After what feels like a hot sword thrust through my chest and an electric shock rippling through my body, I hit the ground struggling to breathe.

Shock and confusion fill my mind as the room's colors fade to black and white again.

"W-What's going on...?"

The last few seconds of this battle are mostly a blur, but I'm positive I won.

I defeated the Arch Demon, and it told me everything I wanted to know. This doesn't make any sense.

Actually, now that I have a moment to think... nothing that demon said makes any sense.

It's sending a message across the abyss? Demonic Energy being the pinnacle of Demon's power? The King is trying to take over this world?

Also... the fact that I wasn't able to sense any mana while wielding this new skill and defeated a Labyrinth Guardian with a single attack is mind-boggling.

With so many unanswered questions swirling around in my head, it makes it difficult to focus on the real problem at hand.

The grip on both of my blades loosens, and my knees rest on the cold hard floor of the Boss Room.

Yellow and white lights still crackle from the tips of the two weapons. My eyes widen as the reactions slowly start to grow. It looks exactly like the result of mana and demonic energy canceling each other out.

*Clink*

In the same moment, a palm-sized black sphere falls to the floor in front of me out of a dissolving pile of ash. Blue text hovers above it.

[Arch Demon's Core] +100% All Stats

Letting go of my weapons, I grab the orb and it instantly sinks into my palm just like the previous one I bonded with. The stat boosts are immediate, and the natural perception additions are very noticeable.

Before I can enjoy this moment in my dazed state, the sharp pain in my chest comes back. This time around it's even more intense. I can feel a headache coming on too.

I rest both hands on the floor and watch another dark black line appear on my other forearm. It winds up to my shoulder and curves to my chest. I can only assume my eyes have grown much lighter after this core absorption too.

My gaze darts back and forth as I try to catch my breath and stand to my feet. The sword and dagger I left on the ground are crackling and popping with sparks. The reactions are only growing, so all I can think to do is open my item storage system and put them inside.

The white spatial magic portal opens and a voice enters my ears as Ember flies down from the sky with a shiny silver amulet hanging from his mouth.

"Stop."

I look up and appraise the item he's holding on instinct.

[Platinum Amulet of Frost] +137% Mental Strength +90% Ice Magic

The sharp pain in my chest returns, but bare it without falling over. It keeps coming back every time I use magic.

Ember keeps speaking.

"That was horribly reckless, but I believe it may have been one of the best options to secure a guaranteed victory."

I grit my teeth while nodding and look up at the enormous ranked-up dragon that lands in front of me on the hard ground. He's excited about this new upgrade, but the worried expression tells me now isn't the time to celebrate.

I use self regeneration on my full body and dump out an HP potion from my item box to attempt to heal whatever is making this horrible pain.

Once all the shimmering green liquid from the bottle disappears, I feel as good as new...

Sporting a grin I let out a sigh and use telekinesis to grab the swords on the ground, as well as the golem cores I disconnected from during my match earlier.

"I'm alright."

I open up my storage portal wide.

"Come on, the transfer magic will activate soon. It's best to-"

Again, the world around me pusles back and white and I fall to the dungeon floor.

Ember speaks.

"Demonic Energy Poisoning."

"..."

"You've given yourself Demonic Energy Poisoning."

I slowly struggle to stand to my feet, then see the black lines that run down my wrists start to glimmer with the same yellow and white glow as my swords.

My heart skips a beat as I piece together what's happening. I whisper under my breath.

"There's... no way to stop this is there...?"

All I get in silence in return. Ember nods slowly as my mind runs wild. I quickly open my status and scroll through my new skills.

"Ice magic is great... but it can't help me right now. Self-regeneration and HP potions won't help so life steal is a dud too... Body Double-"

_______________________

Body Double

Info: The Body Double skill allows the caster to create an exact copy of their being up to 75% of the mana control and 90% of the level and natural stat capacity of the original form. This double will obtain every skill the original body possesses, but none of the active buffs.

Magic items will also receive a doubled form, but cannot be transferred to any other being. Once a double is killed, all items and the essence of the doubled being will dissolve into pure mana. No experience points can be earned from killing a body double.

The [Special Grade] perk allows the caster to control doubles while asleep, unconscious, or in suspended animation indefinitely. Up to two body doubles may be controlled at once.

Grade: [Special Grade]

[Upgrade]

_______________________

I scan this new skill, and ideas start churning.

Ember's voice echoes in my mind as my wrists begin to crackle and spark with very visible light now.

"That's right. There's no known cure. I've heard of skills that dull its effects, and certain monsters that can cut off their magic supplies to pause the reaction, but the process has already begun. At this rate. You'll be completely consumed in less than 5 minutes... I will too."

I grit my teeth and respond.

"I'll find a way..."

Ember smiles and gives me a slow nod while closing his eyes.

I keep scrolling through my status, then come across a skill I didn't think would be useful.

Ember's words repeat in my mind so many times, that I speak them out loud.

"A cure..."

____________________

Hibernation

Info: Hibernation allows the user to fall into a deep slumber and cure any curse, disease, or illness given enough time.

Hibernation costs a set amount of MP upfront and the user will not require food, water, or excess mana until the process is complete.

If awoken before Hibernation is complete, progress will be 100% negated.

The effectiveness of Hibernation is greatly decreased if a curse or disease inflicted on the user comes from a being of significantly greater mana control or level. It may take significantly more MP to complete a difficult request.

The user's defenses will decrease by 99% during Hibernation.

The user's defenses will decrease by 50% for 12 hours following Hibernation.

[These De-buffs may not be completely removed by any skill below the Mythic Rank]

[Special Grade] Perk: Hibernation time is decreased by 50% and upfront MP cost is reduced by 35%. Post Hibernation De-buffs may be reduced by up to 50% with specified MP cost depending on the severity of the ailment cured.

Grade: [Special Grade]

[Upgrade]

____________________

My eyes open wide as another blue text box shines in front of my eyes

[Use Hibernation]

Cure: Mana Fatigue[Jay Soju], Demonic Energy Poisoning [Jay Soju, Flame Emperor's Sword, Wind Tyrant's Dagger]

Cost: 523.06k MP

Time: 9.2 Days

[YES][NO]

"I got it."

If I accept right now, odds are I'll be incapacitated before being transported back to Solara. This doesn't seem like a good option to me. It's not that I don't trust my team, it's just that I'd rather not bet on chance when there's a much better option in front of me.

I walk over to Ember, making contact with him, and my two blades

"Dungeon Walker."

Using the minimum amount of MP possible, I teleport us back to a dungeon that I conveniently made a transport point to not so long ago.

A wolf dungeon in the cave system where the Lava Salamander creatures lived. It was either this or the rat dungeon. Teleporting back to the capital may be too risky in more ways than one. I think about the Titan's domain. Using a time dilation would make this a lot quicker, but I'm not quite sure how that much mana would react to Demonic Energy. Today isn't the day to find out.

Rocky and grass-covered ground spreads throughout a mountainous forest-like E-Class Dungeon I've teleported to instead.

Ember speaks as the lush trees and warm air contrast the Labyrinth's freezing cold Boss Room we just left to the most extreme degree.

He raises his head.

"Master, what's the plan?"

I fall to the ground as the mana usage blinds me.

The sparks on my forearms are only growing in size. I need to finish this now before I pass out or worse.

I reply through a clenched jaw.

"Body Double."

Just like the Arch Demon, a flash of white light and sparks create a second copy of my being. It hurts, but this needs to be done. Now I have two simultaneous perspectives.

I gulp, then fall to the floor with my main body and activate Hibernation. More and more sparks climb up my arms every second.

[Use Hibernation]

Cure: Mana Fatigue[Jay Soju], Demonic Energy Poisoning [Jay Soju, Flame Emperor's Sword, Wind Tyrant's Dagger]

Cost: 752.89k MP

Time: 14.4 Days

[YES][NO]

I choose yes and activate my plunderer skill to feed it every last drop of mana it requires without a moment's hesitation. The MP needed and time required has risen since the last time I checked. The reaction has become worse, this all makes sense.

A few seconds pass as I take in mana in the surrounding dungeon. Then, my main body's vision fades to black.

From my double's perspective, I watch my body fall limp and the violent sparks cease to climb my arms. I'm surrounded by a very light green aura and blue text hovers above my body.

[Hibernation Activated]

Time Remaining: 14.4 Days