The Damned Demon

As Asher stepped into the 6th floor of the Tower of Hell, a shudder of foreboding rippled through him.

The air grew thick with a palpable sense of dread as the gates slammed shut behind him. He didn't even bother to waste time refilling his mana reserves because he knew even if everyone considered the 6th floor to be dangerous enough to test their mind and spirit and not just physical prowess, it shouldn't be too difficult for him.

The floor stretched out before him, an enormous cavernous expanse of craggy stone, veins of molten lava running through the cracks in the ground.

The sky overhead was a swirling mass of black clouds, crackling with occasional bolts of dark energy.

Shadows danced and flickered across the jagged walls, the only source of light coming from the flickering flames that licked the edges of the cavern. The ground trembled slightly beneath his feet as if the very earth was alive, eager to test him.

"Let's see what you've got," Asher muttered to himself, cracking his knuckles. His body was already adapting, his senses heightened by his Denizen of the Night ability. He could see clearly in the darkness and his senses tingled, aware of every movement in the air.

Suddenly, the ground erupted with a deafening roar as a massive creature appeared from the shadows. It was a twisted, grotesque form, half-human, half-beast, with skin as black as night and eyes glowing a menacing red.

Asher could feel the energy of the creature pulsing with malice as it charged toward him, its monstrous hands reaching for him with terrifying speed.

His Hellbringer Form surged into being, his skeleton wreathed in dark green flames, the cursed energy around him making the air crackle. The moment the creature's claws swiped at him, Asher's Rakshasa's Roar filled the air.

"ROARRRR!!"

The terrifying sound reverberated through the cavern, causing the creature to hesitate, its senses momentarily crippled.

"Not fast enough," Asher whispered, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the fight.

In a single, fluid motion, he teleported behind the beast with Never Look Behind, his ring blade flashing as it sliced through the creature's spine.

*GRARGHHH!!*

The creature roared in pain, but it was too late.

Asher's Resentful Slash followed, the cursed blade cleaving through the monster's heart, bursting it into flames. The monster collapsed, disintegrating into nothingness as the flames consumed it.

He grinned. That was too easy.

But just as the first creature fell, the cavern trembled once again. More creatures emerged from the shadows—this time, they were many. Shadows warped into hulking, skeletal forms, each one wielding massive weapons and exuding a dark, ethereal power.

They were the fallen souls, cursed to fight endlessly in the Tower, and their mere presence made the atmosphere even heavier.

Asher's eyes narrowed. He raised his hand, summoning Shadow Roots from the ground, entangling the feet of the nearest enemies, freezing them in place. With a flick of his wrist, he used Resentful Slash once more, and a wave of cursed flames burst forth, slicing through the enemies' defenses like butter. They exploded in a spray of ash and bones.

But there was no time to revel in his success. As the last enemy fell, more appeared—this time stronger.

Wraiths appeared from the shadows, their weapons crackling with dark energy, their towering figures made of pure shadow and dark essence, began to emerge. These were the true leaders of the dead, souls bound to the land, their forms far more powerful than the lesser wraiths. Their eyes glowed with a sickly, green light, and their hands crackled with necrotic energy.

They were the true test. Asher knew he couldn't just rely on brute strength alone; he needed to outsmart them.

The air grew even more oppressive as the wraiths circled him, their blades drawn and their eyes filled with pure killing intent.

Asher's Hell Master ability activated. He summoned Agonon and Victor's damned forms from the Dimension of the Damned, their twisted, tortured forms appearing in the blink of an eye. They were less than full power but enough to provide Asher with an edge.

They roared and charged into the fray, their chains of despair entangling the wraiths, pulling them into close quarters with Asher.

The wraiths fought back fiercely, but with Rakshasa's Roar, Asher weakened them further, their strength sapped by the terror emanating from his form.

He ducked under one wraith's scythe, a quick flick of his blade decapitating the wraith instantly. Another tried to slash at his side, but Ashe simply absorbed the blow. In return, he unleashed Rupture of the Damned—an explosion of damned energy that tore through the remaining knights like a storm of chaos.

The cavern around him shook violently as the shockwave from the explosion spread, leaving nothing but broken bodies and scorched earth in its wake.

The air turned thick with the stench of death as the landscape itself seemed to recoil from the destruction he had caused.

But Asher wasn't finished. The final wave of enemies emerged: A Wraith Lord followed by his subordinates, the true guardians of the 6th floor, with the Wraith Lord being over 8 feet tall.

Their bodies were armored in jet-black iron and they wielded weapons of pure darkness, their eyes glowing with a cold, unyielding fury. These enemies didn't rely on brute strength alone—they were strategic, using the terrain and their numbers to their advantage.

Asher clenched his fists, feeling the darkness around him pulse. He activated Power of Fallen Souls, channeling Ghoroq's power. Without wasting another second he opened his mouth wide to unleash his Cursed Flame Breath, engulfing the guardians in a maelstrom of destruction.

They tried to fight back, but nothing could withstand his assault. The flames burned through them, leaving only charred remains in their wake. One by one, the wraiths including their lord fell until nothing but smoldering ash remained, the ground blackened from the intensity of his attack.

The cavern grew still, the echoes of battle fading into the silence. Asher stood alone, spent but unharmed, his Hellbringer form still blazing with dark green flames.
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The floor was cracked beneath him, and the walls were scarred from the devastation he had wrought. It was a scene of destruction—but it was his victory.

With a deep breath, Asher reverted back to his original form, his body still emanating the faint glow of his dark power, "Finally…I am done here…"

Asher knew the 7th floor was remaining and the most dangerous one with potentially the best rewards while the floors from 2nd to 6th were just filler floors.

But it was not a risk he could afford to take now.

However, suddenly, he felt something resting in both his palms. It was the rewards from both the floors.

He looked down at the two items he had received: a jagged black headpiece and a dagger with an eerie purple blade and dark handle. These two didn't look or feel special, souring his mood.

[ +350 Talent Points ]

[ +400 Skill Points ]

Though the amount of Talent and Skill points he received wasn't too bad. He did need them to level up his Skills and Talents that desperately needed to be stronger.

Yet with a sense of exhaustion and frustration, Asher held the headpiece in his hands and examined it closely.

The details of the item appeared in his mind as if the very essence of the crown imprinted itself into his consciousness. His brow furrowed as the information about the headpiece unfolded.

—

[Item Name: Wraithlord's Crown | Enhanceable]

Grants you some dominance over souls long gone, providing you with knowledge or secrets from beyond the land of the living.

[Level: 34]

[Durability - Lasts as long as you transfer your mana]

[Grade: Legendary]

—

Asher raised one of his brows, his expression skeptical. He couldn't help but feel disappointed. Dominance over souls long gone? He thought. It's not as if I need to talk to the dead right now. I have enough problems alive to deal with.

Still, it was a Legendary item, which gave him some pause. But in his current situation, it didn't seem to offer much utility. With a sigh, he turned his attention to the next item—the dagger, which had an unnerving aura to it upon taking a second look.

—

[Item Name: Gatekeeper's Key]

A Key to seal that shouldn't be unsealed...

[Level: ???]

[Durability - ???]

[Grade: ???]

—

"What the fuck..." Asher muttered under his breath, staring at the dagger.

It wasn't even sharp, the blade having an odd, almost dull hue to it. His frustration deepened, and a surge of disbelief washed over him. The trial had been easy but time-consuming, and the rewards felt almost... mocking.

He stared at the dagger, wondering if it even had any practical use. There was no level or durability information available, and the description was cryptic at best. Even though, he knew it was probably special in some way due to the unknown grade and level, his heart sank since this wasn't what he wanted now. Why would the Tower of Hell give him these things at such a desperate time?

"Do not feel disappointed, Your Majesty."

Before he could further stew in his frustration, a voice broke through the stillness of his thoughts as the hellish surroundings faded away until he found himself standing in a dark hall.

Asher's head snapped up, and his gaze landed on a familiar figure—an old man, his long white beard flowing neatly as always. Duncan stood before him, his hands behind his back, a quiet presence in the midst of the disappointment he was feeling.

Asher couldn't hide the annoyance in his voice as he replied, "How can I not feel disappointed after getting these rewards? It's like a joke."

Duncan offered a small, knowing nod, "Did you know that the tower doesn't always reward the same thing to those who enter these trials? It rewards you with what you would need the most. It just might not be at this moment, but that moment will come one day."

Asher frowned, still skeptical, "But like you said, that moment isn't now. I need something useful now, not later."

Duncan's expression softened, his tone gentle but firm, "In time, Your Majesty. What you receive today might be for a battle you will face tomorrow. You can't know everything all at once, but trust that what you hold now will be significant when the time comes."

Asher remained silent for a moment, knowing Duncan wouldn't say such words without a reason though it did little to ease his frustration and disappointment.

"I understand," Asher muttered, steeling himself, "But right now, I have to get back. Our kingdom is in danger, and I need to think of something before it's too late."