bookpower Chapter 192 Daniel's Hatred, A Weird Offer from the Hatred Demon
Chapter 192 Daniel's Hatred, A Weird Offer from the Hatred Demon
The world around Daniel dimmed as his HP bar hit zero.
His final breath came out as a sharp gasp, his avatar frozen in a grotesque position for a split second before it shattered into countless particles of light.
The remnants of his figure hung in the air for a moment, then scattered into the void, leaving nothing but an eerie silence in the wake of his demise.
[You have been killed by FateBreaker.]
The notification burned across his vision.
He clenched his fists, rage seething beneath his composed exterior.
Usually, every time Daniel had been killed by FateBreaker, he would simply vanish out of the game then appear back in the real world in the place he was in before.
In fact, he planned for that to happen as it would allow him to immediately call the people he was associated with to inform them about his sister's treason, and about the [Stardust] family acting out of line.
Even if it was his father, sister or whoever, if they stopped him, he would get rid of them.
But this time, something was wrong.
Instead of waking in his room, he remained in a black void.
Endless and consuming, the emptiness stretched infinitely in every direction.
A single panel floated in the darkness, its glowing text the only source of light.
[But it would be too easy at this point, wouldn't it, Daniel?]
"What the hell?" His voice echoed unnaturally in the void.
Panic crept into his thoughts.
This wasn't normal. Death in Universal Descent had its rules, and this... this wasn't part of them.
Seconds passed. The panel faded, replaced by another.
[How about we have a deal?]
A deep, guttural laugh resonated through the void.
Daniel spun around, searching for its source.
Far in the distance, something began to materialize.
Crimson light pulsed faintly at first, growing brighter as it took shape. It loomed larger and larger, until the silhouette of a monstrous figure emerged.
Its form was unmistakably demonic, hulking and grotesque, with jagged horns spiraling from its head, an elongated tail swaying menacingly behind it, and claws that could rip through steel.
The body, however, wasn't flesh and blood; it was formed entirely of a shimmering crimson aura, swirling like fire contained within the shape of a nightmare.
The void itself seemed to quake in its presence.
[Your hatred is commendable.] The demon's voice was a low rumble, dripping with malice. [I like it.]
Daniel took a cautious step back. "What the hell are you-?"
The demon raised its massive hand, clenching it into a fist.
The pain was unbearable, but beneath it, he felt something else, power.
It surged within him, dark and unrelenting, fueling his hatred and amplifying his strength.
The demon's voice echoed in his mind.
[Do you feel it, Daniel? This is just the beginning. Accept me, and I will make you unstoppable.]
Through gritted teeth, Daniel forced out his response. "What... do I have to do?"
The demon's grin widened.
[Simple. Serve me. Carry out my will in this world, and I will grant you the power to achieve your every desire. Refuse, and...]
Another panel appeared in front of Daniel.
[Failure to follow my commands will allow the demon to crush your soul, instantly killing you.]
He stared at the panel, his breath ragged.
This was a pact with a devil, one that would bind him to an uncertain fate.
But the alternative? Returning to the world as the same powerless failure, forever overshadowed by FateBreaker?
No. He wouldn't accept that. He couldn't.
"I accept," he said, his voice firm.
The demon's laughter rumbled once more, this time with satisfaction.
[Good. Very good.]
The crimson aura around Daniel intensified, spiraling into his chest.
It consumed him entirely, its searing heat merging with his soul.
He fell to his knees, clutching his chest as the transformation completed.
When he finally looked up, his eyes burned with the same crimson glow as the demon's, the creature seemingly having seeped into his very soul.
What he had done wasn't a curse like the [Undead King Curse], but a pact.
It was an entirely different thing.
[Your soul has been linked with the Hatred Demon.]
The demon's form began to fade more and more, its voice lingering in the void.
[Remember, Daniel. This power comes with a price. Fail me, and your soul is mine.]
As the void around him dissolved, Daniel found himself standing once more in the real world, the glow of the demon's power still faintly visible beneath his skin.
He clenched his fists, a sinister smile forming on his lips.
This time, he wouldn't lose.
This time, FateBreaker would fall.