Demon Tamer's Ascension-Chapter 17: The Truth

Alex blinked twice before responding, "I knew there was something suspicious, but you should’ve told me this news earlier. Why didn’t you?"

Victor exhaled calmly, "I had to shut off. Stay silent and non-existent, so they couldn’t sense your Demon Core. Because, if that were the case, they would have been on your case and relentlessly attack you until you die."

"So, would that mean Miro and that head Priest are in contact with each other?" Alex asked, curious.

"I can’t really tell for sure, but there’s something very clear. During the time of their meeting, when signing up, both of their Demonic cores were apparent, and either one of them would be able to sense each other’s aura." Victor responded, inhaling again.

None of them was frightened, but they were worried. Not for themselves, but for Ashtar itself. And clearly, this could only mean one thing...

Demons have infiltrated Ashtar.

"How was it possible that he made Cassie forget everything? And cancel the skill I implemented onto his entire existence?"

"Well, that’s something I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to. I’m not actually sure, but it has to be an ability, because no skill could ever do that." Then, he added, "And, one thing you have to remember. We aren’t the only ones able to create a Demonic Contract. It can happen with any human or demon."

Alex backed up against the soft pillow, then Victor murmured the following.

"How are we going to deal with them?"

"As of right now, we can’t," Alex replied, his tone and demeanor darkened, "Both of them have collected better status and merit than us; the governors will take their side over ours any day. But, there’s something we could do, not involving the Priest, only Miro."

"What may that be?"

"I’ll expose him inside the academy, without exposing you, of course," Alex stated, confident.

"But," Victor paused, then Alex cut him off shortly after.

"Don’t worry," he responded, "I have just the idea. And it’ll be during the tournament."

"Tournament?" Victor asked, surprised.

"The academy holds one every year to measure the most powerful among all the students. Those who come out on top will earn a special place inside the tournament held by the governors, which includes both the Beast-Tamers and Demons." Alex stated.

Victor already knew this information, well, only the second part at least.

"Ah, I see. So, you decide who to send through another tournament? For us, it’s simple, we measure based on energy levels."

"We go based on battle intelligence as well, because pure strength doesn’t always win fights," he whispered, calmly.

"So, Victor, do those other Demon-Tamers get to evolve the same way I do?"

"Frankly, yes." Then, Victor exhaled calmly before continuing, "But. Unlike our bond, theirs is simply one-sided. Once the Demon residing within them gets what they want, they’re going to take over the user’s body, and finally become what they were."

"So, does that mean you can take over my soul as well?" Alex asked, smiling.

"No. It violates rule number two. Unlike us, they never signed a contract. Think of it like the difference between a marriage and simple dating. Because their bond isn’t as strong as ours, their evolution is far more restricted."

"Oh, I see where you’re getting at," Alex added, "Their bond can be broken by anyone, much like when two people are only dating. But marriage cannot be torn apart so easily; it runs far deeper. In the same way, to evolve a bond and pursue greater growth, complete commitment is required."

"Exactly," Victor sneered, "Good catch."

"Thank you."

Then, Alex focused, calling out the following, "Status."

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[Current Level]

[Level 1]

[EXP: 0/100]

[Personal Rank]

└ F-Rank

[Tamer Rank]

└ Click Here To Open A New Tab!

[Hp: 100/100]

[DE: 20]

└ Demon Energy

[Fatigue: 0]

[State: Slightly Well]

[No System Points! Go On Quests To Earn Some!]

[Stats]

└ STR: F [●○○○○] → +

└ DEF: F [●○○○○] → +

└ AGI: F [●○○○○] → +

└ INT: F [●○○○○] → +

└ CHARM: F [●○○○○] → +

[DP: 0]

└ Demon Points

[Skills]

└ Sharp Claw

└ Smell

[Abilities]

└ None

[Marketplace!]

└ Click Here!

└ Uses The Same Currency For The Ability Shop!

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Alex realized he had two new skills as a result of taming his first-ever beast, Adoff. But he wanted to use it, test it out in battle, not simply that, but also test out how powerful Adoff really is.

So he can evolve him into a greater creature.

"Victor, any place I can use this?"

"Well, it’s been lying there all along, in each one of your mentions. You just decided not to mention it, not even once."

Alex sneered, "Oh, I see. Well then, let’s go."

A huge pause filled the air. Alex didn’t breathe and waited until he completely opened up his right palm.

"Quests."

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[Congratulations!]

[Quests Interface Unlocked!]

[Quests Available!]

[Side Note!]

└ Each quest you receive is designed to associate fairly with your individual rank.

[Refreshes: 24:00:00]

[Quests]

[Option 1]

[F-Rank Dungeon]

└ Moderate Level Quest

└ Information: Completely defeat an F-Rank dungeon

[Rewards]

└ +20 DE

└ +300 EXP

[Failure To Compete]

└ -20 DE

[Accept or Reject?]

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[Option 2]

[Commoner’s Request]

└ Easy Level Quest

└ Information: Accept and complete a request from a civilian in Beast-Fall Capital.

[Rewards]

└ +5 DE

└ +50 EXP

[Failure To Compete]

└ -5 DE

[Accept or Reject?]

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[Option 3]

[Evolved Beast-Form]

└ Hard Level Quest

└ Information: Defeat 1/3 evolved beast-form of [Adoff] to earn his evolutionary pathways

[Rewards]

└ +1,500 EXP

└ [IronFang] Unlock This Evolutionary Pathway For [Adoff!]

└ +100 DE

[Failure To Compete]

└ Loses The Ability To Tame Adoff

[Accept or Reject?]

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[Rewards will be presented to the user upon completion of quests]

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Alex didn’t think much, "The easiest way I can just earn something would probably be a simple commoner’s request."

Then, he sneered, his grin widened, and Alex’s purple eyes darkened, "But, that’s how losers think."

Then, he got up from his bed, "Whatever happens, I’ll evolve faster than anyone."

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[Option 3 Accepted!]

[Evolved Beast-Form]

└ Hard Level Quest

└ Information: Defeat 1/3 evolved beast-form of [Adoff] to earn his evolutionary pathways

└ Accepted!

[Rewards will be sent to the user upon completion of the quest]

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Alex looked down at his palms, realizing he wouldn’t be able to speak with Victor until after the completion of this quest he decided to take on.

"I’ll evolve."