The swarm of creatures, like a tsunami, came rushing towards him all at once. He was momentarily overwhelmed by their numbers, but he soon regained his composure and started fighting back. He manipulated the vines growing up from underneath the cave entrance and tried to block the entry using the vines, but it was useless. The vines paid no heed to his commands and were quickly shredded by the onslaught of teeth and claws.

He was momentarily knocked back by a flying ferret, colliding harshly with the cave wall. He shook his head to clear the stars from his vision and leapt back into the fray. He was at a significant disadvantage without a weapon but the ether around him. Sky did the only thing he could, infusing ether into the surrounding etherlines to create a barrier.

Avis, who was watching from the safety of the cave, was actually impressed. He had never seen Sky control ether in such a way before. 'Creative thinking,' he thought to himself.

The barrier held back the creatures for a few minutes, but they eventually broke through. However, Sky wasn't foolish enough to think he would hold the barrier forever and was already planning his next move. Using his nature attribute, he was able to ensnare dozens of the creatures in a tangle of vines, which were reluctant to move at first.

As the creatures struggled to break free, Sky started to make his distance from the cave's entrance. The beasts, seeing him retreat, became frenzied and redoubled their efforts to break free. Their efforts were rewarded as the vines became weaker and weaker under their onslaught.

The creatures, now free, started to swarm towards him again. Panting and exhausted, Sky knew that he wouldn't be able to hold them off for much longer. He had to think of something fast. He started swinging his ether-infused fists wildly, trying to connect with as many creatures as possible. Every punch that connected sent a small shockwave of ether throughout the swarm, causing small groups to become disorientated.

He was surrounded and outnumbered, and it was only a matter of time before they took him down. And took him down, they did. He was soon swarmed by the little creatures, their teeth and claws tearing into him. He tried to fight back, but it was futile. It wasn't until he was pinned to the ground that he finally gave up.

He stared at the sea of furry faces surrounding him, their teeth dripping with blood. Though, something was strange. They would gnaw at his arms and legs but leave his head and torso unharmed. It wasn't until one of the familiar creatures walked on two legs in front of him that he understood.

"You... you're the one I trapped before," he said, realization dawning on him. "You're the leader. Ugh!"

The beast sneered at him, and then it crawled onto his torso and on his chest. It then used its teeth to cut through his flesh and muscle until it hit bone. It wasn't a clean cut, and Sky screamed in pain as the creature started to gnaw on his ribcage.

He tried to fight back, but the pain was too much. He could only watch helplessly as the creature chewed on his flesh. Until finally, he passed out from the pain.

"Now, now, little critters," Avis said as he floated back to the cave entrance, "there's plenty of Sky to go around. No need to fight over him."

The creatures paused at Avis's presence and looked at him with hungry eyes.

"Now, I know you're all hungry~, but if you continue eating him, specifically in the chest area, you're not going to have a fun time~."

The leader bared its teeth and started ravishing Sky's flesh again, and the others followed suit.

"That's a good little beastie~."

Once the leader clawed through to Sky's ribs, it was met with a pitch black heart. The heart beated and pulsated unnaturally, and the leader's eyes widened in shock as it was pulled into the darkness.

"There it is..." Avis said with a grim face, "Is this what you want?"

Nothing responded to Avis; rather, the scene in front of him was enough to silence anyone. As if the beasts were nothing but bags of gore, they were being pulled into the darkness one by one, being slurped dry by Sky's beating heart. Avis looked on in horror as the creatures he summoned were being devoured, and to his dismay, the system responded.

"Congratulations on completing the quest!"

"What...?" Avis said, his voice trembling.

"You have successfully completed the quest 'Heart of the Devil'!"

"What quest?"

"User Sky will be rewarded +1 Level to Darkness Attribute."

"Why are you doing this?" Avis mumbled, his mind racing.

Avis immediately looked at Sky again, who was now moving...? The tiny beasts made their distance from the blood-covered Sky. He opened his mouth, and black liquid started to drip from his lips. His hair went from a tainted green colour due to nature's attribute to an oozing black. His eyes were no longer the gentle blue they used to be but a deep, dark abyss.

"What are you doing?" Avis asked, looking down at what was supposed to be Sky.

"Hehe~, I guess it's my turn~."

As soon as those words escaped Sky's mouth, he launched toward the tiny beasts who were frozen in fear. They were no match for Sky and quickly dispersed. At least they attempted to. Every swipe Sky sent towards the group sent a vortex of darkness that consumed anything in its path. Sky laughed manically as he did so, sending chills down Avis's body.

~Elssaro Dimension~

"Did you do it?" Lilium asked, concern evident in her voice.

"I took care of it," Dominus stated plainly, though his tone sounded anything but pleased.

"And what of Sky?!"

"He's... alive. Though, I'm not sure for how long that'll be."

Lilium was about to say something, but Dominus spoke first.

"I know what you're going to say, Lilium, and simply put, I got there too late. Your intuition was right about him being in danger, but what you wouldn't have expected was the despicable Wraqian who was... consuming him."

Lilium's eyes widened at the mention of the Wraqian, a creature of darkness capable of consuming everything in its path.

"I see," Lilium said after a moment, "So that's what he's become."

"Yes. A being of darkness, heartless and without mercy."

"And you let him go?"

"It was either that or kill him. You ordered me to save him, and for the most part, that is what I did."

Lilium nodded and bit down her lip.

"I want some time alone," she said after a moment, "Please leave me be."

"Of course," Dominus said before closing the door behind him.

Lilium waited until she was sure Dominus was gone before letting the tears fall. She had hoped that Sky would have been her first friend, but it seemed fate had other plans. As she sniffled and wiped her tears away, she questioned aloud, "How can a soul host itself within its own soul space...".

Dominus answered on the other side of the door, "A soul that is fractured is capable of hosting itself."

'A fractured soul?' she thought, 'Then... Sky isn't gone?'.

"Is that what he is?" Dominus asked out of curiosity.

"That is for me to know and you to mind your own business!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with anger.

"I see," Dominus said plainly.

~Sky's Dimension~

Avis was in shock as he watched Sky massacre the creatures he summoned. He didn't know what to do or how to feel. Some of him wanted to help Sky, but the other part was petrified with fear. Then, as he stood there, frozen in place, a system prompt showed itself.

"Are you not going to stop him?"

"Would you allow it?"

The system paused before answering, "Just this once."

Avis didn't know what to do. He wanted to say no and simply keep his distance, but at the same time, he couldn't risk losing Sky.

"Fine," Avis answered after a moment of hesitation.

"Very well," the system said before dispersing the message ominously.

Avis slowly made his way over to where Sky was. He could feel the darkness emanating from him, making it hard to breathe. As he got closer, he could see the black liquid dripping from Sky's mouth, which stained the ground below him. His eyes were completely black now, and Avis couldn't help but feel like he was looking at a wild beast. A monster.

"S-Sky?" Avis called out tentatively, not sure if he really wanted an answer.

Sky turned to look at him, and Avis distanced himself. The black liquid was dripping from his eyes, and Avis could see the madness in them.

"Is that who you think I am~?" Sky asked in a sing-song voice, "I'm not Sky~. I am something else... something... better~." it said with a black stained smile.

Avis could feel the darkness emanating from Sky burst outward, holding him in place. He couldn't move, no matter how much he tried.

"What are you?!" Avis shouted, struggling against the darkness.

"I am... what your little friend put away for so many years~. I am... a friend~. Avis, do you want to play with me?"

Avis felt the darkness enter his mind, and he could feel himself being pulled, but it didn't take a moment for Avis to retaliate.

"NO!" Avis shouted as he forcefully pushed the darkness out of his mind.

"Oh~?" Sky said, a hint of anger in his voice, "You're stronger than I thought. But that won't save you!"

The darkness surged forward, enveloping Avis. He could feel himself being pulled into the darkness, fighting it with all his might, but it was futile. He could feel himself being consumed by the darkness, and he knew he would die. As he felt his consciousness fading, he could faintly hear Sky's innocent voice.

"Are you okay, Avis?"