bookbashuk Chapter 280: Defeated by a Fox
Chapter 280: Defeated by a Fox
"What does it mean to be a Demigod?" Damian asked directly.
Ever since ending the ritual mating, he had felt the difference. It was undeniable. His body felt lighter. His mind felt clearer. His existence itself felt different. Yet the transformation wasn’t nearly as dramatic as he had imagined it would be.
He had expected something overwhelming.
Something world-shattering.
Something that would instantly separate him from everything he once was.
Instead, he still felt like Damian. Just more whole but still Damian.
Rin nodded slowly. Of all the questions Damian could ask, this was one of the most important. The fox was honestly relieved he had brought it up himself.
Without a word, Rin jumped off Damian’s shoulder and landed on the endless black water below. Instead of sinking, he stood atop the surface as casually as a man standing on solid ground. The reflection beneath him rippled outward slowly while his seven tails swayed behind him.
Turning around, he met Damian’s gaze directly.
"When people hear the word Demigod, they immediately think invincible." Rin folded his paws behind his back. "That’s not what it means."
Damian listened silently.
"A Demigod is simply someone who has broken free from the limitations of mortality. You are still the same person you were before. Your personality doesn’t change. Your memories don’t change. Your thoughts don’t change. What changes is the vessel carrying all those things."
Rin raised a paw and pointed toward Damian.
"Your body and soul have become one. Your existence has become complete. You are no longer a mortal trying to contain power. You are power given form."
Damian slowly nodded. The explanation resonated with what he had been feeling ever since evolving.
Complete.
That was exactly the word.
He didn’t feel stronger in the way a mountain was stronger than a hill.
He felt complete. As though something fundamental had finally fallen into place.
"I understand."
His gaze shifted toward the floating panels again. This time his expression was much calmer.
The excitement he once felt toward every upgrade and level up had diminished significantly.
The games were ending and the stakes had become real. Everything he did now mattered.
"At this level, how much of the Abyssal Talent Tree can I upgrade before needing to wrestle for control again?" Damian asked.
"Ten percent."
The answer came immediately and Damian frowned.
"Will that be enough to give me an edge over Asmodeus?"
"No." Rin didn’t hesitate. "It isn’t enough."
The answer irritated Damian. Ten percent sounded pitifully small.
Ever since learning Lin Qui’s plan, he had intended to follow it. Reach the Demigod Realm was the first step. Unlock the Abyssal Tree the inheritance followed and then gathering the inheritances of the other Princes.
Finally, growing stronger until Asmodeus could no longer threaten him. The problem was that reality never seemed that simple.
Seeing the disappointment in Damian’s eyes, Rin continued.
"But combined with reaching the God Realm and completing ninety percent of the Lust Inheritance, it will absolutely give you an advantage over the other Princes."
Damian’s attention sharpened and Rin pointed toward the distant gates imprisoning Asmodeus.
"Every Sin you control increases the amount of Abyssal Power you can safely wield by ten percent. That’s the real value."
Understanding slowly dawned on Damian. His expression became thoughtful.
He ran several calculations in his mind before asking another question.
"How many Sins would I need before you believe I can kill Asmodeus?"
This time Rin hesitated. The fox frowned deeply. For once, there was no immediate answer.
After several moments he finally spoke.
"Let me explain the difference between you and Asmodeus."
Damian’s full attention shifted toward him.
"From seventy percent all the way to ninety percent, the abilities you unlock are Demigod-level techniques."
Rin’s voice became unusually serious.
"True God-tier techniques begin beyond ninety percent."
Buzz!
Damian’s eyes narrowed instantly. He already understood where this conversation was heading.
Rin continued.
"Even after reaching Level 999 and ascending to Godhood, your siblings still don’t possess true God-tier abilities. That’s why Heaven refers to them as False Gods."
"Which means..." Damian mumbled
Rin nodded.
"You don’t have access to God-tier techniques.But Asmodeus does."
The fox slowly turned toward the distant gates.
The black ocean beneath them became perfectly still.
"The difference between a God-tier technique and a Demigod-tier technique is far greater than the difference between a mortal and a Demigod."
Damian remained silent.
Rin continued.
"You’ll need multiple Demigod-level inheritances just to compensate for that gap."
The fox thought for several moments before giving an estimate.
"My guess would be somewhere between four and five Sins."
Damian slowly nodded. Now it finally made sense. Now he understood why none of the previous hosts had succeeded.
The challenge wasn’t defeating Asmodeus.
The challenge was surviving abilities that fundamentally existed on a higher level. Fighting God-tier techniques using Demigod techniques was a battle destined to end badly.
Strangely enough, learning this made Damian happy. The challenge had become clearer.
And once he successfully overcame Asmodeus, everything afterward would become much easier.
If he could conquer the strongest obstacle standing before him, then conquering the remaining Princes would become infinitely simpler because then only he would possess God-tier abilities. It would be much simpler snatching up the other inheritances from then on.
"Alright."
Damian slowly rose to his feet.
"Now I know what to do."
Rin immediately jumped upward and landed on Damian’s shoulder again. His tails wrapped around Damian’s neck comfortably.
"So what are you prioritizing this time?"
Damian stared at the floating talent tree. He considered it for several moments and then shrugged.
"I’ll stick with what has always worked."
Without hesitation, he began investing points into Living Arts.
10... 20... 30...
Ding!
[Name: Seven-Tailed Fox Physiology]
[Type: Active]
[Description: Gains physical traits of the Seven-Tailed Fox when used.]
Damian stared at the notification blankly. His expression didn’t change. Every time he became stronger, his transformation naturally evolved alongside him.
At this point it was practically expected. Without comment, he continued investing points.
40... 50... 60... 70...
Ding!
[Name: Divine Perception]
[Type: Passive]
[Description: Your awareness can now cover an entire planet. As long as you focus and know what you are looking for, you can almost always find it unless concealed by special means.]
Damian’s eyes widened. This time he genuinely looked shocked.
"Ooh shit."
His head snapped toward the panel.
"This is huge."
Unlike many flashy combat abilities, Divine Perception was terrifying because of its utility. Finding anything, anyone and anywhere in an entire planet is more useful than it looks.
Nothing could truly hide from him anymore. It was the same kind of perception his wives casually displayed.
Only now he possessed it too.
"You aren’t complaining now, are you?"
Rin immediately smacked him across the head.
Pa!
Damian rubbed the side of his face.
"Should I be grateful for receiving what I deserve?"
Pa!
Another slap landed instantly.
"Ungrateful."
Damian’s eye twitched. Without warning he grabbed one of Rin’s tails. The fox immediately realized what was happening.
Damian swung him once and threw him away like garbage. However, Rin disappeared halfway through the flight in a burst of purple smoke.
Damian had just smirked proudly when the fox suddenly reappeared on his shoulder.
Pa!
A third slap landed directly on the back of his head.
"Don’t be silly." Rin folded his paws proudly. "You can never defeat me."
Damian held the back of his reddened head while staring into the distance with exhausted eyes.
That wasn’t an ordinary slap. That was a Demigod-level slap.