NOVEL NEXT Chapter 225: Healthy and Strong
She smiled stunningly, the expression radiant and seductive, even as the blade of her gleaming scimitar pressed coldly against his throat. Her midnight-black hair cascaded around her shoulders like a silky waterfall, framing a face as alluring as it was dangerous.
Eyes that sparkled with mischievous amusement locked onto Damien's exhausted yet defiant gaze.
"Give me a reason to let you live," she purred seductively, her breath whispering warmly against his cheek. The pressure of the blade increased ever so slightly, drawing a thin line of blood from his already battered skin.
Damien held her gaze steadily, unfazed despite the dire threat. He smiled faintly, an expression of quiet peace rather than fear or desperation. His voice was weak, yet carried an unyielding strength. "Death is my friend. I do not fear falling into her embrace."
His necromantic core, sensing danger, hummed urgently, spinning faster within his chest. Mana surged through him, gathering force rapidly, desperate to save its host.
The influx of energy was fierce, frantic, yet Damien knew it was insufficient. If the drow wished it, she could end his existence in a heartbeat.
She sensed his rapidly spiking energy, eyes narrowing slightly, calculating her decision carefully. The silence stretched taut between them, fraught with tension, danger, and the subtle promise of something more.
Her gaze roamed Damien's battered form thoughtfully, lingering appreciatively despite his dire condition.
Finally, she laughed softly, a musical and enchanting sound that echoed through the stillness.
With graceful ease, she withdrew the blade from his throat, sheathing her scimitars smoothly. Damien breathed a silent sigh of relief, yet confusion clouded his features as she reached into her cloak and drew forth an ornate crown, unlike any he had seen before.
Its delicate form shimmered ominously in the dim light, etched with runes he instinctively recognized as powerfully restrictive.
She knelt beside him, leaning close enough that her enticing scent filled his senses, a tantalizing blend of something darkly sweet and intoxicating. Her hands gently, almost tenderly, placed the crown upon his head, the cool metal resting snugly against his brow.
"I know there is a monkey god in your culture who wears a similar crown," she whispered softly, lips brushing ever so slightly against his ear, sending an involuntary shiver down Damien's spine.
Her voice was playful yet commanding. "The Monkey King, is it? Well then, now you're my Monkey King."
Damien instantly understood the crown's dreadful power. He felt the sinister connection snap into place, linking her will directly to his very existence. A single thought, a fleeting impulse from her mind, would extinguish his life instantly.
It was a powerful artifact, most definitely one that was beyond anything Earth had rankings for.
Beyond Heavenly Grade?
His eyes widened momentarily, the reality of his predicament settling heavily upon him.
Yet, despite the lethal danger, a spark of defiance still glimmered in his gaze. He stared up at her defiantly, despite the precariousness of his position.
Her beautiful face hovered mere inches from his, her full lips curled into a knowing, seductive smile. Her eyes sparkled with amusement and curiosity, clearly enjoying the dominance she now wielded.
"Now," she murmured, tracing a delicate finger along his battered cheek, her touch both gentle and possessive, "let us see what fate has in store for my beautiful, dangerous monkey king."
[Mythical Grade restriction detected]
[Neutralize the restriction?]
[Doing so will consume 50% of the Necromantic Core's activation progress]
Damien stared into her luminous eyes, his breathing ragged but his expression calm. The price was extremely high. And… it wasn't too late to free himself later once he knew what the drow was up to.
He weighed the options rapidly. Neutralizing the crown now would drain half of his progress, undo weeks of pain, training, and focused growth.
That power wasn't easy to recover, and the next trials would only become more brutal. But leaving the restriction intact gave him a strategic advantage. She thought he was bound. That meant she'd lower her guard, maybe even show him her true hand.
Trusting her was foolish. But pretending to trust her? That was useful.
The drow smiled enticingly, reaching slowly into a hidden pocket of her silken garment. From it, she pulled a small crystal vial containing several radiant pills.
"Take this," she purred softly, her voice carrying a sultry edge that made Damien's heart involuntarily quicken. "I need you at full strength."
Damien hesitated briefly, suspicion flashing in his eyes. But as his gaze locked onto hers, he saw neither malice nor deception, only playful curiosity and confidence. Accepting the vial, he quickly swallowed the pills.
An incredible warmth surged through him, burning away the pain, soothing the raw edges of his battered flesh.
His wounds sealed rapidly, flesh knitting together as if time itself had been reversed. Damien watched in stunned silence as his necromantic core surged back to life with a force he hadn't felt in weeks, humming with power as death energy poured through his body, refilling every depleted reserve. Within moments, he didn't just feel restored. He felt reborn.
In fact, the power surge was so potent that even the system paused to adjust.
[Neutralizing the Mythical Grade restriction will now cost 45% of your activation progress]
It wasn't a massive revision, but it was enough to be impressive.
Damien turned to the drow, incredulous. "What medicine is this? Its efficacy is absurd."
"This is my clan's secret elixir," she replied, voice smooth and proud. "It's called Full Restore. And as its name suggests, it fully restores everything, body, core, energy, even spiritual fatigue. Be happy, my handsome monkey king. It's extremely rare, and I only have three doses."
"And you gave one to me?" Damien asked, raising an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Aren't you worried you just strengthened your future enemy?"
She laughed softly, the sound light and melodic, dancing between them like perfume on the wind. "Why would I fear you? That crown ensures your obedience. Besides…" She leaned closer, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I much prefer you healthy and strong."