The dungeon was silent.
Too silent.
As if everything inside it… was holding its breath.
Arka stood before the corpse of the corrupted boss.
Its massive body lay still.
But the air around it—
Was unstable.
Distorted.
Beside him, Lyra didn't move.
Her eyes were locked on the screen hovering in front of Arka.
[Skill: Devour (Unique)]
"…You're really going to use that?" she asked.
Arka didn't look back.
"…Why not?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"That thing… wasn't normal," Lyra continued.
"…If you absorb it, there's no telling what will happen."
Silence.
Then—
Arka smiled faintly.
"…Good."
He stepped forward.
Closer.
Closer—
Until he stood right beside the corpse.
[Devour Activated]
The moment his hand touched it—
Everything changed.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A violent surge of energy exploded outward.
"—!!"
Lyra jumped back instantly.
"What the hell—?!"
The corpse began to dissolve.
Not rot.
Not decay.
Disintegrate.
Into dark particles.
And all of it—
Was being pulled into Arka.
"AAAAARGH—!!!"
Pain.
Far beyond anything before.
His body trembled violently.
Veins bulging.
Eyes glowing.
It felt like something foreign—
Was forcing its way inside him.
Breaking him.
Rewriting him.
[ERROR… ERROR…]Foreign Data Detected
Arka dropped to his knees.
His breathing shattered.
"STOP—!"
But the system didn't listen.
[Assimilation in Progress… 12%]
Fragments flashed through his mind.
A battlefield.
Blood.
Countless deaths.
A voice—
Distorted.
"CONSUME…"
"—SHUT UP!!"
Arka slammed his fist into the ground.
Cracks spread instantly.
His aura—
Exploded.
[Blood Predator – Overdrive]
"…If you're coming into MY body—"
His voice dropped.
Cold.
Dominant.
"—then you follow MY rules."
The energy surged again.
Violent.
Chaotic.
But this time—
It stopped resisting.
[Assimilation… 47% → 83% → 100%]
Silence.
Then—
A pulse.
Deep.
Heavy.
Arka slowly stood up.
His body—
Changed.
Not physically obvious.
But—
Different.
Denser.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
[Devour Complete]
Lyra stared at him.
"…What are you?"
Arka didn't answer.
He looked at his hand.
Then—
Clenched it.
BOOM!!
The air around him cracked.
"…So this is Devour."
A new screen appeared.
[Stats Increased Permanently]Strength +15Endurance +20Speed +10
[New Trait Acquired]Corrupted Resistance (High)
Lyra took a step back.
Unconsciously.
"…That's not growth anymore."
"…That's evolution."
Arka glanced at her.
"…You scared?"
She paused.
Then smirked.
"…A little."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
A sharp sound echoed.
From above.
[Emergency Alert]Multiple Hunter Units Approaching
Lyra's expression changed.
"…Damn."
Arka frowned.
"…More of your guild?"
"…Not just mine."
Footsteps.
Many.
Heavy.
From multiple directions.
"Crimson Fang… Ironclad… even Night Raven…"
Lyra exhaled slowly.
"…You're in trouble."
Arka smiled.
"…Or they are."
The corridor lit up.
Dozens of hunters appeared.
Weapons ready.
Skills activated.
All eyes—
Locked onto one person.
Arka.
A man stepped forward.
"…Arka."
"…You are now classified as—"
He paused.
Then—
"—An Irregular Threat."
Silence.
"Come quietly."
"…Or we eliminate you here."
The air froze.
Tension.
Killing intent.
From all sides.
Lyra glanced at Arka.
"…This is bad."
Arka stepped forward.
Calm.
Relaxed.
Too relaxed.
"…You all came together…"
He looked at them.
One by one.
"…just for me?"
A slow smile appeared.
Cold.
Excited.
"…Then don't disappoint."
[Blood Predator – Active]
The aura exploded.
Darker than before.
Heavier.
Like a monster—
Finally revealing itself.
The hunters froze.
For just a second.
But that—
Was enough.
"Run."
Lyra whispered.
But Arka—
Didn't move back.
He moved forward.
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 9