Ashton holed-up as much as he could during the past couple of days.
He always made sure that if he's going to move, he will do it during daytime and without being detected by Demons. He isn't in any hurry to confront them, he's too weak and inexperienced to deal with them anyway. Plus, his curse wasn't helping him at all.
He doesn't have any powerful offensive spells that he can use to fight with. Sure he can level up Spells higher than his cultivation but since all he had are Basic Spells, there really isn't much he can do with them.
Ashton would know. After all, he tried them within the Simulation Zone and barely worked.
Realistically, all he could do right now is to gather enough experience and increase his strength through cultivation. Even though he's avoiding confrontation against demons, with the help of the Simulation Zone, he can collect experience.
It would've been perfect if [Cleptomancy] worked in simulated enemies but it didn't. Well, beggars can't be choosers. He's already loaded anyways so it didn't really upset him that much.
While Ashton dutifully avoided demons like the plague they are, it didn't mean that he stopped analyzing them and observing his surroundings.
Recently, he has been trying to search for any weak spots he can take advantage of through studying the Imps closely. He hasn't had any luck so far but he wasn't discouraged. He still refused to simulate a Tormentor though.
In addition to the two types of demons he initially saw, he discovered more types within the past few days roaming around the city ruins. They are;
Inciters - demons that have the ability to incite a target and make them lose all reason and self-preservation. These demons are humanoid in shape. They have short arms and long legs. They're quite ugly to look at and they release eerier sounds whenever their trying to use their abilities. The ones he saw roaming around where kids, two-three pairs of horns.
Flesh Eaters - small but deadly. These are insect type demons with wings that would put Earth's Piranhas' to shame with how they feed. They move in schools and usually move in a listless manner but the moment they smell blood, all hell will break loose. They don't discriminate either, they'd even eat fellow demons should they bleed within their range.
Ashton still feels his skin-crawling the moment he saw a school of Flesh Eaters.
And finally, one of the most terrifying demons that was ever recorded in Humanity's records...
Crowfathers - a demon with a head of crow wearing a black feather gown. They're usually followed by a murder of crows but at the very least, there would be two perched on each of its shoulders.
Crowfathers have a bone staff, the scary thing about them is that they can use magic and are known to be proficient Hexers. They can multi-cast and have a deep well of mana reserves which allow them to spam spells left and right. The murder they keep are also dangerous for they are nor idle when the Crowfather wants someone dead. And so long as the Crowfather has a single breath in him, the murder are practically immortal.
The murder can also feed themselves to the Crowfather to heal his injuries. In turn, the Crowfather can give birth to more crows as he deems fits. It's is just an awful cycle of nightmares, the likes that Ashton doesn't particularly like to get involved in.
The horrifying thing about Crowfathers is in the way they eat. They keep their target alive as they eat then. They force their targets to watch as the demon eat them one piece at a time, savoring their fear and hysteria.
He only saw a single Crowfather so far which is good, but considering that it's also an adult one with 4 pairs of horns, made Ashton take back that statement.
This demon is just as bad as the Tormentor. Ashton truly is unfortunate to be within the vicinity of a Crowfather but hey, at least he remained unnoticed.
He needed to switch locations every now and then out of necessity but that's fine. Ashton got lucky enough to find a good spot to hide for a while anyway so he plan on taking advantage of that.
'...this spot should be fine for two weeks at least.' Ashton mused to himself. 'That's enough time for me to recover from sleep deprivation and exhaustion. If I'm lucky, I can stay here for my breakthrough as well.'
'But you shouldn't risk that.' Aria's voice sounded in his mind. 'Have your breakthrough here in the Library instead.'
'Are you sure though? Wouldn't the books get destroyed?' He asked.
'There's an empty room you can use. So long as you place an array and seal it shut, you should be fine. Anyways, rest for now. I'll warn you if I sense something wrong.'
Ashton nodded. The past few days had been particularly stressful for him.
In hindsight, he didn't need as much sleep as regular mortals thanks to his cultivation. However, the tension was taking its toll on his body, leaving him exhausted and drained.
He really needs a good rest. Sadly, that would prove to be rather difficult with all the demons roaming around but he can at least try.
Aria would be there to look after him. Her senses as a Sorceress are suppressed earlier but she's trying her best. With a bit of luck, she managed to discover a way to extend her sense past the walls of the library.
Her range isn't far. Just around 100 meters in radius but that's enough for Ashton.
Once he rested properly, Ashton should be well enough to breakthrough the Apprentice Realm. He's currently lv.9 with 9 refinements so it shouldn't be too difficult for him. Plus, Aria would be there to guide him so he should be fine.
Once the two weeks passed, the first benchmark for the survival mission should be completed as well. The rewards for that would 5 pieces of Bloodline Purification Pills.
Honestly, Ashton had no idea what will happen once he consume those. Does he have a bloodline anyway?
His Profile said that he's Human, it didn't say which kind of bloodline he possess. He tried asking the System but it didn't answer him so he could only guess for now.
Well, if there's any clue he can use, it'd be the 'Fey Emperor's Blessing'. This is his Providence but by it's name, it also something that is close to being a Bloodline.
Would he become a fairy when he increase the purity of this bloodline? Will have pointy ears? Would he become even prettier that he already is? Would his sensitivity to mana increase again? What should he expect really?
A lot of questions that has no answers for now, sadly.
While Ashton's immersed in his own thoughts, his body went into an auto-pilot. He placed several Talisman Seals around his new hideout, making sure they're spaced-out evenly and placed properly so as to maximize their effects.
He also set up a formation around for extra-measure.
Once he's done with his set-up, he took out stuff and started preparing a meal for himself.
While the soup simmered away, he set-up the tent and the sleeping bag he'll use. He also lit-up an incense to drive away any pests or insects that may crawl around his shelter.
Once he's full and relaxed, he wrapped the sleeping bag on himself and collapsed inside the tent. Before closing his eyes, he double-checked if the Mana-Air Converter and Purifier has enough supply to last for his slumber.
Once he confirmed that they do, he made himself comfortable and closed his eyes.
Even though he's dead tired, sleep didn't come to him immediately. His mind fed him thoughts that he would rather not deal with right now and there's nothing he could do other than to take it.
He was reminded of Mary, Alice and Blake. That opened up a train of thought that he repressed for quite sometime now...
Ashton wondered if they're still alive. He wondered if they made it our safely and if they did, how are they doing right now?
Did they learn about the disappearance of the City? Were they saddened by it? How are they coping? Do they still remember him and Aria or did they move-on already?
Did they think that the two of them were dead? They did try to search for them? Would anyone help them? Are they comfortable where they are? Are they eating and resting enough?
All sorts of questions appeared in his head, making it more difficult for him to sleep.
This isolation is really taking a toll on him. Even with Aria's presence, it's driving him insane.
It would've been so much easier if he could just give-up here and accept his fate. To just surrender to whatever bullshit life threw in his path and just conclude that this second-life of his was just as shitty as the previous one.
But he truly couldn't do that. He just can't accept it for some reason. Not when he knows that he can do something about it.
Eventually though...even if it did take some time, sleep came for him and he fell into a deep slumber.
...one that would last for a whole week.
