stolen. Their forms rapidly withered and collapsed, their physical bodies turning to brittle ash. A visible, black and crimson mist—the demonic essence—was instantly ripped from their collapsing forms and violently sucked toward John's armor.
The Essence Devourer Sigil glowed like a miniature star as it absorbed the raw power. The Ultimate Magus Armor visibly hummed, its nanite structure hardening, its arcane runes burning brighter.
[EXP Gained: 5,500,000 EXP!]
[Essence Absorption Confirmed! Armor Integrity +0.5% (Permanent)!]
[New Passive Perk Gained: Minor Demonic Energy Resistance Stack (x1)]
Exponential Ascension
The sheer magnitude of power absorption and destruction triggered a cascade of notifications.
[Total EXP Gained: 7,000,000 EXP!]
[Level 83 -> Level 84!]
[Level 84 -> Level 85!]
[Level 85 -> Level 86!]
[Attribute Points Gained: 6 Attribute Points x 3 Levels = 18 Attribute Points.]
[100x Multiplier applied!]
[Total Attribute Points Gained: 1,800!]
John distributed them instantly. The total increase in his stats was minor on paper—mere hundreds added to millions—but the Essence Absorption was the game-changer. His armor was growing stronger with every kill, literally devouring the power of the enemies and converting it into permanent durability and new resistances. This was not just leveling; it was evolution.
He pulled up his status panel, a final confirmation of his new, terrifying reality.
[Status]
* Name: John Vance
* Level: 86
* EXP: (Massive Amount) / (Even More Massive Amount)
* HP/MP: 5,000,000 + (Minor Increase)
* STR: 1,606,183
* DEX: 1,606,183
* VIT: 1,606,183
* INT: 1,606,183
* WIS: 1,606,183
* LUK: 1,606,183
[Overall Power Level: Cosmic-Level (Apex Predator, Enhancing)]
[Ultimate Magus Armor Status: Integrity 100.5% (Permanent), Demonic Energy Resistance Stack x1]
John looked out across the vast, chaotic plain. He felt the armor humming with satisfaction, craving more. This dimension was not a challenge; it was an all-you-can-eat buffet of power. He was not a hero fighting a war; he was a cosmic predator on a hunting expedition.
He activated a Cosmic Awareness flare, probing the dimension to find the most concentrated source of demonic energy. A massive, jagged peak wreathed in black smoke answered his silent inquiry. It was a beacon, a challenge, and a promise of unimaginable power.
John began to walk toward the dark peak, every footstep heavy with universe-shattering power. He would not stop until he had harvested every last scrap of power from this dimension. The slaughter had just begun.