Nero looked up.
{Ein Sof is not merely fuel for transformation. It is the foundation of all sorcery, all divination, all evil acts of blasphemy passed down by the Gryghori. The knowledge they sought to wield—magic, runes, and all manners of cursed enchantments—all of it draws upon the Ein Sof. As the Heretic continues to absorb this energy, he will eventually gain access to abilities beyond mere physical transformation}.
Nero's eyes widened slightly.
"Abilities, huh..."
{That information is currently sealed. The Heretic must acquire a thousand Seals of Sin before further details can be revealed}.
Nero let out a long breath.
"Of course."
He sat in silence for a moment, digesting everything he had learned.
Ein Sof. The infinite energy that connected all things. Once pure, now corrupted by the ambitions of some Fallen Angels. And now, he was destined to consume this corruption with every pound of defiled meat.
He was literally devouring the corruption of the world to maintain his humanity.
The irony was not lost on him.
"If there's anything else I should know, now will be a good time to say it." he said after a long stretch of silence
{Only this— The Heretic must consume corrupted flesh regularly to maintain his reserves. Additionally, the more the Heretic relies on Ein Sof, the more his body lusts for it}.
Nero's expression darkened.
"You're saying I could become reliant on it..."
{Eventually, yes. This is not a flaw in the Heretic's design. It is simply the nature of corruption. The truest of evils is what seeks the illusion of normalcy. A tainted poison that rots the soul}.
Nero closed his eyes.
"I understand."
The Oracle's rings glowed faintly, acknowledging his words.
He was still for a moment then spoke,
"I'll make use of my remaining requests to get Divine Elixirs."
The void began to fade once the transaction was completed.
Nero's consciousness rose back toward the surface, pulling him out of the infinite space and back into the cave.
His eyes opened.
The soft glow of the bioluminescent algae greeted him once more.
He stared at the ceiling for a long time, his mind heavy with his thoughts.
Rhe energy of the universe itself has corrupted by the ambitions of entities more powerful than he could fathom. Creatures and manifestations who sought to become gods.
And now, he was drinking from that same poisoned well.
"What a world," he whispered into the darkness.
Then he closed his eyes and let exhaustion take him.
***
When Nero woke, the cave was still dim. The bioluminescent algae pulsed with the same gentle rhythm as before, casting wavering shadows across the stone walls.
He sat up slowly, his body feeling... different. Not weaker. Not stronger either. Just different.
His blackened skin caught the faint light, the slight bumps and scales reflecting it in subtle ways. He flexed his fingers, watching his elongated claws gleam in the glow.
'This is me now.'
He had accepted that much at least.
Standing, he gathered his things. The Silver Blade rested against the wall where he had left it. The satchel containing his rations and the map sat nearby. He checked the contents quickly— the last meager portions of his rations, some water and alcohol, his fire starter, book, and a few other items.
He would need to hunt again today.
Not just for Seals of Sin, but for his flesh as well. And for Ein Sof.
His stomach growled.
'I'm hungry.'
A torrent of dark thoughts flitted through his mind. He let out a sigh and shook his head.
'I need to be smarter about this.'
The battle with the Pig Demon had been rather reckless so he couldn't afford mistakes like that again.
Nero picked up the Silver Blade and strapped it to his waist. Then he slung the satchel over his shoulder and made his way toward the mouth of the cave.
The morning air greeted him as he stepped outside. The sky was overcast as always, a blanket of grey clouds stretching endlessly above. The purple leaves of the Evergrowth trees swayed gently, almost eerily, in the breeze, their soft rustling like the chaotic hymnals of the damned.
He took a moment to scan his surroundings.
Then he began walking, keeping to the edge of the forest where the trees were sparser and the visibility better. He had thought about this carefully after waking up.
The deeper parts of the forest held stronger Abominations. Creatures that had been corrupted for longer, that had accumulated more power and madness over the years.
The closer he got to that center, the more danger he would encounter. The chances of him encountering an Abomination was also much larger.
The outer edges on the other hand, would have weaker creatures. Scavengers just like the Soul Amalgam that could only hunt wounded or destitute Abominations seeking shelter. Corrupted beasts that were still on the fringes of insanity and horror-inducing mutation. Things that were dangerous, yes, but manageable.
'I need to hunt efficiently. Kill weaker Abominations in greater numbers rather than risk everything on a single strong one.'
It made sense tactically. Ten weak creatures were worth the same as one strong one in terms of Seals, but the risk was far lower.
The black earth beneath his feet was soft and moist, muffling his footfalls. He kept his breathing steady and his senses sharp.
After walking for nearly an hour, he found what he was looking for.
A small clearing where several Evergrowth fruits had fallen and rotted into the ground. The sickly sweet smell hung in the air, drawing scavengers.
Nero crouched behind a thick tree trunk and waited.
It didn't take long.
The first creature emerged from the underbrush—a hunched, emaciated thing with pale, mottled skin and overly long limbs. Its face was stretched and malformed, jaw hanging loose as it sniffed the air. It moved on all fours, claws scraping against the earth as it approached the rotting fruit.
Nero watched it carefully.
M
He waited until the creature was fully focused on its meal, head lowered, guard down.
Then he shot forward.
Heavy footfalls cut through the silence like a sharp knife.
The Silver Blade came free of its sheath without a shrill ring. Nero closed the distance in three long strides, his blackened muscles coiling and releasing with terrifying efficiency.
The creature turned its head just as the blade came down.
It died without making a sound, the Silver Blade cleaving through its neck and spine in one clean stroke.
***
{Rejoice, Heretic. You have slain a Corrupted Scavenger}.
Seals of Sin: (23/1000).
***
Nero stood over the corpse, breathing steadily.
One down.
He wiped the blade clean on the grass then crouched beside the body.
It was time to get to work.