CHAPTER 182: DREKNAR’S FAVOR PART 2

[Class Skills:]

[Active Skill: Demonhand]

[Transform your hand into a massive demonic claw. Damage is determined by Strength × 3 + Magic × 2]

[Active Skill: Abyssal Steps]

[Teleport to any location within 10 meters]

[Passive Skill: Demon Mastery]

[Increase damage with all demon-based skills by 20%]

[Passive Skill: Fear]

[Any enemy within 15 meters has a chance to be inflicted with Fear status. Weaker enemies have a stronger chance. Enemies with Fear status take 30% more damage. Base chance: 15%]

[Ultimate Skill: Infernal Conversion]

[Convert all Magic stat points into Strength at a ratio of 1:1.5. Strength increased by 25%. Agility increased by 25%. Fear status chance increased by 15%. All physical damage doubled. Duration: 60 seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes.]

Jack stared at the skill list.

’A demon based class. Not what I expect at all.’

The Demonhand skill alone would turn him into a close-combat monster, and Abyssal Steps would give him more options for closing the gap.

But it was the ultimate skill that truly caught his attention.

Infernal Conversion would temporarily turn him into a pure physical powerhouse, converting every point of his magic stat into even more strength. Combined with the damage multipliers and stat increases, he’d become something truly terrifying for a full minute.

’This is what I needed,’ Jack thought, feeling something like relief wash through him. ’This is the power that will keep me alive.’

The demon god stared back, his expression shifting to something like amusement mixed with annoyance. Several seconds passed in silence, the only sound the crackling of black flames in the lanterns.

"Are you going to keep staring at me like a lost puppy, or do you have something to say?" Dreknar’s voice carried a sharp edge of irritation.

Jack remained silent, still processing the new abilities flowing through him.

"Typical mortal," Dreknar muttered, leaning back in his throne with exaggerated exasperation. "I grant you power beyond your wildest dreams and all I get is awkward staring." He waved one massive hand dismissively. "At least pretend to be grateful, little lamb."

"It’s useful." Jack said.

Jack had expected this. One task wouldn’t be enough to satisfy a god, especially not for something as significant as controlling his demonic transformation.

"What’s the second task?" Jack asked.

Dreknar’s smile became predatory. He gestured at the space where the two hearts had been consumed.

"Eat them," the demon god said simply.

Jack blinked. "What?"

"Those hearts you brought me. The ones I just absorbed." Dreknar’s tone was casual, as if he was suggesting something perfectly reasonable. "I want you to consume them. Let their essence flow into you. Add their power to your own."

"But you already..." Jack started, confusion evident in his voice.

"I absorbed their power, yes," Dreknar interrupted. "But the essence remains. I can reconstitute them for you to consume. Consider it a gift." His grin widened. "Or consider it a test. Let’s see if the little lamb has the stomach to eat hearts right in front of a god."

[DING!]

[New Quest: Dreknar’s Favor Part 2]

[Objective: Consume both of Vok’thar’s hearts]

[Reward: +20 Stat Points]

Jack stared at the notification, then at Dreknar’s expectant expression.

The demon god was testing him. Not his strength or his combat ability, but his willingness to commit fully to the path he’d chosen.

To prove he’d do whatever was necessary to survive and grow stronger.

’I’ve already killed him,’ Jack thought, his internal voice calm despite the weight of what he was about to do. ’I’ve already ripped his hearts out. Eating them now is just what’s best.’

"Yes," Jack said.

Dreknar laughed, clearly pleased. He raised one massive hand, and black flames erupted from his palm.

They swirled and coalesced, reforming into solid shapes. Two hearts, identical to the ones Jack had presented, dripping with fresh blood and pulsing with demonic essence.

The demon god held them out.

"Then eat, little lamb. Show me your commitment."

Jack took the first heart without hesitation. The organ was warm in his hands, blood running between his fingers. He raised it to his mouth and bit down.

The taste was familiar now, becoming sweet.

But this heart was different from the others he’d consumed. Stronger. More potent. The demonic essence flooding into him was concentrated.

Jack consumed the entire heart in four bites, swallowing quickly, feeling the power flow through his system.

His demonic essence pulsed wildly, absorbing the new influx, integrating it into what he was becoming.

[Consuming Demon Heart]

[+10 Demonic Essence]

[Current Demonic Essence: 84/100]

Before the notification could fully fade, Jack grabbed the second heart. He didn’t pause, didn’t hesitate, didn’t give himself time to think about what he was doing.

He just bit down and consumed it as efficiently as he had the first.

[Consuming Demon Heart]

[+10 Demonic Essence]

[Current Demonic Essence: 94/100]

[DING!]

[Quest Complete: Dreknar’s Favor Part 2]

[Objective: Consume both of Vok’thar’s hearts - COMPLETE]

[Reward: +40 Stat Points]

[Current Unallocated Stat Points: 73]

Jack dismissed the notifications, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. He looked up at Dreknar, meeting those burning green eyes with his own yellow gaze.

"Done," Jack said simply.

Dreknar’s expression was one of genuine satisfaction. He settled back into his throne, that predatory grin never leaving his face.

"No hesitation," the demon god observed, his voice carrying approval. "No moral crisis. No dramatic internal struggle." He laughed again, shorter this time but no less amused. "You just did it. Practical. Efficient. Ruthless."

He leaned forward, studying Jack with renewed interest.

"You remind me of myself, little lamb. Before I became what I am now." His tone shifted, becoming almost contemplative. "I was mortal once. Did you know that? Centuries ago, before I ascended to godhood. I was weak. Pathetic. Prey for everything stronger than me."

Jack’s eyes widened slightly. He’d heard from the system that he was human before.

But it’s always a little different hearing it from the source.

"I made a choice," Dreknar continued, his green flames burning brighter. "To survive, I had to become something more. Something stronger. Something that would never be prey again."

His smile became sharp. "I severed myself from what I was. Consumed power that should have killed me. Transformed into something that could stand against the monsters that had once hunted me."

He gestured at Jack with one massive hand.

"You’re making the same choice. Step by step. Heart by heart. You’re cutting away your humanity to survive in a world that would devour you otherwise." His grin widened. "I approve."

Jack didn’t respond. What could he say? Dreknar was right.

Every heart he consumed, every demon he killed, every ruthless decision he made, all of it was pushing him further from what he’d been and closer to something new.

Something that could survive the tower’s depths.

’Is that such a bad thing?’ Jack wondered, the thought carrying less emotion than it should have. ’If being human means being weak, being prey, being dead... maybe being something else is better.’

Dreknar watched the thoughts play across Jack’s face, that knowing smile never fading.

"Now then," the demon god said, his tone shifting back to business. "You’ve completed two tasks admirably. Three more remain before you earn my full blessing and the control over your transformation that you seek."

He stood from his throne, his massive form rising to its full height.

The movement made the chamber feel smaller, the shadows deeper. Those green flames fixed on Jack with an intensity that made his demonic essence pulse in response.

"For your third task..."