The Damned Demon

However, Asher furrowed his brows, eyes narrowed in skepticism as frustration boiled beneath his controlled surface after thinking about it.

He clenched his jaw, voice edged with impatience, as he demanded clearly, “And how exactly am I supposed to become an immortal? I’ve maxed out my level, my rating points—hell, there’s not even a single damned thing in this system that hints at something beyond mortal limits.”

Skully’s voice remained eerily calm, the hollow resonance emphasizing his ancient nature, “Nobody ever said the path to immortality would be easy, nor is there any point in blindly trusting a system created solely for mortals. If immortality is what you seek, you must first face something as close to an immortal as possible.”

Asher’s brows knitted tighter, frustration mingling with confusion. “Face an immortal? There aren’t any immortals in this world—except maybe Aira out there somewhere, and her doppelganger that lost her way.”

Skully tilted his head slightly, shadows dancing over his skeletal visage as the magma within pulsed faintly. “You’ll understand clearly when the moment arrives—and it will arrive soon enough.”

A pang of anxiety gripped Asher’s heart as he pressed further, voice laced with reluctant dread. “Is it her doppleganger—the one you called the Time Wraith? Why is she massacring everyone? Even if she went completely insane, I still can’t bring myself to believe the Aira I loved could commit such atrocities.”

Skully’s voice lowered subtly, carrying a haunting yet unexpected sorrowful depth. “I cannot tell you for certain if she is the one you’ll face. But the Time Wraith is precisely what her name suggests—a ghost of time, intent on obliterating every timeline until there is nothing left but emptiness. She believes that’s the only way to break the cycle but don’t misunderstand her purpose as a way of her still caring about you. She is why you have died repeatedly on your path toward immortality. Even in the rare instances where you succeeded, she intervened, ensuring your suffering would resume. Mark my words—what you face is no longer Aira, but a heartless powerful creature driven solely by an insatiable hunger for destruction and death. Her soul has been completely ravaged by the cruelty of time.”

Asher’s confusion deepened, eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Wait—I’ve managed immortality before? But you just said becoming immortal was the solution.”

Skully nodded slowly, patiently clarifying, “Becoming immortal is merely the first step. Staying alive, surviving as one, is the second. Only an immortal can kill another immortal. If you die, the entire cycle restarts. Should this timeline perish along with you, everything repeats anew.”

Asher’s chest tightened with heavy realization, a new dread settling deep within him. He understood clearly now—becoming immortal wasn’t the end, but merely another brutal test. He would have to defend himself against an entity his existence had indirectly created, a twisted echo of someone he once loved deeply.

He didn’t know if he could that when she became like that because of him. He couldn’t help but hate himself for making so many souls suffer because of him while he did nothing to help them.

Silence filled the chamber momentarily before Asher slowly raised his gaze to Skully, eyes intense, sharp with suspicion and intrigue. “You’ve told me all this, given me answers I didn’t even know I needed—but you’ve never told me who you truly are. How did you get damned like this? Was it the Damned One itself who cursed you? That doesn’t make sense—why would you help me then? Who exactly were you before all this?”

Skully’s eerie eyes remained unreadable, flickering softly in thoughtful silence. Eventually, his hollow voice broke the tension, gentle but firm. “Who I am isn’t important right now. You need to leave immediately. The Derek of this timeline has already dispatched his forces to distract and stall the denizens of this world while preparing a power capable of annihilating this world entirely. I am sure you already knew this. You’ve died at his hands numerous times—never underestimate him, regardless of which variant you face.”

‘Variant?’

Asher clenched his fists tightly, the muscles of his jaw working furiously as he stepped back reluctantly, conceding Skully’s urgency. “This conversation isn’t over. But you’re right—I need to go now.”

Without another word, Asher turned sharply, his footsteps echoing resolutely against the stone as he exited the dark chamber, heart heavy and burdened with a destiny he barely understood.

—-

Meanwhile, outside the chamber, tensions simmered dangerously, a volatile storm held back only by Valeria’s icy, impenetrable presence. Lori’s serpentine body shifted restlessly, scales glistening dangerously in the dim torchlight as she hissed venomously toward Naida and Silvan, eyes blazing fiercely with murderous intent.

Rebecca paced beside her impatiently, her dark eyes narrowed sharply, barely suppressing her thirst for violence. Her voice dripped disdain, her scathing glare fixed unwaveringly on Naida. “You two traitors are really asking for it, aren’t you? I’m honestly stunned you’d willingly walk into death’s embrace.”

Naida stood quietly, expression serene yet deeply sad, gaze briefly lifting toward Rebecca before lowering gently. Silvan stood beside her, head bowed, fists clenched at his sides, clearly uncomfortable beneath Rebecca’s hate-filled glare.

Even if she wasn’t his real mother, he still called her one for all these years. Maybe it was his fault to expect anything.

Rebecca’s senses snapped suddenly as she felt a familiar presence—Asher had finally returned. Her demeanor shifted immediately, excitement sharpening her cruel smile as she shouted triumphantly, eyes flashing vindictively, “There you are! Look who dared to show their pathetic faces here!”

Lori swiftly surged upward, her coils stacking high as she loomed menacingly, voice sharp and eager. “Sssss, brat—give me jussst the word, and I’ll deliver a punisssshment hisssstory itssself will tremble to recall.”

But Asher said nothing. His footsteps were slow, deliberate, his gaze locked unwaveringly onto Naida’s quiet, sorrowful eyes. A complex storm of emotions brewed silently within his eyes.

Naida met his gaze briefly, eyes warm yet heavy with profound sorrow, before quickly lowering her gaze submissively, accepting whatever judgment he might deliver.

Rebecca practically shivered with anticipation, her sadistic grin widening cruelly. Her dark red eyes glowed eagerly as she awaited Asher’s verdict, fully expecting a lethal strike, at least a deadly slap to the face that would erase Naida’s existence.

But Asher simply paused silently before Naida. The silence stretched uncomfortably, the chamber stilling completely as tension thickened unbearably.

The tense silence shattered abruptly, surprising everyone as Asher suddenly stepped forward, reaching out to wrap his arm around Naida’s slender waist. In one swift, unhesitating motion, he pulled her close, enveloping her tightly in a fierce, heartfelt embrace.

Naida gasped softly, eyes widening in shock, her body trembling slightly against him. Yet as his head rested gently against her neck, warmth and sorrow radiating through him, her hesitation faded. He whispered against her skin, his voice thick with emotion and grief, “I am so sorry… I never knew…”

“What the…” Rebecca sputtered incredulously, eyes nearly bulging out of her skull. Lori recoiled slightly, mouth agape, her serpentine eyes wide with disbelief, wondering if this brat was under some wicked spell or something.

Both were utterly stunned, unable to process the unexpected intimacy between Asher and the woman they’d been moments away from tearing apart.

Naida’s initial shock quickly melted into deep tenderness. Her trembling hands slowly rose, gently wrapping around him in return, pulling him closer, letting herself find comfort and strength in his warmth, even if only for a moment. A sad yet gentle smile curved her lips as she whispered softly, reassuringly, “You never have to apologize, Asher. None of this is your fault.”

Asher shook his head slowly, regret shadowing his eyes as he leaned back just enough to meet her gaze. He stared into those gentle, sorrowful crimson eyes, feeling a profound pang of guilt rip through him. “It is my fault. I was too blind, too ignorant, too consumed by my own rage and grief to notice how deeply those around me were suffering, how much they were sacrificing. I should’ve sought answers, tried to understand the truth sooner… Everything terrible that happened was because of me.”

Naida gently cupped his face, her delicate fingers soothing against his cheek, her expression soft yet firm with resolve. “Asher, now isn’t the time to blame yourself. We must move quickly. Derek’s forces are already making their move. I know this is a lot to take in, but I used Silvan’s connections and resources to save as many lives as possible. He’s evacuated many to this place under my guidance and I was the one who put him up to this. I told Rowena and the others the truth—everything. It wasn’t easy for them to hear or accept, and even harder for me to burden them with this knowledge… But I couldn’t hide it anymore.”

“Hello?” Rebecca cut in sharply, incredulous disbelief painted clearly across her face as she stepped forward impatiently, hand outstretched toward them in confusion and frustration. “What the hell is going on here? Why is she still breathing—still alive?”

Asher slowly released Naida from his embrace, turning reluctantly toward Rebecca and Lori, exhaustion and sorrow etched deeply into his features. He released a heavy, weary sigh as he faced their bewildered expressions, his voice firm yet tinged with regret. “Rebecca, Lori… we have no time to waste arguing among ourselves. We need to move—now. Derek is mobilizing his forces as we speak. We must protect what’s left of our world. I promise I’ll explain everything on the way.”

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, yet she could see the urgency, the sincerity behind Asher’s eyes. Lori hissed softly, coils relaxing just slightly, her intense gaze flickering uncertainly toward Valeria, who remained silent and impassive, quietly observant.

“Fine,” Rebecca muttered reluctantly, folding her arms tightly with irritation, though her stance softened subtly in acceptance of Asher’s judgment. “But this better be a damn good explanation.”

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