My SSS-Rank Clone Talent: I Level Up Endlessly!-Chapter 84: Ghoul

"This is taking too long," Eryke the Third thought bitterly.

From his calculations, if he truly wanted to create a body, it would take hours, possibly even days. But he had only ten minutes left.

"Should I really do it?"

He wasn’t sure of the consequences of absorbing the fruit from this dead plant, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and proceed.

If he remained just a mass of death energy, the moment the curse took effect, he would be completely destroyed, his talent wouldn’t be able to save him.

At last, he made his decision and consumed the death fruit.

The moment the black mass of death energy merged with the seed, Eryke the Third was sucked into it.

"Eh?"

He was stunned, confusion clouding his mind.

[You have absorbed the Seed of Death]

[You have successfully completed your transformation and become a "Livingless Being," a Fetus Ghoul]

[You have gained the title <Ageless>]

...

<Ageless>

You can assimilate with death.

...

The next moment, he felt as if he were in an entirely different place—one filled with energies that resonated with his new form.

"Where am I?"

In his current state, he couldn’t see anything, leaving him utterly clueless.

Then, something strange stirred within him.

"Eh?"

The seed-like fruit now resided within him.

"Huh?"

It felt as though the seed wasn’t something external to him—it was part of him, like an extension of his limbs.

Curious, he decided to try moving it.

The moment he did, thick death energy leaked from it, causing the mass of death energy to become denser.

At first, he may have only appeared as a wisp of smoky dust, but now he resembled a swirling black cloud.

Although he couldn’t see, he could sense his surroundings. It felt strange, yet somehow natural.

He attempted to move within this space and he did, almost too quickly.

It was as if he were a fish swimming through an ocean, each movement coming effortlessly.

"This... this feels awesome..."

He zipped through his surroundings, an inexplicable excitement bubbling within him.

But as he moved, he collided with something. The moment he made contact, a terrifying suction force began to pull him in.

All the death energy was being drawn into it, causing his form to fade away.

"Hmm?"

Eryke the Third didn’t fully understand what was happening, but he realized that if he didn’t act fast, he’d soon be consumed by it.

"But what do I do?"

Frowning in concentration, he quickly began searching for a solution.

But all the skills and titles he had gained so far were designed for his human-like form. In his current spectral state, he had nothing to rely on.

"Sigh."

Without a solution in sight, he decided to activate his Seed of Death.

Death energy surged from it, replenishing him as it was being drained by the mysterious force.

The more time passed, the deeper his worry grew.

"I’m stuck here, and if this keeps up, I’ll be drained dry."

He gritted his imaginary teeth:

"I’ll see how much you can take."

At the very least, his Seed of Death seemed to hold an endless supply of death energy, so he continued to fuel his form, over and over, just to hold on.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. What felt like decades, centuries, or even aeons passed, and Eryke the Third found himself growing tired and bored.

"This Seed of Death really is limitless."

Then, suddenly, the suction force that had been draining him stopped. He could move again.

Eryke the Third carefully assessed his surroundings.

Though he couldn’t see, he sensed a massive presence—something moving away from him at an incredible speed.

"You think you can escape so easily?"

He sneered inwardly, then surged forward, swiftly weaving through the space. At the same time, he released more of his death energy, and it was still being pulled into the unknown force.

The chase lasted only a brief moment before a terrifying explosion rocked the entire area.

The death energy shook everything, and Eryke the Third felt a yearning deep within his very soul.

Though he couldn’t see, he sensed something before him that called to him, something he longed for.

Without hesitation, he moved toward it, and it instinctively absorbed him.

Instantly, something strange occurred within his Seed of Death.

It wasn’t a physical change but the transformation was undeniable. The death energy that defied his physique began to shift.

From a mere blob of smoke, he began to take on a human-like form, with arms and limbs made of pure death energy.

And with this change, he could finally see.

[You have absorbed the core of a spectral ghoul]

[You have leveled up from Fetus Ghoul to Youngling Ghoul]

"Huh, what?"

Eryke the Third looked around, his surroundings immediately stunning him into place.

Larvae flowed through the area, and countless wails erupted, filling the air. Ghouls walked and ran in every direction, each minding their own business.

The cries came from small, smoke-like entities, divided into two distinct categories, with the giant ghouls acting as their guides.

The black puffs of smoke wailed continuously.

In the distance, a massive black gate loomed, guarded by a giant two-headed dog.

"Is this hell?"

The question surged through his mind without warning.

***

Eryke looked at the situation unfolding for Eryke the Third and could only sigh.

"I sent him to fetch food, and now he’s bringing me more trouble to deal with."

He felt like facepalming himself.

Rubbing his skeletal forehead, Eryke calmed his nerves and ate some sand to recover. For now, there was no other choice.

***

Eryke the Third scanned his surroundings and walked up to one of the ghouls. It turned toward him, grinning before opening its mouth wide, attempting to devour him.

At first, he was stunned, but then a grin appeared on his face, though it was entirely imaginary.

"Oh, you want to devour me too?"

This ghoul was much bigger than him but there was no fear in his "heart".