Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

William was unrecognizable. He barely looked human, his transformed appearance striking fear into Seraphina and Hemlock. They exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what had come over the young man.

The elemental recoiled slightly, betraying its fear. Though its expressionless face revealed nothing, William recognized the telltale sign of retreat.

"What is this?" the elemental sputtered, its voice laced with apprehension. "How did you do that?"

It couldn't comprehend how a frail human like William could suddenly possess such immense power. But the elemental wasn't foolish; it knew this transformation must be temporary. Its strategy shifted to evasion, hoping to outlast William's newfound strength.

William, however, had no intention of prolonging the fight. With his demonic sword gripped tightly, he charged towards the elemental, his speed amplified to an astonishing degree. He covered nearly 200 meters in mere seconds.

As he closed in, the system interface flickered to life, displaying information about the new abilities unlocked by his Demonic Transformation and the activation of his Serpent Bloodline.

"Darkness Cut, First Form!" William roared, his voice resonating with power.

The dark energy enveloping his body surged into his sword, and William's movements became fluid and precise, guided by the demonic power coursing through him.

He leaped into the air, twisting and turning with balletic grace. It was a dance of death, a mesmerizing display of deadly force.

The dark energy surrounding the blade surged towards the elemental, striking first. The cut was deep, cleaving through its form, a swirling amalgamation of fire and water energies.

But the attack didn't end there. William's sword followed through, inflicting even more damage. Though the elemental had no blood to spill, the devastating impact was evident.

A gaping wound appeared on the elemental's torso, revealing a glimpse of a pulsating stone nestled deep within. It was the elemental's heart, its core, the source of its life force.

Seraphina watched in stunned silence. She had always suspected William harbored secrets, but the sheer power he now displayed was beyond anything she could have imagined.

"Who is he...?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Or rather, what is he?"

Hemlock, though equally astonished, remained focused on the battle. "Seraphina," he rasped, his voice strained with pain, "can you assist him? I can't fight any longer. I'll only hinder you."

The captain's condition was critical. His arm and shoulder were severely burned, the flesh almost melted. With such injuries, continuing the fight was impossible.

Seraphina, in far better physical condition, was still capable of aiding William. "Of course!" she declared, her voice ringing with determination.

Seraphina summoned a powerful water spell, channeling the might of the ocean itself! A tremendous surge of water erupted from the nearby lake, and she unleashed it upon the elemental.

"You will perish here today!" Seraphina roared, her voice echoing across the volcanic landscape.

The attack was devastating. The elemental's form was shattered, its body dissolving into a torrent of water. But Seraphina knew it wasn't over.

"It will regenerate!" she warned. "We need to attack its core!"

William heard her words and focused his assault on the elemental's core. He could see it attempting to regenerate, but his relentless attacks were destroying it faster than it could recover.

Victory seemed within reach, but William knew his time was running out.

[Demonic Transformation ends in 1 minute]

[Special ability ends in 30 seconds]

He had only one minute to finish this fight!

"Damn it!" William muttered under his breath.

He had to intensify his attacks. The elemental was on the verge of defeat.

[Demonic Transformation ends in 30 seconds]

[Special ability ends in 10 seconds]

Time was slipping away, but William was close to victory! He poured all his remaining strength into a single, decisive blow.

"Darkness Cut, Second Form!"

The attack was even more devastating than before. The elemental's core shattered into countless fragments, and its form collapsed, defeated.

William fell to his knees, gasping for air. The Demonic Transformation and his special ability had ended, leaving his body battered and exhausted.

Seraphina rushed to his side. "Are you alright?"

"Yes..." he wheezed, struggling to catch his breath.

But then, the unthinkable happened. The elemental began to regenerate!

"What?!" Seraphina exclaimed in disbelief.

The elemental was almost fully recovered, its core fragments coalescing, ready to unleash another attack.

"I will not be defeated!" it roared, launching a furious torrent of fire and water towards William and Seraphina.

Seraphina tried to conjure a water barrier, but it was too late. The blast struck them head-on.

William and Seraphina were thrown back, their bodies wracked with pain. The explosion also caught Hemlock, who lay unconscious on the ground.

The elemental advanced on William, ready to deliver the final blow. But before it could strike, a figure materialized out of thin air, shielding William from the attack.

It was Lucy!

"I won't let you hurt my master!" she cried, summoning a magic shield that deflected the elemental's assault.

The elemental was taken aback. "Who are you?" it demanded.

"I'm William's disciple!" she declared. "And I won't allow you to harm him!"

With surprising ferocity, Lucy engaged the elemental. Her movements were swift and precise, her magic potent.

But despite her valiant efforts, Lucy was no match for the creature. A powerful water attack sent her crashing into a nearby rock.

"Lucy!" William cried out, his heart filled with despair.

The elemental loomed over Lucy, ready to finish her off. But before it could strike, William rose to his feet, his body swaying unsteadily.

"I won't let you do this!" he roared, his eyes blazing with fury.

Despite his injuries, William lunged towards the elemental, ready to fight to the death.

The elemental unleashed another torrent of water, striking Lucy and sending her hurtling towards William. She landed with a sickening thud, her blood splattering on the ground near him.

The sight of Lucy's blood, infused with the essence of her demonic lineage, triggered something within William. He felt a surge of power, his demonic energy reigniting.

Driven by a primal instinct, he reached down and touched a drop of Lucy's blood, absorbing it into his body. The demonic energy coursed through his veins, revitalizing him, granting him a temporary reprieve.

With renewed strength, William unleashed a final, devastating attack. His sword shimmered with a dark aura, and he struck the elemental with the full force of his demonic power.

The elemental's core shattered completely, its form dissolving into nothingness. The battle was finally over.

William collapsed once more, his body succumbing to exhaustion and his injuries. Seraphina rushed to his side, her face etched with worry.

"William!" she cried, checking his pulse. "Are you alright?"

He managed a weak smile. "I think so," he whispered.

But as they surveyed the scene, their eyes fell upon Lucy, her form still and lifeless.

"Lucy!" William cried out, his voice filled with anguish. He crawled towards her, his heart pounding with fear.

He checked for a pulse, but it was faint, barely perceptible. Lucy was alive, but barely clinging to life.

Panic surged through William. He had failed to protect her, his newfound disciple, the girl with the demonic bloodline who had bravely thrown herself into the fray.

"We need to get her back to the village," Seraphina urged, her voice laced with urgency. "Perhaps there's a healer who can—"

Her words were cut short by Asura's voice, booming in William's mind.
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"Place the sword on her!" he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. "It will connect with her, help her heal. Trust me!"

William hesitated for a fleeting moment, doubt clouding his thoughts. But the desperation in Asura's voice convinced him. He gently lifted Lucy's limp form and placed the demonic sword, Asura, upon her chest.

A soft, ethereal glow emanated from the sword, enveloping Lucy's body. The faint pulse beneath William's fingers grew stronger, steadier.

Lucy's eyelids fluttered open, and she looked up at William with a dazed expression.

"Master...?" she whispered, her voice hoarse.

Relief washed over William, so intense it almost brought him to tears. "Lucy!" he exclaimed, his voice choked with emotion. "You're alive!"

Lucy blinked, her gaze shifting to the sword resting on her chest. "Asura...?" she murmured, a flicker of recognition in her eyes.

Asura chuckled, his voice resonating from the sword. "Seems like we have a connection, little one," he said, his tone gentler than usual. "A bond forged in blood and battle."

Lucy, still weak but recovering quickly, managed a weak smile. "Thank you, Asura," she whispered.

William gently retrieved the sword, his heart filled with gratitude for the demonic artifact that had saved his disciple's life. He looked at Lucy, his gaze filled with newfound respect and affection.

"You were incredible, Lucy," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Lucy blushed, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and pride. "I just did what any disciple would do for their master," she replied softly.

As they helped Lucy to her feet, the gravity of their situation settled upon them once more. Hemlock lay unconscious, his injuries severe, and the rest of the crew... William couldn't bear to think about the fallen sailors.