Adder pushed off the witch, kicked off her body, and stabbed at another.
Puich!
-82
Another clean hit killed the second witch on the spot.
"No!"
By the time others came to their senses, he jumped into the ritual circle.
Ding!
[You have leveled up!]
[The ruler authority counters the minor corruption.]
[You have met all the requirements. Do you want to ascend to true dungeon master?]
Finally, the last piece. He controlled his heartbeat and turned to the old witch.
The old witch just started to laugh at him. "Haha, warrior, you saved me the trouble."
She slammed her palms on the ground. The instant four metal chains bound his limbs, stopping him in place.
Adder struggled to break free and shouted outside, "Help me!"
He only heard metal clashes from behind.
The witch gave him no time and shouted at the cave ceiling, "Red sky, accept my offering to you!" With that, she cut her palm.
As the blood trickled into the flame, the green flame turned black and doubled in size.
The witch walked to him and pulled the stack of metal cards from his pocket.
She smiled at him. "Good choice." Saying that, she threw the metal cards into the flame.
The prickling all over his body increased.
To his surprise, he saw the silver cards floating up in the black flame.
Suddenly, the shiny silver box popped open as four of his fingers flew next to the metal cards.
Ding!
[The red devil has started to examine the offering.]
The suffocating energy increased around him. The prickling turned to pain, as if someone was poking hot needles all over his body.
Adder just stared wide-eyed at the intense flame. It was so hot that all the metal cards had already melted into liquid, but his fingers remained unaffected.
The molten metal seeped into his fingers, turning all four of them black.
Ding!
[The red devil is delighted by the offering and has taken you as his vassal for his descent.]
The next moment, all four fingers flew back and dug into his left palm.
"Ahhh!"
The sizzling, cold pain made him clench hard as he writhed in pain.
Ding!
[The ruler's authority failed to counter.]
[Corruption has started mutating your body.]
[The devil has started descending into the world.]
The entire ceiling turned hazy red as if it were a portal to another world.
A stream of red, corrupt energy fell from the ceiling.
The concentrated corruption at his fingers rushed toward his palm, turning it completely black. Not stopping there, it started traveling up through his hand.
Multiple red strings fell from the ceiling, digging into his body, connecting him to the other side.
Ding!
[The red devil has started possessing you. Do you want to submit your body? (yes) Current possession: 10%.]
[Alert: Possession by a higher being will lead to permanent damage to the body. -25% stat decrease.]
Adder cursed as the energy already climbed up to his shoulder.
The old witch slashed her other palm and frantically started shouting, "Red sky, red sky!"
All the young witches also split their palms and joined their master. "Red sky, red sky!"
Adder stared wide-eyed as the red strings became thicker by absorbing the witches' blood.
The rate of corruption skyrocketed, almost reaching his heart.
Dropping all the act, Adder glanced at the mastermind and saw the saint had no intention of stopping it.
It was the same for her partner and the others, who were busy struggling against the duo.
Enduring the pain, he took a deep breath as his entire lower body had already turned black.
Ding!
[The red devil has possessed half of you. Do you want to submit your body? (yes) Current possession: 50%.]
This time, he just smiled at the old witch and mumbled, "Yes."
As if all resistance vanished, the entire cave ceiling turned back to normal as a bright red string dug into his body, wrapping all around him, almost reaching up to his neck.
[Impressed by your submission of body, the red devil demands that you submit your mind and power to him.
In return, he offers you the special worship position: The Corrupt One.
Current possession: 90%.]
Ding!
[You have met the key for your class transformation. Do you want to forsake the ruler's authority?
Alert: The class changes will be irreversible.]
Adder just smiled as the last bit of red string entered his body. "Got you," he mumbled. "Ascend."
It was as if time froze.
Ding!
[Checking the ascension requirements:
-> Reached level 10. (met)
-> Developed all the dungeon floors. (met)
-> Completed one in-game task. (met) ]
[You have satisfied all the conditions to be a true dungeon master.]
[Adjusting to the position of true dungeon master.]
The corruption froze, and suddenly his entire body flashed in dark purple light.
Ding!
[Congratulations to player Adder for gaining the acknowledgment to be the true dungeon master.]
Ding!
[You have gained skill 'One with poison.']
[One with poison (passive): allows you to purify every kind of poison into nutrition.]
Ding!
[Poison of corruption detected. Purification has started.]
[Poison of life blood detected. Purification has started.]
[+2, +3, +3, +2…]
The very instant, a haze of green energy gathered around his neck and began to deal with the dark, corrupt energy and the red veins.
"Ahhh! Stop!" The old witch screamed as a stream of blood was sucked out of her body.
Though this time, it was not the same for the young witches.
[The ruler authority counters the major corruption.]
The corrupt energy instantly concentrated back into his fingers, the same with all the red strings.
Suddenly, the entire cave began to shake, and a small section turned red.
[The enraged red devil has decided to pull out his proposal, creating permanent enmity between you.]
Unbothered, he focused on his fingers as a mixture of black and white liquid poured out of them.
Adder saw them transforming back into the 4 cards.
A stream of red strings followed after them, wrapping all the cards in a cocoon. All four of them vibrated at super speed.
Just as the final bit of red string was about to rush out of his hand—
Ding!
[Congratulations, the red devil has descended into the world!]
The chains wrapping around him went loose. He did not get to breathe when a sharp pain shot through his back.
Puich!
[20 health]
He heard a loud shout, "Now!" as a hand wrapped in a white robe reached for the 4 card cocoons.
Adder pulled his hand back. "Bitch."
The card cocoon slipped just inches away from her hand as it dropped into his palm.
The vibration of the cards almost tore off his shoulder.
Ding!
[You have gained a Devil-infected key. Do you want to use it?
Warning: …]
The male mastermind pulled the blade to stab again.
[10 health]
The saint slashed at his neck as he uttered, "Use it."
Boom!
The very moment, a red barrier formed around him, blocking their attack.
[Key has been used, restricting outer interference.]