The intricate stone doors in front of the two adventurers just wouldn't budge no matter what.
"Woo?!" (Shocked!)
Moon Moon couldn't believe it. They were getting stopped by a door?! How was this even possible? Its master was super strong!
Jack touched the cold obstacle carefully, following its chicken patterns with its hands, all the way to a jewel embedded in the very middle. It was a dull ruby that didn't show any shine at all.
"Tch— This is a mana source, and it's totally empty." He sighed.
Moon Moon waved its paw, trying to dislodge it with its claws but without any success.
"We have to charge it…." Jack explained.
"Woo?!" (Charge it?! With mana?!)
The two shared a knowing glance. They were utterly tapped out. There it freaking was: the SPI stat check! Without mana, they couldn't use skills nor charge the gem.
"Woo…." (Would they have to turn back?!)
Jack prepared himself to grab that one chicken boss head as a catalyst. He could probably use it to open the door. He had barely taken it out that the demonic fog was gushing toward it to devour it.
But he suddenly had a flash of insight as he put it back in his inventory.
"Woo?!" (Puzzled)
"I've just thought of something. Normally there would be 0% chance for this to succeed, but the circumstances are special…."
Jack gave a cryptic smile as he glanced at the demonic energy surrounding them. Then he turned toward the ever so annoying FML. But this time, he was actually grateful for their ghostly presence.
"Moon Moon. Every time something bad happens, don't get fixated on the trouble. Nope, instead, you want to look for an opportunity, even when you think there are." Jack chuckled.
"Woo?!" (Puzzled nodding!)
That's when Jack sat right in front of the archaic-looking door. At this moment, he didn't want to have any trace of mana in his body. Instead of trying to ignore the FML's song, he embraced it.
He took a deep breath, making the demonic energy circulate in his lungs. He felt it corrupt his body. Even with his new resistance, he felt it try to dominate his soul, to transform him into a monstrosity.
This was why Demonic Energy was one of the best catalysts. It actively wanted you to evolve!— just in a very perverse way. The key was control: control over one's emotions and control over one's mind.
"Woo!" (Impressed!)
The little wolf wasn't sure what its master was doing, but it could feel his resolve. Whatever he was attempting would likely be dangerous. It sat near his body, acting as a silent guardian.
Monsters would have to pass over its dead wolf body if they wanted to harm him!!
The seconds turned into minutes and the minutes into eternity.
Jack's current endeavor could be summarized in one word: insanity.
His goal was something completely crazy that would have dubbed one a heretic in any mage's eyes. It was a technique that belonged to the demonic path, after all.
Trying something so nuts while being so weak?! Did he have a freaking death wish?! It required an incredible mastery of mana as well as demonic energy!!
At this moment, his eyes were glossy as he dived deep into his memories. He had never used demonic energy before today. But even then, he knew it very well.
He knew it as well as one would an old friend. After all, he had fought so many demonic users over the years. He had felt the corruption affecting them back then and also their greed for power.
He had felt it so vividly as they tried to resist him only to fail atrociously.
He had always been the one towering above their defeated grotesque bodies after they inevitably used forbidden techniques to try and reverse the fight.
Over time, the old him had become the nightmare of the demonic players. Apparently, his gentle smile had haunted many of them, not that it mattered.
Ironically the Herald of Light had delved deep into the abyss to understand it, and he had used the knowledge to eradicate his enemies.
This knowledge was now paying. But, he didn't need just knowledge. He needed a strong desire if he wanted to succeed.
He let himself be overcome by the monster called ambition. He wholeheartedly embraced it at that moment.
He was done being the Herald of Light. He was now the Demon King of New Leaf…no, the Demon King of Infinite! As such, he needed power, way more power! Power enough to dominate, power sufficient to grasp his future!
"Muahahaha, come on! I need even more Demonic Energy! Just a tiny bit won't be enough!" He thundered, taunting the surrounding darkness.
Along with his shout, dark mana engulfed him, trying to devour him. he soon was akin to a caterpillar in a cocoon of darkness, a crackling one full of demonic energy.
Could anything emerging out of this even be pretty? Definitely not!
For a second, the world became silent. But then a very faint sound resounded. It was the murmur of a flame, one that wanted to devour the world as a whole.
Fiery magic enveloped Jack. His Fire Manipulation skill was working at full throttle!
"Woo?!" (How?!)
Jack gave a pained but triumphant smile.
Everything in this world came at a cost, and this fire was no exception.
People said that when a door closes, another opens. Only a mage who had lost all mana could use an…"alternative" fuel source.
This fire was literally his life.
[U-Used A Manaless Spell?!]
[Analyzing! Analyzing! Analyzing!]
[N-New Source of Power Detected?!]
[C-Congratulation! Learned Blood Magic?!]
[Acquired Title: "Mana? What's that? Can it be eaten?!"]
"Thanks, system." Jack calmly replied, amidst the incredible suffering.
Burning one's vitality was more painful than standing naked in a fire. It felt like his blood was getting turned into lava. His entire body, soul, and essence were burning with demonic fire.
The price for manaless magic was fucking steep!
Most went insane, unable to hold on under the incredible pain.
Some were scarred for life, forever losing the ability to use magic.
Others got addicted to the power. It was a slippery slope that led one to become a slave to their newfound abilities: the blood magic dominating its users.
There were a thousand reasons why one should never attempt to control this power. But, its attraction was as great as the demonic might it granted. It opened so many possibilities!
Inevitably, there would be fools attempting to learn it. The smart ones always had contingency plans if the dark energy proved to be more than they could handle. They did it all with extraordinary purposes in mind.
Well, almost all of them, for there was Jack. He slowly rose and turned his very life into fiery mana, sending it in the dull ruby. As it glowed a bright red, he gave a satisfied smile.
The mana spread from the jewel all over the engravings of reading chickens. Then as the entire door glowed red, it finally opened.
Jack had successfully learned incredibly evil forbidden magic to open a simple door.
It was time to see what had been sealed inside…
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[A/N] Interviewer: So why did you join the dark side? Jack'O: So there was that one door…. ^_^v
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