RISE OF THE HOLY DEMONIC GOD
Chapter 118: Beneath the City: Into the Maw of the Unknown

In the fading light of evening, Rey sat alone at the dining table, his gaze distant.

The warm meal Jasmine had prepared for him sat in front of him, covered by a simple plate. He slowly lifted it, steam rising faintly into the air, yet the warmth in his chest felt missing.

He knew skipping this meal wasn't an option. His mother's anger might cool down by tomorrow, but leaving the food untouched? That would spark a disaster before dawn.

He quietly ate.

No conversation. No noise. Just the clinking of utensils against the plate in a house that once felt lively during dinner.

But not tonight.

And Rey didn't blame her. Not even a little.

Just days ago, he had been kidnapped—well, 'kidnapped' in the public's eyes—and after losing their father, Jasmine's cautiousness wasn't just normal. It was necessary. For her, even the smallest delay in Rey's return meant flashing images of worst-case scenarios.

He understood.

He finished his meal in silence, then washed the dishes himself. He worked methodically, almost robotically, ensuring not a single task would be left for his mother. After cleaning up, he opened the fridge to grab a bottle of water.

That's when he noticed it.

A single piece of cake.

Neatly plated, covered, waiting.

And beside it… a note.

Rey pulled the note out carefully, already knowing who it was from.

'My late and clumsy big brother, here's a piece of cake. Obviously, from my portion, since you came home late and I ate yours. Be grateful for your merciful little sister – Emmy.'

A crude little drawing of Emmy's smug, bossy face marked the end of the message.

Rey couldn't help but chuckle quietly, shaking his head.

"She's… one of a kind."

He sat down and finished the cake—his sister's 'mercy', as she called it—then cleaned the plate too. Leaving any work behind wasn't something he wanted tonight.

Before heading to his room, Rey peeked into Emmy's bedroom.

A disaster zone.

Toys scattered. Blankets tangled. Clothes flung over furniture.

And there she was, fast asleep in the middle of the chaos.

Rey smiled softly, closing the door quietly behind him.

In the solitude of his room, he exhaled deeply, allowing himself to collapse onto the bed. His aching legs finally found relief, his exhausted muscles thanking him as the tension drained from his body.

But his mind wasn't finished yet.

He brought up the one thing that grounded him now.

───◈ Arsenal Mastery ◈───

Sword: E- ↑ (3%)

Dagger/Knives: E ↑ (19%)

Spear: F+ ↑ (4%)

Shield: F ↑ (24%)

Bow: F+ ↑ (99%)

Greatsword: E- ↑ (04%)

Hand-to-Hand: E- ↑ (0%)

Gun: F- (0%)

Hammer: F ↑ (13%)

Katana: F- (0%)

───◈◈◈◈◈───

So close.

'Bow mastery… just 1% away from reaching E rank…'

Rey closed the panel with a satisfied yet frustrated sigh. Even after hours of training, seeing how far he still had to go made him realise the depth of the mountain he had yet to climb.

Still, he wasn't the same boy who once looked at these numbers and felt hopeless.

Now, they only fueled him.

He let the system fade from his vision and closed his eyes.

Expecting to find himself pulled back into the white room for training with Aiden or Victor.

But… nothing.

Just darkness.

No white space. No nagging spirit instructors.

'A night off…? For real?'

Rey blinked within the silent void of sleep.

'Well… maybe that's not so bad…'

He smiled faintly as real rest wrapped around him like a warm blanket. His breathing slowed, his body relaxing for the first time in days.

Inside the White Room, however, things weren't as peaceful.

Victor paced, his aura burning with dissatisfaction.

"You let him sleep?" Victor snapped, glaring at Aiden. "You're going soft."

Aiden's expression remained calm as he watched Victor from a distance.

"He's earned it."

"Earned it? Peaceful sleep is for men who've conquered death, not boys dreaming of strength!"

Aiden closed his eyes.

"Victor, listen… he's no longer the kid running from shadows. Did you not watch him today? Four hours. Focused. Disciplined. He's not training for survival anymore. He's training for growth."

Victor paused, processing Aiden's words.

"You think that's enough?"

"I think it's a start."

Victor grunted, turning away.

"If you're wrong, I'll be the one to drag him to hell myself to turn him into the warrior, the way I wish him to be."

"I know."

Aiden's gaze lingered where Rey should've been standing, his silhouette missing from the White Room.

'Rest well, kid… You're going to need it.'

[16th May]

The next morning came early.

Rey's body might've been tired, but old habits woke him before sunrise.

5 AM.

He rose from bed quietly, changed into simple running clothes, and headed downstairs.

In the kitchen, Jasmine was already moving, prepping for the day.

"Morning, Mom. I'm going out for a walk. I'll be back in an hour."

"Come back in an hour this time," Jasmine called out behind him. Her voice was casual, joking even.

But Rey flinched.

What she meant as a playful reminder felt like another reminder of yesterday's scolding in his mind.

He said nothing, simply stepped outside and let the cool morning air hit his face.

'Let's just focus…'

He jogged toward the edge of the city, choosing open spaces where the air felt cleaner and fewer people wandered this early.

There, amidst the silence, Rey began his sprint training.

Every stride burned. His legs screamed. His heart pounded.

But he didn't stop.

Because every weakness he felt… was just a reminder of what needed to be eliminated.

Then—Ding.

Notifications rang in his mind.

[Ding! Your lung capacity has adapted for high-efficiency airflow due to the ability: Umbral Adaptation.]

[Ding! Leg muscles are adapting to rapid force application.]

[Ding! Heart pumping efficiency increased.]

[Ding! Muscle memory of repeated motion adapts.]

Rey grinned between gasps for breath.

'Even now… I'm evolving.'

He kept running. His body felt lighter. Stronger. Faster.

Even exhaustion couldn't stop the adaptation process. Every muscle that hurt was simply another part of him improving.

Another reminder that he wasn't the same as before.

By the time he checked the system clock, he realised he was cutting it close.

"Time to head back."

He slowed into a jog, letting his body cool down, sweat dripping down his back, his chest rising and falling steadily. His stamina was better. His stride is more controlled.

When he arrived home, drenched in sweat, he saw a familiar sight:

Emmy, stubborn as ever, refused to wake up while Jasmine struggled to pull her from bed.

Some things never changed.

Rey smiled softly, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Emmy rushed toward him the moment she saw him at the door, arms wide open—only to stop mid-run, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

"Eww! Brother, why are you so sweaty? Did you not come home last night?!" she demanded, confused, assuming he was just returning now.

Rey wiped his forehead and chuckled softly. "No, sleepyhead. I came home last night. I'm just back from morning training."

Emmy's expression shifted to a big 'O', her mouth forming a circle in surprise. "Ohhh…"

"Emmy! Stop bothering your brother and go get ready, or you'll be late again!" Jasmine's voice echoed from the kitchen, snapping the girl out of her thoughts.

Emmy sighed dramatically, throwing one last pout toward Rey before stomping off toward the bathroom, clearly reluctant to start her school day.

Watching her sulk away, Rey couldn't help but smile faintly. Then, with heavy legs and a tired body, he climbed the stairs to wash off the exhaustion clinging to him.

After freshening up and changing into clean clothes, Rey returned downstairs. Breakfast was already served. Jasmine moved about the kitchen, while Emmy, now properly dressed, sat at the table munching on her food between sleepy blinks.

Rey quietly joined them and ate his meal. He finished quickly, still feeling a gnawing hunger, but refrained from asking for more. Jasmine was already working hard enough.

"Mom, I need to go out again after breakfast. I'll be back by evening," Rey said carefully, choosing his words.

He didn't want yesterday's argument to repeat.

Jasmine looked at him for a moment, then simply nodded. "Fine. But at least come back by afternoon for Emmy's sake. You know she returns around then. Check on her. Make sure she's okay."

Before Rey could answer, Emmy chimed in confidently, tapping her chest like a little adult. "Don't worry, Mom! I'm big now! Brother doesn't have to pick me up. I'll use the house key and come back on my own! Easy."

Jasmine chuckled softly at her daughter's serious tone. "Sure, my little queen. But Rey—" her gaze sharpened slightly, "—you should still check on her. Stay close enough to return quickly if needed."

"...Okay. I'll pick her up after school and drop her home before heading back out." Rey forced a small smile, hiding the guilt. He couldn't tell her that he was training far from the neighbourhood—practically at the city's edge.

But as long as Jasmine believed he was close, her worries would ease.

And so began another quiet cycle of hidden training.

He returned to the abandoned factory.

The same silent, decaying building now felt familiar. His secret training ground.

He unpacked his gear, weapons lined up neatly, and walked to the center where the dummy stood waiting. His gaze sharpened.

Time to break past the wall.

He picked up his bow again.

Yesterday, after hours of repetition, his mastery had stagnated. His arrows struck, but there was no real power, the much he needed. No progress.

But Rey wasn't the same kid anymore.

He focused inward, drawing mana slowly from his core. The once-unruly energy now flowed smoothly, guided by discipline, not desperation. He directed the stream toward his hands, feeding a trickle into the bow… then the arrow.

The process wasn't perfect—his control was still shaky—but it worked.

With his arms shaking from the strain of holding the unstable infusion, Rey loosed the arrow.

Thwack!

Unlike before, the arrow pierced deep into the dummy. The wooden body cracked under the force, splintering near the center.

And then—finally—what he'd been waiting for:

Ding!

[Your Weapon Mastery – Bow – has successfully broken through to E-Rank (76%).]

Rey let out a long breath and sat down right where he stood.

His body trembled, sweat dripping down his chin. Mana infusion was exhausting.

But it worked, the limit was broken while even got a huge boost in the next realm too, almost reaching the peak for the next minor realm.

He stared at the arrow embedded deep within the dummy's core, a small grin breaking across his tired face.

'Without even needing enlightenment this time… I forced the breakthrough myself.'

After a short rest, he moved to the next weapon.

The spear.

A weapon he considered simple—but that simplicity made it dangerous.

Basic movements. Sweeps. Thrusts. Defensive stances. Repeated endlessly.

Each motion was burned into his muscle memory by his ability.

Time passed unnoticed.

The sun climbed higher overhead.

Three hours… four hours… and soon, the heat of midday bore down on him.

Only then did Rey pause, glancing at his phone. Emmy's school day was ending.

He packed up quickly, stopping by a small store on his way back to grab some snacks—a secret tradition now between him and Emmy.

When he returned home, Emmy greeted him happily, snatching her share of snacks with sparkling eyes.

And like always, Jasmine remained unaware of their small conspiracy. If she ever found out, Rey knew both of them were in for serious trouble.

The days passed.

....

One week later.

[23rd May]

Rey stood once more in front of the abandoned factory, drenched in sweat, his breath ragged but steady because of doing some sprint practice while coming here.

It had been seven days of constant effort.

Every weapon he'd neglected was slowly catching up. His proficiency was no longer scattered and uneven.

Even Jasmine had begun to act like her old self again—less tense, more talkative. Rey felt a quiet relief each time he saw her smile.

Each afternoon, like clockwork, he picked up Emmy after school, sharing their hidden snacks and quiet moments of sibling mischief. Little by little, he'd built this routine.

But today felt different.

Today… he was close.

His sword mastery, his foundation, was about to advance.

The moment he'd worked toward for seven exhausting, silent days.

And this time, Rey felt it.

Not just as numbers ticking up in a system.

But in every swing of his blade.

In every movement of his body.

The next wall was about to fall.

And Rey was ready to break it down.

───◈ Arsenal Mastery ◈───

Sword: E+ ↑ (99%)

Dagger/Knives: E+ ↑ (84%)

Spear: E+ ↑ (2%)

Shield: E ↑ (97%)

Bow: E+ ↑ (43%)

Greatsword: E+ ↑ (31%)

Hand-to-Hand: E ↑ (56%)

Gun: E (11%)

Hammer: E ↑ (73%)

Katana: E+ (19%)

───◈◈◈◈◈───

Just as Rey reached the rooftop of his training ground, his steps slowed.

Something was wrong.

The factory's entrance door—the one he'd securely blocked—was wide open. No, not just open… shattered. A gaping hole dominated its center, as if something large had forced its way through.

Around the door, deep scratches marred the walls. Strange, glistening liquid trailed along the floor—thick, viscous, and alien. His dummies, which he'd assumed safe in this isolated place, lay in pieces, their wooden frames splintered and crushed.

Rey stiffened.

'This wasn't the work of people.'

At first, he thought a gang or some rogue hunter had discovered his hideout, but the more he examined the destruction, the clearer it became.

'This was a beast.'

Not a normal one, either. Something feral. Something strong.

The damage was erratic. Claw marks shredded metal. The shattered dummies looked chewed apart in places. Thick trails of slime, like drool or blood, stained the concrete.

'But how did a beast get inside the city?'

The walls were guarded. Patrols were strict.

Then again… loopholes always existed. Underground passages. Smuggling routes. Nothing was impossible.

"What now?" Rey muttered, his expression grim.

Should he report it? Call the wall guards? But what will he say then, or just ignore it and continue his training?

The choice weighed heavily on him.

Before he could decide, Aiden's voice rang out from beside him.

"Hunt it."

"Huh?"

"You need a real opponent, Rey. Something unpredictable. A beast's better than a human for your next fight."

Victor, silent for days, nodded calmly. Even he seemed satisfied with Rey's progress lately, which was satisfying for his low talent.

Rey hesitated… then clenched his fists.

They weren't wrong.

If this beast roamed freely, it could harm civilians. And more importantly, his training had hit a wall again. Maybe this… was the fight he needed.

"Alright. Let's track it."

Moving cautiously, Rey inspected the walls and surrounding areas, searching for tracks.

Strangely, the trail of destruction didn't lead outward. Instead, it circled back inside.

'It's still here?'

He activated Eclipse Shroud, his body vanishing into near-invisibility. His breathing slowed as his senses sharpened.

Following the broken furniture, scratched walls, and sticky trails, Rey moved deeper inside the factory.

The rooms he'd once casually explored were now wrecked, the beast systematically erasing signs of its passage—except for the violent marks left behind.

As Rey advanced, he instinctively attempted to draw strength from his Veil of the Unseen Abyss, but once again, the door within his inner world repelled him.

It was happening each time as he tried to enter it. The gate did take him in, but as he stepped inside, Abyss threw him out, saying,

'You are not ready. When the time comes, the gate will call you.'

The Abyss Will's words echoed in his mind.

No matter how he tried, his progress in the concealment art remained locked at 38%. Even Victor's suggestion to attempt the second door had been futile—the gats refused to let him begin a new path before completing the first.

He pushed aside the frustration.

Focus.

Right now, the priority was the beast.

As Rey descended toward the factory's lower levels, the destruction worsened.

Shattered machines.

Splintered metal.

The sticky liquid pooled thickly in some places.

This beast isn't just aggressive… It's mindless.

Finally, Rey reached a heavy door—bent and clawed at it—but intact. Strange marks covered it, yet the area just beneath the doorframe was undamaged.

Strange…

He pushed the door open, cautious, and stepped inside.

Beyond it, stairs spiraled downward into darkness.

Rey's heartbeat quickened.

Basement?

Every instinct screamed caution.

Is it hiding below?

Activating his skills, he moved silently down the steps.

Minutes passed.

The air grew colder. Mustier.

At last, the stairs opened into a vast chamber.

The room was empty. Except…

One side held a massive hole.

Jagged. Deep. Leading into nothing but shadows.

He approached carefully, eyes narrowed, trying to sense movement.

Nothing.

Even his night vision failed to penetrate the abyss beyond.

"What now?" Rey whispered.

Going back wasn't an option. Leaving a beast loose underground wasn't acceptable.

But entering blindly?

He hesitated.

Aiden's voice echoed near his shoulder. "You're standing at the edge of a den, kid. Whatever's down there… it knows this terrain better than you."

Victor's tone followed, sharper. "Stay or run. Choose."

Rey clenched his jaw.

Backing away wouldn't solve anything.

Bracing himself, he called upon his skills and equipment, using his cloak as an anchor for safety. Slowly, he lowered himself into the hole.

Sticky walls made the descent difficult.

Minutes passed as he slid downward carefully.

Until—his foot slipped.

The slime coating the walls sent him tumbling.

"Sh*t—!"

Rey crashed onto solid ground with a grunt, pain blooming across his back. He groaned but forced himself upright, blinking as his vision adjusted.

He wasn't in a simple tunnel.

A vast underground cavern stretched before him.

Cave passages branched out in every direction.

And at the center… he stood in a massive hollow chamber.

His heart sank.

'This… isn't good.'

He glanced upward.

The walls glistened. Slick. Impassable.

"I'm trapped."

Aiden and Victor appeared beside him, materialising silently.

Aiden's voice was unsettlingly calm. "Well, bad news and very bad news."

Rey raised an eyebrow, too exhausted to panic. "Isn't it supposed to be bad news and good news?"

"Nope. Just bad and worse." Aiden grinned without humour. "The small bad news is—you're way underground. No one will find you if something happens."

Victor's gaze swept the cavern.

"And the bad news is..." Victor continued, "...you're surrounded, as I can sense many vital life signs."

Rey froze.

He looked in the shadows, like multiple sets of gleaming eyes began to open, but it was just his imagination thinking about his situation just now.

Dozens.

Silent.

Hungry.

"…and they're not the friendly type," Aiden finished quietly.

"Huh… what do you mean something might happen to me? I'm fine." Rey's expression darkened, his voice tight. "But… how many are we talking about?"

Victor didn't hesitate. "More than a hundred. Probably close to two hundred."

Rey's face stiffened.

"And that's just the ones I can sense in this area," Victor continued, voice serious. "All Stage 1, between Level 10 to 20. But there's something deeper inside… stronger. It hasn't moved yet, so we'll worry about that later."

Rey glanced upward instinctively, trying to gauge the distance to the surface, but Aiden's earlier words were true. He couldn't even see the ceiling of this underground cavern.

If something happened here… no one would know.

And those beasts… if they escaped, the city would face chaos, which may include his family too.

Rey's gaze sharpened.

'Then I can't ignore this.'

His eyes swept the slimy walls. He ran a quick test, digging his dagger into the surface.

Climbable… barely.

If things went wrong, he could force his way out. But right now, he wasn't planning to flee.

He chose one of the wider tunnels branching from the chamber—a path where his weapons wouldn't be hindered.

His skills remained active, darkness amplifying their effects. He moved silently, invisibly, watching every shadow.

The silence didn't comfort him.

Minutes passed.

Something moved ahead.

A faint scraping sound, light but deliberate.

He lowered his posture instinctively, though he knew he was invisible in the darkness. Even so… caution came naturally now.

Then he saw it.

A sleek, pale-grey beast crawled forward, its body unnaturally slender, skin stretched tight over sinewy muscle. Its maw bristled with razor-like teeth, each fang curved, each designed to tear flesh from bone.

What truly disturbed him were the two long, limb-like appendages extending from its back—each ending in dagger-like, conical blades. They dragged softly across the stone, tapping the ground rhythmically… almost thoughtfully.

At first glance, the beast looked almost blind, sniffing or feeling the air. But then—

"Back off. Now."

Aiden's voice cracked through Rey's focus.

"What? Why?" Rey whispered, gripping his dagger tighter. "It hasn't noticed me. I can strike—"

"No. Retreat. Now. That thing already knows you're here."

Rey froze.

'What?'

"It's letting you come closer… so it can kill you."

Rey instinctively took a step back—and immediately, the beast reacted. One of its back limbs lashed out, piercing forward in Rey's direction with terrifying speed.

A sharp sound sliced the air.

The conical blade embedded itself where Rey had just been, leaving a deep, familiar scratch in the stone.

Rey's eyes widened.

'Wait… that scratch…'

Aiden's voice was grim. "Recognise it now? This is your culprit. This thing's the reason your factory entrance was torn open."

"But… I'm still invisible… how?" Rey's mind raced.

"Because it doesn't use sight." Aiden's voice was cold now. "It senses vibration. Every footstep. Every shift in weight. Your skill hides your body—not your sound."

Rey felt a cold sweat break across his back.

—SCREECH!

Another screech echoed behind him.

When he looked, he saw the beast's limbs stabbing into the walls, following him precisely.

His invisibility meant nothing here.

"RUN!"

Aiden didn't need to repeat himself.

Rey turned and sprinted, relying on every ounce of speed he could muster.

Despite the darkness, the beast's screech never faded. Each twist he took, every narrow passage—he could hear it scraping after him.

It never hesitated.

It knew exactly where he was.

He bolted back toward the central chamber, ignoring the burning in his lungs, ignoring the aches in his body.

'Damn it, damn it…!'

His options were closing fast.

He burst back into the large cavern, momentarily outpacing the predator, but he knew it wouldn't be for long.

Aiden and Victor appeared beside him again, serious now.

"Kid, you have two options," Aiden said flatly. "Fight that thing head-on in this open space."

"Or?" Rey rasped.

"Climb. Now. Get out of this nest."

Victor, silent as always, just nodded grimly.

Rey stood frozen for half a second, hearing the scraping sound echo behind him.

Whatever choice he made now… would shape everything that followed.

For better.

Or far, far worse.

—To Be Continued.

Hello everyone! I hope you're enjoying the chapters. If you like the novel, be sure to add it to your collection or library so you can read the new chapters as soon as they are released. 

A significant scene is about to unfold, and Rey will face some tough choices. What will happen in the cave? 

To find out, be sure to check back later for the new chapter!