The Author's Viewpoint-Chapter 116 - Hellforge Unleashed

The process of the Bloodline Override was long, agonizingly so. What made it feel endless wasn’t just the ritual itself, but the unrelenting pain. Tave had lost all sense of time. Minutes, hours... it all blurred into a haze of burning nerves and twitching muscles.

And this wasn’t even his first time.

But this time, failure wasn’t an option.

He couldn’t stop the ritual midway. He knew the consequences. If he did, he wouldn’t just lose the demon’s essence. He might suffer permanent damage. Side effects. Corruption without the power to balance it. A curse instead of a blessing.

That would be worse than death.

His right temple throbbed with stabbing pain. Something was definitely growing there. And yeah, Tave had prepared himself for this. The worst-case scenario: a horn. A real, visible, unmistakable horn.

He hadn’t exactly planned out how he’d explain that to anyone.

Hopefully, just one horn. And maybe, if the gods weren’t laughing at him, small. Barely noticeable. Please, not some massive, curled monstrosity jutting out from his forehead.

Especially since... yeah, the pain was centered exactly where the original demon’s horn had been. Right front. The worst spot.

If it had been higher up, tucked under his hair, maybe he could’ve hidden it easily.

And then. Notifications. One after another. Streaming into his mind like a flood.

[ You have successfully awakened the Hellforge Form Sigil. ]

[ Partially fuses your flesh with demonic essence, enhancing durability and regeneration dramatically. Grants better resistance against elemental and physical attacks. ]

[ Sustained use accelerates stamina depletion, limiting battle duration. ]

[ Your body has accepted the sigil’s imprint. ]

[ The sigil will evolve alongside your Gaia Force progression. ]

[ You have advanced to Level 24. ]

Ah, wait... Tave’s eyes were still shut tight as the notifications flashed rapidly across his inner vision, one after another, filling his mind with data and revelations.

So... he had gained a new sigil.

Hellforge Form.

He didn’t need to open his eyes to know what that meant.

He hadn’t grown a permanent horn on his forehead after all. Well, technically, yes. He had developed one. But it wasn’t a constant feature. It only appeared when the sigil was activated, when the transformation was triggered.

Wasn’t that incredible?

He exhaled slowly, relief mingling with awe. This wasn’t a curse. It was a gift. One he could control.

Still, as a Gaia Guardian, he knew full well that this transformation wouldn’t run at peak efficiency. He hadn’t yet unlocked the deeper tiers of power, so mastering everything the sigil had to offer would take time.

But even now, even with the limitations, it was something remarkable.

He could retain his human form. Live among others without suspicion. And when the moment called for it, when he truly needed power, he could unleash the demon within.

It wasn’t a permanent state. It was a temporary transformation, a burst of power, a weapon forged for desperation and survival.

Sure, it came with drawbacks. It would drain his stamina fast if used too long. But that was a fair price to pay for what he had just acquired.

This was, without a doubt, an extraordinary upgrade.

[ You will gain more physical traits from the demon when activating the Hellforge Form Sigil. ]

[ As you progress in your Gaia development, more demonic traits will manifest. ]

[ You have developed a single horn in your right forehead. This horn will only manifest when Hellforge Form is active. ]

[ You have developed Enhanced Eyes. Eyes glow or shift color, improving night vision and enabling detection of subtle movements. ]

[ Fanged Teeth developed. Elongated, sharpened teeth suited for close combat and intimidation. ]

[ You have developed Reinforced Skin. Toughened flesh offers significant resistance to physical impact. ]

[ You may develop Powerful Claws. Capable of slashing enemies and gripping surfaces with extreme force. ]

[ You may develop Tail. A demonic tail may emerge, useful for balance, grappling, or supplementary attacks. ]

[ You may develop Demonic Wings. Potential for wings that grant limited flight or aerial agility. ]

Then, more notifications surged into view. Each one announcing additional upgrades Tave had gained through the Bloodline Override. And right there, it confirmed the physical changes his body had begun to undergo.

And seriously... It was great.

His skin had thickened. That alone was a game-changer. It would give him a sturdier defense, make his body more resistant to blades, impact, and elemental strikes. Not to mention, it would drastically dull the pain he felt in combat.

A real gift in the middle of a battlefield.

The thought of growing a tail, though... yeah, that still sounded weird as hell. He silently hoped it would be a temporary trait too, something he could activate only when he was activating his new Sigil. Grappling, balancing, maybe a surprise attack or two. Fine. Just don’t let it be there all the time.

But wings?

Now that got his blood pumping.

The idea of sprouting actual wings sounded absolutely wild. Even though, technically, he already had access to Gaia Wings. Almost. If only his Relic didn’t act like a temperamental diva half the time, giving him flight one day and ignoring him the next.

Still, having a second option? A physical set of wings, born from his own evolving body?

Not a bad idea at all. Not bad in the slightest.

Yeah.

He could live with that.

[ You have inherited Demonic Combat Traits. ]

[ Enhanced Strength and Speed. Vastly increased physical performance, exceeding human limits. ]

[ Accelerated Regeneration. Rapid healing of minor wounds, and faster recovery from major injuries, at the cost of increased hunger and fatigue. ]

[ Pain Suppression. Greatly heightened pain tolerance, allowing continuous combat even under severe trauma. ]

[ Demonic Frenzy. In critical moments, tap into violent surges of power, speed, and reflexes. ]

[ You have inherited Demonic Mental Traits. ]

[ Heightened Aggression. Increased combat drive and decisiveness under stress. ]

[ Infernal Willpower. Improved resistance against fear, control, and mental attacks. ]

[ Dominating Presence. Exudes overwhelming aura that can intimidate or unsettle weaker minds. ]

[ You have advanced to Level 25. ]

More notifications streamed across Tave’s vision, one after another.

And seriously... They were incredible.

That was the true power of Bloodline Override. No question.

The only shame was only a few people knew about it, let alone dared to perform it. It was taboo, after all. Forbidden. Dangerous. Feared.

But really. How much did he care about that?

Taboo was still better than dying a bloody, forgotten death inside some twisted Emergency Rift. If he was going to survive, if he was going to win, then he had to be ready to throw away his human body entirely.

Yes, humans could become strong. They could evolve, enhance themselves in countless ways. But this? This was different. A path where the upgrades weren’t just layered on top. They were chosen. Customized. Focused. Honed into something sharp and singular.

Now he waited. Patient, breath held. Hoping. Maybe one more notification would drop. Maybe something tied to his elemental affinity.

But then, his heart.

That powerful, pulsing beat that had thudded like a war drum through his entire body... slowed.

The Bloodline Override had ended.

Quietly, he opened his eyes.

Only for them to shoot wide open a second later.

The world looked different. Sharper. Clearer. He wasn’t used to this reflex yet. This rapid clarity that snapped into his brain the moment his eyes opened.

And right in front of him, waiting with folded arms and that familiar mix of curiosity and barely concealed concern, sat her.

Panpan.

She tilted her head, lips twitching at the corners. "Tave..." she said, softly waving her hand. "Are you... okay?"

"Who are you?" he snapped.

Panpan froze, eyes wide. "...Tave?"