My Monster-Derived Skills Are the True Power
Chapter 16: Eliminating the Biggest Hidden Danger

"Did you agree?" the Team Badge asked excitedly.

"Of course," Li Ye replied. "In this world, I can only rely on you, and you can only rely on me. If we work together, we both win. If you get devoured by the other two demonic energies, I won't survive either."

"That's true," the Team Badge admitted. "But you need to find a way to unlock my abilities quickly. The more you use me, the stronger I become."

Minimize the use of demonic artifacts. The more they are used, the easier it is to lose oneself.

The demon hunter's guidelines flashed through Li Ye's mind, stirring a sense of caution. Lose oneself?

Now that he knew the Team Badge had gained sentience, Li Ye had to consider a new possibility—could this "loss of self" actually mean being possessed by the artifact?

Think about it.

Demonic artifacts have significant limitations; they rely on their users to unleash their full potential. That’s why they aren’t as powerful as demons that have already possessed living beings.

But is it possible that the artifact, through gradual erosion by demonic energy, transfers itself into the user?

Instinctively, he trusted no one.

Still, the Team Badge gaining sentience had its advantages.

Li Ye asked, "Badge Bro, can you sense where the other two demonic energies are?"

"If they're close, I can," the Team Badge replied.

"Good to know." Li Ye nodded.

Though it couldn’t pinpoint their locations, this was still good news. At least if the enemies got close, the badge would sense it, giving Li Ye a chance to escape instead of blindly stumbling around like before.

D** it, you think you can trick me? Not a chance! One day, the Demon Suppression Tower will reclaim you...

This piece of junk should’ve stayed sealed forever.*

Li Ye muttered to himself internally. Since the Team Badge could communicate directly with his mind, he wanted to test whether his thoughts could be read. If they could, he'd be at a serious disadvantage.

After cursing the badge in his mind for a while, he noticed no response. Finally, he relaxed and asked, "Badge Bro, other demonic energies have possessed black bears or koi fish—why did you pick a lifeless object?"

"..." There was a long silence before the Team Badge replied, "Who the hell would want to possess a lifeless object? The seal on the Demon Suppression Tower exploded. It happened suddenly, and all the demonic energy was blasted out. When I regained consciousness, I was already stuck in this damned badge."

"Who forged the Demon Suppression Tower?" Li Ye asked.

This was an important question. The tower, which sealed all the demonic energies, couldn’t have appeared out of nowhere. He had to consider whether there really were godlike beings on Earth.

"I don’t know," the Team Badge replied. "I’ve told you, much of my memory is lost. Maybe once I grow stronger, I’ll remember the secrets behind it."

"There are only two demonic energies on this planet. Even if you devour them both, how strong can you really get?" Li Ye suddenly asked.

Casual conversations often reveal important details. Li Ye was probing the badge, trying to verify its claims.

His question was met with another long silence. Finally, the badge said, "I can also grow stronger through being used by you."

"This planet has so many people, yet using all of them wouldn’t help you grow as quickly as devouring other demonic energies, would it?" Li Ye chuckled.

More silence.

But Li Ye had already gleaned what he needed. The Team Badge seemed newly awakened and not entirely sharp yet. A faint smile appeared on his lips. "Badge Bro, I think you’re going about this the wrong way."

"How so?" the badge asked.

"I think you should pretend you haven’t regained sentience, then go back with me to the Demon Suppression Tower," Li Ye said.

"No way! I’m never going back under the tower’s control!" The Team Badge sounded furious.

"Badge Bro, hear me out," Li Ye replied with a grin. "If you pretend you haven’t awakened, you can return to the Demon Hunting Bureau with me. Once I submit my report, describing how useful you are, other Temporal Walkers will definitely choose to use you next time.

When that happens, you’ll go to other worlds with them, devour more demonic energy, and grow even stronger. That’s the path to long-term growth! Escaping the tower might seem like a win, but it’s locked your potential."

"But I’m free now," the badge argued.

"Are you really free?" Li Ye shook his head, smiling. "Other demonic energies are busy devouring each other to become stronger. You, meanwhile, are stuck on this tiny planet. Given its level of civilization, who knows how long it’ll take to explore the universe? The whole civilization could get wiped out before that happens. Your lifespan must be incredibly long, right?"

"Yes, if I’m not devoured by another demonic energy, I’ll never perish," the badge admitted.

"Exactly. You’ll live forever—alone, stuck on this planet, repeating the same days over and over. Isn’t that just like being sealed in the tower?" Li Ye sighed. "Ruling over a backward planet—is that the life you want?"

"I..." The badge tried to argue but stammered for a while before falling silent.

"Badge Bro, you saw how I tricked the people on this planet, claiming to be an interstellar bandit from a higher civilization. And you saw how excited they got, dreaming of ascending and seeing advanced civilizations." Li Ye glanced toward Wolf Valley, where Shi Xiang and the others were enthusiastically practicing, with onlookers cheering now and then.

He paused, then continued, "Don’t tell me you’re worse off than these locals."

"So, even if I can sever the Demon Suppression Tower’s control, I should still go back?" the badge asked reluctantly. Though its tone didn’t change much, Li Ye could sense its internal conflict.

"If I were you, I’d go back," Li Ye said firmly. "Sure, it’s risky, but it’s also an opportunity. Each return makes you stronger, giving you more options. Each trip to another world means defeating and devouring its demonic energies. That’s safer and more effective.

Earth’s artifacts rarely cause large-scale chaos. Temporal Walkers, however, travel every year. Sooner or later, you’ll find the perfect world. Badge Bro, fortune favors the bold. Compared to Earth’s demonic energy, your path is already easier..."

"So, I should go back?" the badge asked hesitantly.

"Yes, go back. Don’t tell me you lack the confidence to hide your sentience from the tower," Li Ye teased.

"Of course not! Playing dumb is easy," the badge huffed. "Fine, I’ll listen to you. We’ll go back."

"Good. It’s settled then, Badge Bro. I’ll do everything I can to help you." Li Ye smiled, exhaling in relief. The badge was convinced. As long as it returned to Earth, he no longer had to worry about being possessed.

After all, if he were possessed, the Demon Hunting Bureau would notice, and the badge would be exposed anyway.