The cavern loomed before Damien, its cold, damp air carrying a faint echo of something like distant dripping water.
Six tunnels branched out ahead, each one dark and uninviting. Damien contemplated the paths, his mind turning over the best way to approach this daunting exploration.
He glanced back at the entrance to the cave, the only connection to the outside world, and an idea sparked in his mind.
“Let’s block it off,” he muttered. If anything decided to come out of these tunnels, he didn’t want it escaping into the forest or, worse, following him.
With the captives already gone, safely delivered into Luton and Aquila’s care, Damien summoned Fenrir and Cerbe once more.
The Monstrous Wolf and the Three-Headed Hound appeared in bursts of light, their powerful forms radiating a potent aura that filled the space.
“Cerbe,” Damien commanded, pointing toward the rocky ceiling near the cavern’s entrance, “bring it down.”
Cerbe didn’t hesitate. Two of its three heads opened their jaws wide, glowing embers forming in the depths of their throats before erupting as massive fireballs.
Booooom!!
The blasts struck the ceiling with a deafening explosion, sending chunks of rock tumbling down.
The crash was loud, reverberating through the tunnels and shaking the ground under Damien’s feet. Dust and debris filled the air as the entrance was completely sealed off, buried under a mound of rubble.
Damien inspected the barrier. “Good,” he said, nodding in satisfaction. The only way out now was to destroy the blockade or dig through it—both of which would require immense effort or time. Neither of those was a problem for him, but for any potential threats, it would be a significant obstacle.
“Let’s get to work,” he said, turning toward the first tunnel. But before proceeding, he had another thought. A smile crept across his face as he called out, “Status.”
The familiar window materialized before him, glowing faintly in the dim light of the cavern.
««««««••••••»»»»»»
Name: Damien Terrace
Race: Human
Level: 69
Exp: 910/3270
Talent: E-Rank Summoner
Life Force: 8620/10150
Magic Essence: 1700/1910
Strength: 101 Agility: 98
Stamina: 101 Endurance: 101
Intelligence: 96
••••••••••
Skill: SSS-Ranked Summons
Subskills:-
Pact of Summons
Essence Devourer
Sensory Link
Essence Saving Mode
Transformation
•••••••••• Your journey continues at empire
Available summons: 4
««««««••••••»»»»»»
Damien scanned the information quickly, his eyes pausing on the (Transformation) Subskill he had unlocked recently but hadn’t yet used.
“I almost forgot about this,” he murmured, frowning slightly. The skill had intrigued him when he first saw it, but the chaos of his recent battles had left him with little time to experiment.
He turned to his summons, Fenrir standing stoically on his right and Cerbe growling lowly to his left. Both creatures exuded raw power, their forms majestic and fearsome. They would be perfect candidates for testing the Subskill.
“Let’s see what you’ll look like as a human,” Damien said, his gaze settling on Cerbe. “System, activate (Transformation) Subskill for Cerbe.”
The glowing panel updated immediately.
«Subskill (Transformation) activated for Cerbe!»
«Race Chosen for (Transformation): Human!»
«Cost: 40,000 units of Magic Essence, 1,000 Units of Life Force to forge a human form.»
Damien read through the requirements and let out a low whistle. “Forty thousand essence and a thousand life force, huh? Not cheap at all.” Despite the steep cost, he nodded, confirming his decision.
“First, convert half my Life Force into Magic Essence.” Damien ordered the system and in seconds, he saw the effect.
“Now, proceed with the transformation,” he said firmly.
The moment he gave the command, Cerbe’s body began to glow, its three heads throwing back in unison as their forms shimmered and contorted.
A swirling energy enveloped the hound, growing brighter with each passing second. Damien watched intently, eager to see the result.
~~~~~
Meanwhile, outside the cave, Aquila, Damien’s Griffin, was nearing Westmont. Its massive wings sliced through the air with powerful strokes, carrying Luton and the seven captives safely to their destination.
Rather than landing at the town’s gates, Aquila descended directly in front of the Mercenary Guild building, its sudden appearance sending a ripple of panic through the townsfolk.
The Griffin’s sharp eyes scanned the area, and its imposing form caused murmurs to spread quickly among the gathered crowd.
When the townspeople noticed that Damien wasn’t riding it, their unease grew. Instead of their usual confident summoner, a red, gelatinous slime wobbled atop the Griffin’s back, glinting faintly in the sunlight.
Just as the tension began to rise, the guild’s front doors opened, and a familiar figure stepped out—Arielle.
Her piercing gaze swept over the scene, quickly recognizing Aquila and the slime perched upon it. A small smile touched her lips. “Oh, you?” she said aloud, her tone soft but commanding.
The Stellar Slime reacted immediately, bouncing off Aquila’s back and landing gracefully in front of her.
It quivered momentarily before expanding its form and releasing the captives it had carried. The seven individuals, weak but unharmed, tumbled onto the cobblestone street.
Arielle crouched slightly, her hands resting on her knees as she regarded the slime fondly.
Luton hopped into her open palms, its texture cool and smooth as it pressed against her hands like a creature greeting an old friend. She rubbed it gently before turning her attention to the dazed group now sprawled before her.
The man who had led the group during their ordeal looked up, his eyes scanning his surroundings before settling on Arielle. “Excuse me,” he said hesitantly, his voice rough from days without proper water. “Do you… do you know anyone named Arielle?”
Arielle straightened, nodding. “That would be me.”
Relief flooded the man’s face, and he exhaled deeply. “Damien sent us,” he explained quickly. “He said you’d help us.”
Arielle’s expression softened, and she offered him a reassuring smile. “You’re in good hands now,” she said. “Let’s get you inside and taken care of.”
With that, she motioned for the guild staff to assist the weakened travelers, guiding them toward the building as murmurs from the crowd gradually quieted.
~~~~~
Back in the cavern, the transformation reached its peak. Cerbe’s form finally solidified, the glow fading to reveal a tall, imposing figure standing where the Three-Headed Hound had been moments before. Damien’s eyes widened slightly as he took in the result.
Cerbe now appeared fully human, with a strong, muscular build and an aura of undeniable power.
His dark hair was short and wild, and his piercing amber eyes glinted with a feral intensity that matched his previous form.
Though his appearance was human, an air of raw, animalistic energy clung to him, making it clear that this was no ordinary man.
Damien grinned. “Not bad,” he said, crossing his arms. “Let’s see what you’re capable of now.”
Cerbe’s new form turned toward Damien, a faint smirk playing on his lips as if accepting the challenge.