Chapter 44: Believer? I Refuse!
Chen Feng experienced a tremendous breakthrough—he had advanced to the Silver Realm!
His strength had increased significantly. Even without external aid, he could pierce through concrete walls with his bare hands.
Moreover, he had gained some abilities of the Balrog.
Transformation!
In battle, he could even transform into a new demonic form—a weakened version of the Balrog, complete with razor claws and a sword wreath in flames.
He could easily conceal his transformation ability, biding his time until the enemy was within reach, then strike without warning. The sheer shock and terror of an unsuspecting foe being impaled by his sword would be unimaginable.
Moreover, he had only just acquired this ability, and as his power increased, this transformation would become more refined. If he could reach the Legendary Realm, Chen Feng's transformation might even allow him to fully become a Balrog.
Demon wings, Horns of slaughter.
Chen Feng had yet to acquire these abilities.
"Vraal'kesh?"
The Balrog did not depart. Upon witnessing Chen Feng gain new abilities, it let out a piercing sound, tinged with disdain and reprimand.
Majestic.
It attempted to recruit Chen Feng as its follower.
The lords of the Abyss, aside from engaging in never-ending combat, loved to form factions.
Every day, thousands of worms were born, providing a fresh supply of blood to the Abyss. These worms evolved into new demons, continuing the relentless cycle of slaughter.
New life and relentless slaughter.
The unceasing battles in the Abyss made life incredibly fragile. Not even the Abyss Lords or evil gods were safe, as many would fall over time.
The Balrog needed to strengthen its forces.
Its ranks included Minotaurs, Dretches, elite worms, Succubi, and even some Shivas.
The Balrog's army was diverse, unlike the more rigid and extreme lords who only accepted demons. The Balrog didn't mind accepting human allegiance.
In fact, the more followers it had, the more opportunities it had for blood sacrifices. Like the Dark Elf's previous offerings, if Chen Feng pledged his faith, he could also offer the blood and corpses of monsters to the Balrog in exchange for power.
But if he made that choice, Chen Feng would forever be marked by the Balrog's brand.
Bound by life and death.
If the Balrog were to fall, Chen Feng would inevitably suffer the consequences.
What a joke...
Chen Feng didn't hesitate; he outright rejected the offer.
What is the Abyss?
Legends are as common as dogs, and Epics are everywhere.
If the Balrog were a being in the Mythic Realm, Chen Feng might have considered it. After all, being under the protection of a mythic entity would greatly increase his chances of survival in the apocalypse.
But what was the Balrog?
Just another so-called Legendary rank?
Hundreds of Abyss Lords fall each year; only fools would tie their fate to one of them.
The pride of the strong was not something to be trifled with. Being rejected by a mere 'ant' like Chen Feng enraged the Balrog. In the Abyss, bronze and silver realm creatures would never dare to defy its orders.
How dare this human!
The Balrog stood still, the flames around it growing fiercer. In an instant, a firestorm surged toward Chen Feng!
Transformation!
Chen Feng shifted forms.
As the flames made contact, his skin turned a deep red, but he felt no burning pain—just a slight warmth. The fire had no effect.
Flame body.
Chen Feng had developed some resistance to heat, similar to a fire-resilient hero template.
The Balrog couldn't act out of line. Bound by the rules, it couldn't directly attack Chen Feng. This was the main reason Chen Feng remained so calm.
"Krath'zul vorak!"
The Balrog roared, its flames intensifying until they turned a bright orange-red. It cast a deep, venomous gaze at Chen Feng. It had marked this human, and if given the chance, it would make him pay for his defiance.
It screamed at Chen Feng, its face melting like wax, leaving three black holes where its eyes and mouth had been. Still, it continued to roar!
"Rath'gorath!"
"Begone!"
Chen Feng raised his head and shouted sternly.
With a thunderous 'Bang!', the Balrog abruptly disappeared from the center of the field. Except for the smoldering corpses nearby, it was as if this Abyssal lord had never been there at all.
Chen Feng had severed the blood sacrifice, sending the Balrog back to the Abyss.
He could still hear faint whispers in Abyssal, filled with resentment and curses, though he couldn't understand them.
Although Chen Feng had rejected becoming a follower of the Balrog, his chest now bore the mark of its power. With this mark, even if he hid in the farthest reaches of the world, once the Balrog had the strength to tear through dimensions, it would find him.
When you gaze into the Abyss, the Abyss gazes back at you.
But there was no reason to worry.
The Apocalypse was a world where the strong devoured the weak. Every day brought new dangers. If Chen Feng spent his time fearing the Balrog's revenge, he might as well throw himself into a river and end it quickly.
A threat?
Chen Feng wasn't fazed.
Don't forget.
Aside from his transformation, Chen Feng's awakened ability was summoning. If he ever reached the Legendary Realm, he could use the mark on his chest to summon the Balrog from the Abyss and enslave it.
He touched the mark on his chest.
Chen Feng's gaze was contemplative.
A double-edged sword.
But for now, Chen Feng couldn't be bothered. In this dangerous world, the priority was to strengthen himself. Moreover, pressure breeds motivation. The Balrog was like a whip, pushing him forward. The thought of facing a Legendary enemy filled him with a thrilling sense of urgency.
The Dark Elf was still watching, stunned. She had been left speechless by the appearance of the Balrog and Chen Feng's subsequent promotion to the Silver level.
The Balrog's presence was overwhelming. Even its anger seemed tangible, and the Dark Elf, despite being far away, had felt a deep sense of despair.
But despite all that…
Her Master...
The man who had floored her with a single punch the first time they met, not only showed no fear, but had the audacity to roar back at the Balrog!
Madman!
Thinking back to how Chen Feng had faced off with the Balrog, the Dark Elf's eyes almost welled up. She looked at Chen Feng differently now. Initially, it was just the contract that bound her, and the fact that he had physically overpowered her. But now, he had dared to defy a legend. Unconsciously, the last of the Dark Elf's defiance crumbled away.
Chen Feng returned to his human form. The cold air pricked at his skin—his transformation had burned away all his clothes, leaving him stark naked.
"I just parted ways with Feng Zhiyong. If I go back to the main group now, it will raise suspicion..."
"While advancing to Silver doesn't mean I can walk unchallenged in the city, it's still a significant achievement in this land where most are cannon fodder. I can protect myself now."
"In this situation, I should focus on honing my combat skills. With so many monsters lurking around, I can use them as practice."
Chen Feng made his decision. Before seeking out Feng Zhiyong, he needed to improve his fighting techniques.
He found a clothing store, changed into something more casual, and continued on his way.
The dark city ruins lay silent, like a slumbering beast, quietly lurking under the moonlight.
Alas...
Soon, a sound drifted in on the wind, like a ghostly murmur, or perhaps the growl of a beast. At the corner of the ruins, a fat figure appeared.
A zombie?
An evolved zombie!
Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat, and his hand suddenly felt hot.
Flaming Sword.
He needed to prove his melee prowess in a one-on-one fight!
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
AbyssSummoner
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