Capítulo 132: Devil's Dilemma: Confronting Chaos Within
'So, I can finally take this, huh?' Carl asked as he stared at the closed cup in his hands.
Inside of it, the remains of the phantom of the demon he had destroyed were visible. It was akin to smoke that was trapped inside the glass cup that looked similar to a jar but with some weird inscriptions engraved on it.
[ Yes, the remnant consciousness is completely gone, be warned that it still won't be that easy to consume all of it, even without any consciousness, the chaos that demons are made of is still present, so you will need to push through by force after taking it. ]
'Is there any risk?'
[ Of course, there is. ]
'Will you tell me what the risk is?' Carl asked as his lips slightly curved upwards while his brows furrowed in annoyance.
[ Certainly. ]
[ During the 'digesting' of the remnant powers, you can be influenced by the chaos of the demons, so you will need to hold steady and be firm in your belief so that you won't be changed after taking it. ]
[ After you complete the digestion of the power, for a short period of time, you will be a bit different, your emotions will be heightened. ]
[ You will get angry more easily, your lust will go up, and many things that wouldn't have annoyed you in the past will annoy you … ]
'And how long is that short period of time?'
[ It depends on the person, but anywhere from 10 to 24 hours, it will not be longer than 24 hours though. ]
'Alright, that isn't that bad.' Carl said as he sighed in relief before grabbing the cup and exhaling deeply.
He opened the lid, upon which the smoke inside the cup started coming out, but it didn't leave.
Carl's hands had already transformed into devil hands, and upon sensing his aura, the remnant power of the demon started slowly inching toward him.
He watched the smoke move toward him with interest. It truly looked like it was nothing more but regular smoke, but he could sense the power inside of it and knew that it was anything but normal smoke.
Carl opened his mouth as the system had told him before inhaling.
The smoke suddenly lunged at his open mouth, quickly moving to Carl as he inhaled all of the smoke that was present before closing his mouth and eyes and concentrating.
As Carl concentrated, he felt the chaotic energy of the demon's essence surging through him. It was like a tempest, a swirling vortex of darkness seeking to engulf his very being. Unseen forces tugged at the core of his consciousness, testing the resilience of his will.
Inside his mind, a tumultuous landscape unfolded. The remnants of the demon's consciousness, now without a distinct form, whispered insidious temptations. Voices echoed, urging Carl to succumb to the primal urges and chaotic desires that lurked within the essence he had willingly ingested.
It was a battle of the mind, a clash between the indomitable spirit of a devil and the remnants of a malevolent force. Carl gritted his teeth, resisting the corrosive influence that threatened to erode his sense of self.
Outside, Isabella had returned from the lab and was getting out of the car she had taken to the teleporter. Isabella, who just closed her car, noticed a sudden surge of evil energy in the air. The very air seemed charged with an ominous energy.
"Something's not right," Isabella muttered, her senses heightened by the frost-infused staff she wielded. She glanced at their apartment on top of the building before using her frost powers to quickly climb the outside of the building and enter the apartment. Upon entering, she glanced at Carl who appeared outwardly calm but radiated an aura that was distinctly different.
Meanwhile, within the recesses of Carl's mind, the chaotic forces intensified their assault. Visions of darkness, twisted desires, and glimpses of demonic realms flashed before his eyes. It was a maelstrom threatening to engulf him entirely.
[ Hold firm, Carl. Remember who you are. You are not a puppet to be controlled by chaos. ]
The system's voice echoed in Carl's mind, providing a lifeline in the tumultuous sea of demonic influence. Drawing upon the strength of his resolve, Carl fought back, asserting his own identity amidst the cacophony.
As the internal struggle continued, Carl's physical body exhibited subtle changes. His eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and the devilish markings on his skin pulsed with increased intensity. Isabella, sensing the shift, approached with caution.
"Carl, something's happening. What did you do?" Isabella questioned her frost-infused staff at the ready.
Carl, maintaining his composure, replied, "Just dealing with the aftermath of inhaling some demon power. Nothing to worry about."
Isabella, though skeptical, chose to focus on keeping the surroundings safe. The aura that was emanating from Carl was evil and she knew that if it lasted for long, the people living in the building might change, their personalities shifting.
She didn't know most of those living in the building, and she didn't care for them to be honest, but such a change would be investigated, and not only by the police, but thanks to the fact the entire world was now under threat of demonic invasion, and the HA and the VSA were slowly starting to work together, they might come here as well to investigate.
That could put Carl in danger. He had the powers of a devil, but he was human. The VSA already knew of his powers and as long as he showed that he could control it, they didn't mind it, but the HA would go crazy if they learned of that and would try their best to eliminate him quickly.
Back in Carl's mind, the struggle persisted. The whispers of temptation grew louder, attempting to exploit every vulnerability. Memories, fears, and desires intertwined with the chaotic forces, testing the limits of Carl's mental fortitude.
[ Slowly Carl, think of anything that you like, think of the people that you have formed a connection with, the ones you would never hurt or bring any harm to, and use that as an anchor so that you don't get lost in the chaos that is inside of you.]
As the system's guidance echoed in his mind, Carl clung to the memories of those he cherished. Faces of friends, moments of camaraderie, and the bond he shared with Isabella, Carla, and Angela became his anchor. The demonic chaos attempted to subvert these memories, twisting them into nightmarish visions, but Carl fought back with unwavering determination.
Isabella, observing the subtle changes in Carl's demeanor, sensed the internal struggle. The air in the apartment crackled with an otherworldly tension. She could feel the conflict raging within him, a battle that transcended the physical realm.
"I don't know what you're dealing with, Carl, but you can always ask for my help," Isabella stated firmly, her frost-infused staff ready for action.
Carl, still in the throes of an internal struggle, managed a reassuring smile. "I appreciate the concern, Isabella. This is something I have to do on my own."
The devilish markings on Carl's skin glowed with an ethereal light, casting an eerie ambiance in the room. Isabella hesitated, torn between intervening and respecting Carl's autonomy.
Inside his mind, Carl delved deeper into his memories, reinforcing his mental defenses. He visualized his old home, he thought of his mother and father back when they were all still together and when they were happy.
He thought of the friends he had when he was young, the rare instances where people were nice to him even after finding out who his father was, and moments similar to those. These images became shields against the corrosive influence of the demonic chaos.
[ Excellent, Carl. You are strengthening your mental barriers. Focus on the positive emotions, the connections that define who you are. ]
The system's encouragement fueled Carl's resistance. The demonic whispers, once menacing, began to recede as the internal tempest subsided. The chaotic forces now met with an impenetrable mental fortress, lost their grip on Carl's consciousness.
As Carl's internal battle reached its zenith, a burst of hellfire erupted from his form, illuminating the room with an infernal glow. The demonic essence, now transformed and assimilated, became a part of Carl's own Devil powers.
The chaos subsided, and Carl, his eyes returning to their normal state, exhaled a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. The devilish markings on his skin, while still present, emanated a subdued aura.
Outside, the apartment's atmosphere gradually returned to normal. The malevolent aura that had lingered dissipated, leaving only the faint echoes of the internal struggle that had taken place.
Isabella, noticing the shift, cautiously approached Carl. The devilish glow in his eyes had subsided, and the markings on his skin returned to a dormant state. He looked different, yet the essence of who he was remained unchanged.
"Whatever that was, it seems like you've got it under control," Isabella remarked, her frost-infused staff no longer at the ready.
Carl nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. "Yeah, it was a bit trickier than I expected, but it's done now. No harm done."
Status de energia semanal
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