Chapter 84: Limitless

The short blade, which had previously radiated only deathly stillness, suddenly released a distinct sensation.

That sensation was a feeling of attachment, maybe it’s because of his Sovereign Of Souls class but it was strangely pure. Like a newborn child recognizing its mother for the first time.

But beneath that attachment was something far stronger. Hunger. An endless, insatiable hunger.

Hum!

An invisible fluctuation suddenly spread through the air.

Aiden’s body trembled slightly.

He felt an invisible connection forming between himself and the blade.

It was as though the weapon had become an extension of his own body.

He could faintly sense its existence without even looking at it.

The connection felt almost like one forged through blood.

At the same time, a stream of information suddenly appeared in his mind.

[Devouring Soul Blade]

[Quality: Common]

[Condition: Damaged — Growth-Type Equipment

Equipment Requirement: Soul Bound — Aiden]

[Physical Attack: 5–8]

[Special Effects:]

[Devour Growth]

[Can devour weapons, armor, accessories, and special energy cores, permanently increasing its own attributes and quality.]

[The quality, level, properties, and traits of the devoured item will influence the direction and magnitude of its growth.]

[Origin Absorption] — Locked

Requirements: ???

[Devouring Soul] — Locked

Requirements: ???

Current Growth: 0%

[Description:]

[Forged from mysterious metal that fell from beyond the heavens merged with countless true souls, this blade possesses an instinct to devour all things.]

[After countless years of silence, it has finally awakened.]

[And now... it is hungry. Feed it. Or... be devoured by it.]

Aiden stared at the information floating in his mind.

The corners of his lips slowly lifted. The blade’s current attributes were pitiful.

With only 5–8 Physical Attack, it wasn’t even particularly impressive among Common-quality weapons.

But Aiden didn’t care. The numbers didn’t matter. What mattered was the Growth-Type designation.

And more importantly...

[Devour Growth].

A weapon that could devour other equipment and permanently grow stronger.

There was no clearly defined upper limit. That meant its current weakness was almost meaningless.

As long as he could continue feeding it increasingly powerful weapons, equipment, and special energy cores...

Its potential was practically limitless.

Aiden looked down at the rust-covered blade. For the first time, that ugly, broken weapon no longer looked like scrap metal.

In his eyes... It looked like the beginning of something terrifying.

An endless path of evolution.

Aiden didn’t hesitate as he removed the Rare-quality Power Gauntlets that had accompanied him through countless battles and rendered him considerable service.

He looked down at the familiar gauntlets for a moment.

There was no reluctance in his eyes. Only an unwavering pursuit of greater power.

"For it’s first meal..." Aiden’s lips curved into a faint smile. "It’ll be you."

He gently placed the Power Gauntlets against the blade of the Devouring Soul Blade.

The moment the two came into contact, something strange happened.

The rust covering the Devouring Soul Blade suddenly writhed.

It moved like countless tiny, living tentacles, instantly spreading across the surface of the Power Gauntlets and wrapping around them.

The hard metal gauntlets began to tremble. Then... They started to soften.

The sturdy material that had protected Aiden through numerous battles seemed to lose all resistance before the strange rust. It began to decompose and dissolve at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Wisps of blue energy slowly emerged from the gauntlets.

Then more. Hundreds of streams of energy seemed to pour out simultaneously, flowing toward the Devouring Soul Blade like countless rivers returning to the sea.

The blue energy sank into the dark, dull blade.

As the essence within them was extracted, the Power Gauntlets rapidly became dimmer.

Their once-solid structure grew fragile.

Then—

Crack!

The gauntlets shattered completely.

They collapsed into a cloud of fine gray powder that dispersed into the air.

The entire process had been swift and almost silent.

Yet there was something strangely captivating about it.

A cold, predatory beauty. The blade wasn’t destroying the gauntlets. It was eating them.

[DEVOURING COMPLETE!]

The Devouring Soul Blade in Aiden’s hand suddenly trembled. It was barely perceptible, but Aiden could clearly feel it.

The weapon seemed...

Satisfied.

A small patch of rust on the blade had visibly faded, revealing a portion of the abyss-like dark metal beneath.

Along the edge, a faint glimmer of cold light flashed.

At the same time, several notifications appeared in Aiden’s mind.

[The Devouring Soul Blade has devoured "Power Gauntlets (Rare)".]

[Growth increased to 5%!]

[Physical Attack increased to 8–12!]

[A minor "Strength" attribute has been unlocked.]

[Strength +1!]

Aiden’s eyes lit up.

It had worked.

The Devouring Soul Blade had actually grown stronger!

The increase wasn’t particularly large, but Aiden didn’t care.

This was only the beginning.

One Rare-quality piece of equipment had already increased the blade’s physical attack and even unlocked an additional attribute.

’What would happen if it devoured an Epic-quality item? A Legendary item? Or something even higher?’ Aiden’s breathing became slightly heavier at the thought.

He tightened his grip around the short blade.

It felt different now. Slightly lighter. More balanced and more natural. It fit perfectly within his palm, almost as though it had been forged specifically for him.

And beneath that physical sensation was something even more peculiar.

The connection between them had grown stronger.

The Devouring Soul Blade felt like an extension of his own arm.

Its hunger was still there. But now, Aiden could faintly sense something else within that hunger.

Anticipation. As though it were already waiting for its next meal.

A satisfied yet chilling smile slowly appeared on Aiden’s face.

"Very good..." He gently ran his fingers along the darkened blade. "Devouring..."

His eyes gleamed with cold determination. "From now on, you will be the sharpest fangs in my hand."

He raised the blade slightly. "Together, we’ll devour every enemy that stands in our way."

A pause. Then Aiden’s smile widened. "And eventually... We’ll devour this entire apocalypse."

The short blade trembled faintly in his hand. Aiden could feel the connection between them, blood and soul intertwined, as though the two had embarked upon the same path.

This wasn’t merely another weapon. This was his. His one-of-a-kind exclusive advantage.

A weapon with potentially limitless growth. A weapon that could devour everything standing in his path and turn it into his own strength.

Aiden looked at the rust-covered blade, his eyes burning with anticipation.

The future... Was limitless.