ã€ŠThe Demon Monarch Systemã€‹


 Chapter 1 - The Boy Falling To Darkness (I)

    ----

    In a run-down building, numerous people with unkempt appearances and stained clothing could be seen sleeping peacefully. Though the setting betrayed the room''s atmosphere, their rest seemed to be uninterrupted by the poor conditions.??

    Unfortunately, that couldn''t be said for a certain youth. A loud gasp was heard as the young boy jumped from his sleep. His frail body was drenched in a cold sweat while he clutched the worn, patch-filled piece of cloth that could barely be called a sheet.

    "It''s that dream again. It''s just...darkness," the boy muttered to himself as he looked around at the other sleeping serfs around him. The light of day had yet to approach, so there was still time until the bane of his day came through those nearly broken doors.

    He was careful not to interfere with their sleep. With silent steps, he walked towards the weathered windowsill. As he peered outside, he gazed at the silver gleam of the moonlight. The light of the moon seemed much more pleasant than the tyrannic heat that apanied their overbearing sun.

    "At least I get to see this beautiful sight before another hellish day starts. I just hope I don''t get targeted again today. That seems to be happening quite often these days," the boy muttered.

    While he was lost in thought, a voice sounded behind him. It was gentle yet carried a warming feeling, "Apollo, you''re up early. Is it a nightmare again?"

    The boy, Apollo, turned around. "Oh, Miss rice. Yeah, I couldn''t sleep. It''s the same dream over and over again. I don''t know what it means. But, something felt different today. The darkness usually just surrounds me inside the dream, but today, I felt like I was consumed. I don''t know how to exin it."

    rice smiled and cupped his cheeks, "Don''t worry. Just take a breather and release the angst from your mind. I know our duties have be tougher these days. I also know that they''ve been tough on you, but I''m sure a better future lies in wait."

    In response, Apollo nodded. It was the truth; the strain they put him through far surpassed any other serfs. While the others would be granted breaks, he wouldn''t. This was because of his prior identity. He belonged to the children of the family that owned these serfs.

    He was a progeny from the Kaiser Family, which sported an extensive line of reputed Sages and revered Archmages. Yet, in his case, he was unable to tap into the worldly blessing known as Mana. Forget tap into it; he couldn''t even sense it.

    A short whileter, the repeated tapping of heels and boots could be heard in the distance. Due to the sounds, everyst serf woke with punctual timing. After all, they were aware of the punishment that followed their failure to present themselves on time.

    As the sounds grew closer, rice leaned toward Apollo with a smile, "I pray that your day goes well and you make it through yet another day to see the light of tomorrow."

    "That sounds good, Miss rice. Your words always make me feel better. If only my family could express the same affection. But, instead, they just cast me away here. I want to thank you for helping me find some strength," Apollo smiled in return, thanking her.

    Shortly after, the door burst open. The ajar door revealed ady dressed in crimson robes. Her lc hair was covered by a magus hat of a matching crimson color. She looked with a disgusted gaze, which soon settled on Apollo.

    "What a surprise, everyone is awake today. Tomemorate this special urrence, I think I''ll pick a lucky individual to receive extra work today. Ah, it''ll be you!" thedy smiled. Unsurprisingly, her outstretched arm holding her wand pointed out Apollo''s figure.

    "Uh¡­ Headmaster Verina, why don''t you pick me instead? Apollo''s sleep wasn''t the best. I don''t think he''d make a good choice for additional work today," rice stepped forward to sacrifice herself.

    However, Verina was adamant in her ways. She rejected almost immediately, "That''s fine. What do you think our mages who specialize in healing are for? All you need to do is know your ce and quiet down. Anyway,e along; we need to go."

    After announcing hermands, Verina exited the dpidated premises with an about-face followed by two orderly lines behind her.

    From the serf quarters to the training grounds was a decent trek. And, because none of the serfs were experienced in the required magic, it was even longer.

    As a result, Verina''s expression seemed more frustrated than any other time of the day. If it was her alone, she would have performed a simple flight spell to lessen the travel time, but sadly, that wasn''t the case.

    Soon enough, her irritated grumbles entered the serfs behind her.

    As the serfs behind listened, they heard herin about being in charge of this menial task. It angered her to have her status demeaned in such a way. And, as a result, she even began kicking her feet and swearing to make someone pay.

    This signified the targeting of a specific individual.

    Therefore, rice turned towards Apollo and mouthed, "I''m sorry."

    However, Apollo didn''t me her because he knew she offered to stand in; it was just Verina''s decision not to ept the suggestion. Truth be told, he expected this much. With this, he focused his attention on the gravel road while ignoring the close view of the expanse seen every day.

    Not too long after, they made it to the training grounds. Upon arrival, there was an rming number of kids dressed in training gear. Simrly, Verina prepped the shoddy defensive equipment for the serfs.

    Afterward, she addressed the new group, "As per usual, those who are studying to be mages, you will be with me. Those of you taking the knight''s path, you''ll be with Elder Ingrid. We will begin our daily training shortly."

    In a trained manner, the other kids followed her directions. After a few short moments, only youths dressed in cloth apprentice mage robes remained. Additionally, they held rudimentary wooden wands.

    Each of them picked a serf partner to practice on. Yet, when Apollo saw his pair, he frowned. A girl simr in height, carrying a feigned air of innocence, stood before him.

    "Hehe, Apollo. Well, well, well. Tell me, how are you?" the girl giggled.

    Anyone who knew this girl knew the attitude she presented was fake. To describe her in a simple phrase, she was a sadistic cretin.

    "Melina," Apollo grumbled.

    While Melina continued to smile, Verina chanted a spell to root all the serfs to the ground. In their now immobile state, they became living training dummies for the youth to practice their spells on.

    "I''m going to have so much fun with you. I learned two new spell sequences just for today. If Mom and Dad were here, they''d witness a pleasant sight."

    "Begin!" Verina announced.

    Immediately after, Melina lifted her, chanting without hesitation. Before the tip of her wand, a fist-size ball of mes grew until it resembled a basketball circumference. Once it was primed, she released it.

    When the hitnded on Apollo''s chest, he winced. Tiny embers continued to burn his tattered robes, which caused his visible ribs to show.

    Although it was painful, Apollo tried to bear with it. He even tried to tolerate the repeated bombardment of that same spell. However, when she conjured a chain lightning skill, Apollo nearly lost it.

    "Shouldn''t those who practice with lightning spells train under an older member? Why are you here," Apollo questioned. Given Melina''s personality, his anxiety ran deep.

    "Well, I just learned it yesterday. So, I can''t count as an apprentice lightning mage just yet," Melina smirked mischievously.

    "No more questions! Suffer, hehe!" Melina cackled, releasing the chain of lightning. Naturally, with all those volts running through him, Apollo roared in pain.

    His screams drew the attention of Verina, who raised her eyebrow in shock. ''Fire and Lightning. A super offensivebination. Some might even say Lightning is a variant of Fire.''

    As this scenario repeated itself, Apollo struggled to retain his sanity until, finally, it broke. He looked at Melina with hateful eyes as a mysterious aura of darkness exuded from his body. Subsequently, that presence broke the lock Verina ced on everyone.

    He rushed towards Melina intending to kill her. Nothing else mattered anymore because he wanted only to tear her apart.

    When Melina felt the wave of hostility assaulting her, she froze. The weakness of an apprentice mage was closebat, and now that Apollo was rushing at her, she didn''t know what to do. Apollo sought to take her along wherever his destination may be based on the look in his eyes.

 Chapter 2 - The Boy Falling To Darkness (II)

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    By the time Apollo reached her, Melina''s reactions slowed due to her hyperventtion. Despite her earlier disy of cruelty, when push came to shove, she had never been in a situation wherein death was a possible oue. Moreover, this was especially true when it came to the threat of death from someone so much weaker.??

    Although she knew he didn''t possess a body fueled by Mana, those eyes and his aura terrified her. Even if he couldn''t utilize Mana, his presence felt bizarre. She couldn''t put her finger on it, but something told her that this boy in front of her wasn''t the same "brother" she knew.

    There was something amiss with his body.

    Fortunately for her, Verina intervened at thest moment. She dashed in front of Melina and lifted her wand towards Apollo. Without a shred of hesitation, she cast another immobilization spell on Apollo. However, to her surprise, it didn''t stick to his body.

    The weird aura around his body neutralized the spell. In fact, the moment the mana inside the spell touched his body, there were faint signs of the entire spell decaying. As she saw this, she came to the conclusion that this odd aura was some type of protection.

    Therefore, she took on more straightforward means.

    "I don''t know what unorthodox means you have utilized, but I am warning you; yield now, or I will attack!" Verina eximed.

    Thin streams of Mana started to umte at the tip of her wand, coalescing into arge cluster. As the atmosphere grew tense, the Mana she collected took on a different shade symbolizing an element''s activation.

    In short, the preparations for a counterattack were nearlyplete!

    Meanwhile, her words appeared to enter some void because Apollo didn''t acknowledge her existence in the slightest. There was only hatred in his eyes; pure unadulterated wrath. Even the serfs felt his palpable fury.

    Furthermore, it wasn''t just for Verina but Melina alike. He seemed hellbent on seeing their demise. Upon noticing this issue, Verina confirmed herck of options.

    ''This boy is out of hand. We might as well get rid of him. If immobilizing spells don''t work on him, then there''s no other way to control him,'' Verina inwardly thought. It was at that very moment she also made up her mind to stop restraining herself.

    The cluster surged upon Verina pointing her wand and the earth beneath Apollo''s feet. A collection ofrge earth spires threatened to pierce through the ground with their minor points.

    Be that as it may, Apollo moved the moment Apollo felt these vibrations. Because of his movement and the dark aura, the onlookers thought he disappeared, but that wasn''t the case. He merely turned into a blur while encased in a purplish-ck aura.

    Suddenly, Apollo''s eyes regained a tinge of rity.

    As he looked around he noticed something, "This is the darkness that appeared in my dreams, but why... does it feel sofortable? Also, how is this possible? I thought my body couldn''t sense or emit Mana," Apollo mused with an incredulous expression.

    Nevertheless, this state couldn''t be held for long. Pain wracked Apollo''s body, causing him to slow down. Shockingly, when he reappeared he was over 10 yards away from where Verina conjured the torrent of earth spires.

    This odd disy caused Verina''s narrowed gaze. There was no way someone who couldn''t use Mana could move that fast! Nothing about this situation made sense, but she didn''t want to allow this to bud into any further issues. Hence, she conjured arge ball of water and aimed it at the deconstructing earth spires.

    The result was earthen sludge with a muddy consistency.

    However, she didn''t stop there. Shebined her spell with another, "Tier 2 Spell, Freezing Wind," she chanted. As the temperature dropped, the surface of the mud rapidly solidified into ice. As this happened, Apollo struggled to retain bnce.

    The sudden loss of friction and theck of Mana to stabilize him in an upright position proved to be his disadvantage. mor ensued as everyone, including the other serfs, watched this scene. By now, they had long since separated themselves from this conflict.

    However, rice stood at the side with fidgeting fingers, ''Oh no. No, no, no. This isn''t good. He''s going to be punished.'' Soon, her fidgeting fingers clenched into a fist. The more she watched, the more courage she worked up to take a step forward.

    Through luck, Apollo managed to dodge thecerating winds Verina conjured every time he slipped. Not only was her mana reserves being spent, but for some reason, Apollo''s consciousness was also bing foggy.

    Suddenly, a loud bellow was heard as arge fireball fired directly at Apollo.

    "Die, die die!" Melina shrieked. After turning towards it, the brilliance of the me shimmered in his eyes.

    Out of nowhere, a shadow appeared before Apollo. When the features of the face became clear, Apollo''s pupil constricted. He wanted to scream, but the intention was stuck in his throat.

    Apollo could only watch in shock as rice summoned a thin water barrier before them. Although there wasn''t much of a difference between rice and Melina''s mana output, Melina had much more time to umte. Thus, when the fireball collided with the barrier, it tore it apart.

    The fireball continued forward andnded directly on her chest. The resulting collision sent both Apollo and rice flying,ing to a stop after a few painful tumbles.

    Apollo turned his writhing body toward rice. Even now, there was a gentle smile on her face while she looked at Apollo. The skin from her neck to bust was singed, thus she could only mutter weakly, "You...don''t deserve it. Return to peace."

    Afterward, she lifted her finger and fired a condensed wind bullet between Apollo''s eyebrows. When everyone watched this, they paled. There wasn''t any present who was capable of healing this type of wound.

    Meanwhile, Apollo couldn''t wrap his mind around what was happening. Even though her words sounded like they were consoling him, was death truly the only way to release himself and return to peace? As this question dawned upon Apollo, something inside him bubbled.

    While his life was on the terrible side, death wasn''t something he wished to experience. Yet, as heid on the floor, the embers of his life waned. Be that as it may, something buried deep inside Apollo''s mind thrummed. His body may have died but something much more important with his soul took ce.

    There was a voice in his head talking to him! It possessed a regal aura that also felt quite familiar to him.

    ?My descendant, the time of your awakening hase.?

    ?Be one again. Follow the determined path and you will end up at the rightful destination. I hope your trial has fixed the issue that gued you. If you are to rule, then that weakness can''t be present. Whatever you have faced, it should be enough to prepare you.?

    ? It has been vacant for too long. The leaders of the race don''t hold the key nor do theye close to the true principle of a Demon Monarch.?

    ? Therefore, you must remember you are one of them; no, you were born above them and shall return to rule them. The Rings await you¡­ The De¡­ Mo... Sys... awaits you, Tem. Join with your warden and unleash hell.?

    Apollo didn''t catch part of the message towards the end. His waning consciousness made it difficult until the final moments.

    A familiar darkness engulfed his mind, except this one seemed to attract him towards something else.

 Chapter 3 - Eventual Meeting Of The Fated Ones

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    "U-ugh..." A low, pained groan passed through the stifling atmosphere. After opening his eyes, Apollo realized darkness still surrounded him!??

    However, it felt different and caused him to fall into a slight panic. Amid his panicking, an itchy sensation crossed his chest. Secondster, that itch became a burning sensation.

    ''D-damn...it hurts!''

    Wherever he was, theck of air made it a monumental task to breathe.

    Not only was it difficult to breathe, it felt like he was being crushed. For a moment, no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn''t move. The fear of the unknown and the weight pressing on his body paralyzed him.

    After closing his eyes, Apollo calmed down eventually, which returned a bit of sensation. He twitched his arm and was thankful once he continued to regain more control as time passed.

    Soon enough, Apollo began tapping his hand against what felt like a stony surface. He tried with all his might to move whatever was restricting him from seeing light.

    Only after countless attempts did his movements yield slight progress. His actions shifted a few stones allowing a modicum of light to enter.

    However, the light acted as a makeshift trigger. The moment the ray of light met his pupils, his body stiffened once again, but this time was different. A flood of memories simr to a panoramic movie scene deluged his mind, causing a faint headache.

    Yet that wasn''t the most mystifying development; half of them felt obscured in a misty haze!

    "This is eerie. These aren''t my memories. Are they? Where in the hell am I?! Furthermore, these scenes..." Apollo continued to murmur amid a marvel taking ce in his mind.

    Numerous harrowing scenes repeated in his mind. The prior owner of this body would be beaten senselessly and tormented by the younger family members of his generation.

    Disturbingly, the older members would turn a blind eye to it, although they were aware of the events taking ce.

    "How sad; this boy was thrown away as well. Is asking for a good life despite being weak too much to ask for? Does everything need to revolve around strength? It is all just too unfair..."

    As he spoke to himself, the frail Apollo''s eyes filled with warm tears. Although the tears agitated his eyes, surprisingly, he didn''t acknowledge it. Not only did his current situation not allow for him to remedy that itch, but his mind also wasn''t focused on that.

    When looking through the scenes, there were several reminders of the former Apollo being buried alive by his peers and left to struggle and ultimately find his way out.

    Unfortunately, this time was different. This particr beating was too severe, causing him to fall unconscious under the rubble. While unconscious, being buried alive ultimately led to his doom.

    However, the timing of these deaths was too odd and aligned. Yet, Apollo didn''t realize this.

    "P-people are disgusting! Even though we were harmless, they still abused us. And everyone permits this because we are found to be useless," Apollo muttered while hammering the stones above him.

    The vehement pounding caused small pieces of rubble to fall into his eyes, yet unbridled anger clouded his perception of pain. Inparison to the years of torture, the burning in his eyes meant nothing to him.

    ''Despicable people!'' Apollo seethed internally.

    Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice spoke to him. Moreover, their words resonated deeply with Apollo.

    [Have you now realized the world despises weak people? It is a hypocritical state of affairs. Consequently, these teachings foster individuals who prey on each other instead of ridding the world of that gue. What you need to do is understand people for what they are¡ªdeceitful!]

    "I agree! You are right. Absolutely despicable. But, I have to ask, will I suffer death again?"

    [Incorrect. I won''t allow that. What you shall do is take your fate into your own hands and reim the glory! Even I am unfair, but it is my orders. So, will you ascend to a mantle achieved only once before? If so, the Demon Monarch System awaits your union.]

    "Demon...Monarch System?" Apollo muttered in awe before pausing his pounds. "It awaits me?"

    [Yes, it is your path to undeniable strength, but it alone cannot make you strong. You must be ready to face pain and tribtion to be strong.]

    "O-okay, but you have to promise that I will never have to experience death again," Apollo requested.

    [Heh, obviously so. How can you reim that glory then? I will assist your journey as best as possible. Now, begin the union with the system. It relies upon you because it is far from its greatest strength. Activate...Demon Monarch System!]

    A shockwave emanated from the body of Apollo, which caused the rubble covering him to turn to dust. A momentter, Apollo climbed out of a crudely made grave whilst coughed continuously.

    Although his throat still stung, the fresh air entering his lungs generated a wondrous feeling. Moreover, light from the two suns above shone down on him, highlighting his dark grey eyes filled with hatred.

    At the same time, a small screen appeared before Apollo''s face. It was the system the voice talked about earlier.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lv.1

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Human

    Age: 10

    Level: 1

    Experience: 0/100

    Health: 2/10 (20%)

    Stamina: 10 (100%)

    Strength: 1.0

    Agility: 1.0

    Intelligence: 8.0

    Vitality: 1.0

    Stat Points: 0.0

    ...

    The screen only disyed his stats and nothing else. There were no skills or the like. Nothing that told him of the background information rted to this world, how these attributespared.

    [These are your current stats. However, what you need to aim for is the system''s 3rd level. I will give you, let''s say approximately 5 years to do so. Of course, it''s just a general estimation as this world seems to be rather... awkward.]

    ?System Alert: A Main Mission has been given by the system''s warden.?

    ¡¸Quest Name: Journey to Sovereignty Part One

    Quest Information: The road to power is tiresome¡ªone filled with both pain and strife. However, pain is needed to mold the strongest vessels. As such, it is time to step upon your road to Monarchhood¡ªbeginning the journey of the monarch of the demons.

    Objectives:

    -Achieve Demon Monarch System''s 3rd Level. (0/1)

    -Reach Level 100. (0/1)

    -???

    -???

    Time Limit: 5 years

    Rewards: ????, ????, ???? ¡¹

    ...

    "5 years, such a long time. Also, do you have any relevant information about this world?" Apollo asked, because whenever he tried searching through the memories, only shes of bullying and apparent shunning surfaced.

    The knowledge of this world and its history was vague¡ªnearly nonexistent. Sure enough, the boy''s knowledge was insufficient.

    [I do, but why would I simply give it to you? You need to learn that what you desire must be taken and not given. Thus, go retrieve with your own abilities.]

    "Oh,e on!" Apollo''s groaned with a thin frown. In addition to being confused, hearing thosest words left a sour taste in his mount. After all, based on what he saw, he was still weak!

    Nevertheless, to assist, the warden issued another sub-objective.

    ?System Alert: First supplemental mission given!?

    ¡¸Quest Name: Knowledge of the New World

    Quest Information: Although you have be an outcast in your family, that does not stop you from seeking knowledge. Return to your family and obtain information about this world.

    Objectives:

    -Receive imparted knowledge. (0/1)

    Reward-

    - 100 Experience

    - .5 Intelligence Points. ¡¹

    "I guess that helps," Apollo nodded but then stopped as a question crossed his mind. "Just what should I call you? This thing only addresses you as warden."

    [Of course, it does. As for what to call me, Azridan will suffice. I am the warden of your system, thus it addresses me as so. But, for convenience...]

    Ding!

    ?System Change: The warden will now be addressed as Azridan.?

    ''Azridan, huh? That''s a pretty cool name,'' Apollo thought to himself, rubbing his chin in approval.

    [While your subtle praise is wee, I suggest you leave this ce.]

    "Yes, yes! I will go," Apollo froze and narrowed his gaze before continuing, "Home."

    Regrettably, he could travel too far because of arge gash on his left leg, along with multiple bruises surrounding it.

    Despite the pain, Apollo trudged on, which eventually brought him to the gates of the aforementioned "home". However, Apollo merely gazed at the gates in a temporary daze.

    "Yeah, memories of this ce is surfacing," Apollo muttered.

 Chapter 4 - Malevolent Children

    ----

    Apollo remembered these ivory gates as he stood before the manor''s outer courtyard. It was "home", but it never felt like one. Although Apollo grew up here, theck of pleasant memories was jarring.??

    This town he grew up in was known as Verdacre; filled with towering and vibrant trees that provided copious amounts of shade for miles toe.

    Additionally, his family¡ªthe Kaiser Family¡ªhad a reputable name in this town; they were one of the two small ruling noble families of the area. While nothingpared to the true powers of this world, they could hold their own with other bordering town nobles.

    "The Kaiser Family; what a coincidence. Both are scum under the same name. My old life had magic and spells¡ªknights and mages, but here, that is not what exists."

    It wasn''t before long that Apollo entered the gates.

    Upon doing so, Apollo was immediately given odd looks as he limped through the courtyard. His torn clothing and matted hair instantly highlighted the signs of a terrible light, yet it wasn''t concern within the eyes of the onlookers; no, it was disgust and scorn.

    "Little child, is staying out all night long all you know how to do? Just because your parents are dead and you have no one to look after you doesn''t mean you can go off and do your own thing!"

    A slightly stern-looking man with a tinge of deceitced within his eyes appeared from amongst the crowd to reprimand Apollo.

    Apollo paused after hearing this voice and nced at the man with a foul look. After all, the voice triggered a string of memories. Finally, Apollo retorted, "Tch, did you really think I stayed out all night? You know the exact cause of my disappearance, don''t act like you know nothing."

    The hate Apollo fostered ran deep and it showed in the tone of voice he used. Not to mention, his retort was quick.

    "You disrespectful brat...you dare talk back?!"

    In light of Apollo''s retort, the stern-looking man raised his hand to deliver a smack. However, his wrist was grabbed by another male looking to be of equal age. Before he could embarrass himself further, the neer shook his head.

    "Just drop. If you have working eyes, I''m sure you can see his current state. Not to mention, his words originate from anger, so I suggest your direct your focus elsewhere. Otherwise, you''ll just look silly," the neer said while also ncing towards Apollo.

    He then continued his next words, but they were directed towards Apollo, "Hurry along to your living quarters and tend to your body unless you want to lose that leg of yours."

    "Danyul! If we don''t punish this little eyesore, then he will feel it is alright to talk back! How is it right to let him go free like this? Where is the proper training?! Our youths will have no etiquette!"

    "Oh? So tell me then, Ashur. where is your etiquette and how exactly do you n to punish him?"

    The slightly irritated Ashur stumbled over the question while peering at Apollo. Danyul had a point, Apollo''s current state could only be described as horrible.

    ''Any type of beating would probably kill this kid and I don''t want that type of incident on my hands,'' Ashur inwardly determined before waving his hand.

    "Bah! Never mind¡­ but that little brat should never talk back again!" Ashur snarled before stomping off.

    Meanwhile, Apollo limped in the opposite direction and gritted his teeth the entire time. Moreover, his fist never once unclenched as a fire burned in his eyes.

    On the other hand, Danyul''s expression gradually turned into one of downcast after watching Apollo limp away. A heavy mncholy lingered within his eyes.

    Eventually, Danyul muttered something to himself, "If only you had the talent your parents did¡­"

    Shortly after, Apollo reached his courtyard. Compared to the rest of the mansion, Apollo''s living space was on the tiny side. It was a room unable to fit more than 5 people. It had a simple plush mat as a bed, a desk, and amp.

    When he turned his head, Apollo saw a small container on the corner of the desk. As soon as it entered his sight, a small screen appeared before his eyes with information.

    ¡¸Item Name: Healing Ointment

    Rank 1 Medicine

    Grade: Poor

    Effect: Restores 1 Health every 30 mins when smeared on an open wound.

    Sub-effect: Closes minor wounds in 2 hours.

    Uses: 10/10 ¡¹

    "Every 30 minutes? If I go by the system information...it''ll take 4 hours to heal? But two to close it," Apollo muttered while tapping his chin.

    [Just use it. You don''t have any better options at this moment. We can''t train if your body holds that type of energy.]

    Eventually, Apollo nodded and applied the ointment to the bruises of his body and more importantly the gash on his leg. After some time, a green number reading "+1" rose from his body.

    It was quite a surprise, but so was the sensation.

    "It feels better, but I still have to wait for this gash to close before moving too much. If I don''t, I''m not sure what would happen."

    [Oh...you''ll bleed and start losing Health again.]

    "Heh heh...yeah that would happen right."

    [Yes it would. What else would happen?]

    Confined to his bed, Apollo tried to upy himself for the time being, but it was fruitless as there was nothing interesting in the room. Thus, over 2 hours were spent in silence.

    Fortunately, a loud bell chimed throughout the mansion. Immediately, felt a familiarity from this bell.

    "I think it''s the bell for daily training sessions and teaching sses. That would be the cue to start the mission," Apollo remarked before standing up. With the gash, as well as the pain now gone, it wasn''t difficult to move.

    [Ah, yes yes..]

    Apollo approached the training field while the bell chimed continually.

    Eventually, once everyone was in attendance the bell stopped. But, upon arrival, Apollo saw both Danyul standing before a ground of kneeling children. Based on their appearances, they all seemed to be between the ages of 9-11.

    "Oh? Haha, look, Axel! That sleeping boy finally woke up and came along," a young boy joked while elbowing another in his side. He had a chubby face, squinted eyes, and light brown hair. Despite his chubbiness, he possessed above-average looks save for his mischievousness. His name was Dylon.

    On the other hand, the boy he nudged was slightly taller than the rest. He had clear yet slightly overbearing red eyes with olive hair and a sharp jawline. He was one of the top talents of the family¡ªAxel Kaiser.

    "Eh, I see. The imp hase out haha," Axel chuckled.

    However, little did they knowst night when they abandoned the boy, he had died. Instantly, feelings of hatred seethed within Apollo. Although part of them was his own feelings, Apollo understood his current situation.

    Soon enough, Apollo exhaled heavily while trembling with fury in an attempt to bury the overflowing indignation inside him was threatening to explode forth.

    ''It''s them. They are the culprits of our death. Although I was thinking of minding my business. It seems even after bing the cause of death, they won''t let us be. But that is their mistake; I will obtain power and I will make you kneel,'' Apollo thought as he clenched his fist.

    [Inevitably.]

    "What are you doing? Haha. Do you want to fight? Heh, fighting against a little shrimp like you will be fun. Come on, let''s go," Axel chuckled, attempting to stand up. However, an authoritative voice sounded.

    "Silence and sit down! The lessons will begin shortly, so shut up," Danyul reprimanded, sparing them all stern looks.

    In response, Axel grumbled and nced at Apollo who took a seat in the back. Simrly, Danyul''s eyebrows rose in shock as well. ''This boy doesn''t usually attend these lessons, what''s different today?''

    Amidst taking his seat, Apollo looked intently at Danyul. The hate he felt for the group of boys present was still there but he had toplete his mission.

    "It is time you all learn about the practicality of society. All of you are either 10 years old or approaching that age. Therefore, it''s time to impart some vital knowledge."

 Chapter 5 - Imparted Knowledge

    ----

    "You guys are old enough. At this age, it is imperative you understand your purpose and the state of this world. First and foremost, it is not a very good one," Danyul said with a solemn expression. ??

    He then continued, "The multiple towns, cities, provinces, countries, and continents of Astarat are always at stake. But, what you need to know is that not just humans inhabit these ces."

    A 10-year-old interjected, raising his hand. His face, while childish, carried hints of handsomeness despite his pudgy cheeks. His name was Aaron and, unlike the others, he was the only one who interacted with Apollo.

    After all, these two spent their entire early years together. With Apollo''s parents gone, Aaron''s mother felt it was her duty to watch after her brother''s child.

    "What inhabits this world besides us? Surely they aren''t terrible, right?"

    "Terrible?! Hah, they''re simply atrocious. Everything is their fault," Danyul responded in a huff.

    However, another youth interjected as well, "Whoa! Just what is it? Tell us already!"

    "Hold on, can''t you see I''m exining...impatient! Now, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted; their origin was from another world. It was said that a piece of aary-mass collided with our world, but the future soon unveiled that as untrue.

    "ording to history and research, eons ago, an object thought to be a meteorite crashed into Astarat. Only, it was learned to be something far worse than a meteorite. One that changed the very way of life.

    "Unknown to the civilizations present at that time, it was a homing beacon; a beacon for beings of terror. With that, the arrival of the Terrors came millenniater. Ignorant to both their true origins as well as names, we simply dubbed them what we call them now¡ªTerrors; oveers of Worlds, personifications of death, terror, and destruction," Danyul grimly shared.

    "Whoaa! Sounds cool..." A few kids muttered, which caused Danyul to shake his head in exasperation.

    "You''re missing the point! Those things are nothing but dangerous beings," Danyul screamed, feeling a vein pulsing in his forehead.

    In the back, Apollo listened intently. This was the information he needed. He needed to know about this world. What did he need to ovee? What did he have to battle against?

    "With the arrival of the Terrors, the state of the world soon changed. Originally, it was us humans who predominantly inhabited this world but after those events, nearly ? of the world wasmandeered and transformedpletely!

    "Their very existence caused gue to spread as they brought destruction on many fronts. From their anatomy, they emitted a terrifying blight, both toxic and lethal to humans. In turn, that blight brought the human race to the brink of destruction. At that point, hope was a fleeting ember.

    "The human race was fighting a losing battle in an area that drained their vitality. Pushed back, they were forced to retire to more distant areas of the world. The site of the battle is known by many names; the Armageddon Battlefield, The Catastrophe Line, the list goes on. Just know this, it''s a long stretch ofnd which stretches across all continents andes in contact with at least one side of them; events beyond your imagination took ce there.

    "Further beyond is what''s known as the Forsaken Land or the Endless Death Domain. While people still venture there, it is only the ones who have achieved sufficient strength."

    "Whoa! Where is it located¡ªthis forsakennd you speak of? What''s there, oh and how strong are the people who go there?" Dylon asked excitedly. The youthful curiosity toward danger was apparent in his behavior.

    "I just told you, beyond the borders of our continent! As for what resides there the answer is quite obvious you bumbling idiot¡ªthe Terrors! As for how strong they are...that doesn''t really matter. You lot haven''t even begun Body Cultivation yet, how can this information help? What you need to do is now focus on yourselves, " Danyul urged, withholding certain information.

    "Excuse me, what is cultivation, and how do we do it?" Apollo waved his hand, causing every child present to turn around and look towards him.

    Due to their actions, he gazed into their eyes just as forcefully.

    "Why does it matter if you are a weakling. You''re probably the only one amongst us who can''t cultivate due to your fragile body," Axel remarked with a sneer.

    Additionally, Dylon chided in, "Yeah, you lived in bed half your life! Haha, how can your body even think about cultivating?"

    However, looking at Apollo, Danyul nodded. Although he knew he was weak, he found itmendable that he sought knowledge.

    "Cultivation is an art that didn''t exist previously. At first, it was developed tobat the onught of the Terrors millennia ago but now it has also be a way of life. In short, notable figures developed ways to absorb and channel Natural Essence to strengthen themselves.

    "This world is rich in various types of essencesprised of numerous elements, and with those esteemed figures there now exist ways to absorb and im them as our own.

    "You must remember though, among methods, there is a minute to arge difference. Based on the currently known ranks, from lowest to highest it is; Mortal, Earth, Spirit, Heaven, Saint, and Divine grade techniques but each holds its own prerequisite."

    "How do you know if you''re able to cultivate?" Apollo questioned further.

    "Good question, as long as your meridians are intact, cultivation is avable all, even if the effectiveness of it varies," Danyul answered.

    Apollo pondered this while falling into his own thoughts, ''I wonder...how does itpare to my current stats?''

    "Uncle, how effective is a Mortal Physique?" Apollo questioned. Based on his assumptions, the chances of the higher version appearing were abysmal. So, it was best to ask about the lowest.

    "Seeing as the Mortal Physique is amongst the weakest, a majority of Astarat''s poptions holds this physique. But, even the weakest version on this physique is three times stronger than a human incapable of cultivating themselves," Danyul replied.

    "Oh¡­" Apollo nodded nkly.

    "Now let''s go into more detail about cultivation."

    "There are two types; Body Cultivation and Spirit Cultivation. However, not often do you find a Spirit Cultivator not belonging to the 12 War Academies or 9 Great Families. If you do, their identity is often illustrious or worse, a rogue cultivator."

    "Unfortunately, obtaining guidance into Spirit Cultivation is almost impossible, outside of entering the tutge of a renowned society. But, as that is beyond us, let''s focus on Body Cultivation beginning with the Mortal Realm."

    ''As expected. Just like my past world. The general popce is given the scraps whereas the fortunate lead avished life,'' Apollo thought, which caused a disgusted look to creep upon his face.

    "To quantify this realm, we use the term Zuls¡ªa measurement of force. Just a single Zul is equivalent to 5kgs of Force. As long as you manage to generate 11 Zuls or more, your fitness will be ssified as a Rank 2 Mortal. "

    Ding!

    ?System Alert: New information has generated aparison.?

    ?Your current parameters are equivalent to a Rank 1 Mortal.?

 Chapter 6 - Leveling Up & Training

    ----

    While bits of information were continually disclosed between Danyul and the sitting kids, some looked awed, few looked on with intent and others like Dylon nodded drowsily, causing small pebbles to be flicked at their foreheads.??

    "Yooo! I''m sorry Uncle...I won''t fall asleep," Dylon whimpered, rubbing the sore spot on his forehead.

    In response, Danyul scoffed, shaking his head in disappointment. These youths didn''t understand the weight that would rest upon their shoulders in the future. It wasn''t before long that he summed up the session.

    "Instead of nodding off, how about you look forward to preparing yourself to enter the next realm. The Mortal Realm is just a foundational stage, your real future starts the moment your attain the Zul Warrior Realm," Danyul scolded with a stern expression.

    A few momentster, he continued, "That is all. Now go practice until it is time for the examination. Once it''s time, we will greet the Grand Elder and perform the Talent Assessment," Danyul instructed whilst exiting the training grounds in the direction of the Grand Elder''s residence.

    Meanwhile, his closing statement marked the end of the lesson, thus fulfilling Apollo''s objectives toplete his quest.

    ?System Alert: First Mission COMPLETE!?

    ?System Alert: 100 Experience and 0.5 Intelligence Points rewarded.?

    ?System Alert: Congrattions, Lv.2 reached.?

    [There you have it, a vague understanding of the world. If you need to assess your stat then ess your stage page.]

    "Okay, and I do so how?" Apollo asked, failing to bring up the interface despite making obscene gestures.

    [Ah, simply mutter "System Interface", or for future reference, will its appearance with your mind. After all, who wants to look like a blubbering idiot talking to themself?]

    "System Interface," Apollo parroted, albeit skeptically. Yet, Azridan''s advance unsurprisingly word, causing a window with ck lettering to appear before his eyes.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lv.1

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Human

    Age: 10

    Level: 2

    Experience: 0/200.

    Health: 12/12

    Stamina: 13/13

    Strength: 1.1

    Agility: 1.1

    Intelligence: 8.6

    Vitality: 1.1

    Stat Points: 0.2

    ...

    Immediately, a difference stood out to Apollo, inducing his apt questioning, "Azridan, how does leveling work? For example, the stat points given, how it affects me, etc."

    [Mm, that''s not hard to discern. First, at your current level, you''ll only be rewarded 0.2 stats point per level, but seeing as each point is capable of elevating your stats, it''s worth it.]

    [As for your strength, well, in regards to the humans here, it''ll take at least 5.0 in each attribute to match a so-called Rank 2 Mortal. But, that''s only for now. Once you understand your purpose, we can begin the process.]

    "5.0. That''ll take quite a few levels," Apollo muttered before giving a faint nod.

    [Unfortunately, but once you receive all the needed information, once you unlock your Foundational Chart.]

    "Foundational Chart. It holds theparative values, I presume?" Apollo asked, but Azridan''s answered left much to be desired. In fact, it was almost like he was avoiding answering this.

    [Possibly, but that Talent Assessment. It sounds quite intriguing, so let''s attend. Perhaps it''ll be a vital catalyst to beginning your journey and broaden your view of this world.]

    ?System Alert: New supplemental mission given!?

    ¡¸Quest Name: Talent Assessment Appearance

    Quest Information: Bad blood need not be an issue as nothing should stop you from iming power. Furthermore, learning the behavior of people is crucial to understanding how to control them.

    Objectives:

    -Attend and participate in the Talent Assessment. (0/1)

    -ept the ensuing verdict. (0/1)

    Reward-

    - 100 Experience

    - 0.2 Stat Points.  ¡¹

    ...

    "Ugh, this is going to be annoying based on how this objective is worded. A verdict usually precedes punishment," Apollo grumbled.

    [Indeed, you can see it as such. In the meantime, some basic assistance needs to be given if you seek to grow faster than what others believe you can.]

    ?System Alert: A daily mission has been generated!?

    ¡¸Quest Name: Arduous Training (Beginner Level)

    Information: Although you have been blessed with a gift in the form of the system, its presence means nothing with inaction. Hence, it is time to begin your training. A sturdy foundation is the basis of everything. Nothing is given, it can only be taken or obtained!

    Objectives:

    -Execute 100 staff strikes. (0/100)

    -Execute 50 squats. (0/50)

    -Run 1km. (0/1)

    -Regte your perception for 30 minutes. [Basic Meditation] (0/30)

    Reward:

    - 25 Experience

    - 0.1 Strength

    - 0.1 Agility. ¡¹

    *Note: Every aspect of the training must bepleted within 1 sitting once it has been initiated.

    ...

    "Training...? This counts as training? This seems more like basic exercise. Where''s the difficulty?" Apollo stated with a quizzical expression. Until now, in both lives, he had yet to partake in any type of training, but this seemed all too trivial.

    [Yeah? How about youplete the training beforeining about its ease.]

    Although he couldn''t see him, Apollo could basically touch the sass in Azridan''s tone. However, looking to prove him wrong, Apollo looked towards the weapon''s barrack.

    Since the task specified staff, Apollo chose a wooden bo staff which was even taller than him! But, truth be told, a majority of the weapons were taller than him with his small frame being norger than 4''1.

    Not only did his prior illness jeopardize his health, but his height paid the prices as well. Compared to others his age, he was a pipsqueak.

    To Apollo''s shock, he found it to be overly heavy when trying to lift it, which also allowed Apollo toe to another understanding. ''Damn, I might''ve just stuck my own foot in my mouth.''

    Moreover, examining the words "training staff" etched on the side enabled the system to perform a further in-depth evaluation.

    ¡¸Item Name: Training Staff

    Rank: Rank 0 Weapon

    Grade: It''s a stick.

    Attack: 1

    Weight: 10 kgs.

    Requirement: 1.2 Strength, 1.2 Agility. ¡¹

    ?System Alert: Strength is insufficient. A penalty applied as a result?

    ?Penalty: Stamina exhaustion rate +50%.?

    "What?" Apollo frowned before continuing with a low, strained grumble. Then, he gave the system mental instructions. ''Increase Strength and Agility by 0.1.''

    ?System Alert: Both Strength and Agility raised to 1.2?

    ?Stamina penalty is alleviated.?

    "Haha, look at that idiot! The staff is bigger than him. I bet his wrist will snap within 2 minutes," Dylon cackled, clutching his stomach in a fit of obsceneughter.

    Simrly, Axel turned his head to reveal a disgusted sneer and a light chuckle, "Yeah, there''s something wrong with him."

    However, unlike the others, Aaron ran up to Apollo, "Apollo, isn''t that staff slightly heavy? Why don''t we use the wooden sword instead?"

    [If you take on the sword at this stage, despite the direction of the objective, you''ll receive punishment. If that''s what you''d like then, by all means, pick up the sword.]

    Upon hearing this jarring revtion, Apollo decided against it.

    "While appreciated, I''ll have to decline your kindness, Aaron. It''s time I''ve attempted to gain my own strength instead of hiding behind you," Apollo resolutely declined.

    Finally managing to lift the staff, Apollo rested it on his shoulder before approaching a vacant site of the training area.

    Meanwhile, Aaron frowned at Apollo''s small, lonely figure, ''Why does everyone treat him so badly? He didn''t do anything to deserve that!''

    Filled with anger, Aaron red at the group of the boys with clenched fists. Walking up to them, he muttered. "One day...you will regret how you treat Apollo."

    Yet, despite his threat, the other boys continued tough boisterly.

    Since his words didn''t seem to bother them, Aaron left with a scoff before walking towards Apollo. But, both Axel and Dylon narrowed their eyes once he turned around. While they couldn''t see how that scenario could evere about, it was annoying for Aaron to even voice it.

    In the meantime, Apollo began his daily training.

    "1, 2, 3...5...10," Apollo struck the training post continuously. However, after the 5th hit, his strike was apanied by a groan. Following that blow, every sessive strike caused his bones to vibrate, producing an ufortable feeling.

    "May I train next to you?" Aaron asked.

    "Yes," Apollo nced at Aaron, offering a small nod.

    After receiving an answer, Aarron took a stance, chopping the wooden sword repeatedly. Along with each sh, he shifted his steps back and forward. He was well-practiced as well as one of the highly talented individuals in the family. However, unlike the rest, he didn''t possess a haughty attitude. He was simply a down-to-earth fellow.

    After striking the staff so many times, Apollo''s hands began to suffer from unbearable aches. Sadly, he had only performed 70 strikes. His pain was far from over.

 Chapter 7 - Pain

    ----

    "Damn this hurts!" Apollo inwardlyined while continuously striking the post. Not only did the pain continuing to worsen, but the unfamiliar movements made his shoulders ache profusely. Moreover, the repeated impacts triggered small tears in the webbing of his hands.??

    [Precisely. The current state of your body is horrendous! You''ll need to forge this body from the foundation up, however, doing so does present its unique benefits.]

    ''You knew all along, you just wanted to torture, huh?!'' Apolloined in anguish. As he thought about it, Apollo''s eyes filled with aggravated tears. However, recalling thebined scorn from both lives caused the perseverance required for continuance to bubble from within.

    Meanwhile, Danyul looked at his small figure in the corner, ''His body is trembling, so it''s obvious he feels immense pain from hitting that post. But, why doesn''t he stop? Additionally, there was that outburst earlier. His usual timidness would have caused him to ept reality.''

    After returning, Danyul remained in the background to observe Apollo''s intriguing actions.

    "8-82...83¡­"

    Soon enough, the blisters and tears on his hands worsened. However, clinging to his desires, Apollo continued his actions. When it came to thest of the strikes, his body trembled visibly with faints smears of blood under his palms. With thest strike, he dropped to his knees powerlessly.

    As Danyul witnessed this, he nodded,mending Apollo''s perseverance. ''Exactly 100 strikes. He has persistence...but does he have any talent to couple with this? We''ll have to see.''

    ?System Alert: Execute 100 staff strikes COMPLETE!?

    Signs of Apollo''s wanting to rest appeared, but Azridan didn''t permit it.

    [No time for rest. Continue this one sitting. Drag your exhausted body into the next task.]

    Although it took a moment, Apollo ultimately nodded. Sighing heavily, he began a light jog around the training area. Due to this being his first attempt at training, his pace was exceedingly slow, which drew strange looks from the other children.

    "Why exactly is he running?" asked a child named Klyde.

    "No idea. Let that idiot do what he wants. What use does running have when we will just be cultivatingter, we can absorb the world''s energy," Axel shrugged.

    However, unlike them, Danyul arched his eyebrows. ''Interesting, even though running isn''t as effective as stance training, it should temper these youth''s resolve. Just the respiration of Natural Essence isn''t enough to teach a good lesson. Hmm, that''s a good idea.''

    "Ahem, everyone. Stop what you''re doing and follow Apollo; begin a run. However, everyone is expected to run at least 5km without pausing," Danyulmanded, causing numerous groans amongst the kids.

    "Ughh! What the heck! It''s his fault," Brendel growled, glowering at the struggling Apollo.

    Along with him, many kids chided in. Unfortunately, their displeasure was nipped in the bud by Danyul immediately increasing their run to at least 10km nonstop, which proved to be an unmatched deterrence.

    Despite that, if looks could kill, Apollo would have died about 11 extra times by now.

    After giving direction, Danyul stood with his arms crossed, watching over the progress of the kids. As a whole, the training was around 1km in circumference. Therefore, the kids would need to run at least 10ps without pause.

    Although they began after Apollo, they beganpping him as they chuckled teasingly. However, paying them no mind, Apollo looked forward as he panted. In his mind, only the goal remained now; he was halfway there.

    Upon noticing theck of response, the other kids found teasing him to be boring, sucking their teeth in response. With this bing a buzzkill, they focused on running as they chatted amongst themselves.

    "Hey, Apollo are you ok?" Aaron asked as he ran up to him, cing his hand on his back. To offer better support, he even slowed his pace to match Apollo''s.

    "I''m...okay...don''t worry," Apollo let out through breathless pants. The more he continued, the more his chest and legs burned.

    "You know, you don''t have to push yourself so hard! I''ll be right here to apany you, so we can pace ourselves," Aaron eximed when he noticed Apollo''s terrible breathing pattern. It looked like he was on the verge of copse.

    Without any other choice, Apollo nodded but continued his run nheless. But, their pace slowed noticeably and, at this new pace, it took Apollo over 10 minutes from start to finish toplete his 1km run. By the end of it, his breathing was ragged and his rags of clothing were soaked.

    Almost certain Apollo had reached his limit, Danyul didn''t inflict the same orders upon him. Instead, he let him be while examining quietly.

    ''Although it is better than not training, it is still only a 1km run. Nevertheless, progress is progress. I just hope you possess the potential to change your image within the family and reim your father''s renown.''

    It had to be known, upon reaching 10 years old, a normal kid would be halfway through the 2nd Rank of this realm by now. Additionally, they''d be capable of wielding 15-18 Zuls of force. Whereas, inparison, Apollo was only able to wield 2.

    This was therge difference between the current Apollo and the others. Falling on his butt, Apollo took a breather as the system gave him a notification once again.

    ?System Alert: Run 1km COMPLETE!?

    ''My legs...they burn so bad! No, they feel like lead, I can''t even feel these things! How can I do squats and stances? I have no more energy,'' Apolloined to himself. He couldn''t foresee how he would get this down.

    His chest heaved over and over as he stared at the 2 bright suns in the sky. Lifting up his hand, he reached and grasped for them.

    ''I aspire to be that, free and unbounded like the sky.''

    [Hmm? That is what you want? Then you must train more! Furthermore, the sky cannot be the limit. For there is always a sky beyond the sky you see. What you must be is peerless! Unsurpassed by any other demon, I want you to im that mantle, so get up!]

    Amidst Azridan''s motivation, Apollo closed his eyes to recollect himself. When they opened again, his eyes seemed focused. Thereafter, a shred of the pain afflicted upon his body seemed to have vanished.

    The brimming inspiration elicited his actions. Apollo rose to his feet and took a squatting stance. As he performed them, he tried to forget about his trembling feet and sore muscles. In exchange for this tactic, one fluid motion was repeated continuously.

    In due time it happened, Apollo performed them in a fashion that made him forget what he was doing; only stopped when the indication from the system came.

    ?System Alert: 50 squats COMPLETE!?

    With this newfound energy, he continued right into focusing on perception. However, seeing as he didn''t understand what he was aiming for, Apollo merely sat there while calming himself. In this state, a gradual warming sensation flowed through his body, more specifically, his burning lungs and muscles.

    [Good. Your absorption property already precedes you. It is just unfortunate that the current scale is rather underwhelming.]

    Simr to Azridan''s surprise, Danyul''s face lit up. He was shocked by what Apollo was doing.

    "Meditation? That is something done only when you reach the 5th Rank of the Mortal Realm. He shouldn''t have anything over 2 Zuls of force being generated from within his body, so there shouldn''t any residual force to meditate upon in his power. How odd."

    Danyul nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, ''If he shows at least a semnce of talent, I''ll pay more attention to him.''

    Soon, 30 minutes passed. With that, Apollo''s daily mission was over.

    ?System Alert! Daily Mission COMPLETE!?

    ?25 Experience, 0.1 Strength, and 0.1 Agility rewarded.?

    ?Experience: 25/200?

    Uponpletion, Apollo''s persistence gave out. He struggled to his hands and knees as he tried to regain focus. It took more time than desired, but his body was recovering.

    [This is the current limit of your body, but we will correct that.]

    Shortly after this message, pping was heard, gathering everyone''s attention. This included the children who finished their 10ps not long after Apollo finished his one.

 Chapter 8 - Talent Assessment

    ----

    The sound of the loud pping echoed in their ears, drawing the attention of the little children. As Danyul began to speak, the kids quieted down.??

    "Alright, that is enough. The Grand Elder has finished preparation, so it is time to carry out the Talent Assessment. Follow after me."

    With his arms sped behind his back, Danyul led the children through both the training area and then the courtyard.

    Meanwhile, trailing behind the others, Apollo entered his own world. At first, his eyes wandered aimlessly, but then Apollo looked down at the floor, kicking a stone with a broken rhythm.

    While he was lost in his own world, Aaron moved closer, tapping his shoulder. Roused from his vacant state, Apollo nced at him. Now that he wasn''t training, this additional strength seemed to mitigate some of the aches albeit barely.

    "I wonder what we will get as a reward for our Talent Assessment. I''m excited to know! How about you Apollo?" Aaron asked, but theck of response made him feel unease. Thus, he continued, "Are you feeling ok?"

    "...Tired," Apollo answered without much thought. Even though it didn''t hurt as bad, his arms and legs still felt like lead. At this point, all he wanted to do was close his eyes and sleep, even the notion of food had escaped his mind.

    "Yeah, you did do an awful lot today. Why did you start training even though you have your weakened body?" Aaron questioned, curious about this new change in Apollo.

    If anyone else asked this question, Apollo would have instantly associated it with ridicule. However, from Aaron''s clear eyes and attentive expression, Apollo could tell he was simply curious.

    "It''s like I told you before...I want to acquire strength. I''m tired of all the looks of ridicule and being mistreated, I don''t like it!" Apollo fervidly disclosed.

    "I don''t like it either! It''s not right. I don''t understand why the older generation mes you...we are kids. What do we know," Aaron grumbled, kicking his foot in frustration.

    Apollo raised his hand, patting his back to quell his disced frustration. It was a funny sight, however. Inparison, Aaron was a full head taller than Apollo, so his arm was elevated rather high.

    "It''s okay, I will find a way. Thank you, Aaron."

    A genuine smile appeared on his face as they walked through the courtyard. Soon enough, they reached the family shrine. It was the most prominent building of the family ground.

    The aura of energy was prevalent. When noticed this, Apollo raised his head to look at the thick columns that supported the shrine. There were strange carvings along the sides of the pirs, but Apollo removed his gaze and looked deeper.

    Located inside were arge number of stairs leading up a tform. There was one extremely aged looking male standing at the top, his true age unknown. Apanying him were 8 additional family elders with four on each side of him.

    "Wee, my young generation," spoke the old male as he opened his eyes, observing the youths.

    "You guys should understand what will take ce today. We will be testing your physique or in other words, your inner talent." spoke the elder.

    Raising his hand, the child named Klyde asked a question, "Grand Elder Kayn, how important is talent."

    "Very important, it is second only to hard work. You can think of talent as the slope of the hike. The higher your talent, the more shallow the slope. Or put simply, the better your talent, the easier it is transverse that hike. However, the distance of that journey is determined by your hard work and tenacity," replied Grand Elder Kayn.

    "Before we begin, let me exin to you what we will be testing for¡ªphysiques."

    Clearing his throat, Kayn began his speech.

    "Simply put, the inner physique is a loose indication of your talent. Specifically, it indicates the quality of your meridians. The higher the quality, the faster and easier one would be able to advance in the ranks of cultivation. For this, there are 6 known talent levels; Mortal, Earth, Spirit, Heaven, Saint, and Divine grade talents. Moreover, each level is divided into the Low, Middle, Top, and Peak Tier.

    "This should be self-exnatory but each level has a better resonance with the Natural Essence located in this world. Of course, this assessment we are doing is a basic one. Moreover, one can''t be called a ''true'' talent in this world without possessing at least a Spirit-Grade physique. There are two awakenings of talent. One when you are 10 and one when you near or reach 15. When you reach 15, you will be sent to a War Academy based on the test that happens every 5 years.

    "There, you will be tested to see if there are any high talents for Spirit Cultivation. But, back to the topic at hand; the talent you possess now isn''t set in stone. However, a rough estimation of yourrgest potential increase can be determined by its initial state. One by one, you wille up and ce your hand on the stele behind me to determine such things."

    After disclosing the information, Kayn motioned to therge stele behind him. It was separated into 4 sections which carried their own inscriptions.

    "By touching the stele, your talent will be tested. The actual value will be determined by the block you light up as well as the intensity of the light. Now, who will be first?"

    For a moment, the youths chatted amongst themselves. Unable to decide who would be the first victim, mor began. To be first was always apanied by a nervous feeling. However, Axel smacked Dylon''s back, pushing him to the front.

    "Go ahead, test your talent so we can see," Axel chuckled lightheartedly.

    "U-uh...why me? I don''t really want to go first," Dylon stammered with an involuntary nervous chuckle.

    When he saw this Axel nced around then leaned forward with apelling reason, "Don''t you want to look brave and cool before the girls?"

    A light of realization shed in Dylon''s eye, causing him to nod foolishly. Without much thought, Dylon rushed up in the stairs, shooting Axel a thumbs up. In response, Axel chuckled at hisical expression, ''What a funny guy he thought he was.''

    With haste, Dylon ced his hand on the stele. A faint blue light began emanating from the stele. It rose to the first inscription until it illuminatedpletely with a vibrant glow. However, it didn''t go beyond that.

    Although there wasn''t much change in his expression, Kayn nodded. "Peak Tier Mortal-Grade Physique, not bad. You bing a Zul Warrior shouldn''t be a problem at all. Cynthia, give him 5 Foundation Strengthening pills."

    "Yes Grand Elder," responded a middle-aged woman as she handed Dylon a small pouch as he walked down the stairs.

    Next, Aaron walked up as his gaze was clear. Behind Kayn, Cynthia''s eyes lit up as she smiled at him.

    "Hi Mom," Aaron smiled with a faint bashful expression.

    In return, she waved him off, urging him to focus on the task at hand, "Just take your assessment."

    Obediently, Aaron nodded and ced his hand on the stele. Almost immediately, it vibrated as a vibrant pale blue light emitted from it. Unlike Dylon''s attempt, the light passed the "Mortal" Inscription with ease.

    In fact, it only stopped after reaching the next inscription shining strongly but not to the fullest extent.

    "Top Tier Earth-Grade Physique. Excellent, reward him 18 Foundation Strengthening pills," Kayn uttered, giving a more pleased nod this time.

    "Wow, Aaron is better than we thought...but why does he hang out with him?" Axel mumbled while ncing in the direction of Apollo''s lonely figure. Shaking his head, a disgusted expression appeared. In his eyes, talent should interact with talent.

    One by one, the kids went up. Until now there were only three people to take the test. Apollo, Axel, a petite girl. Taking initiative, Axel began climbing the stairs. Reaching the top he bowed to the Elders.

    "Hello, Uncles, Aunts, and Grand Elder. Oh, where''s Father? He isn''t here?" Axel greeted, snaking his gaze around.

    "No, but ce your hand on the stele. Your talent should do fairly well," Ashur responded, spurring Axel to act quickly.

    Simr to others, Axel ced his hand on the stele. Different from them, however, Axel''s actions caused a strong pale blue wind. His clothes fluttered from the pressure, causing the Elders on the tform to show some surprise. Just the initial presence of energy was strong.

    "Hmm¡­? It seems you are right; a strong talent has appeared in the family lineage once again," Kayn eximed, rubbing his chin with an interested gleam in his eyes.

 Chapter 9 - Pity

    ----

    A strong pale blue aura billowed from the stele as the "Mortal" and "Earth" inscriptions were fully illuminated. The first appearance of the "Spirit" inscription happened.??

    The light it emitted was very faint, however, it was present.

    Grand Elder Kayn smiled for the first time, nodding with tion apparent in his eyes, "A Low Tier Spirit-Grade Talent. There is hope for you to mature even further, excellent indeed. We will be relying on you to shoulder and improve our family''s reputation. Cynthia, reward him 25 Foundation Strengthening pills."

    As he heard this, Axel was filled with pride. To be praised meant his worth in the family would be further cemented. Giddy with over this matter, once he received his pouch, he descended from the tform to boast amongst his small circle.

    Subsequently, while Axel descended, the petite girl looked up at the tform. Before moving, she looked over to Aaron for a short moment. Although she didn''t say anything, it appeared there was something on her mind. Nevertheless, she began ascending the stairs. Her steps were slow and steady whereas her eyes were clear, like two serenekes.

    Nearby Kayn, Cynthia gazed at the small girl growing closer. "Hmm, Lily ising. I have faith in her talent. It shouldn''t be any weaker than Axel." Much like Apollo, Lily''s father perished in an awful incident. However, unlike Apollo, her birth wasn''t tragic.

    While Lily continued to ascend the stairs, Kayn gave a silent nod, "Yeah, her talent should be strong indeed. Isn''t she only 3 months older than Aaron?"

    "Oh yes, yes she is."

    Reaching the tform, Lily quietly nodded her head as she stepped up to the tform. Pressing her hand against it, the same phenomenon happened. A burst of strong, vibrant energy caused her hair to flutter as the stele instantly lit up to the limit of the "Earth" inscription.

    Although the momentum slowed, it was still stronger than Axel''s and stopped when it showed a slightly bright radiance.

    "Hmm...between a Middle and Top Tier Spirit-Grade Physique...absolutely excellent! Another prime specimen has arrived from the family."

    Unlike Axel, Grand Elder Kayn ced a hand on the little girl''s head as he knelt down. "Your father would be so proud of you."

    Upon hearing these words, Lily''s lip trembled, running into Kayn''s embrace.

    "Cynthia, reward Lily 35 Foundation Strengthening pills," Kayn said, lifting his gaze towards Cynthia.

    Once she received her pouch, Lily descended the stairs unhurriedly, looking in Apollo''s direction. He had a slightly vacant look on his face, as he hooked his fingers together nervously.

    Meanwhile, Grand Elder Kayn looked over to Apollo. His gaze turned sympathetic but also crestfallen as he looked at this fellow. "Come up young one, you are thest one. Don''t be frightened."

    Unable to avoid this situation any longer, Apollo nodded reluctantly. At the same time, low chatter amongst the kids ensued. There was no chatter amongst the older generation as they weren''t interested in the youth. In their eyes, the assessment had already finished.

    [Remember boy, everything happens for a reason and everything is only for a single moment.]

    Apollo nodded again, climbing the stairs. But, behind him, Danyul gazed at his back hopefully, ''Please...seize your future.''

    Reaching the top of the tform, Apollo stood before the 9 elders of the family. With a gesture, Kayn instructed him to touch the stele. There was a slight pause, but, ultimately Apollo lifted his left hand as he pressed it against the stele.

    Initially, there was no reaction causing Apollo to frown. However, the stele soon emitted a weak pale blue glow. The extent of this light was fleeting as it flickered between the Low Tier and Middle Tier of the "Mortal" Inscription.

    Finally, it settled on the Middle Tier.

    "Not badd. You aren''t hopeless. However, the family can''t focus on you with this level of talent. I hope you understand this and don''t feel as if we have wronged you. I know what happened to you, but¡­" pausing his words, Grand Elder Kayn sighed.

    There was a tinge of pity in his voice when he spoke again. "What''s done is done. Cynthia, please reward Apollo 2 Foundation Strengthening pills."

    While epting the pouch, Apollo saw the looks of ridicule that came from the Elders standing behind Kayn as his lips trembled and his head dropped.

    ''I didn''t want toe here¡­''

    [Lad¡­]

    In his mind, there were different thoughts ying. One set belonged to the torture of being a human training post whereas the belonged to the experiences of this body. Tears fell from his eyes nut he turned around, he slowly descended the steps in silence. However, Aaron clenched his fists in anger due to the situation.

    When Apollo reached the bottom of the steps, he sprinted with his head down. Exiting the shrine, he continuously ran.

    "Ap-"

    Kayn stopped Ashur from talking with his palm raised in his direction, "Silence, leave the boy. Don''t antagonize him further. Instead, focus on nurturing the newly discovered young talents."

    Ashur nodded, swallowing his words, "Yes, Grand Elder."

    ¡­.

    [Lad...don''t cry. From this experience, you have learned everything in this world is given to those who either have potential or possess strength. Without those, no one will look your way. However, you will be strong. You have I, Azridan standing behind you.]

    "..."

    [Lad¡­? Apollo..? Are you there?]

    "This isn''t enough...I think I understand now. I have to be like everyone else in this world. Make me stronger, Azridan," Apollo muttered, the light within his eyes dimming whereas a shred of cold entered his heart.

    [We have work to do then.]

    ?System Alert! Mission COMPLETE!?

    ?You have been rewarded 100 Experience, 2 Stat Points?

    ?You have received 2 Foundation Strengthening pills.?

    ?Experience: 125/200.?

    ----

    Back inside the Family Shrine, Grand Elder Kayn continued to give a speech.

    "There are many substantial talents amongst you lot. The lowest being of Peak Tier Mortal Grade Talents. The number of Foundation Strengthening pills you have received is the amount you will receive every week. Work hard, I want to see each and every one of you reach the Zul Warrior Realm by 13."

    Aaron frowned at the Grand Elder''s words, looking at the exit behind him. Based on the way he worded his phrase, he was excluding Apollo from the bunch. He didn''t even mention Apollo''s Middle-grade Mortal Meridians.

    "You are a fine generation of our Kaiser family. I hope you will serve to uplift our names helping our family travel through the ranks. It would please me greatly for our small family name to be one of the Great Families in the future," stated Kayn with a dignified look in his eyes.

    ...

    A knock on the door was heard causing Apollo to look up. Standing there was a saddened Aaron. However, even then, he aimed to encourage Apollo.

    "Apollo, don''t be saddened. Talent doesn''t mean everything. I believe in you!"

    After he encouraged Apollo, Aaron raised his hand. Laid on his palm were 3 circr pills. They were slightly small, norger than a marble, andpletely white in color. At a nce, one could mistake it for a small stone.

    "What''s this for? You keep them. It will only slow down your progress," Apollo refused.

    In turn, Aaron''s expression fell, "No no no,e on, ept them. I saw your hard work today. You deserve at least what that stupid Dylon is getting. Take these right now!"

    His expression remained adamant. It was clear he would not take no for an answer. Gazing at Aaron, Apollo muttered. "Why are you so nice to me¡­?"

    "Because you''re family...and I love you like a little brother. Soe, take these. I don''t like seeing you sad."

    Left with no other choice, Apollo finally epted the pills. Although Aaron was sacrificing part of his training resources, there wasn''t an ounce of hesitation present within him.

    "Rest, we have to train tomorrow also," Aaron reminded as he left.

    Meanwhile, Apollo clutched the pills in his hand. Within his eyes, a speck of light returned, however, unbeknownst to him, it wouldn''t be that way forever.

 Chapter 10 - Mortal Realm

    ----

    A new day came as Apollo opened his eyes to the rays from the duals suns shining on his face. Blocking the light with his hand, Apollo turned over.??

    After stretching, he left his worn-out bed. It soon dawned on him that he was unaware of the appearance of the body. As such, he ventured to the pond out back, finally catching a glimpse of his face.

    Although he wasn''t ugly, currently, there was nothing particrly capturing about him. His eyes were a dull grey color butpared to the initial state, they seemed to possess more vitality. Furthermore, depending on the angle of light, his hair looked to be both ck and extremely dark grey.

    His cheeks were slightly concave due to a bit of malnutrition. Other than that, the proportions of his features were rather natural including his tiny stature.

    Once he examined his features thoroughly, Apollo stood up and reached into his pocket. Inside his hands rested one of the pills he received before. Additionally, the system expanded on its details.

    Item Name: Foundation Strengthening Pill

    Rank: Rank 1 Pill

    Grade: Poor

    Effect: When ingested, the user gains Experience +10.

    Sub-effect: Ingesting 10 results in All Attributes + .1.

    Use: 1/1

    "Azridan, this pill gives me experience. Does this mean increasing my level is the only thing I need to do? Oh, there are no instructions...can I ingest them all at once?"

    [No, that''s not how this works. Only the Mortal Realm is different. Also... don''t do that. For now...ingest 1 a day. It contains threads of Natural Essence and that could overload your currently fragile body.]

    "Oh, does the grade of these pills matter?"

    [Yes. In your case, an increase in grade results in an increase in the experience provided by these pills.]

    "Oh...okay. So what do we do today?"

    [Train. Add your stat points so I can formte a quest ordingly.]

    In addition to the Strength and Agility gained from his daily training quest, he added 1 point to Strength and 1 to Vitality. As a result, Apollo''s stats changed.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.1

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Human

    Age: 10

    Level: 2

    Experience: 125/200.

    Health: 14/14

    Stamina: 16/16

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 1 Mortal

    Physique: Mortal-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 2

    Strength: 1.4

    Agility: 1.3

    Intelligence: 8.6

    Vitality: 1.2

    Stat Points: 0

    ?System Alert! Daily Mission?

    Quest Name: Arduous Training (Beginner Level)

    Quest Information: Although you have been blessed with the appearance of the system. Its presence means nothing with inaction. Hence, it is time to begin your training. A sturdy foundation is the basis of everything.

    Objectives-

    -Execute 120 staff strikes. (0/120)

    -Execute 60 squats. (0/60)

    -Run 1.2km. (0/1.2km)

    -36 minutes of stance training. (0/36)

    Reward-

    - 25 Experience

    - .1 Strength

    - .1 Agility

    Time Limit- 3 hours.

    ?Note: Time Limit begins from the moment you perform your first repetition of an exercise.?

    Apollo rubbed his chin, noticing slight differences from yesterday''s mission, "Azridan, howes the amount of training has increasedpared to yesterday and there is a time limit?"

    [The reason is simple; progressive overload. If we keep the training volume the same and allow the break to be too long then you won''t experience the needed growth. Not to mention, the presence of the system now makes your body inherently different from others. So, I will keep the challenge there to promote your growth.]

    "Oh...okay," Apollo nodded somewhat ruing what Azridan told him.

    Nevertheless, if he sought strength, then he''d have toe to terms with difficult training. Thus, Apollo gathered his gear and headed to the training area bright and early. When he reached there, it was near empty except for Aaron shing away at a training post.

    Upon noticing his focused visage, Apollo greeted him as he grabbed the staff, "What time did you wake up Aaron? Isn''t it somewhat too early for you to be here?"

    "Oh, me? About 30 minutes ago. Actually, because I wasn''t doing anything productive, my mom made me. For some reason, it seems the older family members urge us to train harder now."

    For a moment, Apollo brooded over this fact. It would be a lie to say he didn''t seek the care of his parents, ''No one urges me to train...I wonder what Mom and Dad were like.''

    Although Aaron noticed the change in expression, he didn''t press the matters. However, he did take note of Apollo''s movements once he swung his staff. Compared to yesterday, they flowed much better. Not to mention, his grip while not yet deft, wasn''t as crude.

    ''I guess he got his hands on some Healing Ointment. Thank goodness,'' Aaron thought after examining Apollo''s palms.

    Fortunately, that additional .1 Vitality and .3 Strength difference seemed to work wonders for Apollo''s training. ''Azridan, I forgot to ask. What do the other stats do?''

    [Ah, for now, Agility increases attack and movement speed. Intelligence increases the matters rted to the mind. Strength increases Zuls. Vitality increases Health. However, Strength and Vitalitybine together to increase Stamina.]

    ''Oh, so that''s how it works, wait¡­ for now? Does that imply the aspects affected can change?'' Apollo paused his actions.

    [Well, not the way you''re thinking. The thing susceptible to change is your conversion ratios. The system is only Level 1 right now. On top of that, your body will also determine the rate, so improve yourself.]

    After he heard this, Apollo returned to training with improved vigor. Muffled thuds were heard as Apollo continuously struck the training post. Once again, his hands and bones began aching but he bore with it until the end withoutints this time.

    Shortly after, he began performing his daily squats. Once done, he moved directly into the run. His legs burned but yesterday''s experience yed in his mind.

    The looks of ridicule from the elders and the condescending looks from the other children remained. Not only did these negative images drive him to seek strength, but vengeance also started to bud in his heart.

    Soon enough, after stance training, his daily mission was over.

    ?System Alert! Daily Mission COMPLETE!?

    ?You have been rewarded 25 Experience, .1 Strength, and .1 Agility.?

    ?Experience: 150/200.?

    After finishing his daily training, Apollo didn''t linger around the training but rather headed back to his living quarters. Once there, he examined the Foundation Strengthening pill.

    Its aroma was faint, almost nonexistent leading Apollo to understand why the grading was poor.

    ?Item Note: Over 70% of the efficacy of the spiritual herbs used to concoct this was lost.?

    "Azridan...I have a question."

    [What is it?]

    "I see that examining this pill gave me information, but howe I can''t see when I will reach the next rank of the Mortal Realm?"

    [Oh, that. Well, it is because this realm isn''t too special. It''s simply a body training realm if you will.]

    "Hmm, what does that mean? Will it change when my body is ready?"

    [Yes and No. Each rank just needs you to acquire additional Zuls. The only number that truly matters is 1600 Zuls, you will then possess the requirement to enter the Zul Warrior Realm. But I will help you, here.]

    ?System Alert! Status Update: Body Cultivation: Rank 1 Mortal [2/10]?

    "What do I do now Azridan?" asked Apollo.

    [You need more knowledge. What you know now simply isn''t enough.]

    ''Ding!''

    ?System Alert! New Mission?

    Quest Name: New Knowledge

    Quest Information: As with any endeavor, possessing background information is vital. In order to gain power, you must understand the road you need to take. As such, it is time you begin to seek the knowledge of cultivation. The body isn''t the only thing in need of strengthening

    Objectives-

    -Visit the family library. (0/1)

    -Uncover more vital information about the entire history and process of cultivation. (0/1)

    Reward-

    - 120 Experience

    - .5 Intelligence.

 Chapter 11 - Natural Essence (I)

    ----

    After receiving his next mission, Apollo didn''t dawdle. In his usual worn clothing, Apollo walked unhurriedly toward the family library. To get there, he passed through the training area. As such, he caught a glimpse of the other kids'' training. Compared to him, their training didn''t seem so systematic.??

    He also noticed a few of the kids popping their Foundation Strengthening pills like candy. For a moment, Apollo was skeptical and left with questions. Their actions didn''t seem to conform with what Azridan stated. ''Azridan, I thought you said these aren''t the type of pills which can be ingested continuously.''

    [That''s only the case for your current physique, even though the pill is of poor quality, the energy it holds is slightly too tyrannical to be ingested concurrently. You must remember, until recently, your meridians could be counted as broken.]

    "Tch, this difference between us suck," Apollo grumbled, forming a self-deprecating smile as he continued toward the library. At this point, he was starting to hate whatever or whoever causes his body''s condition. To him, broken meridians didn''t sound like a naturally urring issue.

    Several momentster, Apollo reached the library. For a moment, he paused and gazed at the exterior.

    It was a simple stone building, with a few luxurious windows as well as rustic decor. While it wasn''t overlyrge, it was equivalent in size to a chapel. He pushed the doors, entering inside to examine the scenery.

    To his surprise, there weren''t many bookshelves, instead, there was a ratherrge staircase located in the middle of the building that led upstairs. However, the entrance to the staircase was barred by a thin barrier.

    In the corner, Danyul opened his eyes ncing at the neer. "Oh, it''s you, Apollo. What have youe for?"

    "Hello Uncle, I''vee to read."

    Silently, Danyul pondered, rubbing his cheek, "I see, well just a reminder, this level holds no techniques or training stances. Those are located on the next floor, but as you know, the next floor and beyond are off-limits unless your body is tested to have reached the 5th rank of the Mortal Realm. Other than that, you are free to browse."

    "Ah thank you, Uncle. I have a question, which section is background information on Cultivation?" Apollo inquired, ncing around on his own as well..

    "Hmm, if I recall properly, then I believe it was located in the third row," Danyul answered after some thought. However, not long after, he once again closed his eyes.

    It didn''t take long for Apollo to scour the right section. He continued to browse, searching for books that fulfilled the criteria of his mission. After several minutes, he found what he was looking for.

    There were a few; [Records of World Changing History: Part One], [Body Cultivation: Initial Familiarity with Natural Essence] & [Evolution of Cultivation: Book I].

    With the books now in possession, Apollo picked a corner and sat. After reading a single page, he found himself bing engrossed. In a single sitting, he read their entire contents while oblivious to the passing time.

    While doing so he learned many new things. For example, he learned exactly what Natural Essence was and did.

    Before the arrival of the Terrors, Natural Essence wasn''t an obscure notion. It just wasn''t a forefront practice. While people understood that some type of energy existed in their world, they didn''t seek to actively harness it. However, when brought to dire straits, what they first ignored became a necessity. In light of this, the path of Body Cultivation was born in the extremely distant past.

    Now, it was what they said to be the basis of all small life. Every sentient thing possesses it at some level. It was a naturally urring energy that subtly shifted the advancement of the. Natural Essence was absorbed through the orifices to refine one''s body. It could also be used to prepare one for the even newer cultivation practice¡ªSpirit Cultivation.

    Of course, the concentration of this energy wasn''t homogenous throughout. Depending on where one was, the density could move across the spectrum, growing far denser or thinning to obscurity.

    Be that as it may, its true benefits didn''t appear until one approached the Zul Warrior Realm and opened their Dantian. When that happened, the intimacy with this energy deepens.

    Unknown to Apollo, he spent the better part of the day swallowed by books. Although young, he was more fascinated by this information than he let on.

    "Ah, so that''s why Azridan said the only number that really matters is 1600 Zuls. It''s because it is the minimum requirement for your body to withstand the clearing of the Dantian as well as the opening of the Soul Temple."

    Once he ced the books back on the shelves, Apollo digested the information as he pondered in deep thought.

    ''If I think about it, the real beginning of cultivation isn''t until we reach the Zul Warrior Realm. However, the first milestone would be reaching the 5th Rank of the Mortal Realm, one''s physique would unlock the function of absorbing Natural Essence in its base form. Pills and beast meat wouldn''t be the only way to "cultivate" then.''

    Due to all the reading, a prominent wave of mental exhaustion was over Apollo, but luckily, the system message sounded as he yawned.

    ?System Alert! Mission COMPLETE!?

    ?You have been rewarded 120 Experience and .5 Intelligence Points.?

    ?Congrattions you have reached Level 3.?

    ?Experience: 70/300.?

    ?.1 to all Attributes and 2 Stat points have been rewarded.?

    ''Tomorrow''s training will only get harder, it''s time to allocate the points. Add 1 point to Strength and 1 point to Vitality.''

    Following themand, Apollo opened his status panel to take a look.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.1

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Human

    Age: 10

    Level: 3

    Experience: 70/300.

    Health: 18/18

    Stamina: 22/22

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 1 Mortal [3/10]

    Physique: Mortal (Middle)

    Zuls: 3

    Strength: 1.7

    Agility: 1.5

    Intelligence: 9.2

    Vitality: 1.4

    Stat Points: 0

    ''My Intelligence grossly overshadows my other stats. I wonder, is that why I ask so many questions? I''m not sure. It could be a possibility.''

    ''Hey Azridan, I''m curious, can statbine to create other ones?''

    [Yes, but that will present itself at ater time. Focus on the base stats you were given, especially Intelligence. Never neglect it, lest you end up falling victim to hateful schemes.]

    There was a tinge of hateced in his voice as the system uttered these words in response causing Apollo to raise his eyebrow in bewilderment.

    ''I see.''

    At that moment Apollo''s stomach began rumbling ferociously. Only then did ite to his attention that he had forgotten to eat all day.

    ''I''m so hungry, I could eat anything,'' Apollo groaned internally. Almost instinctively, he dashed out of the library, in search of something to eat.

    Meanwhile, Danyul opened his eyes, ncing in Apollo''s general direction, "Unlike the other kids...he''s seeking knowledge for himself. Alright, I think I should give my n a shot."

    ----

    While en route to the Dining Hall, Apollo looked up at the dark sky, amazed by how much time he spent in the library. Furthermore, in his mind, he wasparing it to his old world. Although the day was unfamiliar, the nights looked exactly the same.

    There was only one moon with numerous small stars gracing the skies. Mesmerized, Apollo uttered one word, "Beautiful."

    However, amidst being lost in his daze, he didn''t look where he was going causing him to bump into the back of someone. Surprisingly, the following situation was quiteical¡ªhe wasid t on his butt!

    "Huh..?"

 Chapter 12 - Difference

    ----

    At first, Apollo was bewildered, thinking to have bumped into someone of the older generation. Contrary to his thoughts, the person he bumped into wasn''t muchrger than him at all.??

    In fact, she was nearly the same size as him, only a half a head taller. Upon feeling the collision, Lily turned around and inspected what bumped into her. Naturally, what she saw was the disheveled Apollo on the ground.

    "Oof! What th-... Oh, Lily, that was my mistake, I bumped into you. It was an ident, I wasn''t trying to do that," Apollo defensively uttered while also rubbing his throbbing butt.

    "Oh...it''s ok," Lily sinctly replied whilst turning around. She didn''t seem to have any thoughts over what just transpired. After her brief words, she continued her steps, headed in the same direction as Apollo¡ªthe Dining Hall.

    As he gazed at her back, Apollo grew curious. He was sure he didn''t walk with much momentum because he slowed down to think. Yet, when he collided with Lily, Apollo felt as if he bumped into a stone wall. In return, he asked himself a question.

    ''Hm, I wonder; what level of the Mortal Realm has she attained? Although it may not be much, I''m capable of wielding 3 Zuls, yet a casual bump ended with me being on the ground. Is the difference between me and other kids thisrge?''

    His curiosity was piqued. So, Apollo rebounded to his feet and caught up to Lily at a brisk pace. The questions on his mind were getting the better of him.

    "Excuse me, Lily. If you don''t mind, can I ask you something? Well, besides this question of course," Apollo rubbed his head with an awkward chuckle.

    Her small voice sounded again, it was like the chirp of a morning bird. "What is it?"

    "Ah, what is your cultivation realm?"

    "4th Rank Mortal," Lily curtly replied. Like earlier, her response was short. Although her attitude wasn''t cold, it couldn''t be considered warm either. It was simply casual.

    ''4th? What the-... that means she can wield at least 31 Zuls of Force?''

    "Wow, that''s interesting," Apollo nodded, rubbing his chin and falling into silence once again.

    However, there was an odd look on Lily''s face now. She wasn''t used to Apollo approaching her. In fact, she was only used to Aaron.

    "You seem...different. What rank are you, Rank 2?" Lily asked, this time sparing Apollo a cursory nce.

    "Nope, that''s impossible. Thanks to my illness, I''m a glorified Rank 1 Mortal; probably on par with a toddler. For now," Apollo said, mumbling thest part. His tone came off as yful, but in truth, it was very matter of fact.

    It had to be known even the weakest of children were born as Rank 1 Mortals. However, as they aged and their physiques slowly matured, their body would naturally absorb trace amounts of the atmospheric Natural Essence.

    By the age of the first awakening; age 10, a child should be well into being a Rank 2 Mortal almost reaching the cusp of Rank 3. Of course, depending on the talent the situation could vary. For example, Apollo''s and Lily''s.

    Lily''s expression shifted for a moment, partly curious, "Rank 1? How many Zuls can you wield?"

    "About 3 or so." Apollo shrugged. It wasn''t a secret. His Zul Count was something that could be easily discerned by the training equipment he used.

    "Oh okay, I see. Um, just work hard. Don''t be discouraged," Lily consoled with a nk expression. It would be a lie if she said hearing this number wasn''t depressing. Nevertheless, she soon turned her head; there was another person iing.

    In the distance, Aaron cupped his mouth, "Oi! Lily, Apollo; wait for me!" Needless to say, they slowed down allowing Aaron to catch up.

    When he did, he gave his greetings but immediately targeted Apollo with a question, "Have you used your Foundation Strengthening pills yet Apollo?"

    "No, not yet. I''ll do it when I go back to my room. By the way, what rank are you in cultivation?"

    The longer Apollo looked at Aaron, the more curious he grew. He wanted to understand how he fared against all the other children besides the extremely talented Lily. Although he read the information in the book, he now wondered what each level of talent did.

    "Oh, me? I''m at thete stage of Rank 3 Mortal stage. I can wield 27 Zuls," Aaron replied.

    Immediately after receiving an answer, Apollo matched it against Lily''s ability. It wasn''t long before he got an idea of what talents did. Although it was too early to call it concrete, he could vaguely calcte the difference between talent levels.

    ''There should be roughly a 50% increase in strength umtion speed betweenrge meridian grades. Then shouldn''t Lily be around¡­''

    Apollo turned toward Lily with a zealous light in his eyes, he questioned once again. "Lily, you can wield around 34 Zuls?"

    "Mn," Lily nodded, partly taken aback due to Apollo''s urate assumption.

    Aaron leaned closer between the two, "Woah, did she tell you before?"

    Apollo nced at him shaking his head, "No, I just guessed."

    "That was a great guess then. Looks like we have a little genius here," Aaron chuckled as he ruffled Apollo''s hair.

    Lily silently inspected Apollo''s small figure. A slightly curious look appeared on her face as she wondered about hisprehensive ability.

    ''Maybe because his body is weak, his mind is strong,'' Lily inwardly mused.

    On the other hand, Apollo thought about other matters as they entered the Dining Hall. His eyes fell on the figure of Axel.

    ''Based on Lily''s and Aaron''s power level, Axel should be around 29-31 Zuls. In other words, like Lily, he is at least 10 times stronger than me at the moment.''

    Due to his thoughts, Apollo''s eyes filled with the desire for revenge coupled with tightly clenched fists. He wanted to make Axel and everyone in his circle cower. However, he calmed down after contemtion. His rational mind told him the difference was currently far too great.

    Simr to the other, the trio imed their seats. Before them, everyone in the younger generation could be seen walking to arge window. One by one, based on their identity card which was delivered to their residences earlier in the day, they received a sumptuous meal.

    It had to be known, the cards came in different styles, indicating the kids'' cultivation talent along with their privileges.

    Upon witnessing the youths using these cards, Apollo patted his pockets with a nk expression. Previously, when he left the assessment, he didn''t hear about these new items. Moreover, he realized he never went home today to check for one, "Uh oh...I don''t have one of those."

    "Don''t worry, we''ll share my meal," Aaron waved his hand, dismissing the issue.

    The menu today was slightly special, Rank 1 Spirit Wolf Meat. It was the equivalent to a Rank 5 Mortal Human. Thus, its flesh is extremely nourishing to those who are Rank 5 and lower.

    Shockingly, Apollo shook his head, "Wait, let me try to get my own."

    Once he reached the serving area, he put on an amicable expression, "Hello, can I have one serving plea-"

    "Save it, present your identity card to receive your meal," brusquely replied the male dressed in a chef uniform. While he wasn''t born within the family, due to his skill with handling Spirit Beast meat, he possessed a decent status within the family.

    "Well, err... I don''t have one currently. I don''t know if I was given one. Maybe is it at home," Apollo muttered. He crossed his fingers, hoping

    Looking up the chef seemed to be extremely irritated. "Then simply go get it."

    "E-err, but when I get back the window will be closed," Apollo rebutted.

    "Well, whose problem is that? Next time, don''t forget your identity card," retorted the chef causing Apollo to frown.

    "Excuse me," a voice sounded behind Apollo, directed towards the family chef, "Forget him, esteemed family chef, may I have a serving?"

 Chapter 13 - Unfair

    ----

    Behind Apollo, a slightly childish male voice sounded as they called out to the chef.??

    "Excuse me, esteemed chef Taybur, I seemed to have forgotten my identity card at home. May I get a serving anyway, please?!" Axel eximed as a slight smirk appeared on his face directed at Apollo.

    Without hesitation, the chef gave a jovial nod. A piping hot te of food was served almost instantly, and even added extra amounts of cooked low-level Spirit Beast meat.

    On the other hand, Apollo frowned. He felt this treatment was unfair. He was a person as well.

    "May I have a serving as well?" Apollo asked once again. However, the chef looked at him with tant disgust.

    "Are you a family talent? I don''t recall you being on the lists to especially look out for. Therefore, shoo."

    Apollo seethed with anger. He clenched his fists and looked at Taybur with unconcealed malice. Once again, he was being mistreated. If he could, he would gouge this fellow''s eyes out.

    As he realized Apollo''s reaction, Axel showed a condescending smirk. Shortly after, Aaron rose from his seat approaching the service window. On the other hand, Lily remained quiet while gracefully eating her food.

    "Chef, is it possible to receive seconds? The food you gave just wasn''t enough; I still feel hungry," Aaron pleaded with sped hands.

    "Hmm, Aaron is it? You sure can," Taybur nodded. Soon enough, he once again presented a decent-sized serving to Aaron.

    Aaron grabbed it and walked back, signaling to Apollo with a wink. Gazing at the chef, Apollo frowned before uttering one sentence. "I promise you this; a day wille when you regret how you''ve treated me and when you do, I hope you can stomach the consequences."

    With not an iota of care, Taybur chuckled lightheartedly, "Whatever you say, I''m simply following orders." Frankly speaking, no one feared the words of Apollo. In this world, if you were unable to back your words, you were simply disregarded.

    A silence followed, and after ring at Taybur for quite a while, Apollo returned to his seat. As he did so, Taybur closed the window. It was pointless for Apollo to even try to receive his card.

    The moment Apollo sat, Aaron pushed the extra meal towards him with a cheeky smile, "You going without a meal in my presence? Not a chance! I will always have your back haha. Don''t worry about those idiots. Come and eat."

    He looked at Aaron with eyes filled with gratitude, "Thanks, Aaron," he said. Afterward, Apollo picked up his utensils as he took a sizable bite of food. It was the best meat he had in who knows how long.

    ?System Alert! 100g of Rank 1 Spirit Beast flesh has been ingested.?

    ?8 Experience has been rewarded.?

    ?Experience: 78/300.?

    Due to the message, Apollo was pleasantly surprised. Not only did the meal fill his stomach, but it was also filling his experience bar as well. Tearing chunks of meat off ravenously, the notification repeated over and over again.

    By the end of the meal, Apollo had received the notification over 20 times. In other words, the generous portion Taybur handed Aaron was over 2kg.

    ?Experience: 270/300.?

    Apollo released a sigh of content, and once again thanked Aaron. He couldn''t recall a time where he had felt satiated like this. His prior meals were rather basic, even the meat he ate was too weak to be qualified as a Spirit Beast.

    Not to mention, his previous illness counteracted all shreds of Natural Essence in his body. Hence, even if he ate meat of such quality he wouldn''t have been able to enjoy the benefits.

    Axel looked over to their table and scoffed. He noticed Apollo eating a meal that didn''t quite belong to him. And so, approached the table, mming his hands against it causing it to shake.

    However, his actions didn''t garner much rather from Apollo, Lily, or Aaron; a situation which caused him to seethe with anger. He didn''t appreciate being treated like air; it was a blow to his otherwise insufferable ego. "You! Don''t you all see me standing here? Obviously, I came for a reason."

    First, Aaron looked toward Apollo. Then, he frowned with a slightly annoyed expression and Aaron crossed his arms. With his own scoff, he uttered his own discontent. "And why have youe to annoy us? It was clear we were ignoring you. Can''t you take a hint? Why not travel back to that little group you have over there."

    Once he finished saying his piece, Aaron waved him off. "Go on now, shoo," Aaron said, pointing at the group of 6-8 seated boys. Both obliviously and foolishly, they were chowing down on the morsels of their food that remained.

    "Oh? Since when can you tell me what to do? How about I report to the higher-ups that you didn''t abide by family rules and shared your meal with him," Axel sneered as he pointed toward Apollo.

    It was clear from his eyes, he felt disgusted just looking at Apollo''s appearance. However, Aaron''s quick retort followed right after. "I don''t recall that being a family rule. Try that crap somewhere else."

    Simrly, Axel didn''t back down, "Okay, so let''s see then. I will tell the elders how he didn''t bring his identity card, and you helped him get extra food hindering others from getting it"

    "What! That''s a lie. Everyone ate already," Aaron bellowed as he mmed the table causing everyone else to turn their heads.

    "I didn''t say they didn''t. I said you stopped them from getting more if they wanted to. The way you hear it just shows your own guilt," Axel chuckled.

    "That''s bull! Apollo is a person as well. Just like the others, he needs a meal!" Aaron defended.

    "Does that look like my problem? You heard what the Grand Elder said, they can''t focus on him. That also means these special meals!" Axel snidely remarked. He also showed an unsettling smile towards Apollo.

    This whole while, Apollo quietly examined Axel as the two argued. He had his own demons to deal with; it was taking his entire being not tosh out and cause a bigger scene.

    "You''re a disgusting person, you know that? If you tell the Elders, I don''t care. I will always look out for Apollo," Aaron said, ashamed to continue looking at him. However, they soon stopped.

    The sound of a sliding chair was heard as a hand was ced on Aaron''s shoulder. It was Apollo, he stood from his seat next to him as he looked at Axel.

    He looked at Axel and asked a simple question, "Why do you hate me so much?" For a moment, Axel was slightly taken aback. In the past 4 years, there was never a time where Apollo had talked back nor shown any emotion except fear.

    "Why do I hate you? The answer is simple¡ªbecause you''re so damn weak. You''re not like the other kids! You''re a disgrace to our family, we are supposed to get stronger. But, here you are; the weakest thing I''ve ever seen. I hate looking at you because it reminds me of what the lowest of low looks like," Axel venomously spat.

    For a while, Apollo nodded silently, taking in the words. The breaking point had been reached, he looked at Axel and clenched his fist. Unsatisfied by that answer, the next sentence that escaped Apollo''s mouth caused everyone to gasp in surprise, even the formerly quiet Lily.

    "If that''s how you feel, then let''s do something about it."

 Chapter 14 - Standing His Ground

    ----

    "If that''s how you feel, let''s do something about this. I have a very good idea, why not fight me," Apollo dered. Unlike before, his gaze was calm¡ªfrigid in fact. But behind that, a madness burned as he continued to stare unmovingly into Axel''s eyes. Yet, Axel found this matterughable.??

    "Fight you? Haha, are you stupid? Do you want to be hurt so badly?" Axelughed hysterically as if he had just heard the funniest joke ever. Murmurs sounded amongst the other children as they made fervent conjectures; even Aaron interjected.

    "Apollo, don''t. You will just be hurt. He can wield at least 30 Zuls."

    He was well aware of this fact, so Apollo nodded his head. However, his expression showed he wouldn''t calm down unless he did this. After all, the one before him was the crux of his mistreatment.

    "Aaron, I know. But, I am tired of being treated like this! I...I am bullied everyday and they ki-... I mean, besides you, no one else looks out for me. I don''t think this is how a child should be treated and I''m angry because of this. I just want to hit something! It''s like fists are the only thing that is heard around here."

    Apollo''s childish voice filled with emotions as he grabbed his rags of clothing. Meanwhile, Aaron''s heart clenched with pain. However, the other children simply snickered. They grew up knowing might is right.

    It was then Aaron made his decision. He clenched his fist while ring at Axel, "Then, we fight together Apollo. Let''s go to the training field."

    As Apollo and Aaron exited, Aaron turned back to the shocked Axel, "You had all those words, are youing?"

    Naturally, Axel couldn''t stand him trampling on his pride like this. He gestured to his group as they all left the Dining Hall. While outside was darkening, it wasn''t to an extent that prohibited sight.

    Eventually, the entire group of children inside the Dining Hall left and headed towards the training area. They were nothing short of curious; they needed to know how things would turn out and it would provide excitement.

    "Fine, you both cane at me. It''s not like either of you are stronger than me," Axel chuckled. His provocations were childish, but neither Apollo nor Axel paid attention to him.

    On the other hand, Aaron whispered words of encouragement to Apollo, "Don''t worry about what happens, just fight to your heart''s content and let out your frustrations."

    "I will." Apollo nodded without dy. From his resolute gaze, it was clear he meant what he said. The question was¡ªcould he deliver?

    Meanwhile, themotion of all the kids reentering the training ground caught the attention of the adults. Standing outside the gates, they silently watched. As a matter of fact, Ashur was present with disturbing punctuality.

    "Mm? A scuffle between the children? I wonder what happened that it escted to this level."

    A female voice replied, "Oh, it''s my son and...Apollo? Wait, it''s Apollo? What are they doing?!"

    "Oh you''re right Cynthia, it is indeed that little twerp Apollo," Ashur grinned. Simr to Axel, he seemed to have it out for Apollo. To feel strong, he liked to prey on the weak.

    Not long after the others, Danyul appeared as well. However, his thoughts sided more with Cynthia, "Should we end themotion before it esctes?"

    "No, don''t do that. That little twerp needs a beating. Let''s just stop it right before it gets out of hand," Ashur shook his head.

    Although he didn''t fully agree with this decision, he remained silent about this matter. Differently, however, he focused on the inconsistencies with Apollo, ''Since yesterday, this fellow feels different. He doesn''t feel as timid...he just feels¡ªangry.''

    Nevertheless, the signs appearing on Apollo; Azridan was pleasantly surprised by them. As a result, Azridan added his own thoughts.

    [That is the spiritd, fight against your oppression. Do not let fear enter your heart. You must remember, you will miss all opportunities of growth that you don''t attempt to im.]

    ?System Alert! Battle Guidance Mode activated! Your movements will be influenced by the system. Embrace the feeling, don''t fight it.?

    [Lad, you have never fought before. So listen to my instructions. There is a chance if you listen to me while fighting with this other young boy.]

    "Okay."

    ?System Alert! New Mission.?

    Quest Name: First Fight

    Information: The basics of fighting are a foreign concept to you. However, that is all about to change. Take part in your first fight ingraining the thrills of fighting into your soul.

    Task-

    -Attack under the Guidance Battle Mode. (0/1)

    -Land 3 clean blows on your opponent. (0/3)

    [?Bonus Task?]-

    -Beat your opponent to triple your rewards.

    Rewards-

    - 300 Experience. (900 Experience if Bonus Taskpleted.)

    -----

    "How do you want to do this? Weapons, or hands?" asked Aaron.

    A shrug was all they received. Truth be told, he didn''t care what the others used. The only thing he wanted to do now was for everyone to bear witness as he trampled over these two.

    [Use the staff, you''ve been training in it for two days. The movements should be rtively better than without it.]

    Needless to say, Apollo obliged and picked up the training staff. Surely enough, it was the same one he used for daily training.

    "That training weapon isn''t even a decent one, pfft, 2 Zuls? Come on. Is that all you can wield? What an idiot. Why would you even challenge me when you''re like this?" Axel smirked. After seeing this, the disdain he held for Apollo grew.

    Suddenly, Axel made his move. Before they could respond, Axel dashed towards them. Aaron was well aware of the power gap, thus, he shifted in front of Apollo, and raised his guard.

    A muffled thud sounded as Aaron''s appearance turned serious. His forearms felt slightly sore from the one blow. To counterattack, he lowered his body and performed a sweeping kick.

    ''Fwoosh!''

    Axel tapped his foot lightly, airborne for a moment.

    [Now!]

    Without dy, Apollo sidestepped out of Aaron''s shadow. thrust the staff at Axel''s chest. Raising his eyebrows, Axel chopped using his hand as a de.

    ''Krtch!''

    The training staff snapped in two pieces, however, this didn''te as a surprise. Aaron spun and delivered two quick kicks which Axel blocked with his hands. While Aaron upied him, Apollo dashed and grasped the other broken half of the staff.

    Furthermore, he took the chance to inspect the information of everyone after noticing that battle mode was slightly different.

    ¡¸Name: Axel

    Health: 43/45

    Cultivation: Rank 4 Mortal¡¹

    ¡¸Name: Aaron

    Health: 33/39

    Cultivation: Rank 3 Mortal¡¹

    ''They have no levels, so I guess that is exclusive to me.''

    Amid his thoughts, Axel kicked Aaron in his chest sending him tumbling back. His gaze turned to Apollo as he pounced.

    Although he knew he was no match, he was ready. Apollo held the two halves of the broken staff and took a stance. Additionally, Azridan chimed in, offering his input on the possible oues.

    [He will mostly likely toy with you. There is a possibility your limbs will be his focus.]

    Due to Azridan''s familiarity with battle, Apollo took the words to heart. He remained vignt. In due time, Axel''s dangerous kick came.

    Surprisingly, Apollo pulled a tactic. ording to Azridan''s input, he checked the blow by lifting his leg with a small hop. If not, the difference in strength would be enough to cause a fracture..

    "Oh? Thatd Apollo is moving in a way to mitigate the force Axel is using. Where did he learn that?" Danyul mused.

    "Hmph, that doesn''t matter. It doesn''t change the fact his body is weak. For that very reason, Axel will end up winning even in this 2 to 1," Ashur rebutted.

    On the other hand, Cynthia remained quiet as she attentively watched the fight. Her attention was divided on both Apollo and Aaron.

    ?Damage received. -3 Health. 15/18 Health remaining.?

    Although he followed the instructions, the sheer difference in force still caused Apollo to wince after the blow. In response, he executed a few retreating steps. But, while doing so, he observed Axel''s iing punch. Once again, he rose a guard and performed the same maneuver.

    ''Wham!''

    Axel''s punchnded on Apollo''s crossed arms which sent him flying away promptly after. He tumbled for a while until he stopped next to Aaron.

    "I think we should stop it now," Cynthia voiced. This fight wasn''t well matched even if there were two of them. It was time she stopped it.

    However, Ashur refused. "Wait, no one is terribly hurt. Let them vent their frustrations. It''s just the harmless fight of kids."

    Both Danyul and Cynthia looked at him with narrowed eyes as he said this. They wanted to know what his angle was, there was nothing necessarily exciting take ce. Yet, he seemed to be enjoying this too much.

 Chapter 15 - Punishment

    ¡­

    Apollo stopped tumbling when he arrived next to Aaron''s. He staggered to his feet as he wiped the trail of blood flowing down the corner of his mouth. However, as he looked at the notification before him, he truly wanted to murder this boy Axel.??

    ?Damage received. -4 Health. 11/18 Health remaining.?

    [Control your rage and channel it into power for your next move. Use your surroundings to your advantage and team up with your partner. Remember, this is a fight, anything goes.]

    ''That''s right, this is a fight. I can do anything I please. I will make him feel the same way this body felt,'' Apollo inwardly thought as he gnashed his teeth.

    With his mind made up, Apollo leaned over to whisper into Aaron''s ear, "Aaron, we need to take him by surprise. I think you should catch him by surprise! Use your shoulder to bash him when he''s unaware."

    "That sounds like a good idea. If this works, you can pummel him afterward!" Aaron agreed. Without dy, the two came to an agreement and Aaron made his move.

    Once he arrived before Axel, they exchanged blows. Aaron continued to hold his ground until Apollo caught up. As he noticed him in position, Aaron acted upon their agreement. He changed his stance and rammed his shoulder into Axel''s chest.

    Due to this hit, Axel was both winded and disoriented for a moment. In response, Apollo capitalized on the moment. He grabbed a handful of dirt and tossed it in Axel''s widened eyes.

    "A-aghh!!" Axel screamed in pain from the burning sensation of his eyes. He covered and tried to wipe them, but he made a mistake.

    [Now! Use this opportunity to focus on his weak spots. Aim for his head, if you cause enough damage there, it will most often spell the end for your opponent.]

    ''Right!'' Apollo listened. He grabbed the two pieces of the broken staff and unleashed fury upon Axel. When Axel was about to regain sight, Aaron ran up and kicked him in the chest once again.

    Amid his strike, Apollo was ovee by rage. He tossed away the pieces of the staff and started stomping on the howling Axel. His eye continued to burn with rage, but he soon found himself airborne.

    A seething shout was heard from where he once stood. Ashur stood before Axel with an upset face, "Such filthy tactics! Enough!" he roared thunderously.

    With a loud thud, Apollonded harshly. Even afternding, he continued to tumble for a while toe. When he stopped, he blinked incredulously. His body was in so much pain! Needless to say, Ashur didn''t hold back too well with his throw.

    ?Critical Damage received! -10 Health. 1/18 Health remaining.?

    After he saw the message, Apollo tried to stand. By the time he did, Danyul appeared. However, most of his anger seemed directed at Ashur rather than Apollo. He ced his hand on Apollo to monitor him.

    Once he was certain none of Apollo''s internals suffered fatal damage, he barked at Ashur, "Are you insane?! You''re a friggin Rank 8 Zul Warrior and you throw him like that?!"

    "Tch, that''s his fault. There is no reason for him to fight in such a dirty way. The fight was already two against one. Not to mention, look at Axel. He is defenseless and they were ganging up on him. So, I acted quickly," Ashur retorted, ending with a scoff.

    "Idiot, you should''ve stopped it when Cynthia voiced her opinion! This matter will be taken to the Grand Elder," Danyul seethed. He knew they should''ve acted when he gut told him to.

    However, Ashur merely red back which soon turned into a conniving smirk. He thought of something and answered in kind, "Indeed, let''s do just that."

    Danyul didn''t read into his expression to notice something amiss. He ced his fingers in his mouth and person a strange whistle.

    In a matter of moments, the Grand Elder appeared before everyone.

    "What is it?" Kayn inquired as he gazed around at everyone.

    Without fail, both Danyul and Ashur ryed the events they watched unfold. However, in response, Kayn''s attention fell on the 3 in mention.

    "Apollo, Aaron, Axel, do you care to exin yourselves? A little bit of strife is not the end of the world, but you seem to be excessively antagonizing each other."

    "I-it''s Aaron''s fault! He didn''t follow the rules. Apollo forgot his identity card for dinner and Aaron used his card to get him food. I told him that he was stopping the others from being properly fed! After that, Apollo asked me to fight," Axel blurted as he wiped his tearing eyes.

    Kayn responded with a nod. He then turned towards Aaron and shortly after Apollo, "Aaron, Apollo? What is your side?"

    "It is true. But, Axel also didn''t use his identity card either. It was unfair that Apollo wasn''t being fed," Aaron answered truthfully. In his eyes, he did no wrong and would support this idea to the very end.

    "While what you did isn''t necessarily bad, this world possesses rules. To survive, you must learn to conform to those rules. Young one, this world we live in isn''t a fair one. It is one where the strong thrive and the weak remain silent.

    "But-" Aaron responded, only to be stopped by Kayn.

    "No buts, this matter will be settled. From now on, do away with the trivial shing. Apollo, Aaron, you were in the wrong first. So apologize to Axel.

    "As for you Aaron and Axel, you two need to focus on your cultivation. I expect greats things from you two. You need to prepare yourselves!"

    On the other hand, Apollo was incensed by this. In contrast, all Axel got was a p on the wrist. He looked at Axel''s teasing expression and clenched his fist. His small body trembled uncontrobly.

    Both he and Aaron didn''t like this. As such his mutter came, "No..."

    In response, Kayn''s expression turned stern, "Are you defying me?"

    "It isn''t my fault. You.. you guys allowed them to bully me. But I can''t fight back?" Apollo retorted as his tremble became more apparent.

    Kayn folded his arms and showed his authority, "I will tell you once again, apologize for your actions. If your position doesn''t allow it, you must know when to lower your head."

    Unfortunately, Apollo was far past his breaking point. He was reminded of hisst moments in his world. His fighting back is what brought his death, but something inside him told him to rebel, and rebel he did.

    "NO! You didn''t help when Axel, Dylon, Brendel, Klyde, and Ymir bullied me! No one said anything. Everyone knew I was being mistreated but no one did anything! Just leave me alone. You, this world, everything is so stupid-..."

    ''Pow!''

    "While you are allowed to be angry, it is advised you watch your tone and words. I will not tolerate disrespect," Kayn reprimanded after delivering a prompt p.

    In turn, Apollo red before walking away. However, he was stopped in ce as Kayn''s aged hand fell upon his shoulders.

    "I believe I told you to apologize to Axel. Are you adamant in disobeying to the very end?" Kayn asked in a solemn tone.

    As an answer, Apollo shook his head defiantly, "No, I won''t. He doesn''t deserve an apology."

    "Tread carefully, if you insist on being disobedient, you will lose everything."

    Once again, Apollo shook his head, "Then take it away. I don''t care. Whenpared to what everyone else receives, my pills are worth nothing. You guys will never help me, so let go."

    [Your words are correct, they won''t help you; I will. Forget these mercurial beings and ce your faith in my training. I promise you, you will gain strength surpassing this world.]

    "Very well. From here on forward, Apollo Kaiser will be stripped of any and all familial benefits. None of you are allowed to render aid. If you do, I will punish you myself. Now, disperse," Kaynmanded as he left with steady steps.

    The crowd followed his orders without dy. However, Aaron empathetically looked at Apollo who had a nk look on his face.

    Cynthia dragged Aaron away, while also frowning towards Apollo. ''Is this situation even right? They''re just making excuses. Why do they make it so hard for him to stand on his own two feet? It''s impossible that they have overlooked the change in him."

    She felt this wasn''t right. Sadly, with the current state of the family, Kayn was the only present Zul General. Although this realm was not extremely strong in this world, in his family until another Patriarch appeared, his word was final.

    Once everyone left, Apollo also departed from the area. While walking towards his small courtyard, he understood what he needed to do.

    After arriving in his room, he took a seat on the bed. "I''m going to leave. Azridan, teach me the ways of a demon!"

    [As you wish! I am d you ept so early on.]

 Chapter 16 - Exit

    ----

    The numerous messages following thepletion of his question sounded while he sat on the bed.??

    ?System Alert! Mission COMPLETE!?

    ?Bonus Task COMPLETE! Quest rewards have been increased.?

    ?900 Experience has been received.?

    ?Congrattions, Level 4 has been achieved. Attributes increased by .1 and 2 Stat points have been rewarded.?

    ?Congrattions, Level 5 has been achieved. Attributes increased by .1 and 2 Stat points have been rewarded.?

    ''My stat points, I should have a few but I think I will save it for now. I don''t know what Azridan has in store for me. So, I need to be prepared,'' Apollo thought to himself as he cleared the notifications. At the same time, he took a nce at his current condition.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.1

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Human

    Age: 10

    Level: 5

    Experience: 470/500.

    Health: 5/22

    Stamina: 11/28

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 1 Mortal

    Physique: Mortal (Middle)

    Zuls: 3

    Strength: 1.9

    Agility: 1.7

    Intelligence: 9.4

    Vitality: 1.6

    Stat Points: 4

    ''It''s slow, but I can feel myself healing. It must have something to do with the vitality stat," Apollo muttered while clenching his fist.

    [Partly. The other reason is due to your level up. Due to it, the small jump in stats increases your body''s parameters.]

    "That makes sense. If my body was to stay the same after my stats increase, I''d have to question the system and your promises," Apollo chuckled.

    [I as well! However, don''t you me me, I didn''t create this sted thing. I was shoved into this position. But, it''s better than facing death, I suppose.]

    "You didn''t make this? Now that you mention it, you weren''t the voice in my mind. You sound different. Still strong, but that other voice made me feel fear while also appearing familiar. Who was that?" Apollo asked.

    [I don''t know, but pack your things. There is no need to dawdle here any longer. We have made up our minds about what we need to do. Now, it is time to act on it quickly.]

    Apollo obeyed and gathered his belongings. Frankly speaking, the sack on his shoulder was reasonably small. It only contained the rest of the cream he received from Danyul and the 2 tattered robes he owned. However, he didn''t fret. If he achieved enough strength, a way to acquire things should present itself.

    As he was about to leave, he paused. There was an odd feeling that he was forgetting something. Then, an image flowed into his mind of his parent, "That''s right. Apollo stowed away something he was given.

    Apollo walked to the corner of the room and moved a brick from inside the wall. A small box was hidden inside. As Apollo removed it, he felt an odd sensation from the box. Before, that wasn''t the case. He opened it to reveal a pendant.

    It was a pristine piece, to say the least. Adorned on the silver thread-like chain, was a crystal with an obscure shape. It was hard to distinguish between a scale, tooth, or stone. However, the one thing that remained clear as day was the fact it looked to be dormant.

    The reason it was hidden like this was due to his aunt''s directions. When he turned 8, Cynthia gave it to him and told him it was a keepsake left by his father. However, in his memories, no matter how much Apollo tinkered with it, it didn''t respond.

    It looked like an artifact, but it didn''t act like one. This was due to two reasons. Firstly, Apollo''s disabled meridians prohibited him from sensing the energy within, or the way it reacted to Natural Essence.

    Secondly, the requirements of the ne had yet to be met. Until then, it would remain in a dormant state. Be that as it may, it didn''t mean it was entirely useless. Due to the change in Apollo, it vibrated.

    While in his palm, a small window appeared before his eyes presenting a fair amount of need-to-know information.

    Item Name: Resplendent Jadeite Ne

    Rank: Tier 6 Spiritual Artifact

    Grade: Excellent

    Effect: Increases cultivation speed by 100% until your realm surpasses its Tier. (Increases Experience gain by 100%)

    Sub-effect: Replenishes 1 Health and 2 Stamina per minute.

    Note: This artifact is capable of growth if you possess the means to do so.

    Upon looking at the information, Apollo froze. While he didn''t entirely understand what an artifact was, just based on the fact it doubled his cultivation speed, he was ted! If he yed his cards right, then ying catch up wasn''t an impossibility!

    ''Rank 6? I''m not sure about the differences between ranking but from what the system is telling me, it should be rather high. Thank you, father,'' Apollo whispered whilst mindlessly mumbling in a daze. For some odd reason, saying this felt correct.

    [Lad, this ne is good. No, that''s a small understatement. It''s perfect for you currently. With this, you are set for our journey. Granted, this is given there are no hups on our way.]

    Right after Apollo ced the pendant around his neck, a gentle aura flowed into him. Albeit slow, the steady stream rejuvenated him. At the same time, Azridan spoke to Apollo.

    [On this path, you will abandon your humanity and prey on worlds. I was given the task to guide you and that is what I shall do. You must remember, above all, strength is what matters. Do not leave regrets. If ites to it, embrace destruction; that is all you can rely on. I will mold you into the being needed to truly be the Demon Monarch!]

    "I want power," Apollo responded. An ardent desire burned in his eyes as he remembered that dark aura that encapsted him in the other world. It felt powerful! That was his aim.

    [Good, now we move forward. This will be your initial step to your ceaseless conquering.]

    "Conquering you say..."Apollo trailed. To be honest, the words sounded oddly pleasant to him. To conquer meant he would be at the apex, and once there, he would be without contest. Therefore, he found his goal, "If it is like that, then I ept."

    [Very well. From this moment onward, I deem you the sessor of I, the former Demon Monarch, Azridan T''hkrain. After your change, we''ll leave.]

    ?System Alert! A race change hasmenced. In the process, you''ll lose your status as a human.?

    ?Certain aspects of your physique will be changing to match that of a higher race unknown to this world.?

    ?You have fulfilled the prerequisites, your hatred shall facilitate and sustain this change.?

    ?System Alert! Due to the eptance of your natural race, The Demon Monarch System is upgrading to the second level.?

    Before Apollo could agree, a slit appeared on both Apollo''s wrists followed by obscure markings flickering in and out of existence. While this happened, his eyes rolled back in line with his waning consciousness.

    Subtle changes began happening to his body as he fainted. The changes only stopped oncepleted leaving the unconscious Apollo to sleep through the night.

    ----

    The next morning, Apollo''s eyes opened. However, there remained a slight buzzing in his head. Naturally, it was an aftereffect of the changes the system caused. Walking to the back courtyard where the pond was located, Apollo leaned over it to wash his face.

    However, when he saw his appearance, he jumped backward startled. After scurrying back to his hands and knees, he crawled to the pond. As he once again looked into the pond, Apollo''s jaw dropped.

    For starters, his hair was as dark as the abyss. Next, his dull grey eyes shifted into a vibrant amethyst color hiding untold secrets within. His previously chalky skin now carried a tinge of bronze.

    [You have initiated the process of bing a Demon.]

    "So different. But, other than that, my body feels," Apollo paused then recounted the events that transpiredst night while clenching his fist.

    "Azridan... Why do I feel like your name sounds familiar now? Is there a reason for this? I feel as if I''ve heard it before but... I know I haven''t," Apollo murmured, continuing to marvel at his changes.

    [Hm, I''m not sure why. You don''t originate from this world and neither do I. Nevertheless, in the future, we will learn more about our circumstances. More importantly, since you''re now my sessor, I need to prepare some things for you.]

    Meanwhile, Apollo also checked his status for changes.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step)

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 10

    Level: 5

    Experience: 470/500.

    Health: 46/46

    Stamina: 40/40

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 1 Mortal [5/10]

    Physique: Mortal-Grade (Top Tier)

    Zuls: 5

    Strength: 3.0

    Agility: 2.0

    Intelligence: 9.9

    Vitality: 2.2

    Stat Points: 4

    [It is time to embark on our own training experience. My regiment will be much more suited for your growth.]

    Apollo nodded along. He stopped in to grab his already packed things. However, while leaving, he remembered something,

    "I have to do one thing before I go," Apollo announced.

 Chapter 17 - Survival (I)

    ----

    Apollo made a beeline through the training area. Since it was earlier than he usually got up, the yard was vacant. Thus, he continued forward and made a detour to Cynthia''s home.??

    When he reached his destination, he knocked on the door. Shortly after, the ring of his aunt''s velvety voice sounded, "Who is it?

    "Apollo," he answered.

    Not long after, the door opened revealing Cynthia''s matured smile. "Apollo, how are you? I''m sorry for yesterday."

    "Don''t worry about it, Aunty. It''s not your fault. I understand that Kayn''s word is final. I just wanted to know if Aaron is up?" Apollo responded, brushing the matter aside.

    "Yes, he is still here. If you want to see him. He''s in his room. If he isn''t up, then wake him," Cynthia replied with a smile. But, her expression turned into one of surprise.

    With the changes that took cest night, although his appearance didn''t alter greatly, for someone like Cynthia, they were apparent.

    ''A spitting image, he looks just like him. Why is that? Compared to just yesterday, he looking more and more like his father. The resemnce is uncanny,'' Cynthia thought while Apollo entered Aaron''s room.

    "Aaron, are you awake?"

    In response, Aaron moved. He turned over and looked at Apollo. However, his expression was glum as he looked at Apollo. "Yeah, I''m up. Yesterday was my fault, I shouldn''t have agreed. Now look what happened, you were the only one punished!"

    "Don''t worry about that, I think it''s better this way. But, before I go, I thought I shoulde to tell you goodbye," Apollo shook his head.

    At first, Aaron was frozen in shock but then he jumped out of bed, "G-goodbye? You''re leaving? Where will you go?"

    "I don''t know, but I can''t stay in this family any longer. Don''t worry though, I''ll just take my own path," Apollo smiled.

    On the other hand, Aaron sulked, "I understand. I just want you to know, I''ll miss you."

    A silence was shared before the two gave each other a brotherly hug, "I''ll see you in the future Aaron. Perhaps, by then, I''ll be much stronger."

    With thesest words, he grabbed his belongings as he left the room.

    Amid his departure, he waved to Cynthia, "Bye Aunty."

    She waved back but she remained perplexed by something. She felt this bye sounded odd. It was only when he was a notable distance away that she noticed the small bag on his shoulder.

    At that instant, Aaron ran out of his room.

    Aaron flung the door open and screamed at the top of his lungs looking at the departing figure of Apollo.

    "I swear to you Apollo, even if you continue to be unable to... then I will be strong and right every wrong! This is unfair and their words and behavior don''t justify their actions."

    Lifting his hand, Apollo turned and waved with a smile. He would also miss this fellow that was prominent in his memories. However, in his eyes, remained a gaze that meant: "Don''t worry, I will be someone who doesn''t need protection. I promise you."

    Cynthia walked up behind Aaron, cing her hand on his shoulder. As he gazed as his small yet distancing she was overwhelmed with curiosity, "Where is Apollo going?"

    "I don''t know...but he said he is leaving. Even if he wascking in talent, why couldn''t they just treat him like a normal person?" asked Aaron as he turned to his mother.

    However she sighed and shook her head, "It''s not that Apollo iscking in talent. It''s because of that event that happened that his body is that way. If not for that, I believe his talent would have been even stronger than Lily''s.

    "Although there are some infrequent aberrants, the talent of the body is something more so inherited. Lily''s father had a Top Tier Spirit-Grade Inner Talent, however, Apollo''s father possessed a Middle Tier Heaven-Grade Inner Talent. What I''m trying to say, even though they were the top two talents of their generation-..."

    All of a sudden, her words were cut short by a mncholic sigh escaping from her lips. The more she spoke about them, the more she missed her brothers.

    "If Uncle was so talented, why did they treat Apollo in such a way?"

    "Well, you see sweetie, not everything can be exined simply by what you see. They treat Aaron that way because of the backstory. But, that is wrong, it isn''t his fault that the family''s rising stars perished. The me should be ced upon those Terrors. But the family is too scared. As a result, he became the subject of their scorn."

    "Tch...cowards. They''re just looking for someone else to me," Aaron scoffed while the look in his eyes changed. The story made him look at the family with a hint of disgust.

    "Mom, I promise; I will be stronger than anyone present in the family."

    "I believe in you. After all, after my brother''s death, we need someone suitable to fill the Patriarch position. The person next in line... well let''s just say they aren''t situated for the task. I see our downfall in the future."

    ----

    Once he passed through the gates of the Kaiser Family residence, Apollo looked into the distance. Ignoring the popted sidewalks, he was fascinated by the scenery before him for a moment. In truth, outside of the times he was bullied, this was the first real experience he had outside of the family estate. Intaking his surroundings, he began muttering to him.

    "Wow, it seems so... expansive. Based on the books that I''ve read, the continent I''m on is the damaged Western Continent¡ªZephus. However, it isn''t called that anymore. Instead, it is split in two now namely the Endless Death Domain and Zephus Domain which sandwich the Ruination Boundary."

    "I should learn more about the breakdown of society. That way, I''ll be able to prepare myself in the future. After all, I''ll need to possess some knowledge to blend into the selection and enter a War Academy."

    As he talked to himself in a low voice, Apollo wandered aimlessly. Taking note of this, he paused. His knowledge of his surroundings was all one-dimensional and from the books no less. He didn''t necessarily understand where to go. Hence, his only choice was to seek help.

    "Azridan, uh where exactly am I headed?"

    [Hmm, based on the information you possess, there should be arge forest nearby concentrated with both Spirit and Mortal Beast. However, it also seems from what I can sense to be explored frequently. Are you prepared to face challenges? We might not return here for a while.]

    "Ah, I made my choice already Azridan. I''m ready to face what you deem fit," Apollo replied before following Azridan''s directions. Turning east, he began his trek into uncharted areas for him. Although traveling was a new sensation for him, he couldn''t say he hated it. The constantly changing scenery was refreshing.

    It wasn''t long before Apollo reached the forest. The forest had a simple name: The Shadowy Forest. All types of things could be found inside ranging from Spirit Beast to Spiritual Herbs to people. But at night, the towering trees cast shadows among each other giving it an ominous atmosphere.

    [Rememeber, until we ascertain the difference in physiques, it is imperative you avoid Rank 1 Spirit Beasts at all costs. Seek Mortal Beasts which are just extremely weak versions of Rank 1 Spirit.]

    "Okay," Apollo nodded as he attentively inspected his surroundings. However, contrary to his directions, the area which he entered from was littered with nothing but Rank 1 Spirit Beast.

    In light of the immediate danger, he held his breath as long as possible and crept past this area, heading towards another part of the forest outskirts.

    [Although it isn''t advised to engage inbat training with these monsters until you reach the level of a 5th Rank Mortal, we will be doing things differently.]

    "Ok."

    [For now, let''s hone your hand-to-handbat. Once youplete this mission you will be rewarded.]

    ?System Alert! New Mission?

    Quest Name: Initial Step to Superiority

    Information: Strength means everything; so this is what you need to gain. Reach a suitable standard to travel deeper into the embrace of Azridan''s session.

    Task-

    -Kill 5,000 Rank 0 Mortal Beast or above monsters. (0/5,000)

    -Reach the Rank 5 Mortal Level. (Iplete)

    Time Limit: 3 years

    [?Bonus Task?]-

    - Complete within 2 years 6 months = 100% Experience reward increase.

    - Complete within 2 years = 200% Experience reward increase.

    - Complete within 1 year = Experience reward increased to 500%

    Reward:

    - 50,000 Experience

    - ????, ????

    "So... I have to kill something. Erm, Azridan this will be my first time. I might have died but I have never killed. What does it feel like?"

    [At first, it is a sensation that is wholly unsettling, however, when you are put in the correct situation you will understand. In a moment, it could be your death or theirs. What would you choose then? Being merciful to your enemies is to be heartless to yourself.]

    "I understand." Apollo exhaled.

    He then made his move, finding a ce to sent his belongings down. After doing so, he started to search for monsters. Soon enough, he found a small fox-type monster. However, unlike normal ones, this one wasn''t timid.

    Upon Apollo''s appearance, it pounced.

    ?System Alert! Battle Mode activated.?

    ?Your body is deemed to be in the prime condition to enter a battle state.?

    Monster Name: Red Fox

    Cultivation: Rank 0 Mortal Beast (On par with Rank 3 Mortal Cultivator)

    Health: 50/50

    Faster than he could react, the fox took notice of him. Almost immediately, Apollo took a shoddy fighting stance as he shifted to the side. The fox dashed past him, missing its pounce.

    Be that as it may, it was hard for him to keep track of the foxes'' movements. After all, it was an agility-type beast.

    ''This little red fox is quick. It may take a lot to deal with it,'' Apollo thought to himself while watching the fox scurry about.

 Chapter 18 - Survival (II)

    ----

    Due to the small body of the fox, it was able to manipte itself in a way that eclipsed Apollo''s Agility. Even Azridan offered his input on the matter.??

    [This agility of this beast is at least 3.2; instead of chasing, stay rooted and instead let it approach you. One of its shorings seems to be its nature isn''t that of a typical fox. It''s too confrontational.]

    "Okay, I understand," Apollo nodded, spreading his feet into a horse stance with an extremely focused gaze. This time, the events yed out differently. With precise directions and astonishing timing, Azridan guided Apollo and informed him when to react.

    As the fox dashed toward him, Apollo dodged under Azridan''s orders. After a sessful dodge, he followed up with an attack of his own.

    Apollo gripped the ankle of the fox''s hind legs and mmed it into the ground. But, he didn''t stop there. He had no thoughts of letting it go just yet. Next, he kicked it into the air causing a small yelp.

    ?You have dealt 5 damage.?

    ?You have dealt 5 damage.?

    ''Is my damage equal to my Zuls? If the monsters in this ce are agility types then I need to close the gap. Increase Agility by 4 points,'' Apollo thought while ncing at the disappearing notifications.

    ?Agility: 2.0 ¡ú 2.4.?

    The fox reacted, biting Apollo''s wrist. A small damage indicator appeared before his eyes whereas a sharp pain shot through his arm. For a moment, his grip on the fox''s ankle loosened, allowing it to escape.

    ?7 damage received.?

    Unable to contain the displeasure with the prior sh, the red fox beast pounced once again. Only, this time, Apollo responded by ramming his shoulder into its torso. While its body smashed against the floor, he climbed atop and pinned it to the ground. Picking up a decent-sized rock, he was instantly reminded of being buried under the stones.

    That instance of trauma caused him to snap for a moment, entering a mindless rage, "A-agghh!"

    ''Bam!'' ''Bam!'' ''Bam!''

    In a fit of rage, he began smashing the fox''s head repeatedly. When he stopped it was already long gone, departed from this world.

    [I see, there is a fire inside you, youngd. In that case, you should attune well with what I am to teach you. Harness it properly and you will see your growth bing unhindered.]

    However, Apollo didn''t respond. His hands trembled as he dropped the rock, staring at them in slight horror. He lost himself momentarily and didn''t realize he had nked out. This new experience was one that took him by storm, there was blood on his hands and it wasn''t his.

    ?You have killed a Rank 0 Mortal Beast - Red Fox. You have been rewarded 20 (10 + 10) Experience.?

    ?Experience: 490/500.?

    [Don''t fretd, you will get used to it.]

    "O-okay," Apollo answered as he gazed remained glued to his hands. There was a recurring urge to regurgitate as he looked at them then at the mangled mess on the floor. Not to mention, the metallic smell of blood didn''t help the issue either.

    It took quite a while, but Apollo eventually regained his wits. He recounted the situation while examining his surroundings. ''Killing...is a hard thing to do. How does one get used to this? But, if I want to be strong, it''s something I''ll have to get used to. From what I''ve learned, this world isn''t for the fainthearted.''

    It wasn''t long before once again, Apollo found himself embroiled inbat with another Rank 0 Mortal Beast. This was his first day, andbat wasn''t something he was entirely familiar with. Hence, the time spent inbat with a single beast was longer than it should''ve been. Not to mention, he rued many small injuries along the way.

    Luckily, the pendant hanging around his neck released an aura that continuously healed him. As he let the pendant assist his healing, the sky began darkening. Shortly after, his stomach started to growl due to the excess movement yetck of food.

    [If you are going to survive, then you''ll need to learn survival skills. Pick any one of the 12 monsters you have in today. I will walk you through the process of handling them.]

    It went without saying, Apollo immediately picked thergest one. Then he realized a dilemma prohibiting him at the moment, "How am I going to handle this if I have no knife or utensils?"

    "How am I going to cut it if I have no knife?"

    [Good question. I will help you.]

    A small portal opened, dropping a seemingly ck object. However, when itnded it pierced the ground cleanly. Its shape possessed a natural curve while the handle was onlyrge enough to situate 4 fingers. Tapping his finger against the tip, Apollo winced.

    "What a sharp knife!"

    Item Name: Dark Cutter

    Tier: Rank 2 Demon Artifact

    Effect: While this weapon may be used for battle, it is a basic item from the Nihilistic Rings. Hence, it possesses no attack value or essence effect. It can deal with the process of skinning, filleting, and other survival needs.

    Information: An extremely sharp knife forged from Obsidian Demon Stone. It is capable of cutting through all Rank 2 and below Spirit Beast skin and bones. In some instances, depending on the beast type, it may be able to handle Rank 3.

    [Begin by skinning the animal. Once skinned, you will need to separate the flesh from the joints and the joints from the bone. Oh! Make sure to pay close attention to the heart.]

    Inside a beast, before bing Spirit Beast, all of their gathered essence coagted in their hearts. But after death, it quickly faded. Hence, why it was better to eat the more rewarding Spirit Beast meat. They held essence more efficiently whenpared to a Mortal Beast.

    From Apollo''s movements, there was an utterck of skill. But yet and still, he was able to harvest the heart and meat to a suitable standard for his first try; courtesy of his high intelligence and decent Agility. Creating fire with sticks and rocks, he began roasting it as per Azridan''s instruction.

    A vorful meaty smell filled the atmosphere, however, the smell was masked by the stench of blood. In a few moments, once the meat was well prepared, he began devouring his meal. Compared to before in the Dining Hall, the experience rewarded was small. Nevertheless, the quantity was muchrger, so that made up for the quality.

    After eating, his belly was satisfied as he stretched. Then, a tinge of drowsiness began overtaking him.

    ?System Alert! 100g of Rank 0 Mortal Beast flesh has been ingested.?

    ?10 (5 + 5) Experience has been received.?

    [Rule 1 of survival, when in the wild, always remain vignt. Even when it is time to rest, train yourself to react at a moment''s notice. Understand? You are in the presence of many other foes. There isn''t the luxury of being careless.]

    "Yes, I understand," Apollo answered. A slight wave of drowsiness entered his mind.

    [Good, you may rest. But I''ll be locking your conscience in a semi-active state.]

    In little to no time at all, Apollo drifted to sleep. Constantly draining his stamina left both his body and mind exhausted. The whistling of the wind sounded as a light chill pervaded the atmosphere.

    [Hmm..? This forest isn''t as normal as it seems. I guess there is a high-level entity residing here.]

    ----

    At the same time, in the Kaiser Family estate, someone approached Apollo''s living quarters in such of him. Only, he wouldn''t find what he was expecting.

 Chapter 19 - Apollos Story (I)

    ----

    Danyul approached the room Apollo used to stay in because of an uneasy feeling. In truth, now that his presence appeared on the family training ground, Danyul expected him to visit. Although he wouldn''t receive the cultivation resources because of Grand Elder Kayn''s orders, with the spirit he showed, Danyul believed he''d still want to train.??

    Hence, when he failed to show for the entirety of the day, Danyul became slightly worried that the boy''s spirit was crushed after just finding his strength. He truly hoped this wasn''t the case; he had just given him a thumbs up for amendable heart.

    After all, it took more courage than one usually wanted to admit in order to go against both written and unspoken rules in the face of a stronger power. Apollo did just that, even though the Grand Elder''s words were the supreme edict of the family; he didn''t submit. Why would he? He possessed the means to climb on his own.

    "Apollo," Danyul uttered as he knocked on the door. However, there was no response, just an eerie silence. At first, he frowned because he first thought he was being ignored until his senses didn''t pick up the sounds of any breath nor the presence of a person.

    "He''s not here and I didn''t see him in the training ground... so where did he go? Is it possible that he went there?" Danyul murmured while shifting the direction of his walk. Instead of returning to the family library, which in truth was more like a small pavilion, he made a detour.

    After some thought, Danyul approached the only other ce he could think of Apollo heading, Aaron''s house, ''It''s quite possible that he is there. It goes without saying, those two are the only ones who treat him with a semnce of care. In the future, those two... never mind,'' Danyul thought as he shook his head. It would be a shame if his thoughts came to fruition.

    Soon enough, Danyul arrived and knocked on Cynthia''s door waiting for an answer.

    "Who is it?" Cynthia responded after a short pause.

    "Danyul, Sister Cynthia."

    "Oh Danyul, what brings you here? Aaron''s asleep. He''s been pushing himself beyond his limits these days. I feel like...I feel my little boy is changing," Cynthia sighed with a slightly worried expression. The entire day, Aaron had spoken less than 10 words. It was unlike his usual affable self.

    "Yes, he was silent today during our daily training session. Actually, if I''m being honest, I don''t remember him uttering one word. I''m worried the boys have lost their resolve due to this situation. I don''t feel it was handled very well. Is Apollo here?" Danyul sighed ruefully, shaking his head.

    "Apollo? Oh, I guess you didn''t know. Perhaps he didn''t reach out to you. Well, I''ll tell you now Apollo''s not here," Cynthia responded as she shook her head.

    "He''s not here? Then where is he?"

    For a moment, Cynthia sulked but then shook her head with worry, "I''m not sure Danyul, but he left. He said goodbye to Aaron and left with a bag on his shoulders. I''m not sure where he went. I just hope he remains safe." The look she saw in his eyes, she knew not to stop him as it was something he must do. However, she couldn''t stop herself from worrying.

    "He left?! He''s 10 years old...and his body is weak. What is that boy thinking?!" Danyul eximed as his eyes widened. He was exasperated by Apollo''s choice, he was unable to understand how he would survive with his frail body.

    "You know how the family treated him. What difference is there than being in the wild when thispared to this ce? I understand why he doesn''t view this ce as a home. I don''t me him; it should be the only ce he felt safe. Yet, no one held out a hand to support him.

    "It doesn''t matter if he was infected in his mother''s womb causing his body to weaken. Not just my brothers died, many others died protecting this family all those years ago. To make matters worse, his mother passed while giving birth to him after being fatally injured by a Terror. Before he was born, he became an orphan in his own family!" Cynthia seethed. The more she talked, the more emotional she became as an infuriated look passed through her eyes.

    "Tell me, Danyul. Why was it that Apollo was ostracized to such an extent? You, of all people, who looked up to his father as an idol should''ve protected him better."

    "I-I did¡­" Danyul muttered with a defeated look. Cynthia''s vivid reminder caused a slew of memories to run rampant in his mind. Most of which belonged to his adolescent days. He remembered the images of that one who possessed both talent and diligence. However, Cynthia''s seething voice brought him back to reality.

    "Oh? Did you?! Do you really believe you did? Then why was it that I had to always fetch Apollo when he was unconscious due to the beating of other kids? Why did I have to overlook his meal while Aaron ate? You providing him Healing Ointment in the shadows isn''t helping. That''s simply you pitying him."

    "U-uhm, I¡­" Danyul murmured but was unable to find the words. His defeated expression deepened as he failed to meet her gaze. A feeling of shame welled inside himself, however, it wasn''t for the reason one would think.

    "You see, you didn''t truly watch over that child nor protect him. However, I am ashamed of myself as well. Although I cared for him with Aaron like my own. I didn''t go against the other Elders, I''m not strong enough tobat the Grand Elder or the others for that matter. But that is beside the point, he should have never received that kind of treatment."

    "You''re right. I''m ashamed of myself. He should have been treated like a normal boy from the prestige of his father alone," Danyul conceded.

    Cynthia leaned against the door and crossed his arms, "Don''t worry, deep in my heart, I know that boy is strong. Not only will his name resound, but it will also do so with vigor! If you were really paying attention, you should have noticed, he is changing. His body doesn''t emit the aura of the Terrors anymore."

    "Now that you mention it, you''re right. If it did... he wouldn''t be able to take the Talent Assessment. Wait...does that mean?" Danyul gasped as he came to a realization.

    "Correct, I believe that will happen in the future. And should that ever happen, depending on his affection towards this family, you all maye to regret your decisions. If it was up to me, you should repair your rtionship. After all, he should be aware of who it was that bestowed him that ointment," Cynthia replied as she turned towards the distance gazing into it with a meaningful look.

    ''Make them proud,'' Cynthia thought. Meanwhile, a pair of incensed eyes opened as they peered at the ceiling. A set of ears had received a message that once again shifted their outlook.

 Chapter 20 - Changes (I)

    ----

    A slim youth could be seen mming a wolf twice his size into the ground before stabbing an obsidian knife through its eyes. As he did so, there was an inured look in his eyes as he repeated the action once again.??

    [Sublime, you have shown immense emotional growth.]

    In response, Apollo nodded while removing the knife from his kill. From the day he left the Kaiser Family, approximately 8 months had passed since then. During that time, he spent his days surviving through any means necessary.

    ?System Alert! Peak Rank 0 Mortal Beast killed.?

    ?16 (8 + 8) Experience has been received.?

    ?Experience: 3,040/3,100.?

    [Excellent, you have almost reached the 4th Rank of the Mortal Realm. Your hand-to-handbat has developed well. If you keep progressing like this, it won''t be long before you reach the prerequisites. Also, you''re doing a good job of avoiding the detection of wandering people.]

    "Thank you," Apollo sintly replied as he tossed the wolf aside. Within his gaze, there was a budding indifference. The past experiences of these many months were far from uneventful. Compared to his starting point, he maderge advancements.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step)

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 11

    Level: 31

    Experience: 3,040/3,100.

    Health: 124/124

    Stamina: 124/124

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 3 Mortal [26/30]

    Physique: Mortal-Grade (Peak Tier)

    Zuls: 26

    Strength: 12.8

    Agility: 4.6

    Intelligence: 12.5

    Vitality: 4.8

    Stat Points: 0

    Apollo closed his status panel.

    ''It seems the conversion ratio has upgraded to .5 Strength,'' Apollo thought while shifting his attention into the distance.

    Compared to a few months prior, he was going through a change originating from his core. The neverending killing, day in and day out, turned him callous and numb to the sight. Furthermore, the solitude he experienced in this forest dulled his desire to interact with others. Not to mention, his view of people wasn''t all that great, to begin with.

    Nevertheless, alongside his demeanor, another thing changed immensely; his talent had returned to the peak of the Mortal. It was but a short distance away from breaking into the Earth Grade. In Azridan''s eyes, Apollo''s change was rather quick. Of course, this was attributed to the fact that he was so diligent in his training.

    [I must sayd, your heart ismendable. Yourints have ceased over the past couple of months. If I''m being honest, I was surprised.]

    "If I continue toin about the same thing, can that be called growth? By the way, Azridan, I have a request. I want to try fighting a Rank 1 Spirit Beast today. Mortal Beasts aren''t cutting it anymore. Even at the peak of their rank, they reward less experience than Rank 1 Spirit Beast meat," Apollo implored as he shook his wrist, cracking his knuckles.

    [Alright, I think that is a good idea. The continuous battles have honed your senses providing you with the qualities needed to perform that task. Just remember, as always, exercise your usual caution.]

    Apollo nodded, showing that he understood his requirements. Then, his obsidian knife slid down into his grip from his sleeve. Apollo dexterously twirled it between his fingers before ncing at the area he entered this ce from.

    His eyes emitted a faint battle intent as they shimmered with a purple hue. Shortly after, Apollo kicked off his back foot and sprinted into the distance. He sought out the Spirit Beast that inhabited this environment.

    Rather than shifting the foliage out of his path, Apollo cut the stems of therge nts. This was his first time traveling past the outskirts since entering the Shadowy Forest. It was separated into 3 parts: the outskirts, inner ring, and central region. He was unaware of the surroundings of thetter two.

    Suddenly, a low crunch echoed into his surroundings as Apollo stepped on a branch. At that moment, Apollo halted his steps as he focused exclusively on his hearing. He heard it. There was a low but exaggerated breathing noiseing towards him along with the rhythmic thudding of powerful feet.

    Instinctively, Apollo entered a fighting stance and readied himself for confrontation. Arge wolf, muchrger than the ones he previously went up against appeared. Its appearance was slightly ferocious, with two extremelyrge fangs jutting out of its maw.

    Monster Name: Twin Fanged Wolf

    Cultivation: Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast (Equal to Rank 5 Mortal Cultivator)

    Health: 250/250

    As he held the Dark Cutter in a reverse grip, Apollo lifted his other hand openly. At any given moment, he was prepared to react. ''Rank 5 Mortal, this

    Apollo kicked off his back foot initiating engagement. Since he was unsure how different a Spirit Beast was to a Mortal Beast, he took the lead; the momentum was in his hands.

    When he moved, so did the Twin Fanged Wolf. It swiped its w sending a burst of wind billowing toward Apollo. Apollo reacted quickly as he abruptly sidestepped with his left foot, dodging the blow narrowly.

    In a fluent movement, he used his right foot to propel himself forward. Hended right next to the wolf and plunged the knife into the rib of the Twin Fanged Wolf. Additionally, Apollo wrenched it causing arge gash that made the wolf howl in pain.

    ?Critical! 35 damage dealt.?

    ?Critical! 40 damage dealt.?

    The appearance of numbers had be a natural sight to Apollo, thus he ignored them and parried the following swipe of the wolf while shifting his feet. In return, he received 10 damage but it was negligible in his eyes. His eyes remained fixated on the newly formed wound.

    Now that it was wounded, the Twin Fanged Wolf defended its side more attentively. However, Apollo remained calm. He rushed forward before sliding under the next swipe of the wolf. Quickly, heshed out the dagger and sliced the wolf''s underbelly.

    ?Vital Attack! 75 damage dealt.?

    Typically, one would follow up with another blow, but Apollo didn''t. He gripped the floor and flipped to the side. He avoided the two following frantic swipes before jumping and performing an aerial assault on the wolf''s back.

    Another painful whimper sound. Fortunately for the wolf, Apollo slit its throat ending the battle there and then.

    ?Fatal Damage! 100 damage dealt.?

    As he withdrew the knife from the body, he thrust it causing blood to stter across the ground. This allowed the metallic sheen to show its luster once more. Amid the actions, additional prompts popped up.

    ?System Alert! You have killed an Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?

    ?60 (30 + 30) Experience has been received.?

    ?Experience: 0/3,200.?

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 32. You have been rewarded .1 attributes and 2 Stat points.?

    [Excellent movements youngd, you move like a demon in the night. It seems you were indeed made to travel the path of a Demon.]

    "Mn," Apollo epted the praise as he bent down. In almost no time at all, he skinned his recently killed prey. His hands moved in a trained and efficient manner as the edible parts were separated in a timely manner.

    While he worked, he voiced his thoughts, "So going forward from Rank 1 Spirit Beast, they are divided into Early, Middle, and Late stages? At the same time, the experience will increase with each rank?"

    [Yes, it''s the same for human cultivators. As you saw, in the book, each realm of body cultivation possesses 9 levels. 1-3 are the early stages, 4-6 are the middle stages and 7-9 are thete stages. However, there is also the peak stage which is the absolute limit of level 9.]

    "Then, that is to say, a Late-Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast is equivalent to a Zul Warrior?"

    [Not necessarily. While it can happen if the beast forms their Essence Core at that moment, it is more so the peak and the Rank 2 who are equivalent. Of course, there are rare cases where a Spirit Beast forms their core immediately upon reaching Rank 1. However, those beasts are extremely talented and usually carry bloodlines.]

    "Bloodlines is it? I see, I guess even beasts have a hierarchy."

    [Yes, but that is a matter you will learn in the future. It is too deep of a concept for this moment. On the other hand, you are making great progress, all that''s left for you is toplete the quest.]

    "Yes, I will continue deeper slowly," Apollo determined as he vigntly entered deeper into the shadowy forest. The difference between a Spirit Beast and Mortal Beast''s experience was astounding. Now that he had a taste, he wanted more.

    [Hmm, since you''re close. It''s important to give a reward for when you aplish it.]

    ''Ding!''

 Chapter 21 - Heading Deeper

    ----

    Quest Name: New Perspective??

    Quest Information: Your talent is teetering on the edge of advancing into the Earth Grade, as that happens certain changes within you shall take ce. In light of this, you''ll also need to be rewarded to maximize the advantage

    Objectives:

    - 0/1 Reach Earth Grade (Low Tier) Talent

    Rewards:

    - Foundational Upgrade, Increased Essence Affinity, 3 Demonic Essence Pellet.

    Time Limit: None

    "Hm? My reward is a quest?" Apollo asked as he looked at the window before him skeptically. It didn''t seem to be hard toplete this. After all, it was in line with his intentions, but still, it wasn''t what he was expecting.

    [Indeed. However, don''t view it as a quest, but more of a reward. It seems that I''m unable to reward you without you haveplete a task. I guess this is some type of restriction, so I have given you this quest.]

    "I guess so," Apollo nodded after shrugging it off. However, this gave him another piece of important information, ''It kind of sounds like Azridan isn''t aware of everything pertaining to this system? Then, I wonder...'' Apollo mused silently as he continued to venture slightly deeper into the territory of the Spirit Beasts.

    At the same time, he thought about a few slim possibilities. ''Since it''s so durable, I don''t need to worry about the Dark Cutter, however, I do need to stay wary of possible Rank 2 Spirit Beasts. I don''t think I possess the current means tobat them.''

    The trees were growing thick with dew as he entered deeper into the forest. It wasn''t long before Apollo noticed a gathering of wolves. They were the same type as earlier, the only difference was that their stages varied.

    There were 4 Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolves, and 1 Middle Stage Twin Fanged Wolf. Apollo''s expression turned solemn as he tightened the grip on his knife. One wrong move could be the end of him.

    As he recounted the events of the past year, he calmed his taut nerves. Although iparable to Spirit Beast, he had dealt with numerous Mortal Beast teetering on the edge of bing Spirit Beasts.

    Thus, he felt this should be no different. Apollo raised the knife near his chin and waited for the opportune time. The advantage in numbers caused his thoughts to shift to a more passive-aggressive approach.

    ''It is best to counterattack and not be impatient when dealing with so many enemies,'' Apollo determined while monitoring the wolves'' subtle movements.

    [Keen insight there, continue with these thoughts. When they overwhelm you in both power and numbers, use your brain to counteract adverse situations.]

    Two of the Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolves dashed toward Apollo causing him to shift one of his feet back as his eyes dashed back and forth between them. His gaze was focused as he leaned back, twisting his body in return.

    While spun and dodged the iing ws, the knife in his grasp entered one of the wolves'' eyes while his left foot kicked the other wolf''s jaw. Painful yelps and howls were heard. However, Apollo remained focused, there were far too many foes involved.

    When they continued to pounce, Apollo retaliated by stabbing them in the throat causing them to emit sputtering howls. Unfortunately, in the process, he suffered two grazes on his shoulder and cheek.

    Blood sttered on his cheek, however, Apollo ignored it and looked at the other wolves. He made quick work of these wolves by counterattacking their vitals.

    ?System Alert! You have killed 2 Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?

    ?60 (30+ 30) Experience has been received.? x2

    ?Experience: 120/3,200.?

    This was the method of striking he learned when he realized he was capable of causing more damage than the amount of Zuls of force his body could wield. It was simr to game mechanics; attacks on vital areas as well as extreme damage within a short window frame caused criticals.

    However, this time, all 3 of the remaining wolves pounced on him at once. Luckily, in battle mode, Apollo''s mind was extremely active. He struck the knife against the ground before grabbing a clump of dirt.

    He then weaved between two of the wolves. Sadly, his movements were slightlycking. Due to a momentary faltering in his reaction, his thigh wascerated by a wolf''s w. Nevertheless, he had a task to aplish. Apollo clenched his jaw as he tossed dirt in the eyes of the Middle Stage Twin Fanged Wolf.

    ''This wound might affect me, but I can also diminish their senses as well,'' Apollo inwardly toward as he watched two of the wolves howl when the dirt burned their eyes.

    In light of the wound on his left thigh, Apollopensated by utilizing his right leg more. He rushed in, shing the jaw of an Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolf. All the while, he remained wary of the Middle Stage Spirit Beast; the sole beast unaffected by the dirt.

    Compared to the other''s, its movements were a tier above Apollo''s. Hence, Apollo stuck close to the Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolves to limit the activity of the leader.

    ''Hoooooo!''

    Suddenly, one of the wolves made an abrupt howl. When its head raised, Apollo''s eyes sharpened and he pounced on them almost immediately. He held the Dark Cutter in a reverse grip and stabbed forward. However, since he wanted to end this as quickly as possible, Apollo made jagged cuts while dragging the knife through its throat.

    In mere moments, the wolf fell but Apollo winced and sucked in a cold breath before jumping away.

    ?System Alert! You have killed an Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?

    ?60 (30 + 30) Experience has been received.?

    ?Experience: 180/3,200.?

    In the time it took for this to happen, the Middle Stage wolf was able tond a clean strike on his back.

    Apollo''s body trembled as his eye honed in on the wolf.

    Simultaneously, Apollo made a move. The Middle Stage wolf dashed toward him and swiped but Apollo sidestepped. When the other wolf caught up, Apollo finally made his move. Both of the wolves attacked at the same time, but their actions backfired.

    A pained whimper escaped from the weaker wolf as its head soon rolled on the floor. The wolf''s strengthened ws made light work of its subordinates'' neck.

    ?System Alert! You have killed an Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?

    ?60 (30 + 30) Experience has been received.?

    ?Experience: 180/3,200.?

    To recuperate for a moment, Apollo hid under the wolf''s body. At the same time, he sucked a mouthful of its blood before moving. Since dirt didn''t work, he needed to get closer. He had to take a chance.

    ''By any means necessary,'' Apollo thought while witnessing the wolf''s rapid dash. Its attack came quick but Apollo was seemingly prepared.

    As the wolf swiped, Apollo slid under it. However, in the middle of this motion, he kipped up spitting the mouthful of blood into the wolf''s eyes and nose. The smell of the blood dulled its senses and the viscous texture took away it''s sight.

    In this debilitated state, Apollo attacked its vitals one after the other. It took many more blowspared to the other as its increased small stage resulted in higher capabilities. This meant he had to deal with frantic retaliations that were much more urate than he expected.

    Nheless, with a painful and reluctant howl, it soon died.

    ?System Alert! You have killed a Middle Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?

    ?110 (55 + 55) Experience has been received.?

    ?Experience: 350/3,200.?

    "Hmm, the increase in experience doesn''t seem to follow much of a pattern. The original value of Early is 30 while Middle is 55. I wonder about the Late and Peak Stages? Hmm..." As Apollo pondered this matter, he dealt with the corpse of his kills.

    His luck wasn''t good at all. After harvesting the flesh and heart and searching the beasts'' innards, he didn''t find any Essence Cores. However, Apollo didn''t mind it. For one, he didn''t even know what it looked like nor what it did.

    Apollo returned to his makeshift tent and prepared a fire as he began roasting the flesh. Unlike Mortal Beast, Spirit Beast''s bodies began to autonomously permeate the Essence that gathered in their body to their muscle equally. So unlike before, there was no need for Apollo to focus on ingesting the heart.

    "Azridan, I have a question. Were you from this world?" Apollo asked as he bit down on a sizable piece of meat.

    [No, I am not. However, this world is connected to where I''m from in a sense or that''s what I believe.]

    "Oh, so how do you know so much about cultivation and such?" Apollo inquired with a slightly curious expression. Although he was bing cold, that childish curiosity still existed.

    [Ah, that''s a good question, maybe it is because of this position I was given. To me, it feels like imnted information. It all seems surreal so to speak. Don''t worry, in the future, we wille to understand the connection between my world and here. Perhaps we''ll understand more as the system continues to level up.]

 Chapter 22 - Cultivation Realms

    ----

    Azridan''s earlier words made Apollo ponder, thus he mumbled to himself as he continued to devour chunk after chunk of meat, "I wonder what lies in wait. The changes I feel, I wonder what else will happen."??

    As he thought about this, Apollo devoured another chunk of meat. Steadily, his experience meter continued to fill. Meanwhile, his empty stomach did the same. The more he enteredbat, the hungrier he felt. Seldom did the food go to waste as his days were spent on the edge ofbat without end.

    [I''m picking up slight fluctuations deeper in the forest. If you can, try to stay away from the center of this forest. It is dense in Natural Essence, however, there also exists an unsettling presence. It seems to be attracted to something.]

    "If you have to guess, what would you say its level would be?" Apollo asked while turning in his gaze toward the center of the forest. Based on Azridan''s words, arge danger was located in the distance. However, deep down Apollo had to suppress to urge of curiosity. He wanted to know how strong were the strongest cultivators in this world and how the Terror''spared.

    [Honestly, I would say that it is no weaker than a peak Rank 3 Spirit Beast. Based on their current standards, that would be a strong peak stage Zul Warrior or a subpar early-stage Zul Knight. Hence, I advise that you be wary of the area.]

    "Azridan, you seem to know a lot. The books in the library didn''t really delve too much into the cultivation levels. Can you give me more information about it?" Apollo implored as he wiped his lip. By now, the previous copious amounts of meat had dwindled to nearly half.

    [What exactly do you want to know?]

    "Uh, general information. For example, how it is done and what I need to prepare myself for. I probably won''t understand what they entail but background information is always pleasant," Apollo replied after pondering it for a moment.

    [Well then, let me begin from body cultivation first. Unlike the rest, this is what you''ll immediatelye in contact with. As with everyone and you as well, all beings start out within the Mortal Realm. Because of evolution and other influences, beings of this world automatically ingest what is known as Natural Essence; a basicponent of this world.]

    [However, in the beginning, the amount one can ingest is negligible and unable to be changed until a certain age depending on potential. Typical children would have been absorbing Natural Essence in minuscule amounts slowly preparing them for active cultivation.]

    [Because of this, everyone''s starting point is different. You, on the other hand, your meridians were damaged and saturated by a decrepit energy. Hence, any essence which entered you was devoured. However, I cleansed you. Now let''s talk about the realms. Outside of the Mortal Realm, there is the Zul Warrior Realm, Zul Knight Realm, Zul Commander Realm, Zul General Realm, Zul Lord Realm, Zul Emperor Realm, Zul Sovereign Realm, and Zul Ancestor Realm.]

    [These make up theplete structure of Body Cultivation. However, to truly step into the journey of cultivation you''d need a cultivation method. Just absorbing Natural Essence won''t do much except strengthen your body. But there is no need to fret about that, when you are ready everything wille.]

    "Hmm, what about Soul Cultivation? Kayn mentioned that there is some other test pertaining to something called Soul Cultivation at 15. Is there any significance to this?"

    [For the average cultivator, yes. By 15, usually, the mind is mature enough to handle the opening of what is called the Soul Temple. The prerequisite is your physical body being capable of handling at least 1600 Zuls of Force or otherwise known as fostering an awakening. Why? Because the tyrannical force birthed from your mind can ruin your internal system if you aren''t sufficiently prepared.]

    [However, Soul Cultivation is special. It has 2 uses. One, it strengthens your soul enabling you to wield it. Two, it allows your soul to connect with another world toe into contact with otherworldly creatures namely known as Spirits. These Spirits then be your partner assisting you inbat situations and such. However, that doesn''t apply to you. You''ll be special.]

    "What does that mean? What will I be able to do," Apollo asked, his eyes gued with curiosity. There was a fervent expression of interest stered across his face as his eyes gleamed.

    [Well, let''s just say this world''s cultivation system doesn''t truly apply to you. The only thing you''ll receive is a general understanding of the level you reside at.]

    Azridan''s voice came out as a chuckle. His tone teased Apollo and triggered his thirst for the unknown.

    ''I have to know! I need toplete that mission as soon as possible. But first, how much longer before Iplete this other one?

    Quest Name: Initial Step to Superiority

    Information: Strength means everything; so this is what you need to gain. Reach a suitable standard to travel deeper into the embrace of Azridan''s session.

    Objectives-

    -Kill 5,000 Rank 0 Mortal Beast or above monsters. (3,645/5,000)

    -Reach the Rank 5 Mortal Level. (Rank 3/5)

    Time Limit: 3 years

    psed Time: 8 months 4 days.

    [?Bonus Task?]-

    -Complete within 2 years 6 months = + 100% experience reward increase.

    -Complete within 2 years = + 200% experience reward increase.

    -Complete within 1 year = + 500% experience reward increase.

    Reward: 50,000 Experience, ???

    ''Hmm, a lot of my experiencees from me ingesting my meals so I am not worried about that part. As for the first objective, I currently average 19 kills a day. But it may decrease as the number of Mortal Beast willing to approach me now are low. Not to mention, battle with a Spirit Beast takes slightly longer,'' Apollo thought silently.

    A couple of months after receiving his quest, once his body limated to these surroundings, Apollo adopted his current schedule. It was in Apollo''s daily agenda to y at least 10 monsters which then increased steadily until its current 19. Using this tactic, he had nearly scoured theplete outskirts of the forest. In addition to this, Apollo''s daily mission became just that as well.

    "I still have 3 more beasts to kill for the day then I can call my daily training finished," Apollo muttered as he sat for a moment, recollecting his thoughts and recovering his stamina.

    ''Outside of my current battle, I don''t lose health often. However, my stamina takes a hit as a result. I wonder if there is a way to remedy that or do I just need to keep increasing my stamina.''

    "Azridan, is there a way to reduce my stamina consumption? I know using fewer movements has helped but it still drains quickly."

    [Right now, that is unable to be solved due to your physique''s inability to sustain you. Once you advance, the solution will present itself. For now, just focus on mastering your foundational stats. If you do so, it will reward you in the long run. Also, I advised you to practice with the staff and other weapons to familiarize yourself with it.]

    "Okay," Apollo answered as he rose to his feet from his seated position. Azridan''s information once again rejuvenated him to continue on his training.

 Chapter 23 - Late Stage Battle

    ----

    In a sh, 2 days went by and in those two days, Apollo made ample advancements by fighting against Early and some Middle-Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.??

    However, unlike before where Apollo used the Dark Cutter for battle, there was a long branch in his hand. While it looked like a normal stick, being that it came from a tree in the forest, it was obscenely sturdy. Humans weren''t the only things that became saturated with Natural Essence. Vegetation did as well and due to it, their qualities were heavily reinforced.

    Apollo then used the Dark Cutter to carve the stick into a shape reminiscent of the bo staff he used back at the family estate. Once it was finished, Apollo waved it around to familiarized himself with its crude shape and weight.

    When he thought it to be adequate, he then sought an opponent. It was only through continuous battles that Apollo''s understanding would present itself.

    The moment he located his opponent, Apollo thrust his crudely made staff at the eye of a Late-Stage Twin Fanged Wolf. Unlike its Middle-Stage counterpart, this wold evaded Apollo''s blow with ease.

    The wolf moved its head to dodge the abrupt attack. Without dyed the Twin Fanged Wolf then opened its mouth to use a soundwave attack. Its lung gave it enough volume to send ripples through the air.

    Although unblockable, the attack wasn''t impossible to evade. Plus, if he didn''t, there was a chance Apollo''s eardrums would rupture. Hence, Apollo twisted his body avoiding the sound burst.

    Subsequently, Apollo enclosed on the wolf and flicked his wrist causing the staff to ultimately find its way to its intended target, the wolf''s eye.

    The moment the staff made contact, Apollo retreated cautiously. After all, he wasn''t sure how this opponent would react. And sure enough, it presented an odd reaction.

    ''This beast must be closing in on the Late Stage of Rank 1,'' Apollo thought. Before his very eyes, the wolf opened its mouth. In the center, a condensed orb of Natural Essence began to umte.

    [Careful, this beast can manifest a small piece of Natural Essence. However, just that small piece is rather terrible when pinned against your current strength.]

    ''Okay,'' Apollo responded as he braced the staff behind his body shifting his weight to his toes in order to react at any moment.

    As the essence gathered, the wolf''s chest expanded. Several momentster, it fired the small orb of Natural Essence at Apollo before immediately condensing a second one. Startled by its speed, Apollo stabbed his staff into the floor catapulting himself into the air. But as he did so, the orbnded on the staff causing it to splinter.

    That wasn''t the end of it. A second one was soon fired, causing Apollo to frown. ''At moments like these, I wish I was able to utilize Natural Essence in the same way.''

    ''Bang!''

    The orb mmed against Apollo''s arms that formed a crossguard before his chest. The sound was slightly overwhelming as his arms were sliced continuously by the threads of Natural Essence within the orb. As the pain traveled through his body, Apollo felt the pendant around his neck instantly release a gentle aura.

    When hended on the floor, Apollo''s arms fell limp for this short period. They had suffered entirely too much damage. Nevertheless, this didn''t stop Apollo''s pursuit. He performed a mad dash and he rammed into the side of the Late Stage Twin Fanged Wolf due to the small bout of weakness that followed its consecutive fire.

    Unfortunately, the wolf wasn''t overly tweaked. It still retained enough energy to respond by headbutting his torso. Needless to say, it was quite a heavy blow as Apollo flew through the air and mmed against a tree.

    As he rebounded against the tree, Apollo coughed up a small bit of blood but still rose to his feet. ''This wolf is myst kill, yet it is proving to be difficult. Could be that it is too early for me to handle a Late-Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast? Do I need to be a 4th or even 5th Rank Mortal before attempting this?''

    ?-76 Damage received. 60/136 Health remaining.?

    [The issue lies in the fact that as these beast advance, they be able to innately handle Natural Essence without practice due to both primal instincts and the condition of their physique.]

    ''I thought as much, there doesn''t seem to be anything out of the ordinary about this wolf,'' Apollo agreed whilst surveying the wolf. In truth, he wanted nothing more than to kill this beast as quickly as possible. This had been thergest amount of damage he had suffered in one sitting. Luckily, the Resplendent Jadeite Ne was in his possession or he would have undoubtedly fallen into a perilous situation.

    The more he looked at the wolf, the more he thought this wasn''t the case. Apollo the discard one splintered half of the staff and withdrew the Dark Cutter. While he exhaled, Apollo adopted a weird stance; he wielded both the broken staff as well as the knife.

    In the next moment, his movements shifted as Apollo stuck low to the ground kicking off his back foot. He utilized his agility to the best of his ability, by kicking his foot once again and bracing the ground before performing an arc step. At this moment this was one thing on his mind; kill.

    He adopted a hit-and-run tactic that allowed him to deliver small nicks to the wolf. However, those small nickspounded and soon presented their merits. As the wolf continued to lose blood, its movement became unsteady.

    Still, it moved toward Apollo with bared fangs. In return, Apollo''s returned the same expression, his sharpened canines were slightly apparent.

    Since the pendant was healing him and the wolf seemed to be at a disadvantage, Apollo surmised it was time to end this. He dashed forward haphazardly as the wolf opened its maw once again. In dire straits, it attempted to fire another orb of condensed Natural Essence. However, catching wind of this early, Apollo stomped his foot elerating preemptively.

    Before the orb could fully form, Apolloshed out his arm and flung the knife directly inside the wolf''s mouth. Not only did the knife pierce its skull from the inside, but the orb also exploded and mutted its head. As a result, Apollo received multiple notifications.

    ?System Alert! You have killed a Late-Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?

    ?180 (90 + 90) Experience has been received.?

    ?Congrattions you have reached Level 36.?

    ?Experience: 140/3,600.?

    However, the notifications were far from over.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step)

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 11

    Level: 36

    Experience: 140/3,600.

    Health: 139/139

    Stamina: 139/139

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 3 Mortal [28/30]

    Physique: Mortal-Grade (Peak Tier)

    Zuls: 28

    Strength: 14.0

    Agility: 5.4

    Intelligence: 13.0

    Vitality: 5.3

    Stat Points: 2

    ''I can subtly feel that I''m close to the next level inner talent. However, what''s the prerequisite for it? Does it rely upon my stats or level?'' Apollo questioned as he scrutinized theyout of his stat page. At that same time, Azridan provided him slightly more information.

    [It is dependent on your level for now. After certain milestones have been reached, you''ll enter the next stage of inner talent. As for the exact value, well, that will be given to you when you reach the Earth Grade. In other words, it''ll be shown in your Foundational Chart.]

    ''Ah, so that''s what the Foundational Chart is? Then, I''m guessing it is better to possess a higher internal state before a cultivator enters the Zul Warrior Realm?'' Apollo mused while performing deep breaths.

    [Precisely. Although it doesn''t seem like it, the state of their initial talent is fragile. It can both decrease and increase. Hence, it is imperative for youths to only focus on cultivating their inner talent. Of course, this only pertains to the body. I''ll teach you about soul talentter.]

    ''Soul Talent, then I can assume the physique mentioned in the books is split into two parts; Soul and Inner?''

    [Correct, but there are more important matters. Have you sensed that? I sense people nearby and judging by their cultivation bases, it would seem they came to this forest with a purpose. More importantly, they''re closing in on your position. I''m guessing your earlier battle and the beast''s Natural Essence fluctuations have alerted them. Prepare for confrontation.]

    "People? Could it be mercenaries or the like?" Apollo whispered as he retreated and hid behind a tree while making his presence sparse. Not muchter, a snap of a branch was heard as multiple figuresnded where Apollo once was.

 Chapter 24 - Encounter

    ----

    An older male nced around before scrutinizing his surrounding. His dark brown hair flowed to his shoulders while his broad shouldersplimented his rough features. His eyes also looked to be one tempered in the fires of perilous battle. A scar ran from under his eyes, down his chest of his open tunic.??

    ''Hmm?'' He looked down and noticed one of Apollo''s poorly concealed footprints. It had been a hasty job, hence, Apollo was unable to cover his trackspletely. Not to mention, the neer''s senses seemed to be rather sharp. As he tapped his finger against the footprint, he surveyed his surroundings.

    "The footprint was originally rather small, seeming to belong to a child. Judging by theck of any other footprints, I can tell it''s a single person. But, why would a child be out here alone?" While pondering this matter, the man smiled, ''I smell talent.'' After releasing a chuckle, the man peered in a certain direction. At the same time, 5 more people appeared behind him.

    "Come out, I know you''re there. You don''t need to be so apprehensive. I don''t seek to endanger you, I''m just on a journey into the depths of this region," the man announced as he rose to his feet with an almost yful smile.

    [I sense no malicious intent from him. Not to mention, his cultivation...well even if he did, it wouldn''t matter in your case. In short, I suggest you show yourself. You''ve been detected anyway.]

    With a nod, Apollo acknowledged Azridan''s words. A few momentster, Apollo''s childish figure appeared from behind one of the trees. After showing himself, he remained silent while examining everyone.

    ''Ah, so it is a child. He also seems rather thin and young. But...those fluctuations earlier came from at least a Late-Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast. In other words, he should be fairly experienced in battle having in it,'' the man surmised while peeking towards therge body under one of the trees.

    "What''s your name, do you hail from a family? This ce isn''t something a child such as yourself should enter willfully. You should know there exists beast beyond your capabilities here," the man voiced as his gaze examined Apollo''s strength. ''Near the 4th Rank of the Mortal Realm. But why is he so thin?''

    "What is your age?" he added.

    [Hm, I think it''s best you lie. I''ll conceal your mental fluctuations. I''m almost certain he''ll send you back. Also, reveal your true age. If I''m reading him correctly, his words carry an intent.]

    "No, I don''t. Also, my name is Apollo and I have just turned 11," Apollo sinctly replied. He met the man''s gaze with a near-emotionless look.

    "I see. In that case, why don''t you formally travel with me? Would you like to experience what lurks within this ce? As you can see, I havee to collect an odd bunch behind me," the man chuckled while also pointing behind himself.

    There stood a group of members behind him possessing a variety of ages, genders, sizes, and most of all cultivations. ncing over at them, Apollo remained untrusting and simply examined them. The youngest seemed to be just slightly older than him.

    "Pardon my rudeness. All of you, introduce yourselves. Well, after I do so of course. My name is Irauk. Just a simple wanderer," Irauk grinned as he nced towards the apparently awkward bunch behind him. The first to step forward was a short, pudgy boy with sses and aqua blue hair.

    "My name is Rhett. Uh... I don''t really know what else to say but I''m just fat and 12. Oh! I am also a Rank 8 Mortal," Rhett murmured. At the same time, he retrieved a piece of dried spirit beast meat and began munching on it. In response, Irauk simply gave him a nk stare.

    "I''ll keep my introduction short. I am Adeon and I don''t know you," replied a taller male with a rather cold personality. In Apollo''s eyes, he just appeared to be aloof. Nheless, a scoff was heard from a girl standing next to him found his attitude to be insufferable.

    "Y-you! Who raised you?! Where are your manners? Excuse that bloke, my name is Nadida. I err...just turned 14 but I''m already a Zul Warrior! Aren''t I amazing? I don''t think I''ll lose to anyone in my age group," the crimson-haired girl with golden eyes, Nadida, eximed.

    Her figure was beginning to present the maturity that came with age. However, her prominent trait was her personality¡ª superpetitive.

    "Ragnvald, and as for that guy earlier, we grew up together. Don''t mind him. He just doesn''t understand how to express himself. We''re both the same age as well as Zul Warriors. It''s a pleasure to meet you, Apollo," replied the gray-haired youth who moves to the front. His body was on the lean side, however, his physique and temperament hid strength.

    Finally, thest person stepped forward but only slightly. It was a female looking to be between both Rhett''s and Nadida''s ages. Her childish features were still present and she was only a bit taller than Apollo. However, her cerulean eyes disyed an unconcealed bashfulness.

    "I-I''m Socorra. I hope you can stay," Sora briefly remarked as she retreated close to Nadida who smiled wryly while patting her head.

    "She''s inherently shy, but uh that''s to be expected. She''s a year younger than I am and was previously an orphan. As for her abilities, well she should be slightly stronger than Rhett," Nadida added while peering over to Irauk.

    However, Apollo remained slightly shocked. He found this group to be extremely odd. They had all just met yet they easily disclosed such information to Apollo. He could only look at them incredulously, ''This group of people is rather...awkward. I think.''

    "So, what is your answer?" Irauk asked, interrupting Apollo''s thoughts. While ncing at him, Apollo quietly weighed the situation and sought a second opinion.

    ''Azridan...what do you suggest? I know you said they possess no malicious intent, but isn''t it too weird for them to be so open and trusting? Why do they do this?''

    [I believe it is because you may have caught that male''s attention. Furthermore, they possess a strength above your own. Them presenting information lightheartedly just goes to show that they don''t perceive you as a threat which is true. However, you also don''t want to be taken lightly. You never know when you''re confronted by a group who carry the opposing intent and view you this way.]

    For a moment, Apollo remained silent with a nk stare. As he was, uncertainty entered his mind, ''So...what do I do?''

    [This time... well, you ept. If they take you deeper you''ll receive the chance to battle and may even receive an eye-opener. You never know what you may learn.]

    "I''ll...I wille along," Apollo replied while approaching Irauk who held a calm smile.

    ''It would seem I have recruited another talent. However, it is enough for my n? Maybe one more, if not, so be it,'' Irauk determined before voicing his intentions, "With this, we''ll move deeper throughout the inner region. Let''s go."

    Without an extra word, they changed paths cutting deeper into the Shadowy Forest. Being the slowest, Apollo silently viewed everyone''s back while a recurring thought danced around his mind, ''For what purpose was I recruited?''

    Now that he was here, there was a small voice present in his mind that urged him to stay in theirpany.

 Chapter 25 - Distant Inner Region

    ----

    ''This Zephus Domain...it''s as bad as the records describe. I can sense it from here,'' Irauk thought as he looked into the distance from a certain point in the forest. This was the only domain teetering on the edge of the Endless Death Domain. Hence, it was also where danger remained the highest.??

    ''I won''t be able to use that. They''re sensitive to that type of fluctuation. Luckily, I didn''te here to scope out the current situation of Zephus. I just need to meet someone; these youths are simply additions I can''t give up based on what I see inside of them,'' Irauk mused whilst ncing behind him.

    He limited his speed to what the children could handle. However, he was also subtly testing Apollo, gauging his abilities.

    Although he perceived a ster drive within him, he needed to be certain of Apollo''s value. After all, he came with a purpose.

    ''His speed seems to surpass that of a regr Rank 4 Mortal but he has yet to reach the Zul threshold, but he is close nheless.''

    As Irauk examined Apollo, he estimated Apollo''s abilities would be more closely rted to speed over strength. Compared to his speed, his force failed to uphold the standard.

    Suddenly, Irauk paused,ing to an abrupt stop.

    Apollo and the others slowly came to a stop as well, appearing right behind Irauk.

    Quietly, Apollo examined his surroundings. This was the deepest he had ever been into the Shadowy Forest. The trees nearby all possessed various signs of battle, scars running alongside their trunks along with splintered woodid inside craters on the floor.

    "Oh? It appeared we just missed a scuffle. Meh, no biggie," Irauk chortled, ncing to the side.

    Although the battle was done, there was an ambient aura lingering in the area. In Irauk''s eyes, he could see the trail and even pinpoint thebatant''s position.

    In fact, there were several separate threads of different auras ovepping one another. Not to mention, there were minute differences in the beast and human signatures.

    ''So it was a brawl,'' Irauk surmised,

    [Careful. There are Rank 2 Spirits Beast of all stages in this area. I''m even perceiving some nearing the 3rd Rank. It would seem this is the furthest extent of the inner region before reaching the central area I warned you about.]

    Forming a smug smile, Irauk turned towards the bunch, "You five; Rhett, Ragnvald, Sora, Nadida, and Adeon shall separate and take down at least 10 Spirit Beast each. However, you all must bring back cores at least 2 stages higher than your current cultivation. Those of you who fail...well, I''ll be eating your share of the food." Hisst words seemed to be aimed at Rhett seeing as his body shivered in terror.

    "N-not the food! I will kill everything!" Rhett scowled, disappearing with a gust of wind simr to a frightened cat.

    ''F-fast... How can someone so pudgy move so fast?'' Apollo thought incredulously. Even if he pushed himself to his limit, that was a speed he couldn''t currently attain.

    Meanwhile, the others simrly disappeared, except Socorra traveled with Nadida.

    Even though he was the youngest amongst the bunch, Apollo still felt a slight pang of displeasure when hepared himself to the others. Therefore, he felt a blow to his pride when he realized the disparity.

    [Those thoughts aren''tpletely sound. After all, you possess an advantage no one else in this word possesses¡ªme, or rather the existence of this system.]

    "Ah, you''re right. But it is still hard not topare my strength against others. I can''t hope but think I''d be on par with them if not for my sickness," Apollo responded.

    [No need for what-ifs, you won''t be able to change the past. Instead, focus on the matters before you and aplish them to the best of your ability. That will be the mold of your future¡ªshaping an irrefutable existence.]

    Once the others left, Irauk turned towards the nk-faced Apollo.

    "As for you, I have something else I would like you toplete. Have you ever done battle with a Rank 2 Spirit Beast," Irauk said, interrupting Apollo''s chat with Azridan.

    "Uh, no. Also, before you suggest it, I''m not capable of fighting one!" Apollo eximed with a wary expression.

    Did he just enter the grasp of a madman?

    ''Nah, there''s no way he would that right?'' Apollo wondered.

    "Oh? Said who? That''s for me to judge, don''t make unsupported ims! I would like to witness you surviving against one. Come along," Irauk said with an unsettling smile.

    A momentter, he vanished before arriving next to Apollo. Not allowing Apollo to refute him, Irauk hoisted him up and dashed towards an area showing signs of activity.

    Shocked, Apollo widened his eyes as he failed to formte words. It wasn''t due to his brain short-circuiting, but because of the force of the wind. It was too much for him to speak let alone move.

    ''T-this...where is he taking me?!''

    Soon enough, their movement ceased as Irauk gazed meaningfully at a bear-type Spirit Beast. However, it didn''t seem to be fully grown. Even then, it was still muchrger than a fully grown human male. Its violent fur and red eyes stared tentatively at the two neers. At the same time, the system graced Apollo with information.

    Monster Name: Stone Violet Bear (Cub)

    Cultivation: Early Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast

    Health: 1,900/1,900

    ''What the...all that Health?! What does he expect me to do about that? He''s just trying to kill me... He''s a murderer!''

    "We''ve arrived at the beginning of another quadrant of the inner region. This will be your opponent. It isn''t fully grown. Therefore, its defenses should be manageable. Of course, you should still be careful," Irauk said, tossing Apollo towards the bear.

    Moving away, Irauk shouted towards Apollo from against a tree, "I''m not asking for much! You don''t need to defeat it, just survive for...let''s say 5 minutes. Wait, no. I meant 10!"

    Apollonded with a frown, shifting his attention from Irauk to the bear. Because hended too close, the bear regarded Apollo as a threat. Without hesitation, the bear pounced toward Apollo.

    Despite itsrge frame, the bear moved quickly. A powerful swipe hurtled towards Apollo.

    Apollo''s eyes widened in response, knowing all too well the danger behind that strike.

    ''D-damn! Just what is he expecting from me?'' Apollo grumbled while retrieving the Dark Cutter from his waist. The appearance of the knife only triggered the bear''s sense of danger, angering it further.

    A light yellow gleam appeared on its violet fur. The light made Apollo grimace. After all, it was familiar to Apollo after having been in contact with a few Rank 1 Spirit Beasts.

    ''Oh? This beast can invoke its natural ability already? How interesting. It''s quite young. Let''s see just how this boy handles it,'' Irauk pondered as he rubbed his chin with interest.

    ----

    [Calm down. Analyze the situation and take in your surroundings. Don''t forget our training in perilous situations. Use your mind to counteract adverse situations as we have discussed. Take a deep breath and clear your mind.]

    "Phe..." Inhaling and exhaling, a gleam circted within Apollo''s eyes as his fears started to dissipate.

    In ce, a partially callous state appeared. Furthermore, the shape of the bear changed in his eyes. It was as if he was projecting someone else''s figure onto the bear! Someone he loathed.

    ''

 Chapter 26 - Rank 2 Spirit Beast

    ----

    Apollo''s cold gaze pierced through the bear as he tightened his grip around the knife, which was slowly nearing his jaw. The image of Axel ovepped with the bear, instigating Apollo''s fury. ??

    Instinctively, his eyes scrutinized everyst movement the bear made. Unbeknownst to him, atent effect of his Intelligence indicator was showing.

    [Ah, you are entering the Sensitive Instinct state, but don''t make light of it because unfortunately, it can''t be held for long in your current condition. Do your best to end the fight before it vanishes.]

    "Okay," Apollo quickly answered before taking a cautious step forward. Once the bear responded, it then turned into an abrupt dash.

    Growling in response, the Violet Stone Bear mmed its paws against the ground causing two earth spikes to erect in the position Apollo stood. However, how could he not perceive this?

    In his heightened state, he vaguely sensed the flow of Natural Essence and weaved between the two earth spike like a slithering snake. His movements were fluid and faintly trained after a few run-ins with agile beasts.

    Unfortunately, a third spike appeared right before him without a moment''s notice.

    In this situation, he didn''t tense up as one would usually do. His 8 months of continuous training where his rest relied upon him surviving in a half-awake state wasn''t for show. Not to mention, he was already on edge from this bizarre state he was in.

    ''Fwoosh!''

    Apollo performed a swift horizontal sh. Typically, someone his size would fail to mow down that spike, but the Dark Cutter was not to be estimated. The Dark Cutter sliced through the earthen spike like a warm knife through butter.

    After all, the material from within the Nihilistic Rings was much denser than the matter found in this world. To strengthen the spike to that degree would require an obscene amount of Natural Essence to be imbued.

    Apollo then stomped the ground, performing an uninterrupted straight dash.

    Due to the cubcking in maturity, its control over Natural Essence wasn''t that great when it came to endurance, thus it hit a limit and entered a temporarily fatigued state.

    Once Apollo arrived before the cub''s he punctured its torso with a reverse grip. Though, he didn''t stop there, continuing to drag the de across the length of the cub''s hind legs.

    A long gash appeared as a result. However, only a trace amount of blood leaked from the wound. In its stead, a yellowish glow appeared coating the wound.

    Once again, Irauk was surprised by the situation at hand. ''It seems the cub possesses the means to activate its innate defensive ability; Lesser Earthen Armor. Although it''s an inferior technique; it can still increase its defense greatly. I wonder how he will deal with this in his current state. I was correct about him. That state he has entered is something that shouldn''t appear until one has matured adequately.''

    "Is my attack ineffective?" Apollo murmured incredulously. The strike felt deep yet the condition of the wound betrayed his assumptions. Of course, the evident light was hard to miss, allowing Apollo to draw some conclusions.

    Afterward, he spared some attention to the alert.

    ?Damage reduced! You have dealt 20 damage.?

    ''I wield 28 Zuls, which means it mitigated at least ? of my damage. If it''s like this, I wonder which willst longer¡ªmy stamina or its health?'' Apollo mused while shifting back to his earlier tactics¡ªattacking vitals.

    Changing to a neutral grip, Apollo attempted to stab his knife into the eye of the cub. However, a shockwave exuded from its body as it emitted a loud roar. It was strong, forcing Apollo to retreat a few steps.

    ''What''s that?''

    As Apollo observed the bear again, a moreplete earthen armor surrounded its body now. Furthermore, a rock helmet appeared on its head. While the armor didn''t cover the bear''s entire body, it covered pretty much all of its vitals. Its head, back, joints and torso were protected.

    "Luckily, I possess this knife. Though, I think its new form should also present arge drawback," Apollo said to himself.

    With the weight of the armor, it was bound to be a hindrance to its speed¡ªit should essentially be a stone fortress due to its joints solidifying.

    [Sound judgment. It has indeed sacrificed copious amounts of speed to protect itself after deeming your knife to be of grave danger. In doing so, it probably believes it has saved itself from imminent danger. It is now your turn to show it that it isn''t the case.]

    Nodding in agreement, Apollo dashed forward. If he couldn''t approach its vitals then the number of injuries would have to bepensation. Within moments, he began to take advantage of his superior speed.

    1...5...10¡­

    The number of small cuts on its fur and chips on its armor continued to grow in number with each passing second. Of course, it didn''t simply wait to be injured. It tried to present attacks of its own. Regrettably, it was entirely too slow.

    The repercussions of its new armor were apparent. It was akin to a sitting duck after being pinned against its bane.

    After the light attack, Apollo moved around rapidly. While it constant momentum, it thwarted any opportunity for the bear to retaliate.

    "Groooahhh!" It roared indignantly a few times as the fact that it couldn''tnd a paw on Apollo infuriated it.

    In response, a small smirk appeared on Apollo''s lips.

    At the same time, he began to question why it was he felt even a pang of apprehension for this beast. As long as he possessed high enough stats, he didn''t need such emotions. While it would take time, it seemed he was capable of hunting beasts beyond his level.

    Granted, they needed to be in line with his strengths and not too far off..

    Krrk! Krrrk!

    Repeated cracking sounds echoed from the Violet Stone Bear''s Earthen Armor as the Dark Cutter solidified itself at the cub''s worst nightmare. The obsidian weapon truly became the bane of its existence.

    ?You have dealt 25 damage.?

    ?You have dealt 23 damage.?

    Depending on the area he attacked and the extent of the damage Apollo he inflicted upon the Earthen Armor, the values of his attacks varied albeit minuscule in difference.

    By now, he had chipped away nearly 60% of the Spirit Beasts'' health. However, he had already been embroiled in battle for over 5 minutes!

    His stamina was reaching dangerous levels. Taking note of this, Irauk rubbed his chin with a peculiar expression in his eyes, ''This youngd has already passed my test but let''s see where his heart lies. Is he capable of finishing what he started? If so, I''ll present even more to him. After all, I''ll need to prepare him for the future.''

    On the other hand, Apollo kept mental notes of his stamina as well as the overall situation. ''My stamina is approximately 80% depleted while this beast still possesses 40% of its health. It''s hard to tell if I willst. I really want that experience...''

    After making the call, Apollo stopped any excessive movements and instead stuck close to the beast. Any movement it made, he began mirroring it, only retaliating with the least amount of energy.

    In this way, he also began noticing small errors in the beast''s movement. Its intent on survival caused its actions to be sloppy.

    Not to mention, it was a cub and barely possessedbat experience. Apollo could truly say the odds were now in his favor. In mere moments, Apollo lowered its health to 5%. Of course, it was strenuous on his stamina.

    Luckily, the Resplendent Jadeite Pendant was mitigating just enough stamina consumption to extend his time spent in battle.

    At this point, the movements of the cub became an utter mess. Its mangled armor was falling off in chunks while it struggled to stand with all the cuts to its joints.

    ''It''s now or never!''

    Apollo threw caution to the wind and performed an arc step before lunging forward as he thrust the Dark Cutter with all his might.

    ''Pucht!''

    ?Fatal Damage! You have dealt 100 damage.?

    ?Congrattions...?

 Chapter 27 - Continuous Level Up, Foundational Chart

    ----

    ?Congrattions, you have killed an Early Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast.???

    ?Congrattions, you have performed an enormous feat. As a result, the system has rewarded you an additional 500% of the total experience gained from your kill as well as one Spirit Shard.?

    ?3,960 (330 + 330 + 3300) Experience has been received.?

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 37.?

    ?Congrattions¡­.?

    The congrattory messages continued to sound until silenced by Apollo''s thoughts. However, within the interface, they still popped up before his eyes. At this point, his body ached tremendously while his mind was droned due to the overuse of such focus. In truth, he didn''t understand what Sensitive Instincts meant. It was a prerequisite.

    pping his hands, Irauk smiled before offering praise, "Absolutely outstanding! What a beautiful scene that was. Although there were some inconsistencies my eyes never fail me! You''re a diamond in the rough. You have passed my test with flying colors. I will be willing to ept you."

    "Y-yeah¡­" replied Apollo breathlessly as he leaned over using his knees as a brace while he tried to get through this period of exhaustion. Regrettably, the pendant wasn''t healing him fast enough.

    Approaching Apollo, Irauk waved his hand as a milky white pill appeared within his hand. Holding his hand out, he pressed it against Apollo''s mouth, "Take this. It''ll heal you as well as offer some slight benefits to your body."

    Curious as to what was being given to him, Apollo examined it resulting in information being presented by it. Frankly speaking, he was left shocked by the details given. Within a moment''s notice, Apollo ingested it!

    Item Name: Natural Warrior Revitalization Pill

    Rank: Rank 1 Pill

    Grade: wless

    Information: A pill useful for the cultivation of both Mortal and Zul Warrior Realm cultivators due to the expertise of handling and mellow nature of the ingredients.

    Natural Effect: When ingested, increases experience by 6,000 and recovers Health and Stamina to the maximum within 120 seconds.

    ?wless Bonus? - Effects increased by 200%

    Ingesting the pill immediately, a pleasing feeling spread throughout his body from his core. As the pleasant feel coursed through him, he felt revitalized in a near-instant. The effects of a wless pill were rather astonishing. Not to mention, the repeated windows appeared before Apollo.

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 38.?

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 39.?

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 40.?

    ?Congrattions...?

    In an instant, Apollo increased by over 8 levels. The wless effect had increased the experience gain to 18,000 while the pendant doubled it again. In other words, Apollo had gained over 36,000 experience from ingesting a single pill! If someone heard the effects the system generated, one would vomit blood. The advantage he possessed was obscene!

    "Oh? It seems the pill is rather effective for you. Why is that you''re able to digest its ingredients so well? Usually, there''s some type of wastage that takes ce when refining a pill, however, that isn''t the case with it. I detect no such instances. Interesting¡­" remarked Irauk while curiously rubbing his chin. Meanwhile, he gazed at Apollo as one would a treasured item.

    "Did you perhaps have a damaged body when you were younger?" questioned Irak and he ced two fingers on Apollo''s wrist checking the conditions of his meridians. He was shocked by what he saw. While unable to discern its state, they seemed to be shrouded in an ethereal fog.

    Raising his eyebrows in surprise, Apollo nodded, "Yes I was damaged until recently. I was unable to cultivate until 8 months ago," replied causing Irauk further astonishment.

    "You mean to say you''ve reached the 4th Mortal Rank organically in 8 months? I don''t detect the presence of pill residue in your body. Hence, I can only conclude you did so organically. One must know, a child takes 10 years to advance from Rank 1 to Rank 3 naturally. If that''s the case, then your talent may be stronger than I formerly believed,"mented Irauk as he sped his hands behind his back lost in thought.

    [Hm, it seems others are unable to sense me, interesting. That means we don''t have to fear someone peering into your secrets. Well¡­ that only rings true if this is the case for the highest existences of the world. I''m not entirely privy to their capabilities.]

    ''Does that mean, the system will simply be perceived as my talent?'' questioned Apollo.

    [It''s a possibility, however, you seemed to have overlooked a message. Did you not notice a new feeling coursing through you?]

    ''A new feeling? Not that you mention it¡­ I attributed this to the pill I ingested. But now it seems as if this sensation is originating towards me,'' thought Apollo. In turn, he sifted through the sea of notifications until his eyes fell on one in particr.

    ?System Alert! Mission: New Perspective COMPLETE!?

    ?Congrattions, you have achieved Earth Grade (Low Tier) Inner Talent. Check your status to take note of the changes.?

    ?You have been awarded the trait: Increased Essence Affinity, system tab: Foundational Chart and 3 Demonic Essence Pellets.?

    ''All these rewards. I''m simply curious,'' thought Apollo.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step)

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 11

    Level: 36 ¡ú 45

    Experience: 4,100/4,500.

    Health: 139/139 ¡ú 288/288

    Stamina: 139/139 ¡ú 288/288

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 4 Mortal [42/100]

    Physique: Mortal-Grade (Peak Tier) ¡ú Earth-Grade (Low Tier)

    Zuls: 28 ¡ú 42

    Strength: 14.0 ¡ú 16.9

    Agility: 5.4 ¡ú 8.3

    Intelligence: 13.0 ¡ú 15.9

    Vitality: 5.3 ¡ú 8.2

    [?Traits?]-

    ?Increased Essence Affinity?

    Stat Points: 2 ¡ú 30

    ''Hmm¡­ the stats points seem slightly irregr. It seems to be 10 extra points from somewhere. Wait, I have the Foundational Chart. It should provide the information I need,'' thought Apollo as he inspected his stats.

    [?Foundational Chart?]

    (Mortal-Grade Talent)

    [Requirement Breakdown]-

    ?Level 1 - 40?- Experience required increases by 100 at each level.

    Rewards: .1 Attribute increase and 2 stat points per level.

    (Earth-Grade Talent) - Liberation of stats.

    [Requirement Breakdown]-

    ?Level 40 - 49? - Experience required increases by 100 at each level.

    Rewards: .1 Attribute increase and 3 stat points per level.

    ?Level 50 - 59? - Experience required increases by 500 at each level.

    Rewards: .1 Attribute increase and 3 stat points per level.

    ?Level 60 - ????

    ''Hmm, the information in the chart only seems to disclose the chart. As for the liberation of stats¡­ I''m guessing it has something to do with the change in my ratios.''

    [That''s correct. Your ratios have be better. It requires less strength to transfer into a Zul, now situated at .4 Strength. As for the rest, it''s pretty self-exnatory if you calcte it on your own.]

    ''I understand it, however, there''s still 5 extra unexined stat points and a boost to my attributes,'' responded Apollo.

    [That''s simple. It''s the aftereffect of entering a new realm of talent. Of course, there will be benefits attached to it. All across the board, your stats have received a boost.]

    ''Ah, I see. Then I wonder what this trait and Demonic Pellet are.''

    [Check them and see.]

    "Ahem¡­" Irauk''s voice sounded attempting to wake Apollo from his dazed stupor.

 Chapter 28 - Small Test

    ----

    "Ahem, you shouldn''t find yourself in a stupor so easily. What I handed you was a simple cultivation tool. It is a basic requirement for anyone to advance within the realm of a Zul Warrior in addition to normal cultivation. Granted, it was an almost perfected version. But even then it''s not that surprising," remarked Irauk as he called out to Apollo. He interpreted Apollo''s current state to be the result of the pill.??

    "Oh. That''s not what happened. I was just surprised by certain things," responded Apollo while he approached the skeptical Irauk who continued to examine his body with his eyes.

    ''It''s very odd. With my cultivation, there shouldn''t be an issue inspecting thisd''s inner conditions. Yet, I''m unable to discern the state of his talent. Could it be he possesses the Saint-Grade Inner Talent found only in one in ten million children? If so...he''ll be my saving grace!'' inwardly thought Irauk while his expression remained unmoving. His training throughout the year resulted in a trained maniption of his emotions. Or as they called it in their world, a Serene Heart.

    "Nheless, that was nothing short of an exemry performance. As I said, this was a test so needless to say; you deserve a reward," chuckled Irak while removing a violet pouch from seemingly nowhere. Adorned with strange symbols, it possessed golden drawstrings holding it closed.

    "What''s this?" asked Apollo as he held his hand out receiving it. Of course, as he asked, the system ryed information.

    Item Name: Minor Spatial Pouch

    Rank: Rank 2 Holding Artifact

    Information: This spatial pouch was made by someone with a slightly decent understanding of the elusive Spatial Laws. Contains a tiny space which enables one to store items. Its current capacity is 4 cubic meters.

    ''Oh it''s a storage item!'' thought Apollo as he nced at the size of the pouch. It fitfortably in his hand. So he found it rather shocking that description told him it possessed 4 square meters of space.

    "This spatial pouch contains enough resources for someone of the Spirit-Grade talent to advance to the Zul Warrior stage within 3 years. That is your reward. I expect you to be able to aplish at least this much in light of your earlier feats," stated Irauk as he turned around proceeding forth in a leisurely manner.

    His gait was more of a saunter as he continued through the damaged area of the forest. From his direction, it was clear he was intent on returning to the area he came from. However, Apollo on the other hand was confused.

    ''Is that it? We''re only ying one monster? After I recover I can y more¡­'' thought Apollo while ncing at his nearly full stamina bar. It was only in need of 5 more seconds at most before he was fully healed.

    "Are we done here? We aren''t going to hunt anymore Spirit Beasts?" questioned Apollo as he gazed at the halting figure of the distant Irauk.

    "Oh, silly me. Do you want to fight more? Let me warn you now, that was a lucky case. You won''t find many lone cubs without their parent beasts. If you want to be tested, I won''t be rendering aid in the event that you find yourself in a perilous situation. With that being said, make your choice," sternly stated Irauk while gazing straight into Apollo''s eyes.

    The change in aura slightly shocked Apollo as he couldn''t understand the abrupt shift in the situation. At this moment, Azridan chimed in offering his own insight.

    [He is testing you. Don''t be overly greedy. Harvest this beast''s remains and follow him. It isn''t wise to seek danger beyond your capabilities. No, let me change that. It isn''t wise to enter catastrophic situations whilst your current cultivation is inadequate. You must remember, the presence of your tool is the sole reason you were able to prevail.]

    ''Okay I understand,'' replied Apollo as his thirst for battle dampened. The look in his eyes mellowed as he nodded to Irauk, "I''ll just harvest this beast''s remains and follow you."

    "Wise choice. I''m d to see you aren''t a foolishd who believes he can handle anything thrown at him. That battle was to your advantage and even then you just barely managed to y the beast. However, this isn''t to dishearten you. I admire your spirit and control over yourself at this stage. I believe you will venture far down your path should you remain intuitive," replied Irauk as he tapped his footnding on a branch above.

    Focusing, he caught sight of each of the other 5 youths he picked up along the way in other locations embroiled in battle causing a slight smile to appear before murmuring, "It would appear this generation contain plenty of talents¡­" throughout his words, his expression became increasingly solemn, "however, is that really a good thing?"

    Working quickly, Apollo skinned the beast and dealt with its meat. During the process, he came in contact with a small yellow gem embedded in the beast''s chest cavity. Throwing it in the pouch, he saved it for ater inspection. It wouldn''t be long before the cub''s parents caught wind of the scent of their offspring''s blood.

    Dashing Apollo, caught up to the leisurely traveling Irauk. Despite his efforts to catch up, it seemed every time he did so, Irauk increased his speed ever so slightly. But what shocked Apollo was his new speeds. He was traversing distance much faster than earlier.

    ''Is seems an increase in over 3.0 stats at once makes for a suitable enhancement,'' thought Apollo. Meanwhile, he took this time to divide his attention in half and check the contents of the unlocked traits as well as the pellet.

    ?Increased Essence Affinity? - ?Basic Trait?

    Information: Natural Essence is a vital foundation in life. Due to your entering of the Earth-Grade Inner Talent, your affinity with this energy has increased. Upon reaching Rank 5 Mortal, this trait will present its usefulness.

    Level: 1/5

    Effect: Increases the absorption rate of Natural Essence by 5%.

    Item Name: Demonic Essence Pellet

    Rank: Unranked

    Information: This pellet doesn''t originate from the world of Astarat but instead where Azridan came from. However, it possesses its purposes.

    Effect: Contributes to the advancement of your Demonic Change.

    ''Demonic Change? Azridan what does this mean?'' asked Apollo as his split attention allowed him to dodge between trees. As his Intelligence increased, so did the abilities of his mind. Things such as cognitive functions were continuously improving.

    [It''s in the system. You''ll need these toplete the change into a true Demon. After all, you can''t expect my voice to change you right? I could only initiate the process.]

    ''Ah, so how many will it take?''

    [No idea. It''s not within my knowledge. Where Ie from, the environment alone was capable of changing any and everything into a demon. Of course, there remained arge divide in powers one was capable of achieving based on certain things.]

    "Shape upd, we''re enclosing on where we came from. But it seems like there''s a small surprise that I''ll allow you to deal with," smugly smirked Irauk as he remained high above in a tree.

 Chapter 29 - Variants

    ----

    Sharpening his gaze, Apollo noticed a beast in the area they all had scattered from earlier. From the way it was sniffing the ground, it seemed to think of them as its targets. In light of his appearance, the beast halted its actions and lifted its head abruptly. Its keen eyes locked sights with Apollo who retrieved the Vantack Knife reactively. ??

    It was arge wolf with crimson eyes. However, the attention-grabbing features were both its azure fur as well as the streak of violet located upon its torso extending until the end of its tail. A gleam circted through its eyes as it emitted a low growl. Its fangs possessed a slight metallic sheen with a luster matching polished steel.

    Monster Name: Azure Lightning Wolf

    Type: Variant

    Cultivation: Peak Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast

    Health: 2,000/2,000

    Chance of Defeat: 0.7%

    ''A Variant? What''s a Variant?'' thought Apollo as he prepared himself for the subsequent actions of the beast.

    [A variant simply means a beast which doesn''t conform to the norm of advancement. Under normal circumstances, it could also mean it''s a hybrid offspring from mixed species of beast. Based on its aura, however, this variant is on the higher end of the spectrum. It possesses an element before entering the 2nd Rank. In other words, it''s a beast of high talent. While itcks a bloodline, it should still exhibitmendable battle capabilities.]

    ''So a variant is stronger than a typical monster? As for elements... I''m not aware of it. You''ll need to exin to me more after this situation,'' responded Apollo as he dodged to the side. The rocks splintered as they flew everywhere due to the wolf performing a powerful pounce.

    ''It''s fast!'' This was the only thought running through Apollo''s mind as he responded to that attack. He estimated the only reason he was able to respond was due to their distance. Frowning, Apollo shook his head. Rather than waiting for a perilous situation to ur, he moved proactively instead of reactively and increased his Agility to the highest degree possible.

    [Agility: 8.3 ¡ú 11.3]

    Instantly, a refreshing and empowered feeling coursed through Apollo''s limb. The 10.0 mark was a small watershed to be broken through with stats. As a result, what urred was a shocking sight. ''This feeling is amazing. It feels like my body is empowered with neverending energy,'' thought Apollo.

    ''Fwoosh!''

    Kicking off his back foot, his initial eleration increased greatly. A small foot was left in ce of where he once stood. Immediately after, turned into a gust of wind only slightly slower than the wolf he was up against. Nevertheless, what he didn''t achieve in stats was made up through tactics. This wolf was only faster when it came to linear eleration. However, a human''s bipedal body worked differently.

    Performing a short step, Apollo pivoted to the side,nding a sh on the hind leg of the wolf causing an enraged howl. Remaining calm, Apollo spun and delivered a second cut before moving away. ring dangerously, the violet streak on the wolf''s torso began illuminating.

    A torrential amount of Natural Essence began interacting with the Azure Lightning Wolf as its tail became coated in a violet aura. As a result, its speed increased dangerously. Furthermore, arcs of lights crackled on its limbs as it dashed at a speed Apollo was currently unable to react to. Arge tear appeared on the leg of his grey robes.

    "Oh? It''s the Lightning Gait," muttered Iruak as he shifted his gaze to Apollo. He was curious as to how Apollo would deal with this situation. Would he be able to capitalize and deal with this instance?

    "Hoooo¡­" breathed Apollo as his eyes sharpened. Ignoring the gash on his leg, Apollo entered that same state as earlier. Dissecting the situation, he scrutinized all aspects of relevance. Soon enough, he came to his own answer¡ªcapitalize on the environment.

    Dropping his posture, instead of confronting the wolf Apollo began running in a tight circle. With each step, he built up an obscene amount of speed until he began looking like a phantom in the wind. At that moment, he stuck the Vantack Knife into the dirt kicking up a small dirt cloud.

    The speed at which he moved kept it airborne. In a few moments, it looked like a crude prison of dirt. Hence, the wolf''s sights were limited to areas Apollo had yet to reach. However, that was what Apollo was banking on as he removed his top robe.

    His actions resulted in the Violet Lightning Wolf constantly switching positions until finally, it bolted for the only clear section. However, utilizing his shirt, Apollounched arge amount of soil at the beast. Its actions had already been calcted by Apollo.

    Taking note of this, Irauk nodded in approval, ''Witty use of his surroundings while also capitalizing on the conflictions of attributes. Lightning doesn''t fare well against anything having to do with Earth.''

    "Howoooo¡­!" howled the wolf as its sight and smell were removed from the equation. It could only rely upon hearing but even then the gusts of wind interrupted its sense of Apollo''s presence. Like a phantom, he dashed back and forth delivering small cuts on its body. He unfurled a relentless barrage of shes that drained both his stamina and the beast''s health in tandem.

    Luckily, his stamina could facilitate him doing this due to itsrge increase. It wasn''t long before the beast''s health fell under 20%. However, at that point, it fell into insanity. Arge stream of lightning arcs danced around its body before spreading outward.

    Reacting with the Natural Essence it became vtile. A sense of danger encroached upon Apollo causing him to retreat with haste. Without dy, he dashed into the distance.

    ''Krrrk'' ''Krrrrk! ''Krrrrkllee!'' ''Boom!''

    A shockwave of lightning burst from its body which interacting with the airborne soil, blowing it back. Fortunately, it acted as a barrier containing the st which achieved a radius of 3 meters.

    After that small explosion, it fell into a powerless state, surprising Apollo, ''A survival tactic? Luckily it didn''tnd or else I could''ve been mortally wounded.''

    Dashing in without hesitation, Apollo plunged his knife into its chest before striking upwards into its throat. A fountain of blood sprayed as its body fell limp and lifeless. His performance was unprecedented!

    ?Congrattions, you have killed a Variant equivalent to a formidable Early Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast.?

    ?700 (350 + 350) Experience has been received.?

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 46.?

    ?You have been rewarded: .1 Attributes and 3 Stat Points.?

    Dropping to his knees, Apollo felt a wave of exhaustion overtake him while Irauk grinned. ''It seems I have underestimated this boy. He has primal survival instincts. The way he fights and thinks...he holds his continuance with utmost importance.''

    "OH MY GOD!" shouted a voice containing pure shock.

 Chapter 30 - Departure

    ----

    "W-what? OH MY GOD! How did you kill that beast like that? Your cultivation rank betrays you," blurted the confounded Nadida. Her crimson hair red as she stormed to Apollo inspecting his body. She didn''t understand how his slightly small figure performed this feat. ??

    "Where did you hide your strength? I don''t remember a Rank 3 Mortal being capable of such movements nor should they be able to deal with a beast of that standard," she continued oblivious to the fact that she was touching him a little too closely.

    Expressing his discontent with a frown, Apollo nced over toward Irauk before attempting to escape her grasp, "Can you stop¡­ you''re touching me too much. And for your information, I''m a Rank 4 Mortal, not Rank 3," replied Apollo whilst shaking his top robe. The dirt had clung to some of its seams.

    However, Irauk intervened by channeling Natural Essence into the fabric before giving it a gentle shake.

    ''Fwap!'' ''Krrrk!''

    A sound simr to the earlier thunderous explosion sounded alerting both Nadida and Apollo. Just a simple motion had produced a sound simr to essentially a Rank 2 Spirit Beastst straw attempt at survival. Peering at Irauk silently, Apollo had one thought, ''Just how strong is he?''

    "You may wear it now, the robes are clean. Although, you''ll find new attire in your reward I gave you. After all, if you''re to train here without a residence to return to. You''ll need a change of robes. Those you wear now won''t fit you in the years toe,"mented Irauk while handing Apollo his top robe.

    Escaping from the curious Nadida, he quickly adorned his robes while patting himself. Surprisingly, they smelt different. It was a breath of fresh air coursing through it and the material seemed to be rejuvenated, ''Is this an adept use of Natural Essence? Interesting.''

    Meanwhile, Nadida approached Irauk with a proud smile before holding out her hand, "I''vepleted the mission and beautifully if I might add. If you don''t think so, you can check for yourself Teacher Irauk. There are 18 Essence Cores of Spirit Beast above the Late Stage of Rank 2."

    Many crystalline objects of assorted colors appeared in her palm as she presented them to Irauk. Every single one was as she said earning his praise, "Indeed. You have done well. You haven''t let me down on any of my spontaneous tests thus far."

    "So¡­what is my reward? It shouldn''t be any less than what you give Adeon or Ragnvald," stated Nadida with apetitive gleam in her eyes before ncing over at Apollo and thinking for a moment before continuing, "Oh! And you can''t spoil him just because he did remarkably well! We''re all talented, so I''ll be watching you Teacher."

    Smiling wryly, Irauk shook his head and released an exasperated sigh, "What¡­? Wha- who do you think you are, my mother? No! You''re my disciple to be. How dare you tell me what to do. Do you dare believe I won''t increase your requirements twofold? Damned spoiledss," spat Irauk while surprisingly still tossing her a pouch of her own.

    "Thank you Teacher!" remarked Nadida while smiling sweetly as she examined the contents of the bag she acquired. It was simr to Apollos, except it was slightlyrger. As for the contents, that was unknown.

    At that moment, numerous sources of rustling were heard as one by one; Rhett, Adeon, Ragnvald, and Socorra appeared in that order. Each of them approached Irauk, presenting the fruits of theirbor. They had allpleted the task. However, hriously, Rhett onlypleted the bare minimum by collecting 10 Essence Cores belonging to Early Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast.

    "You...why are you the only one who does the bare minimum? Is food the only thing present on your mind you oversized walrus?" muttered Adeon while scoffing derisively. This wasn''t the first time he had only attempted the bare minimum toplete a task.

    "It is okay. Sooner orter, he''ll find his motivation," responded Irauk mediating the tension. However, if one looked closely there was a mischievous expression hidden within his eyes.

    "Teacher, I don''t think you should continuously support his antics. You''ll end up fostering a negative trait in this fool," countered Adeon as he nced at Irauk. It seemed he picked up another quirk. He was on par with Nadida when it came to the matters of the mouth!

    ''Damn! What is wrong with these kids that I picked up? Does talent equate to being a quirk?'' thought Irauk while releasing another exasperated sigh.

    "It isn''t your ce to try and reprimand the teacher. Watch your words and be respectful,"mented Ragnvald as he looked at Adeon with a stern expression. On the other hand, Irauk focused on Apollo.

    sping his hands behind his back, Irauk nced over to Apollo before stating a few words, "I will be departing shortly. However, unlike the others, I won''t be bringing you with me. I can tell from your personality it is best you hone yourself here alone. I will see you again in the future. Based on your talent, we are fated to meet," smiled Irauk before tossing Apollo a small handbook.

    "Inside is the information you''ll need. I was aware of your brief nk expression earlier when I mentioned that beast being a variant. It seems youck some knowledge but that small booklet will correct that and divulge what is needed to be known," nodded Irauk before turning in a direction exiting the Shadowy Forest.

    Before leaving, Ragnvald approached Apollo, "You said your name is Apollo right? I look forward to meeting you again in the near future and having a spar with you. From the Teacher''s words, I can infer you are decently skilled in it."

    "Okay," nodded Apollo while rying a simple answer. Disappearing from where he stood, Ragnvald followed after Irauk.

    "B-bye Apollo! See you in a few years," eximed Socorra before scurrying away.

    Meanwhile, Nadida gazed at him with a peculiar look. "In the future. We will fight and I will win. I don''t need to be superior to you but I hope you view me as your equal."

    Leaving her piece she dashed off leaving a nk Apollo, ''Uh...what was that about?''

    "Treat me to some Rank 3... no, no I mean Rank 4 Spirit Beast meat in the future," stated Rhett as he drooled while reveling over the matter. It was clear he possessed an rming admiration towards food.

    Adeon on the other hand simply spared him a nce and departed. It was weird, just as quickly as they met they departed. Yet, throughout this matter, Apollo felt this odd foreboding that he would be seeing them again very soon.

    [I''m picking up fluctuations from the pouch you have been given. Furthermore, I think it is wise you take a look inside that booklet while you seek out a decent area to rest yourself. I think today warrants you calling for an early finish. Instead, let''s reflect upon what transpired.]

    "I agree with you there. Although my status seems fine. My mind is extremely tired for some reason," murmured Apollo as he scoured the area for a suitable ce to rest. It wasn''t long before he found a ce.

    "There will suffice," before settling in a rather awkward position. However, it was suitable as it was out of reach. Only, it would require his exerting some effort to reach as well.

 Chapter 31 - Mysterious Scene

    ----

    Kicking off the branches of a colossal tree repeatedly, Apollo worked his way up towards a position rtively hidden from sight. The tree''s branches were strong enough to support his weight while one of thergest branches amongst the top was suitable for him toy on. ??

    [Hmm, a fine choice. I have yet to perceive an aerial beast inhabiting this ce. Hence, this will do just fine. Just keep note, there are beasts who utilize this for travel. Though I must say, whether or not they do so at such a height is beyond my knowledge. You''ll have to find out for yourself.]

    "I think it''s a good spot as well. It''s hidden from view and vision is obstruction by the thick foliage. Not to mention, the shade and the thickness of the leaves are ratherfortable. If we do run into those beasts, then my earlier training should allow me to react in a suitable manner,"mented Apollo while leaning his back against the height of the sturdy tree.

    With each passing moment, the feeling of exhaustion continuously washed over him. However, it wasn''t to the extent of garnering his immediate sleep. Instead, he followed through with his curious nature asking Azridan the questions on his mind earlier.

    "I would like to understand more about beasts. I want to understand their hierarchy as well as relevance to daily life. Beyond eating, are they useful for anything else?" inquired Apollo while gazing at the sky. It had been over 8 months since he came here but the sky always felt foreign. It wasn''t the same.

    [Ah, well let''s tackle this issue from the broad perspectives. Beast can be categorized into 3 archetypes. You have the normal beasts which as it sounds from the orthodox way of advancement. Either through natural ingestion or cannibalizing their one. Next, you have Variants. This is where things go on a tangent. Such beasts can have a plethora of origins.]

    [Their benefits range from early elemental awakening, heightening physical aspects or in the rarest cases, awakening a soul. However, to do thest one this brings us to the third type¡ªBloodline Beasts. These beasts possess powerful ancestors and memories of their lineage is passed down through the memories of their soul. In other words, they possess advantages beyond others.]

    "If that''s the case and everything is so strong. Then what are these Terrors and why haven''t they been dealt with? I don''t understand that issue," uttered Apollo in a curious tone. He was unable to wrap his mind around the fact.

    [Ah, those¡­ I''m not necessarily aware of their state. As I said before, I''m not privy to everything. Perhaps there''s some underlying reason for that but I''m unable to say. You''ll have to unearth the answer to that question through your own efforts.]

    "Ah, then tell me more about Natural Essence. Were what those elements you mentioned earlier?" asked Apollo while retrieving a piece of the Violet Stone Bear''s flesh. Surprisingly, today he didn''t mind eating it raw and simply tore into it.

    [Well as you know, nothing can exist on its own. It needsponents; it is the same with Natural Essence. It contains a myriad of elements inside it and it is up to your talent to distinguish which of those are you''re capable of resonating with. Naturally, there are limitations to everything. Usually, everyone only awakens a singr element for each cultivation type.]

    [In other words, you could possess an affinity with fire with Natural Essence but when you cultivate the Soul it could be wind or any other. Needless to say, there are rare instances where one awakens a dual or triple element and beyond but that''s dependent on talent. That just means they''ll possess many variations when ites tobat.]

    "Hmm, I see. So when will I be able to sense the elements?"

    [Typically, that happens within a range which is facilitated by talent. It can happen anywhere from Rank 5 Mortal to bing a Zul Warrior. The quicker it happens, the stronger your affinity with that element. Of course, that''s only when ites to Natural Essence. You''lle in contact with another Essence soon enough.]

    "Is it Spiritual Essence?" asked Apollo while remaining unsure. He had a feeling it was the case due to the item in his possession.

    [That''s correct. How did youe to that conclusion?]

    "Because of this," said Apollo as he retrieved a small shard. It was the size of two fingernails possessing a slender yet rough rhomboid shape. However, it shimmered with a mystical glow as Apollo nced at it.

    [Ah, that''s a Spirit Shard. I see.]

    Item Name: Spirit Shard

    Rank: Inferior

    Information: One of the 4 types of crystallization of Spiritual Essence. However, it is also the most inferior containing small amounts of it. When used for cultivation, it can only benefit those under the Soul Warrior Realm due to itsck of abundance and purity.

    Usage: Allows a Spirit Cultivator who utilizes the Soul to increase their Oz by 1 unit. In your case, it rewards 100 Spiritual Experience.

    "Hmm¡­ Spirit Cultivation is the counterpart to Body Cultivation right. Then what exactly is Spiritual Experience then?"

    [It''s unlocked during the 3rd level of the Demon Monarch System. Right now, it doesn''t exist so it doesn''t warrant me expanding on that matter. Just know that in your hands is a useful cultivation tool.]

    "Ah, I see," nodded Apollo. However, as he spoke the dreary sensations increased. Hence, closing his eyes he finally fell asleep. Only, as he did so his mind was full of questions. Cultivation intrigued him as did the very existence of the system.

    Unbeknownst to him, while he slept. A purple aura radiated from him. While faint in the beginning it continued to grow in density. It wasn''t long before it nketed his body. At the same time, a few beings caught wind of an ominous stench.

    ----

    ''Thud!'' ''Bang!'' ''Booom!''

    Abruptly mming his eyes open, Apollo jumped to his feet. The sounds of battle alerted him instantly. Even though it was distant, the sounds and vibrations were powerful enough to vibrate the tree he rested upon.

    It was unknown how long he slept but he felt refreshed. All signs of his earlier exhaustion disappeared. In fact, in ce of that was an exuberant feeling coursing through him.

    ''Why do I feel...different? It isn''t extreme but I feel it. Something is changing,'' thought Apollo while turning his head towards the origin of the sounds. He felt the urge to unearth the cause of suchrge tremors.

    Shifting his position slightly, a bright ray of light shone through a crack in the trees. In turn, his eyes emanated a violet luster before narrowing his sights. Oddly enough, he could see further than ever before! "Azridan, is it safe to check those noises?"

    [It should be. Stick to the treetops. From the vibrations, this is without a doubt a ground battle. Unfortunately, you''re entirely too far for me to gauge the strength of the essence fluctuations.]

    "That''s fine, you''ll be able to do so as I get closer!" responded Apollo while shooting off into the distance utilizing the branches as footholds. Like a phantom, he traveled quickly through the branches causing the scenery to sh rapidly.

    Soon enough, the brutal fight came into view as Apollo paused his steps and frowned slightly, "Shouldn''t something like that belong in the central region¡­."

 Chapter 32 - Burned Bridges

    ----

    Two extremelyrge beasts at least 3 times the size of Apollo entered his view. One of such beasts was a panther entirely scarlet in color. However, around its ankles were clumps of fire while its whiskers were infernal embers. On the flip side, its opponent was an azure wolf beast. ? ?

    Around its neck was a gathering of blueish azure energy forming the shape of a crown. Furthermore, traveling down its spine was a streak of white fur. It generated a stream of air which distorted the area around it. Yet, this wasn''t the most shocking aspect; each beast was radiating aurae Apollo had never seen before!

    [So it''s a battle between beasts indeed. Perhaps they''repeting for something. Examine your surroundings and tell me if there''s anything out of the ordinary. Typically, a beast such as them wouldn''t venture out of their way unless they seek something beneficial to them.

    "Let''s see¡­" responded Apollo while slowly inching closer amongst the treetops. It wasn''t long before he soon spotted the object of interest. Itid in wait behind thebative beasts.

    "I see a type of nt of some sort. Its shape is weird, it looks more so like a root rather than a nt. It''s red in color carrying small spots of purple," described Apollo before receiving a response from Azridan.

    [So that''s what it is! It sounds like it should be something known as Blood Tempering Ginseng. It''s extremely useful when ites to the aspect of the body. It can strengthen your inner talent by fortifying your spiritual blood. If you can, I suggest you get your hands on it. Unlike many spiritual herbs, it doesn''t need to be processed to refine it.]

    "How do you suppose I do that?" asked Apollo while his gaze remained glued on the Blood Tempering Ginseng. If he could snag it, it would definitely benefit him in clearing his quest in the fastest time possible.

    [Capitalize on the moment. Learn to plunder. Wait for the opportune moment and strike. If you strive to seed, you will need to learn how to be ruthless and deal with this world. After all, if you aren''t capable of protecting yourself who will? If you show no benefits, not even your own family seeks to protect you.]

    Listening to Azridan''s words, a cold glint shed through Apollo''s eyes as his fists clenched. His words were true, due to him being of weak potential and useless to the family''s future, they didn''t expend any efforts to help him.

    "I''ll aplish this," muttered Apollo with a look of certainty in his eyes. Thoughts of the events his counterpart was subject to always served to incite his desire to garner strength.

    Calming his breath and making his presence minute, he inspected as the battle unfolded. It took ce on apletely different level than expected. In fact, he''d be lying if he said their impacts didn''t diminish his confidence. After all, their ranks were something he waspletely incapable of handling.

    Monster Name: Scarlet me Panther

    Cultivation: Middle Stage Rank 3 Spirit Beast

    Health: 6,400/7,500

    Chance of Defeat: 0.0013%

    Monster Name: Zephyr Wolf

    Cultivation: Middle Stage Rank 3 Spirit Beast

    Health: 6,310/7,300

    Chance of Defeat: 0.0007%

    ''Boom!'' ''Bang!'' ''Fwooosh!''

    ''Hmm? Why is the chance of defeat significantly lower for the Zephyr Wolf? Does this mean it will win between the two? Or perhaps¡­'' pondered Apollo while lost in thought for a short moment. Meanwhile, the battle between the two ferocious beasts continued to unravel.

    The Zephyr Wolf being of the wind element was many times faster than its opponent. However, while the Scarlet me Panthercked in the speed department, it made up for it in wide-area attacks. Its mes threatened to incinerate the area. Luckily, the presence of natural Essence changed theyout of the world.

    Trees, while susceptible to fire; now possessed a certain threshold that needed to be passed in order to burn it or damage it in any way for that matter. Needless to say, them being the rank they were, they could be considered beasts of destruction and were capable of this.

    Their blows splintered the base of trees. Even the winds the Zephyr Wolf wielded was capable of sting a hole through a seemingly thick tree. This scene opened Apollo''s eyes to what cultivator could possibly be capable of in this world.

    "There''s a plethora of realms above the one they are currently. If I''m not mistaken they''re on par with a Zul Knight. If it''s like this¡­ I don''t want to think about what Generals are capable of," muttered Apollo.

    Showing no signs of backing down, each beast continued to engage in battle. Wounds appeared at the site of contact where brutal attacks dealtrge amounts of damage. It was the survival of the fittest. They found no use in existing if they were unable to continue advancing! In the life of this world, every day wasn''t guaranteed at any moment a beast stronger than then could appear and conquer their territory.

    ''Their healths are dropping rather quickly. Is this nt worth that much to them?'' thought Apollo. But little did he know, this was exactly the case. Like Azridan mentioned earlier. There existed something in this forest stronger than them all.

    [Their aurae are weakening. Prepare to capitalize on the situation. However, don''t becent. Even now, the risks remain unimaginable. But like they say, with great riskes great reward.]

    The battle reached its peak, fiery inferno bolstered by the strong wind attacks terrorized the area. Although Azridan said their aura was weakening from Apollo''s point of view he couldn''t tell. All the same, he remained hesitant.

    "Awwoooo!!"

    Sixrge crescent wind des shoot from the wolf''s mouth as it howled. Growling back the panther released a me orb. The ensuing matter was a conflict of forces! The wind des and orb of mes caused a massive explosion. Unfortunately, it didn''te without implications.

    The explosion was augmented due to the elements feeding off of each other. In its wake, Apollo bore the brunt of the attack''s aftereffects. The base of nearly all the trees within a 30-meter radius was nearly torn asunder and incinerated.

    Widening his eyes, Apollo frowned as his mind began to race, ''Oh crap! This is no good¡­ I''ll end up being too close.''

    During his thought process, both the tree he stood on and the ones he thought to retreat towards were in the process of copsing. It had to be known, those two attacks carried with it at least 10% of the total essence in the Spirit Beasts bodies. It was no small amount.

    ''Crap...crap...crap!'' repeatedly thought Apollo as he noticed a small change in the events of the battlefield. Retrieving the Vantack Knife, he acted on a whim attempting to remove himself from the situation¡ªonly he mindlessly underestimated the extent of these beasts'' senses.

    [Retreat! NOW!]

 Chapter 33 - Ray Of Light

    ----

    [Retreat! NOW!! You''ve been spotted and this tree will not provide suitable cover.] ??

    Azridan''s warning came quickly as the trees continued to topple and cause resounding crashes throughout the forest. Frowning due to the situation at hand, Apollo kicked off the tree only to notice both of the Spirit Beast gazing at him hatefully.

    Their eyes carried a ferocity that wasn''t there previously. It was clear they deemed him to be some type of vermin intent on snatching their spoils of war. Of course, being the primal beasts that they were, they wouldn''t give up their potential possessions without a fight. Hence, they began a retaliation.

    Opening his maw, the Scarlet me Panther fired a torrent of small me orbs thatnded on multiple trees. The repeated sts ignited the tree of mention into a fiery ze. Suspended in midair, the scorching winds began damaging Apollo as he felt a searing pain on his skin.

    ''Tch¡­ Why are they immediately attacking? I shouldn''t'' possess an aura capable of fostering this type of sudden reaction. Could it be because they covet that item so much? If so, then it must be extremely valuable,'' thought Apollo while crossing his arms before the heat to resist against the scorching heat.

    Falling through the air, he remained calm and collected instead of overacting; something surprising for a kid his age. However, being that he had been through battles in which he barely clung to life, this wasn''t something foreign to him.

    Twisting his body, he kicked the nearest tree catapulting to another. Luckily, the one hended upon wasn''t wrapped in an inferno. Stabbing the Vantack Knife into it, he slid down quickly. All the while, his eyes never left the Spirit Beasts.

    ''Oh fu-...''

    His thoughts were interrupted by a burst of sharp winds hurtling towards him. The Zephyr Wolfunched a myriad of them from the crown object around its neck. At the same time, the patches of white fur illuminated with a mellow glow. Instead of fighting, they found Apollo as amon enemy and sought to eradicate him.

    [This situation isn''t looking too well. They''re hellbent on killing you. I can feel their murderous intent. It seems your presence takes precedence over thempeting for that item.]

    ''I know, but what do I do in this situation¡­ Here theye!'' thought Apollo as the wolf and panther dashed towards the position he would bending. If they caught him, it would be the end of his small existence.

    [Let me take over.]

    ''Let you take over? How?'' thought Apollo.

    [Close your eyes and I''ll see if I''ll be able to get us out of this situation.]

    Following the directives, Apollo closed his eyes. A monstrous feeling engulfed him while he felt enveloped in a murderous darkness, suspended in that state. The sensation was many times worse than what the Rank 3 Spirit Beasts could emit. In fact, it didn''t seem to originate from this world.

    Slowly opening his eyes, a change took ce. Apollo''s previously purely violet eyes possessed elliptical crimson pupils! Furthermore, his expression possessed an irrevocable dignity.

    "It seems because I am something like a soul, I am capable of performing this. Unfortunately¡­" before continuing the Azridan possessed Apollo looked down at his hands opening and clenching them.

    "I won''t be able to wield any of those moves but¡­ I should be able to mitigate the situation," throwing a punch wrapped in a weird aura, Azridan''s fist impacted the tree splintering it.

    However, an odd event took ce! It didn''t shatter randomly but rather it took the shape Azridan desired. He virtually created a suitable weapon within an instant. Gripping this weirdly shaped long weapon, he kicked off the tree doing something insane! He traveled in the direction of the Spirit Beasts.

    Opening their maw, both the beast attacked Apollo simultaneously, ''I can''t let these attacks touch this body. Just a simply hit with render him incapable of surviving.''

    shing the weapon three times, 3 arcs of ominous aura traveled and collided with the opposingunched attacks¡ªit was a contest of power. At that moment, a surprising scene took ce. The arcs Azridanunched only caused the attacks heading for him to redirect.

    Kicking off the next tree, he increased his speed andnded right before them with an unsettling smirk. Switching his grip, he turned into a ckened crimson blur and entered hand to handbat. To survive, he''d have to eliminate their use of Natural Essence. In other words, he''d have to keep their body upied disrupting their chance to channel it.

    After all, utilizing Natural Essence at this level wasn''t an instant process. If interrupted, dire consequences could follow. Hence, it was imperative that you used it when you knew you were able to wield it unabatedly.

    ''This isn''t enough¡­ they''re too strong for his body. I can''t deal enough damage to reveal the opportunity to flee. Is there really no other option? Perhaps I shouldn''t have told thisd to approach them. He hasn''t even reached the 5th Rank yet. If so...this wouldn''t be the case,'' thought Azridan as he struggled to keep hold of Apollo''s body.

    However, small cuts began opening on Apollo''s body. Only, he wasn''t being injured by the Beasts, something else entirely was urring. It appears an issue presented itself causing something to repeatedly damage him. Azridan''s movements began visibly slowing.

    ''I can''t stay here any longer. If I do, certain things will happen that arepletely untoward our objective.''

    The abrupt change Apollo experience then ceased at that moment as his eye returned to normal. As did his utilization of his stats. Furthermore, he gazed at the weapon in his hand peculiarly, ''Hmm? When did I get this?''

    While Azridan took over, it felt as if his soul had frozen over. After all, he had yet to step into the Spirit Cultivation of cultivating the Soul. As a result, it was rather weak.

    [Youngd, it seems the situation is more perilous than I estimated. This is my fault, I should have never granted you permission to venture here. You weren''t ready in the slightest. Perhaps, we''ll relinquish our fate to destiny.]

    "W-what? What do you mean? How can we simply give up here? I don''t yield! I am here to get stronger. I do not want to die again!" bellowed Apollo as he gritted his teeth hatefully. He was once again being told he wasn''t strong enough to escape fate? This reminded him of his first life. It was reminiscent of the expression his mother made, the disdainful expression the examiner presented.

    ''There has to be a way... there has to! Irauk warned me of the dangers here. Then, why would he leave me here alone without proper means of survival? Maybe¡­ Perhaps he would''ve foreseen this situation and provided me a way out,'' thought Apollo as he tried his utmost to dodge the strikes of the Spirit Beast. Unfortunately, his body was being riddled with wounds.

    However, he also found his saving grace.

    "This is it!" eximed Apollo as a shred of light returned to his infuriated eyes.

 Chapter 34 - Torturous Mutilation

    ----

    Apollo''s desperate eyes glistened with newfound hope as he gazed upon the pouch in his hand. As he opened it, the system generated an expansive list of items. However, he ignored every single one until his sights fell upon one item''s name.??

    "Full Lightning Impound Talisman? This sounds like it could be of use," muttered Apollo while skimming the contents of its information. In a short moment, a fervent gleam passed through his eyes, "This is it! Azridan, I''ve found our way out of this situation."

    [You have? Oh? Is that...a talisman? And it seems to be a rather high grade as well. Interesting, if it possesses the right effect then it will indeed be capable of reversing this hopeless situation.]

    A purple talisman appeared within Apollo''s hands donning gold inscriptions and a ck border. The strokes seemed unrushed and honed throughout years of practice. It was clear the grade of this item was by no means low. In fact, it was rather well made when the system graded it.

    Item Name: Full Lightning Impound Talisman

    Rank: Tier 4 Talisman

    Grade: III

    Usage: cing this talisman on the ground summons a shrinking cage birthed by lightning harnessed from a Zul General-level expert adept in lightning attribute Natural Essence. This cage is capable of exterminated any existence under its level. However, it requires the user tost long enough for the imprisonment to constrict the enemy.

    [?Grade Bonus?]-

    ?Grade I? - Increases the maximum range of lightning imprisonment to 30 square meters.

    ?Grade II? - Shortens the time until entrapment to 3 seconds.

    ?Grade III? - Allows the imprisonment to be split into 4, quadrupling the ensnaring capabilities.

    The talisman in his hand had to have been created by a master in the crafts! The effects alone were simply lifesaving, any existence under the Zul General level would be eradicated. In other words, this talisman was capable ofbatting almost all Rank 4 and below Spirit Beasts.

    [Oh this talisman¡­ It''s absolutely what you need. However, you''ll still need tost for 3 seconds while it activates. Do you understand what that entails? You''ll have to engage inbat with these beasts for 3 seconds. Are you capable?]

    "Honestly, at this moment it isn''t a matter of if I''m capable but rather, I have to do this. My survival and our continued journey depend on it," uttered Apollo as he pped the talisman on the mutted ground before him. A small ripple undting causing the beasts to pause.

    Afterward, it seemed something incited their predatory and survival instincts. The beasts gazed murderously at Apollo. Steeling himself, Apollo found it wasn''t time to ruminate over his decision. It was an inevitable choice, there was bound to be a sign of his actions.

    "Awoooo!"

    "Roooaggrh¡­"

    The beasts roared and swiped at Apollo simultaneously. Left with no other choice, he threw himself to the ground rolling continuously. Small rocks cut and punctured his body. However, he rathered this than be torn shreds under the ire of these infuriated beasts.

    Time seemed to pass slowly; three seconds began to feel like an eternity. Not to mention, he needed to stay within range of the talisman or its effects would be rendered useless. Essentially, he was limited to a small scope of action which extremely heightened the beasts'' chances to do away with him.

    "Damn...it''s just 2 more seconds. I can survive!" snarled Apollo as he lifted his only good arm. His right one hung limply with fresh blood dripping from his fingertips. The earlier attack left copious amounts of damage on his body.

    Brandishing the Vantack Knife with a defensive stance, Apollo backpedaled and moved closer to the talisman. The beasts pounced and he tried to defend, but their bodies were leagues above his. A crack was heard as the bone in his left forearm snapped.

    However, an unyielding light appeared within Apollo''s gaze. Grasping the knife with his mouth, he moved like a demon leaving tiny nicks on their body. Meanwhile, the time hade. Small crackling sounds emitted from the talisman on the floor.

    ''Pzzt!'' ''Pzzt!'' ''Krrrrrrrklee!''

    Arge violet pulse birthed from the talisman. As it traveled and began forming into a cage around the two beasts. The size still allowed them to move, however, in the next moment it began shrinking.

    Roaring indignantly, they sensed the feeling of death from the lightning bars of the cage. In response, they circted their Natural Essence to the limited. Terrible aurae appeared as theyunched suicidal attacks. If they were unable to live, then they would take all participants of the battle with them.

    ''BOOM!''

    A loud explosion sounded as they bombarded the lightning prisons with attacks that would otherwise appall new cultivators. The ground they stood on was destroyed yet the cages remained! Unfortunately, through the gaps in one of the sections, arge and harrowing wind de escaped.

    Its target was Apollo! Dodging instinctively, his body moved before he instructed it to. Yet and still, it wasn''t something he was capable of dodging even in his peak state.

    ''Pucht!''

    The wind dended on his body albeit not properly. At thest moment, he was able to move ever so slightly so that he mitigated the nigh absolute danger. A gruesome scene unfolded his left arm hung limply by a few threads of flesh. Any deeper and his arm would have been severed!

    "A-aggghh!" screamed Apollo as he clutched his shoulder writhing in pain with a scar-ridden body. Even the Resplendent Jadeite Pendant wasn''t potent enough to heal such extensive damage quickly. Kneeled over, Apollo gritted his teeth trying to cope with the pain. While it paled inparison to the initial demonic change, nearly losing an arm wasn''t a painless matter.

    ''Krrrrklee!'' ''Boom!''

    Another disturbingly loud sound happened, but this time it was an implosion rather than an explosion. The lightning cages imploded and destructive lightning burned the bodies of the Spirit Beast. As that happened, their struggles ceased as all signs of life disappeared from their eyes. The talisman had killed them.

    Naturally, this would be an experience Apollo would never forget. In an instant, he had nearly lost a limb and perished all at the same time. Second, then minutes, then hours passed. Yet not a single soul approached the area.

    After all, traces of the Zul General level attack lingered in the vicinity. Due to the hierarchy of the world, seldom did beasts challenge things stronger than them unless they possessed a death wish.

    The pendant healed Apollo''s health to a suitable degree. However, his arm still remained mutted and the pain remained, "E-eugh¡­ why isn''t the pendant healing this?"

    [It is. It''s just...you suffered more damage than the interface reveals. This isn''t an injury that can be healed in a night. You''ll have to pause training. In the meantime, collect what you can and leave the area. It''s unclear just what might have been alerted. After all, I sense this entire forest is something''s territory. As for whether that talisman was enough to rouse it¡­ who knows.]

    "I...I can''t move well yet," rebutted Apollo as he gripped his arm still limping towards the lifeless carcasses of the Spirit Beast. Although charred, two objects shimmered within their bodies. Compared to what he collected before, these ones triumphed over the others without a doubt.

 Chapter 35 - Blood Tempering Ginseng

    ----

    ?Congrattions, the system has deemed your efforts an enormous feat. You are rewarded 500% additional Experience, 3 Spirit Shards, and 5 Demonic Essence Pellets.? ??

    ?25,200 (2,100 + 2,100 + 21,000) Experience has been received.? x2

    ?Congrattions, you have reached¡­ Level 55.?

    ?Congrattions, you have been rewarded 1.0 Attributes and 30 Stat Points.?

    Dragging his injured body across the battlefield, Apollo limped towards the position of the Blood Tempering Ginseng. As he reached it, instead of bending over, his legs gave way. Tumbling to his knees, he knelt before the ginseng. Sucking in a cool breath, a jolt of pain shed through his body from the contact of the ground.

    "Agh¡­ my body hurts," uttered Apollo through grit teeth as he clutched the Blood Tempering Ginseng attempting to yank it from its roots. However, he was stopped in the process as Azridan halted his actions.

    [Wait! Don''t retrieve it that way. If you do, you''ll damage it. Spiritual herbs need to be harvested properly. Stab the Vantack Knife into the ground and cut around its roots. The more damage you inflict upon it, the lower its efficacy will be. And in your current state, you want as much as possible.]

    "Right," weakly uttered Apollo as he struggled with shaky hands to stab the knife into the ground. Drawing a rough and jagged circle, he was finally able to make a suitable space. Grabbing the item, he tossed it into his Minor Spatial Pouch and began to slowly limp away from the area.

    [In the distance should be an uninhabited ce. Head there and seek shelter while you recuperate. Only then can you rest.]

    Listening to Azridan''s suggestion, Apollo traveled in a certain direction. His slow traveling speed made him take longer than usual to exit the Inner Region. However, thankfully he possessed Azridan who was capable of navigating him in a way that avoided all contact with Spirit Beasts.

    Soon enough, they came to a murky cave. While its aura seemed unsettling, Azridan was certain nothing existed inside. Hence, Apollo''s nerves calmed and proceeded forth unabatedly. Surprisingly, as he entered rather than being confronted by impairing darkness, he was capable of seeing small outlines of the cave walls.

    [You must be surprised that you''re able to see correct? Your body is slowly changing and your eyes have already undergone the changing process. In other words, you possess the ability to see through the darkness to a certain extent; a special trait of Demons. Naturally, yours isn''t mature which is the reason why you can only trace outlines. But it should give you an advantage during the night.]

    "That''s convenient. Are there any other abilities I possess?" inquired Apollo as he sat against the cold wall of the cave. His back tingled from the foreign sensation yet it also feltfortable to an extent.

    [At the moment, no. For now, just focus on trying to manipte Natural Essence to your best ability. It''s the best choice you have right now at recuperation other than cultivation tools.]

    "Yeah, in fact. I never checked the contents of that list earlier or the effects of the Blood Tempering Ginseng," remarked Apollo as he withdrew the Minor Spatial Pouch from his hip. Opening it, he poured out 3 types of pills, one vial, and the ginseng. Instantly, their information appeared before him. One of which he was familiar with the Natural Warrior Revitalization Pill.

    Item Name: Essence Gathering Pill

    Rank: Rank 1 Pill

    Grade: High

    Information: A pill vital to the cultivation of Mortal and Zul Warrior Cultivators. It allows the cultivator to enter a state where one can attune with the Natural Essence naturally. However, depending on the grade and other factors, the time of this state varies.

    Effect: When ingested, increases the rate Natural Essence is gathered by 30%. This statests for 3 minutes.

    ?High-Grade Bonus?- Increases the rate to 50% and the time is extended to 5 minutes.

    Item Name: Foundation Forging Pill

    Rank: Rank 1 Pill

    Grade: wless

    Information: Another foundational pill on the path of cultivation. As the name suggests, it is a pill that refines the cultivator''s body. Furthermore, it is a heightened version of the Foundation Strengthening Pill.

    Effect: Ingesting this pill rewards both.5 Strength and Agility as well as 1,000 Experience.

    ?wless Bonus? - Increases the effects by 100%. Furthermore, every 5 pills increases the Zul Count by 1.

    Item Name: Purple Mercury Blood Elixir

    Rank: Rank 1 Elixir

    Grade: Superior

    Information: An elixir made to refine the body. Pouring this into a bath will allow one to temper their blood. When the blood is as thick as mercury and contains a faint purple tint, you have reached the height of this item''s effects.

    Effect: Soaking within a bath of this solution allows one to temper both their Strength and Vitality. Due to your body, it can also be ingested. 1 drop = .3 increase in Strength and Vitality.

    ?Superior Bonus? - Effects are increased to .5.

    Usages: 12/12.

    ''Hmm, these cultivator tools seem to be top-notch. Not to mention, they also seem like items that aren''t found in my family. Then¡­ What''s the origin of that teacher and why is every pill and item he possesses above the high-grade? Whoever is crafting these, their attainments are very high,'' thought Apollo as he remained in a daze from these rather overwhelming effects.

    [He must have a prestigious title and reputation. Nevertheless, check the contents of the ginseng. After all, it''s what you risked your life for. Let''s find out if it was worth it.]

    "I hope it is. It would be a little disheartening if it wasn''t," muttered Apollo as a weird glint appeared in his eyes. His gaze kept falling upon therge wound on his shoulder. Although it had be numb it seemed to have be a reminder to him.

    Item Name: Blood Tempering Ginseng

    Type: Spiritual Herb

    Grade: Mature Superior Earth-Grade

    Information: A special herb that usually needs to be refined. However, due to its reaching maturity that isn''t the case. It possesses the ability to heighten one''s inner talent through painful tempering. Only the best metals are forged through the fires of torturous pain.

    Effect: Allows one to achieve anywhere from a Low to High Tier Earth-Grade Inner Talent by refining its essence.

    ?Mature Superior Bonus? - It will achieve the High Tier Inner Talent with absolute certainty. However, the sensation will be increased threefold. After refinement, your level will be increased to match.

    [It''s more than worth it! You should understand the implications of leveling up. After certain levels the difficulty multiples. However, this item will equalize your level to match your inner talent. In other words, it''ll essentially eliminate some of your struggles in exchange for extreme amounts of pain!]

    "Um...Azridan, why do you sound so excited," bitterly uttered Apollo as he nced at the ginseng in his grasp.

    [No, you misinterpret. Hurry and recuperate slightly and then ingest the ginseng. Wait¡­ I have an even better idea but it''ll hurt more!]

    ''Oh God...help me,'' thought Apollo as he shook his head painfully.

    [We''re Demons, what god could we worship? We survive through ourselves!]

 Chapter 36 - Tyrannical Reformation

    ----

    Closing his eyes, Apollo ingested an Essence Gathering Pill entering a state which allowed his body to attune Natural Essence with less effort. Nevertheless, he had yet to open a Dantian so what he could manipte was small in amount. Hence, both time and the healing process moved at a slow pace. ??

    5 minutester, the state psed, however, the gash on his shoulder had barely healed. Its state was even worse than first imagined. Most of his muscles and tendons had been ripped apart. In other words, a new set needed to be built. But the human body was aplicated thing and this would take time.

    [If you had be a Demon already, this process would be hastened! Our healing factor is simply unmatched. Not to mention, our resilient physiques are resistant to such damage. Well¡­ that''s only true if the opponent isn''t leagues above us.]

    Closing his eyes again, Apollo frowned for a moment but then his expression rxed as he relinquished his thoughts; the exchange was worth it. Although he inflictedrge amounts of damage on his body, the item he received in return more than made up for it.

    Trace amounts of Natural Essence flowed toward the wound on his shoulder. At this time, the bleeding has already ceased. All that was left was the restoration process. Ingesting another one of Essence Gathering Pills existing in arge number, Apollo once again quickened the process.

    For many hours, this took ce. In fact, he became ignorant of the numerous days passing. He sat in this position unmoving for over 14 days! Naturally, during this period his body made suitable progress. The shocking part was the fact that no Spirit Beast came in and interrupted this scene.

    But that was understandable seeing as Azridan interfered with things slightly.

    [It is time. Although the wound isn''t fully healed. You should have returned to a state suitable for my n. We''ll take your body to the next level! At the same time, all of your injuries should be treated as well. Heh¡­]

    "What is that chuckle for?" inquired Apollo as he slowly opened his eyes. In these 2 weeks, his hair had grown past his eyebrows. Hence, he moved it aside as he redirected his gaze to the wall. Unlike before, he scrutinized his surroundings attentively.

    [Chuckle? That is a simple acknowledgment of you sooning into power. What else could it be?]

    "Why¡­ do I get the feeling I shouldn''t believe you. It sounds to me as if you''re hiding something. Don''t be so cryptic. Come on, tell me," stated Apollo with a highly curious and coercive undertone.

    [Sure, if you''d like to know my n--we''ll be demolishing your physique. I''ll need to prepare you for the future. If you are to seed in my path of cultivation then the first step will be the most horrendous. Hence, let''s get you limated to torturous levels of pain. You nearly losing an arm will feel like child''s y inparison.]

    Azridan''s tone sounded both spirited as well as serious. Within his serious message, seemed to be a desireced within. Only, he didn''t directly voice it.

    "E-excuse me. But did you just say losing an arm will seem to be child''s y? If that''s the case¡­ then I think I''ll need to reevaluate our rtionship. I think you just seek to abuse me," muttered Apollo in a slightly joking manner as afire zed within his eye before continuing, "What do you suggest?"

    [Excellentd! I love the heart. That vial you possess¡­ we''ll be improving upon it. The Blood Tempering Ginseng retained nearly all of its efficacy so we''ll be drawing out all of its essence. ce it between your hands and allow me to do the work for you.]

    "Okay," replied Apollo as he removed the spiritual herb from his pouch. cing it between his hands, 2 dark ck embers ejected from his palms and coated it. Surprisingly, he didn''t feel any heat emitting from it yet the ginseng was being refined to dust!

    "What¡­ how is this possible?" questioned Apollo with an incredulous expression. He believed he should have felt some type of difort yet that wasn''t the case. But how could that happen when the one utilizing these mes was the oneuded as the Demon Monarch? A title which insinuated a lifetime of struggle as well as des.

    [Do you doubt my skill? This is but a basic utilization. If you don''t achieve at least this attainment in the future¡­ I''ll be disappointed in you. You must learn to wield both inner and outer mes in any fashion.]

    [It is ready, withdraw that vial and open it. Afterward, we''ll begin the process. Brace yourself and do so meticulously for I fear you may want to pray to the Death Deity himself.]

    "I thought there''s no Go-" voiced Apollo only to be interrupted by Azridan''s next words.

    [The mention of God doesn''t exist. The one we revere is the sole entity who gave birth to the Demons the Death Diety. However, his true identity is unknown.]

    "Oh¡­" replied Apollo as he opened the vial of the Purple Mercury Blood Elixir. However, it still wasn''t done as Azridan gave him another set of orders.

    [Retrieve all of the Demonic Essence Pellets as well. It''ll help in this process.]

    ''That help...it had too much emphasis. This¡­'' thought Apollo while doing so. 8 Demonic Essence Pellets appeared in his hand. In an instant, they were vaporized into dust that flowed into one another. At the same time, the 12 drops of liquid inside the container joined the mixture.

    Widening his eyes, Apollo nced at the thing being refined before him. It was at least twice the size of a typical pill! Entirely crimson in color, it gave off an overbearing feeling. Just the faint aroma bestowed a dreadful sensation.

    [Open your mouth.]

    Blinking nkly, Apollo nodded and opened his mouth after much difficulty. His mind went through copious amounts of deliberation in an instant. A momentter, therge pill shot into his mouth and remained. Its outer shell dissolved but just that alone made Apollo feel as if magma was coursing through his insides.

    ck veins protruded all throughout his body as his eyes bulged. Any screams of pain were stuck in his throat. It had transcended the realm of enabling him to respond to the stimulus¡ªthe pain was beyond debilitating at this point.

    The pill continued to dissolve causing Apollo to writhe in pain. His pupils became unfocused while his body twitched trying to grasp something to alleviate the pain. With each passing second, the pain grew worse. Until finally, it reached an unbearable level that caused him to ckout.

    [Hested longer than I estimated. Perhaps his mental and physical fortitude is higher than I predicted. Hmm¡­ it seems he is indeed one capable of doing so.]

    Meanwhile, continuous changes took ce inside Apollo. That makeshift concoction Azridan fed him would give birth to something that would soon enough defy reason.

 Chapter 37 - Rapid Advancement, Blitz (I)

    ----

    Apollo''s body writhed in pain continuously as changes took ce inside him in more ways than one. It was certainly a spectacle happening as heid upon the floor. Time once again became a foreign concept as his conscience traveled to a ckened world. Yet, in that world, he witnessed mysteries in which he didn''t understand. ??

    Sweltering heat and a seemingly toxic atmosphere were nearly present everywhere. The cracked surface spewed magma and fumes contributing to the treacherous environment. All the while,rge beings battled against one another producing shockwaves; those of which altered the premises and tore the atmosphere asunder. Nevertheless, Apollo spectated this type of scene for who knows how long until a clear voice woke him up from his stupor.

    [Has your body reached the point of dealing with the pain? If so, then awaken.]

    "Azridan..?" muttered Apollo as he opened his eyes. However, when he did so, a faint amethyst glow exuded from them. The hue shifted when his eyes took in thendscape. From what he perceived, it looked extremely unfamiliar.

    While he remained within the cave, its surroundings were destroyed. The stone walls contained multiple scars and missing pieces that one made one question what took ce.

    [It seems my concoction was a little too potent. However, it seeded nheless and beautifully if I may add. You should notice some immediate differences already, no?]

    As he asked this, Apollo''s ears twitched as he heard a rushing sensation. It was weird. With the way it sounded, it was as if it was near but in the distance as well. However, as far as he knew there wasn''t a source of water located in the vicinity.

    "I hear...water," replied Apollo as his confused eyes blinked and examined the area around him. All the while, he looked down at his hands thinking to himself, ''That couldn''t be feasible¡­ could it?''

    [Oh but it is! You have advanced along the path of your evolution! As far as the sounds of water you''re hearing goes, that isn''t water at all but your bloodstream. Take a look at that wound on your shoulder. You''lle to understand what I meant by it had seeded.]

    Averting his gaze to his shoulder, Apollo touched it. It had indeed healed. But in exchange, it left a humongous scar stretching from his shoulder to his chest and down his ribcage. Its something that would serve as a reminder of the dangers that existed in any situation.

    "Will this scar not heal?" questioned Apollo as the gaze he looked at it with changed. A tinge of iciness entered his eyes and his expression darkened a small degree. If it didn''t'' this would simply serve as a symbolization of his earlier weakness.

    [That is up to you. Do you wish to cherish it as a battle scar a trophy many look up to on their path to power or do you wish to abolish all signs of your struggle?]

    This question opened Apollo''s eyes and he deliberated upon it. It seemed as if his view was slightly immature and thus he made his choice, "I''ll keep it. It wouldn''t physically hinder me but it''ll serve to keep my sights aligned on one purpose."

    [Worded excellently. Now, why don''t you take a look at what my actions have done for you?]

    "I will," responded Apollo as he nced at the notifications that he had received while unconscious. But as he checked, his mind once again wandered and pondered that earlier reying scene. ''What could that have been? And thoserge beings¡­ are those¡­ demons? If so, why was I shown a vision of it?''

    ?You are refining a concoction that will do three things for you: increase your progress, increase your overall physique, and regte your level. However, take heed you have fainted due to unbearable anguish.?

    ?Congrattions, your race change has progressed slightly. [46.82%]?

    ?Congrattions, your Foundational Chart has been upgraded providing information on both your current and seeding level range.?

    [?Foundational Chart?]

    (Mortal-Grade Talent)

    (Earth-Grade Talent) - Liberation of stats.

    [Requirement Breakdown]-

    ...

    ...

    ?Level 60 - 69? - Experience required increases by 1,000 at each level.

    Rewards: .2 Attribute increase and 3 stats points per level.

    ?Level 70-79? - Experience required increases by 2,000 at each level.

    Rewards: .2 Attribute increase and 3 stats points per level.

    ?Level 80- 90? - ???

    ''Hmm¡­ the requirements are bing steeper. Hopefully, the rewards from whatever tasks I need toplete in the future scales as well.''

    Meanwhile, the notifications continued to sh before his eyes. The next one he wasn''t within his estimations albeit truthfully speaking, this entire matter wasn''t.

    ?Congrattions, you have achieved the Rank 5 Mortal.?

    He remained astonished by the fact he had reached Rank 5 so quickly. It had to be known there was a more than 50 Zul difference between his previous stats and what it took to reach his current ones.

    ''Did ingesting that one pill result in so many changes?'' thought Apollo. However, that wasn''t the end yet. There still remained the fact that his Inner Talent had also undergone a drastic increase.

    ?Congrattions, you have reached the High Tier Earth-Grade Inner Talent. Your stats have undergone their 2nd Liberation.?

    Curious as to what his new menu looked like, he brought it up.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step) [46.82%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 11

    Level: 55 ¡ú 69

    Experience: 0/19,900.

    Health: 292/292 ¡ú 568/568

    Stamina: 292/292 ¡ú 568/568

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 5 Mortal [137/200]

    Physique: Earth-Grade (High Tier)

    Zuls: 43 ¡ú 137

    Strength: 18.0 ¡ú 40.5

    Agility: 12.4 ¡ú 34.9

    Intelligence: 17.0 ¡ú 29.5

    Vitality: 9.3 ¡ú 26.8

    [?Traits?]-

    ?Increased Essence Affinity?

    Stat Points: 85

    Widening his eyes in utter shock, his stats were unbelievable in his eyes. Every single one received an increase above 10!

    Apollo clenched his hands and punched the wall. Not only did arge fist indent appear at the point of contact, but not a shred of pain was felt throughout Apollo''s arm.

    [Reaching the 5th Rank of the Mortal Realm is a turning point. Here on out your body begins changing ever so slightly. In exchange, it requires even more Zuls to reach the next level. But as you see, the gains equate to the losses.]

    "The difference between a simple realm is sorge? It''s astonishing. I feel as if I can ughter Rank 1 Spirit Beasts with ease and deal with Rank 2 Spirit Beasts without fearing for my life. Not to mention, this is before I''ve even allocated my Stat Points," remarked Apollo.

    [Exactly, it should be well within your capabilities. You''ve rested here long enough. I believe it''s time youplete your quest. After all, I believe it''s time you receive what I need to give you.]

    ?Objective [Reach Rank 5 Mortal] has beenpleted.?

    "All that''s left is to deal with therge number of Spirit Beasts I need to kill. In the process, I''ll be able to familiarize myself with the new extent of my powers," stated Apollo as he canceled the notification before him.

    Turning his gaze towards the cave''s entrance, a predatory look entered his eyes. He ignored his disheveled appearance and tattered robes. Kicking off his backfoot, he dashed creating a turbulent wind exiting the area with haste. As for his target¡­ it was everything within his path.

 Chapter 38 - Rapid Advancement, Blitz (II)

    ----

    ''Pucht!'' ??

    The moment Apollo exited the cave, he caught sight of a single bear-type Spirit Beast. Wasting no efforts or time, he pounced as he brandished the Vantack Knife. Being as it was a single Late-Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast, it was dealt with in a few single stabs to its vital area.

    Its experience wasn''t worth mentioning now that it required nearly 20,000 experience for Apollo to level up. Hence, he continued his pursuit in search of more victims. Unbeknownst to him, after ingesting those Demonic Essence Pellets, he was slowly bing hellbent on finding victims of his ire.

    In a short 10 minutes, Apollo had in as many Spirit Beast as he would typically y within a day. However, that was to be expected. After all, he was 3 times faster than before and his strength matched the material of the Vantack Knife. To put it differently, he had finally be a force to be reckoned with amongst the low-level Spirit Beastmunity.

    "This isn''t fast enough," muttered Apollo. Although his speed was fast, it wasn''t up to his standard within his desires. The distance frompleting the quest was right there. All it required was slightly over 1,000 more beasts to be dealt with.

    [Oh? How much faster do you want to level? If you were a regr person I would advise against it. However, you are far from that. So by all means, unleash all your pent up desires and enjoy yourself.]

    "I will definitely do so," replied Apollo as he began utilizing the trees as springboards dashing above. Every couple of seconds he found a new target in which he swooped in on. Not only did he utilize his weapon, but he also engaged in hand to handbat.

    ''Hmm? My physique is on par with a Late-Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast? Interesting,'' thought Apollo as his fist connected with the jaw of a Rank 1 Twin Fanged Wolf. Before, if he did so while inflicting damage he would also receive a small amount. However, this was no longer the case.

    Naturally, this was because of his rapid advancement.

    Shifting his eye back and forth between the wolves, Apollo smirked. He was in this situation before but now he thought nothing of it and even weed it. Dropping his defenses, Apollo went on the pure offensive.

    ''Boom!''

    A Twin Fanged Wolf''s body mmed against a towering tree as it lifelessly slid down it. Still in his kicking posture, Apollo twisted midair and stabbed his knife through another. Like butter, it pierced it; killing another.

    All the while, his stamina was barely taking a hit. It only took 1-2 hits to kill these beasts now and as a result, he used his stamina more efficiently.

    [It seems his repressed anger is showing. The way he is striking these beasts¡­ It''s clear he only wants to kill.]

    Azridan''s voice didn''t reach Apollo and instead seemed as if he was talking and evaluating the situation amongst himself. While doing so, the fervent bloodlust in Apollo''s eyes intensified the more he killed.

    [Is he possibly awakening that trait? But it shouldn''t appear so early. Why would that happen? I have yet to teach him the divine method and he hasn''t touched the matters of his soul either. Could it have something with this body once housing two souls? Perhaps that is the case. After all, I remember sensing an indescribable anomaly before.]

    "Awwoooo...woo¡­" pained whimpers escaped the mouths of Apollo''s victimized Spirit Beast. However, Apollo remained numb to the fact and treated them as simple sources of experience and an objective to clear.

    [Yes...he is indeed awakening that trait albeit slowly but when it does...never mind. We''lle to that in the future. Hopefully, the method I shall teach him will properly awaken it. Other than Saehtyn and myself, no one else has wielded it correctly in an uncountable number of years.]

    ''Pucht!''

    In an instant, Apollo dealt with and collected 10 Essence Cores from these beasts before moving along. His bloodsoaked appearance then headed into the territory of the Rank 2s. Subconsciously, he wanted a challenge. If he just sought toplete the quest, he would have returned to the outskirts and proceeded to wreak havoc amongst the Mortal Beasts.

    However, two reasons existed why he didn''t: the poption dwindled exponentially courtesy of him, cannibalism and other people performing training rites. As for the other, it was due to the fact that it was redundant to hunt them.

    Why not kill two birds with one stone? After all, the system existed to rectify some issues that would otherwise gue other inattentive cultivators.

    ----

    Soon enough, Apollo came in contact with a cave. By then, Apollo has already killed over 200 Rank 1 Spirit Beasts in the span of a few hours; a number which slightly pleased him. However, Azridan warned him of what rested inside the entrance they stood before.

    [Unlike the one before, this one houses at least 50 Spirit Beasts and this seems to be the bare minimum. Besides that, it also seems to have an increased number of activity taking ce inside. Sadly, I''m not entirely sure what type of beasts they are, so remain vignt.]

    "Its spiders," replied Apollo as he replied to Azridan''sment.

    [How do you know? They''re so deep underground even I''m unable to sense it. Granted, my abilities are based on you.]

    "Call it a sixth sense, I was once afraid of them," stated Apollo. The moment his eyes made contact, his skinned crawled slightly while a faint shiver ran down his back. It was a sign of fear. But as far as he remembered, only one thing invoked fear in him like this.

    [Ah¡­ so that''s how it is. I guess this is also a neat aspect for detection. Using your fear to ascertain what you''re up against. What a whimsical tactic.]

    "Heh, it does feel like that," chuckling at Azridan''s words, Apollo entered with paced steps. He also paused and asked Azridan a question that remained on his mind, "How do you sense things? I don''t understand. I don''t have what the books describe as perception."

    [That is wrong. You do. If not, you wouldn''t be able to manipte Natural Essence. You simplyck knowledge of its usage and feeling. It''s like you said a sixth sense. A premonition of danger or even grasping whatys beyond you with your mind''s eye. Sadly, to do so¡­ you need to awaken your Soul Temple. But even on the demonic level, you''ve yet to reach the baseline.]

    "Ah¡­ so I do have perception. If so, then I''d like to force myself to use it," replied as he dashed into the midst. He found his greatest tempering tool to be adversity. Hence, rushing into the midst of an unknown number of opponents.

    [Oh wow...this is more than I expected.]

    "Is this...this¡­ It''s simply a breeding ground," uttered Apollo as he remained bbergasted by the expansiveyout before him. Journeying through a small passageway he found himself in the heart of a sticky situation.

 Chapter 39 - Encirclement Of Breeding Spiders

    ----

    Tightening his grip on the Vantack Knife, Apollo frowned at the obscene number of spiders littered throughout the entire underground cavern. Their green eyes all turned to look at him as he entered. His state didn''t allow for him to control his bloodlust resulting in them immediately sensing him. ??

    Their bodies simr to soot in color possessed long slender legs that shimmered with a metallic luster. However, the unsettling part was their overlyrge fangs that dripped with a viscous green liquid. As it seeped into the ground, it sizzled and bore a hole through it.

    [It''s one of the worst kinds of beasts to face¡­ toxic ones. Not to mention, they seem to be of the metal attribute. It possesses some of the earth elements'' strengths but is far more deadly. You''ll have to be wary not toe in contact with their toxins.]

    "I''m not all too worried about that¡­ do you see their numbers? On top of that, do you see the number of eggs littering this ce? If we fight here, they''ll possess the upper hand," rebutted Apollo.

    In addition to the numerous spiders which numbered well over 400, there were hundreds upon hundreds of white eggs with a slimy faint green substance covering them. Moreover, they carried a putrid stench that stung one''s nose. Luckily, the blood that covered Apollo dulled it as they mixed together.

    [That isn''t necessarily the case. You can turn this area into your advantage. After all, the quest never mentioned you being unable to kill hatchlings.]

    "Oh? Is that so¡­ I was under the impression that I need to kill mature beasts. But now that you mention it, there''s no indication of me being unable to kill the hatchling of said beasts," stated Apollo with a look of realization. A small smirk appeared on his lips as nced at the approaching spiders.

    "It looks like a pyrrhic victory won''t be on the menu today," stated Apollo before meeting their movements with a dash of his own. His body felt different and energized. As Azridan had said, this was a changing point; the rate at which his body could process Natural Essence hastened.

    ''I wonder if it is possible for me to use it like that?''

    [Too early. You don''t have a method to do so. Even if you try, it''ll sacrifice your endurance to perform that feat. In this environment, I don''t rmend you attempt that feat.]

    "Oh, you read my mind. Then when will I be able to use Natural Essence to attack like that talisman I used," asked Apollo while thrusting his arm cutting into one of the legs of the spiders. Surprisingly, even though they were rank 2 the material the Vantack Knife consisted of while being coupled with Apollo''s strength eclipsed the sturdiness of their physique.

    [Soon. Worry about the matter at hand first and clear the quest.]

    "Alright, I guess," uttered Apollo as he dodged the stab of one of the spider beasts'' legs. At the same time, he caught a glimpse of their information from the system.

    Monster Name: Dark Venom Iron Widow

    Cultivation: Early Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast

    Health: 1,650/1,650

    Chance of Defeat: 8.9%

    "Hmm? That''s odd. It has a lot less health than the cub I faced off against," verbally expressed Apollo while spinning his body and mming the Iron Widow into another one. A surprising scene took ce as they began stabbing each other while attempting to regain footing.

    [That''s simple. Not every beast possesses the same strengths and weaknesses. Hence, the values the system determines will all be different. Interpret it as each beast being unique just like a person.]

    "I see. But their actions¡­ it seems as if they are oblivious to each other''s existence and simply strive to survive on their own," stated Apollo while raising the Vantack Knife defending against another blow. Surprisingly, sparks and a drawn-out screech appeared as the two alloy-like weapons collided.

    Widening his eyes, Apollo took note of something, ''They''re not all the same! Some of their bodies are stronger than the rest. ncing around he took note of two other different types of spiders. While the same species, they were slightly different.

    [Oh? It seems there are Variants as well as higher cultivated spider beasts. It seems your actions have alerted them.]

    Unlike the other who possessed green eyes, the neers possessed blood-red ones as well as cyan ones. It was clear their statuses were above the one''s Apollo currently embroiled in battle with.

    [Remember. While your parameters may have increased, the beasts have grown stronger along with you. Until you reach the point of self-sustainment, always seek to control the momentum of the battle.]

    "So what you mean is¡­ battle these low spiders while evading the stronger neers," responded Apollo before thrusting his arm 3 times. Instantly, 3 of the dozen eyes of a nearby beast was punctured.

    Squeals of rage were heard as it spat a vat of greenish liquid towards Apollo who dodged effortlessly. His Agility was on par with a pure agility type Spirit Beast. If they sought to damage him, they''d need to do better than that.

    ''Hmm?!''

    Apollo''s eyes widened as he immediately jumped away from his previous spot. A sensation of danger had overwhelmed his causing his immediate reaction. He had felt this before. It meant that whatever aimed at him could''ve been potentially fatal.

    It was then he noticed the eyes of arger spider beast transfixed upon him as its fangs opened and close as if viewing him as prey. At the same time, the behavior of the spiders changed. If they were disorderly before, then now they were like a trained military division. In waves of 3s, 4s, and 5s, the spiders confronted Apollo.

    [That must be theirmander. If it''s possible hold off on confronting it. I can feel that it has yet to reach Rank 3. However¡­ its aura is also weird. It may be what I think it is.]

    "I don''t have time to worry about it!" eximed Apollo as he spun abruptly, smashing one of the spider''s skulls into the ground stabbing it repeatedly until the next came into contact. Grabbing the spider''s leg, Apollo shed it off at a length simr to his knife.

    Dashing forward, his eyes remained focused. All vital areas became his target.

    ''Splich!'' ''Pucht!'' ''Bang!''

    Rapidly, he shed, punctured, and kicked the crowding beasts. Instead of moving, he remained rooted in one spot and only made pivotal movements reactively. While his Agility was high and an advantage over his foes; if overutilized his stamina would drain rapidly putting him in a perilous situation. Nevertheless, he continued his murderous actions against the endless streams of spiders.

    1...10...50, the carcasses stacked into a small pile as Apollo''s violet eyes shined through the blue liquid covering his body. Flicking his wrist, he abandoned the spider leg in his hand. Instead, he locked his sights on a new target. When fighting it, he found its exoskeleton to be leagues above the others infinitesimally on par with the Vantack Knife.

    However, as he shed its limb asrge change took.

    ''SCREEEEEEEEEEEECH!''

    Thergest spider emitted a loud screech that riled all of the surrounding Spirit Beasts.

    "Tch¡­"

 Chapter 40 - Poisonous Threads, Venomous Rain

    ----

    ''SCREEEECH!'' ??

    A loud and terrifying screech sounded from thergest spider beast as the spiders all ceased actions and scurried into various positions. It didn''t seem orderly, however, there were traces of properly nned actions.

    Firstly, the spiders were situated in areas that Apollo would frequently dodge to, effectively cutting off his route of retreat. Secondly, there was something like a cement system. Those who were stronger were closer to Apollo than their weaker counterparts. Taking note of all this, Apollo frowned.

    Gripping the second leg in his hand, Apollo''s eyes shifted back and forth as he calcted multiple things at once. He took note of their positioning from him and the look in their eyes. They carried a shred of intelligence.

    ''These aren''t mindless beasts. They''re operating intelligently almost as if they''ve fostered an understanding of each other. It seems that spider has more control over them than I thought,'' thought Apollo before making a small backstep to test the reactions.

    [That''s to be expected. Spirit Beasts are no longer mindless creatures surviving by pure instinct. Instead, their Essence Cores allow them to cultivate sentience. Even more so the higher the rank they achieve. It isn''t far fetched to im they would even soon be capable of speech. Of course, that''ll require a monstrous cultivation realm beyond what they''ve currently achieved.]

    Listening to Azridan''s words, Apollo shifted to the side. The instant he moved, the spiders did as well. However, unlike before they utilized their webs! They hadprehended that they were unable to keep up with his speed. Hence, they would have to stifle it.

    Dodging the jetstreams of threads, Apollo frowned as he nced at his dwindling stamina. He was making too many movements! If it continued like this, he wouldn''tst and it could virtually spell his doom.

    ''I''ll have to move in,'' he thought while thunderously kicking off his back foot, splintering the ground. Stabbing his weapons, he barely dodged the shot of another web. Leaning back, he kicked the jaw of one of the spiders as turned stabbing another. Unfortunately, he gasped at a searing pain on his back.

    "G-geugh¡­" a web made contact with his back. Unsurprisingly, it carried small amounts of their venom within. Rather than dealingrge amounts of damage, he felt his limbs suffering damage instead.

    [A corrosive type¡­ this venom won''t kill you but rather wear down your defenses and stats. Don''t get hit by this anymore. If you''re able to, I suggest you fight passive-aggressively.]

    "Example?" uttered Apollo swinging the Vantack Knife behind him, promptly cutting the web string. He didn''t touch it as it would only damage his hands. He let the aura of the Resplendent Jadeite Pendant take care of healing his seared back.

    [It''s simple. Do you not see therge number of corpses? Take advantage of them. Have I not taught you enough survival tactics? There is no such thing as fighting dirty, everything at your current disposal is usable as your arsenal of tactics!]

    "Right!" nodded Apollo before sprinted forward then performing an arc step. Kicking his foot, Apollo sent one of the corpses flying at his intended target. Following up, he dashed hiding from their line of sight.

    ''Splich!''

    Spinning around he shed all the eyes of his target before moving to another target doing the same. Instead of focusing on killing them in one stroke. He dealt with their ability to see him altogether.

    Breaking through their exoskeletons repeatedly, Apollo''s breaths became heavy. The strain on his body was umting faster than it was being alleviated. However, his experience bar was continuously rising. It wouldn''t be long before he reached Level 70!

    Nevertheless, he needed to get this situation under control first. But, that was easier said than done. Although he was embroiled in battle for so long, he had only dealt with less than ? of their total numbers!

    ''2 more kills¡­ that''s all I need. It''s a shame that the system only rewards me on the firstmitment of the feat. After achieving it again, there hasn''t been another indication,'' thought Apollo as he nced at his experience bar.

    Over 60 kills! That''s how many Spirit Beasts he had defeated. Yet he didn''t level up. It had to be known that all experience didn''t remain the same. As he leveled up, the experience gained from the same level beasts slowly dwindled. Hence, it took longer to enter the threshold of Level 70.

    Regrettably, it seemed the lead spider didn''t appreciate Apollo''s continuous ying of its beasts. If it continued like this, the purpose of its breeding ground would be overturned. If its efforts to procreate and advance were made useless, then someone would have to pay!

    ''reeeech!'' ''Screeeeech!'' ''Krrrrrrrk!''

    2 extremely unsettling screeches and the ear-piercing ringing of its grinding legs sounded as once again the mass of spider maderge movements. Only, this time their actions were different in purpose.

    Appalled by the change, Apollo quickly attempted to y two extra spider beasts before whatever they sought to do wasplete. Yet, his attempts were thwarted.

    [I sense fluctuations of Natural Essence! But this ising from each beast, they''re using their essence. Be on guard. Whatever is to take ce, it can''t be good.]

    Heeding Azridan''s warning, Apollo''s frown deepened as he approached the beast. Sticking close, he avoided their venom. Be that as it may, it seemed they were willing to sacrifice a small number of them for the greater good.

    Lifting their head, they fired small orbs of greenish venom into the air in order of their cultivations. However, instead of falling, it remained suspended as they all coagted until it formed arge sphere whose toxicity was off the charts.

    Opening its pincers, the leader spiderunched arge sphere of its own. As they collided, it exploded and caused arge rain of venom within Apollo''s general area. Reacting quickly, Apollo hissed in pain as sttersnding on his robes and skin burrowing holes through it.

    Hiding under the carcasses, Apollo guarded againstrge amounts of damage to himself. Even then, the potent poison of the leading spider burrowed through the bodies at a rate that almost seemed impossible.

    Luckily, the duration of the spectacle was over and Apollo dashed from under the mutted carcasses. There was arge addition to the bodies littering the floor. Sadly, the system didn''t interpret this as Apollo''s kills causing him to click his tongue.

    ''My kills were wasted,'' he thought. Instead of his well being, the first thing that came to mind was the fact that his efforts seemed to be wasted. On the other hand, seeing him still alive the lead spider screeched angrily. It was incensed by the fact this little being was so hard to kill.

    Its fangs dripped with potent venom as its eyes remained locked on Apollo. It needed him dead and it wanted that now. Meanwhile, Apollo received word from Azridan.

    [Do that now!]

    "With pleasure, it''ll be a shortcut to leveling up," chuckled Apollo before wiggling out of his top robe. It was nearly corroded by all the acid and was simply rags at this point. Lowering his stance, he dashed towards the mossyered wall.

    Noticing his intent, the spider made its move screeching. Surprisingly, it moved like the wind!

 Chapter 41 - Premature Destruction!

    ----

    ''Whoosh!'' ??

    Apollo sprinted away from the enclosing spider beast. However, he didn''t head toward the entrance. Instead, he changed directions towards the side and moved with one intention¡ªdestruction.

    Swiping his hand against the floor, he picked up a severed spider leg and threw it. Unfortunately, his aim was off missing his target but that didn''t stop him. There was arge number of such limbs covering the floor. Hence, he entered a ying field greatly suiting his desires.

    ''This beast...it''s so much faster than the others. Unlike them, it''s able to keep up with me. No...it''s slightly faster than me but...'' thought Apollo as he nced behind him at the rampaging spider. The information he learned about it didn''t unsettle him. In fact, he felt if he couldplete his n''s he''d be able tobat it.

    Monster Name: Dark Iron Widow Queen

    Type: Variant

    Cultivation: Peak Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast

    Health: 3,490/3,490.

    Chance of Defeat: 0.19%

    Its health was amongst the highest he''d ever seen. But surprisingly, the system calcted his change being higher than he expected. In light of this, he came under the assumption that he would be able to weather this situation.

    Grabbing another limb, he repeated his actions. This time he hit his mark.

    ''Splich!''

    The spider leg punctured one of the eggs; this was his n all along. To deal with the eggs before attempting to finish off everything here. However, he was surprised by the notification that appeared in his eyes. It was beyond his expectations. After all, these were unhatched beasts.

    ?You have killed a Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?

    ?50 (25 + 25) Experience has been gained.?

    ?Experience: 19,250/19,900?

    ''Rank 1 Spirit Beasts? Why aren''t they counted as Mortal Beasts?''

    [It''s quite simple. The lineage of the beasts follows the principle of bloodline inheritance. In other words, their power is inherited through their beast genes. The offspring of certain ranks are guaranteed to reach the rank of their predecessor. Furthermore, upon creation, especially those birthed in eggs and are the offspring of at least Rank 3 Spirit Beasts they have advantages.]

    [They are born as Rank 1 Spirit Beasts capable of absorbing Natural Essence. Of course, beasts with actual bloodlines are capable of doing this at a far greater level. Their growth rate and theirbat ability are not to be underestimated. In fact, they are iparable. You''lle to understand when you venture through this world and meet them.]

    ''Hm...I see. If it''s like this then rather than killing these mature beasts. I''ll mutte therge number of eggs!'' thought Apollo as a malicious gleam passed through his eyes. Picking up two more extremities, he threw them. All the while, he remained moving; shifting his position away from the Widow Queen. If he entered its grasps, it wouldn''t be a pretty sight.

    1...2...3¡­ the number of destroyed eggs continuously increased. However, this only served to further incense the queen. Its path to advancement was being cut off! Its offsprings birthed for one purpose were being destroyed.

    ''Screeech!''

    Dashing to the side, Apollo narrowly avoided a destructive stab of the beast. Not much needed to be said about the force behind its blows as its leg impaled into the ground causingrge rocks to fly.

    ''I can''t get hit by that¡­'' thought Apollo as he jumped andnded on a regr spider beast. Jumping between them, he weaved and spun in the air throwing the spider legs urately something piercing multiple legs with one throw. His experience bar began to visibly climb.

    A short momentter, he smirked as the notification appeared before him. Instantly, he began adding all his attribute points where they belonged. In the blink of an eye, all 88 of his Stat Points disappeared.

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 70. You have been rewarded .2 Attributes and 3 Stat Points. Experience: 0/21,900.?

    ?Strength: 40.7 ¡ú 44.1?

    ?Agility: 35.1 ¡ú 37.5?

    ?Vitality: 27.0 ¡ú 30.0?

    The small burst of stats allowed him to increase the previously minuscule distance between him and the Widow Queen. A scene that caused the beast to spit poison madly. At this point, it had relinquished all qualms with dealing damage to its eggs. After all, Apollo was destroying them anyway.

    ''It seems to have thrown caution to the wind¡­ if I do this properly. I''ll be able to kill two birds with one stone,'' inwardly thought Apollo as his eyes shifted back and forth. Clenching his hands, he evaluated his new strength and dashed towards the nearest foe.

    Clenching their leg, he dragged a spider along with him and waved it in the path of the Widow Queen''s poison. Using this makeshift shield, he raised his arm andunched the beast into arge gathering of eggs. Instantly, a continuous stream of notifications appeared before Apollo.

    ''So it does work! If I cause the action that leads to their demise, even if it isn''t me damaging the eggs; I''ll receive the experience,'' thought Apollo as his experience filled by ?. The number of eggs in this breeding ground was simply astronomical!

    Unfortunately, the Widow Queen''s eyes glowed with an ominous light as it looked at Apollo. The Natural Essence seethed and flowed towards it carrying a poisonous aura. Noticing this, Apollo acted even faster. Being as it was a Rank 2 Spirit Beast and the fact whatever it was doing was arge move, the speed was rather slow.

    ''Bang!''

    Apollo''s experience continuously filled, however, his attention never left the Widow Queen. He realized it was going through a small change. First of all, it was shrinking as it was expelling a toxic screen. Besides that, its abdomen was opening presenting 6 jet ck spinnerets.

    Rooting itself on the ground by stabbing its legs inside, the Window Queenunched 6 threads. However, they seemed different from the rest. They were entirely green in color without any hints of white! Frowning, Apollo tried to dodge with ghost-like movements due to his sufficient agility.

    Unfortunately, that wasn''t the case. Unlike the other webs, these ones seemed to follow his movements. In other words, the Widow Queen was actively manipting their trajectories. It was now intent on seeing his doom. His prior actions were intolerable.

    ''What the heck is this¡­'' thought Apollo as he twisted and turned his body in odd fashions. Yet even then, he didn''t forget to stomp and damage the eggs in the process. Then it happened, an abrupt change!

    The threads weaved together forming a covering all of Apollo''s paths. But as they did so, they vibrated and ejected poison everywhere. Some of whichnded upon Apollo; specifically his right eye.

    "A-agchhh¡­" gripping his eye, Apollo retreated. His vision ckened as the lid closed in an attempt to mitigate as much damage to it as possible. However, he was already crippled in this battle. Losing part of one''s eyesight was synonymous with losing part of your view on this battlefield at his current cultivation.

    The pain drove him mad as he screamed in pain.

    [Lad, calm down. Any further deviation from your initial n will be potentially catastrophic!]

    Sadly, his words fell on deaf ears as Apollo''s body twitched. At the same time, a faint purple, gaseous aura escaped from his body as his eyes illuminated with a treacherous light. ncing up, he gazed into the infuriated eyes of the Widow Queen.

    "Kill¡­"

    [!! This aura...]

 Chapter 42 - Fury Collides

    ----

    [This state...it should be impossible! That''ll damage him.] ??

    Unfortunately, once again Azridan''s words fell on deaf ears. Throughout his words, Apollo continued to utter one word in a crazed manner as his pupils took on a crimson glow inside the violet hue.

    Just as the Widow Queen was boiling over with rage, so was Apollo. His thought process became clouded by the murderous thoughts invading his mind. Furthermore, the ghastly, purplish-ck aura once again appeared. Only this time, it was thicker in appearance.

    "Kill...I''ll kill¡­ Murder," uttered Apollo as his eyes remained glued on the Widow Queen now frantically dashing towards him. Its movements carried with it a trace of disorder seeming to be affected by the aura Apollo was currently leaking.

    [Lad, recover yourself. If you act hastily, you''ll end up losing yourself within that rage. Heed my words; wrath is something that shouldn''t be easily trifled with.]

    "No¡­ I''ll kill. No more¡­ No more pain," uttered Apollo as he kicked off his back foot splintering the ground. If one looked closely it would seem his speed had increased. However, in reality, that wasn''t the case. He was subconsciously utilizing it properly beyond what he could achieve earlier.

    ''Screeeeech!''

    Spitting its venom at Apollo, the Widow Queen attacked on two fronts immediately following up with a shot of toxic threads. Reacting before it reached him, Apollo''s senses once again entered that sensitive state. Twisting his body, he performed a weird step that seemed like he would fall at any moment. Naturally, he didn''t.

    Instead, he elerated further and stab the Vantack Knife into the abdomen of the Widow Queen. Sadly, it was leagues above the others. Rather than the puncture Apollo was looking for, only a scratch appeared. It wasn''t a Variant for nothing.

    Clicking his tongue, the madness in his increased, "Break! Break! Break!" roared Apollo as his arms turned into a flurry of blurs continuously attacking the same spot. Each sessive attack caused a deeper scar. Until finally a crack appeared. However, retaliating, the Widow Queen stabbed its leg into the ground aiming at Apollo.

    Leaning to the side, he avoided most of it. However, the razor-sharp attachments mutted his shoulder once again. Only, this time he didn''t seem to react. Rather than doing so, his eyes remained on the cut he made until it shifted to a seemingly weak area before him.

    [He''s berserk right now. But how could that be that case? He isn''t a demon yet. He shouldn''t be able to tap into these powers; something seems out of ce here. Could it be because of that? I see..]

    Spinning the Vantack Knife to a reverse grip, Apollo stabbed and shed the exposed connecting joints of the spider''s legs. Horrible pained screeches sounded. In its mind, it couldn''t understand how this little human wasn''t dead and it instead stood here continue to bestow pain upon it. It was uneptable!

    ''Splich!''

    A short momentter, it lost one of its legs as a viscous blue liquid seeped from the wounded. Meanwhile, Apollo waved the leg attempting to damage the Widow Queen fatally. But its increased capabilities from being a Variant came to light. Closing its legs before its vital area, it avoided the damage Apollo sought.

    ?You have dealt 52 damage.?

    Scoffing, he ducked under its torso.

    ''Pucht!''

    Stabbing the Vantack Knife through the exposed wound on the exoskeleton, Apollo''s actions garnered the reaction he sought. Acting haphazardly, the Widow Queen began iling its legs seeking to tear him apart. Through a small window, he made his move!

    Using the leg in his hand as a weapon, Apollo shed it horizontally. While he didn''t reach them all, he dealt with most of its eyes. However, due to this damage, the beast changed its course of action.

    Firing its webs at the wall, it remained suspended at least 10 meters in the air. Looking up Apollo frowned and shook his head. From this position, he was at a disadvantage. It was out of his reach and also midair. He didn''t possess the physique of Zul Warrior or even the Peak Mortal Rank to reach that high.

    [It seems you havee in contact with a situation you''ve never been in before would you like my advice?]

    "Yes," coldly responded Apollo with eyes that screamed bloody murder.

    [This will only work in your current state. You''re left with 2 options and 3 things to do. First, let me reveal the easiest way. However, if you do it this way; there''s a chance that beast may simply repeat its actions or try to deal with you.]

    "What is it?" questioned Apollo impatiently. He felt Azridan was taking too long to reveal the information and as he was now; he couldn''t muster the answer himself.

    [You can pile the corpses together and form a tform high enough for you to reach it. Though, if you do that, the beast can simply retaliate by destroying it and you''re back at square one. So as far as I see it, that option should be thrown out the window.]

    "I agree."

    [That leaves option two. Look at its spinnerets. They''re all upied. I suggest you destroy them all. While the fall won''t dealrge damage, it should turn the battle in your favor. But¡­ that''s only if you follow my next instructions. Those of which would leave you in a horrendous state soon after. So you have a time limit¡ª2 minutes.]

    "Time...limit? Why?" questioned Apollo as he retreated and moved his feet. The Widow Queen had begun attacking with shots of venom. Hence, he was unable to stay rooted in one spot.

    [We''ll be acting upon your current state and deepening. But there''s a catch, I''ll be monitoring you. After all, how can I allow you to perish? Your journey has yet to even begin.]

    Dropping his stance, Apollo listened to the words that Azridan was speaking into his mind. The mantra seemed to aggravate his conscience and force him into an even deeper rage. A torrential murderous aura encased Apollo. In exchange, he felt more power as his muscles swelled and his hair red.

    [Two minutes! That''s all you have. Act now!]

    After Azridan''s order, Apollo dashed, turning into a phantom. Waving his arms after making multiple abrupt stops, a plethora of spider legs entered the air before flying and shredding the threads holding the beast in the air to pieces. Soon enough, there was only a single thread remaining.

    ''Fwoosh!''

    Throwing thest legs, it was ripped apart as the Widow Queen plunged. A resounding bang was heard as its heavy body made an impact crushing multiple eggs. In turn, multiple notifications sounded again. The second blessing urred as Apollo reached Level 71.

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 71.?

    "Increase Strength," uttered Apollo before pouncing on the Widow Queen with lightning-quick movements.

    ?Strength: 44.1 ¡ú 44.6?

    ?Zuls: 146 ¡ú 147?

    While the increase was small, with the way he advanced every increase counted. Immediately after, the disorientated Widow Queen felt a world of pain. Its legs one by one were cut off and stabbed through its eyes and even its mouth. Apollo didn''t hold back in the slightest.

    In fact, he was beginning to take pleasure in what he was doing.

    ''Splich!'' ''Pucht!''

    Soon enough, its lifeless body fell limp as a screen of messages appeared before Apollo.

 Chapter 43 - Clouded Perception

    ----

    The Queen Widow''s lifeless body fell before Apollo as he nkly stared at it. His unfocused gaze didn''t seem to be looking at its body but rather inside it. A shining core with dual colorsid inside its forehead. It was predominately green with a mix of murky purple interspersed throughout. ??

    [Don''t pay attention to that for the moment. You only have one minute left in this state at most. Continue your actions. After all, why fall short of clearing the quest when you''re stepping infinitely closer.]

    "Right...murder," mindlessly uttered Apollo as he pulled a spider leg from the Widow Queen''sorificice. Turning into a blur, he approached the next target. Instantly dealing with it, he continued to dash between the spider beasts. One sh and a few stabs; that''s all it took to y these beasts at the moment.

    Now that their queen was killed. There was disorder to their movements. Not to mention, the way Apollo moved, there was no hope of theming in contact with him. That would require at least a Middle Stage pure agility Rank 2 Spirit Beast to do so.

    Steadily, his experience bar increased as fell into further madness. He didn''t kill, he annihted. Using the carcasses, in a frenzy, Apollo flung them around the rooms as if they were ragdolls. A continuous stream of notifications moved across his view as he swiped it away.

    His actions destroyed multiple upon multiple beast eggs. In fact, his quest''spletion bar was only a sliver from beingplete. Sadly, that wasn''t the only thing hanging on by a thread. His consciousness; it was waning. His vision was darkening as well. His surroundings were bing a blur while his mind was droning.

    At this point, he was acting on pure instinct¡ªthe desire to be stronger. It was so much so he began to mindlessly mutter a single phrase throughout each kill. Furthermore, his voice was bing increasingly guttural as if it was the world''s worst pain to talk at this moment.

    "I...murder for power...be...ruthless to survive," Apollo muttered as he splintered the ground with a strong propulsive force. Puncturing another spider beast, he drove it into the wall before kicking off of it andnding on the next target. At this moment, there remained a handful left including the eggs.

    [It''s baffling. I''m not sure why but... Even before I lulled his mind, he entered close to this state. It wasn''t done willingly but subconsciously, however, should he harness it properly¡ªwith the emotions he possesses, he''ll truly possess the requirements to be the Demon Monarch. Perhaps¡­ perhaps that is why.]

    "Arrrrrgghhhhh!" roared Apollo to the sky as his body released an obscure shockwave. However, in exchange, that aura continued to bothcerate and sear the bodies of all the remaining beast. Falling to his knees, his eyes looked vacant and lifeless as his chest continued to heave releasing a white cloudy breath.

    [What?! How did he invoke that technique? This is something unusual about thisd. If that''s the case, I''ll spare no efforts in cultivating him. It seems his mind is capable of tapping into things it shouldn''t!]

    At the same time, Apollo tried to struggle to his feet. However, his entire body felt like lead as if it wasn''t his to control anymore. It was an inexplicable sensation to him as his rational mind was overpowered at the moment. Continuing to try, his skin turned a reddish color as blood began seeping through his skin.

    That wasn''t the end of it. His expression contorted into one caused by a rage-inducing pain. His veins writhed like snakes under his skin as his body swayed. Naturally, he had reached the extent of his capabilities. Committing a massacre of this extent in his fit of rage; that was his current capabilities.

    [You have done welld. Now sleep. I will do my best to ensure your safety.]

    Ignoring the notifications due to him being unable to perceive them, Apollo nodded ever so slightly as his body fell forward in therge pool of blue liquid and mutted bodies. Under normal circumstances, he would''ve been confined to the spot he passed out in. Of course, this wasn''t normal circumstances.

    A short whileter, his body struggled to get up but he soon did so. But as he stood, the signs of pain were nowhere to be found. Instead, a pair of dignified heterochromatic eyes appeared.

    ''Oh? It seems like the basic version of my eyes can appear? I can see them in the distance now. I''ll utilize his body and bring him to that area I discerned earlier,'' he spoke.

    Before leaving, Apollo''s body traveled around the area collecting all Essence Cores from the monsters who possessed them. As for the Widow Queen, he paid special attention to that one nearly stripped it bare only leaving a decrepit and bare skeleton.

    Walking away, Apollo''s body was soon enshrouded by a shadow. It was obscure and everything it passed seemed to decay the foliage. However, the aura of life didn''t seem to just vanish. Instead, it was funneled elsewhere. Every time this happened, his gait grew steadier; a firm posture returning to his limp body.

    ''I can also utilize this ability. Though I must say, it is unfortunate this world is so weak,'' thought Azridan as he possessed Apollo. Weak? If the top people of this world heard his words, they would have without a doubt vomited a mouthful of blood.

    Even the Terrors were unable to call this world weak as they were incapable ofpletely decaying its core and turning this world into one of their own! Hence, why they were limited to their current area of action. It if was like this, then how powerful was the world he came from?

    Soon enough, Azridan located the area he wanted to bring Apollo to. After all, when he awakened, the things he was going to teach him would perhaps cause arge disturbance. Therefore, it was best to take precautions by retiring to an area out of the perception of stronger beasts. If he released what he was going to in their presence, there was a chance of them coveting it.

    Looking down at Apollo''s arm, then the Vantack Knife Azridan made some calctions then performed a decisive action. Imbuing the Knife with a small piece of crimson thread. He shed the entrance of the cave causing it to copse. That small thread then melded with the rock and shifted properties continuously.

    It melted the rock until molten then cooled it until hardened into ckened rock. Afterward, it began possessing a metallic sheen as the integrity of it was reinforced. Deeming it to be of suitable strength and something neers wouldn''t be able to deal with even if some of the aurae seeped out, Azridan sat Apollo''s body against the wall.

    "The state of his body isn''t horrible due to my actions. However, it''ll take time for his mind to recover. When he awakes, we''ll begin with the procedures. He''ll be one step closer to what he desires.]

    Relinquishing control of Apollo''s body, he returned to where his own consciousness resided. As he did so, Apollo muttered two names in his unconscious state¡ª"Fuhrer...Aaron¡­"

    [Hmm? Why did he utter that name? Isn''t it that little boy from his family? Why would he do that? Perhaps¡­ there''s a deeper meaning here.]

 Chapter 44 - Newfound Resolve

    ----

    "Hooo¡­" a slightly dejected youth released a turbid breath as he opened his eyes, gazing upon a training post. It was battered and nearly falling apart from the repeated relentless training. His physique seemed as if it shouldn''t belong to a child his age. Yet and still it did.??

    "The days... they aren''t the same but they''re always the same," he muttered as he tightened his grasp on a wooden sword seemingly heavier than it looked as it caused his wrist and forearms to strain at the same time.

    "Lad, you train too much these days. While your diligence ismendable, you should allow your body some rest. Even though you''re young, your rate of recovery isn''t what a Zul Warrior can perform. Should we call it a day, Aaron?" uttered Danyul with a look of concern in his eyes.

    Unlike before, the amicable little boy Aaron no longer retained that bright smile. 8 months ago, he entered an unrelenting period of near-emotional solitude. So much so, even the other kids avoided him lest they provoked his ire. He made no attempts to socialize with his rtives.

    "I appreciate your concern Uncle, but no. I have to continue. I made a promise and I will see to it that I fulfill it," adamantly stated Aaron. Raising his arm immediately after, he struck the training post causing it to vibrate. One had to know, this wasn''t the same one they trained on.

    It was made from a reinforced ore containing slight absorptive properties as well as a high standard of hardness. To even harm it in the slightly required at least 400 Zuls of Strength. In other words, during this period; Aaron had attained the Rank 7 Mortal Realm!

    His rate of advancement was mind-numbing. Of course, this wasn''t solely due to his good talent. While it continued to mature, he trained for days on end without missing one. It was during this time he entered a rapid state of advancement. His inner talent and outer body went through astonishing changes.

    "Promise? What promise?" asked Danyul as he approached closer, taking note of the power behind Aaron''s strikes. ''Did he recently enter the 8th Rank? Isn''t this slightly too quick? Are his foundations good? Both the inner and outer body needs to be trained harmoniously so there aren''t any imbnces.''

    "A promise between me and Apollo. So I must train," replied Aaron as his sights remain locked on the post. His movements seemed to be well trained as his wrist snaked. The post was in the form of a human physique. What he attacked were all the potential vital spots of the target and he did so with chained continuous movements.

    "Ah! Wait¡­ tell me. When did you enter the 8th Rank?" inquired Danyul, rubbing his chin thoroughly at his movements, ''Initial mastery in [Hundred Chain Strokes] while integrating it with the [Viper Tactic]. Interesting. Just how long does this boy train? Those are both high-level Yellow Rank Martial Arts.''

    "2 nights before. Spar with me Uncle. This post isn''t able to retaliate. It''ll stifle my growth," state Aaron before turning towards Danyul. However, a small and soothing voice sounded behind him.

    "Aaron¡­ don''t overtrain. Every day you seem to engross yourself in this type of self-mutting training. I don''t like it," muttered Lily as she pulled on the hem of his shirt.

    Sighing, Aaron shook his head, "I know Lily. But your talent is stronger than mine. Even though we are all treated well, there is still arge disparity. I have to make up for that with hard work. As Grand Elder said, this world is ruthless. So I don''t mind being ruthless to myself anymore," he responded in return in a certain tone.

    "Then...then...I''ll spar with you," voiced Lily. Her small stature had grown as well in these past few months. However, that wasn''t the only thing; her meridians did as well. Even though she didn''t do as much as Aaron did she was on the same level as him except she was closer to advancing.

    "I''ll permit it, live battle is much better than stationary training. Furthermore, this will allow you to realize that as your cultivation advances the disparity between small stage and levels inside a realm grow increasinglyrge. Only certain means can counteract that," said Danyul while waving his arm.

    Immediately, Aaron and Lily dashed at each other. However, while Arron wielded a wooden sword, Lily was barehanded. But a thin aura coated her hand causing it to seem like it possessed two copies.

    ''Oh? Intermediate of the [Serene Mirror Palm]. It seems her heart is still and the Natural Essence attunes with her. A Profound Rank Martial Art. She is indeed as good as her father,'' thought Danyul.

    ''Bang!''

    The palm and sword collided. Multiple exchanges took ce as they switched between their learned arts. A thin aura coated the wooden sword Aaron used but only the tip followed by a flowing aura.

    ''Hm, he''s trying to understand the [Sky Breeze Swordmanship] however, that requires too much Natural Essence control. It''s high within the Profound rank.''

    Ending the spar, Aaron shook his head. His body felt depleted but Lily''s appearance was still rosy vibrant with energy. The difference in their reserves was apparent. Even though neither of them possessed awakened Dantians, her meridians were thicker and could contain more Natural Essence.

    "As you see, a battle between cultivators boils down to their essence reserves and the arts in their arsenal. That''s what increases their lethality. If you chance upon fortuitous encounters blessing you with an exemry boost in these 2 aspects; you may very well possess the means tobat those above you," spoke Danyul.

    "I see," nodded Aaron before turning towards Lily and motioning towards her as well,menting his "slow" growth, "I''ll rest. My body has reached its limit."

    After speaking, his image retreated. However, Lily frowned at his leaving back as she hooked her fingers. She felt a pain in her heart, "He''s sad¡­ Apollo leaving seems to have broken something inside him."

    "It was more than that. Perhaps, his view of the world is changing as a result," responded Danyul before closing his eyes with a heavy heart. Even if he disobeyed and ventured to find Apollo, could he reverse this situation?

    ----

    Before reaching home, Aaron nced at Apollo''s old courtyard. Clenching his fist, a deep mncholy entered his eyes as he trembled and vowed to himself, ''I promise you...I''ll do it.''

    It wasn''t long before he entered his home, catching sight of his silent mother. She smiled lightly at him and pulled Aaron into her embrace, consoling his weary mind.

    "Mom...do you still think Apollo is alive? I¡­ I really miss him. Do you miss him as well?"

    Looking out the window into the distance, a gleam shed through her eyes as she smiled and responded, "He''s definitely alive. This small setback can''t break him. You have to be strong so that upon your reunion you can show him just how much you''ve changed. I''m sure he thinks about you often."

    "I will!" resolutely answered Aaron as his eyes followed her gaze. Standing ramrod straight, he ced his right hand over his chest and made a second silent oath. After this, he was reinvigorated with a newfound resolve.

    In turn, Cynthia smiled. ''You boys, you two will be great. I can see it now.''

 Chapter 45 - Awakening, Shortening The Gap

    ----

    "Ughh¡­" an extended groan sounded as Apollo''s eyes fluttered. What his sights awakened to was the dark scene of an unlit cave. Of course, it wasn''t much different from what a person could regrly see as his eyes continued to adapt. ??

    Beyond that, his body still ached from the previous. However, above all; his mind felt irregr. There was a slight numbing pain still present as if he had an overdraft on his mental strength. Gripping his forehead, Apollo sat up.

    [You have finally awakened youngd. It seems you had a good rest. While your body still hurts there hasn''t been any irreparable damage done to it. In fact, you should count your blessings. Certain things have taken ce! Perhaps in the future, you''ll be privy to the time.]

    "Hm? What do you mean finally? How long has it been?" questioned Apollo as he wiped his hand over his face trying to rid himself of the mental dreariness.

    [It has been approximately 2 weeks. You have been asleep for that long. Of course, this was in my calctions. Naturally, incidences dealing with the inner self take quicker to heal. Not to mention, as you are now; I can''t exactly use certain means on you.]

    "Oh..wait! 2 weeks? I''ve slept for two weeks? Huh¡­" shocked by the revtion, Apollo gawked. Afterward, he became surprised. In his previous state, he remained oblivious to the fact that he had increased in levels throughout the fight. Hence, only now did he realize that while he ached, he felt rtively stronger.

    Raising his hand, he tapped his hand against his eye. He recalled this being the trigger of him cking out. After this, everything just faded to a vague scene. He wasn''t privy to all the events that unfolded. Questions began flooding his mind. He was curious about the events.

    "Did I¡­plete the task?" questioned Apollo as he moved his hand and tried opening the eye. His vision was damaged, however, in exchange, his eyes seemed to perceive ever-present floating threads.

    [That answer is self-exnatory. All you need to do is take notice of your body. I''m sure you feel the differences. You have indeedpleted the tasks. Would you like me to recount the events? It would seem you entering that state without mastery resulted in an absence in your recollection.]

    "Please do, I''m curious about what took ce," stated Apollo in agreement as he rose to his feet. His stiffened body was stretched out slowly and his growing stature crackled and popped with increasing strength.

    [Very well. It is like so¡­]

    Slowly and in meticulous detail, Azridan began telling the story of the state Apollo entered as well as the feats he performed. Of course, he omitted exactly what that state was as it would serve no purpose to disclose it now. After all, he had yet toplete the tasks Azridan had in store for him.

    [That is theplete story. Your berserk rage took over and allowed you to temporarily surpass your limits. As you see, it came at a price. However, I can tell you now. As you grow stronger, so will that state. In other words, there are chances of your falling into such a weakened state frequently if you fail to be a demon who knows how to harness himself.]

    "Harness myself? You mean as in to control my emotions?" asked Apollo in a curious tone. Although he was small, he was astute. Drawing clues from small words even if they were iplete thoughts.

    [Partly, however, that isn''t the whole story. Never mind, you''lle to learn about it in the future. Especially so now that you''vepleted the quest.]

    "Completed the quest?" muttered Apollo as he remained in shock. ''Wasn''t there slightly over 1,000 beasts needed toplete that? Then is Azridan trying to say within that breeding ground resided that many beasts? And I happened to y them all? Just what type of rage was that¡­''

    [If you don''t believe me, call up your interface and take note of all the alerts you received pertaining to it.]

    Nodding and following up after the suggestion, Apollo did exactly. Naturally, he came in contact with the stream of notifications which were mostly repeats but that wasn''t what caught his attention. Unlike before, due to him passing out there was now an archived tab. Opening it, a few messages appeared.

    ¡´System Alert! Upon thepletion of your extraordinary feat, you have received a bonus 50,000 Experience, 5 Demonic Pellet, and 5 Spirit Shards.¡µ

    ¡´System Alert! You havepleted the quest. However, due to your current state, two rewards have been omitted. To receive them, contact the current warden of the system. Caution! The reward is ratherrge, brace yourself.?

    ¡´System Alert! Mission COMPLETE!¡µ

    ?Highest level bonus clearance achieved! Clear Time: 8 months, 18 days. Experience reward increased to 500%.?

    ?Material Quest rewards have been awarded.?

    ?You have been rewarded 10 Demonic Essence Pellets.?

    ?You have been rewarded 10 Spirit Shards.?

    ?500,000 (250,000 + 250,000 Experience has be rewarded.?

    ?The Foundational Chart has been upgraded. Your inner physique has increased to the highest degree of this level.?

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 79.?

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 80.?

    ?Congrattions, you have...?

    Widening his eyes, confounded by all the levels he jumped, Apollo struggled to utter a word. Instead, he viewed his stat page to get a clear image of exactly what he should expect.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step) [46.82%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 11

    Level: 71 ¡ú 85

    Experience: 32,110/72,900.

    Health: 568/568 ¡ú 1,312/1,312

    Stamina: 568/568 ¡ú 1,312/1,312

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 5 Mortal [190/200]

    Physique: Earth-Grade (Peak Tier)

    Zuls: 147 ¡ú 190

    Strength: 44.6 ¡ú 47.4

    Agility: 37.5 ¡ú 40.3

    Intelligence: 29.9 ¡ú 32.7

    Vitality: 30.0 ¡ú 32.8

    [?Traits?]-

    ?Increased Essence Affinity?

    Stat Points: 48

    ''Ah, so the ratios have once again increased. If not, my Zuls wouldn''t have increased so much. I''m guessing it''s somewhere around 2.5 now,'' thought Apollo. However, averting his gaze his sights remained upon that first message. ''A caution message? Is it dangerous? I don''t think so, perhaps it''s just aplimentary warning.''

    [No, the system is correct.]

    "So it''s dangerous?"

    [Not necessarily. Instead, you should be able to see it. Ask yourself, why do you think I asked you to reach Rank 5 beforepleting this quest?]

    "Is it perhaps some type of turning point?" answered Apollo half uncertain.

    [Correct. The answer is exactly so. Upon reaching 100 Zuls, your body is stable enough to begin sensing Natural Essence. Additionally, you should have awakened the Spiritual Vision enabling you to see threads already.]

    [As a result, it''s the opportune time for you to receive the special method that I have trained in and also a technique which should suit you rather well. Although they''ll be rather tyrannical and hard to train in; the rewards will be worth it.]

    ''I don''t mind suffering; I mean what can be worse than death? I''m ready to receive them.''

    [As you wish, I admire your mindset but keep in mind you asked it for this. Oh, I guess I''ll reveal this now; there is a 100% chance of you passing out. Much luck to you my sessor.]

    Raising his eyebrows, Apollo immediately braced himself. If even Azridan was agreeing with the alert, the amount of information that would be bestowed had to be astronomical.

    ¡´System Alert! Information transference beginning. Now being bestowed vital cultivation methods...?

 Chapter 46 - Excruciating Pain, Determined Path

    ----

    Albeit not taking Azridan''s words lightly, Apollo was still slightly unprepared for the spectacle that was about to reveal itself. An overbearing sensation washed over his mind. The immensity of the information being imparted was mind-numbing, literally. ??

    Gripping his head, Apollo fell to his knees. The pain which followed the transference of information was overbearing. His eyes widened and reddened as the veins on his neck and forehead protruded.

    Writhing in pain, his screams were stuck in his throat. "T-too much! So much information-..." Apollo struggled to continue grasping the threads of his consciousness. Furthermore, there was a problem! The information flowing into his mind became increasingly cryptic. Soon enough, giving in to the pain, Apollo fell unconscious for a notable amount of time.

    When he awoke, a ray of sunlight shined on his face.

    "U-ugh¡­"

    Moving with a small groan, Apollo was confronted with a sluggish, haze-inducing amount of information in his mind. It was so much so, even moving caused the remnants of the prior experience to appear causing a brief mind-numbing headache.

    "This hurts...I know I said I can bear it, but that was horrible!" eximed Apollo as he stood up holding his head. However, as he calmed down and regained rity he realized there were two ridiculous tablet-like walls of words within his mind.

    One was archaic andpletely obsidian with crimson writing with arge majority of it made obscure whereas the other was a crimson hue with silver writing. However, each stroke seemed to contain some type of energy that incited terrible emotions.

    ''What is all this?'' inwardly muttered Apollo awestruck by the substantial size of these things. with a [Monarch''s War Path Record]? Is this a training method?''

    [No, that is not a training method. It is a technique. More precisely, it is a set of techniques for you to practice. However, to do so you will mostly need a weapon. Seldom will you find a technique in there that does require a weapon as a medium; well, for now at least.]

    Focusing on the information, Apollo realized it was as Azridan said. The [Record of the Monarch''s War Path] was aption of weapon techniques. But strangely enough, they seemed to all belong to long weapons.

    ''Azridan, is there a reason that almost everything I learn has to do with long weapons?''

    [Oh yes, there is indeed a reason. The inheritance weapon you will receive is reminiscent of their dimensions. As such, you will need to be familiar with wielding one.]

    ''Oh, what type of weapon will it be?''

    [A surprise, heh. Now focus on that other method in your mind. It is what you truly need to understand.]

    Nodding, Apollo closed his eyes and focused on the other information. Compared to this massive amount of information he tried to decrypt; the Way of the War Demon Record was a drop in the ocean.

    "Huh?! What does all this say?" blurted Apollo as his face contorted in confusion.

    There was simply too much information in his mind. Not to mention, 6 portions of the information was blurred and indecipherable.

    ''Azridan, I can''t understand anything!''

    [No, that is because you''re focusing on the wrong thing. Focus on the absolute top of the information.]

    Following his instruction, Apollo focused his thoughts on the top of the pir of information. To his surprise, at the top were a couple of crystal clear words.

    ''Wrath is a sin of unimaginable power. Above all, it can consume you, however, strength is drawn when one harnesses it. To withstand wrath is to understand one''s self. When one realizes their sin, the Hellfire shall cleanse the body and give birth to the first stigmata; the Infernal Ira Seal...''

    "U-uh...what...does this mean Azridan?"

    [Well first and foremost, this is your training method. Seeing as you are my sessor, we''ll need to prepare you to walk the path of sin wholeheartedly. Hence, I have given you my cultivation method.]

    The information pertaining to the cultivation method appeared before Apollo''s eyes as he remained stuck in thought:

    Skill Name: Supreme Demon Body: 7 Sinful Stigmata

    Rank: Demonic (Supreme)

    Type: Cultivation Method

    Level: 1/7

    Information: The Supreme Art perfected by the illustrious Azridan T''hkrain who walked the path of a Monarch. In the world of the demons, there can only be one Monarch; he who is the culmination of all. Like any other race, demons train themselves¡ªonly they harness the power of the sins. To reach the pinnacle, one''s must reach supremacy of themselves.

    [?Unlocked Segments?]-

    ?Infernal Ira Stigmata?: Following the correct pathways, one conjures the Nether Hell mes of the abyss to instigate Wrath. Minimum requirements to engrave the stigmata listed below:

    Minimum Stat Requirement: Strength: 50.0, Vitality: 45.0, Intelligence: 45.0

    Minimum Cultivation Requirement: Zul Warrior

    Inner Physique Requirement: Spirit Grade.

    Note: One is allowed to prime themselves with this cultivation method without engraving the stigmata in preparation for the actual feat.

    ¡´Mantra: Wrath is power; I don''t seek it, however, I fall within its embrace. Burning all, wrath ignites. The mes of my Ira are boundless!¡µ

    Abilities: ???

    ?????

    .

    .

    .

    "Azridan these requirements¡­ Although they''re not too far off. I was expecting to be able to immediately cultivate this," stated Apollo with a slight frown. Not only did he need to increase his inner physique a grade, but he alsocked the necessary attributes and cultivation at the moment.

    [Don''t be impatient, you haven''t even opened your Dantian yet. Even if you cultivate this now, you would run into a bottleneck. After all, the Dantian is vital! Otherwise, I would have immediately given this to you. Instead, let us prime your body. Even though you can''t activate the stigmata. We can use the auxiliary effect of this method for its intended purposes¡ªto cultivate.]

    "Hmm, Dantian? If I recall properly, then that''s the special organ that is awakened during the process of bing a Zul Warrior. Then, you mean to say I''ll achieve the power I seek in one step at that point?" questioned Apollo as he entered deep thought.

    [Not quite, what you will meet is PAIN! You must fail to understand exactly what Hellfire is. It is something birthed from the smoldering abyss. If you look forward to its embrace, I question your sanity.]

    Widening his eyes, Apollo then frowned, "What?! No, I question you! Why does everything that leaves your mouth have to do with pain? Is the demonic race some type of gathering of masochists?" eximed Apollo. At this point, he was bing infuriated by the fact that he was experiencing more pain than power these days.

    [No¡­ Well¡­ Yes, in a sense. I guess you can say that. After all, utilizing the harnessed sins is a type of self-mutting practice.]

    "Oh, thank go-... What? You just admitted to it? Ugh¡­" groaned Apollo as he clutched his head beginning to dread his future.

    [It''ll be even worse. Therefore, brace yourself. You haven''t even taken a look at the techniques you need to train in. The only thing I can rmend is to keep your goal in mind at all times. You''d be surprised what a singr goal can help you achieve.]

    "There go my hopes and dreams," wryly chuckled Apollo.

    [Stop that useless sulking. Instead, it is time to cultivate properly. Since you have them, retrieve those Essence Cores from your pouch. Emte the set of cirction pathways and hand seals to begin familiarizing yourself with Natural Essence.]

    "The set of cirction pathways? Oh, you mean this vague shadow in my head of a person sitting with one hand over the other palm using strange hand seals. Not to mention, therge vacancy between them?"

    [Yes, precisely so. If you focus your conscience on the shadow and decipher the diagram, it will teach you the proper ways to circte and the location of the meridians.]

    Sitting down on the ground, Apollo crossed his legs sitting in a lotus position while closing his eyes. Retiring hisplete attention to the vague shadow''s action, Apollo tried to copy them.

    Lifting this left hand, he pointed his left palm downward as his right palm slid under facing upward. The Natural Essence which existed in the atmosphere began to slowly migrate towards him. Initially, it was slow, however, it progressively gained speed. In about a minute, the Natural Essence soon pressed against his skin.

    However, as it did so, Apollo mmed opened his eyes and coughed up a mouthful of ckened blood! Furthermore, his face contorted.

    [As I said, you were eager. Now you understand by what I mean; cultivation is full of pain. Unfortunately, you have yet to even begin. You must understand your path varies greatly from the rest.]

 Chapter 47 - Experiencing The Pains Of Cultivation

    ----

    [Before you continue, allow me to exin exactly why this just happened. Most important of all, you''re a fresh body. To put it differently, your pores connected to your meridians are blocked. Hence, you need to open them whether one by one or all at once. Thetter isn''t rmended due to it requiring extremelyrge amounts of Natural Essence typically warranted by reaching the Pinnacle of the Saint-Grade¡ªwhich you aren''t.] ??

    [As a result, we''ll settle for the former. It''ll take much longer but time is something we have at the moment. We won''t be leaving this cave. So we''ll use the Demonic Essence Pellet as your substance. Not only will it assist in your change, but it''ll also curb or rather sustain your satiation.]

    "I wasn''t expecting that type of pain. It felt as if sledgehammer were struck into my skin-piercing through my bones," remarked Apollo as he relived the earlier pains. It would take quite a while for him toe to terms with it.

    [Oh, stop yourining. You didn''t even open one channel! Utter those words again after you encounter that sensation. This''ll seem like a walk in the park inparison. If this were my heyday, I''d make your training even more hellish. Unfortunately, I''m unable to do so as you are currently confined to this garbage world.]

    "Garbage¡­?" uttered Apollo nearly choking in the process. This was the second time he recalled Azridan mentioning this ce as trash or garbage. Which only made him wonder, how strong was this being in him prime?

    [Never mind that. Continue your actions but bear in mind you must power through the pain. If you always stop in the face of pain, how do you expect to advance? After youplete that task, we''ll address the Essence Cores and how they''ll y their part in your cultivation as well as some other important matters.]

    "Wait, my cultivation? I remember reading in the book that the energy inside these cores is unable to be digested by a human dantian,"mented Apollo. He didn''t quite understand what Azridan was getting at. Typically, they were the main ingredients used in forming weapons, talismans, and even arrays! How could he possibly use that?

    [Exactly, you answered your own question. That pertains strictly to humans; are you a human?]

    "No¡­" answered Apollo as a sh of realization passed through his eye. It was slightly overwhelming to understand the fact that he was no longer a human. In both of his lives albeit being short, that''s what he knew¡ªbeing a human.

    [Alright, stop mulling over these trivial matters. Go back to perceiving the spots on the spiritual diagram and attempt to drill open your meridians. When the sensation of the spot undting appears, then you''ve perfectlypleted the task on the. Seeing as your inner physique has reached the full maturity of its current grade, it shouldn''t be a mountainous task.]

    ''When you say drill, it just makes it sound more painful,'' mentally replied Apollo.

    [That is the only way I can word it. The Natural Essence will soon drill into you, why do you think it is congregating on your skin?]

    ''Oh... I see, well then, all I can say is I have to prepare myself right?''

    [Pretty much; I like that outlook. Keep it.]

    As they conversed in Apollo''s mind, the spiritual diagram began to illuminate further. At the same time, multiple tiny dots appeared. As for the number, it shocked Apollo; it continued to increase.

    ''Wait what?! There''s over 300? Who in the¡­'' warily eximed Apollo. He was under the assumption that there were maybe 60 or so of these pores. Needless to say, that didn''t turn out to be the case. The truth of the matter is there were exactly 361!

    [Hmm? Oh, yes. I forgot to mention that. We don''t need you to open them all. After all, it is directly linked to the absorption rate of your inner physique. We''re aiming for at least 120. Beyond that are unawakened meridians.]

    "Are you saying, the number of awakened meridians are also part of my inner talent?" asked Apollo while pausing his cultivation.

    [No, I''m saying it IS your inner talent. You can try to open it, however, it''ll still be in a dormant state due to it being unnourished.]

    "I see," replied Apollo before resuming his actions. With each passing moment, the saturation of Natural Essence on Apollo''s skin continuously increased. At some point, it broke a threshold as the posture he held facilitated its next actions.

    The Natural Essence finally began drilling into the first acupoint located within his hands. Gritting his teeth in response, Apollo tried to bear with the pain, however, it was bing unbearable. It wasn''t long before he had to cease his actions yet the remnants of the pain remained.

    [Do not worry, this is a process that will take time. We are in no rush; continue with your actions step by step.]

    Nodding, after a small rest, Apollo repeated the process once again. Initially, he was only able to withstand the pain for about a minute. However, as his tolerance increased, the duration did along with it.

    Finally, 2 hourster, the first acupoint on his left hand was fully awakened. In response, it seemed to cull the Natural Essence towards it to nurture it. At the same time, Apollo noticed a small difference in a few things.

    ''Is this acupoint...absorbing trace amounts of Natural Essence? But...why does it burn?'' thought Apollo.

    [Foolish question! Look at the color of the Natural Essence. Clearly, it is of the fire archetype.]

    Examining the Natural Essence with his Spiritual Vision, Apollo furrowed his eyebrows. The earlier clear essence indeed carried tints of red albeit a modicum of it at best.

    [Of this world, the first element you''lle in contact with is fire. It is the single most potent force in tempering one''s self when apanied by another element.]

    "Don''t just stop, continue to tell me. What is that element?" inquired Apollo in a zealous tone.

    [Nope, if I reveal all the details where is the fun in that? You''lle in contact with it anyhow. So why don''t you seek it.]

    "Tch¡­" scoffed Apollo before ignoring Azridan. Once again, he took up the efforts of cultivation. This time, the second acupoint appeared on his right hand. Compared to the first one, a fraction of the time was shaved off.

    Repeating the process, Apollo''s day became monotonous. However, it wasn''t without its benefits. Each opened acupoint seemed to have an effect on his trait. Although it wasn''t indicated in the system interface, he could feel it was so.

    At this point, an entire day had passed. His progress was quite good. It seemed the first set of meridians were centric to the limb. Each one had opened three, however, they weren''t connected; to do so would require far more.

    [Hmm, 10 percent of the number in sight of our goal has been opened. Let''s add some variety to the mix. Before continuing, let''s have you take a look at that ?Monarch''s War Path Record?.]

 Chapter 48 - Monarchéˆ¥æªš War Path Record

    ----

    "Ah, that other tablet in my mind. There''s so much information etched upon it but I can''t discern them. At most, I can make out the first two lines," muttered Apollo as he closed his eyes and retired his perception to these two panels of symbols. Only then did it hit him, ''Whatnguage is this?''??

    [The Ancient Language of the Diabolical Daemos. In short, the runes are the source and the information you can decipher is derived from that. As you advance, you''lle to learn the origin and uses of these runes. After all, they are the foundation of the cultivation method. What do you think the stigmata are made of.]

    ?Mantra: The Daemos lurk in the shadow....?

    ?Mantra: ...path of the warring mes.?

    ''These mantras¡­'' though Apollo as he uttered them slowly. Sure enough, uttering these mantras caused a reaction from the system as it presented arge screen that soon turned into an expansive list. After which, 2 of the lines of inscriptions morphed into information Apollo was familiar with.

    [?Monarch''s War Path Record?]

    Technique. 1 - ?Baleful Steps: Phantasmal Daemos?

    Technique. 2 - ?War Path: Nine Infernal Annihtions?

    .

    .

    .

    "Hmm¡­ these techniques, they sound¡­

    [Tyrannical. Indeed it is so. The techniques are nothing short of tyrannical. Delve deeper into their information and you''ll realize what I mean. For now, you should be able to execute or rather train to execute the first stages of each.]

    Tapping on the names, each technique then further expanded rying information Apollo wasn''t previously privy to.

    Technique Name: Baleful Steps - Phantasmal Daemos

    Rank: Demonic

    Type: Movement Art

    Level: 1/5

    Active: Upon activating the Phantasmal Daemos, the body will be engulfed in the Tenebrous Dark Winds, as a result, one''s physique is tested. The higher the attainments in this skill, the longer one canst in the state. Performing the first step, the ?First Phantasm: Partial Shade Silhouette? allows one to beginprehending the shadows.

    ?First Phantasm: Partial Shade Silhouette? - As long as one remains with stamina, this movement can be utilized. In exchange for a 50% increase to Agility, your stamina drains at a rate equal to 3 times your Agility.

    Requirements: Strength: 50.0, Agility: 60.0, Intelligence: 30.0

    .

    .

    .

    ?Mantra: The Daemos lurk in the shadow, engulfed by the darkness one melds with the indiscernible. A phantasm unable to be caught yet unleashes everyone''s bane.?

    Technique Name: War Path: Nine Infernal Annihtions

    Rank: Demonic

    Type: Martial Art

    Level: 1/9

    Active: As the name sounds, this consists of nine tiers. As long as one''sprehension and physique keep up with this technique, you''ll be able to wield the Annihtions. It all begins with the first strike; The First Annihtion: Demonic Massacre Wave.

    ?Demonic Massacre Wave? - Channeling the inner vitality, sacrifices it in exchange forrge amounts of eradication. The higher the consumption, the higher the damage. However, repeated use results in each subsequent use increasing in expenditure.

    Current Stamina: 1,312 (Allowed Strike: 1)

    Parameters: Undetermined.

    Requirements: Strength: 65.0, Vitality: 45.0

    .

    .

    .

    ?Mantra: Pinnacle of savagery. Each strike annihtes those who oppose it. Nine to conquer all and walk the path of the warring mes.?

    "I want to practice these! How can I increase my stats as soon as possible?" eximed Apollo with a fervent gaze. Based on the descriptions, all he needed to do was sacrifice stamina which was something that involuntarily recovered.

    [As I said before, bring out those Essence Cores. We''ll need to increase your parameters in order to properly utilize these things]

    Without dy, Apollo emptied his pouch. Though, he remained baffled by the amount of essence that was pouring out of it. As far as he knew, at most, he possessed 50 of such things. However, based on what he counted now???there were at least 300!

    "What the¡­" murmured Apollo whilst raising an eyebrow. Picking one up, he inspected it. ncing around, he spotted ring differences between all of them. Not only did the colors vary, so did the sizes and purity.

    [As you can see, there is a difference between essence cores. Like cultivators, the state of a Spirit Beast indicates their attainments. First and foremost, the grade is equal to their cultivation. It determines the volume of the core. The rankings of the cores fall into a few categories: Inferior, Ordinary, Exceptional, Superior, and Spirit Heart. Typically, you can determine what you''ll receive based on the beast''s ranking. However, this isn''t always the case. You''ll find out that if you look at the cores received from the in Variants.]

    [Usually, those ones possessed at least exceptional ranked essence cores. Beyond that, they are separated into grades known as cycles. This pertains to purity. Much like a Cultivator there are 4; First, Second, Third, and Complete; each level increases the degree of purity. In essence, they''ll hit harder than their peers.]

    "I understand. So rank determines the size of the core, in other words, the benefits I can receive. The grade, however, indicates the disparity of minimum and maximum and the cycle is the chance or the range this will give me?" questioned Apollo as he based his words off his understanding before continuing, "Since I''ll be consuming them, I''ll also assume they have something to do with stats?"

    [Precisely. More importantly, you can also directly absorb their essence. However, this is true only if the beast you retrieved it from didn''t exhaust their reserves. For example, you will not receive experience from the Scarlet me Panther or Zephyr Wolf due to their desperate straits.]

    Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Apollo cursed the actions of those beasts. After all, they were Rank 3! Imagine the experience he would have received if he siphoned it from their cores.

    [Don''t be disheartened, there''s still the fact that you can absorb their core essence. Let us begin. Perhaps you''ll be able to awaken an ability.]

    Examining the two cores from those beasts of mention, Apollo''s eyes rose in astonishment. Each beast had exceptional Essence Cores! No wonder they were on par with each other.

    [Exceptional Essence Core]

    Element: Fire

    Rank: III

    Purity: Second Cycle

    Benefits: Uponpletely absorbing the core''s essence, it can increase the Strength Attribute by 1.5 to 3.6 points.

    Approximation: ~1.9-2.4

    [Exceptional Essence Core]

    Element: Wind

    Rank: III

    Purity: Second Cycle

    Benefits: Uponpletely absorbing the core''s essence, it can increase the Agility Attribute by 1.5 to 3.6 points.

    Approximation: ~2.1-2.9

    ''Hmm, it appears the Zephyr Wolf''s approximate value isrger. Could it be there is a disparity within purity before reaching the next cycle?'' thought Apollo.

    [Correct! Even though there aren''t intermediary grades, there are still differences. It goes without saying that everything can''t be identical. You should understand the rest without me physically saying that. Now proceed to cultivate with these. Upon reaching your limit, we''ll then switch.]

    "Okay. But I must mention, I''m reaching my 3-day limit. I''ll have to consume another Demonic Essence Pellet," replied Apollo before focusing intently on cultivation. Unbeknownst to him, certain events were beginning to take ce within the forest.

 Chapter 49 - Enclosing Baseline

    ----

    After bing privy to the techniques listed in the Monarch''s War Path Record and how to utilize the Essence Cores and their special effects, Apollo had been taking his progress step by step. Although he didn''t experience any fights in the past month, he had increased steadily. Needless to say, the way he trained now was highly efficient andparable to ying beasts. ??

    "Haah...haah¡­" bent over gasping for air, Apollo clutched the surface below him. Sweat pooled as it dripped off him. Drenched from head to toes, the scene looked as if he had taken a shower. Finishing his attempt at opening the finer meridians, he was utterly devoid of Essence.

    "I''ve entered the 6th Rank but¡­ the pressure doesn''t seem to be alleviating," spoke Apollo through bated breaths.

    [That''s to be expected. As you see, the opening process bes harder rather than easier despite you bing increasingly familiar with it. This is due to the nature of the subsequent meridians. They start finer inparison and need to be nourished even more so than the prior ones. Not to mention, the energy has to pass through some other channels so it dissipates a great degree.]

    "This is...exhausting," breathlessly spoked Apollo. He had never felt like that when fighting the Spirit Beasts. True cultivation was a different type of beast! After all, in both of his lives, this is the first time he came in contact with such practices.

    [Hmm, you have awakened 90 of the meridians. I suppose it should suffice. Starting today, we''ll add a fourth regiment to your training¡ªemting the Infernal Ira Stigmata. However, we''ll simply be using it to temper you.]

    "We''re doing that already? I won''t be able to create the stigmata though. Isn''t it pointless right now?" questioned Apollo. Taking a moment, he mulled over the words of Azridan.

    [Not entirely, we can improve your foundations! Don''t forget, there are multiple minimum requirements to cultivate it and you need toplete them all! Treat it as you would the Mortal Realmying the foundation for your future advancements. Just circte the essence through the opened acupoints.]

    "Okay, I''ll try to do so," replied Apollo before aiming toplete the task. Drawing in the Natural Essence, Apollo felt his skin breathing. The sensation was iparable to that minuscule feeling felt at the beginning. It was likeparing a trickling stream to a river, it couldn''t be done!

    The continuous undtions of his pores coaxed the Natural Essence into gathering at a more rapid pace. Soon enough, it coagted and entered the meridians and flowed throughout him.

    In truth, this was the first time he was manipting ambient Natural Essence inside himself. Prior to this event, it didn''t prate his body properly throughout the past month as they were insufficient to form a basic cirction path. To put it differently, there existed Four Great Cycles; every set of 90 meridians formed a cycle. Of course, as for the sole remaining one, it was an anomaly that inciting would cause unknown effects.

    Needless to say, minuscule amounts that entered his body and ultimately turned into use of his own cultivation. As the Natural Essence flowed through Apollo''s body, it began to strengthen his meridians first and foremost. The thickness of his meridians was a key factor in determining the state of his physique. In the talent assessment, he took years prior, the stele bypass and injected Natural Essence inside the body.

    The talent level was then determined by calcting how fast and well the Natural Essence circted throughout the body and how much of it was able to enter the body without dispersing. Due to Apollo''s weakened meridians, he received the talent grade he did. While the inner physique was able to be upgraded; there was a catch and that was the reason all families urged their youths to focus on awakening their meridians.

    Hence, the 2nd testing of Talent at age 15. At that point, everyone''s set in stone talent would be determined. This was partly the reason families focused on kids with initial higher talents. They could be the hopes and dreams of certain families to achieve a higher status.

    ''Let''s see how it feels to circte the Natural Essence.''

    Bing ignorant of his surroundings, Apollo focused on the Natural Essence coursing through his meridians. Some of it seeped through his meridian walls and entered his muscles and bones. However, most of it traveled down to the pit of his stomach although it was empty. From there it dispersed into his other organs.

    ?20 (10 + 10) Experience has been acquired.?

    ?20 (10 + 10) Experience has been acquired.?

    ?20 (10 + 10) Experience has been acquired.?

    ¡­.

    The message about receiving experience continuously sounded nearly every minute or so causing Apollo to raise his eyebrows.

    ''Another way to amass copious amounts of experience, I like this.''

    As he continued the cultivation process, the notification continued at the same pace. However, every now and then approximately 3 hours in between, he would receive another type of notification.

    ?Your body has been strengthened slightly. Strength, Agility and Vitality + .1?

    ?Your body has been strengthened slightly. Strength, Agility and Vitality + .1?

    ?Your body has been strengthened slightly. Strength, Agility and Vitality + .1?

    ''So I can receive stats as well. No wait, it''s because of this fire element refining me. It''s like leveling up but without an increase in my level. However, is that all it''s doing? Hmm, Azridan, will there be big changes when the Demon Monarch System reaches Level 3?''

    [Yes, there will be ratherrge changes. For one, by that point, you will have entered the true cultivation world. And secondly, certain options will present themselves to you.]

    ''Ah I see, then I will just focus on increasing my strength.''

    After uttering those words, Apollo''s focus steeled. Even when his stamina depleted, he wasn''t turned off from training. His mind became training oriented. If it didn''t contribute to his strength, he didn''t worry about it.

    From this point on, his daily cycle now included one more segment. Instead of killing monsters, he ingested the pellets. Yet, even then, they began experiencing diminishing returns. The initial 3% increase dwindled to slightly under 2%. Luckily, Apollo didn''t dwell on it.

    After all, to receive more he simply needed toplete his tasks. Hence, although his daily schedule became monotonous, Apollo didn''t mind it one bit. When his boredom piqued, he conversed with Azridan. As a result, a few monthster, he reached the baseline needed to venture into learning those two techniques.

    He had opened all 120 of the awakened acupoints. Furthermore, the 2 main attributes; Strength and Agility were both either approaching or surpassing 65.0.

    ''Now that my capabilities are basically bnced, let''s see just how tyrannical these things are,'' thought Apollo with an expectant gaze while moving his shoulder-length unkempt hair out of his face.

 Chapter 50 - Overbearing Demonic Techniques

    ----

    Tapping his foot, Apollo rose. It was the first time in months his body had moved from the lotus sitting position. It was odd for a child his age to be able to sit still for such an extended period of time without movement. As such, when he stood his joints crackled with explosive power. ??

    Shifting his gaze, he nced at the screen of his stats before him. Afterward, his attention fell on methods to activate the techniques in question.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step) [60.66%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 11

    Level: 88

    Experience: 7,980/87,900.

    Health: 1,312/1,312 ¡ú 1,944/1,944

    Stamina: 1,312/1,312 ¡ú 1,944/1,944

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 6 Mortal [270/400]

    Physique: Earth-Grade (Peak Tier)

    Zuls: 190 ¡ú 270

    Strength: 47.4 ¡ú 67.4

    Agility: 40.3 ¡ú 62.3

    Intelligence: 32.7 ¡ú 33.3

    Vitality: 32.8 ¡ú 48.6

    [?Traits?]-

    ?Increased Essence Affinity?

    ?Minor Poison Resistance?

    Stat Points: 60

    ''I haven''t used my Stat Points due to the multiple streams of experience sources. I''ll use them at ater time when they''re needed. It also seems the improvement of my Vitality isn''t asrge as the other two. Of course, that''s within my estimations. After all, the core centric to that stat was scarce. But this new trait I awakened¡­

    ?Minor Poison Resistance? - ?Basic Trait?

    Information: Aftering into contact with a plethora of toxic Essence Cores, your physique has developed a resistance to poisons. Nurturing this trait will require one to cultivate with more Essence Cores high in toxicity or deal with the infliction of poisonous damage.

    Level: 1/4

    Effect: Immune to all poisons under Rank 3. Decreases damage from higher level poisons. The higher the grade of the poison, the less it is resisted but the more it contributes to the experience of this skill.

    Focusing his attention elsewhere, Apollo looked at the Phantasmal Daemos. Stretching out his limbs, he loosened himself up. Based on the profundity heprehended from this skill, he''d need to utilize ghost-like footwork. That couldn''t be done with stiff muscles.

    [I''ll allow you to explore these techniques yourself. Only after you''ve grasped it will I offer my insight. Your resolve must continue to drive. Not to mention, you''re talented. You should be able to execute these techniques with the minimum requirement.

    "Allow me to try it out first before Iment on that," stated Apollo as he exhaled creating a white jetstream. The first action needed was to stimte your physique¡ªwhich he did.

    Trying to perform the technique the first time resulted in a failure. He failed to grasp the essence of the name Partial Shade Silhouette. Repeating the actions again, this time he utilized too much of his stamina and felt a searing pain shooting through his legs.

    Continuing to attempt this, he made multiple errors. Countless hours passed throughout the spectacle yet Apollo remained focused. During this time, he solved his many questions through short bouts of pondering. ''Shade¡­ I can attribute this to the darkness, I suppose. Then a silhouette, I think of a light figure in the distance. As for Partial¡­ could that do with the flow? Perhaps the error lies in my execution.''

    Trying once again, this time Apollo tweaked the way he used the trace amounts of Natural Essence in his meridians which burnt stamina. This time, the feeling while executing the technique felt better but not quite right.

    ''Again. I''m on the right path, but my control is faulty,'' thought Apollo as he tapped his foot lightly which propelled him forth faster than before. At the same time, he felt tendrils of darkness escaping his feet. At that moment, he was struck with inspiration!

    ''Another issue lies within the element of this Natural Essence. But I think I understand now, the essence of this technique is to move lightly throughout the darkness,'' mused Apollo as he came upon a revtion. While moving, his body seemed to phase in and out of existence albeit partially and only half of his body at once. Unfortunately, he wasn''t able to keep this up for even a second as his stamina was utterly exhausted.

    [Not bad. You''ve seemed to grasp a basic understanding of this technique. The secret to this technique is to understand that one must meld with the darkness but notpletely. Upon death, only part of your silhouette should be apparent. Of course, this technique bes stronger during the night.]

    "So I was correct, the reasoning behind the technique is to emte darkness. Only, I must be more adept with it. Only then will I be able to feel powerful," murmured Apollo before resting and recuperating.

    His depleted stamina soon recovered under the aid of the Resplendent Jadeite Pendant. However, something he overlooked was that trace amounts of essence were always flowing into the pendant. It did so autonomously and outside of the scope of Apollo''s perception.

    [Now try walking the War Path. Keep in mind, however, the first strike gets stronger the further it is away from you. Hence, why it favors long weapons. For now, you''ll have to make do with the knife you have.]

    Unlike the previous technique, this one was fairly simple. All that was required of his was to ignite as much essence as he desired in the meridians of his arms and sh his target. Naturally, the style of this attack warranted a few worrisome aftereffects.

    ''BOOOOOOM!''

    shing the Vantck Knife, arge scar appeared on the blocked entrance of this dark cave. The indent was deep and the mark was sharp carrying with it an extremely dreadful feeling. If one got close, they would hear the searing noise of the rock.

    While unsure of the amount of damage that would inflict, he knew it was in direct proportion to the stamina consumed. However, he didn''t expect to be to this extent! The terror of an Earth Rank Martial Art was mind-numbing! Regrettably, he couldn''t remain in awe for long as the aftereffects mentioned immediately took ce.

    Even after the one use, his stamina continued to dwindle as the meridian in his arms swelled. His virgin meridians had yet to experience such a tyrannic influx of essence. In response, they entered their current tender state.

    ¡´System Alert! 90% of your stamina has been drained from one move! Your body is currently recuperating. In order to use the skill continuously, raise your parameters.¡µ

    ¡´System Alert! Mastery in the ?Monarch''s War Path Record? has increased slightly.¡µ

    [Excellent, you now possessed the means to catch your enemies by surprising and the basic makings of a demon. Well, keep in mind I use basic loosely. Those techniques at their peak are by no means low in the world of the demons.]

    "Yes they''re both equally damaging," responded Apollo as he sat to once again recuperate from the damage.

    [Well, of course, you''re still wea- I mean, you''re still in training.]

    "I know that but I agree," contemptuously chuckled Apollo while forming a self-deprecating smile. Nevertheless, he didn''t mull over the matter for too long as he understood these techniques already opened up a myriad of paths to him.

    [You''ve been cooped up in here long enough. Let''s get you some fresh air as well as replenish the exhausted Essence Cores. If you want to keep up this cultivation speed you need resources.]

    "I think you forgot about the pills I have in possession," retorted Apollo before continuing, "But I have long run out of Demonic Essence Pellets and it''s now stagnant."

    ??Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step) [69.93%]??

    [I''m sorry to say but those won''t suffice. You''ll understand what I mean after you hit Level 90. No, you''ll understand what I mean if you inspect your chat. Now, ce your hand upon the wall.]

 Chapter 51 - Encounter With Strangers

    ----

    Walking to the damaged rocks, Apollo followed Azridan''s directions and pressed his hand against it. A suction from his palm took ce as he felt something foreign return to him. At the same time, the rocks which once melded together began crumbling. ??

    Soon enough, the radiant light Apollo became a stranger to, for months on end, had reappeared. Stepping outside, he felt the breeze on his skin as he thought to himself, ''It seems whatever Azridan performed, sealed everyst crevice in the rocks. Not a semnce of light was able to enter, no wonder I couldn''t perceive anything beyond that wall.''

    [Correct, the means I used resulted in your senses being unable to prate the rock. However, I have undone that. Now, let''s embark on your tasks. Time waits for no one and you must surpass all.]

    "Right!" responded Apollo before halting his step and tapping his hair, rubbing it between his fingers. It came to his attention just how much it had grown. As of this moment, the back hair reached his shoulders. One needed to know, before dealing with the Mortal Beasts he cut it!

    In other words, his hair was undergoing rapid growth. It seemed his body mimicked the stats of the system meticulously. Furthermore, he took the time to inspect his robes. They were nearly nonexistent from the waist up courtesy of the Widow Queen. Its toxins had dissolved his robes.

    They weren''t special equipment that the cultivators utilized made from enhanced material; they were simple robes.

    ''I took a look at the robes in the pouch, but those are entirely toorge. I estimate it''ll take at least a year to fit those,'' thought Apollo before pushing the matter to the back of his mind. Kicking off his back foot, he dashed forward.

    As he panned his head, he came to the assumption that he was back in the outskirts of the Shadowy Forest. It was evident from the traces amounts of Mortal Beasts scurrying the premises. Needless to say, there would be no activity from them within the Inner Ring.

    ''Azridan, why''d you bring me all the way back here? It seems redundant to travel back and forth like this,'' Apollo''s eyebrow rose in question while bringing out his Vantack Knife. Due to his increase in Agility, he was traversing the outskirts at a rapid rate. In a short period of time, he entered the area of the Rank 1 Spirit Beasts.

    [Are you telling me you would have liked to be in constant danger? All the dwellings I discovered in the inner region were inhabited and you were in no state to kill more. Hence, I retired to this ce. Not to mention, inside the previous area of activity remained a myriad of beasts capable of destroying that wall I made.]

    "Ah, I see. Then treat my earlier questions as air. I shouldn''t have doubted you," uttered Apollo before horizontally shing his weapon. In the next moment, a Rank 1 Spirit Beast fell before him¡ªbisected.

    [It is eptable. After all, I admire your curious mind. You must remember, wisdom isn''t in what you know but in the questions you present. Therefore, never regret asking a question, it only serves to deepen your understanding.]

    "You''re right," nodded Apollo in admittance as he shifted his feet using 3 precise strokes to collect a subpar Essence Core. However, he didn''t mull over or discard this item. After all, with this system, all items served their purpose. No matter how small the gain, an improvement was what Apollo sought.

    As he advanced through the outskirts, Apollo left an extensive trail of mutted corpses. Yet, throughout the whole journey he never once stopped nor felt remorse for the beasts. In this fight for survival, he was taught it was either him or them.

    A short whileter, he stepped past the dividing line and entered the Inner Ring. Entering the realm of the Rank 2 Spirit Beasts, he first scrutinized his surrounding for any assants. Confirming it was clear, he proceeded to execute the first of the Baleful Steps, the Partial Shade Silhouette.

    Half of his body seemed to fade into the shadows as his movements quickened. In a short period, he dealt with an Early Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast. Compared to before, the difficulty lessened greatly. At the same time, so did the experience he received. As a result, he started to have some spections.

    ''Could it be that experience is calcted based on the difficulty of battle? Or perhaps is it determined by my current level. But if that''s the case, the system should show their level. Therefore, I don''t think thetter is usible. It should be the former,'' thought Apollo while twisting his body to avoid 3 iing beasts.

    ''Peng!'' ''Peng!'' Peng!''

    Deflecting the beasts with three well-timed strikes, Apollo reveled at his faster reactions. It seemed Agility was more important than he thought. If it was before, there was no chance of him responding to attacks in under 1 second. Not to mention, he took note of a source of tion.

    ''When not factoring the use of the Partial Shade Silhouette¡­ My stamina is recovering faster than I can use it! Perhaps¡­''

    [Your thoughts are correct. Your status window is directly linked to your body. Now that you''ve opened acupoints, you should be witnessing the benefits I told you about. Keep in mind, this is only the beginning!]

    "This feeling is amazing!" eximed Apollo as his jubnt expression incited the surrounding Natural Essence to flow towards his de. Striking out, it felt stronger than usual. An intangible wave burst forward and sliced a few beasts into minced meat.

    [Hmm? That''s a good minute control of Natural Essence you have there. It should be on par with a Zul Warrior. Perhaps it''s due to your high intelligence that doesn''t belong to your current realm.]

    ''Intelligence? Now that you mention it, it''s the only stat that doesn''t have any information on it. Are you able to tell me anything about it?'' asked Apollo as he bent down collecting multiple Essence Cores.

    [Sure, but it probably won''t be what you''re looking for. Intelligence is linked to the basic and broad aspects of your mind. Once you reach Spirit Cultivation, it''ll ce an extremelyrge role in your parameter calctions. Hence, I rmended you pay attention to it in thest stage of the Mortal Realm.]

    ''Hmm¡­ so it''s that important huh? I''ll have to be more considerate of that that in the future then,'' responded Apollo before scaling a tree. Choosing this spot to take a breather from the repeated use of the Phantasmal Daemos'' First Step, he recuperated. In a short period, Apollo drew in enough Natural Essence to recover his stamina to a considerable degree.

    Dropping down from the tree, he continued to journey deeper into the depths of the Inner Ring. It went without saying, the beasts then shifted from the early stage to the middle stage of Rank 2. Although the fights became more difficult, it wasn''t to the extreme. He could easily handle one. Two were also well within his limits whereas three simultaneous middle Ranks started the range of difficulty.

    ''What is that? I feel something¡­'' thought Apollo while shifting his gaze. His ears twitched at the sound of repeated tapping growing in volume.

    [It''s people. Definitely not beasts, as for the numbers. I think it''s three of them. But don''t rely on my words. I''m unable to see much further than what you''re capable of in this passive state. I also can''t control you as it seems there have been limitations ced upon me.]

    ''Limitations? Who possesses the power to do such a thing? I thought you were omnipotent,'' questioned Apollo with a curious tone and bewildered gaze.

    [As did I but that seems to no longer be the case. Perhaps there are forces even I''m unaware of.]

    "Wow," murmured Apollo before his gaze sharpened. The people he sensed had indeed greeted his view except they weren''t what he was expecting.

    ''Hmm? I don''t know these strangers.''

 Chapter 52 - Three Of Questionable Morals

    ----

    "Hmm? I sense a wee bit of Natural Essence fluctuations in that direction. I believe there''s a battle further behind us. Want to go check it out?" a gruff voice sounded from a rough-looking male as his broadsword impaled a beast seeming to be at least Rank 2. He remained looking upon his teammates with a steady gaze. Much like him, they exuded the same vibe. ??

    "I sense it as well. But they''re so minute it shouldn''t be a battle between Rank 2 Spirit Beasts. I think it may be Rank 1''s. Perhaps we''ll be able to extract cores from their carcasses," added another male who appeared from behind a tree. Nocked between his knuckles were multiple throwing knives.

    "Then let''s go you two. We''ve already excavated this area. If we want to gather more cores to sell, we''ll need to venture deeper. But first, we''ll make this small detour," spoke a third voice seeming to be theirmander. Acting upon the orders, the three rushed towards Apollo''s position.

    Due to his high strung state and sharpening senses, Apollo instantly picked up on them. Rather than fleeing the area, he ceased his use of the Phantasmal Daemos. Instead, he carved the Essence Cores and extracted them without a trace of nervousness to be seen.

    ''Hmm? This wasn''t a battle between beasts¡­ those weak fluctuations, now that I sense it thoroughly, belong to a human. If it''s like this then I''m sure they are still within the Mortal Realm. The question is what have they achieved,'' thought the leading male.

    Rising to his feet, Apollo waited patiently for the neers to arrive. Based on his infantile perception, they seemed to move at a pace faster than him especially true for one particr iing person.

    ''Whoosh!'' ''Whoosh!'' ''Whoosh!''

    The three grown figures appeared before Apollo their expressions gued with shock. They couldn''t understand why this small child was the only one remaining in their sights. Those fluctuations albeit weak couldn''t havee from him. A silence pervaded between the two parties as they scrutinized each other.

    Breaking the silence, the leading male spoke, "Did you kill these Spirit Beasts?" As he inquired, his gaze never left Apollo. Examining his tattered clothes, unkempt hair, and scarred skin he came to his conclusion without his answer. ''This child...his aura is obscure.''

    [It seems they are curious about you. I don''t think they have an opinion of you yet as I have failed to perceive any negative emotions. Be that as it may, stay vignt. Situations like these can change at a moment''s notice.]

    ''I understand, I''ll tread carefully.'' Apollo responded with a thought before opening his mouth offering a brief answer, "Yes, it was me."

    "I see," stated the leading male before ncing down at the corpses. He took note of the signs. These beasts weren''t Rank 1 at all¡­ they were Rank 2! Furthermore, they seemed to be at least reaching the middle stages. ''A child ying Rank 2 beasts? This means either he is obscenely strong for his age or he is intelligent. Or perhaps¡­ he has secrets.''

    "You know, it''s not every day you see ad as young as you ying a beast lightheartedly. Based on the signs of battle, I assume you killed them before they had the chance to retaliate with their innate techniques," continued the male before ruminating over some telltale signs, ''He must be an agility type with that extremely small frame that would exin theck of fluctuations throughout the confrontation.''

    "I don''t know about doing that, but I did indeed kill the beast. Why do you ask?" inquired Apollo raising his guard preparing to retaliate at a moment''s notice. As it was now, he trusted no human and sought to seek the spoils of his personal war.

    "Easy now, I''m just curious. If you''re capable of holding your own, why don''t we open your eyes to the world? Come journey with us deeper into the Shadowy Forest," spoke the male as he pointed behind himself.

    However, Apollo remained rooted in the spot with an apprehensive gaze. Soon after, his lips curled into a displeased frown, "Follow you? How can I do so when I don''t even know you? You expect me to follow strangers into unexplored depths? I see no logic in that scenario so I''ll have to decline."

    ''Oh? This youngin'' has an astute mind. He remains untrusting of others. I''m curious as to what propelled him to survive out here. Doesn''t he know the unfairness of the cultivation world? Nevertheless¡­''

    "Ahem. If that''s the only issue. Allow me to introduce myself; I am the mercenary Krone," stated the male. His towering figure approached Apollo as he held out his hand with an unreadable smile. Squinting, Apollo awaited something.

    [I sense nothing. If he does harbor ill intentions, it''s well hidden. If so, that is a well-trained heart.]

    Refusing to move, Apollo then nced to the side, "And the other?"

    "Hmm?" turning back, Krone gave the other a signal prompting them to utter introductions.

    "Tis'' id under the captain," said thenky male spouting multiple throwing knives between his slender fingers. His cold ck eyes inspected Apollo.

    "As fer'' me, I''m Vren. Nice ta'' meetcha," spoke thest stalwart figure sporting an overlyrge greatsword. On the surface, they all seemed friendly. However, one must remember these were mercenary capable of surviving throughout the years in the cruel world.

    [I sense something from one of them but it is vague. Be on guard but I also rmend you to go with them. If you can, take in their fighting styles and dissect them.]

    ''Ah, so I should prepare myself while also killing two birds with one stone?'' responded Apollo before shifting his sights back to Krone. Showcasing his eptance, Apollo sped his hand.

    "If it is so thene along," stated Krone before walking into the distance.

    Looking at their backs, after learning their names the system generated their information.

    Name: Krone

    Cultivation: Level 9 Zul Warrior

    Health: 3,800 (100%)

    Name: id

    Cultivation: Level 5 Zul Warrior

    Health: 2,600 (100%)

    Name: Vren

    Cultivation: Level 7 Zul Warrior

    Health: 4,400 (100%)

    ''It seems amongst them, Vren would have the highest defenses. Hence, I believe he is the initial confronter in all attacks. The thin one seems to be along the lines of an assassin with such low health and the leader would be the typical bnced type,'' evaluated Apollo before stepping and traveling a suitable distance from the three.

    "Beware, we''ll be stepping foot on the cusp of the central area. We never venture there but there is a change of running into overly strong Rank 3 Spirit Beasts. In an event, like that¡­ we''ll be unable to protect you," warned Krone as his steps continued unabated.

    "I understand. I know how to protect myself," responded Apollo with seemingly cryptic wordsced with a hidden meaning. Unbeknownst to both of them, an unsettling smile crept upon their lips. It was unknown who between the two harbored worse intentions!

    [I sense it...but what will they be leading you into? It''s a shame they are unaware of your abnormalities.]

 Chapter 53 - Into An Awry Situation

    ----

    ''Bang!'' ''Peng!'' ??

    Vren''s stalwart figure pounced forward dealing with a mature Violent Stone Bear. Unlike the one Apollo faced, this one was an early stage Rank 3 adversary and yet Vren seemed capable of handling its blows. Of course, it wasn''t a simple walk in the park. Using his greatsword, he deflected a majority of the iing attacks. As a result, his health in Apollo''s eyes was barely moving!

    ''Definitely the defensive type!'' mused Apollo as he continued to spectate the ongoing battle. Journeying with them, he took the time to digest their styles.

    "Crushing sh!" roared Vren as his greatsword became encased in an earthen yellow hue beforending on the spine of the Violent Stone Bear. Although it wasn''t enough to render it immobile, it dealt substantial damage!

    Following up, id waved his arms as multiple knives carrying wisps of wind pierced the bear''s body, "Windscore Prison". The projectiles crisscrossed as the weaving wind element formed a which continued tocerate the spirit beast.

    "Haha, how can I be left out of the fun?" unsheathing two sabers from his waist, Krone dashed forward at breakneck speedsparable to Apollo''s extreme top speed. A crimson glint appeared on his sabers.

    Twisting his wrist, 3 arcs of crimson energy left from the tips of his weapons. "Chained Scarlet Strikes!" The area theynded upon bubbled, seemingly cooked from the temperature of the strike. Rather than joining it, Apollo dissected their actions. He noted their strengths and weaknesses.

    ''id''s attacks are light but continuous and happen faster than the other two. Vren is slow but each strike carries an overbearing weight behind it. As for Krone, his strikes appear to be more trained. Overall, their strikes should be at least 3 times heavier than my normal ones. I wonder¡­''

    Apollo began to silently specte about the elements of Natural Essence which then made his thoughts take a turn. ''What warrants a person being able to wield an additional element? I''ve opened my acupoints but I can only manipte trace amounts of the fire element.''

    [Well, that''s easy to exin. As you saw, your cultivation method can help determine the elements you train with. However, in a regr situation, a person''s third set of meridians will determine the elements one carries an affinity for.]

    ''You mean to say, that one can only realize their affinities upon reaching the Spirit-Grade Inner Physique?'' questioned Apollo as he looked at the 3 handling the beast with tacit movements. In his eyes'', the beast''s health drained at a stable rate despite its attempts to protect itself.

    [Partly correct. It will determine the elements but the dantian is what truly forms the connection. At that moment, when it is opened, your meridians will meld with it causing a phenomenon you''ll be privy to.]

    ''I see. Although...Azridan, you omit a lot of information. It wouldn''t hurt to give me some extra details would it?''ined Apollo as he found Azridan''s way of speaking to be quite disgruntling.

    [Heh, then that''ll be no fun. After all, I''m partly a being of mischief~ I take pleasure in seeing you pursue knowledge and desire for more! Ahahaha!]

    "Tch¡­" clicking his tongue Apollo shook his head in contempt as he shifted his gaze towards another foe. The trio had already finished dealing with the Violet Stone Bear, hence, there was no reason to continue looking in their direction.

    Removing the Vantack Knife from his waist, Apollo initiated a battle of his own. After all, why would he give up the chance to rue experience? However, rather than utilizing the Phantasmal Daemos Movement Technique, he only used his natural agility. Nevertheless, his speed caught their eyes as the trio turned their head.

    ''As I expected, he''s an agility-type. I''m sure of it now, his speed more than justifies him ying the beasts if he used the hit and run style of battle. However, that weapon¡­'' thought Krone as he nced at the Vantack Knife in Apollo''s grasp. From the workmanship alone, he felt it to be of a decent grade.

    ''Rank 3?'' thought Krone before ncing at his own weapon and differences in their material. ''It could be so. Without testing its conductivity, I''m willing to bet that weapon is on par with a Rank 3 Weapon Artifact.''

    Regrettably, one thing he overlooked was theck of fluctuations from the weapon in and of itself. That was a clear indicator of an artifact reaching Rank 3. It''ll be able to channel Natural Essence easily. Nevertheless, it was a justifiable misconstrued thought; the material of the knife was ster.

    To the unlearned eye, it would be perceived exactly how Krone did. On the other hand, a sh of desire appeared within id''s eyes as he peered at the weapon, ''That weapon. Even if I don''t use it, it''ll fetch a pretty penny! The question remains...how do I get my hands upon it? Snatching from a child seems rather¡­''

    Snapping his fingers, Krone signaled to Vren and id to remain in ce. Instead of joining, they stood in ce spectating Apollo''s battle with ate-stage Rank 2 Violet Stone Bear. It turned out to be within his limits as long as there wasn''t anything he needed to split his attention on.

    ''They''re evaluating my strength...so let''s give them a false notion,'' thought Apollo as he stuck to basic movements. Needless to say, with his agility it was enough to deal with the bear. Dodging its earth element attacks, Apollonded strike after strike on its joints then proceeded to mutted its Lesser Earthen Armor. As therge pieces of stone fell, exposing its vital area. Apollo went in for the kill; clean and swift!

    ''This kid...he has the makings of a killer! His unmoving expression while killing is on par with professional mercenaries. I wonder¡­ what has he experienced? Perhaps, we''ll be able to do that with his addition. We wouldn''t need to worry about a 4th. Not to mention, he doesn''t seem to have a cultivation method.''

    A small smirk formed on Krone''s lips as he formed slightly dark thoughts, ''He''ll be within our control due to this sole reason. If we lead him deeper, he''ll have to listen to our every direction lest he wants to forfeit his life.''

    [NEGATIVE INTENTIONS! And there are 2 sources. It seems those two seeks to harm you or at the very least, they covet something you carry.]

    ''Oh? I guess they think I''m some naive child who''ll offer my neck to them. Little do they know, I''m aware of all their intentions,'' inwardly chuckled Apollo after iming the murky yellow Essence Core.

    As he proceeded towards the rest, Krone offered praise, "You''re more capable than my previous estimations. As such, I''ll treat you as close to our equal. With that being said, I seek for you to be our fourth and let us journey across the border."

    Gazing in the direction Krone pointed, Apollo looked at the border of the central region. ording to Azridan''s prior information that was where the high-level Rank 3 beasts resided. This was also the point at which the disparities became apparent.

    "The question is, now that you know my capabilities¡­ are you able to guarantee my safety?" inquired Apollo with a stern expression. Of course, this was all a facade as he truly couldn''t care less. He was confident in his ability to escape on his own. Not to mention, a hidden path he left for himself.

    For a moment, Krone''s expression staled from being questioned by a child not even one-third of his age but it soon recovered its earlier amicability. "With what I''ve seen, I''m sure of it."

    ----

    Not long after, they departed only for Vren''s bellow to echo into the distance. "What de'' FUCK! This is why I said nay'' to this venture!"

 Chapter 54 - Foolish Coveting, Mindless Mistakes

    ----

    A few moments before the incident... ??

    "With that being settled, let us venture into the depths then," stated Krone in a lighthearted manner as he sheathed his two weathered sabers in the sheaths at their waist. The equipment of these mercenaries was long due for an upgrade. However, most of their acquired funds were instead funneled into cultivation resources.

    While it wasn''t a bad idea, it wasn''t the smartest. Everyone knew good equipment went a long way once one limated to it. An upgrade in one rank of an artifact''s grade surpassed that in which a small realm upgrade of cultivation could provide.

    "Err, I don'' think ''dis is the best idea fer'' the group. Thed is stronger than typical chil''ren but I don'' think he will suffice. He''s not a Warrior," stated Vren trying to dissuade Krone from making this decision. After all, most of the defensive matters fell upon his shoulders. Hence, going up against even stronger Rank 3 Spirit Beast wasn''t exactly in his ns.

    "He may not be a warrior, but he understands the ways of killing," uttered id as he nced at Krone approaching Vren before wrapping his arms around his shoulder.

    Dragging Vren to the side, Krone ryed his ideas to him, "Oi, listen up you block. There''s logic to my decision, take a look at that child''s weapon. What grade do you suppose it is?"

    Turning back, Vren gazed at the weapon at Apollo''s waist. Judging from its appearance, a thought came to his mind, "I''m thinking maybe this thing is a Rank 3!"

    "Exactly my thoughts. Therefore, it''s like this. With him as the fourth, we won''t have to worry about failing to damage the beasts we encounter in the deeper recesses of the forest. Additionally, we don''t necessarily have to reward him," stated Krone as he winked lowering his voice, sending id a signal who silently nodded back.

    Of course, this didn''t escape Apollo''s sense yet he remained oblivious with a small smirk. Biding his time, he leaned against the tree as he watched his stamina returned to full. ''Late Stage Rank 2 requires more strength to cut which in turn burns my stamina quicker. But it isn''t time yet.'' After all...hmm?''

    "Ah! So that''s ye'' n. Hehehehe, I like it. I''ll get me some finedies and brew," chuckled Vren as his mind wandered to the pleasures of both food and woman. What''s a man without indulging in such basic delicacies.

    "So y along. If my n unfolds properly, we''ll fetch a pretty penny. Keep in mind, hmmm¡­?"

    Turning back around, Krone noticed a faint aura radiating from the pendant around Apollo''s neck. Narrowing his eyes, he couldn''t understand why he couldn''t tell what it was, ''What grade is that item? The vibe from it is even rarer than the weapon. Perhaps this child does have some secrets. I don''t think he''s from arge family but perhaps that may be true. I''ll have to make sure. Usually, those types of heritages have precautions set in ce.''

    "Hey, kid. What family do you hail from?" questioned Krone with a thoughtful gaze.

    "None," replied Apollo with his usual deadpan expression. Upon receiving that answered, Krone''s expression brightened while a hint of excitement shed within his eyes before returning to normal.

    ''Silly me, I almost made a mistake. Luckily, he''s a child and he doesn''t seem to be interested in lying. Hmm, although he isn''t earnest, he shouldn''t be cognizant of the cruelties of this word. Unfortunately, this is how we survive.''

    "I see. Then you''re more than wee to journey with us," chuckled Krone before turning around id and Vren in tow. With this, he crossed the border into what would soon be a nightmare.

    The sky darkened a great degree as they moved with caution. Even the weakest beast in the area was a Middle Stage Rank 3 Beast. However, Apollo looked back and took a mental note of the path they took just in case. Subsequently, he moved his gaze to their feet.

    ''They''re leaving too many tracks. What kind of group are they? It should be basic knowledge to erase your tracks, after all, there are detection type beasts who-''

    "Aooooo!"

    "Roooaaarrr!"

    An echoing howl and thunderous roared echoed. However, they came from opposing directions. The roar originated from in front of them whereas the howl came from behind them. Luckily, the howl seemed weaker in strength and farther away.

    Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Apollo withdrew the Vantack Knife before sprinting to a tree. ''Idiots! That wolf is tracking us. As for that other beast, it sensed us. How are these professional mercenaries? They must be too upied scheming amongst themselves to take notice. Tch...''

    Reacting in a sufficient fashion, Apollo remembered a situation that happened to him at the beginning of his training; he was ambushed by multiple beasts leaving him utterly damaged. The worst possible scenario in a battle was the advent of surprise attacks. Even more so when it pertained to having your back exposed.

    [Their obliviousness is shocking. But Imend your reactions. There is nothing direr, than having to split your attention at inopportune moments when embroiled in a difficult confrontation.]

    ''I know, I''ve learned from that mistake,'' mentally responded Apollo while silently surveying the trio''s action. Withdrawing their weapons as well, they prepared for confrontation entering a battle state.

    ''Whoosh!''

    A golden streak dashed past the trio,ing to a skidding halt that revealed its appearance. A beast simr to a lynx except it was multiple timesrge. Furthermore, the luster of its grey and gold fur radiated wisps of Natural Essence. Its piercing silver eyes examined the trio and then shifted to Apollo who shifted behind a tree.

    ''This may be problematic. I was barely able to discern its speed. Not to mention¡­'' Falling silent, Apollo frowned at the status which presented itself. It seemed as if he could never catch a break. He was always thrust into one perilous situation after the other. So much so, he was turning numb to the fact.

    Monster Name: Storm Colossus Lynx

    Type: Variant

    Rank: Middle Stage Rank 3 Spirit Beast

    Health: 7,000/7,000

    Chance of Defeat: Incalcble.

    ''Incalcble? What the hell does that mean?'' thought Apollo as he stood consumed by bewilderment.

    [You fail to understand. That Spirit Beast is not only Rank 3¡­ it''s a Variant! To put it in perspective for you, that thing is equivalent to a Peak Zul Warrior at the least! Even then, I feel that is an understatement. From its name and appearance, it''s of the Wind and Lightning Elements!]

    ''Bang!''

    Its paw wreathed in a translucent and purplish glow mmed against Vren''s greatsword. Widening his eyes in shock, he spat a mouthful of blood from the impact. Filled with indignation, he roared. "What de'' FUCK! This is why I said nay'' to this venture!"

    ''Crap! This thing isparable to a Zul Knight, isn''t it? I don''t want to risk it,'' thought Apollo before preparing to retreat.

    [Wait! Stay. There''s something odd about this beast. Furthermore... what''s that fluctuation? It feels oddly familiar.]

    ''Hmm?'' turning his head, Apollo squinted in the direction the fluctuations came from. It was in Krone''s general direction! His dual sabers were sheathed in a scarlet glow. It felt simr to a feeling he couldn''t put his finger on.

    [This type of energy can be achieved in this world? I wonder what type of technique he cultivates to possess a rudimentary aura rivaling an infant demon.]

    ''Huh? I thought demons were non-existent on this world,'' countered Apollo before scaling the tree he hid behind.

    [It''s not demonic, it''s a derivative. It just seems simr to what our demons use. If I''m not mistaken, then¡­]

    ''Skrreeeeeeeeeee!''

 Chapter 55 - Insane Youth (I)

    ----

    A long drawn out, ear-piercing screech appeared from Krone''s weapons as an obscure aura formed. At the height of it, he roared as it reached the pinnacle of what he could achieve; a harrowing feeling of murder could be felt from it creeping upon everyone''s back. ??

    "Scarlet Killing Strokes!" bellowed Krone as he dashed toward the Storm Colossus Lynx with a frenzied gleam in his eyes. Unfortunately, a second neer appeared at the same time.

    [Ah, so it is a path derived from killing. However, to cultivate such a thing, one would have to experience murder firsthand and multiple at that. As I thought, this individual isn''t a trustworthy person. Remain wary of him, he''s also the strongest.]

    The scarlet des made contact with the Storm Colossus Lynx''s pge. However, its durability was not to be looked down upon. Deep gashes formed on its limb but it ignored this damage; ring at Krone with murderous eyes crackles of lightning fluttered in the wounds.

    On the other hand, ncing at the Scarlet Killing Strokes, Apollo narrowed his eyes. If he didn''t look so intently, he would have missed the slight damage done to the de. ''That move seems to have adverse effects on the wielded weapon. If so, maybe I''ll be able to capitalize on that fact.''

    Joining the fray, id nced at Apollo at the corner of his eye before retrievingrge amounts of throwing knives from the dead bodies in the area. Engulfed in faint wisps of wind, the knives traveled forward. Unfortunately, his eyes widened in shock.

    "D-dodge!" roared id alerting Krone of danger. Reacting with haste, he kicked off to the side. During their flight, the trajectory experienced an abrupt change. At the same time, a gleam passed through the Storm Colussus Lynx. Needless to say, it was the culprit of the change.

    ''Tch, it has a higher affinity with the wind element than I do. Which means¡­'' switching his tactics, a silver glow appeared around id''s throwing knives. Surprisingly, he was amongst a rare variety in cultivators¡ªthose who possessed dual-elements!

    [Oh? It seems this fellow isn''t the weakest link after all. Although his control of this metal element is rather weak inparison to his main element it is still astonishing to find a dual-element. Furthermore, even though his affinities vary greatly; they exhibit great synergy.]

    ''Synergy? I see. That means when mixed together they can heighten one''s strength right?'' questioned Apollo while his eyes remained glued to the silvery gleam.

    [Correct. Unfortunately, his wind element has been rendered useless due to that Spirit Beast possessing an elemental affinity eclipsing his own. Meaning hisbat ability has been effectively cut in half.]

    ''Interesting. If it''s so then..'' turning his head Apollo, inspected the team''s actions while spreading his attention.

    Waving his sword, Vren retaliated, knocking away the lynx''s paw. Charging forward, he executed a heavy sh covered in a dense yellow aura. Compared to earlier, it was clear he channeled much more Natural Essence within the blow. Hence, it was iparable in power.

    "Join in! Don''t just stand there. This is why we brought you here! Don''t tell me fear has fucking overwhelmed you now," roared Krone as madness filled his eyes upon noticing Apollo''s idle actions. This battle was a difficult one, yet the neer he brought remained motionless; it infuriated him in addition to their current situation.

    Frowning Apollo, scoffed. ''Vulgar. They''re lucky it isn''t an opportune time.'' Preparing to make his move, Apollo stopped at Azridan''s words.

    ''Thump!'' ''Thump!''

    [Iing, it''s an aura we''re entirely familiar with.]

    With halted steps, Apollo looked down at the second neer. In fact, it was the absolute bane in this situation.

    "Oh fuck! Is that a Zephyr Wolf? And it''s Rank 3?" cursed id as he retreated, focusing his attention on the iingrge azure-colored wolf. Its stampeding paws battered the ground as it turned into a gust of wind.

    Throwing caution to the wind, id was encased by a shell of wind as an obscure gleam shed through his eyes, "Drifting Wind Movement!" His speed increased as he chased the Zephyr Wolf.

    ''Fast but not overly quick,'' pondered Apollo whilst finally making his move¡ªdarting from the tree he stood upon.

    As he descended toward the ground, Apollo calcted the situation, ''Both of them are Rank 3, however, the lynx is a variant. I''ve already faced off against a Rank 3 Zephyr Wolf. I hold no qualms going against it. Not to mention¡­ Alright, I''ve made my choice.''

    Kicking off the trunk, Apollo disappeared under the mantle of the darkness. Of course, the others didn''t realize this as they were too upied with their respective confrontations. Their slightest misuse of attention could result in a dire situation. Hence, Apollo got away scot-free with utilizing his movement technique he kept secret.

    When approximately 10 meters away, he canceled the state and pounced with his unaugmented speed. Peering away at id, he uttered a brief sentence, "Keep it upied, I''ll deliver the killing blows." After all, how could he squander this sublime chance?

    Squinting with slight amounts of contempt, id nodded and continued to utilize his movement technique, keeping the Zephyr Wolf at bay. At that moment, Apollo made his deadly move.

    ''Increase Agility by 2.7'' thought Apollo as his speed experienced an abrupt increase.

    ?Agility: 62.3 ¡ú 65.0.?

    Noticing this small change, id fostered some thoughts, ''Has he been hiding his true speed? Or is he perhaps straining his muscles to reach the extremes of his capabilities? I feel it''s thetter, but afterward, he''ll be a sitting duck. At that moment, I''ll take action.'' Towards the end of his ideas, he smirked.

    ''Pucht!''

    65 Agility, it was approaching the prerequisite of an experienced Zul Warrior. Furthermore, due to Apollo utilizing it properly and id keeping its movements restricted; Apollo was able to unleash an unabated stream of deadly attacks.

    Each sh opened the flesh of the Zephyr Wolf causing its eyes to go crimson. On the other hand, each sh caused indiscernible nicks in the Vantack Knife. Luckily, this beast didn''t specialize in defense; if so, there was a chance of this weapon t out breaking.

    "We can''t hold this thing much longer aye! Hurry the fuck up!" roared Vren as he struggled to reconcile with the outrageous strength of the Storm Colossus Lynx. The veins in his arms swelled as he utilized all the strength he could muster. He began dreading the fact that his talent wasn''t higher. If so, he wouldn''t be in this situation.

    "Damn those Shaanti brutes! If I ever get the chance, I swear I''ll kill you," roared Vren as his indignance swelled, channeling it into his strength.

    Meanwhile, like a hyperactive feline, Apollo blitzed back and forth. Amid delivering cuts that annoyed the wolf, he thought to himself, ''Shaanti? Why does that sound familiar.'' Pushing the thought to the back of his mind, Apollo didn''t dwell on the matter any further.

    Soon after, the movements of the Zephyr Wolf became sloppy. Slipping up, it began failing to evade Apollo''s knife. At the same, id capitalized on this matter.

    He unleashed a flurry of throwing knives aimed at its joints. The attacks lowered its speed further, now allowing Apollo tond even more harrowing cuts. A few instancester, numerous cuts littered its physique.

    Licking the blood off his knife, Apollo enjoyed this feeling. He felt strength! It was coursing through his and he felt ecstatic, ''This is what I crave! Power! More...give me more!''

    [Spoken like a true demon! Kill!]

    Resonating with Azridan, he augmented the tempo, Apollo turned into a nearly indiscernible blur as he stabbed the wolf''s eyes out followed by slicing out its tongue. Being robbed of its sense, painful whimpers soon sounded.

    ''This kid is vicious!'' id thought to himself as he witnessed the youth before him disfiguring the wolf''s body to such a degree. Needless to say, its painful yelps soon ceased falling to the ground¡ªlifeless.

    ?Congrattions! You have killed a Middle Stage Rank 3 Spirit Beast.?

    ?5,000 (2,500 + 2,500) Experience has been received.?

    ?Experience: 17,180/87,900?

    ''It''s a shame my experience hasn''t risen too much. It seems I don''t receive experience from beasts I didn''t deal thest strike on, but¡­''

    With a small smirk, Apollo dashed towards the Storm Colossus Lynx without pause. At the same time, id followed suit turning into a gust of wind.

    ''Peng!''

    A metallic noise was heard as the lynx defended against Apollo''s sneak attack. A human-like disdainful expression appeared. However, while it was too focused on Apollo the other threeunched a three-pronged attack each with their strongest blows.

    "Earthen Obileration!"

    "Lucid Piercing Winds!"

    "Murderous Tides!"

    A myriad of Natural Essence aimed at the lynx bombarded its body. In response, violent winds and arcs of lightning burst from its body. Within its eyes,rge amounts of purple lights flickered which made the others widen their eyes, whilst one thought flooded their minds.

    ''Is this not enough? It''s three blows of maximum output from Zul Warriors for god''s sake!''

    On the other hand, Apollo''s train of thought diverged from theirs, ''I''ll definitely im it''s life!'' A resolute gleam birthed within his eyes as he dashed forward unabated.

    ''It''s just pain¡ªI''ve felt it before,'' thought Apollo as his skin wascerated by the fine arcs of lightning then seared from its heat... Yet even then he remained undeterred.

    [Are you going to use that? If you do so, you''ll expose your arsenal.]

    ''I know, but this is a Rank 3 Variant.''

    [Then, I have a solution.]

 Chapter 56 - Unfair Split

    ----

    [If that''s the case, then follow my instructions. Based on my analysis, this beast should have such a technique. Wait for my signal and follow these instructions...]??

    Apollo''s expression soon turned colorful changing at rapid rates as Azridan ryed his n. Unable to take it anymore, Apollo had a mental outburst, ''WHAT?! I know I said I''d be willing to experience pain but... that''s ridiculous!''

    [It is the only surefire way for you to kill it and im the experience. Tis'' but a little hup in your grand journey~. Don''t be afraid of a scratch.]

    ''What do you mean hup? Not to mention, scratch?! That''s an understatement. Your words sound akin to suicide,'' argued Apollo as he remained appalled by what Azridan instructed of him. If he followed those instructions, the amount of pain he''d be subject to was unimaginable and yet Azridan called it a mere scratch.

    [So, what is your decision? The longer you deliberate over this, the more time eludes you.]

    "I''ll follow through with your directions," Apollo answered, steeling himself.

    [Hide the de in the pit of your stomach and gather your energy. Wait for my signal, however, you''ll be subject to torturous pains.]

    Unbeknownst to him, he spoke too soon. As if the lynx was acting in ordance with his thoughts, it initiated movement soon after. While Apollo gathered his strength, the violent winds and arcs of lightning congregated at the lynx''s mouth inrge quantities. In fact, it depleted the ambient Natural Essence of those two elements in the immediate area.

    Before firing, Azridan bellowed in Apollo''s mind.

    [Now!]

    Acting with haste, Apollo''s knife was engulfed in the fluctuations of the Storm Colossus Lynx''s move. A dreadful aura coated the Vantack Knife as he dashed forward. Before the crackling orb could be released, Apollo stabbed his dangerous weapon into the dead center.

    ''Krrrrrrk!'' ''Fwooosh!'' ''BOOOOOOM!''

    The two conflicting energies collided causing obscene crackles to be heard. Overwhelmed with shock the trio froze. The fluctuations emanating from the scene turned into torrential winds. A moment after, arge explosion.

    "M-mad!" eximed Vren as he caught sight of the posture of Apollo. His appearance...it was unsightly! Shocked countenances remained amongst the trio whilst Apollo performed an astonishing action.

    His body was left in a perilous state whereas his weapon remained impaled through the mouth of the Storm Colossus Lynx and exited through its skull. All signs of life flickering in its eyes extinguished.

    ''This child...he''s suicidal! I''ve never met a youth or a person for that matter, possessing such willful disregard for life; it''s like his demise doesn''t phase him. Or perhaps, was he banking on that attack not killing him? This child; he''s...weird,'' thought Krone while his unmoving gaze remained glued to Apollo.

    ''Ugh... that one strike did it again,'' thought Apollo as he experienced a world of pain as pieces of his physique remained charred. Even more so due to him, using the ?Demonic Massacre Wave?. Luckily, his stamina wasn''t exceedingly low upon usage so he began healing immediately after.

    Wavering, everyone''s body soon became devoid of strength. They had depleted their reserves to kill this thing. Dropping to their bottoms, Apollo''s stamina turned autonomous. Also taking ce, he received his rewards from the system.

    ¡´System Alert! You have performed an enormous feat. First time killing a Rank 3 Variant. You have been awarded a bonus of 50,000 Experience, 10 Demonic Pellets, and 3 Spirit Shards.¡µ

    ?20,000 (10,000 + 10,000) Experience has been received.?

    ?Experience: 87,180/87,900.?

    When taking into ount the beast he slew before, all that remained from reaching Level 89, was a sliver of experience! While examining this, his thoughts were broken by Krone''s voice.

    "Never would I had assumed your view of life was so...irregr. What possessed you tomit such actions," asked Krone while examining Apollo''s body. He saw the scars scabbing over in a short period. ''He heals quick...if I didn''t know his cultivation I''d think he was someone who possessed a cultivation method. Wait...''

    ncing at the pendant on Apollo''s chest he saw a continuous stream of Natural Essence pouring into him albeit faint, ''This artifact...it''s one of the rarest¡ªa healing one. No wonder, so that''s how it is. Though there seems to be an irregrity to it, it seems as if the function is stifled,'' thought Krone as desire filled him.

    Silent for a moment, Apollo pondered how to answer. Of course, he would never reveal the presence of his system. Hence, he answered so, "It was either take the risk or perish anyway. What would you choose?"

    "I see. Well, then. Go over there to extract the cores and deliver them to me," stated Krone in an almostmanding tone before taking a posture that allowed him to absorb copious amounts of Natural Essence. It seemed as if he didn''t appreciate Apollo''s tone.

    Furrowing his brows, Apollo shifted his gaze between the two bodies. ''Without me, this wouldn''t have been possible, yet he wants both cores?'' he thought. Finally, unable to suppress the urge, he peered at Krone, "You''ll take them both? That''s kind of unfair; don''t you think? Where''s my share? How will I bepensated?" continuously questioned Apollo with an unmoving expression.

    In turn, Krone''s expression darkened, ''This little twerp¡­ tch..''

    Trying to get his darkening expression under control, Krone took a breather before uttering, "Oi, kid. Listen up, kid. After we sell off those Essence Cores, we''ll be sure to give you your share. You''ll simply just have to travel with us."

    However, although this is what he verbally said, his mind said otherwise, ''Little twerp, do you really think there was a share for you? In fact, after I recover your belongings will be mine and you''ll be my nice little ve. All we''ll have to do is monitor your growth so that you never surpass us. In the event that you show signs of doing so¡­ heh.''

    "But what will mypensation be? I won''t settle for anything less than a quarter of the profits," retorted Apollo as he continued to haggle. Of course, he didn''t actually care for the profits. He had the system, although it had yet to give him any worldly currency he didn''t doubt the future.

    "Fuck''n twer-" roared Vren only to be interrupted by Krone holding up his hand and opening his experienced eyes. Looking upon Apollo with an intent gaze, he smiled.

    "Why do you believe you deserve such arge portion?"

    "It is quite simple and I shouldn''t have to exin it. Without me, you guys would have without a doubt died. No, perhaps you would have never ventured here in the first ce. In other words, your ns relied upon me being strong enough. I''ve pulled my weight so I should be rewarded as so."

    "Your words may be true but you''re not as vital as you believe. First and foremost, youck experience in the ways of this world. When those stronger than you speak, it is imperative you shut your mouth and oblige," coldly uttered Krone before rising to his feet.

    Brushing past Apollo, he ceased his recovery process and approached the carcasses. Carving out their Essence Core, he stored them in a pouch smaller than the one hanging at Apollo''s waist. Turning his lip in contempt, he peered back at Apollo, "I hope next time it is different."

    "I don''t expect any backtalk during the next confrontation. In the meantime, make yourself useful and carve this beast. We''re in need of a meal," spoke Krone as he delegated all of the grunt work to Apollo.

    [Tch, they look down upon you. Bide your time, all you need to do is appear that you''re meekly following their orders. They''ll soon have a surprise of their own, I''ve looked into your ns. It will work.]

    ''That''s just what I wanted to hear,'' inwardly thought Apollo. However, on the outside, his discontent was visible but he didn''t voice it and simply nodded. "Okay." While did so, that didn''t mean he would take this matter sitting down. A cynical smile appeared on his smile as ideas flowed through his mind.

 Chapter 57 - Enraged, Reverse Scale

    ----

    ''If they overstep their boundaries, I''ll handle this matter at the most opportune time.'' ??

    Dragging the corpse of the Zephyr Wolf towards the Storm Colossus Lynx, he overheard the conversation between the party. Some of which he was surprised by. ''It''s that valuable? I wonder what level core that lynx had. It seemed to be of good talent.''

    [No lower than exceptional based on its fluctuations. You guys were lucky there were 4 of you. If not, it would have found enough time to muster the Natural Essence sufficient to unleash its innate abilities.]

    "Aye'' boss. That catty beast over there it was a variant, ye''? So it''ll fetch us a pretty penny. How much do you think?" asked Vren as he opened his eyes to fulfill his curiosity.

    "It should be worth at least 5,000 pieces of Spirit Shards. That''s just a rough guess. After we have it appraised, we''ll find out the actual worth. After all, it''s a dual element core with both wind and the rarer thunder/lightning element," answered Krone as he nced at Apollo''s movements.

    ''He''s quite used to this. But that''s to be expected seeing as he looks as if he''s been surviving out here for quite a while,'' thought Krone while ncing toward Vren''sical expression.

    "W-what?! 5,000 Spirit Shards? Those things are expensive! Only those great families and war academies does use those fer'' cultivation! It''s a shame we aren''t Spirit Cultivators. We can''t use it properly and the small Natural Essence mixed in isn''t enough," stated Vren with an excited expression which soon turned downcast.

    "We can always exchange it for pills and elixirs. Not to mention, there''s the even rarer chance of obtaining some Spirit Stones! Those can be used by anyone as they bnced in both Natural and Spiritual Essence. Only¡­ those rarely appear in cirction," countered Krone as he began mulling over the scarce cirction of cultivation resources for straggler cultivators.

    In Astarat, there remained two types of currency; credits and the forms of spiritual gems. Thetter was more so circted throughout the high cultivation world whereas the former was more for the ones who favored hard currency. In some ces, those bereft of cultivators leaned more towards credits.

    "It''s a shame that our conditions weren''t better. Do you guys sometimes regret our talent falling short of the baseline for the army? Even the grunt division required one to be a Zul Knight, and to reach so before 20," questioned id as he yed with a throwing knife, passing it through his finger as his tone became morose.

    "Let''s not ruminate over that matter and just forget the past," stated Krone before shifting the topic, "Instead, let us have a feast and recover ourselves to venture deeper." Tearing apart the cooked beast meat, everyone ate their filled leaving a decrepit carcass.

    ¡´System Alert! 100g of Variant Rank 3 Spirit Beast Meat has been consumed.¡µ

    ¡´System Alert! 100g of Variant Rank 3 Spirit Beast Meat has been consumed.¡µ

    ?300 (150 + 150) Experience has been received.?

    .

    .

    .

    Needless to say, ingesting the copious amounts of this high-quality meat soon resulted in Apollo''s level up along with a quicker healing process. Furthermore, even after the fact, he continued to eat while looking with an intent gaze.

    ?Congrattions, Level 89 has been achieved; .2 Attributes and 4 Stat Points have been awarded.?

    Hearing this message, there was a slight change in his aura the others remained unaware of. A glint passed through his eyes, as he checked his stats for a moment.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step) [69.93%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 11

    Level: 89

    Experience: 36,680/92,900.

    Health: 1,952/1,952

    Stamina: 1,952/1,952

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 6 Mortal [270/400]

    Physique: Earth-Grade (Peak Tier)

    Zuls: 270

    Strength: 67.6

    Agility: 65.2

    Intelligence: 33.5

    Vitality: 48.8

    [?Traits?]-

    ?Increased Essence Affinity?

    ?Minor Poison Resistance?

    [?Techniques?]-

    ?Supreme Demon Body: 7 Sinful Stigmata?

    ?Baleful Steps: Phantasmal Daemos?

    ?War Path: Nine Infernal Annihtions?

    Stat Points: 41

    Satisfied with what he saw, he paused before asking a questionced with malicious intent albeit hidden under the guise of seeking power.

    "How about we explore more of this path and travel along its edges. Despite those spirit beast beingrge, my body still needs more food; you four have eaten arge portion of the meal. I''ll forfeit my share in cores if we can do so," offered Apollo. However, his intentions were far from amicable. ording to Azridan''s words, something remained nearby.

    "Hmm? You''re still going on about that? Little twerp, go cry to your parents or something. You''re too naggy. Were you not loved as a child or something? We''re not here to babysit you. You need to learn more about this world before asking us to do things," chuckled id before widening his eyes.

    "What did you just say?" asked Apollo in a chilled tone as he rose to his feet. It was clear he didn''t appreciate id''s words from the abrupt change in his aura. Clenching his fists, he red daggers at id.

    [Insolence! Kill him! Dismember his body. Mutte his existence. How dare he talk to you like this? I swear on my rite as your predecessor, do not give him a light death. sphemy your legacy? Mindless swine!]

    ''I swear upon Apollo''s name, I will allow no such thing,'' responded Apollo as he swore to the previous owner of this body.

    "What?"nguidly answered id sporting an amused expression. It was clear he took him lightly. But they underestimated the thoughts which circted throughout this deranged youth''s mind. He seemed enraged as if his reverse scale was touched! Deadly wisps of aura leaked from him. They couldn''t understand the change.

    ''Hmm? Thisd...what does he seek to do?'' thought Krone as he raised his eyebrow intrigued by the unraveling events.

    "I asked you a question, what the fuck did you just say?" asked Apollo again as he approached the slender id. This time he swore something he had never done before as he moved closer a single step at a time.

    "Oi, you think you''re some big shot? I don''t mind putting a kid in his ce," stated id as he also rose to his feet. On the other hand, he chuckled in his mind, ''I''ve been waiting for some riling incident to take ce.''

    "Good, keep that same mindset," said Apollo with a cynical smile as he dashed into the distance. ''I wasn''t intending on making a move so soon but You guys don''t intend to give me a share and you speak enraging words. So, I will no longer be polite. I wee your doom!''

    ''Whoosh!'' He dashed into the distance which shocked the party. They thought this child had grown too big from his britches. If that was the case, they didn''t mind knocking him down a few peg, however, it turned out to not be the case. Instead, he seemed to turn into a frightened mouse who scurried away.

    "Tch, all bark no bite," uttered id as he sat down continuing his previous actions of recuperating. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to them their reactions would soon be forever regretted. They had stepped on the toes of a lunatic; one who didn''t hold any qualms with stirring up discord!

 Chapter 58 - Insane Youth (II)

    ----

    Rather than confronting them who were a few stages higher than him, Apollo had other ns in mind. Utilizing the limit of his agility, he sped through the distance at the directions of Azridan. ??

    [Turn right.]

    Shifting directions, Apollo darted to the right before narrowing his eyes. He wasn''t sure what he was looking for but Azridan informed him that it would be of much use should he take advantage of it properly.

    [Up ahead, beyond that ditch make a left. You''lle before a clearing and you''ll find exactly what I wanted you to find.]

    "Is it an item?" Apollo questioned while continuing to zoom through the expanse of the forest. Soon enough, he caught glimpses of creatures that seemed to blend in with the encroaching night.

    [Of course not, seldom would you find such a thing out here. Do you see them? That is your means of chaos! Utilize them.]

    Narrowing his eyes, he examined what seemed to be multiplerge and violent deer. Their ckened coats and crimson eyes shined as they looked up, shifting their attention towards him. They varied in size from some fully grown doe and bucks to their fawns.

    As soon as Apollo entered, they became defensive of their youths. On the other hand, Apollo gazed at their information and smiled. "It seems they''re of the darkness element. I wonder¡­ would the night have beneficial effects on that element?"

    Monster Name: Dark Shadow Does

    Rank: Early Stage Rank 3 Spirit Beast

    Health: 5,600/5,600

    [It is indeed possible, abduct one of their young. Enrage them and you know the rest.]

    Utilizing the Partial Shade Silhouette which seemed more potent now that it was night, Apollo snatched one of Dark Shadow Does'' youths and bolted into the distance. Shrieks of rage sounded behind Apollo as he never once ceased moving.

    The shadows of his silhouette turned into a blur while encroaching on the position of the unsuspecting trio. As he looked behind him, he caught sight of the galloping deer beast approaching him quickly but not fast enough to warrant fear.

    ''So this is what using this technique during the night does? If only I could increase my mastery with this technique, I wouldn''t have to worry aboutcking agility,'' thought Apollo as he looked down at the young beast in his hand.

    "Unfortunately for you, you''ll have to be a sacrifice," uttered Apollo as he gazed into the young fawns curious eyes before arriving before the trio. Looking at him with weird gazes, they watched as he slit the throat of the young deer. However, they couldn''t understand why he would do such a thing. The beast didn''t even seem to have a core.

    "Enjoy my gift," stated Apollo with an amicable smile whilst throwing the lifeless deer into the midst of the trio. Without a second to waste, Apollo hightailed it out of there leaving a fading shadowy image in his wake. Confounded by his actions, indignance flooded their minds.

    "What de'' fuck!? Stop ying around youth. Get back ''ere," bellowed Vren before falling silent. Gazing at the iing tide of beast, he froze in shock.

    "W-what did he do?! Get rid of that beast. He''s lured a horde of them in this direction," snarled Krone. Unfortunately for them, the way Apollounched the young fawn, the blood sttered across all of them. Its unique scent was imprinted on them.

    On the other hand, id remained appalled by the shadowy wisps encasing Apollo''s retreating figure, ''I was correct! He was hiding his speed; he must possess even more secrets.''

    Harrowing bleats sounded behind them interrupting their thoughts as they began to rush into the distance. However, the scent of their young''s blood and its lifeless carcass plunged them into madness. Hellbent on revenge, they pursued the trio drenched in the scent.

    Meanwhile, scaling a tree, Apollo reigned in all signs of his presence even sealing his acupoints so the aura of Natural Essence wouldn''t leak. Under him, he witnessed the distance between the two parties shortening.

    [They''re burning their essences to increase their strengths. Like this, they''ll catch up to those three in a short period of time.]

    On the other hand, the trio continued cursing Apollo and then at each for their blunder.

    "Damn! Why didn''t we kill the kid when he had the chance? It turns out he''s a conniving rat," snarled id as he pulled ahead of the others albeit the distance not being apparent.

    "Fuck! I say we should''ve killed him. We should have just taken his belongings and be done with it. Boss, I ''dink you were too greedy! He is more vicious than we thought. We should have known this!" eximed Vren as he fell behind the other. Agility was far from being his forte.

    "Tch¡­ shut up already. I know! The way he killed without flinching and carved that beast¡­ I should''ve suspected something like this. But damn, you fail to realize one thing! He can utilize Natural Essence and he''s kept it hidden from us all this time," screeched Krone as his eyes turned crimson thinking about that hateful youth.

    At that moment, numerous shadowy wisps enclosed on them. Splitting apart, they dodged. It was then brought to their attention, the situation was worse than they thought.

    "Long-distance skills. Our intentions are futile. We''ll stay and fight. Conserve energy and remain wary!"manded Krone amid withdrawing his sabers.

    Engaging in battle, they focused on defending. However, lurking in the shadows above, Apollo smiled, ''You reap what you sow. You wanted to cheat me out of my rewards and covet my items, I''ll covet your life!'' Unsheathing the Vantack Knife, Apollo bided in the dark.

    Multiple cuts had already appeared on the body of the two and they were showing signs of essence exhaustion. Despite their efforts in killing, the numbers were stillrge and difficult to deal with.

    ''Not much longer, thought Apollo as he made a move which baffled Azridan.

    [Lad, could it be you''re going to try doing that?]

    ''Yes, I will. Increase Strength by 2.4, Vitality by 1.2 and Agility by .3. After all, you said their deaths can''t be light.''

    ?Strength: 67.6 ¡ú 70.0?

    ?Agility: 65.2 ¡ú 65.5?

    ?Vitality: 48.8 ¡ú 50.0?

    By increasing his parameters, he felt empowered. But more importantly, he received a message that surprised him and bolstered his desire to kill.

    "So, this is the first milestone to achieving that? I wonder what the next milestone will be," muttered Apollo as he nced at the message.

    ¡´System Alert! Reaching 70.0 Strength and 50.0 Vitality, the effects of the First Annihtion Demonic Massacre Wave have been determined.¡µ

    A small barrier felt as if it had shattered as he clenched his fist. ''50 Vitality. This feels insane. It seems as if my body was made for body cultivation.'' Apollo mused. At this moment, his health had breached the 2,000s; an amount on par with some beasts.

    [As I mentioned before, a demon''s physique is ungodly. Just wait until you witness what happens when you attain a small mastery in that cultivation method.]

    "Your words just make me desire it more. However, that is beside the point. It''s time¡­" stated Apollo as his gaze chilled. The trio''s breaths had grown ragged and uneven as they clung to desperate straits.

    Tapping his foot, Apollo spread his arms as his descent began. At this same time, his stamina meter drained at a disturbing rate, however, the exchange was worth it.

    Large fluctuations of a deadly aura not seeming to be Natural Essence took ce alerting the group of mercenaries. Raising their heads, they remained confounded by shocking events.

    "WHHHAAT?!"

 Chapter 59 - Primary Massacre [Gore]

    ----

    Witnessing Apollo''s descent, the eyes of the trio widened. They were under the impression that he vanished amid the mor of the beast horde. Naturally, their thoughts turned out to be terribly mistaken as the shadow of his figure appeared fromying in wait. ??

    Engulfed in the shadowy mantle of the Partial Shade Silhouette, he kicked off the tree''s trunk. The Dark Shadow Does didn''t pay attention to his movements as they were intent on unleashing their rage on these three, however, the trio remained apprehensive of his intentions.

    For the most part, Spirit Beast would be able to realize the culprit based on the unique Natural Essence signature everyone''s body generated. However, Apollo bypassed this fact by using the young fawn''s blood as a catalyst to disrupt their rational mind.

    Not to mention, too much of Apollo''s aura lingered around. His repeated use of the Partial Shade Silhouette left traces of him everywhere. Hence, the Dark Shadow Does released their wrath upon the first humans in their sight¡ªthe trio of Krone, id, and Vren.

    "Fuck! We dun'' fell victim to his wicked scheme! This child is ruthless. We must kill''em; murder that kid," bellowed Vren as he became manic smashing his broadsword in a frenzied manner. The situation no longer warranted the conservation with the addition of Apollo.

    Meanwhile, Krone frowned as he scrutinized the descent of Apollo amongst the trees. Using their branches as covers, he evaded the sights of the spirit beasts for the moment. At the same time, a wicked smile appeared on his lips as he twirled the Vantack Knife between his fingers.

    "What do you intend to do!?" Krone shed his saber creating crimson whirlwinds attempting to slice Apollo into mincemeat. Regrettably, by the time they reached Apollo, he was in a different position in the air. Surprisingly, he was able to use the shadow silhouette as a means to perform minute aerial movements.

    [Oh? Lad, your proficiency in this skill is rising. I didn''t expect you to execute minute void maneuvers. Interesting, you intrigue me. Just what will you be capable of at the use of the third step?]

    ''The third step? I''m curious as to what it is exactly.'' Apollo dodged another burst of crimson energy. Looking down on Krone from above, Apollo smirked, "Why, I intend to kill you of course. Did you think I was oblivious to your negative intention? Do you take me as some type of helpless child? Tch.."

    "Dammit!" yelled Krone, as a crimson glint filled his eyes with his shoulder-length hair fluttering in the wind, "If we are to die, you''ll be apanying us. Killl!"

    A thick coat of crimson energy engulfed Krone''s sabers as his physique and vitality began to visibly weaken. In exchange, his aura bolstered to a degree unnatural to the Zul Warrior Realm. In these dire straits, he was utilizing a forbidden technique.

    "What?! Boss¡­ dun use shit like that. You know forbidden techniques rob the lifeforce," shrieked Vren as hints of worry entered his eyes. A forbidden technique was not something to use lightly. Depending on the level of it, the most diresome of drawbacks could be death.

    "In this situation, we are left with no other choice! Look at the ocean of beasts! How do you suppose we survive this? So be it, if we are to die¡­ we will. However, I will not go down without taking that damnable youth with us, Vampiric Technique: Sacrificial Murder!"

    ''Ziiiiiiiiiiiing!''

    The aura coated the saber became sonorous as a savage feeling pervaded the atmosphere. A torrent of murderous intent flooded Krone''s mind as he dashed into the heart of the beast horde.

    Chuckling, Apollo''s eyes gleamed with battle intent. "I can see it! You''re desperate straits. You''re exhausted¡­ Killll!" bellowed Apollo as each of his steps left a harrowing footprint in the reinforced bark.

    "Fuck it all! No more holding back," bellowed Vren as rock spurs formed from within and pierced his skin around his joints, "Transformation: Earthen Thorns."

    Clicking his tongue, id threw caution to the wind as well, activating a technique that didn''t distinguish between friend or foe, "Serrated Winds: Tempestuous Ruins." Violent winds carrying a silver glint circted around him as minute cuts opened on his skin.

    Landing on the ground, Apollo''s stamina plummeted drastically. In turn, a dreadful aura burst from his weapon but didn''t run rampant. Instead, a yful smirk appeared on Apollo''s face. A ck shadow, that''s all that was seen of his as he zipped through the minute opening between the spirit beasts.

    "Fast!" uttered id with widened eyes. Even he wasn''t capable of this speed, it was also as if Apollo was utilizing elements beyond his own, ''We have to kill this youth. Even if our cultivations take a hit, it''s better to escape alive.''

    "Dieee!!" A crimson haze fired from Krone''s sabers aiming at the maneuvering Apollo. The unlucky Dark Shadow Does grazed by this haze¡ªeven in the slightest¡ªwere reduced to dry carcasses. In the next moment, Vren and id unleashed their attacks as well. Aimed at one point, three attacks billowed at Apollo.

    Instead of fear, Apollo chuckled, "Just kidding." His body phased out of this spot! He had tricked them! Their reserves were used to make suicidal attacks and yet they were yed by the youth.

    "What?! This damn child!!" roared Vren. However, behind them, a crouched nebulous Apollo came into appearance amid a skidding halt. The Vantack Knife was engulfed in an even more terrifying aura. The backs of the defenseless three were exposed.

    "Unbeknownst to you, you walked into the grasp of a demon with malicious intent. Now, die in my embrace! First Annihtion: Demonic Massacre Wave" bellowed Apollo in an unhurried manner which only entuated their dread.

    A massacring wave continued to gain momentum as it billowed forward. It contained a faint heat that warped the immediate space while also exuding a torrential feeling of death.

    "Noooo!" roared Krone as he turned and executed two abrupt shes which didn''t amount to much. Noticing this, in the minute window he changed his actions. He poured thest bits of his modified Natural Essence into his saber andunched it towards Apollo.

    [Dodge that. NOW!]

    "I¡­-"

    ''Skrrrrrrrrrreee!'' ''Pucht!''

    The saber grazed against the wave causing a sonorous ring disorienting everyone. In the next moment, the same arm he nearly lost before was pierced through. Only, this time even his bone was pierced through. Gritting his teeth, Apollo held on trying his best not to sumb to the madness welling up inside him.

    [Again? This is happening too often. Why is this so? Apollo, control it! Do not enter that state this time.]

    "I''m¡­.trying.." uttered Apollo through clenched teeth. But a crimson shade crept into his eyes as he nced at the bisected bodies of the trio as well as the swarm of beasts behind them. Unbeknownst to him, he used over 1,500 stamina to empower that strike. Hence, its size was something that appalled nearly everyone.

    Inching closer, he noticed signs of life in the trio. After all, the vitality of Zul Warriors was iparable to Mortal Realm cultivators. Not to mention, the properties of the technique Apollo executed seared their wounds shut. At the same time, repeated messages from this kills of the Spirit Beast sounded.

    "You...you''re the cause of my arm, so you die first," uttered Apollo as bent down stabbing the knife into the left eye of Krone before giving it an unhurried twist. Painful screams sounded from Krone''s throat, however, Apollo clenched it shut and stared him in his single good eye.

    "Do you understand what your actions get you? Death! A slow one," Apollo then dealt with the second eye before digging his fingers into the sockets. Enacting the twisted thoughts flooding his mind from seemingly nowhere. Soon enough, Krone''s body remained unmoving¡ªdead. In that period, Vren, the one who bore the brunt of the attack, died. However, Apollo''s true target remained alive.

    [Lad, sometimes you surprise me. Why are you able to enter this state and why do you exude such demonic traits?]

    "You. You deserve the most painful death of them all. You don''t know me yet you mention my parents who I was unfortunate not to know," approaching step by step Apollo bent down before id whose eyes filled with unconcealed terror.

    "S-stop...you''re too cruel. Just kill m-"

    ''Ck!''

    Stepping on his jaw, Apollo shattered it dealing with his ability to formte words. At the same time, a system notification sounded capturing his attention extricating his cold gaze from id.

    ?System Alert! Due to your actions, you have...?

 Chapter 60 - Demonic Conduct [Gore]

    ----

    ?System Alert: Due to your actions, you have unlocked the tab ?Demonic Conduct?. For more information, seek knowledge from the current warden of the system.???

    Pausing in his tracks, Apollo remained intrigued by the mentioned Demonic Conduct. It was a term he was entirely unfamiliar with. As a result, he sought rification from Azridan.

    "What exactly is Demonic Conduct?"

    [Oh? You''ve unlocked that already? In my estimations, that should have happened when you finished your first sin stigmata. Perhaps it was elerated from your intense murderous intentions. After all, it isn''t everyday one canmit such misdeeds. Nevertheless, it is how it sounds. It pertains to the actions a demon wouldmit.]

    "Such as?" Apollo fired back with an abrupt question. His curiosity had still yet to be appeased.

    [For example, the matters you just conducted. A demon does not take murderous intentions towards them likely. As such, they''re known to retaliate in an immediate and brutal matter. In your case, you killed one, tortured another, currently unleashing your ire on thest of the three. Hence, your conduct is one of theuded demonic way.]

    "I see. If that''s the case, does it present any benefits?" asked Apollo as he knelt down looking id in his trembling eyes. In id''s perspective, what remained before him didn''t look human. He was talking to himself and the look in his eyes sought death! His skin crawled as fear overwhelmed his wavering reason.

    "I-...Ha¡­." trying to speak, id was unable to. His shattered jaw prohibited him from doing so. Tears pooled in his eyes; a youth was causing him so much terror he was losing control of his bodily functions. At this point, all he sought was death but unlike the others, only his thighs and below were sliced off. It wouldn''t warrant a quick death.

    [That goes without saying. Check the interface, it should detail the benefits of such a thing.]

    Following the instructions, Apollo soon saw an expansive screen before him. Additionally, it possessed multiple subsections pertaining to different types of actions. In fact, there were 7; each of which connected to their respective sin. It seemed as if it was a way to extract rewards from sinning!

    [?Demonic Conduct?] - Something vital to bing a true demon; one must be one at their core. In other words, they must possess the bearing of a demon: ruthless, and adamant in their path while also dauntless to peril. Killing enemies with malicious intent towards you garners rewards unique to that future category.

    ?Behavior of the Sinners?

    ?Behavior: Wrath?

    [Massacre Path] - (Stage One Multiplier: 1.2x)

    Stage One: Kill 1 Human possessing malicious intentions [COMPLETED!]

    Reward: 5 Demonic Essence Pellet

    Stage Two: Kill 5 Humans possessing malicious intentions [In progress: 2/5]

    Reward: 10 Demonic Essence Pellet, 1 Fragment of Sin.

    ....

    [Tortuous Demonic Path] - (Stage One Multiplier: 1.5 times)

    Stage One: Torture 1 malicious human to the point of insanity [In progress]

    Reward: 10,000 Experience, 1 Inferior Crystallized Chaos, and 5 Demonic Essence Pellets.

    .

    .

    .

    "Hmm? There''s so much I can do? But why does it indicate malicious persons only?" muttered Apollo as he fell into a ponderous situation. One where he was awoken by Azridan''s guidance.

    [We demons are not mindless creatures of rage as depicted. Well, that depends on one''s path of course. As for typical demons, we are reactive creatives. Responding to the stimulus, we take the course of actions that most suit our styles. In essence, we aren''t creatures who murder ceaselessly. Your ire can only be directed at those who provoke you.]

    "What would happen if I was to step outside the guidelines of the system?" inquired Apollo. There was always the notion of what if floating within his mind. Even if he never acted upon it, it would drift into his mind.

    [I''m not exactly sure of this? However, I believe you''d be punished so refrain from doing so. If you ever find yourself in such a situation in which you lose control. I suggest you inflict self-punishment. The negative emotions generated towards yourself should counteract the vile thoughts entering your mind. Especially so if directed towards the innocent.]

    "I see," muttered Appollo before a maniacal smirk appeared as he locked sights with id. Picking up the Vantack Knife, he sharpened his nail with it until it was capable of slicing his own skin.

    "With your elements, as well as thatst technique you used...you should be used to being cut right?" chuckled Apollo with a chilled tone.

    "Amhpp...Mmmph!" id''s throat shuddered while his tongue iled. Yet, indiscernible words were formed. Meanwhile, one thought flooded his mind, ''Stop! Please stop! End it¡­!''

    ncing at his tattered clothes, Apollo''s mind went electric with dark thoughts as he sliced and stabbed each opening. Continuing his actions, he thrust the tip of his knife in the sides of id''s fingers. Rather than the nail, he did it right below causing his trembling body to stricken.

    "That tongue of yours, it''s annoying. Let''s get rid of it." Unlike before, Apollo''s actions were slow. Treating it as if it was a cow''s tongue, sliced it off piece by piece. Grabbing his jaw, Apollo pulled.

    Tears pooled in id''s eye further as he felt that vice-grip on two sections of his head. Pained groans escaped his throat as Apollo''s emotionless eye stared at him. Drawing his arm back while his arm threatened to rip off Apollo paid it no mind.

    "You all¡­ it''s your fault. Bear the consequences."

    ''Crrrkkkk!''

    An unnerving cracking noise was heard from both id''s jaw and Apollo''s shoulder as he pulled back. Soon enough, id''s lower jaw gave out! Apollo had pulled his jaw from his skull. His good arm buried id''s head in the dirt as he did so.

    Rolling back in pain, id''s eyes fluttered. He was weing the oue but dreaded the fact it couldn''t arrive fast enough; hundred of cuts appeared on his body. Until finally, Apollo plunged his fingers into id''s throat and ripped out his esophagus. Finally, perishing, Apollo stood.

    Although he enacted his revenge, he didn''t feel joy; he felt empty.

    [Wow...I may have witnessed a scene that would give even me nightmares. Ruthless! What an abominable rage! I adore it! Perhaps this is why you''re the prime candidate. The system must have judged your repressed hatred! I look forward to your future!]

    ?System Alert! You have enacted your Demonic Conduct in a spectacr fashion. The rewards have been delivered.?

    A momentter, a small dimensional portal opened distributing his rewards while his experience meter raised by 30,000. In a matter of moment, the number of Demonic Essence Pellets he possessed increased significantly.

    ncing back at him, Apollo collected the spatial pouches of the three before confiscating their weapons as well. Although he hadn''t trained in them, it was useful to have extra. Not to mention, it was brought to his attention that he was talented in the ways ofbat due to certain reasons.

    [Hmm? I sense movement in the distance. However, is your state suitable to battle in-]

    "Yes. My irritation still isn''t quelled. I need to vent more. Afterward, we''ll proceed with the ns we discussed," stated Apollo. As of now, his voice was cold. In fact, it gave an odd feeling of being something else entirely. Of course, Azridan didn''t question because he knew exactly what this was.

    [Then proceed. Keep in mind the condition of that arm. It''ll take even more effort to heal it this time. Perhaps this will be a good lesson on how to protect damaged areas.]

    After his response, arge number of Dark Shadow Does came into view except these ones seemed to be rather damaged.

    ''My attack traveled that far?'' thought Apollo until he took a look at his stamina bar, ''Less than 300 left¡­ that''s under a quarter. It''ll have to suffice.'' Picking up the saber previously used by Krone he dashed into the fray.

 Chapter 61 - Amassing Cultivation Resources, Plundering

    ----

    At first, his movements were harsh and unnatural. However, as Apollo limated to the saber, he began to utilize it better. A sign of hisprehensive ability and dexterity being substantial. Nevertheless, the Dark Shadow Does were no weak opponent. Not to mention, his state wasn''t exactly desirable. ??

    Fortunately, how he was now, Apollo''s senses were heightened. A dangerous violet gleam danced in the wind as he swayed using the Partial Shade Silhouette sparsely. The ck de blended with this technique.

    As a result, many of his strikes were unable to be dodged. Of course, he sustained damage as well. After all, the numbers remained a bit overwhelming. Even then, he never lost sight of his desires.

    ''Splich!''

    The saber pierced the throat of a thinner foe within the masses. Retreating, Apollo nced at his stamina. ''Thankfully, the pendant is healing me but it''s rather but I''m not in the position toin. My perfected Earth-grade inner talent is contributing to the slowed stamina consumption but¡­ there still remains at least 50 of them. Even if I use 3 stamina on all of them, will I have enough to retreat?''

    Throughout the whole spectacle, he had in upwards of 20 Spirit Beasts. However, in the process, he had used over 100 stamina. Although it wasn''trge, it wouldn''t sustain him ying everything here nor was he able to perform another Demonic Massacre Wave.

    ''If I retreat to recover, it also presents time for them to do so as well. It''s known that beasts recover faster than humans. Although I''m not one, my rate has barely increased. Perhaps, my stats haven''t reached that level yet,'' thought Apollo as he held the saber neutral before him.

    Closing his eyes, Apollo exhaled and attempted to clear his mind, ''Will I be able to perform that? ording to Azridan''s story, he healed me by utilizing the essence of everything that contained it. But to do that¡­ I''d need a deep grasp of Natural Essence on a fundamental level.''

    [Execute the cirction pathways, it won''t heal you. But it''ll neutralize some of your consumption. Although, doing this will present that burning sensation from cultivation. Will you be able to withstand and battle at the same time? As you know, that pain is not to be taken lightly.]

    "I can''t give you a definitive answer, but I will try," responded Apollo before drawing in trace amounts of Natural Essence. While his state took a turn for the better, the sensation he felt grew worse by the second.

    "Tch¡­ this is difficult!" eximed Apollo as he dodged a shadowy ember. Landing behind him, it seared a tree. At the same time, a grey glow emitted from the group of [Dark Shadow Does] eyes. When Apollo looked at them, he felt his consciousness shake.

    ''A mental attack? Why do they possess that?''

    [Those of the Dark Element usually have two traits: high agility and disorienting moves. They''re trying to overpower your senses. I suggest you battle with your eyes closed. Furthermore, you should try operating by feel; you never know when a situation confronts you when you are robbed of vision.]

    Closing his eyes, Apollo relied upon both his senses of hearing and feeling. The shift in the flow of the wind indicated the approach of something. Hence, he dodged whilst his ears twitched at the crack of a branch. Relying on the presence of his other senses, he was opened up to a new world. He felt as if he could see without actually seeing.

    He was visualizing the events taking ce! In other words, he was forming a faint sea of perception. Despite not attempting Spirit Cultivation, he was already presenting signs of overactive sense. Needless to say, the instant benefit to Spirit Cultivation was sharper senses birthing a concrete perception otherwise known as Spiritual Awareness.

    This took Spiritual Vision a step beyond. 1...10...25¡­ The number of enemies he continued to y increased. In fact, he was growing infinitely closer to Lv.90. What stood between him and obtaining that goal was but a few more kills.

    Unable to bear the burning sensation, Apollo canceled the cirction. Luckily, he recovered enough to where his stamina wasn''t near the point of exhaustion. shing the sharp saber, he created small arcs of weaponized Natural Essence at the expense of stamina.

    With this saber, he was capable of doing so. With the properties of Vantack Knife and not being conducive to Natural Essence, he wasn''t able to do this with it. Nevertheless, the material of the knife still remained stronger. The durability of the saber was weakening quicker inparison to it. Most of which was due to the nature of Apollo''s Natural Essence¡ªtyrannical.

    Soon enough, Apollo ceased his actions as both all the beasts were in and he reached Lv.90. At the same time, the single saber he used for the moment broke in half. Tossing it aside, he collected the Essence Core of every present beast. In light of this, he also fished through the pouches and to his surprise finding numerous Essence Cores.

    ''That''s right. I believe they sell these. I assume this collected on this expedition. I guess it''s a shame all their efforts went to me. I''ll dly ept,'' chuckled Apollo as he counted the total number. In addition, to what he collected¡ªranging from Rank 2 to Rank 3 there were nearly 1,000 cores in total. But what remained in his sights the entire time was the core of the Storm Colossus Lynx.

    Item Name: Superior Essence Core

    Element: Wind and Lightning

    Rank: III

    Purity: Third Cycle

    Benefits: Uponpletely absorbing the core''s essence, it can increase the Agility Attribute by 2.5 to 4.6 points. Additionally, the essence will allow an increase of up to 25 Zuls.

    Contained Experience: 49,745/60,000.

    Approximation: ~3.9-4.2 Agility and ~16-19 Zuls.

    ''Hmm? This contains both Zul increase and experience, that''s interesting. I''ll cultivate with this immediately,'' thought Apollo until his excitement was quickly extinguished.

    [I don''t rmend you do so. The essence of Lightning is amongst the more dangerous few. And the state you''re in now. I suggest you first heal up then proceed with those actions. It''ll take about a month before you''re ready to use that.]

    ''Tch...just when I was ecstatic. You had to rain on my parade. Nevertheless, we aplished what we came for. I wish to return back to seclusion. With the pills I received from Irauk and the Essence Cores¡­ it should be enough right?''

    [It''s possible. We''ll have to see. Your body should be requiring more and more essence to evolve and strengthen. Don''t forget, you''re still within the Earth-Grade. You still have a long road ahead of you.]

    "I see, but¡­ why is the experience pool so huge?!" eximed the wide-eyed Apollo. He couldn''t believe what he was seeing. Based on the notification from the level up, it increased significantly!

    [I did tell you the aftereffects of entering Lv.90 is rather....confounding, no? Now that you''ve entered it, you should take a look.]

    "Ugh¡­" groaned Apollo when he saw the progression but even worse, he froze when he learned the limitations of Lv.90!

 Chapter 62 - Limitations

    ----

    ?Demonic Conduct Multiplier applied! Total Experience received from the kill of Zul Warriors: 43,380.???

    ?Demonic Conduct Multiplier applied! Total Experience received from torture endeavors: 27,000.?

    .

    .

    .

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 90. .5 Attributes and 5 Stat Points have been rewarded.?

    ?System Alert! Changes have taken ce due to you reaching ate threshold. For more information, look to the Foundational Chart.?

    "Ugh...are you serious? This is the limitation? Then...isn''tbat useless?!" groaned Apollo as he finished collecting his spoils. After which he fled the area without erasing any signs of battle. First and foremost, it was far too distant from the inner ring. He didn''t want to risk any run-ins with Rank 3 Spirit Beasts.

    ''I should''ve known something like this would happen. After all, it is far too big of a jump to receive .5 Attributes from the previous .2,'' thought Apollo as he looked at the temporary restrictions ced upon him by the system.

    As for the limitations it was as such:

    [?Foundational Chart?]

    (Mortal-Grade Talent)

    (Earth-Grade Talent) - Liberation of stats.

    [Requirement Breakdown]-

    .

    .

    .

    ?Level 90? - Experience required to level up is set to 150,000.

    Reward: .5 Attributes and 5 Stat Points.

    ?Level 91? - Experience required to level up is set to 200,000.

    Reward: .5 Attribute and 6 Stat Points.

    (Spirit-Grade) - Vital Threshold

    ?????

    ?Limitation: Until further notice¡ªonce youplete certain tasks¡ªthe ability to receive experience from the kills of Spirit Beast will be disabled. To continue your rapid growth, aplish the grand objectives.?

    ¡­

    [Before youin you should assess the situation. The limitation doesn''t mean you need to stopbat altogether. It simply states that the act of killing the beasts won''t grant experience. However, take a moment and think. Does this mean all your paths to experience are cut off?]

    "No¡­ there''s still their core I can rely upon," uttered Apollo in deep thought as he maneuvered through the forest trees ncing at his arm frequently. Soon after, he continued voicing his thoughts, "It seems as if the system wants me to focus on cultivating."

    [You''re also forgetting about their meat. You can still intake the essence stored within. As for your thoughts, that may be correct. It goes without saying, you possessbat awareness beyond your years. What you need to do now is cultivate incessantly. Don''t you feel it?]

    "Feel what?" questioned Apollo with a nk look. He was unsure what Azridan meant by this question. It was so ambiguous; it could mean a myriad of things.

    [A small barrier, do you not feel it? As if your body hase in contact with something?]

    Taking a moment, Apollo assessed himself before his eyes gleamed. Now that Azridan mentioned it, he could indeed note a difference within himself. His meridians felt like they were on the brink of a metamorphosis!

    "Are you saying I''m close to achieving the next state? Perhaps, that''s why the system has increased the requirements so? If that''s the case, does it mean it gets increasingly difficult to advance in inner physique?" a stream of questions escaped Apollo''s mouth.

    [Hmm, unfortunately, I can''t disclose that as I''m unaware. Apparently, it depends upon your actions. Nevertheless, hurry back to the cave so I can seal it and allow you to seclude yourself.]

    "En," nodded Apollo before blitzing into the distance turning into a ck shadowy blur. At the same time, he found himself wondering how long before this skill leveled up or if it required something else to do so?

    ----

    Landing before the cave, Apollo''s momentum fell to a crawl. The look in his eyes changed to that of when Azridan temporarily controlled him. Purplish ck wisps escaped his fingers soon sealing the entrance once again.

    Sitting down, before cultivating properly, Apollo focused on healing the gruesome wound on his shoulder. The process was a snail''s ce. The energy inside the wound had to be cleansed first. ''This technique he used, it''s weird. It possesses a faint corrosive process. If I wasn''t undergoing my change, I fear this arm would have been lost.''

    Layers of dead flesh fell as new vibrant appeared in ce. Meanwhile, Apollo roasted some Spirit Beast. To his surprise, after reaching Rank 3 and beyond the decay rate of their flesh slowed to a crawl. Especially so for the lynx''s meat.

    ''Is this a property of Natural Essence? No wonder the lifespan of cultivators continues to increase with their attainments in cultivation,'' thought Apollo as he tore into the meat. The increase inparison to hisrge experience bar was trivial. However, every small increase counted as he was preparing to makerge strides.

    ''During this year of being in the wild, I''ve approached death multiple times and even had unfortunate events with the mercenaries. What else lies in wait? I don''t have much hope for this world but I seek to be stronger. This won''t break my will to seek that,'' thought Apollo as his ominous violet eyes shone in the darkness.

    As such, time passed continuously. It wasn''t until he had repeated his actions for over a month that the wound returned to a state allowing him to cultivate. It went without saying he began with the cultivation method. It continued to hone the conditions of his meridians. A trial by fire if you will. Of course, the hellfire had yet to be conjured.

    Continuing his actions, he grasped a handful of Essence Cores as well as tossed a few pills into his mouth. He wouldn''t be leaving this area until he had aplished his tasks. His eyes closed as he soon found himself in a state oblivious to his surroundings.

    [I wonder...just how long it will take you until you can reach that ce? I know I am preparing him but they are not to be taken lightly. I don''t think even the strongest existence on this can match them.]

    ----

    "Huuu¡­.huuu¡­." a youth with a determined look in his eye stood unwavering against a training post as a light gleam emanated from his sword. If one looked closely, they''d witness tendrils bearing into the wooden sword in his palms.

    "Not enough, this sword technique. I''ve yet to grasp it. I''ve poured more time into cultivating than sleep yet it doesn''t show signs of increasing in mastery. Is my metal affinity toocking? I must enter the Zul Warrior Realm to condense it! At that time, perhaps they''ll allow me to venture along."

    Repeating these actions, he retreated until at least 15 yards from the training post and thrust the sword after. A silver gleam fired from the tip of the weapon. However, the frown remained stered across his face. It had failed to puncture the post!

    ''I will grasp this technique. The first form of the Quicksilver Sword Forms, I will learn it!''

    At that moment, a matured velvety voice called out, "Aaron, that''s enough. Come eat and allow your body to recuperate."

    "Okay," he replied, however, his eyes looked into the distance before shifting away. The resolution in his eyes didn''t dim in the slightest!

 Chapter 63 - Changes (II)

    ----

    "Pheww¡­" a long exhale escaped Apollo''s mouth that turned into a foggy jetstream. At the same time, a thunderous rumbling could be heard within his lungs. However, that wasn''t the most notable thing taking ce. To understand it, one would need to know how much time passed. ??

    From the moment Apollo entered seclusion, over 2 years had passed. In that period, although his level didn''t increase much,rge changes took ce within him. For one, he turned 14 a few months ago. The only movement that happened was the ones he made to stretch his body and train in his two techniques.

    Continuous popping noises could be heard as he opened his violet eyes. The hue was deeper than the previous color. Furthermore, when they moved in the darkness, his eyes left an alluring trail as if it were shining amethysts being polished.

    Inside him, instead of 120 opened acupoints, there were now exactly 180! In other words, he had achieved significant progress. He had made that breakthrough he felt was prohibiting him.

    "It took all of my resources which is more than I hoped for but nheless, I''ve aplished it, Azridan." Apollo clenched his fist as the traces of ambient Natural Essence flooded towards him. Compared to before, his affinity with it was leagues above! If the previous state waspared to a leaking faucet then this flow was a continuous stream!

    [I see. You''ve attained Level 92 catapulting you into the Spirit-Grade. How does it feel? Is the difference magnificent?]

    "Yes," responded Apollo. However, his eyes seemed lifeless like the matter didn''t excite him in the slightest. In fact, that wasn''t the case. Instead, he just found himself bing more and more numb. This happened as he continued to cultivate and ingest Demonic Essence Pellets; which continued to diminish in effect.

    He had ingested a good amount yet he still had reached the state to enter full demonhood. It felt like an endless process with each pellet now giving less than 1 percent.

    ''If it continues like this it''ll take at least 15 more pellets to aplish the task. But wait, now that I look back, this system it''s rather weird. It''s almost as if all the events I''ve done have been in line with the progression of the system. Azridan, could this system be sentient besides you?''

    [I don''t even know its origin. After certain events, my conscience seemed to have been well¡­ tampered with. But my question is, who would be capable of that and why was I chosen?]

    "It seems we have the same unanswered questions. Secondly, why this body? Nevertheless, I''ve had enough of being cooped up here. I''ve achieved Rank 8 and the Spirit-Grade with extremelyrge increases in my stats. I believe I''ll make the cut within the Central Area," said Apollo whilst seeking Azridan''spliance.

    [Perhaps, but first. Show me the maximum input of your current absorption. That earlier phenomenon can''t be the full extent.]

    "I suppose I''ll try," Apollo closed his eyes while raising his arms. In what seemed like an instant, the atmosphere roiled. A moment after that, his meridians devoured all traces of Natural Essence within a 2-meter radius. Most importantly, they seemed as if they were still capable of absorbing more!

    [So it is truly so. Your meridians are metamorphosing as well. This doesn''t belong to a low tier Spirit-Grade. You''ve yet to even nurture this set of awakened meridians to their peak. If I''m not mistaken, your trait should have increased?]

    "Yes," responded Apollo as he gazed at the information on his first trait.

    ?Increased Essence Affinity? - ?Intermediate Trait?

    Information: Natural Essence is a vital foundation in life. The Spirit-Grade is iparable to its previous counterpart. As a result, the familiarity with Natural Essence has increased exponentially.

    Level: 2/5

    Effect: Increases the absorption rate of Natural Essence by 55%.

    Over 11 times stronger! That''s how much higher his absorption rate was. It was now that Apollo possessed a more in depth understanding of the vast disparity between talent grade. For what it was worth, despite it not being the end-all-be-all; it yed arge role in the cultivation journey. As Kayn stated before, it determined the difficulty of cultivation.

    "This is beyond my expectations. It''s... overwhelming," spoke Apollo after leaving his shocked state. Shifting his attention, he took note of his new stats. Simply put, they have increased to a whole nother level.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step) [84.56%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 14

    Level: 92

    Experience: 204,000/300,000.

    Health: 4,500/4,500

    Stamina: 4,500/4,500

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 8 Mortal [980/1,100]

    Physique: Spirit-Grade (Low Tier)

    Zuls: 980

    Strength: 98.0

    Agility: 95.0

    Intelligence: 74.5

    Vitality: 90.0

    [?Traits?]-

    ?Increased Essence Affinity?

    ?Minor Poison Resistance?

    ?Tenacious Shadows?

    [?Techniques?]-

    ?Supreme Demon Body: 7 Sinful Stigmata?

    ?Baleful Steps: Phantasmal Daemos?

    ?War Path: Nine Infernal Annihtions?

    Stat Points: 20

    Insane. That''s the only world that fell in line with his stats. Not to mention, entering the Spirit-Grade resulted in another liberation in his stats! Although the values didn''t change in a mind-numbing manner, the coefficients did! His strength had finally arrived at a 1:1 ratio. Courtesy of the Lightning Element Essence Cores. His body regted the bonus and channeled it into strength.

    In essence, it was an indirect method to increase his strength. After all, lightning resides among a high hierarchy in the elemental pyramid. However, if one had to mention it was the Dark Element. For some odd reason, it bestowed tremendous benefits to his Intelligence.

    [With this, I believe you''re ready. Everything seems to be equaling out nice. You venture out. You know the procedure, I''ll cancel this for yo-]

    "No need, let me test out my new strength. I''m curious as to what a thousand Zuls is capable of." Spinning the Vantack Knife in his hand, a continuous stream of stamina was consumed as the weapon was engulfed in dreadful energy.

    A colossal ckened crimson wave billowed forward that collided with and pierced the reinforced rock. Yet, that terrible strike only consumed ? of his total stamina! Stepping outside, Apollo inhaled the fresh air.

    The vibrant color assaulted his eyes all at once to which he limated with ease. Shifting his head, he dashed into the distance bing a whirlwind. The mastery he had over the Partial Shade Silhouette now was astonishing. Even in the day, he seemed like half a shadow. This was the attainment of practicing within absolute darkness and receiving a new trait.

    It allowed his shadow to be present even within ces illuminated by bright lights. Granted, it wasn''t omnipotent. This was only in retrospect to things still within his general level.

    Nevertheless, he traversed the outskirts with ease and soon entered the Inner Ring but paused. He picked up on both sounds of battle as well as fluctuations of Natural Essence in his Spiritual Vision.

    Curious, he changed course and headed in that direction high above in the trees. His movements were soundless and only the slight rustle of leaves could be heard from his steps.

 Chapter 64 - Unexpected Reunion

    ----

    As Apollo grew closer, the mor of battle could be heard. Undoubtedly, from what Apollo discerned multiple people should be undergoing battle. The sounds were bing increasingly distinguishable; they were reminiscent of weapons shing. ??

    Soon enough, perched on a tree, Apollo spectated the unfolding events from a suitable distance. Although his expression didn''t show it, he was surprised by the situation. ''Hmm? It seems to be Rank 2 Spirit Beast fighting with... oh? To think I know these people.''

    Apollo chuckled while looking at the small group.

    [Fate is a funny thing. It would seem you have returned to the same spot from earlier. Except, the beasts here now are entirely different.]

    "Yeah," mentally responded Apollo while examining the Spirit Beast in mention. There were a fewrge monkey-type monsters; they were 3 meters tall in height possessing fur a healthy violet color. However, their red eyes burned with rage as they assailed their foes. Surprisingly, their means of attack wasn''t much different from a human. They had arger stature butpressed Natural Essence around their hands.

    pping their hands, arge sonic boom was sent towards their opponents. Moreover, when they punched the air, small sts happened. Rubbing his chin, Apollo critiqued and shook his head at the movements of the monkeys'' opponents.

    ''While they are strong...they aren''t used to battle at all. They use too manyrge movements; all they are doing is exhausting themselves. It''s painful to watch.''

    As for the people before Apollo, they were a very familiar bunch of people. For starters, there was Aaron, Axel, and Lily. However, in addition to them, there was also Danyul, Cynthia, and Ashur watching over them. Cynthia in particr was looking in his direction with a curious gaze. She seemed to have detected him.

    ''Mn, this is boring,'' thought Apollo before making a move. He noticed Cynthia looking in his general direction which soon warranted Danyul and Ashur''s curious gazes.

    Dropping down from the shadows of the tree, Apollo silently approached the small team of people. His steps were unhurried but that didn''t mean it caused no response. Snapping his neck, Ashur roared, "Who?"

    On the other hand, Danyul and Cynthia remained silent and continued to look at the iing person. Squinting, they tried to realize who exactly it was they were looking at. Yet, they drew nks. It was understandable, after all, the person standing before them wasn''t the same one they knew.

    Mumbling to herself, Cynthia looked at Apollo with a slightly perplexed expression, ''Why does this boy look so familiar? I feel as if I know him. Why is my heart tugging like this?''

    However,pared to the others, ncing at the corner of his eye, Aaron stopped his battle retreating. Instead, froze in shock as he gazed at the neer. It took a moment to register, but soon after he scampered towards Apollo and hugged him, "Apollo!"

    Widening their eyes, everyone was shocked at Aaron''s exmation. This was especially true for the confounded Ashur.

    "Apollo? What Apollo? That absolutely can''t be Apollo," muttered Ashur as he wordlessly blinked at him. On the other hand, Danyul stepped closer, widening his eyes at Apollo''s shocking change.

    For starters, Aaron was slightly tall for his young age standing at 1.75m, however, Apollo rivaled his height! It had to be known, they were both kids who had yet to finish growing. Needless to say, the change to his physique and his continuous ingestion of Spirit Beast flesh causing substantial changes.

    His prior thin physique possessed signs of robust yetpact muscles. Moreover, his features were changing. He was bing more handsome but in a devilish way. His violet eyes silently inspected everyone here.

    Name: Aaron

    Cultivation: Level 2 Zul Warrior

    Health: 4,100 (100%)

    Name: Lily

    Cultivation: Level 3 Zul Warrior

    Health: 2,900 (100%)

    Name: Axel

    Cultivation: Level 3 Zul Warrior

    Health: 4,400 (100%)

    ''Lily, Axel, and Aaron have all reached at least the Zul Warrior Realm. I guess they have fulfilled that Grand Elder''s wishes.''

    "Hello Aaron," nodded Apollo as he patted his back. He was the only one here besides Cynthia that he felt a shred of emotion for.

    "Your body...what happened?" incredulously blinked Aaron as he stepped back taking in the drastic change of Apollo. However, his gaze soon fell on the gruesome scar on his shoulder. As he scoured Apollo''s body he caught wind of multiple signs of deadly encounters.

    "Life happened. Is this your first livebat training?" asked Apollo.

    "Yes...how did you know?" question Aaron.

    "Because if I may be blunt; your movements are terrible. Theycked practicality and are overly shy," critiqued Apollo.

    "O-oh...I''m just following my technique''s directions."

    Shaking his head, Apollo didn''t agree with that mindset, "Those techniques are just paper, they aren''t alive like a beast. You need to be able to adapt; can I take your beast?"

    "Y-you want to? It''s a Rank 2 Spirit Beast, you''d need to be at least a Rank 8 Mortal to attempt fighting it."

    Interjecting, Cynthia approached them, "It''s okay sweetie; Apollo here is already a Rank 8 Mortal." After saying that, she silently stared at Apollo. To improve from Rank 1 to Rank 8 within 4 years on his own...that was no small feat in her eyes.

    Hearing these words both Axel and Aaron''s eyes widened. However, there was a tinge of hate in Axel''s eyes, ''This idiot has reached Rank 8 Mortal? With his talent? How?! Wait...why does he feel so different though? What is this feeling?''

    "What the heck have you experienced in these 4 years? Even with my talent, I have just be a Zul Warrior half a year ago and a Level 2 just a single month ago," uttered Aaron as he took a step back, "Go ahead and fight it."

    Nodding, Apollo nced at Axel then Ashur silently then over towards the monkey Aaron previously fought.

    Monster Name: Violet Sonic Ape

    Cultivation: Early Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast

    Health: 2,600/2,600

    Chance of Defeat: 92%

    Approaching the ape, Apollo dropped his stance. In this case, he was barehanded. Paying it no mind, Apollo kicked off his back foot. In a moment, he was before the Violet Sonic Ape.

    ''Unlike the Rank 1 counterpart, Rank 2 Spirit Beasts can unquestionably utilize Natural Essence, however, my physique can handle it.''

    In these 2 years, Apollo meticulously weighed his physique against beasts by recollecting his past fights and using the Vantack Knife to test his durability.

    Although the Violet Sonic Ape struck its hand out, Apollo ducked dodging with ease. Changing the path of his attack, he mmed his hand in the form of a de against the Ape''s throat.

    ?You have dealt 800 damage.?

    A pained howl escaped its throat. However, Apollo was far from done. His style was simplistic. Following up, Apollo made an abrupt turnnding another blow on the side of the Violet Sonic Ape''s neck.

    ?You have dealt 800 damage.?

    Tilting his body, Apollo dodged the smash thatnded next to his body. However, pooling also his strength into his leg, he kicked the Ape''s elbow. As a result, it roared in pain as its arm went limp.

    ''This is an offensive monster; its defense is slightlycking,'' thought Apollo.

    Tapping his foot, Apollo dashed forward and thrust his arm. Faster than one could blink, Apollo''s arm thrust through its throat. His emotionless eyes watched as the Spirit Beast''s body fell limp.

    Widening their eyes, everyone was appalled by Apollo''s actions. For one, he killed the beast without a flinch. It was evident from this he had murdered numerous beasts.

    ''Holy fuck...he might be dangerous,'' inwardly mused Axel as he retreated a step. On the other hand, Lily looked at him curiously, the quiet boy she once knew was now a cold individual. Shifting her gaze to Aaron, she began thinking about things.

 Chapter 65 - Distant Mind

    ----

    Unable to control it, Aaron reverted to his usual self. "Holy crap Apollo! That was insane, where did you learn to fight like that?" Aaron asked as he approached Apollo who was currently dissecting the corpse of the Spirit Beast. ??

    "Survival brings out your instincts. I had to rely on mine for 4 years," nonchntly answered Apollo as he retrieved a small Essence Core from the sternum of the Spirit Beast. Needless to say, it didn''t amount to much as this was a simple Rank 2 Spirit Beast.

    Stowing the Essence Core in a small pouch, Apollo continued to partition the ape''s body. Within moments, the flesh was separated from the skin. Stepping up Ashur interrupted him.

    "Ahem, I hope you aren''t thinking of taking this beast''s flesh? Since you killed it you can keep its core, however, the flesh is part of the reason we ventured out here."

    ncing at Ashur from the corner of his eye, Apollo looked at him yet remained nk, "I don''t need it all, but if you try to stop me from taking some...I don''t mind causing some damage," retorted Apollo with a thin, cold smile.

    "Y-you! Disrespectful!" snarled Ashur as he trembled with indignance. This youth showed his elder not a shred of respect!

    "And who are you? I don''t recall us having any rtions," questioned Apollo as he tilted his head. Throughout speaking, his tone remained in and unmoving.

    "Ahem, Apollo, I know he has wronged you and is rough around the edges. But, Ashur is your family and you shouldn''t treat him in such a way, no?" interjected Danyul looking to mediate the tension.

    Shifting his emotionless gaze to Danyul, Apollo shrugged, "Family? I''m sorry but that Apollo has died. Nor am I looking for this word you call family. I simply want the spoils of my battle and I''ll be on my way."

    "Hey! That''s not the way to talk to your Elder," eximed Axel as he widened his eyes at Apollo''s attitude. Although he was a troublemaker, he never disrespected his Elder. But Apollo here was simply too cold.

    "Oh," turning his head toward Axel, a cold murderous expression became present on his face.

    ''Whoosh!''

    Before anyone could respond, Apollo used the Partial Shade Silhouette to appear right next to Axel in an instant. The cold obsidian de rested against his neck as Apollo''s cold voice was heard, "I suggest you shut up because I''ve been itching to exact my revenge upon you. I don''t want to waste my time. But if you open your mouth, I don''t mind killing you."

    As he spoke these words, Apollo''s fingers made a faint movement causing the Vantack Knife to dance against his skin. An audible gulp was heard from Axel. Oddly enough, he couldn''t rebut this callous youth, he gave him a sense of dread. He felt he meant his words.

    ''Wow...Apollo has really changed. He''s no pushover. He doesn''t even ce the Elders in his eyes anymore. No that isn''t right, he doesn''t see them as family.''

    ncing toward Cynthia, Apollo spoke again, "Aunty, do you agree with their words?"

    Surprised by his familial tone, Cynthia responded with a warm smile, ''He''s bing more like him. His father was the same way; he didn''t take any nonsense from anyone.'' It wasn''t long before she found her answer, "Take what you need sweetheart, you also need to cultivate."

    Nodding, Apollo didn''t hesitate. Releasing Axel, he tossed him aside and approached the beast carcass, "Thank you, Aunty."

    "Y-y...Cynthia! We''ll get in trouble. Don''t you remember the Grand Elder''s words? Not to mention, look at his actions! He''s an insufferable beast!" grumbled Ashur.

    "While I am aware of my uncle''s words...I will have to respectfully disregard them. Not only is my poor nephew in the wild surviving on his own, but I also don''t recall anyone once sending someone to check upon him. Hence, I don''t care what you have to say...he will be taking what he needs," Cynthia replied with a frigid gaze directed at Ashur.

    ''Whoa... Mom''s a badass!'' thought Aaron in surprise.

    Taking a step back, Ashur scoffed. By no means would he confront Cynthia. The reason was simple while he advanced to the 9th level of the Zul Warrior Realm, Cynthia had stepped into the Zul Knight Realm! Their talents remained on different levels.

    Taking ? of the Violet Sonic Ape''s flesh, Apollo began sitting down and roasting it after starting a fire. Because he ran out of Spirit Beast prior to this he felt rather famished.

    Smelling the fragrant smell of the Spirit Beast meat, Aaron began salivating as he took a seat next to Apollo. "Smells delicious, I thought the chefs at home made it taste good but I guess it just inherently tastes like this. So Apollo, tell me more about your experiences. I''ve missed you¡­ I''ve put myself through hellish training in the event that we meet again so I''d be strong enough."

    ncing toward Aaron, Apollo nodded, "Mn, well at first it was hard to survive but as time went on it became easier to cope with. I''ve honed my skills through battle as you saw and havefortably achieved a Rank 8 Mortal cultivation."

    "D-does that mean your body is better?" blurted Aaron with eyes full of curiosity which soon fell upon the scar on his shoulder, "Also, how did you acquire that?"

    "Yes. I believe it''s getting there. As for this scar, it came from a perilous battle. Don''t be like me and attempt to fight Rank 3 Spirit Beast early. How about you, what is your talent like these days?" asked Apollo as he tore into a piece of Spirit Beast meat.

    "It''s stronger than before for sure, I think it''s possibly well into the Spirit-Gra-... Did you just say a Rank 3 Spirit Beast?! Aren''t those equal to at least peak Zul Warriors? How did you survive?" Aaron''s mouth dropped in shock as everyone''s widened. Just what had this child experience?!

    "Meh, probably luck. But enough of that, I survived and live to see another day. By the way, you''re wee to help yourself," offered Apollo as he sidestepped Aaron''s curiosity.

    Taking him up on the offer, Aaron also began chewing on some of the meat. Behind them, Cynthia stood with a gentle smile leaning against the tree, ''For the first time in 4 years, Aaron seems like himself again.''

    She didn''t enjoy the change in her son after Apollo''s departure, much like the current Apollo; he felt too detached. Although his initial talent was slightly weaker than both Lily and Axel; his dedication to training was many times stronger. As a result, his cultivation was always rtively close to theirs.

    Turning back toward Cynthia, Aaron asked a question with a pleading expression, "Mom, if Apollo''s staying here after weplete the task, can I as well?"

    Falling victim to his stares, Cynthia ultimately gave in, "Yes, if that happens you can stay. However, you must return to partake in the Quinquennial War Preparation Trial in a little over 8 months! It isn''t something you can miss as it determines your future."

    Nodding, Aaron promised his mother this. Turning toward Apollo, he asked, "Do you mind me staying?"

    "Not at all but I''m not sure if I''ll be staying here much longer," replied Apollo as he focused on the meat in his hand. As such, Apollo received a potential plus one to everyday boring cycles. On the other hand, Lily walked next to Aaron pulling on his sleeve while remaining quiet. Meanwhile, with each sessive bite, Apollo''s experience was increasing by a small degree. Regrettably, it barely made a dent in his vast experience pool.

    ''Hmm, it seems the 90s will be tiresome toplete, with this my tread to the Zul Warrior Realm lengthens. However, I have faith in the benefits I''ll receive after.''

    "Yes, Lily?" asked Aaron as he looked towards her. At his side, Apollo nced between the two before returning to his meal.

    "You''re...not returning home?" quietly asked Lily as a tinge of sadness was apparent in her gaze.

    Turning towards her, Aaron had a slightly apologetic look on his face. He knew that he was the only person besides Elders that Lily really interacted with. However, he didn''t want to leave Apollo alone again; at least for the time being.

 Chapter 66 - Apollos Story (II)

    ¡­.

    ncing over at the conversation between Lily and Aaron for a moment, Apollo silently studied their expression, ''They must have interacted more after I left. It appears there is a slight bond festering between them.'' ??

    "Probably not, I think I''m going to stay with Apollo. It has been too long since we''ve interacted with each out and I have enough cultivation resources tost me," confirmed Aaron as he shook his head. Nodding dejectedly, Lily''s slightly maturing features looked back toward the 3 elders.

    However, Danyul and Ashur immediately shook their heads, "This is something that can''t happen. While Aaron can stay, the Grand Elder will without doubt reject your plea to stay out here Lily. Keep in mind, you''re of the highest talent in the family."

    "En!" nodded Lily, however, her expression became downcast. But to cate her expression, Aaron softly patted her head with a small smile. Now that she was 14, she was also a decent height, just more than half a head shorter than him; 1.65m.

    "Don''t frown. It isn''t all concrete yet. But, if it happens, I''ll return soon enough. At that time we''ll take the academy trials together, okay?"

    "Okay, I will wait for you," after speaking Lily nced toward Apollo silently for a moment before blinking and opening her mouth once again, "Hi, Apollo."

    Nodding toward her, Apollo acknowledged her existence but didn''t verbally answer causing Lily to purse her lips in budding discontent. However, this was his personality now. With anyone other than Azridan, Aaron, and Cynthia, he was sparse with words.

    ncing towards the others Apollo raised an eyebrow. For some reason, they weren''t moving. However, he didn''t voice his thoughts as he felt no concern. That was until Danyul nudged Cynthia prompting her to speak up.

    "Apollo, we''ll be entering near the Central Area, would you like to tag along?"

    Thinking about it for a moment, Apollo rubbing his chin. However, in the middle of his thoughts, Azridan''s voice interrupted.

    [Go along with them. You''ll have greater numbers and you''ll possibly be able to venture deeper into the Central Area of this forest. Not to mention, don''t forget what I mention resided within the depths.]

    "Okay," simply answered Apollo to both Cynthia and Azridan.

    "We''ll take a small break to let Lily and Axel recover their stamina. In the meantime, why don''t we converse." Cynthia sat next to Apollo with a warm smile, caressing his cheek.

    He didn''t mind her touch and let her be but his gaze held a tinge of curiosity. ''She wants to converse?'' Looking into her clear eyes, Apollo faltered, "About what Aunty?"

    "How about your talent, and in turn, I tell you what happened to you?" stated Cynthia as her gaze scoured Apollo,nding on particr spots¡ªhis scars. ''I feel as if he''s purposely keeping these. Based on his vitality, he should be able to heal them to a better degree if notpletely with the help of certain healing medicines.''

    ''What happened to me?'' pondered Apollo with a silent yet intrigued glisten.

    [She means about the state of the previous owner''s body. She''ll most likely tell you of the events that transpired.]

    "Okay, that works. My talent now? It''s at the Middle of the Earth-grade," lied Apollo. There were a few reasons why. A 14-year-old with an Earth-grade talent was normal in a family like the Kaisers. It just meant that there was a certain chance that the individual would reach the Zul Knight in their lifetime. As for Soul Cultivation that would rely on perseverance and fortuitous encounters.

    Secondly, he didn''t know if he wanted to deal with the headache of them possibly venturing here to collect him and bring him back to the family to use as a springboard for their reputation. However, as he assessed this notion, he found himself formting his own scenarios.

    A slight frown came upon Cynthia''s face. She would be lying if she said she didn''t expect him to be approaching the Spirit-grade, "I see, don''t worry. Although you''re 14, there are still nearly 9 months until the selection exam. Who knows what events could take ce."

    ''Is his talent really only at the Middle Earth-grade? But his father possessed a Heaven-grade and even his mother possessed a Peak Spirit-grade.''

    Pausing for a moment, Apollo nced around and motioned with his finger causing her to lean in. Concealing his voice, he whispered, "Spirit...don''t release this information." For a moment, she was in shock. Her assumptions were correct! Soon after, her expression became neutral. Luckily, her back was to the rest.

    Shrugging, Apollo paid it no mind and continued with the facade, "I''m not really worried about it, however, I would like to know what happened to me."

    "That is easy to tell you as I was present at the time. This goes back to a time before you were born. At that point, you were an existence but just an unborn child in your mother''s womb. There was an invasion on the outskirts of this area. Of course, the culprits were the Terrors. There was an order sent down through the Astarte Family which is the Great Family that reigns over our Zephus Domain.

    "All cultivators over the Zul Knight realm were to confront the invading Terrors. However, little did we know that the vague information they received was terribly wrong. There was a Rank 4 Terror amongst the invading forces. One must know that a Rank 4 Terror is equivalent to a Zul General but that is only the case on the surface! At that time, the two strongest people in the group were only Level 1 and 3 Zul Generals. Which were your father, and his older brother; Lily''s father¡ªmy brothers.

    "Unfortunately, even when teaming up together theirbined strength paled inparison to that vile beast. It turned out it was on the cusp of reaching Rank 5. They fought valiantly but time proved to be a cruel existence.

    "Reinforcements were sought, however, by the time they came the damage was done. Not only did both my brothers perish," for a moment, Cynthia''s expression filled with sorrow while Apollo silently gazed at her, "Your mother with you in her womb was mortally wounded. The trace amounts of blythe that this species carried then flowed through you...corrupting your insides before you could be born. As a result, it ran rampant throughout you mutting your talent."

    As she spoke, Axel in the distance slightly raised his eyebrows, ''Apollo''s father was the person strongest in talent in the family? All this happened to him? Should I apologize to Apollo? This isn''t something the family talked about. I didn''t know.''

    "Mn, so that''s what happened," nodded Apollo and he gazed over at Cynthia. It was unclear from his unperturbed facial expression what was exactly going through his mind, "Thank you for rifying this and offering me the information I needed to know. I always wondered about the origin of my condition."

    "There are no thanks needed, it''s your history, however, I do think you will lead a ster destiny. Although your starting point was far less than others, don''t let it discourage you; steel yourself on the path of cultivation," reassured Cynthia as she warmly ced her hand on Apollo''s head.

    "I won''t be disheartened. But, I will be seeking out my enmity. After all, someone or something has to bear my hatred right," lightly chuckled Apollo as a menacing smirk crept upon his face.

    ''Mn, my little nephew isn''t that small defenseless boy he was before. He''s already showing signs of maturity beyond his age. He is able to remain calm after listening to all of this,'' thought Cynthia as she ruffled Apollo''s hair.

    The passage of time was brisk as both Lily and Axel recovered. Ending the small recuperation period, everyone stood as they began moving deeper into the Shadowy Forest.

 Chapter 67 - Into The Central Area (I)

    ----

    As they ventured deeper into the Shadowy Forest, Apollo trailed behind everyone with Aaron next to him. Throughout this whole situation, he kept a watchful eye. However, often he would nk as he contemted the process of the Supreme Demon Body. ??

    ''2 years have passed, yet there isn''t any sign of me creating the First Stigmata¡ªInfernal Ira. It seems I''m unable to bypass the minimum cultivation requirement. Could this cultivation method truly be that overbearing? No matter how much I ponder it, I can''t see it as being so.''

    [Oh my youngd, don''t worry you wille to see just how nonsensical this can be. In the meantime, just continue to let the cirction method of the Infernal Ira Stigmata damage and cleanse your physique. Once that process isplete, it should align with proper timing.]

    ''Did you say damage?''

    [Correct. The fact the Infernal Ira Stigmata will do damage is undeniable. You must realize wrath is not an emotion to be taken lightly. Of course, that''s not all it will do¡­]

    At the end of his words, Azridan released an amused chuckle as he recounted the effects of the Infernal Ira Stigmata. Even he was surprised in the past by the events that unfolded. From that moment forward, he understood the saying that existed amongst the demons.

    ''Errr, is there really no other way to perform it other than waiting until I reach that state?'' asked Apollo slightly disgruntled by the fact this torturous period would extend even further. Impatience was stered across his expression.

    [No, and even if I tell you such a way; it''s not really a bypass as you would still experience the same sensation, however, it would be intensified many times over.]

    ''Mmn...okay then,'' nodded Apollo as he quietly circted his Natural Essence drawing in more from the atmosphere. Noticing this, Danyul turned back. Inspecting Apollo, he squinted his eyes.

    ''Hmm, the amount of Natural Essence he''s resonating with is beyond the others with a Middle Tier Earth-grade inner physique in the family. Not to mention, the amount he is absorbing is also higher by arge degree. Is his talent really stuck at the Earth-grade or...is his body just craving Essence due to the absence of it during his earlier years.''

    Lifting his head, Apollo''s nce met Danyul''s gaze silently. He noticed his gaze carried a tint of curiosity, ''Hm, he must be inspecting the amount of Natural Essence interacting with me.''

    At the same time, Axel stepped on the branch causing a loud snapping noise. Stopping in his track, Axel paused in slight terror. Before them, the multiple trees cleared and in ce of them were 3-meter tall Apes with brown and red fur and golden yellow eyes zing with faint sparks. Not to mention, a smoldering heat exuded from their fur.

    The earlier noise Axel made caused the Apes to turn toward them. As a result, Axel tensed. There was a gathering of over 30 Apes.

    "Hm, those Apes are too close. Did we encroach on their settlement? If so, be on guard. I don''t think the Alpha Ape is here," warned Danyul.

    However, Apollo was as rxed as he always was. Instead, turning towards the Apes he viewed them as one thing¡ªEssence Cores! Stepping forward, Apollo nced between Ashur, Danyul, and Cynthia.

    "Does anyone have a long weapon? Preferably a staff or something of the sort," inquired Apollo. The makeshift terrible staff he had wouldn''t suffice based on the information the system gave him.

    Monster Name: Infernal Earth Ape

    Cultivation: Late Stage Rank 2 Spirit Beast

    Health: 3,900/3,900

    Chance of Defeat: 75%

    "I have a Coldiron Staff," muttered Danyul as he nced at Apollo who turned toward him gazing at him silently before holding out his hand.

    "Lend me your staff," straightforwardly requested Apollo. It sounded more like amand at this point due to theck of emotion.

    "Err...I can just kill them and b-" as Danyul spoke he was interrupted by Cynthia offering her own opinion.

    "The whole reason for this journey is to give the kids actualbat experience. Lend him your staff; it''s not like he''ll steal it," scoffed Cynthia before shooting a smile toward Apollo who nodded slightly.

    "Thank you," replied Apollo as he gripped the Coldiron Staff looking at its properties.

    Item Name: Coldiron Staff

    Tier: Rank 3 Weapon Artifact

    Grade: Decent

    Effect: +10% increase in Zuls. Attacks carry a trace of Ice-attribute Natural Essence.

    Sub-effect: Attacking open wounds with this staff will begin to slow the movements of your target. -1% Movement Speed per hit.

    Information: Made by a Grade III Bronze Rank Forger. The ore material it is forged from is conducive to circting Natural Essence, especially true for Water/Ice Attributes. This is the case from its fragments being soaked in a solution potent with such elements.

    As Apollo''s hand touched the staff, a cool feeling spread throughout his body causing him to raise his eyebrows in surprise. This was the first time he came in contact with a weapon that possesses an element albeit slightly weak, ''Interesting, this isn''t bad. The cooling sensation is ratherfortable.''

    Spinning the staff around his body in a dextrous manner, everyone was surprised by the handling of the staff. In fact, Danyul squinted, ''His skill surpasses that of the Zul Warrior early stages. Moreover, his speed is also ridiculous¡­ Just how much time a day did he dedicate to training?''

    Kicking off his back foot, Apollo sprang into action whilst Lily, Axel and Aaron followed. ncing over at them, Apollo held his staff out with half of it braced behind his arm. Confronting the closest Infernal Ape, Apollo performed a sweep in which the Infernal Ape agilely dodge.

    However, expecting this, Apollo stabbed the Coldiron Staff into the ground executing a dropkick with the staff as his bnce. Landing on the Infernal Apes torso, Apollo rotated midair smashing the staff into the Ape''s skull.

    ''Fluid movements. Amplebat awareness and sessive adaptations,'' mentally noted Danyul as he continuously nodded his head. On the other hand, Cynthia remained with a gentle smile.

    Making quick work of the first Infernal Ape in about 1 minute or so, Apollo moved onto the next taking note of his stamina. "Stamina: "4,495/4,500"

    ''Theoretically, in this manner, I can handle an endless number of Infernal Earth Apes or even Rank 2 Spirit Beasts for that matter. The increase in my body parameters goes without saying. Of course, I have to remember I''ve used none of my techniques. Basic movements aren''t exhausting for me,'' thought Apollo while contemting a small notion.

    Weaving throughout the bout, Apollo was surprised by the fact that these apes were able to coat their long fingers in thick mes; it was a rather dextrous use for a simple Rank 2. Nevertheless, there was a telltale sign of this happening as their fur deepened a vibrant red color.

    Finding dodging to be too tedious, he confronted the technique head-on. After all, if there was one thing he wasn''t afraid of, it was fire! Suffering negligible damage, Apollo was healed by his pendant that hung around his neck. With the addition of this ability, the small fight could extend longer than Apollo hoped. Hence, Apollo absorbed the damage and killed the next beast.

    On the other hand, the loud noises of battle attracted the Ape Leader from wherever it was. The floor rumbled as its heavy steps approached the battle scene. When in proximity, a loud roar was heard causing Apollo to shift his nce. However, his expression didn''t change much besides the gleam in his eyes.

    ''That roar should be at least a Rank 3. Just what I was seeking, a well-developed Essence Core¡­''

 Chapter 68 - Into The Central Area (II)

    ¡­.

    Compared to the previous Infernal Apes, the neer was near twice their size. Moreover, there was a mix of bright orange reddish mes being ejected from its eyebrows. It was clear to see that this new Infernal Ape triumphed over the rest with ease. ? ?

    Gazing at the iing Infernal Ape, Apollo felt no negative feelings whatsoever and instead weed battle. On the other hand, Axel and Aaron both froze for a moment as the loud roar had shaken them at their inner being. Although they were both young Zul Warrior Realm cultivators, they weren''t battle-hardened as opposed to Apollo.

    Noticing this, Apollo turned toward Aaron who was right next to Lily, "Calm your nerves. You being nervous will lead to mistakes being made," warned Apollo. However, that was easier said than done. Although years had passed, they were all still ssified as kids.

    Apollo was just an anomaly. Not everyone was subject to dangers on a daily basis which caused one to mature at a faster pace. The only one of the trio reacting fairly well was Lily who was always of a slightly quiet and reserved nature.

    "I''m trying but it''s not easy!" eximed Aaron as he tried to regte his breathing to which Apollo just nodded in response.

    Whatid in wait before them was a Rank 3 Infernal Ape. Its rank was indicated by the fact its body was emitting mes! As with the Storm Colossus Lynx, Scarlet me Panther, and Zephyr Wolf; Rank 3 is when a Spirit Beast began physically showing signs of its element.

    On the other hand, the only thought running through his mind at this moment was simple, ''If I kill this, the core it possesses should give me both a decent amount of strength and experience. Although to receive the experience, I''ll have to kill it before it can exhaust too much Natural Essence.''

    On the other hand, Danyul remained curious as to why Apollo coveted the Essence Cores so much. His eyes were always looking in the spot they were usually located. As far as he knew, unrefined essence cores were not made to be ingested by humans; it was used in 2 instances.

    Firstly, it was used in production. For example; talisman making, cksmithing, and formations. All of these required essence cores or assorted items as mediums. The second use was strictly for beasts; they ingested it to grow stronger outside of manually absorbing Natural Essence and/or Spiritual Essence from the atmosphere.

    The quickest advancement of Spirit Beasts rivaled that of the demonic way; it was survival of the fittest at its finest¡ªcannibalism. Or rather, the consumption of each other''s essence core. Consuming a core of simr attributes would be more rewarding, however, such desperate beasts usually settled for what they could.

    However, themunity of spirit beast usually didn''t resort to this option unless they reached a certain rank or were pushed into a corner. Naturally, there were enigmas who existed outside the realm of this logic and operated upon their own dogma.

    With each sessive kill of its mates, the Rank 3 Infernal Ape grew increasingly close and frantic. On the other hand, Apollo continued to make quick enough work of the Rank 2 Infernal Apes.

    As its anger grew, a loud roar once again escaped the throat of the Rank 3 Infernal Ape. At this point, it was within 500 meters of them and Apollo could discern just howrge it was¡ªnearly 6 meters tall.

    "Do we handle this for them? For us, that Infernal Ape seems to be a rather underwhelming Rank 3, however, it still possesses a strong affinity with the fire essence. I believe it''s beyond the early Zul Warrior Realm that these kids are," voiced Danyul as he looked at the dismal situation for the youths.

    Despite the situation at hand, surprisingly, Cynthia declined his idea, "No, take a look at Apollo''s expression; he is looking forward to this. Not to mention, this is a good time for all 4 of them to foster some type of understanding. It isn''t healthy to harbor grudges for so long. At least... I hope that happens."

    Grunting at her words, Ashur remained slightly irritated. He couldn''t believe Apollo was more clear-minded than Axel in this situation. It was known in the family that Ashur heavily doted upon Axel, proving him a surplus of cultivation resources. Even though he wasn''t his father, he was still his uncle.

    In the younger generation, Axel was considered lucky as he was the only one of the immediate hierarchy who still possessed his father after that terrible incident which mutted the ranks of the Kaiser Family. His father, Jonas was in the process of bing the current Patriarch. He was also the eldest son of the deceased 2nd Grand Elder, Kayn''s younger brother.

    Because of this, Ashur harbored hatred but didn''t know who to direct it at. Hence, he instead channeled it into a suffocating adoration for his nephew.

    "We''ll listen to you then," agreed Danyul as his gaze fell back upon Apollo who was tightly gripping the Coldiron staff. Contrary to their worries, Apollo had other thoughts passing through his head.

    ''Perhaps I''ll be able to experiment how much stress my body can handle when ites to the immediate use of that technique. When I destroyed the entrance, that was far from my strongest attack. It appears the Rank 8 Mortal body I possess is irregr,'' thought Apollo as hepared his body to Aaron.

    Sprinting closer, Apollo paid attention to his positioning as he nced at the Rank 3 Infernal Ape which was now less than 150 meters away and fast approaching.

    ''I should be able to deal with one more Infernal Ape before it arrives, increasing my chances,'' thought Apollo as he locked his sights on the closest Ape.

    Sliding under as it performed a smash, Apollo mmed his staff behind its knees. Due to his strike, they gave out as Apollo increased the speed at which he dealt blows. Before the Rank 3 Infernal Ape approached with 100 meters, he had finished dealing with the Rank 2 Infernal Ape.

    Standing at leisure after iming its Essence Core Apollo began rapidly falling back. However, contrary to the other thoughts, he wasn''t running away. Instead, Apollo was gathering himself!

    [Oh? Lad, are you going to consume that much?]

    ''Perhaps so. I''m curious where the limit lies. Not to mention, it''ll soon be time to try that,'' responded Apollo as he looked at the Coldiron Staff in his hand. ''It''s more durable than the Vantack Knife so it should suffice.

    Closing his eyes, Apollo''s breathing stilled. Holding part of the staff behind his back, a deadly aura began brewing around him. Danyul, Cynthia, and Ashura jumped in alert! An aura that felt oddly familiar encased Apollo as that violet hue in his eyes deepened.

    ''The more I use, the more amazing it feels!'' stated Apollo as his eyes gleamed with fervent estasicism.

 Chapter 69 - Revelation Of Annihilation

    ----

    Closing his eyes, Apollo widened his stance as the staff against his body exuded a visible tremble. The incursion of his body''s irregr Natural Essence stimted an immediate reaction from the weapon. As a result, his momentum increased. Potent crimson wisps escaped the staff but they soon circled it. ??

    A solemn expression appeared on his countenance as the pressure caused the ground to splinter under his feet. Afterward, he disappeared with a powerful stomp. At the same time, Cynthia, Danyul, and Ashur remained shocked. Based on the fluctuations from his body, it was clear he was utilizing Natural Essence!

    However, to do so required the use of a Martial Art! In other words, he had gotten his hands on one; but how could that be so? He had left the residence before he could even receive one. Did he happen to chance upon a fortuitous encounter in this forest? If that was the case, then his luck was not to be underestimated.

    Of course, this wasn''t what truly shocked them. It was the momentum, in addition to the sensation presented. Even the ones before them only possessed a Profound Rank Martial Art at most, to familiarize themselves with the use of Natural Essence. Hence, they were curious as to where this youth had received such a Combat Art.

    In this world, Combat Arts were separated into 3 categories: Martial Arts which required Natural Essence as sustenance, Spiritual Art which required Spiritual Essence to execute, andstly, the elusive Magical Arts. Seldom would those appear outside of the grasp of the powers of this world; they were an amalgam of both resources. In most cases, it sought harmony between the two as even the slightest imbnce could disrupt the technique. Unless, of course, the technique was designed that way.

    "Where did hee across a Martial Art? And that feeling...this momentum exceeds that of a Yellow Rank. Perhaps it''s a Profound rank one? No... even then it seems to be high within that spectrum," muttered Danyul as his gaze remained fixated upon Apollo''s back.

    "I''m not sure. Maybe it''s an inheritance left behind by his parents. Nevertheless, it doesn''t matter much," replied Cynthia. However, Ashur on the other hand just narrowed his eyes.

    Meanwhile, if they were to examine Apollo''s facial features whilst dashing forward abruptly; they woulde to realize they were bing increasingly contorted. Each of his steps left an imprint in the ground as the veins on his left arm swelled, apparent under his skin.

    ''Did I perhaps utilize too much? It feels like my arm is being torn aport'' internally chided Apollo as he came within a few steps of the Rank 3 Infernal Ape.

    [Well, you did instill over two-thirds of your stamina into this strike; you''ve never done that. Naturally, you should have expected small side effects, albeit not to the extent of being debilitating.]

    Right before he confronted the Spirit Beast, Apollo''s momentum became savage as his grip on the staff switched. From the bottom, he swung the staff upwards sending a tangible shockwave. Along with the shockwave, copious amounts of dirt were uplifted creating a slightly dense cloud.

    Muttering to himself, Apollo''s violet eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint, "First Annihtion: Demonic Massacre Wave."

    After his utterance, the savagery was all channeled into his staff for a strong wave. A ckish-red aura coated the Coldiron staff as it spliced the air with unstoppable momentum. The staff itself didn''t hit the Infernal Ape. Instead, a ckened crimson arc billowed forward.

    Noticing the dreadful feeling from that wave, the Ape blocked with a crossguard as its arms were engulfed in thick defensive mes. Sadly, the technique Apollounched was ridiculous! When it collided with the mes,rge sparks were created before they cracked like fragile ss. An enraged roar happened as it tried to resolve the blow. Naturally, that didn''t happen.

    ''Pucht!'' ''Pucht!'' ''Thud!''

    While the instant kill Apollo desired didn''t take ce, the arms of the beast were rendered useless! Below the elbows, its arms had been severed.

    ''This is a Rank 3 in the truest sense. It''s both an offensive and defensive specialist. Hence, the earth in its name,'' thought Apollo as he gasped. The aftereffects of his sudden drop in stamina were evident from his current state. After all, losing two-thirds of your stamina in a fleeting moment was no small matter.

    Needless to say, it was worth it when he took note of the beast''s current health.

    Monster Name: Infernal Earth Ape

    Cultivation: Middle Stage Rank 3 Spirit Beast

    Health: 1,728/7,800

    Chance of Defeat: 44%

    ''So much of its health was depleted? Oh! That''s why!'' thought Apollo as he looked through the battle logs.

    ?System Alert! Critical Damage has been dealt. As a result, strike damage has been increased to 150%.?

    ?You have dealt 6,072 damage!?

    ''Oh? It''s that critical system again. It seems the vital areas increase my damage as well as dismemberment, however, my stamina...''

    ?Stamina: 1,445/4,500?

    "Aaron, team up with me," stated Apollo as he dodged a me st from the Rank 3 Infernal Ape. Its frantic retaliation indicated its frustration with Apollo''s earlier blow. Nodding, Aaron rushed to Apollo''s aid causing Cynthia to smile.

    However, at the moment he shifted his attention away from his battle, a Rank 2 Infernal Ape pounced on him. Thankfully, its actions were trounced by an orb of water being immediately fired at him; Lily had covered his retreat with a timely attack!

    Meeting up with Apollo, Aaron brandished his swords focusing on the joints of the Spirit Beast. In turn, Apollo focused on the limbs of the Ape. Its mobility was heavily reduced by the damage. Incensed by this treatment, it spat mes once again after failing to utilize its severed arms. It was akin to a sitting duck.

    Unfortunately, Aaron was a tad slower than Apollo which was surprising. The corner of his robes was singed.

    Patting the small embers for him, Apollo dashed forward, while doing so, his mind was extremely active, ''If I can use the First Strike, should I try the second?''

    [Don''t; the drawbacks aren''t worth it. As you know, you''ve yet to properly execute it. Until you find an adequate situation, don''t harbor such thoughts. Instead, focus on not impeding your progress. However, should you find yourself in a dire situation... I''ll allow a forced usage if you take precautions.]

    ''Right, I''ll stay within my limits then.''

    By no means did he want to slow down his already restricted progress. Although he possessed this system. It wasn''t a fix-all, he could still run into issues. He learned this the hard way.

    Thankfully, Apollo''s first blow had lowered the Rank 3 Infernal Ape''s capabilities considerably. However, the repeated blows against the Infernal Ape had begun to take its toll upon Aaron''s body.

    At that moment, Apollo dashed forward once again. He did this to allow Aaron to gainbat awareness. When he saw Aaron struggling to defend against the blows, he performed an arc step.

    s, striking his staff vertically, Apollo ended the battle with the Rank 3 Infernal Ape as the ckened crimson aura split it in two.

    ''It seems the books were correct. The only way for a cultivator to jump realms and fight opponents is to wield strong Combat Arts while not being too far off in strength,'' thought Apollo. Of course, other factors came into y, however, the most important werebat awareness and ingenuity. One must be able to adapt to any and all situations.

    ''Without this Demon Art, I wouldn''t have been able to face that Spirit Beast,'' internally mused Apollo as he gazed down at his trembling hands. The toll of using the technique at his chosen intensity was quiterge. Not to mention, twice over.

 Chapter 70 - Questions

    ----

    Sitting down outside of the battlefield, Apollo began mediating and circting the threads of Natural Essence throughout his body in line with the Supreme Demon Body Cultivation Method. ??

    Due to his stamina having reached abysmal levels, he recuperated instead of continuing in the battle. As he did so, he examined Lily''s fighting style. In terms of awareness, she was along the lines of Aaron, however, her reserves seemed to be deeper. Spectating the battles, he watched as they came to an end.

    Thereafter, Aaron approached Apollo. Scrutinizing his body, Aaron gave an intrigued nod. After his small examination, he caught wind of some things that surprised him.

    Albeit vague, he could sense Apollo interacting with the surrounding Natural Essence. However, he was also aware he didn''t possess a Dantian. That insinuated he possessed a training method for his body in addition to a Martial Art.

    ''It seems Apollo has had his stroke of luck. Like I told everyone before, there woulde a day that they would wholeheartedly regret the treatment they gave him,'' Aaron rubbed his chin before copying Apollo''s actions; he initiated his recovery process.

    Although he startedter; due to the existence of his Dantian, Aaron''s recovery speedpletely overshadowed Apollo''s. However, that was to be expected. After all, the difference between possessing an unsealed Dantian and not was simply iparable.

    The benefits of possessing one were evident. First, one could begin the process of truly cultivating their "Force". In other words, one could begin purifying the Natural Essence they contained. This resulted in a noteworthy jump in the cultivator''s power. Be that as it may, it didn''t mean Apollo lost out on the purification method.

    Secondly, one awakened the ability to store the Natural Essence creating a reserve. Unfortunately, the amount capable of doing so was in a word¡ªunderwhelming. To continue, one needed to undergo repeated expansion and condensation of their Dantian¡ªwhich in its own right was a painful process.

    Lastly, said Natural Essence could be utilized to treat injuries at a faster rate. In this world, most healing items were just condensed and purified Natural Essence. Hence, entering the beginning of cultivation¡ªthe Zul Warrior Realm was filled with benefits.

    Whilst recovering, Apollo took the time to critique the new parameters of his technique¡ªalong with him it grew.

    Skill Name: Demonic Massacre Wave

    Skill Rank: Low Tier Earth

    Mastery: 2/4 (Intermediate)

    Information: Drawing upon one''s savagery, they sacrifice vitality in exchange forrge amounts of eradication. The higher the consumption, the higher the damage. However, repeated use results in each subsequent use increasing in expenditure.

    Minimum Consumption: 500 Stamina.

    Parameters: The parameters of damage is equal to (Zul Count + 1% increase/10 Stamina consumed.) Each subsequent use increases the stamina consumption per one percent by 25%.

    Requirements: Strength: 65.0, Vitality: 45.0

    ----

    ''So that''s how so much of its health was consumed. The parameters are stronger than what it used to be. It seems to be linked to the inner physique based on the "vitality" factor,'' determined Apollo. s, whilst continuing to recover, he noticed movement. Danyul approached Apollo. Kneeling down before him, he waited until Apollo reacted. Opening his eyes, Apollo''s gaze calmly interrogated Danyul.

    Finally, breaking the silence, Danyul began to question, "Earlier, that move you used twice. That was a Martial Art correct?"

    "It was," casually replied Apollo as he stretched out his hand, dropping the Coldiron Staff in Danyul''s grasp.

    "Where did you find it? I know the family''s collection like the back of my hand and we don''t possess an art with that type of tyrannical feeling in the ranks," stated Danyul as the Coldiron staff in his possession disappeared. It was clear he possessed some type of storing device.

    "Mm. I just so happened to chance upon it and happened to learn it. No more questions, I will not answer them," replied Apollo as he shook his head rising to his feet.

    Seeing as the battle was over, it was time to collect the spoils of battle. Peering at their waists, he realized the pouch he received from Irauk was on par with the ones Cynthia, Ashur, and Danyul carried. Because of this, Apollo began to hold questions once again, ''What is your identity and why did you gather youths? Speaking of which, why am I curious about them? Perhaps it''s because of this reunion,'' mused Apollo as he bent over carcasses.

    If he could collect them, then he would monopolize the cores of the Spirit Beasts. Especially so when it came to the Rank 3 Infernal Earth Ape.

    Meanwhile, Danyul''s gaze remained on the back of Apollo as he remained deep in thought, ''Those earlier strikes felt eerily simr to those of Spirit Beast innate techniques. Is it possible for a human to achieve even further naturalization than what is noted?''

    Of course, this didn''t ring true for Apollo. Firstly, he wasn''t a pure human anymore. Hence, he couldn''t be held to their standards. Secondly, the technique felt simr to a Spirit Beast''s innate utilization due to one reason¡ªit was of the Demonic attribute; a notion unfamiliar to this world.

    Evident from Apollo''s cold response. Danyul understood he wouldn''t be receiving any more answers. Hence, he approached Cynthia and stood next to her quietly with a contemtive expression. ''Would that be a possibility?''

    During the short recovery break, a question came to Apollo''s mind. Lifting his head, and ncing around he took note of everyone. From their movements, they seemed to be inching closer to something. "I understand all of you have advanced in your cultivation but what did you truthfullye for? I''ve realized that you guys seem to be paying attention to something in particr. Care to share?"

    "Now tell me, why exactly would we share our operations with you when you''re an outcast of the family. Mind your own and continue with your own device," remarked Ashur while hateful gazing upon Apollo.

    However, Apollo disregarded his expression. Not only were Ashur''s words treated like air, but he also didn''t even acknowledge his presence. Turning his head, he instead focused on Cynthia, "Auntie? How about you? Are you able to tell me the true purpose of your journey here?"

    "I can tell you, however, if I do so then you have to promise to apany us," smiled Cynthia while approaching Apollo. It was evident from her aura she sought to spend time with him. During the period of his absence, she had always worried about him.

    Releasing a chuckle, Apollo nodded as his interest was piqued. Naturally, that didn''t mean he would tag along with open arms. He didn''t ept but instead answered in a roundabout way until he knew what he was getting himself into.

    "That''s not impossible. If it sounds like it could be beneficial, I won''t hesitate to join. Although, if I do; you''ll need to watch him," replied Apollo while pointing toward the incensed Ashur. His words werepletely disregarded and beyond that, Cynthia simply bypassed what he said earlier.

    "What?! Are my words air? No, are the Grand Elder''s words air? This youth''s familial status has already been revoked!" scowled Ashur only earning Cynthia''s scorn in return.

    "You don''t need to worry about him," replied Cynthia as she released her cultivation base further incensing Ashur. However, Apollo on the other hand was attracted to that aura.

    ''Beyond a Zul Warrior...''

 Chapter 71 - Exploration

    ----

    After releasing her cultivation base, she continued to speak, "While I understand his words, I won''t be abandoning my direct family. Now, back to the matter at hand. We''ve entered this forest due to reports circting throughout the town. Apparently, a Rank 3 Spirit Beast is amid a breakthrough. However, in these areas seldom does that happen. This leaves us to believe one of two things," answered Cynthia. However, before she could finish Apollo interjected. ??

    "Either the Spirit Beast is consuming others to advance or it has found some type of item capable of helping it break through its current stage,"mented Apollo with a look of understanding. His Intelligence stat wasn''t for show. It subtly increased all things to do with his mind.

    "Exactly; astute observation my cute little sweetheart, I''ming to understand how you survived all these years. Our objective all along was to approach the center of this Shadowy Forest. We didn''t expect to run into you, but I''m d we did. On the other hand, we need to proceed forward faster. This report is a few days old. It''s unknown if it sessfully advanced. If it did, then we''ll need to exert more efforts to handle the situation," stated Cynthia with a deepening solemn expression.

    "I''ll join you then," immediately answered Apollo. At this instant, his mind was more focused on the amount of experience a beast''s core of that level would provide. Then again, he also pondered what means the beast was using to breakthrough. ''I hope it''s thetter. If so, there remains a chance I''ll be able to im some things for my own.''

    "Let''s move forward then," uttered Danyul before gripping his weapons and dashing deeper into the Shadowy Forest. Following closely behind, the group moved in a small formation. The number of monsters that approached them was small due to Danyul using his cultivation base''s aura as a deterrence.

    Soon enough, they reached the middle of the Shadowy Forest. Theyout was rather different than one would expect. Instead of dense trees, there was a clearing with a small mountain. Yet, from the opening intense fluctuations emanated.

    Sensing the intense radiation of essence undting from the small mountain opening, the older members of the party remained surprised. Either the cave was not very spacious or whatever resided inside was infinitesimally close to breaking through.

    "Aren''t these fluctuations too frequent? I believe we should confront it now. If it grows any stronger there''s a chance we''ll have to sacrifice the attention we would spare on the young ones," remarked Danyul while shifting his gaze between Cynthia and Ashur waiting for their response.

    "Okay. We enter now then," agreed Cynthia while removing a sword from her waist. It was unknown what material it was made from but it was extremely malleable as it was able to wrap around her waist. Intrigued, Apollo nodded slowly.

    ''I thought that was a belt. It seems that''s not the case at all. I guess weaponse in all shapes and sizes. Speaking of weapons, I wonder what Azridan is preparing me for? Could it be some type of legendary staff? That can''t be too far off. He''s been training me to use it for years now.''

    While he pondered, the 3 elders turned into blurs as they rushed toward the cave entrance. Roused from his contemtive stupor, Apollo advanced as well. However, while doing so Aaron approached him.

    "Say, which option do you think it is? Do you think the beast in question is utilizing the first or second method?" Aaron questioned Apollo as he remained curious about the current situation. If all went well, perhaps he''d be given the chance to redeem better things from the family. Small changes took ce now that they were older and inclined to aplish tasks.

    "I can''t guess based on what I know. But I do hope it is using the second choice. It''ll be more useful if it is the case. But, that doesn''t mean the first way makes it useless," replied Apollo as they finally entered the cave.

    The first thing they took notice of when they entered was the temperature. It was much higher than outside. Furthermore, this was only the periphery of the cave; they still needed to advance further. ''Only a higher rank Spirit Beast could justify influencing the environment in such a way.''

    "It''s a Fire attribute Spirit Beast. Danyul, you''ll be the lead for this operation. Your Water Element is the most effective. We''ll act as your aids," instructed Cynthia while ncing back at the 3 youths following closely and continuing, "If there is a fight that breaks out beyond your capabilities then retreat a safe distance. Do not try to perform tasks outside of your grasp."

    "Okay, Mom. But you can''t put yourself in harm''s way either," responded Aaron with a firm gaze. Although they had yet to meet any new Spirit Beast, they needed to prepare for contact.

    "Hm, Aunty. I''d like to spectate closer. I''m not seeking to join. I would just like to witness how battle differs between the ranks of cultivation," stated Apollo with a calm expression. His cid eyes showed he was telling the truth. It was true he possessed no intentions of joining. He didn''t receive experience from battling at the moment and as for the core, he felt he could simply ask Cynthia for some.

    "Suit yourself. Just remain mindful of your positioning," assented Cynthia while they advanced further. It wasn''t long before they came in contact with a new Spirit Beast. It was a smander monster, deep red in color. Its eyes were like ck gems while its body was the size of a sedan-type car.

    Monster Name: me Smander

    Rank: Early Stage Rank 3 Spirit Beast

    Health: 4,000 (100%)

    "Hm, it''s only the outskirts but there''s already Rank 3 Spirit Beast present; not to mention there''s three of them. It seems they''re serving as the guards for the one near a breakthrough. Let''s make quick work of them and enter that cave behind them," stated Danyul as he wielded his staff quickly.

    A momentter, his staff was coated in a blue aura as heshed it out horizontally. An arc of energy hurtled from the tip of his staff. Opening its maw, the smander summoned orbs of fire beforeunching them towards Danyul''s strike.

    "Hmm, a decent amount of teamwork. It appears they possess a semnce of intelligence. They''ve sessfully blocked my Aqua Rend Art. Let''s see if they can handle this next move."

    Spinning his staff around his body, Danyul formed an orb of water around himself by channeling Natural Essence containing copious amounts of the water element. mming his staff against the ground, a ripple took ce in the orb as it shifted forms and engulfed the smanders.

    "As I thought, they were unable to handle my Returning Waves," stated Danyul as the caught smanders were dragged within his striking range. This time, his Aqua Rends bisected the smanders quickly.

    "Oh? It would seem your proficiency with those techniques has increased. This makes me question what other techniques you have been learning these days,"mented Ashur before releasing a small chuckle.

    "Perhaps you''ll find outter," briefly responded Danyul before proceeding past the bodies of the smanders. Meanwhile, Apollo approached them collecting their cores. It seemed as if they didn''t value these things the way they zed over it.

    Nheless, this all worked out in Apollo''s favor. All they were doing was contributing to his growth. What they saw as trash, he recognized as treasure.

    It wasn''t long before they came in contact with an increased volume of beasts. It seemed as if the beast in question was meticulous in its nning.

 Chapter 72 - Delegating Leadership, Harboring Indignation

    ----

    "The temperature is increasing far beyond what I expected? It seems as if the beast in question possesses an extremely high affinity with Fire Essence," muttered Cynthia as she took note of the increasing heat while advancing further. It was reaching a point that caused them¡ªcultivators¡ªto perspire. ??

    On the other hand, Apollo continued to draw in this essence. It was akin to a blessing for his current cirction pathways, ''If it''s like this, the high levels of Fire Essence should elerate my progress. It is less tedious than the manual separation of this particr element and absorbing it.''

    [It is indeed beneficial to you. After all, this me is unstable and that''s what demons thrive in¡ªthe fires of instability. However, do take caution. The fluctuations I''m sensing are growing fainter as if they''re being concealed. It might be a sign of the evolving beast reaching theter stages.]

    ''Ah,'' Apollo nodded in understanding as he looked at the backs of the others. Soon enough, they came to a halt. The narrow cave path led into what they were currently confronting¡ªarge clearing albeit a weird one. It was volcanic in nature, with the room many times hotter than outside.

    Furthermore, there were streams of liquid mes flowing through the walls and meeting the center of the room forming a sizable pool. That small pool, however, had a small detachment that led deeper into the cave through an even more slender passageway. If one looked closely, they would realize it seemed as if something had attempted to seal it.

    "There''s a lot of beasts. It appears the evolving beast has made ample precautions to ensure it isn''t interrupted," stated Danyul as he tightened his grip on the Coldiron Staff. Compared to before, there was a sea of monsters. The type was consistent but their strengths weren''t! These particr ones were all Rank 3.

    "What''s the n? Are we to intervene?" Apollo withdrew the Vantack Knife without hesitation. His eyes fell upon the smanders, viewing them as prey. After all, that''s what they were to him¡ªstepping stones in his path to power.

    "If we are to clear this alone it''ll take too long. In that scenario, it''ll give the beast even more time toplete its evolution. Hence, we''ll have to utilize you kids. But... I stress that you need to stay safe," Cynthia''s expression became uncharacteristically stern. Her eyes shifted to the indifferent Apollo whose mind seemed to be elsewhere.

    "Apollo, you''ll spearhead the operation," determined Cynthia, causing shock within Axel. His eyes widened as he felt an irritation welling up inside him. He didn''t like this feeling of not being considered when pinned against Apollo. He could understand Lily as she time and time again proved to be stronger than himself. Apollo, on the other hand; Axel felt he only possessed sharper senses. The winner between them wouldn''t be easily determined if he went all out!

    "Hmm? Me? I don''t think I want to do that," Apollo shook his head in disapproval ncing at the expression in Axel''s eyes with a small smirk. He truly couldn''t care less about leading them or not; he only had one thing in mind¡ªcollecting some cores.

    "Please, can you do me this favor, hun? You''re the one who possesses the strongest sense of survival. If you can ensure their safety, I''ll ensure yourster and present you with something," pleaded Cynthia with a gentle smile.

    ''Later? Could she perhaps mean¡­ Ah, I see,'' thought Apollo.

    "Okay, fine but the cores are mine. Do you find this eptable, Aunty?" questioned Apollo as he motioned to Aaron.

    "That goes without saying. The family doesn''t reallyck them nor do we have forgers capable of refining them. But that makes me question, why does my sweet nephew need so many cores?" asked Cynthia as she waved her malleable sword.

    ''I shouldn''t tell her I can refine them with my body. It''s too many ears, I''ll keep it a secret for now,'' thought Apollo before replying, "For future purposes. I''m bound toe in contact with one capable of doing so, right?"

    "Ah, that''s true. Very well, you may im them," Cynthia turned around not paying this matter any more attention as she felt she left it in capable hands. Reacting quickly, she dashed with Ashur and Danyul into the sea of ming smanders.

    "Aaron, you''ll take the vanguard. I''ll be closely monitoring your movements, however, I won''t get involved unless you''re in dire danger. You need near-death experiences if you''d like to bring out your peak strength," stated Apollo as he gazed into Aaron''s eyes.

    "Okay, I think that sounds good but what about them? What will they be doing?" Aaron curiously pointed to Axel and Lily. They had a slightly weird expression as his words seemed to inherently treat Apollo as the leader. Axel even felt he omitted them entirely.

    "Hmm, what are your specialties?" Apollo''s cursory nce fell upon the two as he crossed his arms. Truthfully, this was a chore but if he could collect the cores unabated he didn''t'' mindpleting this task.

    "Do you mean element and fighting style? If so, mine are Water and Light as well as the sword," spoke Lily as she stared into Apollo''s eyes. She sensed no emotions from his dull gaze. In response, she only received a slight nod.

    "And you?" Apollo turned his gaze toward the frowning Axel. He loathed the position he was in; he felt as if Apollo was looking down on him. The same twerp they used to bully and bury alive was now disregarding his existence!

    "Fire, and I don''t have a particr style," replied Axel in a brusque manner. Apollo, however, remained unperturbed by this attitude and simply nodded once again.

    "That means you''ll be close to useless in this fight," a disdainful chuckle left Apollo''s lips causing Axel to seethe and tremble. Useless?!

    "What do you mean useless?! I''m a Zul Warrior, what the fuck are you?" the veins in Axel''s neck protruded whilst he fumed over this statement. Craning his head, Danyul looked at the situation between the youth and frowned.

    ''Tch¡­ the bad blood is surfacing. This is really not the time. Can''t they pick a better moment to resolve their differences?''

    Holding up his hand, Apollo stopped Axel, ''I suggest you bite your tongue lest my de dismembers it. As you can see, these beasts are of the Fire Attribute. Unless you possess a more tyrannic me, you''ll be no help in that department. Hence, as I said¡ªyour existence is basically useless. If you''d like, you can prove me wrong by confronting three beasts at once," he chuckled.

    "W-what¡­? Why would I confront three Rank 3 beasts at once? That''s madness!" Axel''s eyes widened in disbelief. All the while, he thought one thing, ''Did this kid lose his mind while out in the wild?''

    "Well, because I''m capable of doing so." Apollo smiled while his expression remained nonchnt, shifting his attention he looked over to the other two "Lily, back up Aaron. If you''re of the Water Element, I''m guessing you possessing minute healing abilities which will be further entuated by your Light Attribute, correct?"

    "That''s right, but I can also use offensive techniques. Some of which are stronger than Aaron," replied Lily as she retrieved a white de with a pale yellow handle. Faint aurae of cerulean and canary-yellow colors circted throughout.

    "That''s good. I''ll deal with my own. Remain within 10 meters of me. Outside of that, I will be unable to respond and alleviate any unforeseen circumstances." After rting this information, Apollo''s silhouette faded into a dark flicker.

    Widening their eyes, they were astonished by his movement and understood why he said 10 meters. He was capable of traversing this distance in an instant! Meanwhile, they were more shocked by this movement technique. What type of ghastly feeling was this? He was even faster than earlier; it appeared he didn''t use it at full capacity earlier.

    ''Hm, it seems my upper limit with the Partial Shade Silhouette has raised. That''s good to know,'' thought Apollo beforeunching the Vantack Knife and disappearing.

 Chapter 73 - Potential Danger

    ----

    ''Splich!'' ??

    The thrown Vantack Knife stabbed into the forehead of a smander. However, after it impaled its forehead, Apollo reappeared grabbing its handle and thrusting downward. Its scales were more durable than he hoped, causing the resulting cut to be on the shallow side.

    Nevertheless, this just meant the battle would be longer. Conjuring a me, it swiped its ws causing a tripleyered me wave.

    ''Ding!'' ''Ding!'' ''Whoosh!''

    Parrying two of the three waves, Apollo sidestepped, dodging thest one. Watching his movements, the trio remained in awe. It seemed his words weren''t lies! He showed no difficulty dealing with a single Rank 3 Spirit Beast. This left little room for doubt in their minds while noticing his advantage rested in his agility! That technique he used boosted his speed beyond what was normal for even a Zul Warrior!

    Naturally, raising his proficiency in the Partial Shade Silhouette was not without its benefits. Compared to before, the parameters now satisfied Apollo greatly. It seemed each skill had to be trained as they possessed their own mastery levels. In other words, the more he familiarized himself with them, the greater the power he could draw from them.

    ----

    Skill Name: First Phantasm - Partial Shade Silhouette

    Skill Rank: High Tier Profound Art

    Mastery: 2/4 (Intermediate)

    Information: Embracing the darkness, one''s movement seems to blend in seamlessly. The deeper one enters the shade, their silhouette the more they approach the phantasm. However, the darkness corrupts and tempts all. As a result, the demand is greater.

    Parameters: Increases Agility by 50% at the minimum to 85% at the maximum.

    Consumption: 3 Stamina per second/50% + 5 Stamina per second/additional 5% increase.

    Requirements: Strength: 50.0, Agility: 60.0, Intelligence: 30.0

    ''I should test how fast the upper limits are,'' thought Apollo before taking a step that caused his disintegrating silhouette to emit a sonic boom. Correct, rather than his body doing so, the fading silhouette did!

    ''Interesting! But this drain is rather high. In a second, I''ll lose 38 stamina points. Not to mention, I still need to factor in the movement''s drain itself. With that my drain is more so closer to 45. In other words, I can only uphold this state for 100 seconds before exhaustion appears. This will be a saving grace in sticky situations but will have to be used sparsely,'' thought Apollo as he dropped his execution to the minimum.

    Meanwhile, he nced back at Aaron and Lily teaming up to handle two of such smanders. Axel, on the other hand, remained disgruntled as he waved his spear. His initial Zul Count inparison to Apollo was high. Hence, as the battles continued he found himself damaging the beast more frequently.

    The drawback, however, was that his stylecked the ferocity it should have. The Fire Element was one of explosiveness and yet he seemed to be mellowed. Naturally, this was due to the mind games Apollo yed on him. In normal circumstances, he would have walked into a battle with nonexistent apprehension. Unfortunately, that wasn''t the case.

    There was now a pang of doubt present in his mind. To put it differently, Apollo had attacked his "Dao Heart" or what one would call a cultivator''s pride¡ªa ruthless move.

    Needless to say, Ashur saw this and frowned, ''Venomous kid! How dare you trample upon someone''s pride! That is synonymous with ruining their future. Vile! The Grand Elder will not be pleased with this.''

    The battle waged on and beasts continued to fall, however, Azridan''s warning rang in Apollo''s mind.

    [Lad, those fluctuations I mentioned earlier are picking up! However, they carried a faint difference. When you all proceed take precaution, when you get the chance, I suggest you warn your aunt of it being on the verge ofpleting its evolution.]

    ''Noted,'' replied Apollo as he split a smander in half with the Demonic Massacre Wave. This time, he didn''t add copious amounts of his energy as the beast was already on itsst legs. On the other hand, Lily encased a smander in an orb of water as spears of light stabbed through it.

    Subsequently, Aaron''s sword emitted a faint whitish-silver gleamed that hurtled forward and pierced the forehead of the smander. It was the first form of the Quicksilver Sword Forms he poured countless hours of practice into¡ªit had borne fruits!

    ''I forgot to ask Aaron what his element was but it seems he possesses dual elements like Lily. If I''m not mistaken, it''s Wind and Metal. But I get this odd feeling¡­'' thought Apollo as he shifted to the next opponent.

    Oftentimes, there was a stray who attempted to attack their backs only to be thwarted by Apollo''s knife. In short bursts, he increased his speed to deal with these situations, the bodies littering the ground continued to increase until finally, they were all motionless on the floor.

    Pausing for a breather, Cynthia looked back at the kids. It went without saying, the only one forgoing a rest was Apollo. Zooming around, he excavated the Essence Cores from the monster bodies. Arge influx of cores simr to a stream took ce in his spatial pouch.

    ''I wonder where he got that pouch. It seems to be the same grade as ours. That''d take a rather skilled spatial sage to create. It appears these years were indeed eventful for him,'' Cynthia silently spectated Apollo and the pouch at his waist amid the motions of rounding up the cores.

    On the other hand, Ashur arrived before Axel, cing his hand on his shoulder, "Don''t let his words enter your mind. You must remember he harbors malice towards thus his words are poisonous. What he speaks is far from the truth. You must always hold yourself to the highest standard¡ªyou are talented."

    Shaking his head, Axel recovered from his muddled state as a tinge of hostility shed within his eyes followed by a burning ember. His hateful gaze fell upon Apollo''s leisure persons, "You''re right. It seems he hasn''t let go of the past and bears hate in his heart. However, I will let him know when the timees that he is not my superior!"

    Soon enough, arge amount of desecrated carcasses remained and Apollo looked up at Cynthia before looking into the distance, "Aunty, if you haven''t sensed it yet. I have something to warn you of. Would you like to hear my words?"

    Raising her eyebrows in surprise, Cynthia remained shocked. ''He''s picked up on something that we haven''t? If so¡­ how sharp are his sense? Without a doubt, he possesses a talent for Spirit Cultivation. I wish to see just how far he treads on his path.''

    "Tell me, hun. What is it you discovered?" While asking, Cynthia''s eyes shifted to the narrow and impartial path leading from the volcanic pool. ''I sense something. But¡­ it doesn''t belong to a beast what is that?

    "That beast, whatever it is, should be at the cusp of evolution. If so, I advise you all to take precautions. I''m not privy to what a Rank 4 Spirit Beast is capable of but from what I remember reading. There is noparison to a Rank 3. To my knowledge, I believe they awaken something?" stated Apollo as his tone turned unsure towards the end. The information in the books he read in the family library was rather vague andcking in intricate detailing.

    "Ah, yes. That''s correct. As far as I know, Rank 4 is arge turning point for Spirit Beast. I believe it awakens something like an even stronger innate ability," Cynthia''s eyebrow raised in intrigue due to Apollo''s knowledge. ''He should be on par with a person with years of experience. He''s maturing to a state that doesn''t warrant my worries.

    "Aunty, what''s your cultivation level?" Unlike the 3 youths, he found he was unable to see hers. Naturally, he didn''t inspect the other two as he was only interested in Aaron, Axel, and Lily''s strength beforehand. However, that changed as he now witnessed everyone''sbat power.

    Cynthia''s strength triumphed over the other two and it wasn''t by a small degree. In fact, the disparity was noticeable. When serious, she singlehandedly took on 10 of those earlier smanders. Meanwhile, Danyul was capable at 7 at most whereas Ashur could handle 5 with the asional hardcap being 6.

    To his question, her lips formed a faint smile with a yful expression in her eyes.

 Chapter 74 - Serendipitous Discovery

    ----

    "Oh, me? I''m just acking Zul Knight; a 3rd Rank one. If you aren''t aware of it, it''s the second true stage of Body Cultivation. Although there''s not much difference, the body is much stronger and the Natural Essence inside me has further condensed." ??

    As soon as she disclosed her cultivation standards, the system disclosed an even more in-depth summarization about her.

    Name: Cynthia

    Elements: Wind and Water.

    Cultivation: Rank 3 Zul Knight

    Health: 12,400 (100%)

    ''Over 12,000 Health? It appears a Zul Knight''s vitality is no small matter. However, that should be expected. If she can use Natural Essence to sustain herself then her physique would indeed be stronger. As for her elements, why did the system tell me that? Though I didn''t expect aunty to possess dual elements as well.''

    "Ah, I believe we need to hurry. We''ve idled long enough. Let''s clear our task and get out of here. I would like to bypass the chance of any unforeseen circumstances towards us happening. So let''s get this show on the road," uttered Danyul as he approached theva path from the side.

    A scalding heat could be felt from it as it bubbled and popped with a searing heat. The sulfuric smell and extreme heart threatened to singed their nose hair. Narrowing his eyes, a faint blue aura covered Danyul''s body.

    The same film then appeared over the bodies of Ashur and Cynthia albeit in different colors. It was a basic essence utilization technique that protected the body from harmful conditions. Apollo, however, was taken aback for a moment.

    ''Why didn''t the mercenaries execute a technique like this? Back then, if they did so then my victory would have been uncertain. If the disparity between small families withcking reputation and rogues is already thisrge, then howrge is the disparity between those so-called Great and Supreme Families?''

    The technique was known as Essence Aegis; it operated by expending a cultivator''s reserves. Of course, the thickness of the film was determined by the attainments of said cultivator''s essence density and the drain was minuscule and more so an auxiliary function. Therefore, Cynthia''s aegis was more durable than the other two.

    "Oh, I''ve learned how to do that as well," muttered Aaron before a multicoloredyer covered him as well. But oddly enough, the was a third faint colorced within that surprised Apollo.

    ''Is that the earth element?''

    [It would seem so. It seems this boy''s inherited body is triple ele- No¡­ I''m mistaken it''s even beyond that. Look closer, there are faint blue lines circting within. He must have inherited that from his mother.]

    ''Quadruple? That''s the first I heard of it,'' responded Apollo.

    [It seems even he is unaware of it. I''m only able to see it due to certain reason. Possessing 4 elements simultaneously is an extreme rarity. In the future, his arsenal will be expansive.]

    "Advance,"manded Cynthia before dashing forward. Unlike the others, Apollo didn''t utilize an Essence Aegis. This was for two reasons; one, he was unable to do so at the moment. Secondly, he found this heatfortable. So much so, it was nourishing his meridians at a visible rate.

    ''The cirction pathways aren''t increasing in pain. Instead, it''s also as if it''s devouring the heat. Interesting, I look forward to this stigmata forming as well as finding out what it looks like.''

    Approaching the entrance, Cynthia waved her sword managing to expand it with ease. Blue sword images pierced the rock and burrowed through creating a sizable opening. Inching closer they came in contact with what seemed to be the evolving beast''s humble abode.

    "What the hell is that?" eximed Aaron with an incredulous gaze. His finger trembled at a colossal volcanic rock cocoon. It remained suspended half a meter above the ground with tendrils of dense Fire Essence being absorbed by it.

    Furthermore, three more me Smandersid in wait. However, that''s not what captured Cynthia''s and the other two''s attention. Her gaze narrowed as her eyes fell on something that felt out of ce. Taking a moment, her eyes soon brightened with a fervent gaze ''So that''s how this beast began its evolution...this seems to be one of those!''

    ----

    "Such a potent Fire Essence! It appears this beast is using the ambient energy of this volcanic ce to fortify its evolution. But¡­" Apollo gazed at the rock as he remained silent. Shifting his sights, he examined something else. ''Why can''t I see any information? Am I too far?''

    [Correct. For something like that you need to physically touch it. Unfortunately, you all have arrivedte. Those fluctuations have been sealed. In other words, this beast is either finished evolving or at its extremete-stage Nevertheless, it seems as if your aunt knows what those are. Confront her about it.]

    "Aunty, what are those?" questioned Apollo pointing at an ash-grey tree. Typically, in this type of environment, a nt should be unable to survive. The conditions were too harsh! Needless to say, this turned out to be different for this particr tree; it even seemed to be thriving.

    A clear sign of this was the fact it was bearing fruit! Multiple fist-sized, crystalline fruits with a cerulean hue hung on the branches of the tree. Copious amounts of vitality could be seen within as remained in the immediate vicinity of that volcanic cocoon.

    "If I''m not mistaken...it should be a Natural Blessing. That''s the only type of item that could exist in this habitat and thrive. Moreover, because it seems to be flourishing unabated, I believe it should be fire-element based," responded Cynthia with an odd gaze. In her eyes remained the desire to collect it as well as an innate caution.

    "Natural Blessing? I''ve never heard of such a thing. What is it?" asked Apollo. In response, Aaron, Lily, and Axel''s ears perked up. They too were ignorant to the term Natural Blessing. Hence, Cynthia disclosed the information she knew.

    "Well for starters, as the name sounds it is a rarity that can only be chanced upon. Different from spiritual herbs which are limited to nt-based items; Natural Blessings don''t share this limitation. They exist in a myriad of forms. Usually, they''d be found in special orbs, crystals, stones, metals¡ªthe list goes on," disclosed Cynthia piquing Apollo''s interest.

    Absorbing the information, he continued to question; intent on learning more about these things, ''It''s possible I just discovered a way to hasten my advancement.''

    "What effects do they possess and is there a distinguishment between their level or are you aware of their requirements/restrictions?" Apollo''s attentiom remained glue to the crystalline fruits as if the most enticing objectid before him was in danger of disappearing.

    "So curious you are. Nevertheless, this is how you should be¡ªforever curious and seeking more. These items are extremely beneficial items, more often than not they possess the ability to enhance your current state of being through thoroughly purified Natural Essence¡ªhence, their name Natural Blessing.

    "As for their distinguishment, it goes hand and hand with their restrictions. This is quite often indicated by the name of the item. It''ll possess hints of its capabilities by the name. For example, there''s one we came in contact with recently called the [Earthen me Orb]. Not only did it temper the meridians into the Earth-Grade, but it also heightened one''s affinity with fire considerably."

    After mentioning this, her eyes fell upon Axel. Needless to say, this was a subliminal message. One didn''t need to capitalize on both effects to ingest. Simply benefiting from one was enough for the family to justify the use of the item on Axel.

    "Luckily, those types of Natural Blessings almost always possess a multiple-use function. Unless one possesses the means to draw every modicum of Essence from it," added Cynthia before being interrupted.

 Chapter 75 - With Light Befalls Darkness (I)

    ----

    "Ahem¡­ while a learning session is nice. I believe we need to get back to the matter at hand! Let''s snatch the Natural Blessings and evacuate this area," uttered Ashur with a discontent expression. Why was she mentioning that item to him? It wasn''t information vital to his understanding. ??

    "Evacuate? And let the beast finish evolving and run rampant? Are you insane or just that selfish?" Cynthia''s tone carried disgust as she looked upon Ashur with a disdainful expression.

    "It''s not worth it to go out of our way to y this beast. Instead, it''s more reasonable to snatch these items and return to the estate. Don''t you agree Danyul?!" Ashur''s only way out was to involve Danyul. Unfortunately¡­

    "No, I disagree. The flesh of this beast alone will be extremely beneficial to the youth back home. After all, there are only 36 of those Natural Blessings¡ªfar from enough to supply everyone. I''m with Cynthia on this; we y the beast."

    Clicking his tongue, Ashur cursed them in his mind. ''Fucking do-gooders. Why do we need to look out for all the youths when not all of them are promising? It should go without saying¡ªcondense our resources and focus on the promising candidates.''

    "Unfortunately¡­ even if we wanted to do that. It''s no longer an option," Cynthia''s countenance darkened as the volcanic cocoon trembled. The crumbling exterior revealed a grandiose eyelid that soon opened.

    A reptilian eye giving off a horrible feeling examined all thatid before it. The dense savagery within entuated the dreadful red color. Larger chunks fell disying just howrge its physique was.

    "Something''s wrong¡­ I''ve felt a Rank 4 Spirit Beast...they...they don''t feel like this," Cynthia stammered as her throat shuddered. That eye staring at them¡ªit gave her a feelingparable to those inconceivable Terrors!

    "GROOAAAAAHHH!!!"

    A prolonged ear-piercing shriek sounded causing theyout to quake. A shockwave shattered the encasing cocoon only to reveal the entirety of this thing''s body. A massive unfurling wingspan nketed the team under its shadow.

    Its ckened scales shimmered with a metallic luster as its ws mmed into the ground tearing it asunder with ease. Its wings, however, seemed to becking in integrity. After they unfurled, they soon retracted. Yet and still, its ominous gaze locked onto Apollo and the others.

    "This...t-... is this a dragon!? It''s at least 15 meters tall. How do we confront something like that?" Aaron paled at this beast before them. Its roar shattered his confidence as did his mother''s expression.

    "It''s not a dragon. I''m certain of this. Those aren''t found in our Domain. You''ll have to venture across the seas. That should be¡­ a Wyvern. But even then¡­ Wyverns are known to be extremely destructive. How is one here?" Cynthia frowned as her grip tightened on her sword; her wordsced with an adversarial tone.

    ''Aunty''s tone sounds like worry is creeping into her mind. However¡­''

    "Aunty, this situation isn''t hopeless. At least, I don''t think so. There are 7 of us. How about we synchronize and take down this beast. If pushes to shove then we retreat," stated Apollo as he aimed to reassure Cynthia and calm her taut nerves. However, unbeknownst to him, this situation stimted a deep-rooted hatred from that ominous feeling¡ªit jogged the memories of her perishing brothers!

    "I don''t think you understand the implications thate along with a Rank 4 Spirit Beast! They undergo a fundamental change. Those below the Zul Warrior Realm are unable to even scratch them," disclosed Ashur with a disgruntled expression. He even showed signs of wanting to bail on this situation.

    "We should have brought Father along¡­" Axel frowned as he stared at the wyvern. It had yet to make a move as the aura around its body was frantic. Furthermore, trying to lift its limbs resulted in awkward movements¡ªit seemed tock control of itself right now.

    "Why do you allck confidence? Isn''t cultivation the path of defying all odds? To me, it seems as if you all have lost your heart. I for one will not wait for you to respond," retorted Apollo as he brushed past everyone.

    "If you don''t want to confront it, I''ll simply take my share and leave." A thick shadow encased Apollo, however, he didn''t take a step. Instead, he waited.

    "Don''t be so irrational! How can I allow you to put yourself in harm''s way? I won''t be losing my family again. Stand down¡­ NOW!" screaming in a frantic manner, Cynthia''s aura bolstered to new heights. Her protective desire propelled her cultivation a level.

    Meanwhile, Apollo felt her emotion and conceded, retracting the Partial Shade Silhouette. "As you wish Aunty," He smiled and approached her. As he did so, the Wyvern roared reverberating throughout the enclosed space.

    Appearing from behind it, multiple Rank 3 me Smanders came into sight. Its deadly re fell upon the group as an orb of irrevocable mes gathers within its mouth. It only needed but an instant to do so.

    "DODGE!" roared Cynthia before sidestepping. Her feet were wreathed in a watery stream that soon formed slender boots seemingly made of Water Essence but retained a metallic sheen.

    "Is that her Aqua Maiden Technique? It seems she has trained it to the Aquatic Valkyrie Boots. When is thest time we''ve seen her in action? It''s been years. I look forward to witnessing what she''s capable of," muttered Danyul as he brandished the Coldiron Staff.

    Ayer of water essence coated it as well before it began freezing over. It was a special technique known as Frozen Lance. It turned his staff into the more lethal spear. Of course, it required a continued channeling of Natural Essence to maintain. Hence, it was a rather draining technique. However, this was made up for in lethality.

    ''Whoosh!''

    Danyul and Cynthia pounced towards the Wyvern. Meanwhile, Ashur frowned as he revealed two chakrams. ck yet frail auras escaped from it as they began spinning in his hand. It was his specialty¡ªthe Dark element. Sadly, it was rather weak. Needless to say, his affinity wasn''t very strong.

    Nevertheless, he joined the battle utilizing his Dark Wheel technique. Apollo and the other youths, on the other hand, focused on the iing Rank 3 me Smanders. Letting them enclose on the elders would be a grave mistake. Splitting up their attention with an opponent like that was asking for trouble.

    "Aaron, grab that one over there,"manded Apollo as he rushed into the distance, grabbing the tail of a smander and tossing it away from the wyvern. Creating distance, he blitzed around performed this action multiple times. Soon enough, the four of them stood in a square formation before them.

    "We have to take care of them...I don''t think the elders willst. Something seems off about that monster. My guts won''t rx," stated Aaron with a faltering tone. He felt worried for the safety of his mother. This was truthfully the first time he had witnessed her battle.

    ncing at the Vantack Knife, Apollo frowned, ''You''ve been with me for a while but you''re beginning to bing obsolete. It won''t be long before I have to find a substitute for you.''

    Splintering the ground with a kick, Apollo shed the knife horizontally. A weakened Demonic Massacre Waveunched causingrge gashes on the Spirit Beast. Utilizing his speed, Apollo stabbed those gashes all the way to their Essence Cores one by one. Adding to the fray, Aaron took a stance.

    Shifting his feet and lowering his shoulder, Aaron drew his sword causing a sonorous sound. He repeated this motion incessantly, "Quicksilver Second Form: Silver sh!" Numerous silver sword beams pierced the weaknesses Apollo caused on the spirit beasts. Now wasn''t the time for discrepancies, so everyone worked together.

    A watersso originating from Lily''s palms grabbed and held multiple me Smanders in ce. With the crowd controlled, Apollo unleashed his unabated fury. Numerous shes empowered by Natural Essence took ce. A momentter, throwing knives appeared in his hand.

 Chapter 76 - With Light Befalls Darkness (II)

    ----

    ''I retrieved these from id''s body. Let''s see how they work although I don''t possess the affinities he did. Now that I mention this¡­ do I have any affinities?'' ??

    ''Splich!''

    As he thought to himself, Apollo flung his arms sending the knives hurtling forward. The force alone gave way, puncturing the eyes of numerous spirit beast. Meanwhile, Cynthia and the others were having a much harder time. They were hard-pressed to damage the beast''s scales. The density was insane!

    "Why is this Wyvern so durable? Our Martial Arts are barely scratching the surface. How do we resolve this issue?" questioned Danyul as he executed his Aqua Rend continuously.

    "Pick and area and focus your strikes. If we can''t overwhelm it with power, we''ll do it with repetition," replied Cynthia as arrows of water fired towards the Wyvern from around her legs. Furthermore, a blue wind formed as he performed a specialized version of Danyul''s Aqua Rend.

    "Frozen Lance: Tundra''s de," bellowed Danyul as he made a thrusting motion causing the Coldiron Staff hurtled towards the Wyvern''s chest. A dangerous gleam appeared within its eyes as it retaliated with a ck me. Rendering his strike useless, it deflected Danyul''s spear.

    Jumping, he grabbed it midair and spun, thrusting it at its scale causing a metallic prolonged ring. They remained embroiled in this perilous battle. Meanwhile, Apollo and the others finished off the me Smanders. Spectating the fight, apprehension filled the youths.

    "Do you think we should really join that battle?" asked Lily as she gripped her sword, her palms turning white from the force.

    "We have to. Look at their haggard appearances. That beast is quite the adversary. Are you scared?" asked Apollo as he looked towards Lily with a displeased gaze. Why did it seem they allcked the desire to confront danger and prosper from it?

    "Of course¡­ who wouldn''t be scared in this situation? That beast isn''t something our levels are meant to go up against," retorted Lily as a small frown appeared across her lips.

    "That is precisely why we should confront it; ovee your trepidation. Fear is simply your uncertainty. If you find yourself doubting your ability, that just means you have found something in which you need to aplish," stated Apollo as he tightened his grip on the Vantack Knife with a dignified expression. He found himself more solemn than he''s ever been.

    "Tch...don''t try to sound like a profound sage wise beyond your years. You''re just a fool who willfully seeks danger; needless danger to say the least." Axel scoffed revealing a derisive expression. He couldn''t stomach the fact that Apollo was able to remain this calm.

    ncing in his direction, Apollo smiled. It was a cold one, "Are you saying providing aid to your family in need is needless? What a familial one you are."

    "Y-you!! You twist my words!"

    "He doesn''t. This is what can be gathered from your statement," added Aaron with a cold gaze whilst a metallic gleam emanated from his sword. "Apollo, let''s go. I don''t like this feeling. Let us back up, Mom."

    ''Whoosh!''

    Rushing forward, Apollo locked sights with the Wyvern''s rampaging gaze. For a moment, however, his eyes traveled to the Natural Blessings, ''They aren''t able tobat it due to its high defenses. Hence, let me help them out.''

    The Partial Shade Silhouette thickened as Apollo''s speed increased to a new height surpassing that of a Zul Warrior. Enacting his ns, he disregarded the possibility of danger.

    [Lad you''re a brave one. I can''t tell if it''s selfless courage or mindless lunacy. You''re simply insane! Even in the presence of something like that capable of ripping you to shreds in a mere instant, you want to provoke it so? I love it! Continue those actions. Plunge it into madness!]

    ''Heh. You''re beginning to sound more and more like a demon. This is the only way to provide a window for them to capitalize on. Furthermore, it gives me a chance as well. I''m curious as to what those things are and exactly what they''re capable of,'' responded Apollo.

    Moving like a phantom, he could barely be perceived by Aaron who was falling behind. Enclosing on the crystalline fruits, the Wyvern spared him a nce followed by a roar. Unfortunately, it didn''t perturb Apollo in the slightest. In fact, a smirk inched upon his lips.

    Thereafter, he invoked the Wyvern''s rage. He wasing too close forfort to its treasure. However, it also didn''t act irrationally. The position Apollo remained in now left a possibility for it to damage those exact treasures. It caused the Wyvern to fall into a helpless fury. One in which it enacted upon the terrain.

    The repeated ms of its wing into the surface caused the tremors of the area. Stgmites fell from the ceiling resulting in the other dodging for their lives. Moreover, from the areas they felt, fresh magma flowed down. The area was bing increasingly dangerous by the second.

    Reaching out his hand, Apollo attempted to grasp the Natural Blessings. Sadly, before his finger could touch it and gather information. A sense of death washed over him causing him to make an abrupt backstep. A ck thread passed by where he was a moment before.

    As itnded on the wall next to him it melted the wall in a mere instant. The Wyvern looked at him with hateful eyes before spreading its wings and giving it a p. Turbulent winds, uprooted Apollo mming him against the wall.

    Thankfully, he was durable and this strike wasn''t capable of finishing him off. Although, this didn''t mean he got off scot-free. cing his hand on his right side he frowned, ''At least 3 cracked ribs from just the after winds of its strike. What power¡­''

    "Ugh¡­" Apollo stormed forward with murderous eyes. However, Cynthia ced herself between him and the Wyvern abruptly.

    "Hun, don''t. Don''t confront it head-on. Back us up. I also appreciate you diverting its attention for a moment. That was thanks to you," she said as her finger pointed to a gash on its chest. Fresh, purple blood trickled from it.

    ''Thump!'' ''Thump!'' ''Thump!''

    As Apollo gazed at that purple blood his heartbeat elerated as a rhythmic thumping was heard. Moreover, the healing process of his cracked ribs hastened. It seemed as if this was a small resonance between him and the Wyvern, ''What is this feeling? Why do I desire to kill this thing?''

    "Aunty. I''m sorry but I''ll have to disobey you this one time. I need confirmation!" dashing forward Apollo balled his hand into a fist. He used the principle of the Demonic Massacre Wave and encased his fist within. Tapping his foot, he rose face to face with this Wyvern and punched forward.

    ''BOOM!''

    A small explosive sound was heard. However, as he was blown back Apollo received exactly what he sought. Yet and still, this only led to more questions, ''Why is that within its name? It isn''t the beast itself I want but rather it''s something inside it.''

    [Hoh? This feeling¡­ it feels strangely familiar. Almost as if it''s linked to¡­]

    "Evil," uttered Apollo.

    Monster Name: Demonic Earthme Wyvern

    Type: Evolved Variant (Bloodline Beast)

    Bloodline: Demonic Dragon

    Purity: Trace (Impure)

    Element: Fire, Dark, Wind, Metal, and Earth

    Cultivation: Rank 4 Spirit Beast

    Health: 28,600 (95%)

    Chance of Defeat: Unknown?

    ''What in the fuck¡­'' Apollo''s eyes widened as he nced at the screen before him. First of all, this thing was a Variant. But not just any type; it was a special one! In other words, not only did it achieve a variant status in retrospect to elemental affinity¡­ it possessed a bloodline! Albeit faint, it was a dragon''s bloodline nheless.

    Additionally, even Azridan was dumbfounded as he misjudged this opponent¡ªhorribly so.

 Chapter 77 - With Light Befalls Darkness (III)

    ----

    [Oh shit. Pardon my foulnguage, but this thing isn''t even at full strength! You must remember this is the period right after evolution. This is its weakest and yet it is this strong! If you allow it to ingest any more of those fruits and enable it to consolidate its state...I fear for all of your lives.] ??

    "Then what do you suggest we do?" Apollo''s countenance darkened as his mind traveled to worse case scenarios. He knew for a fact the others weren''t privy to the implications of this beast. Everyone felt it was off but Apollo truly understood why. In a word, it could be a catastrophe!

    [Fret not, you simply need to take a risk.]

    ''You don''t mean to¡­''

    [Correct. You''ll have to do what I didn''t permit you to do all this time. Retreat and buy yourself some time.]

    ''Roger,'' replied Apollo as he nced in Cynthia''s direction. "Aunty¡­ heed my words, we need to kill that thing now! Buy me some time, I may be able to help you if you do so but¡­ I''ll need at least a few minutes. Are you able to give me that much time?"

    "What are your ns? We may be able to manage that amount of time, however, I don''t know what state we''ll be left in. Are you positive you possess the means to counteract this situation?" Cynthia could hear the dread in his voice as well as the small certaintyced within. As a result, she was cing her hopes in him. Her eyes shimmered with aspiration.

    In response, Apollo just smiled and nodded before retreating andying a small mountain of Fire Essence Cores on the ground around his body, "You asked me earlier about these cores so I guess it is time I reveal the truth!"

    Spreading his arms, multiple circles of coresyered around him rose. Spinning in opposite directions, tendrils of energy seeped from then. Those threads then drilled into Apollo''s body without pause. His teeth creaked as he clenched his jaw, the protruding veins under his skin writhed agony, however, the look in his eyes was unchanging.

    "WHAT?! Is he refining Essence Cores with his body? Is he mad? He''ll kill himself! He has a death wish," Ashur scowled at his actions. This was unheard of; there had yet to be a human capable of ingesting a beast''s core!

    "Quiet and look. His aura remains stable. It seems as if his body is special. Perhaps it''s due to the fact his original meridians were decimated by Terrors, they are now capable of withstanding this. If so, his existence is a blessing within a grand misfortune," Cynthia nced at Apollo with a warmhearted smile. To her, it seemed all the wrongs he had suffered were being transformed into advantages! Perhaps there was some truth to this.

    Vanishing from her spot, she dodged a strike from the Demonic Earthme Wyvern. Meanwhile, Apollo''s experience was spiking as the essence from the cores and the ambient Natural Essence melded as one flowed into him.

    As arge number of Essence Cores dulled and shattered. The first notification panel appeared before fading away.

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 93. You have received .6 Attributes and 7 Stat Points.?

    Of course, this was far from done as Apollo continued to drain the cores of energy. With each passing second, his experience increased by the hundreds. Furthermore, it incrementally increased the longer he absorbed this. Soon enough the next notification came. However, by now, the number of cores had dwindled by nearly half and yet the experience requirements became steeper.

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 94. You have received .7 Attributes and 7 Stat Points.?

    ?Experience: 0/500,000?

    ''Is there no end to the amount needed? If it''s like this then it isn''t enough. More...I need more!'' Apollo''s eyes filled with a fervent desire to devour. As if interacting with his desires, the Natural Essence began flowing towards him inrger amounts. All 180 acupoints were in use at this point. Not a single one was left out of this operation.

    "Yield! MORE!" Apollo''s pores were engulfed with a crimson hue as the rate at which he devoured this Natural Essence rose at an exponential rate. On the other hand, splits on his body originating from those pores began connecting. The odd thing, however, was no blood escaped his body.

    Instead, one could hear a continuous searing noise as it evaporated and receded back into his body. In other words, his blood and more importantly his pores were being refined! As a result, his stats and experience continued to rise. Yet even then, Apollo still possessed this hunch that it wouldn''t be enough.

    Whatid before him and what he sought to unleash were two extremes. To counteract it, he would have to be ruthless to himself.

    ''It''s not enough¡­ the cores have dwindled to a tenth of its former number and yet I haven''t reached Level 95. This experience requirement is bing quite harrowing. If only that Wyvern wasn''t guarding those Natural Blessings so closely¡­'' Apollo''s crazed gaze fell upon the crystalline fruits causing his frown to deepen.

    Meanwhile, the 6 continued to rue rming injuries. Deep gashes remained on Ashur and Danyul''s arms whereas Cynthia''s Aquatic Valkyrie Boots possessed numerous cracks alongside her haggard experience.

    "This Rank 4¡­ why is it so strong? Its attack standard should be nearing a Zul Commander. No wonder we can barely break through its defense with our current equipment," Cynthia sidestepped, increasing the distance between her and the Wyvern with a solemn expression.

    "Perhaps we bit off more than we could chew! We should have bought Rhyne along with us. He''s the only Zul Commander in the family," stated Danyul with a strained jaw. Trying to puncture the Wyvern scale''s with his Frozen Lance skill proved to be more difficult than it sounded.

    Nevertheless, they continued to buy time from Apollo. That was of course until the Wyvern released a terrifying screech. The surrounding area once again trembled except the following events took ce differently.

    A dark orb wreathed in a purple metallic gleam congregated inside its colossal maw. The tyranny of this attack alone resulted in minute spatial warps. This was due to the sheer heat exuded from it. Unfortunately, Cynthia couldn''t dodge. For if she did, it would travel to the one located directly behind her¡ªApollo!

    ''Faster, faster, faster¡­. This is too slow!'' thought Apollo as the creeping experience bar caused him mental anguish. Looking at his aunt stand her ground before him, Apollo frowned. Based on what Azridan was telling him, this was akin to a suicide attempt. That Wyvern had consumed nearly 5% of its Natural Essence reserves tounch that attack.

    While it sounded small on the grand scale of things, this wasn''t a Rank 3 Spirit Beast. A simple 5% of its reserves were at least equal to the desperate attempts made by the former beasts. Not to mention, its attack power was further upgraded by the presence of its bloodline.

    ''ROOARRGHH!!!''

    The Wyvern firstunched therge death rewarding sphere then pped its wings causing ck winds to slice the orb into smaller parts. Minced, the smaller orbs then altered flight paths and attacked everyone without remorse! Widening their eyes in despair, the elders roared!

    "NOOOOOO!!!"

    ''Whooosh!''

    Unbeknownst to them, a ck sh brushed past them. It was so fast, they were unable to perceive exactly what was happening. However, unlike them, the Wyvern could sense something taking ce and focused its attention on the incident.

 Chapter 78 - Claiming Dominance

    ----

    A few moments before the blur¡­ ??

    ''Almost¡­'' Apollo''s expression grew increasingly solemn with each passing moment. It was now a race between the rate his experience was filling and the rate at which the Demonic Earthme Wyvern was capable of unleashing its onught.

    ?Experience: 455,500/500,000?

    ?Experience +500?

    ?Experience +500?

    Before even one second could pse, 3 messages appeared before Apollo''s eyes. Yet even then, he felt this was far too slow for the current situation. He had asked for a few minutes in light of him being unable to estimate the rate he could refine this experience.

    Nevertheless, it proved his worries were unwarranted as he could process over 1,000 Experience per second in light of his current physique. Which by the way, continued to increase. As a result, the experience quantity inched higher and higher.

    Be that as it may, the orb formting inside the Wyvern''s mouth continued to umte at a rate that caused Apollo despair. His nails prematurely dug into his palms as he looked at Cynthia''s back. Mostly due to the following actions

    [Lad, not to disturb your current mindset but that beast is sacrificing entirely too much of its reserves. If I''m not mistaken, it''s intent on destroying everything. Allow me to help you in this situation Bear with me.]

    ?System Alert! The absorption rate of Natural Essence has been increased by 300%. In exchange, you''ll lose Health every second you continue to absorb resources like this.?

    "A-arrrghhh¡­" the pain of the current absorption increased exponentially causing Apollo to groan in pain. Stifling it quickly, he returned the entirety of his focus back to the situation at hand. In his peripheral, his health bar decreased by .1% every second. But it wasn''t a simple process.

    With each couple of milliseconds, the drainpounded. .1% turned to .2%. Nheless, it was a worthwhile exchange. In a mere instant, Apollo''s gain increased to 4,200 Experience. But while that happened, his eyes fluttered threatening to lose grasp of his consciousness.

    Of course, this was something Apollo couldn''t let happen. Hence, he bit his tongue returning a shred of rity to his mind. That small threshold was the only remaining barrier between him and possibly turning this situation around.

    "Kheuk¡­" Apollo vomited ckened blood as the next ring of Essence Cores crumbled to dust. A single ring remained rotating around him. Luckily, with the way things were transpiring, it seemed as if he woulde out triumphant in this race.

    ''Ck!'' ''Crrrrck!!'' ''Ziinggggggggg!''

    A sonorous cry emitted from his pores as the Essence Cores crumbled one by one. Shortly after, they all cracked and became dust as a shockwave burst from Apollo''s body. It happened! Hepleted the deed.

    Regrettably, there was no time to revel in the fact. At the same time this took ce, the Wyvern fired its own attack. Without a moment to lose, Apollo performed quick actions and kicked off his foot. Multiple notifications appeared before his eyes as he allocated his stat points. Many of which caused his mind to wander.

    ''Interesting¡­''

    ?System Alert! Your Strength Attribute has breached the 100.0 point threshold! The "Fiendish Force" Passive has been unlocked. ?

    ?System Alert! Your Vitality Attribute has breached the 100.0 point threshold! The "Sacricifical Vigor" Passive has been unlocked.?

    ?System Alert! Your Inner Physique has elevated to the Middle Tier. Zul Conversion has increased to .1 Str = 1.15 Zuls.?

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 95. You have received .7 Attributes and 8 Stat Points.?

    ?Congrattions, you have achieved the Rank 9 Mortal.?

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step) [84.56%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 14

    Level: 95

    Experience: 100/600,000.

    Health: 5,175/5,175

    Stamina:3,175/5,175

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 9 Mortal [1,282/1,600+]

    Physique: Spirit-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 1,282

    Strength: 111.5 (+ 2.0) (+ 11.5)

    Agility: 99.9 (+ 2.0) (+2.9)

    Intelligence: 76.5 (+ 2.0)

    Vitality: 103.5 (+ 2.0) (+4.2) (+ 7.3)

    [?Traits?]-

    ?Increased Essence Affinity?

    ?Minor Poison Resistance?

    ?Tenacious Shadows?

    ?Sacrificial Vigor?

    ?Fiendish Force?

    [?Techniques?]-

    ?Supreme Demon Body: 7 Sinful Stigmata?

    ?Baleful Steps: Phantasmal Daemos?

    ?War Path: Nine Infernal Annihtions?

    Stat Points: 0

    ''Fwooosh!''

    Turning into a dark blur, even Apollo was surprised by what he was aplishing! Within a fleeting moment, he appeared behind before the first small orb. Holding the Vantack Knife at a nt, he deflected the attack before Cynthia before shifting to his target.

    Redirecting the one aimed at Aaron, he spared him a quick nce before tapping his chest and pushing him out of the battle''s perimeter. Despite his cultivation being weaker, his stats truthfully overshadowed his current level. The conversion ratio didn''t do his capabilities justice. Hence, he felt this wasn''t a battle for these three.

    Transversing to Lily in the next moment, he swatted this orb as well. Unfortunately, a disheartening event happened as the weapon in his hand shattered! The broken part melted from the intense heat emanating from the Wyvern''s attacks.

    ncing over to Danyul, he eyed the weapon in his hand. Appearing before him, Apollo looked Danyul in his eyes before slowing his speed. This gave the others time to perceive him.

    "H-how are you so fast?" Danyul''s mind gued with curiosity. He failed to understand how Apollo was capable of this. In response, he lifted his hand to Danyul, stopping his words in their tracks.

    "No time. Hand me your staff. I need it. My weapon is no more," before Danyul could answer, Apollo ced his hand on the staff and ripped it from Danyul''s grasp; disappearing from sight.

    Pausing for a moment, he pondered whether he wanted to do so. Finally, he made his decision, ''This is not the time for them to suffer their fate. Not to mention, I''d rather be the one to personally looking into their despairing eyes.''

    ''Fwoosh!''

    Spinning the staff coated in a thin colorless aura, Apollo deflected thest two orbs.

    ''Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!''

    ''BOOOOM!''

    The orbs mmed into the wall destroying the area due to Apollo''s actions. Roaring indignantly, the Demonic Earthme Wyvern thrashed about. Its actions of destruction had been averted and by this minuscule existence no less! It couldn''t cope with this fact; its desires had been thwarted!

    "Apollo...what the...what are these techniques he uses? Not even his father utilized things like this," muttered Cynthia as she remained in awe looking at Apollo''s imposing back.

    Meanwhile, his eyes met the Wyvern. A deathly silence took ce before Apollo broke it, "Aunty¡­ me and you. We''ll confront this thing. Danyul and Ashur evacuate those 3."

    "WHAT?! Are you insane? How can two people deal with that?" Ashur looked at him with undisclosed contempt. He seemed like he wanted to get Cynthia killed along with himself.

    Cynthia, however, looked at Apollo who turned back briefly. There was a solemn yet confident look in his eyes as if the situation was in his control. To him, it was indeed so. Azridan had shown him something he would be able to take advantage of.

    Under normal circumstances, it would have been better concealed but due to the short period from its evolution and now, it wasn''t¡ªits weakness. Sadly, he wouldn''t be able to perform the task in mind unless he had a partner. To be frank, only Cynthia met his standards.

    "Do as Apollo says. Evacuate the others and recover immediately! This situation isn''t one in which we can remain idle," Cynthia''s forceful wordsplimented her expression as she red at Ashur forcing his words back down his throat.

    "Mom, Apollo. If any happens to you I swear I''ll travel to the underworld and give you a scolding," roared Aaron. Afterward, he was hoisted away by Danyul as the others.

    "What is it you have in mind?"

    "We''ll kill it. But I''ll have to rely on you after," Apollo gave Cynthia a meaningful look as he arrived next to in preparation for the uing hellish battle.

 Chapter 79 - An Aura Defying Logic

    ----

    "Here''s the n," said Apollo as his feet shifted whilst holding the Coldiron Staff in an odd manner. Gathering the intricacies of the process in his mind, his sights remained locked upon the Demonic Earthme Wyvern. That feeling he felt earlier was growing in magnitude. He could hear his heart beating in his ear; as if his eardrum was his heart. ??

    "We''ve overlooked arge factor¡ªthis Wyvern possesses a dragon bloodline, right? So it should also possess its weakness. In other words, a reverse scale. There should be a location on its body significantly weaker than the rest," Apollo surveyed the Wyvern whilst retreating next to Cynthia. His outreached hand was grasped by Cynthia moving from the spot.

    Operating the Partial Shade Silhouette at maximum capacity, he was faster than her for the time being. Henceforth, he would take initiative in her dodging and cement. Amid their rapid movement, Apollo continued to divulge his inner thoughts.

    "If my assumptions are correct, it should be its only weakness. We need to locate that scale, stay here Aunty and gather your strength," stated Apollo.

    "I see what you''re saying. We should capitalize on the fact this creature has yet to settle all matters of its evolution. Alright, I''m prepared. We just need a way to expose its weakness," Cynthia glimpsed at Apollo seeking his input.

    "Leave that matter to me," Apollo ced Cynthia behind the Wyvern once again turning into a shadowy blur. Only, this time, he advanced toward the Wyvern.

    However, the Wyvern didn''t idle. For the first time, it made a move as well. It appeared as if it had grown ustomed to its body. As a result, it lifted a w and mmed it towards Apollo. Needless to say, at his current speed he dodged it easily.

    That was until thick threads of greenish energy flowed into the Wyvern, hastening its movements. It began to chase Apollo whonded small blows on its body.

    ?You have dealt 64 damage.?

    ?You have dealt 64 damage.?

    ''This¡­''

    Apollo''s eyes widened before his expression darkened. His attack didn''t do much damage! In fact, it was 1/20 of his total Zul Count. In other words, the Wyvern''s scales mitigated 95% of the damage he was inflicting. It was a jarring experience. However, he couldn''t afford to give up.

    He nced behind the Wyvern to see Cynthia gathering a ridiculous amount of Natural Essence in light of delivering a final blow. A sword image coalesced and floated above her head.

    [Lad, you are going about this wrong. At this rate, you''ll exhaust your stamina before locating that scale. Instead, use your mind. What specific functions would a weakness like that have? Usually, a being''s strength and weakness go hand in hand. The drawback of one''s strength would be their weakness.]

    ''That''s right. I''m being foolish,'' Apollo derisively shook his head. Closing his eyes for an instant, he opened them again shimmering with a violet hue. He was utilizing the Spiritual Vision to the extremes.

    He was looking for the area in which the Wyvern used to absorb Natural Essence in mass. Soon enough, he located it. However, there was a problem; the reverse scale was heavily guarded! It was on its underbelly currently against the ground.

    If he wanted to damage it, he would need tounch the dragon. But with its immense physique, how much strength would that require? It was then he looked at the two new passive traits he acquired.

    ''Ah, it might be possible with these. Except¡­''

    Scampering across the floor, dodging all attacks in a zig-zag motion. He came before the Wyvern''s towering physique. Stowing the Coldiron Staff behind him, Apollo dug his fingers into scales of the Wyvern''s tail.

    "Arrrrrrgggghhhhh!"

    Roaring at the top of his lung, Apollo poured every ounce of strength into his limbs. He chose this limb after great deliberation. It was the only one that limited the beast''s response. At this angle, it would be unable to turn its body as well as its limb being unable to twist in this odd angle.

    The scales emitted a creaking sound whereas the skin on Apollo''s fingers filled with growing tears. Slowly but surely, itsrge body was lifted off the ground. Apollo''s body, however, was subject to immense strain; his muscles threatening to tear. Pushing the pain to the back of his mind, he continued with his actions.

    ''BANG!''

    Tossing the Wyvern behind himself, it lost footing exposing its reverse scale located upon its belly. Acting quickly, Cynthia unleashed a destructive strike! The sword image became tangible. It possessed three attributes¡ªIce, Water, and Wind. The crystalline sword was wreathed in piercing winds.

    Cynthia thrust her sword forth puncturing the Wyvern''s scale. Sadly, its vitality was not to be underestimated. iling about, it returned to its feet as violet blood dripped from its torso. Its eyes, on the other hand, screamed bloody murder.

    "N-no way¡­. That wasn''t enough? I consumed over 70% of my reserves executing that strike!" Cynthia''s expression paled as a tinge of fright entered her eyes. Her actions provoked the beast. A torrential demonic aura exuded from its body.

    Of course, her attack wasn''t pointless. It had indeed dealtrge amounts of damage to the Wyvern. So much so it had driven it berserk! But she was looking for execution with a single blow.

    Monster Name: Demonic Earthme Wyvern

    Type: Evolved Variant

    Bloodline: Demonic Dragon

    Purity: Trace (Impure)

    Element: Fire, Dark, Wind, Metal, and Earth

    Cultivation: Rank 4 Spirit Beast

    Health: 4,505 (15%)

    Chance of Defeat: Unknown?

    ''15% of its health remains. This must be why its behavior has be so erratic. If it is so¡­ I''ll be able to match it,'' Apollo exhaled a turbid air before clenching his fists, thereafter, rxing them. Taking a weird stance, Apollo sliced both of his palms, immediately digging his nails inside afterward.

    s, from his actions, a sanguine and nefarious aura was born causing small decay to the space around him. It was almost as if he was robbing this area of vitality.

    Additionally, an odd urrence took ce¡ªhis health was once again dropping. From the initial 80%, it continued to decrease reaching as low as 20%. Any further and he was entering dangerous territory.

    As this happened, both his and the Demonic Earthme Wyvern''s auras climbed. It seemed to be a contest. Although, it shouldn''t be so, what Apollo was doing defiedmon sense!

    He, a cultivator who had yet entered the Zul Warrior Realm, was emitting an aura on par with Rank 4 Spirit Beast. It was unheard of! Not to mention, one which possessed a bloodline albeit impure and a simple trace.

    "This...they''re like one and the same. This defies logic¡­. It''s almost as if they originate from the same source," Cynthia''s mouth widened, expression bing one of shock. She could only wordlessly look on as she witnessed a scene that she would never forget.

    ''Skrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!''

    The collision of the Wyvern''s myriad affinities resulted in a gathering attack grantingrge amounts of devastation. Meanwhile, both Apollo''s expression and appearance went through a momentary yet shocking change. A trace of crimson blood trailed down his lips¡ªwhat he was performing was tearing him apart inside. Luckily, the Sacrificial Vigor limited this damage.

    Yet still, his sights remained locked on two things; the weakness the Demonic Earthme Wyvern was neglecting in its fury as it conjured its own immense attack as well as the Natural Blessings behind it.

    "In my path of power, if I so desire it¡ªI will im everything I see! For I am who severs all obstacles; Second Annihtion!" Apollo''s aura returned to a calm¡ªan eerie silence.

 Chapter 80 - Second Annihilations Overbearing Destruction

    ----

    Apollo''s arms first disfigured and then underwent a partial demonizing! Metallic bone spurs jutted from his elbows as his hands erged. For a moment, his aura continued to intensify as faint markings he didn''t understand appeared on his arms. At the peak of it all, he swiped his arms diagonally executing a type of cross sh. ??

    The energy birthed by that sh hurtled forward and robbed the space it passed of every iota of vitality further empowering itself. Regrettably, an instantter, Apollo''s arms were rendered useless as they hung limply by his sides.

    Not only that, they appeared shriveled and lifeless. Nevertheless, his appearance remained stoic even containing a tinge of anticipation¡ªhe aplished his task. He uttered a phrase albeit weakly, "Second Annihtion: Nether Severance!"

    Sensing the immense feeling of dread emanating from the attack, the Wyvern screechedunching its own quintuple attack. Its five elemental affinities melded as one giving birth to an anomaly of an attack. Rushing to Apollo''s aid, Cynthia held him in her embrace and dashed to the side.

    The area was undergoing a scene of utter destruction! The walls were pierced allowing copious streams ofva to burst in. Not to mention, the Nether Severance actually triumphed over the Wyvern''s attack albeit not immediately so. It first severed the connection between the two and then severed the supply of Natural Essence.

    In other words, it attacked the Wyvern''s body iming itsst bit of life. Watching this, Cynthia was appalled. Her brain threatened to malfunction, ''My nephew is the cause of this attack? Is this real? Just what was that? However¡­ I won''t be speaking of this with anyone else. The terror of that attack¡­ it doesn''t feel human in nature.''

    "A-Aunty¡­ you must im those Natural Blessings. And-..." Apollo''s voice was akin to a whisper, however, he soon stopped talking.

    ''Thump!'' ''Thump Thump!'' ''Thump Thump Thump!''

    His heartbeat turned erratic; his expression nked as he shifted his gaze instinctively. The Resplendent Jadeite Pendant rose and pointed in the direction of the Wyvern''s body as if it sought to be one. Taking a faltering step forward, Apollo inched closer to the Wyvern''s dead body.

    As he grew closer, the welling desire within him bolstered. Arriving next to him, offering support, Cynthia gazed into his vacant eyes and then the Wyvern''s body, "Do you wish to go there?"

    "Yes¡­" Apollo raised his finger pointing there, with a slight nod. Offering him stability, Cynthia brought him before the towering body of the Wyvern. To which he ced his hand on his body but shook his head, ''This isn''t what''s calling out to me.''

    ''Blood...blood¡­absorb blood¡­'' a phantom-like voice whispered into Apollo''s earpelling him to bend and take notice of a small pool of violent blood. Despite being called small, it was sizable enough for him to submerge himself in.

    ''Ssh!''

    Jumping in the viscous liquid, Apollo felt at ease for a moment and then he felt as if something drew in all the essence of the blood towards him. Half was absorbed by him whereas the rest was absorbed by the pendant. Although his experience didn''t increase¡­ his racial meter, as well as stats, did! Furthermore, there was an indescribable familiarity coursing through him.

    [Hoh? Is this theuded resonance? Interesting. But for it to be so, you''d have to have something simr to this beast''sposition. Youd, are extremely queer. What other surprises do you possess?]

    ?System Alert! Bodily damage is being healed. Continue to submerge yourself.?

    ?System Alert! Iplete properties being obtained.?

    ?System Alert! The item ?Resplendent Jadeite Pendant? is absorbing material capable of facilitating its evolution.?

    ?System Alert! Your racial change percentage has increased as well. Other matters are still being digested.?

    ''Ssh!''

    As Apollo reappeared, the color of the once vibrant pool was now dull. It seemed lifeless whereas Apollo showcased a dissatisfied expression, his body seemed to crave more although it had yet to process everything. Approaching the Wyvern''s body, he stabbed his arm into the reverse scale searching for something and soon finding it.

    In his grasp rested a corerger than his hands. Furthermore, it was one he had yet to see! The information disyed before him altered his expressionpletely. However, it was soon neutralized when he discovered the requirements to ingest it.

    Item Name: Spirit Heart Core

    Element: Fire, Darkness, Wind, Metal, and Earth

    Rank: IV

    Purity: First Cycle

    Benefits: Uponpletely absorbing the core''s essence, it increases Strength, Intelligence, Agility, Comprehension, Perception, and Vitality by at least 25.0 points. Additionally, this core will give birth to affinities if one doesn''t possess them.

    Contained Experience: 849,745/1,000,000.

    Approximation: ~29.2 Points in all categories.

    Requirement: 1550 Zuls.

    ''This¡­ why is its purity only in the First Cycle?''

    [That''s an easy question. It was newly evolved. Hence, while it had achieved the 4th state of Essence Core, it was unable to begin the refinement process. Hence, it is only the First Cycle. However, you must take note that a First Cycle Spirit Heart is iparable even to a Complete Cycle Superior Core.]

    ''That''s true. This thing contained up to 1,000,000 Experience. Not to mention, that battle only exhausted approximately 15% of its reserve. That number is frightening to think about. If I hadn''t taken the risk to unleash Nether Severance¡­ it may have had time to overwhelm my attack,'' Apollo thought as he fell into a ponderous state.

    [Who knows. It would have needed to overpower the principle that empowers that technique¡ªsomething like that takes undeniable strength to reverse the order. Of course, what you did was not even 1% of the true meaning of that strike. When youe to understand, you''ll realize the strength you hold.]

    "Ahem¡­ Hun, is your state better? If so, I''ve collected the Natural Blessings. Let''s evacuate this area. It seems it will soon lose all integrity," Cynthia waved her hand before Apollo''s face awakening him from his stupor.

    Taking another nce at the Wyvern''s body, Apollo frowned, unable to waste the blessed chance before him, "Are you able to stow this body?"

    "Ah, you want it? If so then¡­" Cynthia removed another spatial pouch from her waist but this embroidery was different. It also gave off a feeling of expertise as if it was crafted from a skilled sage, "This is your father''s old pouch. I''ve never used it but since you want this beast''s body I believe the situation fits."

    In an instant, the body was sucked inside and she handed it to Apollo who held it in a daze. His aunt seemed to retain most of his father''s belongings, he wondered just how well their rtionship was, "Do you miss him?"

    "Who? Your father? Everyday¡­" a sorrowful and downcast aura appeared in Cynthia''s demeanor that change quickly after, "However, he''s left a fine specimen behind. I see him in you so I find myself happy at this moment,e."

    Holding his hand, Cynthia evacuated the crumbling area. Large stones fell from the ceiling. In fact, one right on top of them.

    ''BOOOOM!''

    Turning around and waving his arm without much preparation Apollo was surprised by the effect. One punch shattered the falling boulder! One must know, this was a special area fortified by Natural Essence, the hardness of the rocks need not be mentioned!

    ''Has my body strengthened from the blood? Then why hasn''t any change in my stats taken ce yet¡­.that''s weird. I''m curious as to what it will be like when fully adjusted.''

    Soon enough, they exited the area and came in contact with the others. They sat with worried expressions. Therge fluctuations and explosive noises had traveled out there as well. When Apollo and Cynthia appeared safe and sound, only then could they breathe a sigh of relief.

    "Instead of recovering, this is what you do? It seems youck faith in us," chided Cynthia. However, her expression betrayed her words; she was ted to find everyone in one piece.

    "What the hell was those explosions?!" The question lurking in everyone''s curious minds had been asked.

 Chapter 81 - Minute Differences, Addition

    ----

    Their anticipatory eyes continued to look in the damaged Apollo and Cynthia''s direction. Unable to do away with their curiosity, they awaited the answers. As a result, Cynthia nced at Apollo. It was up to him to answer. After all, it was he who revealed the ability to cause a shocking turn of events. ??

    "It was battle," Apollo chuckled as he sat down, ignoring their eager gazes. This only further incensed Ashur and Axel. Obviously, if these two stood here it was the effects of battle. What they wanted to know was what took ce!

    "No shit! We want to know what happened during those explosions. Details! We would like details," Axel waved his arm in annoyance. He couldn''t stand the way Apollo always omitted information or evaded details. Also, it seemed he was only amiable to Cynthia and Aaron. Which was to be expected.

    "Oh, that''s even easier. We killed the Wyvern," an amused expression crept upon Apollo''s features as he peered at the apoplectic Ashur. He found this whole incident to be nothing short of hrious. Did they really think he would be disclosing the events that took ce?

    "Fuck! Cynthia...tell me. How did you two survive? Did that Wyvern not possess an ability increasing with every passing moment?" Unable to extricate information from Apollo, Ashur switched his aim to Cynthia. Unfortunately, she had already made a promise to Apollo and this was included.

    "Naturally. However, we dealt with it and we are now here. What we need to focus on instead is recuperating. We have to return to the estate with haste but our current states don''t allow that. So we''ll recuperate for the moment," Cynthia sat cross-legged in a lotus position evading the stream of questions as well.

    Following her actions, Apollo did the same. Despite bathing in that Wyvern''s blood, his body was still an utter mess due to the usage of Nether Severance in addition to continuing to digest the absorbed contents. As it was now, he was operating at not even 10% of his capabilities.

    "Tch...but did you at least retrieve all the Natural Blessings or were they damage in that godforsaken battle?" Ashur seethed. His questions weren''t being answered and he wished to bash his head into the floor. Of course, he would do no such thing only ending up as a fool.

    As a result, he remained disgruntled. ''Just you wait, I''ll ry the events to the Grand Elder and he''ll squeeze the information out of you all. It goes without saying, Axel''s talent isn''t for show. I''ll use him to sway the Grand Elder!''

    "Why would we let such things happen to it?" Cynthia blinked firing odd looks at Ashur with a contemptuous expression. She found his question silly; Natural Blessings were of the utmost importance when located.

    Waving her arm, 36 crystalline and cerulean fruits appeared before them. Opening his eyes in turn, Apollo inspected them closely. ''They seem to carry an aura that is dependent on one another but it appears to be set to a certain number. Ah¡­ that''s why.''

    Connecting to every set of three fruits, was a smoky-grey vine. Inside that vein was a constantly flowing and extremely pure Natural Essence. Shifting his gaze to Cynthia, he awaited the action.

    "As Apollo is the main cause of us iming these items, there''s a set strictly for him. This is indisputable. If you have any words, you''ll be dealing with me," Cynthia''s solemn eyes fell on Ashur and Axel with abative glint.

    "A-.... Bah! Whatever. There are still 35 other Natural Blessings remaining," Ashur ogled as he sat and examined every inch of the fruit. A hint of desire passed through his eyes, ''If I''m not mistaken, these should be at the level that even mature people can benefit from them. Maybe¡­''

    "I believe you have misunderstood something. These Natural Blessings are special. They exist in sets of threes. In other words, there are truthfully only 12 of such items," Cynthia shook her head and handed Apollo the interconnected fruits.

    ncing at them, he examined their specialties. At first, he was shocked then he formted ideas and different scenarios to maximize the benefits. ''Perhaps I can use this in addition to the Spirit Heart and a collection of Demonic Essence Pellets.''

    Name: Smoldering Spirit entuation Fruits

    Type: Natural Blessing

    Grade: Mature Spirit Rank

    Information: A spiritual herb continuously refined by nature itself. As a result, it has gained the title ''Natural Blessing.'' Existing for at least 500 years, it has umted enough pure Fire Essence to award the consumer heightened abilities. Furthermore, the innate properties possess the ability to catapult one to the limit of a certain physique. One would just need to withstand the refinement of the smoldering mes.

    Effect: Increases one''s affinity with the element of Fire. Furthermore, if all 3 of the fruit are ingested, one can receive up to Top Tier Spirit-Grade.

    ?Mature Bonus? - Increases the purification to the initial Peak-Tier and level will once again be regted.

    ''With the Spirit Heart, perhaps there''s a chance I''ll immediately enter the Heaven-Grade from my current state. If I could achieve that, it''ll elerate my ns,'' Apollo''s eyes gleamed with excitement at the thought of making even more rapid advancements.

    [Lad, do you recall that first mission I gave you?]

    ''Of course, the one in which I must reach the 3rd Level of the system,'' Apollo''s response came immediately.

    [A change has urred. I''m unsure why but¡­ it is outside even my control.]

    ''Ding!''

    ?System Alert! Your mission Journey to Sovereignty has been updated. New objectives have been added. As a result, the rewards will be increased in turn.?

    Quest Name: Journey to Sovereignty Part One

    Quest Information: The road to power is tiresome¡ªone filled with both pain and strife. In your past life and this one, you were unable to create your own resounding name, however, that is no longer the case. Step upon your road to Sovereignty and begin your journey to bing the monarch of the demons.

    Objectives:

    -Achieve the 3rd Level of the Demon Monarch System. (0/1)

    -Reach Zul Warrior Realm. (0/1)

    -Formte the Infernal Ira Stigmata. (0/1)

    -Enter the rank of the Lessers. (0/1)

    Time Limit: 5 years

    psed Time: 4 years, 2 months, 14 days.

    Rewards: ????, ????, ????

    ''Wait, there are two of them. As for opening the stigmata, that was in my ns all along so I don''t see any problem with this. In fact, receiving rewards for doing so sounds even better to me. As for entering the Lessers¡­ what does that mean?'' ncing at the notification screen before him, Apollo fell into silence as he delegated his curiosity to Azridan.

    [Entering the Lessers means you''ll be entering the realm of the demons but I wonder why it has added this? This is an inevitable thing. Don''t dwell over the matter, it simply rtes to the hierarchy of demons. It''ll take a lot for you to understand it all so I''d rather you experience itter firsthand.]

    ''Ah, then allow me to focus on recovery. My body feels¡­ sluggish,'' closing his eyes, Apollo began to draw in the Natural Essence. He entered a state oblivious to all around him¡ªhis only purpose¡ªto heal.

    As they all entered a healing period, the integrity of the cave continued to worsen. Fortunately, not to the extent that warranted their immediate evacuation. There was still time for them to recover to a semnce of their peak state.

    Apollo, on the other hand, was ted, ''This Fire Essence, it doesn''t carry the proper healing properties but why does the process feel so hastened? It''s as if I''m a fish in water.'' Soon enough, his perception wrapped around his body finding the source to be his pendant!

    ''Wait¡­ suchrge changes? I wasn''t expecting this. Nevertheless, this disturbing experience has turned out to be extremely beneficial. I wonder the strength a real Dragon carries. I believe they''re called something like True Dragons? That was only a Wyvern and yet it allowed this pendant to go through such a change albeit iplete.''

 Chapter 82 - Contemptuous Rivalry (I)

    ----

    With his attention glued to the panel before him, Apollo pondered how he could take advantage of this new change, ''This ne seems to be rted to dragons. However, it seems that impure bloodline only facilitated the initial awakening of this item and not much else. Nevertheless, the changes are kind of...overwhelming.'' ??

    Item Name: Resplendent Draconic Jadeite Ne

    Rank: Tier 7 Spiritual Artifact

    Grade: Excellent

    Information: After a partial awakening, the jadeite ne has awakened a sealed ability. As for the origin of this jade, it is unknown.

    Effect: Increases cultivation speed by 100% until your realm surpasses its Tier. (Increases Experience gain by 100%)

    Sub-effects: Replenishes 2 Health and 2 Stamina per second. In a state of active healing, the replenishment is increased by 300%.

    ?Draconic Familiarity? - When in the presence of copious Fire Essence, the rate at which internal damage is healed is bolstered by 1000% for 10 minutes. The sub-effect remains unaffected and this healing doesn''t show within the status screen. This ability can only be used once every 3 months before needing to recharge.

    ?Current Awakening: 1/3. [14.02%]?

    Note: This artifact is still capable of growth.

    This item possessed the ability to heal internal damage to a certain extent! In other words, if the damage sustained reached a level that interfered with his internals, Apollo simply needed to find areas rich in Fire Essence. However, there was a drawback that Apollo became aware of. In fact, more than one.

    "Why is the ambient Natural Essence depleting so much? None of us here should possess the ability to do so. It''s like an ancient beast has been starved for year- WHAAT?!" Amid his ending sentence, Danyul noticed the essence flowing towards Apollo, his hair fluttering in the wind.

    ''This can''t be possible. If this absorption rate is from his body then it surpasses even the Grand Elder''s current capabilities. What type of inner physique is needed to give rise to this? Heaven-Grade? Saint-Grade? But this feeling¡­ it carries a tinge of dominance with it. As if the essence itself is cowering in subservience. That only happens in legends when one''s affinity with that element reaches the peak!''

    Danyul''s mind was gued with turmoil as he tried toprehend this situation. A cultivator possessing a perfect affinity was no small matter. In fact, seldom was it seen. If it was, it was within the rank of the upper world. Aside from that, it existed among the beasts.

    It went without saying, when it came to affinity with fire, in this world only two beings were unsurpassed and mentioned in legends¡ªTrue Dragons and True Phoenixes. Both of which were not to be underestimated. They rested at the pinnacle of Fire; of course, this was omitting the existence of the demons Azridan was a part of.

    Meanwhile, Danyul''s mind continued racing a mile a minute. A plethora of thoughts passed through his mind. Unfortunately, he was unaware that Apollo wasn''t the one causing this. While the item rested in his grasp, it wasn''t him.

    ''We must bring him back to the family! If he showcases this affinity...'' Danyul''s eyes gleamed with anticipation. His idol''s son was no talentless pushover. After a few moments, he assessed the situation, pushing this matter to the back of his mind.

    Be that as it may, even after trying his best, Danyul still frequently opened his eyes, stealing nces at Apollo. This caused his recuperation to stifle. However, he just couldn''t wrap his mind around what this youth had experienced in thest 4 years to go through such drastic change.

    Soon enough, the area reached a point that teetered on the brink of full copse. As a result, Cynthia opened her eyes and ordered the rest, "We move¡­ NOW!"

    ''Whoosh!''

    Quick to react, everyone rose to their feet and blitzed towards the entrance. At the same time, Apollo halted as he clenched and released his hand, ''I''ve recovered to approximately 40% in this short few minutes. If it was me alone, doing so would have taken weeks.''

    His words weren''t incorrect. One must remember, when he first mutted his physique it took upwards of a month to properly recuperate. Not to mention, the damage Nether Severance caused was many times worse. However, Sacrificial Vigor supplemented his body''s vitality for strength enabling him to escape a perilous state.

    [The rest will have to be done when you''re able to spare all the attention. As of now, retreat from this area. The fluctuations of Natural Essence seem vtile as if it''ll erupt. That Wyvern seemed to have its reasons for picking this ce. The quality of this essence would result in damages far beyond its own attacks.]

    ''Hoh?'' Hearing this information, Apollo turned into a shadowy blur immediately evacuating the area. In a moment, he caught up to Aaron who was on the slower side. But only due to the fact that he seemed to be in his own world.

    "Oi...Aaron, speed up! You don''t want to get caught in the uing st. This volcanic ce is in danger of imploding," Apollo snapped his fingers before Aaron, disrupting his stupor.

    "Oh! Sorry. The changes I''ve witnessed today are just hard to digest," Aaron increased his speed catching up to the other as a nket of green wrapped around his legs. Giving a silent nod, Apollo followed along and cleared the exit.

    Coming to a halt outside, he basked in the sunlight. However, the warmth was subpar. After all, they had just escaped from an infernal hellhole. The outside temperature felt like a breath of fresh air despite the radiant sun bearing down on them.

    "That was¡­.wow," Danyul blinked at a loss for words. Today, his eyes were opened. He found this youth, Apollo, to be capable of things only heard of from the stories told by the Great Families. But those talents all possessed at least Middle-Tier Heaven-Grade meridians or they wouldn''t suffice to be called talents!

    "Wait¡­ I hear movement," stated Cynthia. Moving the front, she squinted her eyes revealing two iing shadowy figures. From their aura, they seemed to be on par or slightly weaker than herself. Nevertheless, she found it to be oddly familiar due to the small frown on her face.

    ''Is it them? If so¡­ we should havepleted this task earlier. They must have caught wind of the reports.''

    "Who are those people?" Apollo squinted along with Cynthia, cing his hand on his hip to draw the knife only to realize its absence, ''Oh right...it broke.'' Tapping the pouch instead, he withdrew the Coldiron Staff.

    Danyul squinted as he was once again reminded that this youth had stripped his staff from him, "Oi, Apollo. Give it here; return my staff. You''ve had it long en- IS THAT A CRACK?!" Danyul squealed. His eyesnding upon a sizable gash in his weapon. For a moment, he seemed to be on the verge of fainting. His treasured weapon! ''L-look¡­ look at its state! These repairs will be costly.''

    Danyul''s heart wrenched in pain as he thought about the estimated price. Regret crept into his mind, ''Why did I ever let this youth know I used the staff. It''s my fault.''

    "It''s just a weapon. They''ll get damaged, break, and also be lost. Just get a new one," Apollo chuckled at Danyul''sical behavior, tossing him back his staff. He didn''t harbor feelings of attachment like others did. Moreover, he didn''t intend on enteringbat for a good while.

    "Oi! Well, aren''t you lot fast? It''s to be expected of you Kaiser rats¡ªvermin always scurrying at the revtion of opportunity; you are revolting. It seems you all don''t learn from your past," a disdainful voice projected and entered everyone''s ear resulting in adversarial sneers from Cynthia, Ashur, and Danyul.

    It was clear they knew these neers.

 Chapter 83 - Contemptuous Rivalry (II)

    ----

    ''Hoh? Kaiser rats? That''s an interesting set of words. It seems these neers harbor contemptuous feelings towards this family. This should be interesting,'' Apollo raised a single eyebrow whilst his gaze danced between the three elders. ??

    Soon enough, the two figures came into view; one female and one male. The moment they appeared, a scowl emerged from Cynthia''s face. Locking her sights on the iing woman, she was repulsed by her.

    "Oh? It''s the little bitch Cynthia. It seems your older brothers are no longer here to protect you. What will you do now?" a burst of haughtyughter escaped the woman''s mouth as she used her hand to hide her smirk.

    "I have no words for the slut of the Shaanti Family. Take you and your unsightly guardian and vanish from my sights, Kryste," a murderous gleam shed through Cynthia''s eyes, her tone turning venomous.

    In return, the woman clicked her tongue and ignored Cynthia''s words. Instead, her eyes moved between Ashur and Danyul with a small frown, "Tasteless. The men of your family now...they''re all obsolete. It''s truly saddening¡­ I used to have so much fun."

    Meanwhile, Apollo tilted his head puzzled by this interaction, ''Shaanti...Shaanti? AH! That''s the name Vren uttered right before I killed him. Does he perhaps originate from this family? But it seems there''s bad blood between the Kaisers and them. Why is that so?''

    Apollo''s ears perked up as he continued to listen to the conversation taking ce between them.

    "Hoh? You aren''t so bad yourself there boy," Kryste''s eyes fell upon Apollo. She liked what she saw; be it the cold and piercing violet eyes or the temperament evident from his posture. Not to mention, he bore an odd resemnce of her distant crush.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s lip twitched. His gaze examined this woman before him. He was unable to tell her exact age due to the effects of cultivation. One aged extremely slow, however, from the earlier conversation he inferred she was from his aunt''s generation. To put it differently, he was being hit on by an aunty.

    "Are you insane, you dumb bitch? Do you think I won''t rip your disgusting fucking tongue out of your mouth?" Cynthia seethed further, advancing as well as withdrawing her weapon. The malice in her eyes bolstered from Kryste''s licentious gaze. Be that as it may, Kryste found this incident amusing at best and released a small chuckle.

    Gazing at her up and down, Apollo examined her figure. While not overly curvy, she possessed some shape. However, deep within her eyes, Apollo perceived a conniving spirit. At her core, he could understand this faintly beautiful woman was a poisonous existence¡ªher citrine eyes unable to hide this fact.

    Apollo ignored her words and turned toward Cynthia, surprised by her temper. ''When did Aunty''s temper be so vtile? It appears she wants to rip this woman to shreds, what type of history do they share? Though I can''t say I don''t understand her.

    Once again, Apollo''s eyes fell on Kryste. Only this time, he took note of her loose robes and the weapon tied around her waist, ''A whip? I wonder what her element is. It must be something like poison or darkness. These are the only qualities I can feel from her.''

    "How rude. Are you not going to answer me?" Kryste ced a hand on her hip altering her posture. She found Apollo''s disregard to be unnerving. Scowling, she turned towards Cynthia, "I see this generation was raised without manners as well."

    "No, my nephew just knows better than to respond to a slut," Cynthia retorted before looking back to Danyul, "We''re leaving. Gather everyone."

    At that moment, the male apanying Kryste spoke up once again. However, not only did he speak, he emitted his cultivation base. A stifling pressure bore down on everyone present, "Hoh? Am I being disregarded? When did I permit you to leave?"

    The likes of Aaron, Axel, and Lily were rendered immobile whereas Cynthia and others frowned. Apollo, on the other hand, tilting his head an apparent curiosity present in his eyes. ''It seems he concealed some of his pressure. I think he''s stronger than Aunty.''

    Meanwhile, Cynthia''s expression soured. Were they being belittled? To understand this, one had to understand the rtionship between small noble families.

    Oftentimes, they weren''t good. In fact, there was a 90% chance of them possessing bad blood due to the fact cultivation required one to plunder. In other words, the noble families were under constant strife birthed from resourcepetition. Hence, the current situation.

    The Shaanti and Kaiser Families originated from the same Zephus Domain as well as the Verdacre area. As a result, run-ins such as these were no odd urrence. Naturally, this didn''t mean they weed the disdain.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s thoughts were on another topic, ''If he''s a Zul Knight...Then what is she,'' he craned his head towards Kryste. It seemed the system didn''t possess the current ability to tell him the cultivation realms of those above him without confrontation.

    "Relinquish your pressure on my kids," barked Cynthia as she tightened the grip on her malleable sword. Furthermore, traces of water began gathering at her feet. She was ready for battle at a moment''s notice. She could handle disrespect to a certain extent but involving the youths was intolerable.

    "If you wish for me to do so, show me what is in your possession. Also, do not try to deny the fact you hold those items," the male spoke once again. His demeanor was just as rough as his appearance. d in soft armor, his scraggly bread and unkept hair increased the dangerous aura pervading the atmosphere around him.

    "Tch¡­ Myrin the Shaanti''s Executioner. I shouldn''t have doubted your instincts," Cynthia frowned, cing her hands on her spatial pouch. Her eyes shifted back and forth, weighing the situation at hand. She was aware of her disadvantage.

    On their side, only she was a Zul Knight whereas both of these people before her were in that realm. Additionally, Myrin possessed a title within the Shaanti. Even she wasn''t certain of being his match due to her just achieving this level. Releasing a sigh, Cynthia conceded. The safety of everyone took precedence.

    At this moment, Ashur interjected, "Wait! What are you asking for?" Unlike the others, he wasn''t one who studied the books. He didn''t understand the Natural Blessing were each unique. The stronger it became, therger the implications.

    "Not only are you a vermin¡­ but you''re also a bird brain who ys dumb? Amusing. Relinquish your possession of the Natural Blessings. You can im you don''t possess any but she bears signs of them. Their unique signature can''t be erased within mere moments. They fade with time," Myrin sneered at Ashur''s folly.

    ''Oh? I didn''t know such things happen with Natural Blessings. But it seems he''s unaware of the exact number. I wonder if Aunty and I are on the same wavelength,'' Apollo spared Cynthia a meaningful nce before cing his arms behind himself.

    Waving her hands, Cynthia summoned 9 of the Smoldering Spirit entuating Fruits. In other words, she only offered a quarter of the amount they collected. As she summoned them, Myrin grinned.

    "It seems to be at the Spirit-Rank and mature at that. Very good. Not only do you possess beauty, but your brain is also functional as well. You would make a fine woman. If only¡­" eyeing the Natural Blessings, Myrin licked his lips as he looked at Cynthia with a covetous gaze.

    Her beauty was leagues above the one beside him¡ªKryste. In his eyes, he never viewed her as a woman and thought she was rather subpar. Cynthia, however, suited his taste. As such, he crossed his arms with an imposing presence.

    "I want you. Not only that, but I would also like the rest of these Natural Blessings. I don''t mind prying them from your grasps if need be," a cold smirk appeared on Myrin''s countenance as he snapped his finger.

    Meanwhile, behind her Apollo and Aaron widened their eyes. What in the hell were they witnessing?

 Chapter 84 - Madman Amongst All Youths

    ----

    "Hmph. First of all, your audacity baffles me. Second of all, do you not see the kids in my presence and you dare speak this drivel? I would never think to do such a thing andstly, do you believe I''ll concede to you on such a level? You''re already receiving rewards without presenting any help to the defeat of the beast." ??

    Cynthia''s gaze chilled a few degrees. Myrin was now being unreasonable. Not only did he disrespect her in front of her family, but he also had the gall to demand all of the items gained from their treacherous triumphs.

    "Tch, your words are meaningless to me; they will experience the boorish ways of this world soon enough. Why shelter them from the inevitable? In this dog eat dog world, either you im what you seek or you fall short and as it is now, I seek a beautiful woman," Myrin smirked, his gaze bing increasingly scious. Surprisingly, Kryste was unperturbed by the fact he fancied Cynthia. In fact, she took pleasure in this.

    If they could get her to enter their house, she could subject her to the cruelest of tortures. As a result, she began licking her lips with a lustful expression in her eyes. Taking note of this, Apollo''s frown deepened as he took a step forward.

    Leaning the side, Apollo whispered into Cynthia''s ear, "Aunty are you okay? Do you share history with these two? I don''t like how they''re disrespecting you. May I borrow your spatial pouch?"

    Surprised, she turned towards him with an odd expression, manipted the Natural Essence, she concealed her voice, "What do you intend to do? I can tell from your earlier actions it must be something reckless."

    In response, Apollo only gave a soft chuckle, "You''ll see. I know how to deal with barking buffoons like these." Taking the 9 fruits from her grasp, he also took her spatial pouch.

    Walking before her, Apollo nced at both Myrin and Kryste, "I have a question since you like mouthing off to my aunt, would you rather walk away with what you can get or empty-handed?"

    "Who is thisd? Grown-ups are talking. I''m not conversing with somed still wet behind the ear-.."

    Interjecting, Apollo interrupted Myrin in a calm tone, "Answer the question. If you don''t, I don''t mind taking matters into my own hands. After all, in this dog eat dog world, either you im what you seek or you fall short and as it is now I seek to cause strife."

    His cold smile unsettled the two. Something was off! Not only did he return Myrin''s words back at him, but there was also no fluctuation in his aura as he confronted those stronger than him. He felt no fear! His unyielding eyes caused them to momentarily waver.

    ''This twerp¡­.'' Myrin''s discontent deepened before replying, "Whose child are you? Why do you look familiar?"

    "Oh, you can''t tell? His father''s title was Abaddon. You should be familiar with that name," Cynthia chuckled as she recalled the history behind Apollo''s father and Myrin.

    "WHAT?! This is his son? That should be impossible. Based on the information circting throughout the noble channels, he should be crippled. This one here is obviously a Rank 9 Mortal. You jest. How could he resolve his cripple body? Did you all empty your family treasury doing so? Even then, it doesn''t seem worth it," Myrin began scrutinizing Apollo''s physique down to the tiniest detail.

    ''Based on my knowledge, this boy should be 14. He should have entered the Zul Warrior Realmst year. His father did so by 11. This means his talent is sub-par. Then where does he get such confidence? Furthermore, that aura¡­ it seems to possess a tinge of murderous intent. Has he killed before?''

    "Will you be answering my question or shall I take matters into my own hands? I hold no qualms ruining everyone''s day," Apollo made a small movement, tightening his grasp on the Natural Blessings threatening to destroy them then and there!

    "Madman! You''re definitely his fucking son. Only he was this crazy. This is lunacy. Only a lunatic could give birth to such a progeny. CEASE YOUR ACTIONS!" the veins in Myrin''s neck strained as he witnessed Apollo continuing his actions. The fruits were on the verge of bursting. If so, what would keep him from doing the same with the rest of these items?!

    "Look at you now, in the reverse position. I bet you were sent here by your Patriarch with the mission of iming something like this. If so, if you were to return empty-handed, it''d be a shame. Not only so, but you''re also most likely be subject to punishment. Hence, I suggest you take what you can get and disappear from our sights. Of course, you can try and retaliate after receiving them but¡­"

    Raising three fingers, numerous tendrils appeared from them and shot into the fruits. On the surface, they looked harmless but the others sensed something off about them, "If we are to be harmed, these tendrils will break apart and mutte these fruits. Now, you wouldn''t want that would you?"

    "Ruthless¡­ truly fucking nefarious," muttered Myrin, his gaze never leaving Apollo. His ways, they left no route for escape. It was either his way or the highway. His maniption of the situation was sublime. However, what boggled them was how did he have such control over his over essence?

    Of course, this wasn''t his doing but Azridan''s small interference.

    [Sublime, this was a dastardly n! He''s unable to do anything. He''s been checkmated. You''ve effectively sealed all of his routes of counterattack. Maniacal! Ingenious! Show me more scenes like this.]

    Meanwhile, Ashur frowned, "Why don''t you offer your share as well since you want to give up our spoils."

    Sparing him a passing nce, Apollo chuckled, "Those with one foot in death''s embrace shouldn''t speak so easily. Lest they are unable toprehend how their tongue gave birth to their end." A cold gleam passed through Apollo''s eyes. At every turn, Ashur seemed to have it out for him. If that was the case, matters would have to be dealt with.

    "So...what do you choose?" Apollo asked once more.

    "Tch...give me those damned things," Myrin approached Apollo snatching the Natural Blessings but not before giving him a murderous gaze. He didn''t appreciate being yed by a youth who had yet to taste the pleasures of the opposite sex.

    "One day I will repay this little debacle," leaving that message, Myrin fled the area. Meanwhile, Kryste stared at Apollo with a meaningful gaze sucking her finger, ''So it IS his son. This is getting interesting. I never got to taste him, so how do you taste?''

    Turning around with a sway of her hips, Kyrste followed along. They had lost to the madman hidden within the youths. Passing her spatial pouch back to her, Apollo chuckled and shook his head.

    ''People areical beings susceptible to fickle minds. ying on their desire and fears you can virtually manipte them all.''

    "What a mischievous little fellow you are. However, I appreciate you sticking up for aunty," Cynthia nted a warm kiss on Apollo''s forehead causing him to be stricken with odd thoughts. It was an unfamiliar feeling¡ªbeing shown such genuine familial love.

    "But you should be more careful in the future, the Shaanti are a group of vengeful buffoons. Who knows how they''ll retaliate. I fear for your safety," Cynthia frowned as she ced her palm on Apollo''s cheek with a worrisome gaze.

    ''Hoh?'' Apollo nced towards the disappearing figures of Myrin and Kryste, ''I don''t. If ites down to it, they''ll be additions to achievements,'' Apollo smirked¡ªa malevolent one which sent chills down the spine of Aaron and the others.

    "Wow¡­ Apollo. I think I just found my new role model¡ªyou," Aaron approached Apollo shaking off that feeling with a cheeky grin as he ced his hand on Apollo''s shoulder.

    "Hmm, I think I''ve made my decision," Apollo nced at Ashur and Axel with a seemingly innocent smile. However, his next words delighted some and appalled others.

 Chapter 85 - Beheading A Serpent (I)

    ----

    Rushing into the distance, a pair of disgruntled faces nced at each other. ??

    "Tch¡­ to think that kid would be so venomous. He ruined my desires. But I can''t take the chance of these Natural Blessing''s being rendered useless. Surely, I''d be punished if that were to happen," Myrin''s expression darkened as he stowed away the fruits.

    "I find his demeanor to be rather alluring. However, I think it''ll take a lot to tame him but that''s where the funes in," Kryste chuckled, licking her lips in the process as she nced at Myrin''s unsettled appearance. Pausing for a moment, she continued.

    "Of course, that doesn''t mean we can let him off. Us, Shaanti, never let enmity go unpaid. He''ll be my victim. It''s regrettable but it''ll be worth it if I''m able to savor his unique taste," Kryste licked her nail as a malevolent gleam passed through her eyes.

    Myrin, on the other hand, continued to look at her albeit silently. Shortly after, a small frown appeared, ''Truly a slut. This is why I find you revolting. However, I''m curious as to what ns she had in store for that hateful youth. Anything untoward Abaddon''s seed is pleasurable to me.''

    "Very well. I look forward to what you n," leaving these words, Myrin increased his speed blitzing into the distance leaving a disheveled Kryste in his wake. It seemed as if he had other things on his mind.

    ----

    Meanwhile, back in the Central Region of the Shadowy Forest...

    "I believe it''s time I venture back. I''ll return to the family," Apollo turned towards a certain distance with an obscure gleam in his eyes, ''However, what will take ce isn''t what everyone will expect.''

    As she heard these words, Cynthia became overjoyed. She wouldn''t spend another night in worry! Her concerns had been taken care of. However, hearing these words leave Apollo''s lips caused obscure emotions to pass through both Axel and Ashur''s eyes.

    ''Should I be happy and unsettled about this?'' Ashur remained silent and gazed at Apollo contemtively.

    "Let us return home then," Cynthia''s eyes radiated with newfound happiness. The hidden brooding thoughts dispersed. At the same time, Lily smiled as well except for other reasons.

    "Onward to the estate!" Aaron bellowed, raising an arm in triumph. His brother was returning home. He looked forward to receiving pointers as it went without saying, Apollo''sbat standard shadowed his own. It was like a child looking up to his idol. Not to mention, there was also the fact Apollo exuded some type of different feeling. But it couldn''t be exined.

    "Tch...why do you need to return? No one is waiting for you," Axel spat, thrown off by Apollo''s deration. Frankly speaking, his disgust towards Apollo was gone. Instead, he felt fear of being overshadowed. He was capable of performing feats he wasn''t.

    Envy was a dangerous sin. It gave birth to ideas and feelings that were ultimately venomous. With that being said, Danyul and Cynthia turned towards Axel with a scowl. Perhaps thisd had been too spoiled. What right did he possess to utter such words?

    "What¡­? What did I say wrong? This is the truth! Over the 4 years, not once has his name been mentioned throughout the family. It makes no sense for him to return. Why not stay out in the wild and survive on your own?" Axel defended himself, turning towards Apollo with a hostile gaze.

    He didn''t forget the fact Apollo had nearly caused catastrophic damage to his mental state. If that were to happen, his future would have been virtually destroyed! Hence, he thought to return a dose of that same medicine. Unfortunately, he didn''t understand who he was dealing with.

    "His words aren''t incorrect. The family''s activity has gone unaffected by his exit. In other words, his return wouldn''t change a thing," Ashur added his input as well. Furthermore, the two¡ªDanyul and Cynthia¡ªcould sense ruthless malice and also anxiety in his words. He knew he didn''t believe his words at all and there existed a reason why.

    "Hoh? I don''t recall asking for your input. Apollo said he will be returning and that is final," Cynthia retorted. It seemed her stimted temper was still active as her cold gazended upon these two. However, this time, Ashur didn''t take a step back. Instead, he butted heads with her, once again offering his opinion.

    "Tch. Look at you, ying favorites again. What''s so great about Apollo other than being your brother''s child? Furthermore, he really isn''t talented. You want to know what he is? Reckless! That''s why he has gotten where he has. Axel, on the other hand, didn''t need to do such things. This is the difference between births!" Ashur spat contemptuously.

    Cynthia''s disgust with Ashur increased once again apparent from her current scowl, ''Difference between their births? Hah. ying favorites? Look who''s talking!''

    "Listen up you idiot. How dumb are you? Talent is hereditary! Both of his parents possessed a talent in their pinky toes greater than yours let alone this boy Axel. You mention birth? How about I cripple Axel''s meridians and see if he possesses the mental strength to climb out of that pit of despair," Cynthia''s tone turned irate. Infuriated by his asinine words, she resorted to threats. One which caused threads of fear to creep into their eyes.

    "Hoh? You jest! You threaten him? How dare you! I''ll be rying this to Grand Elder Kayn and Patriarch Rhyne. Let us see who gets thestugh," Ashur released a dark chuckle. Axel''s backing within the family was immense whereas Apollo''s was nonexistent. This was a fact he couldn''t dispute. As a result, Danyul entered the hectic situation in fear of it devolving into a bloodbath.

    "Oi... oi...calm down Cynthia. And you two! Do you two have shit for brains? Even after his earlier achievements you still have the gall to say su-" Danyul began reprimanding them, however, Apollo lifted his hand with an emotionless gaze. He wasn''t one who needed someone to fight his battles. Furthermore, he didn''t converse with barking dogs.

    [Hoh? Look at this, they''re trying to dissuade them from allowing you to return to the family. Not only is it not birthed from jealousy, but it''s also attempts birthed from deep-rooted fear. It appears they fear your growth and the way you handle situations. If only they had witnessed that marvelous scene before.]

    ''I''m aware of their feeling Azridan. But if I''m being honest¡­ I don''t care. They could disappear for all I care,'' Apollo''s eyes pierced the two as he voiced his own opinion.

    "You''re wasting your words. One''s whose eyes have been blinded by greed, hearts clouded by envy, and minds gued with stupidity will be forever close-minded. I''m not here to rebut their words. We''ll just see how true their words are in the future," Apollo dropped his hand turning around. Rather than partaking in the folly, he walked into the distance¡ªthe same direction Myrin and Kryste departed.

    Hearing his disregarding words, Axel and Ashur scowled. Their mind games had no effect! It was like talking to a stone wall coated in rubber. Anything they fired at it failed to prate and simply ricocheted.

    On the other hand, Cynthia and Danyul were shocked by his calm¡ªthis wasn''t what they were expecting to unravel, ''Who would have thought he would be the one to diffuse the situation? Perhaps, I was too childish.'' An embarrassed blush appeared on Cynthia''s cheek as she grasped Aaron''s hand rushing into the distance.

    However, unbeknownst to them, Apollo had already marked those two. His calm surface hid the cold fury bubbling within. His dreadful ire would be released upon them at the best moment offering a blissful experience.

    After this small falling out, the journey home became eerily silent as if everyone had split into two parties¡ªstrangers to each other. Unaffected by the situation, Apollo inspected himself as he continued the journey home.

    ''Hmm, this dark wisp flowing through me is mending my wounds at aggard pace. Furthermore, it possesses a familiar feeling but why can''t I control it?''

    Trying repeatedly, Apollo soon gave up attempting to influence it as they were all to no avail.

    ''Whatever, it''ll happen at its own time. By then, I should have already ingested that Natural Blessing. Hmm?"

    Looking up, he gazed at the gates he hadn''t seen in a while. As he was lost in the attempts, he became oblivious to time¡ªin what seemed like a short few minutes, they had reached the gates of the Kaiser Estate.

 Chapter 86 - Beheading A Serpent (II)

    ----

    ''Hmm? We''re here already?'' Apollo looked up surprised by the fact they were already before the estate''s towering gates. Oblivious to the passage of time as he inspected his internals, Apollo overlooked the numerous passing hours. Only now did he realize the sky had darkened a great degree. ??

    ''Ah¡­ how long it''s been since I''ve stood before these questionable gates,'' Apollo silently examined the gates amid an influx of unpleasant moments. As they passed through his mind, a glint appeared. His expression changed to one stale of emotion.

    Cynthia turned toward Apollo noticing the slight change in his eyes. He understood to a certain extent what he was feeling. After all, it had been years since he stepped into this ce. The only continued interaction being with a voice she wasn''t privy to.

    "Sweetie, are you okay? Do you need me to stay with you for a while?" Cynthia''s concern for him showed as he held his cheeks, looking up at him hoping to cate those emotions turbulent inside him.

    Shaking his head, a look of rity returned to him, "I''m okay, Aunty. It seems the emotions I hold for this ce are greater than what I previously thought." However, his words sounded weird whenplemented with his current expression. One in which hostility was present yet concealed.

    "En, I understand where you''reing from. Rx for a moment. We, the Elders, have to report to the others of the council to alert them of our gains," Cynthia opened the gates to the estate walking inside with the rest following.

    As they did so, Ashur presented a malicious smile increasing his gait. Walking in stride with Cynthia, he nced at her harrumphing. Disappearing from the rest, Ashur, Danyul, and Cynthia entered arge building simr to the shrine everyone took their assessment. The only difference being this one didn''t possess steps, in its ce was arge conference table with 10 seats.

    Sounds of exertion were heard nearby. Apollo turned his neck to inspect them. Numerous youth were found to be either sparring with one another or practicing a multitude of techniques. However, in Apollo''s eyes, he saw inexperienced childrenmitting untold mistakes.

    ''All of them are terrible when ites tobat experience. It appears the only thing they do here is blind cultivation and vain sparring with one another. They''ve never experienced real battle nor have theye close to the doors of death. And these fighting styles, they don''t even seek to damage each other.''

    Averting his gaze, Apollo gestured toward Aaron, "Come take a walk with me. There''s nothing noteworthy to be witnessed here. I want to freshen up."

    "Oh sure. Come to my house. You can take care of yourself there," assented Aaron as they left the area leaving a silent Lily and a vexed Axel. They parted ways as well, Lily''s gaze falling upon the backs of the two departing figures.

    ''Why do I get the feeling something is going to happen. Not only that¡­ it feels¡­ terrible,'' a worried glint passed through her eyes before turning towards the council room. Over and over, her gaze switched between the two. Somehow, she felt this feeling was connected to them.

    ----

    On their way to his house, Apollo paused. He smirked at whatid before him¡ªthe cramped and cluttered living space he previously resided in. Surprisingly, it was well kept despite being so small. ''Heh, someone spared the time to upkeep this space? That''s amusing.''

    "Ah, this old ce. You must be curious why the state is so good. Well, you can thank Uncle Danyul for that. Once a week he would return here to unsure it stayed in a pristine condition¡ªsomething that surprised even me." Aaron followed Apollo''s gaze.

    After a short moment, he pulled his arm dragging him to his mother''s dwellings. "No need to dwell on the matter. Let''s get you freshened up. You''ve been in the wild far too long. Just look at your state."

    Apollo responded with a dry chuckle allowing Aaron to continue with these actions. He wasn''t wrong. He hadn''t had a proper bath or rest in years. After all, he was always in a state of half-active conscience and used any avable water source for daily necessities. Furthermore, it was time he used the robes Irauk left for him. Until now, they had yet to be used.

    He found no reason to. While out there, he wasn''t in the presence of anyone else nor did the cold effect his body much after continuously advancing. Hence, he saved the robes in the pouch for ater time.

    A short whileter, he stepped into thefortable washing area. Taking a seat, Apollo''s expression nked. The warm water flowed through the grooves of his scarred body. This rxing feeling was something he sought but seldom received.

    Soon enough, the freshened Apollo exited from the washoom. His unkempt hair now possessed a vibrant sheen,plimenting the riveting violet hue of his detached eyes. Not to mention, the ck robes with crimson seams further entuated his slender yet muscr physique.

    "Woah, look at you! I knew you possessed the physique of a beast but sheesh¡­ You put me to shame," Aaron pped Apollo''s chest chuckling but his expression soon staled. Pulling back his hand, he rubbed his knuckles inhaling a cool breath. ''What the fuck?! Why is his chest so damn hard?''

    Raising an eyebrow, Apollo once again inspected himself. ''If I''m not mistaken¡­ my body should be on par with the Vantack Knife now. That sound was extremely simr.

    ----

    As they two continued to catch up, one series of events took ce inside the Elder Council Room.

    "Grand Elder Kayn, you must rectify these issues! I have much to tell you." The moment all Elders gathered, Ashur blurted without hesitation.

    "Hoh? What is it? What has gotten you so riled up?" Kayn''s turbid eyes opened to a sliver scrutinizing Ashur''s appearance. Taking a moment to calm himself, he exhaled before disclosing the event that took ce earlier. He took much care to emphasize the events of Cynthia threatening them as well as Apollo''s "vile" ways.

    Contrary to his expectations, Kayn took note of something else entirely, "Did you say Natural Blessings? Show me them."

    Waving her hand, 24 connected fruits appeared before Kayn from Cynthia''s pouch. A sh of jubnce passed through Kayn''s turbid eyes. "These are Spirit-Grade as well as being mature. We''ll be able to create at least 5 pseudo talents. However, why are there so little? In truth, there''s only 8."

    "This is Cynthia''s fault! She was in cahoots with Apollo! She offered up 3 of them to the Shaanti as well as gave Apollo one," eximed Ashur, spilling his guts immediately, albeit not disclosing the vital parts.

    "Oh? Cynthia?" Kayn averted his attention to Cynthia with an inquisitive gaze. He had learned not to take Ahsur''s words for the entire truth. Furthermore, these two possessed a direct rtionship.

    "Uncle, that is not the case. First of all, Apollo was the one who imed the Natural Blessings. Second of all, the Shaanti''s possessed two Zul Knights. Do you think I would endanger Lily and Axel as the sacrifice of a few of these items?"

    "Hmm, true enough. However, what is this about you threatening Axel?" Kayn''s eyebrow twitched upon mentioning this as did another elder. His appearance was simr to both Axel and Ashur''s begin as he was rted to them.

    It was his father¡ªRhyne, the current voted Patriarch of the family. Furthermore, he was a peak Zul Knight¡ªa feat he aplished during these passing years. Rather than being involved in family strife, he was only dedicated to cultivation.

    Nevertheless, due to their current state, he was practically forced to take up the mantle. After all, to remain a "noble family" they must possess the required number of Zul Knights. Otherwise, they''d lose the protection of the domain''s ruling family.

    "Ah. That was a blunder on my part. However, if you meet Apollo you''ll understand why," replied Cynthia with a confident tone.

    "He''s here? That''s this new aura I feel? I see..."

    ''Whoosh!''

    Disappearing from the spot, Kayn sought to verify the information. In light of this, Axel''s expression darkened. ''No¡­ it hasn''t been instigated enough! If so¡­''

    He turned toward Rhyne with a thoughtful expression, concealing his voice, he attempted to persuade him. "Big brother¡­ do not let that Apollo enter the family once again. He''ll rob your son of his limelight. I''ve witnessed it with my own eyes¡­ his potential is dangerous. He is cunning."

    Rather than answering, Rhyne was intrigued by this information. Why did his little brother possess such a spiteful heart?

 Chapter 87 - Beheading A Serpent (III)

    ----

    Standing in his new robes, Apollo gazed into the distance with vacant eyes. His mind seemed to be elsewhere as he took in the environment. It felt surreal¡ªbeing back where it all started, ''So I''ll really be going through with my ns huh. From this day forward, everything is bound to change.'' ??

    A silence followed as he shifted his gaze.

    [Hoh? You have an iing person and they are fast approaching.]

    ''Whoosh!''

    Before Apollo appeared the aged visage of Kayn. However, in his eyes, there was no malice but instead curiosity. ''Why is there no reaction now that I''m here? What is this absence of response?''

    The silence remained as Apollo stared into his eyes¡ªthe prior turbidity gone from existence. As his interest in the situation piqued, so did that of the youth''s training. Everyone ceased practicing and focusing on this small interaction between Apollo and Kayn.

    "Who is that? Why is Grand Elder Kayn simply staring at him like that? I don''t recall someone like that living here," a youth with amber hair looked at the two continuously with a baffled expression. Seldom did the Grand Elder appear in the courtyard unless it was for an important matter. Hence, they thought some notable figure hade to visit the family.

    On the other hand, someone else squinted, "He looks...familiar. Why do I feel as if I''ve seen him before?" another youth rubbed his chin, trying to process this sense of familiarity.

    ''Not a flinch nor a fluctuation in emotion. Not to mention, is this¡­ a faint murderous intent I feel? Although it''s not even close to being at the elementary level it is still present nheless. In other words, he should have already killed at least one person or harbored thoughts of murder,'' Kayn silently observed Apollo''s posture.

    "You have gone through great change, Apollo. Your name has be the topic of conversation at the conference. I''m curious, why don''t youe along and share with us how you came to perform those feats," Kayn gestured his hand in the direction of the Council Hall, seemingly oblivious to thetent hostility Apollo possessed towards everyone.

    "Mn," Apollo nodded suppressing any budding emotions. Following in stride with Kayn back towards the meeting ce. Meanwhile, the same youth who felt he was familiar now trembled in confusion.

    "A-Apollo? That''s Apollo? What happened to the scrawny kid? That guy seems to be on par with Aaron and Axel. What the hell¡­ what did he eat? How is this fair? I may have cked off before but I''ve be diligent in my training this past year," Brendel''s thoughts underwent turmoil.

    ¡­.

    Entering the conference room, Apollo''s calm countenance was greeted by nine other faces. Some of which he was entirely familiar with. Approaching a corner, he stood to the side, surveying everyone.

    ''I can''t gather information on them meaning everyone here is at least on par with Aunty,'' determining this to be the case, Apollo''s eyes soonnded on Rhyne who he thought be awfully reminiscent of Axel albeit with apletely different feel.

    ''Hmm? He doesn''t possess that aura Axel does then why is he so corrupt?'' Silently, Apollo started connecting the dots from the interaction between Ashur and Rhyne. ''So it is so, Axel''s personality is a byproduct of Ashur''s ways. Then, why hasn''t this person corrected his behavior? He seems too aloof in his offspring''s life.''

    "Ahem!" Kayn cleared his throat gathering everyone''s attention. "If you all aren''t aware, this person here is the aforementioned Apollo. As you can see, both his demeanor and strength have gone through great changes. The question I would like to ask is...what do you think we should do with him?''

    "Hm? Thisd here is that Apollo? Interestingly enough, he seems to be more like his father. However, my question is why has he been brought here?" a middle-aged woman with teal hair nced in Kayn''s direction. This was Saya, Axel''s mother, who surprisingly enough wasn''t part of the family to begin with¡ªshe had married into it.

    "Well, that is because I would like to verify both Ashur''s and Cynthia''s ims. I can''t base my decisions on their words alone. Now tell me, Apollo is it true you defeated a Rank 4 Spirit Beast and a Wyvern no less?" Kayn leaned forward awaiting Apollo''s answer.

    Deliberating for a few moments, Apollo shrugged, "This is partly true. Most of the efforts go to Aunty Cyn. Without her highbat standards, death would have awaited us all," Apollo answered yet also didn''t. ncing toward Cynthia, he showed a small smile.

    "Be that as it may, you still were capable of something a Zul Warrior isn''t despite not yet reaching that state. How do you exin this?" Kayn''s gaze grew sharp as his question probed deeper into the situation at hand.

    "Hmm? I guess I can thank that to a run-in with some underhanded mercenaries. Amid the process of their belongings bing mine, I was lucky enough toe across some weapons near the end of their use. As a result, I was just able to finish off the beast by sacrificing these means."

    Looking into Kayn''s eyes, not a single fluctuation was perceived from Apollo''s eyes as he fabricated a story possessing half-truths. As it was now, Kayn would have to take this as the truth as there was no way to dispute it. While it was true he had this run-in, there was never an instance he came across such weapons save one¡ªthat talisman.

    "Hoh? Where is the carcass of that beast? Allow me to examine its state. Wyverns usually possess treasure trove bodies," asked Kayn. A strange glint passed through Apollo''s eyes as he heard this.

    ''It seems after he sees this Wyvern he''ll most likely give it to someone else. However¡­ this is not how it''ll go.'' Apollo paused for a moment, looking in Cynthia''s direction. Sharing a meaningful gaze, Apollo released a small chuckle moving towards the center of the room devoid of fear.

    Due to hisck of irritation, it seemed Kayn didn''t mind Apollo''s action. On the contrary, Kayn''s eyebrow arched with interest, ''Why does it seem as if he has another n in mind? Hmm¡­ let''s see what he has to say for himself then.''

    Standing in the center of the conference room, posture unaffected by the leaking pressure of the elders, Apollo locked sights with Kayn, "I''m guessing you want to inspect the carcass to ascertain whether or not it possesses the means to create a different type of talent in the family, right?"

    "That can be said to be true," Kayn nodded, not dismissing Apollo''s words in the slightest.

    "Well allow me to tell you it does. But before we go over that matter. How about I ask you a question instead. How do you view the children in this family? Don''t take this as me disrespecting your authority¡­ I''m just curious about the thought process of our elders. All of you, how do you view them?"

    Apollo turned, presenting his question to everyone. Another bout of pin-drop silence befell the upied room as the wordless gazes collected on Apollo''s body. A number of colorful expressions and stares shed within the room until finally, the quietness was broken.

    "It is easy to say. We view them as the gateway to a better future. They are the building blocks that''ll pave the wave to the rise of the Kaiser name in the future." Kayn leaned forward further resting his chin upon the back of his palms now thoroughly intrigued by Apollo''s counter questioning.

    A look of ridicule shed in Apollo''s eyes before offering his own opinion, "It may sound pleasant using flowery words but let''s debunk the mystery in the grand scheme of your words for what it really is¡ªthey''re tools in the illusion of your ambitious aspirations."

    This time, the silence reached near palpable hostile levels with Apollo showing an amused smile, "Of course, that''s the ways of this world. So, Kayn, I have a proposition in both of our best interests." Ending his words with a yful chuckle, he performed an action thoroughly shocking the members of the conference.

 Chapter 88 - A Vipers Bite.

    ----

    Apollo''s sharp question poked a hole in the weaved facade of this room. Kayn''s expression staled, then darkened. He allowed him to present his question, however, he didn''t appreciate this youth of his family trampling upon and belittling his aspirations¡ªeven if they were the truth. ??

    However, his expression didn''t stay this way for long before lightening as Apollo''s began releasing his own aura¡ªit didn''t make sense!

    "How?! That aura it''s... At the least, it belongs to ate state Zul Warrior and he has yet to enter that realm! How can this be so?" Saya sprang to her feet mming her hands on the table before her. While Apollo''s aura paled inparison to theirs, it seemed to possess the faint ability to stimte the atmosphere around him into subservience.

    ''Could he have a talent rivaling his father now? I thought his internals were destroyed. Could I have been wrong? Wait a moment, now that I recall that incident¡­ Cynthia spared me an odd look the day I punished him. Looking back at it, it seemed to be one mixed with disappointment and disdain. Perhaps, my clouded judgment from the test prohibited me from seeing the truth,'' Kayn ruminated over the past events while also sparing Apollo a nce.

    "What you desire from your descendants is the potential to bring great des to the family''s reputation, correct?" Apollo''s candid tone broke Kayn''s session of contemtion. He was now interested to see what this youth before him sought. After all, all this wouldn''t be presented without a purpose.

    "If we''re using simple terms; it can beprehended as so. But, let me return a question of my own. In what family do the elders not view their offsprings as means to either catapult or further cement their social and martial standing in this world?" Kayn''s aura remained calm, unlike the time he had punished Apollo. His eyes were opened and didn''t want to risk the chance of losing a prime candidate toward his goal.

    "Now you speak the cold truth. Based on what I''ve read, I can infer the situation being that way. However, in our case, I''d like to change the dynamic of our rtionship. Regrettably, the Apollo you once knew died," Apollo chuckled once again, cing his hand behind his back walking up to Kayn.

    Hisst sentence shocked everyone. What did he mean Apollo died? Was he perhaps revealing his secret to everyone before him?

    "What do you mean by these words?" Kayn''s asked, intrigued by the true meaning of the words he was unable to decipher.

    "What I''m trying to say is, my eyes have been opened; the naive child is no more. This world, as you said, is one in which those who are kind are trampled upon. Hence, I''ll have to be ruthless to all. Because of this, what stands before you is but a husk of thine''s former self. However, I can be what you seek," Apollo stated, filled with an unconcealed conviction.

    "Hoh? While I admit your aura is shocking, those are big words for you to fulfill. If you truly feel as such, then expound on why you think you''re capable of breathing life into my aspirations," a yful yet expectant gleam passed through Kayn''s eyes as he gazed into Apollo''s cid eyes.

    A demonic glint shed in Apollo''s eyes as his aura spiked once again. This time, causing a turbulent scene in the conference room. Unbeknownst to him, that back wisp healing his body ceased its former action. In ce of that, it fabricated a temporarily fortifying his still damaged inside in ce protecting it from further injury. Due to this, his aura continued to climb before their eyes. Early Zul Warrior... Middle... Late¡­ Peak¡­ until it teaued.

    What he was doing? Rather than firing a Demonic Massacre Wave, he was using his body to facilitate the same feeling. However, this meant his body would have to withstand the continuous bombardment of that tyrannic energy being confined within him. After some time, having reached his limit, he deactivated the technique.

    Needless to say, the short burst allowed everyone to catch a true glimpse of Apollo''s horror inducing ability.

    ''Hmm? What is this aberrant feeling inside his aura? I''ve nevere ine in contact with such a thing. Calling it evil would be an understatement. While weak, it seems unnaturally pure. It''s almost as if a rabid Spirit Beast of the Dark Element is standing before me,'' Rhyne mused as he inspected Apollo. He was beginning to understand why Ashur feared this child''s potential so much.

    And yet, he still felt this didn''t warrant such drastic behavior. All it meant was another talent was added to the rank of the family. Unfornatutely, not everyone saw it this way. There were always a few who wanted their child to be the sole source of praise. In turn, it would make them seem as if their worth was bolstered for have given birth to them.

    On the other hand, there always existed people jealous of those of simr talents. Such is the duality of life¡ªthere was those who feared falling into the pits of the subservient and those who despised the talents capable of ruling above them in the future.

    Closemindedness was the gue of man that would be longlived. As long as one continued topare themselves instead of seeking to better themselves to the best of their abilities, such events would continue to take ce.

    Waving his hand, the carcass of the Wyvern appeared except its mutted corpse leaked a feeling simr to the aura Apollo just showcased justcking in a domineering quality. Due to this, Kayn came to an instant conclusion.

    "I''m guessing you came in contact with a near berserk type Martial Art. This cut is too deep to originate from a low-level cultivator such as your self. My question is, what is the cost of the technique? Has your potential already been devoured? Typically, those techniques sacrifice one''s potential for immediate strength. If you were so foolish as to ept those conditions...then you may as well disappear from my sights." Kayn said contemptuously.

    Based on what he was witnessing, he assumed Apollo''s current internal state was one brought about by sacrificing his potential. Needless to say, this wasn''t the case.

    "I have never heard of such techniques. My technique came from an unknown teacher as did this set of robes. I don''t know his origins, however, his standing in the martial world seemed rather high. Do you believe someone like that would sacrifice their potential?" questioned Apollo.

    Kayn rubbed his chin in response, ''He came in contact with a type of expert? Could it have been someone traveling from a Great Family?''

    "Hoh? Did you at least mention your origin to then?"

    "Not in the way you''re hoping," Apollo shook his head causing Kayn to frown whereas Ashur experienced an outburst.

    "Unfilial! Everyone knows when youe in contact with such experts you invite them back to the family! What have we raised, a dog?!"

    Craning his neck, Apollo''s eyes fell upon Ashur''s scowling figure whereas his dark chuckle entered everyone''s ears, "Idiot, yourck of intelligence never ceases to amaze me. Unless you''re talking about that useless kid Axel, I don''t recall you raising shit. Moreover, as I said, the dynamic of our rtionship will be changing.

    "Although I said I can be what you seek, it won''t be in the same ways as the others. Unlike them, I won''t partake in blind contribution to the family. However, I can say with absolute certainty¡ªmy worth will exceed all others," towards the end of his words, Apollo reverted his gaze to Kayn''s pensive countenance.

    "Preposterous. We should just kill him this instant and rid ourselves of this headache," Ashur scowled, unsettled by this overconfidence present in Apollo. On the contrary, Kayn was perplexed by the situation but beyond that, he found himself even more curious than before.

    "You continue to say changing the dynamic, what exactly do you mean?" Kayn ignored Ashur''s words and talked directly to Apollo.

    "It''s quite simple. See me as a hired weapon except my demands aren''t limited to a simple exchange of currency. I want lives¡ªspecifically these few¡­"

    Hearing the names being called out Kayn, Ashur, Rhyne and the rest of the council of elders were shocked, dismay filling their eyes. He wanted to carry out a massacre! He was simply a menace!

 Chapter 89 - Exorbitant Malicious Demands

    ----

    The silence was dreadful, appallingly so. Only broken by the resounding snarl of the enraged Ashur. "Are you insane? Are you some maverick hellbent on killing those around you?" ??

    Apollo''s list of names was ratherrge. In fact, it was around 1/10th of the current talents of the Kaiser Family. Even Kayn was surprised by his exorbitant demands. While the second one could be fulfilled, the first one seemed counterproductive to his existence.

    As for what they were, they were simple¡ªonly two things remained in mind; to seek vengeance and to secure a surefire way to increase his strength.

    The first was for the family to willingly give him the heads of Axel, Brendel, Dylon, Klyde, and Ymir. As for the other, it was to allow him ess to the entirety of the family''s treasury.

    "You want the heads of these children? Doesn''t this seem to go against the purpose of you offering your services to the family?" Kayn questioned skeptically as he looked at Apollo with an awkward gaze. Rather than answering, he sought to understand the reasoning behind that first demand.

    "I alone am enough. As for them, they must go for my words to stand," Apollo replied in an adamant tone. It was time the malice in his heart was directed towards the ones who gave birth to it.

    "Hmm¡­ I don''t believe I can agree to this. You''re effectively cutting off the family''s precautionary measures. Despite your adamant stand, I don''t think I can wrap my mind around you amounting to 5 other youths. Not to mention, two of which reside in the top five talents of the family," Kayn began to dismiss honoring this demand.

    "Grand Elder is right. Your desires are too malevolent. How can you travel far on the path of cultivation? Let alone possess talent in Spirit Cultivation where it is said to require a pure soul to form a connection to an ethereal world," Rhyne stated. It was the first time he had spoken, however, he couldn''t allow this to take ce.

    After all, needless bloodshed in the family would weaken it once more even more so than it already was. Its position among the small nobles could be threatened. Hence, one by one, the elders began speaking up, denouncing Apollo''s desire.

    "Yes, do you understand how insane you sound right now? What are you¡ªsome kind of murderous demon? The enmity between you kids isn''trge enough to warrant some death penalty on their heads," Saya input with a look of derision. This was the lives of hers as well as other children they were discussing ¡ªit was noughing matter.

    However, that is exactly what Apollo did. They didn''t understand the weight of his resentment. Unbeknownst to them, he had truly died because of their actions! The original soul of Apollo wouldn''t be appeased unless this was repaid in kind. Hence, his mind wouldn''t be changed.

    It began with a small chuckle that soon turned into a maddenedughter, "My answer is simple! I don''t walk the path of the rest. Since it is like this, Kayn, how about we do this another way?" Apollo paused peering straight into Kayn''s eyes.

    "I would like to invoke a deathmatch. Furthermore, I''ll allow it to be 5 against one. Axel, Brendel, Erik, Klyde, and Ymir are weed toe at me all at once," Apollo spat venomously. A burning fury seethed within his eyes giving birth to an infant bloodlust. One threatening to burst from his body.

    ''This...this... he''s serious. His mind won''t be changed! Unless his desires are met that bloodlust will be incubated into something much more terrible. Perhaps, at that point, the Terrors would be the least of our worries. Do I...kill this boy? But then¡­ my family won''t reach the height it could''ve.''

    Kayn became conflicted as he listened to the heated mor intensifying within the room whilst locking eyes with Apollo. While he didn''t know his urate current strength, he was aware the uing trial was aprehensive test. It covered far more topics than a basic meridian test.

    "So what will it be, Kayn? Do you choose to ce your bets on me and my future shrouded in mystery? Or, do you choose to settle for the subpar future of Axel? Perhaps you may rely upon Lily but how far will that go as well? The disparity to the Heaven-Grade is not small from what I understand. As you know, the future is also an untold thing," Apollo added as his unwavering gaze remained nted on Kayn.

    Releasing a sigh, Kaynmented the fact he let these old matters get out of hand, ''I should have handled those matters differently. If so, we wouldn''t have reached this point today.

    "SILENCE!" Kayn''s Zul General cultivation exploded forth, calming the turbulent mored atmosphere of the room. The stifling pressure rooted everyone in ce until he retracted it. Looking towards Apollo, he continued to seek answers, "It is true, the future isn''t set in stone. If I allow this deathmatch, what can you promise me?"

    "Grand Elder...don''t!" Ashur once again tried to dissuade Kayn from making what seemed to be a terrible decision in his eyes.

    "I said silence," repeated Kayn with a grim gaze.

    At the same time, Apollo turned towards Ashur with a sneer, "It''s already a five against one. Surely, you''re not afraid of the possible oue, are you? Come on, these are your talents you should take pride in them. Unless¡­ you understand their talents are truly dogshit in the grand scheme of things."

    Apollo was like a p on the faces of all present. After all, the aforementioned youths were the offspring of pretty much all the elders present. In other words, he was called a dogshit in a sense as well. Nevertheless, they couldn''t rebut his words. It was true, there was ack of confidence amongst them.

    Apollo''s aura was too much of an anomaly to them. Seldom was the irregrity of a Mortal possessing an aura on par with a strong Zul Warrior seen. As a result, this felt to be a risky affair.

    "As for your question Kayn, I offer my prestige. In the uing selection trial, I will use the Kaiser name and im amongst the top. However, to do so, you''ll have to fulfill my second demand," confidently stated Apollo extricating his sights from Ashur.

    ''Heh. Just like your Dad. That''s right. im what you seek and rid this family of their cow dung ridden minds. It''s no fault but their own that we are in our current state. In fact, much of this is due to the 2 other deceased Grand Elders,'' Cynthia smiled pridefully as she spectated the unraveling events.

    "Very well. I will allow the deathmatch. However, in turn, you must enter one of the 9 Famed War Academies," stated Kayn, offering his own demands. In response, Apollo was taken aback.

    "I thought there were 12 Academies?"

    Kayn nodded in agreement before rifying, "That is true, however, the Great and Supreme Families only attend the top nine. In a way, they are branches of the family. They just don''t house the secrets that flow through the families themselves. Hence, the separation between Families and Academies."

    "Very well. I will do it. When will this happen?" asked Apollo

    "Two months from now. As for this corpse, you may keep it. I will not intrude upon your rewards. I''ll allow you ess to the treasury, however, I''ll be monitoring your progress. Your promise is to be fulfilled! There is no room for failure!"

    Apollo''s eyes gleamed at the mention of the treasure. There were bound to be some useful items stowed away inside there seeing as years had passed. Not to mention, once a year, a certain number of resources would be sent down from the ruling family of the domain ensuring the small noble families retained the ability to guard the border.

    Apollo stowed the corpse as Kayn''s voice thundered in the room. After doing so, Apollo turned around and left the area. There was nothing left to talk about. However, upon his exit the conference room was thrown into an uproar¡ªtheir children had been potentially sentenced to death!

    ''Just another stepping stone on my path,'' Apollo''s gaze grew colder as this thought passed through his mind turning into a dissipating shadow. In two months, it would spell the doom of numerous people.

 Chapter 90 - Overture To Ones Demise (I)

    ----

    "How could you allow him to follow through with those abominable desires?" Saya screeched in the conference room. After Apollo exited the conference room, emotions seethed. After all, this was her son they were talking about! Although this was thew of the world, wrapping her mind around potentially losing her progeny was a hard pill to swallow. ? ?

    Staring at her silently, Kayn sighed inment, shaking his head without end. A peculiar glint appearing, "You know the price of being born into this world. It is thend of the wolves. He''ll simply have to fend for himself; if he truly wants to survive that is. My hands are tied in this matter."

    Kayn vanished from the room as well leaving hateful elders aplenty. On the contrary, Cynthia and Danyul excused themselves as they wanted no parts in this somber atmosphere. Danyul was without a child whereas Cynthia''s child had possessed a brotherly rtionship from the beginning.

    Therefore, they weren''t affected in the slightest. Rhyne, on the other hand, remained petrified before shooting his brother a meaningful re, "I delegated that child''s future to you in light of me focusing on cultivating. Therefore, I me these events on you. Should Axel perish, it''ll be on your shoulders."

    Rising to his feet, he exited the room as well leaving a distraught Ashur, ''W-what...he won''t seek revenge? What the fuck? Does he not possess any parental angst from this situation? What kind of father is this... Sure, his personality is partly my fault but you''re the second strongest in the family dammit¡­ DO SOMETHING!''

    Ashur clutched his head in madness, left in the room alone save one person. Before leaving, Saya spared him a departing nce, "Tch¡­ I don''t know what I saw in you in the past. If only Axel was truly Rhyne''s¡­"

    For a moment, Ashur froze. After some time, those words hit him, except he couldn''t believe his ears. ''W-wait...what did she just say? Could that be why Rhyne doesn''t spare Axel such tender feelings? Then does that mean..." Ashur began biting his nails in panic, her words reminded him of that momentary weakness he experienced in the past.

    Truthfully speaking, the only difference between Ashur and Rhyne were the color of their eyes¡ªAhsur''s being ck and Rhyne''s being a faint cerulean color and their talent. Whereas Ashur possessed a Top Tier Earth-Grade inner physique, Rhyne possessed a MiddleTier Spirit-Grade one. Nevertheless, with everyone parting ways they could only prepare themselves for what was toe.

    ----

    Standing before Aaron''s room, Apollo knocked before entering inside, "Aaron, let''s spar. We need to correct the deficiencies in your style."

    Aaron sprang to his feet with vibrant eyes, expectancy running rampant within, "You betcha! Where do you want to do it? In the training area?"

    "That''ll do," Apollo replied before walking side by side with Aaron.

    "So¡­ where did you go?" Aaron looked towards Apollo, curious to know where he had disappeared to for that short while. While it wasn''t too long, it was enough to warrant Aaron''s curiosity.

    "Nowhere special, just the Council Hall. You didn''t sense Kayn outside of the residence?" Apollo inspected Aaron''s skeptical eyes, ''It seems their senses aren''t as sharp as mine. Perhaps...does this have something to do with the Intelligence stat? It''s possible. Speaking of which, I should be focusing more on that like Azridan insisted I do.''

    After a short while, the two appeared on the family training ground. Due to the darkening sky, it was rather vacant. Apollo loosened his body, tilting his neck to the side crackling with power.

    "Ready?" Apollo asked Aaron as he widened his feet taking a preparatory stance. However, Aaron was surprised. He was barehanded! Due to Aaron training in the sword, he thought Apollo would use a weapon but that didn''t seem to be the case.

    "No weapon?"

    "I don''t train in any weapons aside from long weapons and fists. So there is no need to worry,e at me with full intent. Besides, this is more so for you than me," Apollo replied with a sharpening glint in his eyes. In response, Aaron''s sharpened as well.

    "Ready!" Aaron kicked off his feet stabbing forward at Apollo. However, it seemed a the end of his strike he altered the path in fear of him damaging Apollo. Noticing this fact, Apollo frowned.

    ''This is what I meant earlier. They aren''t trained to damage those they are familiar with. It''d be a horrible sight if they were ever betrayed they''d barely be able to defend themselves.''

    Apollo''s expression turned grim, "What are you doing?" Shifted his forearm, he knocked away Aaron''s wooden sword strike. Furthermore, a faint murderous intent escaped his body.

    "This is a battle! Never withdraw your sword. That''s how you lose your life," Apollo reprimanded Aaron. Bringing his fingers together, Apollo used it as if it were a sword, stabbing forward.

    "This is just a spar, right? Why is there a need to be so seri-" Aaron''s expression grew solemn as he raised his sword in defense. A soreness spread through his arms as he did so. Right before his chest, he blocked Apollo''s attack aimed at his heart! In other words, Apollo was treating this as a real battle¡ªhe was attacking vitals!

    "That mindset needs to be discarded. Didn''t you hear Kayn''s words years ago? This world will trample over us. Hence, be ruthless," Apollo''s gaze grew cold but contained a hint of desire within. It seemed he wished for Aaron''s true growth.

    "That is my blunder! I won''t be doing it again," Aaron gave a resolute nod. This time, his sword gleamed with a sliver glow emitting a sharp and dangerous feeling. In light of this Apollo smiled.

    A dark Natural Essence coated his hands up to his wrist. His control over Natural Essence became better and better. The repeated use of the Partial Shade Silhouette and Demonic Massacre Wave yed arge role in this. Furthermore, one must remember, he wasn''t in peak condition.

    "Hyah!" Aaron shed his sword three times all aimed at Apollo''s vital areas¡ªeyes, throat, and heart. Apollo reacted quickly, shattering the sword waves. A piercing screech was birthed from the collision the essences.

    Retreating, Apollo flicked his finger firing a small Demonic Massacre Wave, not even one-tenth of what he usually used. In truth, he didn''t seek to hurt Aaron. Rather, he sought to used the murderous feeling all his skills possessed to give him a sense of dread. In turn, this should stimte his dulled survival instincts.

    As that wave hurtled towards him, a silver glint appeared in Aaron''s eyes. "Break! Quicksilver Second Sword Form: Metal Threads!"

    From the tip of his sword, numerous threads fire toward the iing wave as his appearance paled. It seemed the consumption of this technique was by no means small. Even though it took a lot, he thwarted Apollo''s attack.

    Unfortunately, there was no time for celebration as Apollo followed up with his movement technique appearing right before him, "In battle, your opponent will not spare you a breather. Always remain prepared for a counterattack."

    ''Bang!''

    Apollo''s fist mmed into the wooden sword sending Aaron flying. A confrontational gleam appeared in Aaron''s eyes as he reboundeding to a sliding halt.

    "Again!" Aaron roared, the aura around him sharpening.

    [I feel an intent albeit in its infancy stages.]

    "With pleasure!" Apollo chuckled, dashing in once again. He had taken note of a small change within his body. With each exchange, it seemed the ck wisp assimted with him more thoroughly. Hence, he would surely continue these actions.

    Within a short period of time, numerous exchanges took ce. Unbeknownst to them, Kayn stood above the room of the Main House, gazing at their battle with a profound luster in his eyes. ''It appears I have underestimated this boy. He shows no pressure in a fight and he is tempering Aaron''s mindstate. In fact, he seems to be developing an intent because of this¡­''

    Praise appeared on Kayn''s expression before his body began fading, ''If he can awaken that...it''ll be helpful in his trial.''

 Chapter 91 - Overture To Ones Demise (II)

    ----

    "Haah...haah¡­" Apollo and Aaronid sprawled out on the training ground staring at the night sky. Their bated breaths from exhausting soon grew steady and they sat up. Within Aaron''s eyes was a premature obscure look.??

    "Just how many near-death battles have you gone through to achieve that calmness? Even though I tried my hardest, I couldn''t disregard the notion of dealing fatal damage towards you. And yet, you were able to easily counter all my strikes," Aaron turned towards Apollo, looking at him with veneration.

    "At least 1,000 and this is a generous estimation. It''s not something that will change overnight. But we have time before we leave this ce. We''ll just have to train harder to temper that shoring out of you. Maybe in a regr society, kindness wouldn''t be a shoring but here...we can do without," Apollo stated in a candid tone.

    "You''re right. I''m starving though¡­ should we head to the Dining Hall?" Aaron rose to his feet looking in the direction of an active building.

    However, Apollo shook his head in response, tapping his spatial pouch, "You go ahead, I have other matters to take care of. Besides, I have my own meal."

    "Alright. I won''t go as far as to beg you toe. I know you don''t want to be in the presence of the others. We''ll continue thister?" Aaron nodded in understanding.

    Again, Apollo shook his head, "Tomorrow. We''ll do this once every day or at least try to. We still need to cultivate. Just increasing ourbat awareness won''t cut it. We need arge reserve of Natural Essence and a sufficient cultivation base as well. We don''t know what thepetition will be like in the future. We need to prepare ourselves.

    "Also¡­ you should im one of those Natural Blessings. Don''t let them enter the hands of Axel andpany. Otherwise, it''d be a waste," Apollo''s tone carried with it a foreboding bloodlust. One that Aaron caught onto.

    "You don''t mean¡­"

    "Correct. I will kill them," Apollo stated with undisclosed malice. Once again, a faint yet pure murderous intent pooled from within him. This time, however, Aaron shivered. Although it wasn''t directed at him, he was still affected. At this point, even he feared for their lives, however, he wouldn''t dissuade Apollo from his decisions. After all, this was their own undoing.

    Aaron''s sighed, an empathetic one as he looked at Apollo, "I won''t say I agree with you killing them but I also won''t say you shouldn''t. While what they did was during their childish years, I must also take into ount the trauma they could''ve caused you¡­"

    He ced one hand on Apollo''s shoulder whereas the other balled into a fist pressing against Apollo''s chest, "I hope your choice results in you settling your inner turmoil. With that, you should be able to find your own peace or at least... maybe part of it?"

    "Mn," Apollo nodded before disappearing from the spot. Bidding his farewell also, Aaron entered the Dining Hall.

    ----

    Standing before the Main House, Apollo came face to face with Kayn.

    "I believe you''re here to enter the treasury. Before you do, I must inform you of the limits. First and foremost, you are not to take more than 20% of the pill reserve. Although we have our deal, we still have to support the other youths."

    "That should be enough," Apollo nodded in response, looking straight into Kayn''s eyes.

    "Secondly, Ashur has told me you can absorb Essence Cores. Unfortunately, we don''t have those in storage. They are usually shipped elsewhere. Also, why didn''t you ask to enter the upper levels of the library?"

    Apollo rose an eyebrow in response, "It slipped my mind. I''ll enter it at ater time." Of course, this wasn''t entirely true. Instead, the real reason he didn''t'' list this as a condition was because it possessed no allure to him. More specifically, the information Azridan revealed doused his interest.

    Afterpleting his racial change, trying to learn techniques of this world would prove to be increasingly difficult. Although undisclosed to him, this was just a stop in his journey. With that being said, the orientations of his meridians and such wouldn''t be identical to a human after undergoing the initial change. As a result, the pathways to perform certain cultivation methods would take a lot to decipher.

    Although that may be true, it didn''t mean it was impossible to perform. In fact, there was a way for him to make the process innate. It just required him to unearth it.

    "I see. Last but not least, in the treasury resides a collection of weapons. If you find one that resonates with you, you may keep it and use it in the trial. It may not be muchpared to the progeny of the greater families but it should allow you to im a better position."

    "Very well. I''ll take you up on that as well," Apollo nodded walking past Kayn, pressing on the treasury doors. As the door opened, the dimmed lighting grew brighs, torches along the wall igniting the luminance of the expansive room.

    Small mounds of pills of various different colors appeared before him. Furthermore, there were a variety of weapons. Some of which seemed even stronger than his previous Vantack Knife.

    Taking a step forward, Apollo examined the carved walls and ample decorations, ''It seems the family spent a decent amount on this ce. It makes me wonder, in the past, was this family''s standing higher than what it used to be? How often do Heaven-Grade talents appear? They should be sought after to some degree.''

    Apollo continued to ponder a few notions as he passed and inspected a few pills. Most of them didn''t meet his expectations; that was until he reached the back of the treasury where it seemed the higher grade pills resided.

    On top of that, he found a peculiar fruit thatpelled him to take it. As a result, he imed the fruit as well as four types of pills. However, his journey wasn''t over. His attention was wrested away from the pills by a silver gleam as well as a ck aura.

    ''What is that?" he thought to himself as he approached it. Bending down, Apollo shifted a few items revealing what seemed to be a weapon.

    [Hmm? This seems nefarious. I like that feeling. You should im it¡ªwhatever it is.]

    Continuing to move aside the various pills and such, he saw the entirety of the weapon but its form shocked him. ''Are these gloves or knuckles?''

    Unable to tell, Apollo continued to examine the qualities of the item. It was pitch ck gloves, however, half of the fingers seemed to have been cut. Not to mention, silver lines flowed through the glove. Originating from the palm, the lines of symbols branched out to the end of the open knuckles.

    To quell his curiosity, Apollo picked them up. A decision in which he didn''t know if he regretted it or not. Widening his eyes, a searing pain birthed from his hands traveling to his heart.

    Sucking in a sharp breath, Apollo fell to his knees holding his hands before his face in agony. He wanted to scream, however, he was unable to do so as it would alert Kayn outside. Luckily, albeit intense, the pain didn''tst long.

    Then again, Apollo was left with even more questions. The knuckles had burrowed into his skin and disappeared. Apart from the previous pain, there were no signs of it even being there. In the truest sense, they had vanished!

    But, a few momentster, Apollo nked as a short summary of cryptic information entered his mind. It was rted to the aforementioned knuckles¡ªmore importantly, something that seemed to be a phrase. As for its history, it remained a mystery.

    "He shall bring rise to the Requiem of the Umbra Crusade," Apollo muttered in a state of torpor as if possessed. He didn''t understand this collection of words nor what they meant. But as he uttered this a notification appeared before him.

 Chapter 92 - Overture Of Ones Demise (III)

    ----

    ?System Alert! You have been bound to a weapon of unknown potential as well as origins! Information regarding this weapon has been ced in your mind. However, it is in a sealed state. Certain conditions have yet to be met to wield this weapon. Warning: Forcefully wielding this weapon before it unseals itself will kill you!? ??

    ''Wait...what? Not only do I not know how to invoke this weapon, utilizing it will kill me? What type of madness is this? Why the hell would it bond with me if this is the case? It''s nonsense! If I''m not strong enough to wield it, what prompted it to do so?''

    The questions in Apollo''s mind increased. The most prominent one being¡ªwhat the hell was the origin of this weapon and how did it end up in the treasury of their small family. Sadly, his questions possessed no answers for the time being.

    [Hmm, what is wrong with this weapon? It seems archaic going beyond even my knowledge, however, it feels familiar at the same time. I''m curious as to why something like this appeared here. Wait¡­ I believe I''ve read something like this before. I believe it was mentioned along the lines of weapons being cast away from some ne unknown to even us.]

    Although Apollo couldn''t sense the weapon, Azridan could. In fact, it still resided on Apollo''s hands. It was just trapped between dimensions, or it was better to say it concealed itself there as if hiding from something. Nevertheless, as it was now, Apollo was incapable of using it. Hence, he stopped dwelling on the matter.

    Stowingrge amounts of the pills capable of sparking his interest, he left. During his exit, he met Kayn awaiting his departure. As he saw him, however, he became curious. ''I wonder...'' Apollo thought.

    "Have you seen a glove inside that treasury before?" Apollo asked Kayn''s unknowing as to whether or not the family was privy to this item being there.

    "Gloves? As far as I know, I don''t remember such an item being there. Seldom are knuckles used in this day and age. Instead, one would use gauntlets which can be seen as their counterpart increased lethality." Kayn responded, looking at Apollo''s with a weird expression.

    "Oh. Never mind then. Forget I''ve asked this question," Apollo rubbed his chin as his skepticism intensified. ''Not even he was aware of this thing then¡­ perhaps...I don''t know.'' Apollo shook his head unable to muster a viable conclusion, disappearing into the shadows.

    Kayn''s eyes widened as he watched Apollo disappear. Even his trained senses were unable to discern the half of his body engulfed by the shadows. "Hm? Is he of the Dark Element as his father was? Perhaps he also has the rare Spatial Element. If so, it could make the future level of cultivation easier."

    Apollo came to a halt before his previous living area. ''This will do. It''s quiet and that''s just what I like.'' Entering the area, he approached the small courtyard area. He took a seat before the tiny pond. After doing so, he retrieved the pills as well as the small remainder of Essence Cores in his possession.

    Waving his hand, four pills appeared in his palms. Two white pills of different lusters, one dull red, and one faint blue one. He examined their qualities quietly, ''The grade isn''t as pure as what Irauk supplied me with but they''re the same rank nheless. It''ll suffice for the amount of Experience I need.''

    Two of them he was previously familiar with; the Essence Gathering Pill and the Foundation Forging Pill. Beyond those, there were two more. Despite not being of the best grade, the sheer volume he possessed them in made up for it.

    Item Name: Essence Boosting Pill

    Rank: Rank 1 Pill

    Grade: Average

    Information: Another pill vital to the cultivation of Mortal and Zul Warrior Cultivators. It allows the cultivator topound the Natural Essence in one''s body. If one possesses an awakened Dantian, it elerates the rate at which the Essence is stored. However, depending on the grade and other factors, the amount varies.

    Effect: When ingested, increases Experience by 1,000.

    Item Name: Essence Purification Pill

    Rank: Rank 1 Pill

    Grade: Average

    Information: As the name hints, it''s a vital pill towards cultivators. Unlike the Foundation Forging Pill, this one focuses more so on the Essence. As a result, it purifies the essence, increasing its density.

    Effect: Ingesting this pill rewards 1,200 Experience.

    ''Hmm¡­ boosting and purification. These seem more focused on Zul Warrior rather than a Mortal. If a normal mortal ingested these, most of their effects would go to waste. However, to me, these are just another source of experience.''

    Throwing his head back, Apollo closed his eyes entering a state of cultivation as he inhaled pills in a frenzied manner. Continuing this handful after handful, he gained experience from the pills, as well as incorporated absorbing Natural Essence to boost the efficiency of cultivation. Equally important, the dark wisp interacted with the essences entering his body albeit faintly. The colors began to vary.

    In this way, his night passed until the sun rose. Sadly, hisrge experience pool didn''t allow him to level up in that one night. However, his meridians did thicken slightly. During these higher levels, it seemed the state of his meridians were directly linked to his level.

    ''Hm¡­ I should seek out Aaron. Battling him increases the rate of my body''s digestion of that ck wisp. It seems to have something to do with his body being fairly strong; I wonder what method he cultivates.''

    Apollo rose to his feet, walking at a leisure pace to Aaron''s ce. Surprisingly, the door opened as he raised his hand revealing a hurried Aaron. Apollo was shocked, it was like Aaron was telepathic. After all, this all happened before he could even attempt to knock.

    "Oh! Apollo! I was justing to see you. Let''s go. We have a day of sparring and cultivation to undergo," Aaron eximed. Apollo was unable to get a response out before being dragged by Aaron towards the training ground.

    Once again, they were embroiled in battle. However, there were small differences. This time, Apollo increased the ruthlessness of his attacks. He didn''t allow the possibility of Aaron''s progress with dismissing his former mindset regressing. Furthermore, he wanted to better emte the feeling of imminent danger.

    As a result, this became his daily routine¡ªa perpetual cycle of realistic sparring and endless consumption of resources¡ªincluding that of the flesh of the Wyvern''s corpse. With all this included, Apollo made great strides. So much so, in just two weeks he had returned to the state enabling him to ingest the Natural Blessings.

    ----

    Cross-legged before the small ponder he withdrew the Smoldering Spirit entuation Fruits. In its optimal state, he ingested the fruits without hesitation. Although it was painful, it didn''t hold a candle to what he had experienced from those knuckles nor did ite close to his encounters in the forest.

    However, it did show more benefits than the rest. Impurities were expelled from his body inrge amounts. As for the process itself, it took a few days. During that time, Aaron had visited him multiple times, saw his state, and chose not to disturb him.

    Apollo''s eyes opened a lively glint circting through them. Beyond that, there was an obscure yet unsettling vibe emanating from them.

    ?System Alert! Your Inner Physique has risen to the Top Tier of Spirit-Grade. In response, your level has been set to 99.?

    ?System Alert! The assimtion process isplete! Traces of demonic bloodline have been absorbed. Evolution meter has increased to 92.04%!?

    ''This feeling¡­ it''s exhrating!''

    With a thought, the Natural Essence in a small radius seethed and was soon devoured! Once again, his absorption rate had increased. While it wasn''t the strongest to be seen in the world, it wasmendable. At the very least, in this family, there was no one else his age capable of this.

    Instead of moving, Apollo continued his actions. During these passing days, the only thing on his agenda was to cultivate. As for the matters with Aaron, he continued with those as well. Just that it was limited to a shorter time. In exchange for the reduced time, Apollo increased the intensity of his onught.

    In due time, over a monthter, an echoing bell resounded throughout the estate awakening Apollo from his cultivating state. His eyes shimmered with an ominous light as word circted throughout the estate. Whereas the message received excited him, it was unsettling to everyone else within the family.

 Chapter 93 - Five Against One

    ----

    "Attention all within the Kaiser Estate, today marks a string of inevitable events. Those of which were brought upon the participants through their own actions. As a result, they''ll have to face their own tribtions." ??

    Kayn''s aged voice projected throughout the Kaiser Estate. His brooding tone offering a foreboding feeling that made a few grow weary with trepidation. His continued words added to the somber atmosphere.

    "Today, there will be tworge events. First and foremost, we will be distributing 8 Natural Blessings to the Top 8 of the youths, however, this excludes Lily. It''s a shame but it''ll offer no benefit to her. Secondly...we''ll be invoking an ancient way not used for many years."

    Hearing his second set of words, more specifically, thest one, mor filled the Kaiser Estate. What did the Grand Elder mean by ancient practice? If his tone weren''t so heavy, they would have thought it was the prelude to some inheritance trial.

    After all, that wasn''t something unheard of in this world.

    "Apollo Kaiser, the issuer of the Death Challenge seeks out mortal battle with the following named individuals: Axel Kaiser, Brendel Kaiser, Dylon Kaiser, Klyde Kaiser, and Ymir Kaiser."

    A string of continuous gasps sounded from the youths of the Kaiser Estate. This was the first time they had heard of such a practice. Of course, if one delved deeper into the books located within the library they would have be privy to this. While it had yet to be enacted in recent years, throughout history this was a norm amongst mortal enemies.

    The reason behind this rite being¡ªto settle differences deemed unforgivable and enmitybeled as irreconcble. Needless to say, that standard existed at different levels for different people. Everyone held their own beliefs as well as bottom lines. Hence, the creation of this practice.

    For Apollo, it was the fact he had "died" once before. Therefore, it was time to appease the partial soul ridden with angst. These words which sounded like the hymn of an angel to him was akin to a death sentence for his victims.

    "It is time to repay enmity. One may argue we were mere children back then, however, a lost soul can never be reimed. Therefore, they''ll have to reap what they have sown. I promise to you Apollo, on this day¡­ your soul will find peace," Apollo looked into the distance with a cold gleam.

    At the same time, a wave of despair flooded into the minds of the mentioned youths''. Thoughts like "Why is Apollo here?", "I''ve heard he''s be some type of monster¡­", "Is today the day I die?" circted through their distraught adolescent minds.

    Once again, Kayn''s voice reverberated throughout the entirety of the Kaiser estate, "All parties in mention convene at the family training grounds now!"

    As these words entered Apollo''s ears, his body disappeared. It seemed as if his shadow was more potent than usual in line with the slew of dark thoughts present in his mind, ''You wille to know with true darkness feels like.''

    ----

    Apollo appeared standing face to face with Kayn. One by one, Axel and the others appeared. However, the color in their countenances had long since vanished. After all, how could one remain calm when their name was mentioned with "death." It was an unsettling situation to be faced with.

    "G-Grand Elder Kayn...do we have to go through with this? What about our desires? What if we don''t agree to partake in this battle?" Both Axel''s body and voice trembled with consternation. Looking into Apollo''s cold eyes, he could taste a dreadful vor in his throat.

    In that short moment, he began to regret his past transgressions. Unfortunately for him, the past couldn''t be changed. One would have to live with the decisions they made and face the consequences no matter how extreme. This notion was further cemented by Kayn''s following words.

    "Sadly, my young one, that decision isn''t up to either you or me. This practice is for the sole purpose of venting enmity. It is thew of the cultivation world. Once invoked, only two things can quell this situation.

    "Only if the issuer agrees to rescind their decision to issue this challenge or either side experiences death will the oue be determined. Unfortunately, and it pains me to say, but I don''t think the former is a possibility. This, I''m afraid, is out of my hands." Kayn shook his head whilst taking a step back. Forming hand seals followed by him waving his hands, arge barrier erected around Apollo and the other five.

    "Wait! WAIITTT!" Axel roared as his mind was filled with unpleasant thoughts of his demise, "Apollo! Do we really need toe to this? It shouldn''t be like this! Kids our age shouldn''t wee murder," Axel''s voice carried tints of pleading whereas his expression showed signs of hysteria.

    Instead of responding, Apollo clenched his hands into fists. Step by step he approached Axel and the others with unabated steps. Moreover, his eyes didn''t seem to register his pleas in the slightest.

    "Axel. What do we do¡­" Brendel turned towards Axel, his legs trembling in fear. Looking at Apollo was like looking at the reaper himself. With each passing moment, his dismay grew further.

    "Grand Elder Kayn! What about my talent? Is this all I''m worth to you..?"

    Kayn didn''t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze shifted between Apollo and the rest. Only then did he utter his answer, "If you''re to speak about talent; why don''t you all defeat him and show your worth?"

    In response, Axel trembled. From the start of his cultivation to now, he was doted upon by a majority of the Elders being bestowed the best of cultivation resources in the family. Yet, why did things take such a turn of events? Unbridled hatred appeared in his eyes as he looked at Kayn.

    That hate was then directed towards Apollo who stood face to face with him, silent, like thest moments of death when your body ceased to fall under your control. "It''s because of you! What qualities do you have that I don''t? What can you offer the family that I can''t?"

    "This doesn''t make any sense! I refuse to believe we have to sit here simply awaiting our deaths. No¡­ you''ll go to the same ce that your parents went," ending his words here, he threw an explosive punch at Apollo''s face. Although seemed as if Apollo didn''t react that wasn''t the case.

    Before the punchnded, Apollo blinked, executing a move of his own. Axel''s expression filled with shock, his widened eyes staring into Apollo. A pungent shade of trepidation welled in his eyes.

    His fist stopped right before Apollo''s face. His movements were sealed by the vice grip holding his neck.

    "You talk too much. The smallest dogs usually have the loudest bark."

    ''Bang!''

    No usage of Natural Essence, no special techniques, not even a shy move. The way in which Apollo dealt with Axel was simplicity as its finest¡ªhe smashed him into the ground!

    In light of this, Axel''s expression nked. He, a Zul Warrior, was forced to the ground in a helpless state without the use of Natural Essence? What madness was he living through right now?

    Rather than continuing with his actions, Apollo released his grip, "I guess you all don''t want the chance at living. If I kill him, you 4 will be easy pickings." A yful chuckle escaped Apollo''s lips causing the others to scowl.

    The roles had been reversed! The way they looked down upon and antagonized him in the past was the exact way he treated them now. This fact didn''t sit well with them in the slightest.

    "Oi! Oi! Where the fuck do you get off acting all haughty? If we were to team up, your death will be certain!" Ymir sneered, deep hatred followed by unconcealed fury shed in his eyes. "Axel, get up! Will you continue to let him trample upon us?"

    "Axel, get the fuck up!" Brendel roared, locking eyes with the thin and vindictive looking Ymir. Nefarious smirks were passed between them before shifting their position to Apollo''s sides.

    At the same time, Axel''s mind recovered rity. He made his decision, roaring his orders at the top of his lungs, "KILL! Everyone, kill him. It''s either him or us."

    In response, Apollo shook his head with tant disdain. However, within his eyes appeared excitement. Nothing would be more pleasurable than to destroy their futures while their hopes had been reignited.

 Chapter 94 - Suffering Defeat In The Worst Way

    ----

    A shift in their movements urred. Axel took Apollo''s front whereas the othernded on all of his sides. However, while this took ce, some of the elders frowned and nced in Kayn''s direction. They couldn''t ovee that one recurring thought¡ªwas this necessary? They felt there was insufficient reasoning behind this event. ??

    "Grand Elder, I understand that rules are rules. But they aren''t alive like these children. Certainly, they can be broken right?" Ashur once again pleaded to Kayn. However, it fell upon disregarding ears.

    Kayn denied that notion. "No, I would like to see what happens; his words are correct. This newfound confidence and source of power in Apollo intrigues me. I would like to see where his future lies. If ites at the sacrifice of a few youths who made his childhood a living hell, so be it. It''s a sacrifice I''m willing to make."

    Ashur remained exasperated by this answer. It was unthinkable. What caused these drastic changes in Kayn''s mindset? One word¡ªpower. In this world, power took precedence. By achieving the power prerequisite to obtaining higher status, one would be able to forgo the ties holding together one''s morals.

    Not to mention, Apollo''s promise did just that. The enticement it provided gave way to Kayn once again reigniting his passion for power. As a result, his grand aspirations were now held to a higher degree than the actual lives of those who were unable to breathe life into it.

    Not only did Ashur struggle to find the right words to rebut, but Saya was also triggered as well, offering her own attempt at persuasion, "G-Grand Elder...this is our younger generation we''re talking about. Our future! What about my son?"

    "It''s a tragic situation, however, what is to be¡ªwe''ll ovee it," Kayn replied. Meanwhile, his gaze never left the battle reaching its climax. Although no moves were made yet, the auras of Axel, Brendel, Erik, Klyde, and Ymir continued to climb.

    Their lives depended on it, therefore, they spared no efforts in preparing to end Apollo''s meager existence in their eyes. Be that as it may, Apollo''s aura didn''t fluctuate in the slightest. In fact, there was ack thereof.

    This was something that baffled even Azridan. What was he doing? It didn''t make sense, was he simply observing their actions? Theck of reaction prompted thebating youth''s to believe he thought himself to have entered a perilous situation resulting in a change in their expression.

    Oh, how wrong they were. Those thoughts were in direct opposition to Apollo''s current mindset.

    [Lad, why do you not react? Their auras are climbing. Each and every one of them is at least a Rank 1 Zul Warrior.]

    ''Don''t worry, I know what I''m doing. Don''t you think it''d be amusing to see when their reignited hopes to live are extinguished right before their very eyes? Robbed of the life they so desperately clung onto?''

    [You mean to say¡­]

    ''That is right. I''m not going to simply kill them. They''ll understand what indisputable might is before they die. As for injuries, hmph, I''d like to see them actually injure something they can''t touch.''

    [Maniacal! Are you telling me you''re going to mentally abuse them while physically destroying them? Allow me to witness such a scene! Do it immediately! Do not dawdle! Hurry up!]

    Clenching his fist, Apollo punched the ground causing destruction; cracks expanding beyond a 10-meter distance. The immediate change in situation baffled the children as the ground splintered. A cloud of dust distorted the view of the field. However, those of suitable cultivation were able to peer through it with ease.

    The five youths on the other hand became frantic. Apollo didn''t use Natural Essence so they couldn''t track his concealed presence. Unbeknownst to them, after performing this action Apollo hadn''t done anything else.

    "Why are you frightened? Confront me!" Apollo bellowednding an even stronger impact on the ground. This time, the 5 reacted and dashed toward the origin of his voice.

    Ymir being of the Wind Element, summoned arge gust of wind discing the dust exposing Apollo''s figure. Acting in ordance, Axel inhaled, his chest swelling with power. At the peak of his actions, he fired arge stream of fire at Apollopounded on Ymir''s previous action.

    In turn, Apollo smirked without moving, ''ying with fire before me? Laughable.'' His body devoured the essence, bing fuel due to him circting the Infernal Ira Stigmata pathways.

    Brendel mmed his hands on the ground summoning tworge bs of earth, seeking to smash together. Sadly, it didn''t take ce. Apollo stopped it by spreading his arms, freezing them in ce.

    "What?!" Brendel gawked. Never had he experienced someone overwhelm this technique with physical strength alone. ''What the hell is wrong with his physique?''

    ''Crack!'' ''Crack!'' ''Bang!''

    Apollo tightened his grip on the bs of stones until they crumbled to pieces, "Is this all you''re capable of? If so, your ends will be quick!"

    ''Fwoosh!'' ''Bang!''

    Apollo dashed toward the petrified Brendel. Whipping out his arm, hended an explosive punch on Brendel''s torso. A mouthful of blood fired from his mouth, sttering across the ground. Subsequently, Apollo grabbed Brendel''s wrist, swinging him through the air. Far from done, he gazed emotionlessly into the eyes of the others as he gripped his other wrist.

    cing his knee on Brendel''s back, Apollo both wrenched his arms as well as pulled them apart. Tears of agony welled in Brendel''s eyes.

    "E-eeaaggggggggghhh," shrill cries of excruciating pain filled the training ground. In fact, those around widened their eyes in horror. Audile popping and cracking noises were heard from Brendel''s arm sockets in the deathly silent atmosphere, "I-it hurrrtttttss! Agch¡­."

    ''Krrrrrk!''

    His screams stopped as his body fell forward, his pupils remaining in a daze. The ember of life quickly flowing from his eyes. A queasy feeling rose from the pit of the other''s stomachs.

    "T-this¡­.LET US OUT! STOP THIS!" Axel''s roars grew frantic. His eyes trembled as he looked at the limp arms hanging in Apollo''s hands in horror¡ªhis pale expression worsening by the second.

    An amused smirk appeared on Apollo''s face as he flung the arms aside. On the contrary, a profound glint entered Kayn''s gaze, ''Ruthless¡­''

    The five against one had now be a four against one, and Apollo''s eyes deepened with desire. Disappearing from the spot, when he reappeared his arm was thrust through Dylon''s chest clutching his heart. With a squeeze, he ruptured it.

    And so, four became three. At this point, they were so stricken with fear, they remained paralyzed bing easy pickings from Apollo. One by one he killed them until it was just him at Axel.

    Picking him up by the throat, Apollo gazed into his eyes witnessing the embers of hope peter out, "Do you bear regrets? If so, ruminate over them in the afterlife. Perhaps someday I''ll meet you there."

    "W-wait...Don''t.. Plea-"

    ''Splich!''

    Apollo pierced Axel''s throat with his hands cutting his words, short. His eyes rattled filled with both despair and unyielding emotions. He didn''t wish to die this way but he was helpless to change the fact of the matters.

    With a wave of his arm, Apollo separated Axel''s head from his body, forever dismembering him. However, looking back over his shoulder, Apollo met gazes with the horrified Ashur¡ªa malevolent smirk appearing.

    He raised Axel''s severed head. The expression of fear still apparent¡ªfresh for everyone to witness, "The one you doted upon and groomed into a hateful youth is no longer. But don''t fret, you''ll soon join him. I promise you." With those words, Apollo tightened his grasp, exploding the skull to bits.

    Ashur''s legs gave way as he fell to his butt, "N-No...NOOO!!!!" He howled in despair, he had just learned Axel was truly his son, and just like that, he had perished. It was a matter capable of turning one insane.

    Taking note of all this, Kayn waved his hand; the barrier vanishing as a result. The atmosphere continued harboring that dreadful silence Apollo''s actions gave birth to. Even Kayn remained so. From this moment forward¡­ the way they looked at Apollo would forever change. That timid child was no longer. What remained before them was a demon!

    "Ahem, everything is over. You may all return to your own devices. Let this serve as a lesson. May you all think of the consequences of your actions before youmit them," Kayn looked over everyone with a solemn gaze.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s attention remained on other things. Notifications appeared before him one by one, ''I thought I was unable to receive experience from killing¡­''

    [Hoh? You must remember, those aren''t beasts. There are bound to be loopholes. Not to mention¡­ did you forget about your conduct?]

 Chapter 95 - Ample Demonic Conduct

    ----

    "Ahem, wait a moment. It had momentarily slipped my mind but we have other matters to attend to. Before you all disperse, allow me to distribute Natural Blessings amongst you all," Kayn''s voice stopped everyone in their tracks. By now, everyone was aware of what the name Natural Blessing entailed. There was a chance of them instantly jumping the ranks of inner talent! ??

    With the mention of this, the earlier dreary atmosphere vanished. Rather than dwell on the death of others, the idea of them bing stronger overshadowed that trauma. As a result, light returned to the eyes of the youths who had just observed that harrowing scene.

    Meanwhile, Apollo stood in what seemed to be a daze to others. However, that wasn''t the case. Instead, he was looking at the stream of notifications appearing before him. First and foremost, the first few had something to do with the demonic conduct Azridan spoke of.

    ?System Alert! Your actions have increased your Demonic Conduct meter in the Path of Massacre. Stage Two has been reached. Experience from your kills has been allowed. Malicious humans serve as your source of power. Furthermore, Stage Multiplier increase to 1.8x.?

    ?System Alert! In ordance with reaching Stage Two, the assorted rewards have been awarded.?

    ?System Alert! You have received 1 Fragment of Sin and 10 Demonic Essence Pellets.?

    ?System Alert! 360,000 Experience has been received.?

    ''Hmm, if I''m not mistaken, the initial reward was 10,000 Experience. Meaning, the Experience rewarded from killing those 5 was at least 90,000 Experience. Was there a reason the value has skyrocketed so much?'' Apollo pondered to himself whilst numerous eyes fell on him.

    ''Perhaps the after-effects of the deeds he has justmitted are finally setting in.'' Danyul mused, observing Apollo''s nk state. Unbeknownst to him, Apollo was simply digesting the information that continued to appear.

    Aside from the Massacre Path, he had also advanced on the Path of Torture. After all, the anguish he subjected Brendel to and the despair he afflicted upon the other four was by no means small.

    ?System Alert! The Demonic Conduct meter in the Tortuous Path has reached Stage Two. As a result, the Stage Multiplier has reached 2.0x.?

    ?System Alert! You have been rewarded 3 Inferior Crystallized Chaos, 15 Demonic Essence Pellets and a Soulbound Demonic Companion Summoning Inscription.?

    ?System Alert! 120,000 Experience has been received.?

    ''Soulbound Demonic Companion Summoning Inscription? Another unfamiliar name.'' Apollo''s eyes shed with uncertainty. This was a term he had yet to hear about. Furthermore, all matters to do with the soul was a grey area for him. He wasn''t privy to much information about it. But from the name of this item, it seemed to be along the lines of some special opportunity.

    [Hmm? So you have alreadye in contact with it. Then perhaps it is time I tell you about it. What you hold now is something entirely different from the means you wille to possesster. Think of that archaic scroll as a way for you to choose apanion for yourself. A partner so to speak.]

    [However, I say this loosely. The partner you receive is not up to you. Instead, it''s up to thepanion on the other side. If they resonate with you, there''s a chance of you forming a Demonic Subservience Pact. If that is to happen, you''ll gain the ability to cultivate your ownpanion.]

    ''Hm? It''s not my decision? Then it''s left up to luck?'' Apollo rubbed his chin unsure if he was pleased by this. The fact he wasn''t able to choose apanion of his own ord was not to his liking. However, his discontent was aptly pleased.

    [No. Also, don''t go frowning thinking the matter is entirely out of your hands. This is not based on luck at all. On the contrary, it''s based on your innate abilities. There are two scenarios that can happen.]

    [One is a resonation with apanionplementing your strengths. Typically, this one may seem more practical but it''s not. Only if you reach the peak of your strengths does this type truly show it''s worth. However, again, that takes time and the benefits aren''t immediately shown. The second route is the one you should hope takes ce.]

    [It''s a resonation with apanion that contrasts your strengths. In other words, it''ll make up for your weaknesses. Although it''ll be an impromptu fix, it''s the more desirable route simply because you''ll be presented with more options for survival in the future. Of course, you must also take into ount potential.]

    ''I see. So what should I hope I get in the future?''

    [Honestly speaking, I have no idea. I''m incapable of establishing the best route for you because of the cultivation method I gave you. It covers the seven sins, each of which present their own weakness. However, that method was created for a reason, because all are listed, if you are to surpass my prior level then you wouldn''t need to worry about weakness. At that point, you''d be unfathomable.

    [But...if I had to choose, I''d say you''d need apanion capable of evolving alongside you. Not something that can be abandoned. Furthermore, when you form the connection try to make your desires clear. Some demonic beings are able to sense intentions. I''ll teach you a few workarounds when your spirit matures.]

    ''Capable of growth alongside me...Interesting.'' Apollo lifted his head, looking at the others. Kayn was distributing the aforementioned Natural Blessings. Aside from Aaron, 7 other youths who received the fruits were rather lucky to have been graced with them.

    In truth, had Apollo not killed those 5 earlier, there were Natural Blessings reserved for each one of them. As a result, the ones who received had two emotions present in their eyes¡ªfear and gratitude.

    They were thankful for the opportunity to reach a higher level seemingly able to grasp a better future. However, they also remained fearful of the one paving the way for this chance. It was a type of fear that bordered on the lines of veneration.

    Noticing these emotions in their eyes and the fruits in their hands, Apollo was reminded of something. ''I should have reached the requirements of using that Spirit Heart. His eyes shifted, changing the interface to the ones of his personal stats.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.2

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Demi-Demon (Half-Step) [92.04%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 14

    Level: 99

    Experience: 480,000/2,000,000.

    Health: 6,100/6,100

    Stamina: 6,100/6,100

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 9 Mortal [1,560/1,600+]

    Physique: Spirit-Grade (Top Tier)

    Zuls: 1,560

    Strength: 130.0

    Agility: 118.4

    Intelligence: 95.0

    Vitality: 122.0

    [?Traits?]-

    ?Increased Essence Affinity?

    ?Minor Poison Resistance?

    ?Tenacious Shadows?

    ?Sacrificial Vigor?

    ?Fiendish Force?

    ?Demonic Gait?

    [?Techniques?]-

    ?Supreme Demon Body: 7 Sinful Stigmata?

    ?Baleful Steps: Phantasmal Daemos?

    ?War Path: Nine Infernal Annihtions?

    Stat Points: 36

    For the first time, Apollo smiled. As he suspected, he had reached the state allowing him to move forward with his ns, ''Since the matters here are done, it''s time I seclude myself. If I''m not mistaken, I must attain the Zul Warrior Realm before academy trials begin. That''s the baseline for entry.''

    Sparing the rest a single fleeting nce, Apollo disappeared within the umbra of his shadow. A scene that caused many other youths who hadn''t formerly witnessed the movement to be paralyzed with awe.

    ''Who knew a shadow could be so enthralling,'' thought a girl as she stared at the dispersing shadows in the distance. She remained captivated by the scene even after the matter had passed.

    Arriving before the small pond once again, Apollo sat in solitude. He retrieved the Spirit Heart Core from his pouch. Even though he had reached the requirements, gazing at the core still offered a sense of rm.

    ''Hm, it seems I''m apprehensive of this core due to the fight that took ce with it. However, I will conquer it.''

    Unlike before, he didn''t ingest this core. For one, it was toorge to do so. Instead, he held it before the pit of his stomach and closed his eyes. It was a slow process this way, but threads of varying color seeped from the core into his pores circting throughout.

    Moreover, if one were to take a look inside, they would notice different sections of his meridians discoloring and adopting the color of the threads he was refining.

 Chapter 96 - News Of Premature Departure

    ----

    Amid the refinement of the Spirit Heart Core, the days passed continuously. Although the process was many times slower than typical cultivation, it was offering far greater benefits. Apollo''s body went through gradual but earth-shattering changes. The different elements contained within the core prompted different effects to take ce within his body. ??

    During the entire process, Apollo didn''t once move from his seated position. The state of his body was sustained by the Natural Essence slowing his bodily system; a sign of his cultivation base increasing anding in contact with the next state. Be that as it may, the Spirit Core was dulling at a faster rate than before.

    As his experience meter reached 50% full, he became limated to the cycle of absorbing the energy. Hence, the increase in speed. Additionally, his body began autonomous absorption of the ambient Natural Essence, converting it to the infant Hellfire internally.

    Apollo''s eyelids trembled for a moment and then opened. The Spirit Heart hadn''t beenpletely absorbed but there was an interruption¡ªKayn had appeared before him purposely ring his aura to awaken Apollo.

    "What is it?" Apollo tilted his head upwards gazing at Kayn with curiosity as well as discontent. Needless to say, he didn''t appreciate being interrupted. Much less when he wasing in contact with a crucial barrier.

    "We''ll be gathering and leaving shortly after. You''ll have about a day to prepare yourself." Kayn informed Apollo. Above their heads, the luminescence of the sky dimmed symbolizing the day nearing its end. In response to this information, Apollo''s curiosity deepened.

    "Already? Is there not 6 months before the academy trials begin? Why are we leaving so soon?" Apollo tilted his head in confusion. How long would the journey be for them to have to leave so soon? While he understood the world was vast, such a long time should be substantial enough to scour the entire world.

    "6 months? How long have you been in this state? There''s only 3 months remaining until the start of the trials. As for the reason we''re leaving so soon, that''s simple; the journey itself will take 2 and a half months. This includes some of my owns ns but mostly due to the fact the trials don''t take ce in this domain. Instead, it takes ce onmon ground."

    ''It has been 3 months? That''s odd¡­ It felt as if it was a couple of days. Have I be so oblivious to time? I''m not sure if I should be pleased with this or not. While entering a state detached from the world allows me to cultivate unabated, if too much time passes situations could arise in the future.''

    "The trial will take ce in the center of the 4 continents, at the area where all of them join. In our current position, we exist on the farthest west side. This reason being why we must depart early," Kayn responded. Crossing his arms behind his back, he examined Apollo''s current conditions curious as to why he couldn''t discern what they were.

    While he could ascertain he had yet to enter the Zul Warrior Realm, he couldn''t determine whether or not he was close. "How far are you from awakening your dantian?"

    Apollo remained quiet for a moment. While doing so he checked the current contents of his experience bar.

    ?Experience: 1,743,560/2,000,000.?

    ''Hmm, 3 months has passed but there is still a small gap in the experience. Why does it seem like the absorption rate doesn''t add up? It''s as if a part of the experience is being directed elsewhere.''

    While Kayn chalked this pause up to him determining his internal state, he awaited the answer. Soon enough, their gazes met and Apollo gave him an answer. "I should be fairly close. If I wasn''t interrupted before it would have taken no more than a few days at most."

    "Hmm, I see. Very well. We depart tomorrow. This time around there are 10 of you participating in the trials. Continue with your actions but don''t get too enthralled with it. We''ll have to leave punctually," Kayn paused and nodded to Apollo before walking away. His leisure pace seemed to cross arge distance with small steps.

    ''My momentum has already been disrupted. Rather than continuing, let''s get another matter out of the way.'' Apollo retrieved numerous Demonic Essence Pellets from his spatial couch. With all the achievements he had aplished and tasks he hadpleted, he possessed a ratherrge collection of them.

    It was time toplete another matter he would eventuallye in contact with¡ªentering the realm of the Lessers. In other words, bing a Lesser Demon. One after another, he consumed the pellets as if he was inhaling them.

    Now that his meter had breached the 90th percentile its increase was akin to a snail''s pace with each pellet consumed. In fact, as he watched the meter grow he feared he didn''t possess enough Demonic Essence Pellets to finalize the evolution. It was a matter put off long enough, therefore, he hoped this was not the case.

    ?Racial Evolution Meter: 94.85%?

    ?Racial Evolution Meter: 95.35%?

    ?Racial Evolution Meter: 98.17%?

    As the remainder of the pellets thinned, the increase slowed to a negligible rate. In light of this, Apollo threw caution to the wind, shoveling them into his mouth en masse. At this point, a single pellet was only capable of offering a less than a .10% increase; it was an infuriating experience.

    ?Racial Evolution Meter: 99.02%?

    "I''ll have to ce my hopes in you, don''t fail me!" Apollo closed his eyes stowing thest of his faith into the 2 handfuls of Demonic Essence Pellets in his grasp¡ªthest of his repertoire.

    Apollo threw his head back and swallowed the pellets. The essence flowed through him in a rushing stream. Immediately after, a torrential destructive aura billowed forth from every orifice in his body. The rhythmic thumping of his heart thrummed with vigor.

    At the same time, at the sacrifice of every pellet in his possession he had aplished it¡ªthe notification he was awaiting appeared, appeasing his taut nerves. However, a string of messages appeared alongside it raising vital questions.

    ?System Alert! ?Racial Evolution Meter: 100%?! Evolution is now a possibility.?

    ?System Alert! Stage of Demonic Conduct has reached the baseline for evolution.?

    ?System Alert! All stats have surpassed 100.0. The baseline requirement for your physique has been met.?

    ?System Alert! All conditions to facilitate evolution into a Lesser Demon has been met.?

    ?System Alert! Take precaution, nowmencingprehensive race change.?

    ''Conditions? I was never told about this? Does that mean if I didn''t perform those prior actions I would have never been able to evolve?'' The notifications prompted Apollo to dissect the information given. The more he thought about it, the more he felt it to be the case. If not, why would the system mention it to him?

    [That''s partly correct. All of your actions were necessary, however, as a demon walking the initial path of wrath, you must learn to approach hatred and malice with the matching behavior. Hence, you needed to advance upon the Demonic Conduct. As for your physique, I''ve told you, a demon possesses a physique that is not to be underestimated.]

    [The same can be said for bing one. In the event that your capabilities weren''t up to par, in simplest terms, you''d die. Your body would implode due to it being incapable of sustaining the new functions. Nevertheless, you''ll be privy to what I mean in a moment. I''ll be here when you awake. Heh heh heh.]

    "Why the ominous chuckle? I don''t like the sound of i- Eurghhhh¡­." Apollo''s eyes rolled back in pain as the scene from before repeated just of arger magnitude. Within seconds, he lost his supetive control of his body entering a brief world of pain before losing consciousness.

    Large changes began taking ce to both his interface as well as his body itself. When he would, what was to wee him would forever shock him.

 Chapter 97 - Entering The Lessers

    ----

    The sky darkened and then once again returned with the luminance brought about by the day''s radiant sun. Standing under this ubiquitous heat, youths gathered in the courtyard of the Kaisers in preparation for their departures. One by one they approached. However, as they gathered, there was no sign of Apollo. ??

    Furrowing his brow, Kayn looked into the distance, "I have told thatd we are departing today and not to get too caught up in cultivation. If he dys any longer, there is a chance of us missing the deadline and that is uneptable."

    Turning towards the Grand Elder, Aaron coughed, "I''ll go fetch him. Don''t fret Grand Elder. I''ll return shortly with him."

    In return, Grand Elder Kayn nodded, "Very well. Lucky for him, we don''t have to leave at this exact moment. Fetch him before the bell tolls." After stating his piece, he turned towards the 8 other youths beside him. Excluding Lily and Aaron, there were 7 other youths who were priorly unknown.

    As their talent was "artificially" created, they weren''t the previous focus of the family¡ªsave one; a youthful girl named Xineen. Her features were vibrant especially her crystalline blue eyes that seemed to carry an ever-present curious gleam. She was the 4th most talented youth of this generation based on the past assessment.

    Nevertheless, even though they were created with the use of Natural Blessings, they weren''t at a disadvantage to those of simr talents. This was the beauty and reason those items were so sought after; they rectified all issues present from artificial creation. This was especially true for those which have reached a mature state.

    Rushing off from the courtyard, Aaron closed in on Apollo''s small courtyard with a worried expression, ''I hope I''m not interrupting a crucial moment in his cultivation. From what I remember, he was infinitesimally close to reaching this realm. If so, there could be dire effects if my worries are to be true.''

    Soon enough, he reached Apollo''s front door. However, rather than the calm nature birthed by the state of cultivation, Aaron felt an odd feeling. ''What is this eerie silence and unsettling sensation creeping through my body? Something''s wrong!''

    Aaron''s eye widened with fright as he burst through the doors without a second thought. However, what he saw confounded him. To put it in simple terms, he didn''t understand what he was looking at. He had a feeling it was Apollo he was looking at as he wore those ck and crimson robes but then again he wasn''t sure.

    Although clues pointed to it be Apollo, at the same time, it also felt like something else entirely. He didn''t know how to describe it. However, if he were to put it in a simple word then the only one that fit the description was...demonic.

    Apollo''s eyes burst open as he sprang to his feet except he underestimated the amount of power he put into his feet and jumped over 10 meters into the air. One must take note, the tap he performed seemed no different than one executed to do a small backstep.

    Airborne, Apollo''s widened eyes in disbelief. ''W-what is this power?'' Looking down at his hands, he was surprised to find they were nearly twice asrge whenpared to their prior state. Moreover, his nails appeared metallic and exceedingly sharp.

    Rubbing them against each other, sparks flew. A short momentter, hended before the tiny pond leaning over it. He took in the sight of his new appearance. It was shocking, to say the least. His previous violet eyes possessed a tint of crimson ovepped on top of it.

    The most apparent feature was two horns the size of a finger jutting out from his forehead. Additionally, his physique swelled over twice what it was. That wasn''t all, his previous ck hair shifted to a burnt silver color and reached beyond his waist.

    If this is what it meant to be a demon, he was shocked. How would he appear in public with this state?

    ''Azridan, what''s going on?''

    [You have be a Lesser Demon. I know you must have questions about your current appearance. However, I can''t answer them yet save one; your current state isn''t permanent. In three minutes, you''ll revert to your previous state. The reasoning being theck of Demonic Anima in the air. As such, it can''t sustain your state. You''ll have to learn the abilities to allow that.]

    ''Ah¡­ Demonic Anima? What is that?''

    [The leading resource a Demon uses to power themselves. Of course, this is for those who have yet to encounter a Sin to draw power from. Needless to say, you fall into this current category.]

    Just like Azridan said, Apollo''s transformation receded albeit slowly. His physique shrunk returning back to his old one. Although that may be true, not entirely. If one were to look closer, they''d realize a tinge of bronze on Apollo''s skin as well as an increase in muscrity.

    Throughout all of this, Aaron stared at the unraveling events incredulously. He couldn''t believe his eyes. These events gave rise to even more questions in his mind, ''W-what is going on? Is this really Apollo before me? What was that state? He looked like a monster!''

    Only when the transformation settled did Apollo turn around taking notice of Aaron standing there wordlessly. A small frown appeared on his face. What he didn''t want to happen, happened. He wasn''t sure how to exin these events to him.

    His mouth opened yet words didn''te out. ''Azridan¡­ how do I handle this situation? I wasn''t expecting the change to take so long. It appears he hase looking for me due to the departure.''

    Apollo looked at the state of the sky making his assumption. When he had begun evolution, the sky wasn''t bright and was instead darkening symbolizing the iing night. Hence, this process had taken a night toplete.

    [Don''t fret. I don''t sense any intent to disclose informationing from him. However, to be sure¡­]

    Aaron''s eyes glowed violet, the same color as Apollo. He felt as if he had lost control of his body for a moment; his world bing nk. Luckily, this was only for an instant, as Aaron''s sight returned soon after. But as it did, he felt something irregr about himself but couldn''t pin his finger on it.

    ''What did you do to him?'' Apollo questioned in a wary tone. He didn''t want anything untoward Aaron happening.

    [It''s better if I don''t disclose it. This is for both yours as well as his sakes. In the future though, when you''re stronger, you''ll be able to immediately sense what I have done. At that point, it should be safe to take matters into your own hands.]

    ''Okay¡­ as long as he doesn''te in contact with any danger originating from me, then I won''t harbor any anger towards whatever you''ve done,'' Apollo responded.

    "A-Apollo¡­ I know this may be your secret, but what was that earlier? It didn''t look human. Are you¡­ still human?" Aaron fired a stream of questions birthed by his piqued interest as well as immense worry. He thought Apollo to be in some type of trouble.

    Although he wanted to answer, be Apollo could, two notifications appeared stripping his attention away from the situation.

    ?System Alert! You have evolved into an iplete Lesser Demon. Your harnessed Sin is not found. WARNING: Until you have harnessed one, you will be determined an iplete Lesser Demon. Your form will revert in 100 days if one doesn''t form their Sin stigmata.?

    ?System Alert! Reversal of evolution will result in one''s lifespan being reduced to 3 years. In other words, your death wille at 18.?

    ''My death... Why is bing a demonced with such extreme stiptions? While the power it offers is immense, so are the dangers. I guess this is what one calls equivalent exchange.'' Apollo was left ruminating over the matters at hand.

    "Apollo?" Aaron muttered, snapping his fingers before the dazed Apollo.

    "Oh! In short, I''m not. Will you keep this secret from everyone? Even I am unaware just what I am," Apollo didn''t beg, however, he looked into Aaron''s eyes with an imploring gaze. Moreover, there also seemed to be fear present within his eyes. It was just unknown what the fear was directed towards.

    "I''ll keep your secret. Do you really think I''ll do something like that to put you in harm''s way. But¡­ we have to go now! The Grand Elder is awaiting our arrival," Aaron nodded, assuring Apollo. Immediately after, he gestured for Apollo to follow along.

    The two then ventured towards the estate gates unknowing that their destinies from this point forward would be nothing short of a tragedy.

    ----

    "There you are. We must depart now. You can continue to cultivate on the journey," Kayn stated as he pressed his hands on the estate gate. On the other hand, there was a new face on the journey smiling at Apollo.

 Chapter 98 - In Preparation For The Unknown

    ----

    "Are you ready for your first steps into the future?" Cynthia asked both Apollo and Aaron, cing her hand on their cheeks. Her loving and reassuring gaze settled the turbulent emotions seething within them from the prior spectacle. Releasing small sighs of relief, they both nodded. ??

    "Yes. I look forward to seeing what this wide world has to offer," Apollo answered. His eyes turned towards the distance. He wondered what beasts resided out there stronger than the Wyvern.

    "We are heading into unknown waters but¡­ the thought of that excites me," Aaron smiled with a fiery intent circting in his eyes. One could never forgo the excitement that came with journeying into the unknown. Although he wasn''t the strongest out there, that didn''t stop his desire to seek the hidden.

    Apollo nced to his side, taking in the emotions evident in Aaron''s eyes. ''It feels as if something about him has gone through a faint change. Is this the aftereffect of what you have done?''

    [Yes and no. It is partly due to that being his innate nature. It has just been more thoroughly brought out. He is showcasing signs of his own path. Perhaps my actions have influenced this slightly, but it is all histent abilities.]

    [You must remember. Just because your potential was determined before doesn''t mean that is your true potential. There is a myriad of factors thate into y when your true talent is determined. In fact, soon enough you should be aware of that.]

    ''Hmm? Are you saying there are more talents than just the inner physique?'' Apollo questioned, his eyes shining with zealous interest. So much so, small wisps exuded from his eyes, piercing space except he wasn''t aware of this.

    Nearly all beast within the Shadowy Forest arge distance away shuddered and cowered in fear. It felt as if something was suppressing them at the primal level. It was to the point where they imagined if they didn''t cower like so, they would cease to exist.

    [Hoh? Those eyes are activating already? Perhaps you have another infant Sinced within your body. There is Wrath and perhaps...Pride? How interesting, when those two mix¡ªutter destruction ensues; to both one''s self and others.]

    ''Huh? Pride? I don''t think I''m prideful at all. Why do you say that?'' Apollo became pensive at Azridan''s words. At the same time, their departure began; Kayn interrupting with his own directions.

    "We''ll be heading to the end of Verdacre and then we''ll journey to the capital of the Zephus Domain¡ªthe Astarte Province. Remember, when there, keep your heads down. There will be a slew of powerful cultivators as well as privileged children. One misstep and that could be your future as you know!" Kayn warned, looking over the small group of youths with a dire gaze.

    Ultimately, his gaze fell and stayed on Apollo for a timerger than everyone else as a collective, "Especially you, Apollo. You must learn to receive disdain and not react. You must alter that hotheadedness of yours. Learn how to bide your time."

    Apollo clicked his tongue in response, retorting, "I know how to control myself. I just knew my worth against those other 5. They were useless and so I got rid of them. If you were to learn of my experiences, you''de to realize, I am not one who is so simple."

    Apollo smiled coldly as he recounted the massacre of id, Vren, and Krone. He was unable to kill them on his own, hence, he plotted and wore down their strengths to an eptable level before making his own move.

    "Very well. This is just my warning. It''d be a shame if my dream wasn''t realized due to your adolescent emotions," Kayn added with a small nod. Afterward, the journey fell silent but only for a short moment.

    "I have a question; why must we venture to the end of the Zephus Domain first? Is there something there we need?" Apollo asked shifting his gaze between Cynthia and Kayn.

    "Yes. That''s where all those who wish to partake in the selection trial must convene. From there, we''ll journey in flying ships pulled by tamed, flying spirit beasts. Something capable only by those who have started Spirit Cultivation," Kayn answered with a in tone.

    Within his eyes was an obscure emotion. It seemed as if he wished to be of those¡ªthe ones who had transferred upon the road of Spirit Cultivation. Regrettably, this was a path seeming to be forever sealed towards him. He didn''t possess the requirement to begin it.

    Apollo''s eyes widened in surprise. Once again, Spirit Cultivation, something he knew nothing about, was being mentioned. "Ah. Does that mean all small noble families are incapable of taming Spirit Beasts?"

    "Not necessarily. Oftentimes, a progeny of a small noble family may return from their academy and gift their respective families some of those beasts. Your father had once done so but it is a shame they died in battle with him," Kayn sighed; one filled with mncholy. His heart wasn''t stale; it was simply overshadowed by his aspirations.

    "Hm, why isn''t Spirit Cultivation a requirement to enter the academies?" Apollo tapped his foot rushing to the front, standing side by side with Kayn. He was a sponge seeking to soak up further knowledge about the way of this world. One could never have too much knowledge.

    "That''s a simple matter. It creates the facade of fairness. After all, if the whole world were to turn on the academies and families, how would the human race continue? Hence, they create the illusion that it isn''t needed to join. Based on what past family members have disclosed, this isn''t true.

    "It ys an extremelyrge role. Matter of fact, a single section of the test is delegated to this matter. While you don''t need to possess a cultivation in it, it is mandatory for you to possess the potential for you to be admitted," Kayn answered before falling into a contemtive state.

    Meanwhile, the scenery changed rapidly. Transversing the distance was a simple matter for him, however, it wasn''t long before the youths behind him started to pant.

    "It seems we must take our first break. This is why I urged us to leave early, the journey is not small," Kayn said,ing to a full stop.

    Unlike the others, however, Apollo felt not a shred of exhaustion. On the contrary, he felt exuberant. As if the movement had woken up every cell in his body. Be that as it may, he still sat in silence, contemting the knowledge gained from Kayn.

    ''If one is found to be unable to begin Spirit Cultivation, without a doubt they''ll be turned away. That way, it doesn''t seem as if the academies are turning away those of lower birth. Moreover, this is done under the guise of this training being for the human race. What a shrewd way of selecting,'' Apollo chuckled to himself.

    At the same time,rge movements was heard in the distance. After a short time, another group of people arrived before the Kaisers. In an instant, a shing aura of enmity was birthed.

    "Hoh?! Lookie here, it''s the Kaiser rats once again. Hmm? Are these all the talents you have capable of taking part in the selection trials? Laughable. With each generation, your standings decay. It''s truly a shame old vermin Kayn," an opposing aged voice chuckled.

    Appearing before them, an old man still possessing a bulky build dressing in white robes appeared apanied by a group of 25 youths and a few other elders. Two of which earned Cynthia''s disgust.

    Opening his eyes, Kayn gazed at the man, "Oh? I haven''t seen the silly Abram in quite a few years. I''ve believed you to be dead. A bear has finally learned how toe out of hibernation."

    His words earned the chuckles of the Kaiser Family''s youths. In return, Abram clicked his tongue and sneered. It seemed Kayn still possessed his sharp tongue. Meanwhile, Myrin and Kryste walked to the front whispering in Abram''s ear.

    "Oh?! This boy is Abaddon''s son? Interesting, he possesses a personality identical to his father despite not knowing him? It seems fate is a funny thing," Abram snickered, turning his head toward the indifferent Apollo.

    Kayn''s eyes narrowed as he confronted them. "What are your intentions? Don''t force this old man to loosen his muscles." His aura began leaking from his physique stifling the air.

    In response, Abram did the same just it wasn''t as intense inparison. It seemed he had still yet to catch up to Kayn''s cultivation base. Be that as it may, there still remained more numbers on their side. If a battle truly broke out, the oue was unable to be determined.

    ''Hoh? Am I going to get to test out my current strength?'' Apollo thought to himself, rising to his feet or so he thought. Kayn''s stuck out his hand stopping his movement without sparing him a nce.

 Chapter 99 - Misconstrued Words

    ----

    The hostile atmosphere between the two families reached a peak, soon after,ing to a standstill. However, even then, the potent animosity was still prevalent. Kayn''s aged eyes zed with a calm yet imposing glint, exuded a feeling reminiscent to the calm before the storm. Noticing the difference in their aura, Abram clicked his tongue in annoyance. ??

    "Tch, thest of the Kaiser''s legacy is nothing but a cockroach; hard to kill yet never actually dishing out damage. Bah, what a passive-aggressive freak you are," Abram scoffed as he retracted his aura. In response, Kayn did the same.

    "It''s surprising, for a burly bear to make a smart decision that is. Why cut off the route to ascension for your family over insignificant grudges? I don''t need to say it but you know the oue would have been undesirable for both sides," Kayn chuckled, shifting his gaze to the collection of people behind Abram.

    His gaze stagnated on Myrin and Kryste for some time, "You two, you bear a grudge of differing emotions for this young boy, yes?" Kayn pointed towards Apollo. He could feel the emotions swarming in their eyes. Needless to say, the source of their unstable mind states was the youth next to him.

    Based on what he was told, Apollo had nearly yed them like a fiddle. It was a known fact, all cultivators possessed some type of pride. As such, it was safe to say they didn''t appreciate being strung along¡ªby a cultivator much weaker than them no less.

    Of course, this only rang true for Myrin. As for Kryste, she had entirely different thoughts flowing through her mind. Some of which were rather disturbing. After all, Apollo was still an adolescent. Granted, the age of maturity began at 15, hence, it wasn''t an odd sight to find this situation taking ce in grander origins.

    ''Why does he look so much more delicious? And those eyes¡­ they feel like they''re skinning me alive. I love this cold, callous expression this youth has,'' Kryste shuddered at her thoughts with a euphoric expression. Regrettably, her actions were thwarted.

    "Oi! Act like a youngdy. Would you like to be punished? I can feel your illicit thoughts from here," Abram barked, sparing Kryste a dangerous look; one that made her instantly straighten up.

    "As for you old rat, you''re right. It''s in our best interest not toe into conflict¡ªfor now, that is. Sooner orter, our ounts will be settled. The Shaanti will ultimately triumph over you Kaisers. This is inevitable; just sit back and wee it," Abram chuckled, guiding the other Shaanti some distance away.

    However, Kryste as well as a young female looked back at Apollo as she muttered into her ear, "That boy is your target, Violeta. It would please aunty immensely for you to bend that little boy to your will, okay?"

    Violeta blinked her dark ck eyes in silence for a moment. She was inspecting Apollo''s qualities to ascertain whether or not this boy could possibly possess the means to be her toy. After all, in the Shaanti Family, she possessed a special standing.

    After a short deliberation, she rocked her head back and forth,ing to her conclusion. "Okay. What would you like me to do, I''m sure you''ll want to taste him first, right? But before that aunty, what will you give me in return?" A cunning gleam shed through Violeta''s eyes.

    "Hmph! I should''ve known. Being my little niece, you''ve grown crafty. I''ll give you my Carnal Eyes of Bewitchment Art, is that enough to satisfy you? As you know, this is my famed technique. Outside of me, no one else has been able to train their lust to my degree."

    For a moment, Violeta remained skeptical, her pale blue hair swaying in the wind. "Hm, I''ve heard of that technique. It''s close to being simr to practices of the Spirit Cultivation but not entirely. Instead, it clings to the lust of the opponent as uses it as a means to immobilize or even control them for a short while. However, it also has rge drawback."

    "Yes, it does! It requires you to use your own lust as fuel. In other words, if you aren''t scious enough you can never truly take this technique to the pinnacle," Kryste nodded in admittance before continuing, "But you must remember, this is only true if your mastery is low; emotions are a mystical thing. You can nevere to underestimate them."

    "Hm, now you make this sound more interesting. This will be easy for me then; after all, there are many things I lust after. Okay Aunty, I''ll take this deal. It''s just a little boy anyway, I feel like I''vee out on top in this deal," Violeta said nonchntly as she turned back towards Apollo once again. Doing so, she tapped her finger against her lip in thought.

    After some time, the Shaanti settled down for their rest as well. Meanwhile, Apollo remained oblivious to the urrences that just took ce. Instead, he fell into a state of cultivation once again. He had this feeling that getting past that small threshold would take more than he would have liked.

    As a result, he increased his efforts to cultivate. Unfortunately, he was disrupted once again not even two hourster¡ªKayn alerting him of it being time to continue their journey.

    Although they continued their journey, Cynthia''s face remained sour. They were traveling alongside the Shaanti! Furthermore, Kryste was right next to her. It took every ounce of willpower vested in her being to resist pping the fuck out that repugnant face. Especially with the looks she kept giving Apollo.

    [Lad, it looks like that woman desires you. Do you wish to conquer her? You can make her yield before your magnificence.]

    ''No thank you. She isn''t attractive to me,'' Apollo immediately rejected the idea. Something about her turned him off from her. Although her features weren''t bad, everytime heid eyes on her, he had to repress the urge to kill her. He didn''t understand why this was the case.

    Although he felt this way, Azridan''s next words baffled Apollo. Additionally, he didn''t understand why he felt a change in Azridan''s attitude as if he was bing... rtable and talkative.

    [Your mindset is young. On my journey, I had conquered many. Any and all who confronted me with the intentions of besting me was dealt with¡ªmale and female alike!]

    Apollo sputtered, causing everyone to turn towards him. In turn, he looked at them with a deadpan expression regaining his prior demeanor. Shaking their head, they dismissed the earlier noise and turned around. Apollo, on the other hand, was nearing an emotional crisis.

    ''Did you just say...you conquered men?'' Apollo asked, nearly slipping up on his facade. He truly hoped he was misconstruing those earlier words.

    [Abominable! Are you asking me if I bedded men? When I say conquered, I mean in two different contexts you damned youth! All male groveled at my feet begging me to stop whereas the women begged for more!]

    Once again, Apollo choked. This time, however, was louder than thest. This prompted Aaron''s immediate concern.

    "Apollo, are you choking on air? What''s gotten into you? Is something the matter?"

    "I''m fine. Don''t worry about it. Perhaps I was too deep into thought," Apollo responded, quelling the questions. However, Kayn silently observed him. He didn''t find anything out of the ordinary except one thing¡ªhe couldn''t discern his inner state anymore!

    ''Has something happened to his body? Is he experiencing a negative condition? Did he perhaps lie to me earlier when he said he didn''t utilize a sacrificial technique? If so, there''s only one way to find out.'' Kayn thought to himself, turning his gaze towards the distance, a profound light shining within.

    [Lad! Are you once again desecrating my words? Allow me to rify! All those who opposed were destroyed never to stand again!]

    ''Oh god! Azridan please stop! I understand what you''re trying to say. Shut up already!'' Apollo pleaded. He couldn''t take it anymore; all of Azridan''s words could be interpreted in another way. Although, it was all due to Apollo''s imagination.

    [Tch, just wait until you enter the demon world. You shall experience all kinds of temptations. Let''s see just how steely your will is then.]

    Amid Apollo''s emotional turmoil, Kayn once again ordered a stop except this time, they were already at the farthest border of Verdacre. Beyond was unchartednds Apollo had yet toe across.

    "Are there no other cities from here to the Zephus Province?" Apollo questioned.

    "Nope. At least, not the direction we''re taking. There''s no time for the scenic route. What rests between us and our destination is an expanse of barrennd inhabited by nearly berserk creatures. Hence, this will be additional training for all of you."

 Chapter 100 - Tempering Before The Determining Event

    ----

    After traveling for what seemed like weeks on end, Apollo and the others finally came in contact with the berserk beasts Kayn mentioned priorly. ??

    They were simr to regr animals¡ªboars, tigers, vultures, etc. However, the distinguishing features they all possessed were frenzied aurae, bloodied eyes, and crazed hides standing on end.

    Furthermore, their existence exuded a dangerous feeling. Unlike that of a Spirit Beast, these beasts gave off a maniacal vibe¡ªcynical at its core. This was, of course, a product of their environment.

    They were affected by the maddening blythe of the Terrors; this area was too close to in proximity to that forbidden domain. The unsightly aura spilled from the borders, resulting in the mutations before them.

    Dissimr to humans, Spirit Beasts possessed variant internal systems. Simply put, they were internally stronger than humans at the same stage. Hence, they possessed the ability to counteract the blythe albeit barely. This was only true when it retrospect to a Terror near their own level. If the difference in capabilities was far toorge, their meager immunity was rendered useless.

    Nevertheless, Kayn urged all the youths to prepare themselves. "These types of beasts are issues you will run into frequently. Due to their state, they have been dubbed Demonic Beasts. Don''t mistake them for typical Spirit Beasts; their capabilities have been slightly bolstered."

    "Hm, if that''s the case. Why have we taken this route?" Lily asked with a skeptical gaze. Based on Kayn''s warning, this seemed like an extremely dangerous route.

    "Well, that''s simple. Most of you have yet to develop battle instincts. We have focused on raising your cultivation but in the process, we have neglected the tempering of your battle intent. You must know, when you get into an academy, it''ll be a daily struggle from there on out," Kayn warned in a grim tone.

    Apparently, their previous thoughts about the War Academies were wrong. They expected it to be like a stronger family, however, this was far from the truth. First and foremost, it was the frontline for producing "soldiers" for this world''s army. Even the foot soldiers needed to be up to a certain standard.

    As a consequence, the entire atmosphere of the academies was based aroundpetition. Everything relied upon your ability to im it. This was true for all matters including resources, housing, andpleting tasks to ensure graduation. This was another reason for the low graduation rate¡ªthey were only looking for the elite. Of course, there existed an underlying reason but it was never disclosed to the outside.

    "So to make up for that. You''ll be throwing them into dire battle?" Apollo stepped next to Kayn with a meaningful look. In truth, he agreed with this way of training. It was only when one experienced true overwhelming odds and sought to survive would their unbirth potential appear.

    "Correct. All Demonic Beast will be left up to you all to deal with. My hands are tied. Oh, you also have the choice to sit out if you would like. After all, you y an aberrant role." Kayn said with a faint smile.

    Apollo nodded and remained seated next to Kayn. Instead of battling, he''d continued cultivating. His control of his battle intent and abilities eclipsed that of the other youths. All that remained was for him to y catch up in terms of cultivation attainments.

    Aaron looked at Apollo with small amounts of envy. He wished he was in his position, able to sit out on this endeavor. The Demonic Beasts before them numbered above 50. That meant each of them needed to deal with at least 5 of these beasts. The only remaining question was whether or not their essence reserves were sufficient.

    Aaron ced his hand at his waist. Unlike the other time, he possessed a real sword¡ªnot some wooden toy. It was gifted to him from Kayn. In fact, all present youths were allowed to im one weapon from the treasury. Needless to say, each and every one of them possessed at least a Rank 2 Weapon Artifact.

    Unsheathing the sword, Aaron exhaled, calming himself. He thought back to the earlier mock battles with Apollo. He had already felt what bloodthirst was like. In a sense, he understood the aura leaking from these beasts. In light of this, he wasn''t as tense as the other youths.

    He spared Lily a smiling nce, "Let''s team up again."

    "I was waiting for you to ask that," Lily replied unsheathing her own sword. It was faint but there was a different type of intent flowing in her eyes. This made Kayn raise his eyebrows in delight.

    ''It seems my offsprings this generation are aplenty. Not only is there Apollo, but both Lily and Aaron also show signs of creating their own intents. It''s just unable to be determined¡ªexactly what path will they take?''

    Usually, intent took on all of your strongest qualities and melded them as one. With that, something stronger and unique to you would be born. Even if one was a sword cultivator, the sword intent you developed was never the same as another''s. After all, every person was unique.

    Aaron approached a boar-type Demonic Beast with cautious yet unfaltering steps. In return, the beast''s eyes gleamed with a ferocious light. It charged toward him, to which he sidestepped. He struck his sword¡ªa simple straightforward strike yet it was aimed at the beast''s vital.

    It was a clean sh opening arge gash. Afterward, Aaron followed up with a spin. Due to the battles engraved within him, he was extremely focused. Even the most minute movements of the beasts were picked up by him. The sharp glint in his eyes was strengthening as well.

    The silver aura prerequisite to the Quicksilver Sword Forms coated his de. Three quick shes were dealt amid his dodging of the overgrown tusks of the boar. Stunting his cultivation, Apollo opened an eye spectating the battle. In light of Aaron''s honed movements, he nodded.

    ''He isn''t making much mistakes anymore. Moreover, those useless movements he used to make are nonexistent now. I''m proud of his growth but he can still go further. If I remember what I read correctly, sword cultivators are famed for their unrelenting offense. He has yet to develop that.'' Apollo thought to himself.

    "It seems your training has paid off." Kaynmented on the battle with praiseced within his tone. Apollo raised his eyebrow in bewilderment.

    "You saw our battles?"

    "Well of course. How can I be the Grand Elder if I''m not privy to all matters taking ce on the family ground?" Kayn released a small chuckle. However, Apollo felt there was more to it.

    "If that''s the case, you should be aware of all the events that took ce in the past, no? Why did you allow them to happen then?" Apollo asked, his eyes shing with interest.

    "Hm, I have no answer for that. I guess it was up to fate to determine how things yed out. Do you believe in fate? What would have been yours if I allowed you to live a life free of ostracisation? Do you believe my actions would have resulted in you suffering a different fate?" Kayn asked in a solemn yet light tone. He didn''t understand it, but he felt his decision was right.

    [His words aren''t incorrect. I don''t recall the reason why but it seems you fulfilled the qualities to be "chosen". Perhaps if that was never the case, you wouldn''t havee in contact with me. He isn''t wrong, fate and destiny are elusive concepts but they do exist. We just don''t know why or even, who or maybe what controls it.]

    "I see. Well, it''s in the past. I have bigger things in my vision than to dwell on this matter," Apollo responded to Kayn. His gaze fell upon the ensuing battle, all traces of his prior interest vanishing. All the youths struggled to handle the Demonic Beast attacking in groups. It continued this way until they started to seek aid from one another.

    Crackles of lightning shot from one of the youths'' hands as metal threadscerated the body of the beast''s body. Aaron spared some attention to help the others. Luckily, he gained benefits of his own; he was understanding the intricacies of tweaking his essence output.

    Soon enough, the battle was over without Apollo even lifting a finger. However, that couldn''t be said about the others. Their auras were thin and their countenances pale.

    "This will take ce numerous times. Recuperate, we''ll advance after you all are done," Kayn disclosed before ncing at Apollo. His aura had grown turbulent after once again returning to cultivation. However, Kayn couldn''t understand what this feeling was. It wasn''t what he was used to when one was breaking through.

    Instead, it felt as if his body had turned into a devouring beast.

 Chapter 101 - Reclamation Of Glory

    ----

    ''Ding!'' ??

    ?System Alert! You have reached the first threshold; Level 100! As a result, your level has been locked to this state. In turn, your inner physique has been elevated to the Heaven-Grade. The rted traits have upgraded as well.?

    ?System Alert! The rewards for reaching Level 100 have been awarded. You have received +5.0 to all Attributes as well as 100 Stat Points.?

    ?System Alert! Two-fold liberation of stats has taken ce. The requirement to advance has been met. If you would like, proceed forth. However, you must not be interrupted. If you are, the consequences will be a regression back to a Rank 5 Mortal.?

    ''Hm? The Heaven-Grade? I''ve returned to the state they said my father had achieved. To tell the truth, the changes are mind-boggling,'' Apollo thought to himself. Opening his eyes, he clenched his fist. The ambient Natural Essence within a 3-meter radius all flowed to him within an instant.

    "What? That absorption rate is abominable. It''s no weaker than his father in the past! Is thatrge shockwave that just urred is him shattering that threshold into the next inner physique? Astonishing! With this, you should hold even more of a chance," Kayn eximed with a fervent gleam in his eyes.

    His excited state interacted with the Natural Essence around them causing it to seethe as well. For a short more, the atmosphere was extremely active until it settled due to Apollo''s action. Since the others had yet to finish recuperating, he took the time to explore what his locked level meant.

    He closed his eyes, conversing with Azridan. ''Azridan, what does the system mean when it says my level is locked? Am I no longer able to advance?''

    [Ah, that is because your level has be special. You require both Demonic Anima as well a stronger physique to break this barrier. Beyond Level 100 with this system is a threshold for another world. However, by no means does this mean you''re unable to advance. It''ll just be done differently.

    [Nevertheless, now that you''ve reached this grade, the amount of Natural Essence you''ll be able to influence should be astounding. Of course, on the flip side, the progress with your talents will decelerate. But even then, I''m sure something will present itself in the future to rectify this situation. After all, most of the system is still inactive. As I told you in the beginning, everything rests on your shoulders.]

    ''Hm, if that''s the case then I feel like it''s dependent on mepleting that mission. My only question now is what will the change be exactly and how will it help my growth? Moreover, that world of yours¡­ I find myself growing more and more curious about it. I look forward to the day I venture there.''

    [I don''t know if you truly mean those words. For the day you step foot there, you''ll understand what survival of the fittest and a dog eat dog world really means. In fact, you can look at this current world as an infant learning to walk. Nevertheless, I don''t rmend you make any advancements at this very moment.]

    ''I was thinking the same exact thing. The fact we''re undergoing rapid movement is enough reason for me not to try it. Not to mention, those consequences are too harrowing for me to attempt under these circumstances,'' Apollo replied, his eyes trembling as if ready to open.

    [Correct choice. Remember, you are inching closer and closer to your true path but let me warn you. You will experience things and it is up to you to conquer them. I may be your mentor, however, there will be events I won''t be able to guide you through. That is what will mold you. So do well to remember these words.]

    ''I understand,'' Apollo replied, finally opening his eyes. Everyone''s gazes were turned on him due to the turbulence he created. This was also true for the group of Shaanti''s in the distance. Abram, especially, had a peculiar glint in his eyes as he looked towards Violeta.

    "It seems the Kaisers now possess a talent on par with you. What will you do? Will you allow yourself to be overtaken or will you finally allow us to trample upon them?" Abram asked with an imperious gaze falling on Violeta. For a moment, she shuddered from the pressure.

    She understood how deep the struggle between the Kaisers and Shaanti went, however, she didn''t like feeling like this¡ªbeing stifled and forced toply with someone else''s will. This awoke a desire within her¡ªone that stemmed from both defiance and her own lust for things.

    "I will conquer them but this will be for myself! So stop with the pressure Grandfather. Do you doubt me?" Violeta stamped her foot with a coquettish pout crossing her arms. Seeing this Abram released a wry chuckle as he retracted his pressure.

    "I''ll believe you then but you must always remember, for far too long we have been inferior to them. As you saw earlier, although we possess a greater number of talents, that old fogey can still best me. I''m sure you understand the implications that follow that," Abram stated with a meaningful gaze.

    After one reached a certain state; at least a Zul Commander, their true strength underwent a fundamental change. Even more so the case for Zul Generals. Without a doubt, they were capable of taking on multiple Zul Knights and even Zul Commander without falling into a disadvantage.

    This only spoke volumes of theirbat presence and reserves of Natural Essence. As it was now, if they were to release their entire cultivation base, they would be unfathomable existences to the present Zul Warriors.

    "I understand Grandfather. ce your beliefs in me, I will see to it that theye to fruition," Violeta said clinging to his arm with a resolute gaze. "But can I have more cultivation resources, maybe? I''d like to attempt to reach the next rank before the trials begin!"

    Gazing at her for a moment, Abram ultimately gave in handing her a spatial pouch that made her eyes sparkle with excitement. Inside that pouch had to contain copious amounts of resources. After all, he was the Grand Elder of the Shaanti. How could he have shallow pockets?

    On the other hand, Kayn snapped his fingers rallying everyone, "Time to move. We''ll run into the next batch of beasts you''ll need to y in a short while. With our current pace, we should reach the port city around one month from now."

    "In the next fight, I''ll join in for a moment," Apollo stated.

    As it was now, he didn''t have much else to do. With his level locked and them being on the constant move, he couldn''t risk moving. Hence, he needed something to upy his time.

    What else was there better than honing his current arsenal in battle. It was just a shame that the monsters he observed earlier were far from able of presenting a challenge. At least it would offer him a chance to stretch his bones.

    "Very well. It seems you don''t want to continue on with your advancement but I believe I know why. As one''s internal grade is higher, the dantian they awaken is more intricate and requires more time toplete. Hence, you don''t have the time needed at the moment. I understand; it is a good choice. The dantian is the strongest yet most delicate organ," Kayn said solemnly.

    Apollo didn''t immediately answer instead he silently mused over this information, ''Maybe if we were talking about a normal person sure. I just don''t want to deal with the possibility of such a huge regression.

    "Ah, look ahead. It''s a gathering of those beasts," Apollo answered, raising his finger at the barrennd in the distance. Nearly 3 kilometers away was at least 100 Demonic Beast stampeding towards them.

    Taking note of this, both Kayn and Cynthia were momentarily shocked. He could see that far?! If so, his sight was on par with an early stage Zul Knight! It was astounding.

    Realizing their shock, Apollo''s expression turned weird. "Did I say something wrong? There''s indeed a small beast horde iing."

    "No...that''s not it. We know they areing. We see them but you...shouldn''t be able to. We''re shocked by how strong your senses are. Typically, someone at your stage wouldn''t be able to see beyond 300 meters." Cynthia said with shock and disbelief that soon turned into amazement written across her face. In her eyes, he was simply full of surprises.

 Chapter 102 - Letting Loose, Coaxing Feeling

    ----

    Unlike the others, Apollo didn''t wait for them toe in contact with the Demonic Beasts. Instead, he dashed ahead of the others turning into a hurtling shadow. Unlike before, now that he was a full-blown Lesser Demon, his body was more suited to this technique. ??

    The Partial Shade Silhouette turned him into a half indiscernible shadow as he moved forward, crossing over 50 meters with each step. More impressively, the strain on his stamina was far less than it used to be. Of course, this had something to do with the way his endurance was now used.

    "What the fuck? This dude is fast!" Aaron eximed trying his best to catch up. Unfortunately, they existed on two different nes. His Agility eclipsed that of all the youths who cultivated under a Heaven-Grade cultivation method.

    Unfortunately, that wasn''t something that existed within the family. At most, they possessed a High Tier Earth Ranked cultivation method. Hence, a shred of envy, as well as reverence, entered the eyes of the other youths.

    ''Hm? Could it be that small breakthrough earlier wasn''t only limited to his internal state? No¡­ perhaps because his internal state has elevated, he is able to exert his muscles to a higher degree, bing even faster,'' Kayn mused as he observed Apollo''s distancing figure.

    Soon enough, Apollo came before the horde of iing Demonic Beasts. His calm gaze analyzed their movements, the impact their limbs made with the ground, and plenty of other notions.

    Taking in all this information, he smiled. ''They''re stronger than the prior bunch. Good, I''ll just-''

    cing his hand at his waist, once again, he forgot his weapon had broken. Clicking his tongue, he retrieved a set of throwing knives from his spatial pouch. This time, however, he slipped his fingers through the small rings on the end.

    His senses were much more intense. Spinning them around his finger, he could perceive every rotation as if time had slowed down. ''My dynamic vision, it''s improved. Let''s try a new fighting style then.''

    He stomped his foot, dashing forward at a breakneck pace. His body turned into arge ck wisp as it maneuvered between the horde. Secondster, fountains of blood ejected in the air. On the throats of numerous Demonic Beasts, were small puncture wounds as well as knives stabbed deep within.

    Be that as it may, Apollo still frowned. He found this uneptable, ''Not fast enough. I wasn''t able toplete the movement. Let''s try it again but I''ll increase the output.''

    The umbra of his shadow crept up his leg, ending at his torso as he smirked at the Demonic Beast. He dodged a plethora of attacks effortlessly as he swayed back and forth. With each passing second, he picked up speed.

    Waving his arms, 8 throwing knives whizzed through the air at obscene speeds. Following behind it, he dashed at a speed causing an initial sonic boom. Immediately after, it was as if he disappeared with arge vibration.

    When he reappeared again, he caught the throwing knife with a single finger. However, if one looked closely, they would have realized the knife had punctured the skull of three Demonic Beasts in a straight line.

    In other words, the force he threw the knives with was enough to treat these beast''s physiques as paper. Of course, this was due to a small shift in the usage of his own essence. One must remember, he now possessed attributes.

    That attack was a simple use of Metal Essence to sharpen its prative abilities and Shadow Essence to obscure its presence. In short, the beasts were unable to sense that iing "bullet" that reaped their lives.

    ''Fast but...not fast enough. I think I can move even faster!'' Apollo thought with a fervent glimmer in his eyes. Shifting his eyes back and forth, he chuckled. Utilizing the stepping technique at maximum capacity, there were no sonic booms.

    Instead, his steps turned soundless, like a phantom. His presence was there but it was enveloped in his technique. Blitzing around the battlefield, he reimed the throwing knives plunged into the bodies of the dead Demonic Beasts.

    At the same time, the other youths caught up with incredulous expressions. The only thing in their eyes was a ck blur and Demonic Beast falling one after another. The numbers of the beasts were dwindling continually.

    Of course, the Demonic Beast wouldn''t take this willingly. They roared, shrieked, and bellowed with glowering expressions, baring their fangs. Their aura spiked causing Apollo to lick his lips. This is what he enjoyed, heated battle; trampling upon their hopes to survive.

    ncing at his side, Apollo beckoned to the others, "Don''t just stand there. They''re in the optimal state,e and take advantage."

    After riling them up, Apollo retreated, winking at the others. If they had faced these beasts in their previous states, it would have taken a longer period for the monsters to reach this condition.

    Regrettably for them, Apollo didn''t want to waste any time. As such, he incited their ire. To put it differently, he provoked the beasts so that the battle would be much harder for the others. Needless to say, he had his reasons for this.

    "A-Apollo! What did you do? Look at the damned beast. It was bad enough they were in a frenzy before but look at this mess," Aaron shrieked, drawing his sword and shing down abruptly. A tusk of a Demonic Boar was cleaved off.

    However, that didn''t stop its maddened rush ramming right into Aaron''s chest. Skidding back, Aaron raised his head with anger apparent in his eyes. Tightening his grip on his sword, he rushed forward, silver tendrils flowing in the air.

    ''Hoh? Thisd. He''s a funny one. He''s made the encounter much harder for the others. I can''t tell if he has them in his best interest or he''s just impatient. Nevertheless, whatever reason it may be, it works.'' Kayn thought as a profound light shone in his eyes.

    "Hurry up, you call this battling? Kill faster, be more ferocious!" Apollo bellowed, a crimson glint growing in his eyes as he looked at the others. Truthfully, his eyes honed in on Aaron''s battle.

    Crossing his arms, he inspected the skirmish unfold from a short distance away. In fact, if he wanted to be could join in with a step.

    Because there were only 9 other youths, a few Demonic Beast managed to break through their ranks. However, when Apollo noticed this, he took action but not in the way one would think. He didn''t y them but instead pushed them back.

    He either gripped their limbs tossing them back in the horde or simply punched them catapulting them back in.

    Either way, his actions further incensed the beasts. Some even threw caution to the wind and attacked their allies in their mania. At this, Apollo chuckled. Their behavior wasughable. In a rage, they attacked any and everything.

    Soon enough, the countenances of the youths once again became pale. However, more than half of the beast still remained.

    "You may all retreat. You''ve reached your limits, any further and you''ll possibly endanger yourselves. Granted, if you desire to go further, show me. Prove to me that you think this isn''t enough," Apollomented, ncing at the bated breaths of the others.

    "I-...I can still go on! I won''t give up yet," Aaron eximed, stabbing his sword in the ground using it as a brace to stand. Midway through, Apollo pulled him up to his feet, looking him directly in the eyes.

    "That''s what I like to hear. Only you can defeat yourself, no one else will care for you. Therefore, even when you can''t stand, YOU STAND!" At the end of his remark, a ckened crimson aura coated Apollo''s entire arm.

    Turning around, he swiped his arm horizontally. A colossal wave billowed forward massacring the rest of the Demonic Beast. A mass of mutted corpses strewn across the floor. Witnessing this scene, even Kayn''s eyes widened.

    "Have you seen this technique before?" Kayn inquired when he noticed Cynthia''s natural expression. It was as if she was unfazed by this happening.

    "Of course. How do you think we truly slew that Wyvern?" Cynthia chuckled in return. However, she also looked at the scene, pensive, ''I think that technique he just used was the first one. It also seems to be stronger. That means¡­''

    Nodding her head, she made her own deductions. At the same time, Apollo approached the corpses. He was confused, why didn''t these beast contain any Essence Core?

    [They can''t. Think back to your body. Remember the story your aunt told you? The force corrupting their body is in direct opposition to the Natural Essence. As a result, they are incapable of fostering an Essence Core.]

    ''Ah, that''s true. How could I have overlooked that fact? But even then, I feel like I should ingest their meat, what do you think?'' Apollo examined the state of the beast''s bodies. While others couldn''t ingest this, his body seemed to be craving these beasts.

    [You may. I sense something useful in their bodies. You should be able to benefit from them.]

 Chapter 103 - Nearing The Zephus Capital

    ----

    ''Hm, after further thought, there''s too many eyes around. I''ll explore this idea when Ie into alone time.'' Apollo determined, weighing the situation at hand. He didn''t want to have to exin himself once again. He cleaned up the scene, as the others focused on healing.??

    After recuperation, this scene recurred more than once. As it took ce, the initial apprehension they possessed against the Demonic Beasts were tempered out of them. Now, Aaron and the other youths were capable of remaining calm in the face of battle.

    Additionally, Apollo stopped joining in. Instead, he stood back spectating the events. To his surprise, seldom did the beasts get past the nine youths. While far from impable, their teamwork was also showing improvement. If they continued advancing in the same way, it wasn''t far fetched for them to cultivate tacit understanding.

    "Kayn, how long before we reach the capital? It seems the Demonic Beasts we areing in contact with are bing thinner in numbers. Is it safe to assume we are close to the city?" Apollo inquired, turning towards the pleasantly surprised Kayn.

    "Indeed. It shouldn''t be long before we enter the city. However¡­ this is also where the journey bes most treacherous for them. At most, those previous beasts were equal to Peak Stage 2 Spirit Beasts or Early Stage 3 Spirit Beasts. To cross over into the territory of the capital, they''ll face far stronger adversaries," Kayn replied.

    As he looked afar, he could already discern the towering buildings of the capital''s grandiose appeal. Far before it, however, he could also perceive several iing dreadful aurae. Based on what he discerned, he was unsure whether or not they''d truly be able to handle it.

    ''If they''re incapable of handling that monster, I''ll intervene at the moment of peril. That way, at least their fear should be stimted. Not to mention, I need to understand the extent of his power,'' Kayn''s eyes fell on Apollo''s figure amid his ruminating.

    It was a sight to see him engage in battle, yet not break a sweat whereas the other struggled to prevail over their respective beasts. That alone spoke volumes of his strength. So much so, Kayn looked forward to him entering the Zul Warrior Realm with extremely high expectations.

    A short whileter, the group once again came in contact with a horde of Demonic Beasts. Of course, this bunch was not to bepared to the rest. Their auras were potent and their physiques exponentially bigger.

    Some of them were sorge the paws and hoove left indents in the ground with each powerful step. This sight incited Apollo''s battle intent. Their vagrant aurae excited Apollo, the sense of danger urged him to act with greater enthusiasm.

    "Hoh? You all better get ready. I also suggest you enter a formation. Divide your people with offensive, defensive, and healing specialties. As for how you ce yourselves, that is up to you," Apollo warned as he looked at the enclosing dust cloud.

    "Wait...why do you say that? Is something even worseing? Ohe on! We just got a break. What else can there be?" groaned a youth as he retrieved his bow. A faint green aura encased his body.

    "Stop your whining. If that''s how far your resolve goes, you''ll be in for a rude awakening when we reach the academy trials. I told you before. Everything is up to you. Unless you carry some supreme talent, you can''t afford to bezy. What weck in talent, must be made up in perseverance," Apollo retorted, gazing imposingly at the youth.

    That look prompted fear to coarse through his being as he straightened up, gulped and nodded. From Apollo''s aura alone, he was stricken with trepidation, piercing straight into the deepest recesses of his being. After all, they had seen how he killed Axel and the others in cold blood. By no means did they want to suffer that same fate.

    Thus, as soon as he said something, they reacted as if he was a family elder! It was a mindboggling sight. A youth controlling others his age effortlessly. If there was one emotion that could control someone without fail¡ªit was fear. With fear alone, it would incite others to action.

    If their life was on the line, they would bepelled to fulfill the tasks granted to them. The current situation was proof enough for that im. With the fear instilled in them, they followed Apollo''s actions to a tee.

    "O-okay! What do you need us to do?" the youth answered timidly.

    "Haha! Look at you. You have Hunter shaking in his boots," Aaron guffawed pping his knee. Immediately after, his expression turned serious, drawing his weapon. The beast were close and their rush was frantic!

    In fact, the fastest one was on par with Apollo. Looking at the enclosing figure, Apollo narrowed his eyes. ''I''ll deal with that one. It''ll provide the best thrill.''

    ''Whoosh!''

    Apollo sprinted forward without activating his stepping technique. He shortened the distance with ease as he clenched his fist. Sidestepping and swaying, he weaved through the beasts. Surprisingly, when he started his pursuit, the fastest beast halted in its steps.

    It looked at Apollo cautiously. As he grew closer, the beast seemed to retain a shred of rity in its mind. Furthermore, it looked simr to an overgrown cheetah. In other words, it was a predator, so it knew when it was being treated like prey¡ªit was a type of defense mechanism.

    "Sit tight little kitty. I''ll y with you," Apollo chuckled elerating instantaneously. Within the next moment, he appeared before the Demonic Fanged Cheetah and threw an explosive punchnding on its jaw.

    Coupled with the booming noise, the beast flew into the distance, Apollo followed right behind it. ncing at his knuckles,Apollo raised an eyebrow, from that one hit, his knuckles were bruised. ''It seems this beast is rather tough but it isn''t anything I can''t handle.''

    A crude aura enveloped Apollo''s hand causing the cheetah to growl menacingly. It felt a threatening sensation from the aura. If it made any wrong move, it could suffer potentially fatal damage. In light of this, it turned tail and ran.

    "You''re not the only one who can give chase," Apollo chuckled, immediately executing the Partial Shade Silhouette. With it activated, he moved at a speed that left the Demonic Beast startled. He was faster than it and not by a small margin!

    Left with no other choice, it ceased its futile attempts at escaping. Instead, it beared its overgrown fangs as well as protracted its ws. For a moment, Apollo closed his eyes, focusing his intent on his hands.

    ''How was it done again, Azridan?''

    [Try to give shape to the essence and weaponize it. It''ll be like a real weapon except it''ll require you to partition your conscience to maintain it. In short, if you use this technique, your reaction will slow. Especially so because you have yet to strengthen your spirit.]

    ''It''s best to try it now. This foe doesn''t carry any overwhelmingly dangerous characteristics. If so, I wouldn''t attempt to experiment while undergoing battle,'' Apollo replied. An obscure and menacing w appeared around his hand. Its shape was crude but it exuded a dangerous and sharp feeling nheless.

    At this sight, Kayn narrowed his eyes, ''What is that? It isn''t a weapon but it appears like one. Is it a pure essence creation? But that should be impossible, that should only appear when one bes a Lord. This is intriguing¡­what exactly is he doing? And who is that expert he came in contact with?''

    Apollo drew back his arm before thrusting forward. The beast widened its eyes and dodged to the side instinctively. A long scar appeared on the ground encased in a ckened aura where it once stood.

    ''Ah, so you''re faster than that move can fire, huh? Very well, allow me to leveling the ying field,'' Apollo thought, ring his aura. He disappeared and when he reappeared, he was right next to the beast thrusting the crude w into the beast''s hind leg.

    A painful howl echoed through the atmosphere but Apollo paid it no mind. Once again, he shed his arm, firing a destructive sh. This time, the beast was incapable of dodging properly, suffering massive damage¡ªits entire hind leg severed from its body.

    "Damn...Apollo really enjoys bullying these monsters," Aaron muttered after witnessing Apollo''s actions. Lily nodded in agreement also observing the spectacle taking ce.

    "Yeah¡­ but look. That beast''s aura, if I''m not mistaken, I think it would take all of us to take it down. Yet, he''s singlehandedly dealing with it. I think it''s safe to say that while he has a lower cultivation he already far outsses us," Lily muttered, pointing at Apollo''s hand thrust through the throat of the beast.

    Swiping his hand to the side, he once again stored the body of the Demonic Beast inside the spatial pouch once belonging to his father. It didn''t take long, but now that he heard they were close to the capital, he slew the beasts without remorse, even sometimes finishing the others battles.

    Some timeter, he appeared before Kayn. "There are no more beast, let''s rush directly to the city. I would like to start breaking through as soon as possible. I have more than reached the requirements. In fact, I have far exceeded them."

    "Hoh? Open your eyes and look closely, we are already in the capital. It is just so expansive that we have yet to reach the gates." Kayn chuckled, lifting his finger in a certain direction.

 Chapter 104 - Entering The Zephus Capital

    ----

    After Kayn lifted his finger, Apollo looked in the same direction. Quietly, he marveled at the sight before him. Rather than moving back, even while battling, they continued to advance. In other words, during the battle, they also repelled the Demonic Beasts. ??

    Hence, they were never in the same ce. It went without saying, this action was spearheaded by Apollo. He wasn''t the type to retreat but instead press ahead. In some situations, this might be the best way, but in others, such headstrong behavior could prove to be fatal.

    Apollo lifted his head, gazing afar above the city. In the air epassing the city, he discerned two colossal beasts circling the skies. By colossal, he meant their two bodies alone nketed the city but oddly enough, their bodies didn''t prohibit the sunlight from entering. It was a mystifying sight.

    "What are those beasts in the air?" Apollo questioned, his gaze remaining fixated on the wonder. It was the first time he had seen such a thing. The first question that entered his mind, was what rank would those types of beast possess? Followed by, just how strong would they be?

    "Remember how I told you certain types of cultivators are capable of taming beasts. Well, those are tamed beasts. More specifically, they are guardian beasts. They''re at least Rank 7 Spirit Beast and most likely they possess some type of bloodline. From what I heard, they should be par with the Generals of the Capital."

    "What cultivation realm would they be on par with?" Apollo continued to question. Even from here, he could sense a faint aura of suppression on his body. This wasn''t from fear but rather how strong those beasts were.

    "At the very least¡­an Early Zul Emperor. However, you must remember, when you be an Emperor, you possess the means to enter the ranks of a Great Family or to govern a state," Kayn informed Apollo whilst rushing forward. He too, had his eyes fixated upon thoserge beings.

    "Interesting. I''ll reach that height soon enough," Apollo dered with a fervent gleam in his eyes. Extending his arm, he clutched at the beast. As if sensing something, one of the beasts shifted its gaze and looked in his direction.

    -----

    Above the skies of the Zephus Domain,

    "What is this intent I feel? It feels like something covets me but I don''t mind it? That is odd. When has this celestial being ever weed being coveted by one other than my master? I''d like to see just who is capable of this," an obsidian whale with golden eyes peered down in Apollo''s direction.

    "Old Man Sky, stop with all the useless talk. Focus on controlling your energies. You know what will happen if we let our auras leak. Even the slightest amount could be disastrous." warned the colossal Roc. It was predominantly silver with small bits of gold coating the edges of its majestic features. Moreover, its crimson eyes spared the whale a meaningful gaze.

    "Ai! Ai! I''m aware. Shut up already. I haven''t let anything leak. You don''t need to lecture, I, who has lived for countless years. Compared to me, you''re but a toddler on your journey to power. Nevertheless, that boy is intriguing. His body doesn''t seem to follow this world''s order."

    "Hmm? Now that you mention it¡­ I can feel that as well. It''s interesting. He isn''t as repugnant as the other humans. I don''t understand why we were tasked with guarding this world, yet can''t intervene directly," the roc nced down at Apollo''s direction.

    Throughout their conversation, never once did they stop moving. Although the grade of their true power was unknown as well as their master, it was clear someone had tasked them with guarding this ce. However, the real question was where exactly was this "ce."

    "The answers will alle with time. Soon enough, a shift will ur," the obsidian whale uttered, closing its eyes. A silence ensued as the two continued circling the skies in perpetual motion.

    ----

    Back far outside the outskirts,

    ''Hmm? Why do those two up there look as if they symbolize something? One is entirely ck whereas the other''s luster opposes it, yet they seem to portray a scene of harmonic beauty.'' Apollo mused while continuing to observe them.

    However, soon enough, his gaze extricated from them as they were about toe in contact with the capital gates. From a distance, they didn''t seemrge at all but that was the illusion of distance. The closer they got, the more gargantuan the walls seemed.

    "Wow¡­" Aaron muttered, his eyes shining with awe. Not only were the walls extremelyrge, but the material they were made out of was also pristine. Even from far away, it was a sight to behold.

    "Everyone, rx yourselves. We''ll be entering their territory shortly. Remember my earlier words, stick by me, and remain discreet. We don''t want to garner any unwanted troubles. You don''t understand how treacherous the cultivation world can be," Kayn warned the oblivious youth.

    "Apollo, do not leave my sights and this is an order," Kaynmanded in a solemn tone. Something told him not to let this troublesomed out of his sights, lest he get himself into unforeseen events.

    "Yeah, yeah, I heard you. I told you already, the only thing on my mind is to find an area to proceed forth with my breakthrough. Petty instances are not on my mind," Apollo shook his head, following behind Kayn.

    After a while, the group reached the capital''s gates. However, the Shaanti had arrived ahead of them. They fired contemptuous sneers when they saw how long it took for them to arrive in the capital. Sadly, Kayn nor the others paid them no mind.

    On the other hand, what surprised Apollo the most was the gate''s guards. Although there were only 4 of them. Each and everyone one of them possessed an aura on par with Kayn. What''s more, the weapon they carried exuded tyrannical auras.

    "Those are soldiers but not just any soldiers. They should possess substantial positions in the world army," Kayn whispered to the others. They took spots in line as it was expansive due to all the people seeking for their offsprings to attempt the academy trials.

    "Soldiers? Why are they here? Shouldn''t there be other locations for them to garrison at?" Aaron questioned, giving the soldiers an odd look. Typically, a city would be guarded by Zul Commanders at most.

    Kayn shook his head, gazing at the soldier intently. "No. The world''s army can be found any and everywhere. Only during times of imminent peril will they all congregate in one area. Of course, there are also the trainees who are always grouped together. In other words, the collective War Academy Students."

    Aaron rubbed his chin dubiously, "Oh. That doesn''t seem like an army. The terms seem too loose. That''s a lot of freedom."

    "You think so? If you were to learn of the death rate, you''ll reim those words," Kayn chuckled. He didn''t say much more as he was aware of just how unlearned his descendants were. They were looking at the situation as a child would, but that wasn''t the case.

    "Ah. So, that morsel of freedom they possess is mostly for them to leave behind offsprings. This, in turn, leaves a legacy in the event they were to perish in the line of duty, isn''t it? It should also be a method to reduce tension between the army personnel. After all, after being cooped up with something for extended periods of time, you''re bound to either get sick of them or get used to them." Apollo added.

    "Hoh? It seems I''ve underestimated your brains. Correct, if they are too strict, they''ll only create rogues. For them, there''s nothing worse than creating a weapon that goes on a tangent," Kayn chuckled but in his eyes was an obscure emotion. It was unknown just what he was thinking about.

    "Next!" the soldier eximed, alerting Kayn and the others that it was finally their turn.

    Another soldier spoke, "There are 10 of you, that will be 10 Spirit Shards to enter."

    Upon hearing this, Apollo''s eyes widened. ''Even though we''re here to venture towards entering their army, we still have to pay a fee? Sounds about right. Governing states will always be backward, they hold the majority of the wealth, but seek to reim your crumbs that have trickled down.''

    Kayn, however, didn''t say anything, simply handing them the entrance fee. Stepping aside the grand gates behind them once again opened with a prolonged rumble. As they did, the youths'' eyes filled with admiration.

    Just the Natural Essence flowing out was many times purer than what they were used to. Kayn smiled as he stepped forward, the others following behind.

 Chapter 105 - Independent Space, Touching Upon Sin

    ----

    "This Natural Essence...it''s so pure! What the heck? Why haven''t wee here sooner?" Aaron eximed as he took in the stunning sight before his eyes. In the presence of the grand buildings and sublime architecture, it took a moment for his amazement to subside.??

    At the same time, the other youths joined in offering their own sets of praises. This was to be expected. Compared to those who were born here, they were akin to countryside bumpkins. The concentration of Natural Essence here eclipsed what they were used to many times over.

    "Do you think those entrance fee materials grow on trees? Just those 10 Spirit Shards were 80% of the family''s stockpile. If you''re not aware, those small fragments are used for Spirit Cultivation. However, even if you''re incapable of practicing with it, hold onto it should youe across one," Kayn said as he shifted his gaze around in search of something.

    "Hm? Ah, that''s right. Spirit Shards hold worth as currency as well. That means they''ll always have a use, even if they prove useless to our cultivation," Apollo added in agreement.

    "Exactly, now¡­ where is the Zephus Passageway? It has been years since I''ve been to this ce. Theyout has changed many times over. Compared to my younger days, it seems this ce has expanded beyond what I can understand. Perhaps they are venturing on bing a Supreme Family," Kayn muttered to himself as if understanding something.

    "Who? Do you mean the Astartes are making attempts to be the 4th Supreme Family?" Cynthia asked with an undisclosed glimmer apparent in her eyes. It was unknown why, but it seemed something was amiss.

    "Ah, that''s right,ss. How can I forget? But yes, it seems they are preparing to be the 4th. The question is...will the other three allow it? If so, what price will the Astartes have to pay to achieve that mantle?" Kayn rubbed his chin. Within his eyes, desire appeared.

    Meanwhile, Apollo observed the conversation taking ce between them, ''Does aunty possess a rtionship with the Great Family? I wonder what it is? It wouldn''t be¡­'' Apollo shifted his eyes covertly between Cynthia and Aaron. Up until now, it had evaded his mind, but it now dawned on him, he never heard of Aaron''s father.

    ''No...what about her,'' Apollo''s gaze then switched over to Lily who seemed to be vacantly ogling the buildings. The overwhelming scene left a deep impression on her. Hence, she had yet to awaken from her stupor. As a female, she was susceptible to pretty things.

    As a grand capital, this ce was nothing short of that. After a while, Kayn caught wind of the direction he needed to head in due to increased traffic on the street. Everyone was pooling towards a certain direction wherein Kayn and the rest followed.

    All the while, Apollo continued to inspect the surroundings, ''The Natural Essence here is at least 3 times purer as well as 5 times more potent. Cultivation here is like a blessed cepared to where we were priorly. If I can absorb this Natural Essence undisturbed...perhaps I''ll make great strides.''

    As they walked down the streets, everyone came before an extremelyrge area. Numerous flying spirit beasts bound byrge chains rested behind arge number of robed cultivators. Although they were silent, their auras were ferocious.

    As everyone collected in the space, a booming voice announced to everyone, "All of you represent the Zephus Domain! Although you aren''t a part of the Astarte Family, due to your originsing from here, we expect to you achieve something. Behind us are your carriers to greatness."

    The cultivator raised his hand petting an extremelyrge bird behind him. Just its beak alone was twice asrge as him, "These Lightning Sky Condors will transport you to Pangea Ind. The journey will be safe and you will be able to cultivate without interruptions. As long as you contribute to this domain''s great name, an illustrious future awaits you."

    The Lightning Sky Condor shrieked before a thunderbolt copsed from the sky. When it struck the ground, another cultivator appeared. However, unlike the others, he was dressed invish gold robes and vibrant red robes. Furthermore, his aura was indiscernible. Be that as it may, his imperial demeanor alone controlled the crowd.

    Surprisingly, the Patriarch of the Astarte Family, Ries Astarte had appeared!

    "As you know, the world is going through great changes. The future of this world will rely upon you youths. Although your talents, backgrounds, and hearts vary, you must always remember, the extent of your future depends on this," Ries tapped his temple scanning the crowd with profound eyes.

    "With smart decisions, you''ll go far. Learn how to maneuver through perilous situations with your mind and your life be tenacious. A well-honed mind will turn you into a dangerous adversary. Lastly, cultivate well. If I am to hear some of the top talents originate from the Zephus Domain, I will personally award you," with that message, Ries disappeared.

    While he departed, fervent gleams filled the eyes of the youths. Although his speech was short, it was charismatic. Not to mention, the introductions of rewards stimted their innate greed. After all, the treasures possessed by a Great Family had to be destiny-altering.

    Sadly, in their blind greed, they overlooked the fact that nothing was gained easily. The words before were perhaps taken lightly. One must remember, the Zephus Domain wasn''t a full continent. Moreover,pared to the other 3, with the appearance of the Terrors, it was damaged.

    While the Natural Essence here was ample; it paled inparison to its counterparts. To put it differently, it was easier to birth and cultivate talents on the other three continents. Nevertheless, did this mean it was impossible? No, it just meant the effort required would be many times greater than the rest.

    ''Personally reward us? He left out exactly what was needed to achieve the rewards as well as what he would give. This alone tells me he doesn''t truly believe a top talent will appear from us and if one does; I''m willing to bet he''ll want to control them.'' Apollo thought to himself as he observed the heated reactions.

    "Ahem! Please board the Lightning Sky Condors one group at a time. The small aerial ships each of them pulls can house up to 20,000 people. Hence, all 1.9 million of you who have registered will be housedfortably." the cultivator eximed.

    Afterward, group by group, they entered the ships. It was divided into small sections. Based on the number of people you brought along, you would be assigned to a designated area. As for Kayn and the others, as there were only 12 of them, they were assigned to the smallest of areas.

    Nevertheless, even then, the space was suitable for their numbers; not cramped in the slightest. Due to the way it was made and formation used to sustain them, it was like they entered small independent spaces. For them, this was a first. They had yet toe in contact with formations or anything of the sort.

    Apollo, on the other hand, trailed his finger across the wall, tracing the inscriptions, ''This looks simr to the engravings on the talisman. The intricate flow of Natural Essence and the unabated pattern is even higher than the talisman I used. I wonder what level master this takes.''

    "You all can pick a room and do what you must. I''ll be here," Kayn said, taking a seat where he stood. In this small space, there were 20 rooms. However, it appeared he didn''t feel like taking one. In fact, it looked as if he was just meditating and not cultivating.

    Apollo wasn''t polite, iming a room and instantly disappearing. He had an agenda to fulfill, thus, there wasn''t time for him to dawdle.

    Dropping his pouches on the floor, he examined the in living space. It wasn''t something unfamiliar to him and it would do. It possessed a bed and the other personal necessities. More importantly, was the formation in the middle of the room.

    Closing his eyes, Apollo sensed the Natural Essence flowing towards it and evolving into something greater.

    [Oh? This formation will boost your gathering speed even further. Not only is it collecting the dispersed Natural Essence, but it''s also purifying it again. Anyone who cultivates here will witness progress at an even faster rate.]

    ''I was thinking the same thing. The time hase. Azridan. Walk me through it. Are there any steps I need to take in forming the stigmata?'' Apollo readied himself, sitting in a lotus position closing his eyes.

    [Yes. However, are you sure you''re ready? This is the Ira Rune and it is the most painful of them all. Countless demons have attempted to walk the path of Boundless Ira but almost all have perished. Those who seeded can be counted on our fingers.]

    ''Your words won''t deter me. I''m ready.'' Apollo adamantly replied, dismissing Azridan''s worrying words.

    [Very well. I will guide you through the tribtion of the Hellfire. Relinquish all senses of your surroundings. Focus solely on your internal self. From there, we''ll awaken your first Sin!]

 Chapter 106 - Deaths Fleeting Embrace, Ira Converges

    ----

    [Brace yourself, for what you''re about to experience is unable to be put into words, you''ll have to go through it firsthand to understand what I mean.] ??

    "Mn!" Apollo nodded, exhaling as well as calming himself. He was unaware of what was toe, but he didn''t underestimate Azridan''s words. He understood he would have to rely upon Azridan to be his guide. Attempting to harness Sin was something foreign to him, but, in his mind, there was nothing to fear¡ªhe possessed the former Demon Monarch by his side.

    [First and foremost, we''ll have to enable contact with the Sin. You''ll have to create what one would call a Dantian in this world. However, what you are creating is what is known as an Infernal Nucleus. To do so, you''ll need two things, both of which you possess.]

    [Withdraw the Fragment of Sin and the Inferior Crystallized Chaos. While useless apart, when used in tandem, they bolster each other''s effects to new heights. This will enable you toe in contact with the Demonic Chaos as well as tap into the Sin Barrier confronting Ira.]

    Following the instructions, Apollo waved his arm summoning the items. In his palms rested an unblemished ck shard followed by a thread of dull yet unsetting colors. The shard was the Inferior Crystallized Chaos whereas the thread was the Fragment of Sin.

    For a moment, Apollo opened his eyes gazing at them silently. Albeit faint, he could feel the two objects damaging his hand. Although the damage was small, this was simply from holding them! ''If it''s like this before extract the energy inside...what will it be like when I break the exteriors?''

    Apollo looked at the items with uncharacteristic caution. It took a moment, but he was soon able to subdue the apprehension he held towards these items.

    [Wrap the thread around the shard and puncture your abdomen.]

    ''I''m sorry, you said what? You want me to stab myself in the torso with this item?'' Apollo repeated Azridan''s words in disbelief. He was under the impression he just needed to digest the energies, not physically impale himself to do so.

    [Yes, if the energies contained in those objects are subject to this atmosphere, it will be rendered useless. If that''s your n, then, by all means, proceed with your earlier thoughts.]

    ''No need, I''llply.'' Apollo replied. However, there was hesitation in his actions after saying that. Perhaps it was innate self-perseverance but the aura of death looming around these items made him feel uneasy.

    ''What will it kill?'' Apollo asked himself as he gazed at the object. It wasn''t long before he threw caution to the wind, piercing his torso. Immediately after, his eyes widened due to the indescribable pain. Gritting his teeth, he clung to his consciousness.

    "What...NEXT?!" Apollo roared through clenched teeth as his breathing hastened.

    [Draw all of your essences to the pit of your stomach. For a moment, your body will need to be devoid of all types of energy. In exchange, the Hellfire will appear.]

    Inhaling and exhaling sharply, Apollo extracted all the bits of Natural Essence from his bones, muscles, skin, and even meridians. For the moment, he felt powerless but he understood this was part of the process.

    [Excellent. Repeat after me; Ira corrupts but the Hellfire cleanses. Ira may be boundless, but my heart walks through the embers unwavering. As my Wrath is produced, my heart remains stoic, for I am the one who ovees Ira.]

    Clutching the shard in his stomach, Apollo repeated the words. But after doing so, his heart faltered. Grey and ck mes spurted from his heart, traveling through his meridians to the pit of his stomach.

    At the same time, on the skin above his heart, an obscure pattern and a smoldering aura formed. With their appearance, the atmosphere began roiling, an intense heat exuding from his body. In moments, the skin on Apollo''s body bubbled and fell off.

    With each passing second, the pain grew more intense but due to the state of this advancement, he couldn''t lose consciousness. If he did, the repercussions would be dire.

    [As I said before, the pain you''ll be subject to is unimaginable but that should be no excuse! I surpassed Ira; so prove to me you can do that same. Show me, you being chosen was the right choice. Form your Stigmata and harness your Sin!]

    ''Harness...my sin¡­'' Apollo thought to himself but his current self was weak. The Hellfire coursing through him was running amok and his heartbeat was growing faint. As it did, the speed the Hellfire spread slowed noticeably. It depended on his heartbeat to make its progress but he was losing himself amid the pain.

    [Apollo! Get ahold of yourself. I assumed you were stronger than this. Was I wrong? As you are now, your efforts are letting me down. Are you telling me your existence is still a putrid disappointment?]

    "D-disappointment?" Apollo muttered. His grip on the shard in his torso was loosening by the second. Furthermore, the Hellfire was now receding back into its source instead of advancing. Noticing this, Azridan became furious.

    [All those experiences, all that training, and the pain you were inflicted with, do those mean nothing!? Your will is still weak. I am ashamed to call you my sessor. Out of all the possible candidates of much better qualifications, what were you chosen for?]

    "I¡­" Apollo tried to speak but the light in his eyes was growing faint. Soon enough his heartbeat ceased, the transformation halting in progress. While his breathing stopped, his mind was still active.

    The prior words of Azridan were still ringing inside. While he could understand them, he didn''t understand why couldn''t respond. As the words repeated, they grew in volume.

    [Useless...USELESS...USELESS!]

    The memories of his past life first appeared. He relived the day of his 5th birthday, taking his Mana Resonance and Potential Determining Exam. He relived the looks of scorn that fell upon him. These instances had been etched into his soul.

    The departing back of his mother, the sneers of the family, the abandonment. Everything flooded into his mind at once. His fingers twitched, and his closed eyelids fluttered. Indignance as well as an abominable fury rose from the depths of his souls.

    ''N-no¡­.no¡­.I''m not¡­'' A voice sounded in Apollo''s mind. The scenes then changed once again. This time, he experienced being trampled by a group of boys. The injuries he suffered could be felt on his current body.

    His body shuddered from the psychological impact. With that, his defiance grew.

    ''No¡­ No!'' The voice in his head screamed.

    ''Thud!''

    He watched as rocks were thrown atop his ckening vision. Reliving his past, tears of blood trickled down his eyes. The anguish he was suffering now was something which appeared within every demon¡ªThe Trial of Rage. Unfortunately, he wasn''t born a demon.

    As such, he didn''t possess a mind nor body as strong as them. Hence, the reason he was on the brink of death. For a true demon, only at the height of their trial would this danger present itself, yet he was already subject to it from the beginning.

    At this point, he was unable to hear Azridan''s voice anymore. The only thing present in his mind was the recurring scenes now mixing. He was driven to the brink of madness, the tears of blood turning to a pool underneath him.

    "You are weak. You will always be weak and when you perish, your weak existence will be forgotten. You are unfit to be a demon and you''re a disgrace to all. Your existence is one that should have never been," stated a voice. A towering demonic image appeared within Apollo''s mind.

    It seemed akin to a ball of me. That was, until the image settled, revealing a demon with crimson skin and infernal horns standing before him. Again, the image talked.

    "You should have never approached Wrath. Your puny soul can''t survive the impact of the Ira. Look at you, struggling to survive. For me, it was a walk in the park. I have always experienced Wrath, therefore, I didn''t deny its presence.

    "Although you don''t deny it. You can''t contain it. It is greater than you," the imaged chuckled darkly. His word openly scorned Apollo.

    Once again, Apollo''s body trembled in the independent space. His weak voice sounded, "No...I''m not...useless."

    "Laughable being. You should have never attempted this. Within your trial is prideced within. You''re unable to admit your faults, it is your fault you are weak. No one else is to me except you but I can give you power. Submit to me,'' the image smirked and faded away. His words seemed to the spark that ignited an explosion.

    "NOOOO!!!!!!" Apollo opened his eyes, roaring to the sky, a demonic me ejecting from his mouth. At the same time, the Hellfire resumed spreading throughout his body.

    "I am not weak, I will never be weak!" Apollo snarled, his voice extremely guttural, unlike the typical voice he possessed.

    [Fuck...that is not Apollo¡­]

 Chapter 107 - An Anomaly Awakens

    ----

    The entire independent space was enveloped with an ominous heat. In fact, space itself presented signs of turning unstable. The boundless hatred and infernal malice radiating from Apollo seemed impossible and in truth it was; what was present was something Azridan was familiar with.??

    That wasn''t Apollo, but rather his body and part of his soul overtaken by Ira. At this very moment, he unknowingly sumbed to Ira. He was still stuck in the trial, but his soul was acting on its own. The hatred from death he possessed was greater than he truly understood.

    Unbeknownst to him, it was eating him alive turning into fuel for an exceedingly insufferable trial. If he wanted to regain himself, he would need toe to terms with the maltreatment he suffered. However, would he be able to? And if he did do so, would the end result still be him anymore?

    [Apollo, do not lose to the Sin; if you do, you may never return.]

    "Hoh? What is that voice? Are you a demon who has ovee me? Interesting. Regrettably, the boy you are speaking about is weak. He will be unable to do away with me, much less break free from my temptations. I can offer him power, what can you offer him," a dark voice escaped from Apollo''s mouth on that stimted rage with every word.

    [You are wrong. I do not believe him to be weak.]

    "How is that so? You said so yourself, he is weak." the possessed Apollo chuckled at Azridan''s words. Weren''t these very words a contradiction to his earlier ones? How could he say this with a straight face?

    [Ira, I have already mastered you. I know exactly what emotions you cling to. He was unaware of how to step forth in the trial. Hence, I have incited him with my own actions. If that boy were as frail as you im, he would have never been chosen nor would his trial be so diabolical. I believe he is more of a demon than I have evere to witness.]

    "Nonsense. I have experienced demons who have ovee me easily. If this was true, he would be one of those," the voice rebutted.

    [That may be true but that''s doesn''t mean they are strong. I believe if something is meant to be, ites after much suffering. Not only will that boy ovee you, but I''m also willing to bet he will subdue you. That is something that has yet to be done.]

    "Subdue me? Preposterous! While I can be ovee, I can never be subdued. I will not allow such a paltry turn of events toe to light. I would rather grovel before the Demon Monarch before being subdued by this puny thing." the voice retorted venomously. With its riled emotions, the atmosphere deteriorated further under the manic Hellfire.

    [Your emotional state showcases your fear. You don''t truly believe your words, instead, you''re leading yourself down the path of denial. After all, who do you think that body you''re taking control of belongs to? No¡­ who do you believe me to be?]

    The voice halted its actions, falling into deep thought. Being as it was the embodiment of a Sin, it couldn''t ess Apollo''s mind. However, that didn''t mean it was mindless; it possessed its own set of memories to tap into.

    "I recognize this voice. No, I recognize this demeanor. It''s been countless millennia but...you''re that person. The one who hase closest to bing a full-fledged Demon Monarch¡ªAzridan. How can that be? From that disturbance, it was said you had perished! How can your soul remain?" the voice trembled. It felt an innate fear for the being he was talking to.

    This was the first person to evere close to subduing him. Although he wasn''t the only one, he was the one who made him feel undeniable fear from his overbearing will; in his heyday, that will was irrevocable. If this is the sessor he chose, then perhaps his existence was truly in danger. If he was subdued, his will would always be Apollo''s to control.

    [Don''t be afraid. My sessor''s will is far too weak to subdue you now. However, I will tell you now, he is one to bear a grudge. I''m sure you''ve witnessed this in his trial. I suggest you relinquish your im on his body. The longer you reside here, the greater the chances of him perceiving you. If that is to happen, I will tell him exactly what you are and he will seek you out earlier than you''d like.]

    "Tch...you are deplorable! Very well, I willply. However, I will not reduce the difficulty of his trial. As he is now, he is a menace to himself. You need to temper this thing. Furthermore, what is this world? It is powerless!"

    [Don''t worry about that, leave!]

    Apollo''s body remained standing but the malicious light vanished. In ce, a lifeless gaze fell on the boundless space above. His mind was still trapped within that shing space.

    [It is now up to him to ovee whatever he is experiencing in his mind. The longer he stays in this state, the less the chances of himpleting the rudimentary form of the Stigmata is. Not to mention, he may very well suffer death if his soul is detached like this.]

    ----

    Back inside Apollo''s mind,

    "I am not weak!" Apollo muttered with a hint of resolve in his mind. His gaze remained fixated on the shing scenes contributing to his inner turmoil. Furthermore, the image of the demon reappeared once again. Earlier it had assimted with him, but Azridan''s warning prompted it to cease its actions.

    "Tch, I don''t see what he sees. All I see is a whimpering brat unable toe to terms with his past. While hatred fuels wrath, that isn''t the true way to harness it. At least, not over such trivial matters. Others causing your death? So what, there are things in the world far worse than death." Ira grumbled, crossing his arms before his chest.

    In truth, the form he possessed wasn''t actually him but the demon he held the highest affinity with. Alone, Ira was formless but always present. For Demons, not only was Ira one of the powers, but it was also a way of life. However, one thing they didn''t know was they were the source of Ira''s power; they sustained it. Or at least the demons below a certain threshold didn''t know of this fact.

    "ept your truth already. You will be unable to move forward if you don''t do so. Why is it so hard for you? Also, why is your soul so abnormal? It feels like it was never one, to begin with. Perhaps, this is why there is a fragment of another Sin present in that turmoil." Ira mused as he spectated Apollo''s vacant eyes.

    "It isn''t me...who was weak. It is you all who were weak! You all were weak so you projected your unfulfilled hope upon me! I never asked for that. It is all your faults I died! I will never forgive anyone!" Apollo roared, copious streams of bloody tears falling down his face while staring at the images.

    His mind was being damaged. His defiance towards epting the truth of his trial prohibited him from taking a step forward. Until he epted what he needed to, the trial would seem like an endless affliction.

    A momentter, he dropped to his knees closing his eyes. His lips trembled but it seemed as if he wanted to utter something yet couldn''t. Instead of talking, he bit his lip and clenched his fists.

    When his eyes opened, a crazed look filled them in ce of the previous vacant one. Forcefully, he extricated his eyes from the scene. In turn, he gazed murderously at Ira. "No! This is your doing! I am not weak, it is you who is leading me to believe so. Who are you? I will not give in to you. Disappear!!"

    Apollo screamed, the trial mind space trembling in response.

    "W-what?! You can see me? How? You haven''t harnessed my Sin, you shouldn''t be able to see me." Ira''s eyes widened with apparent shock. While his voice could be heard throughout the trial, unless one overcame it, they wouldn''t see the personification of Sin.

    Toe toe to toe with a Sin, one first needed to handle whatever trial they presented.

    However, an anomaly was taking ce. It was evident his trial was still in progress by the scenes still unfolding, but yet he could also perceive Ira. These oundish actions caused the mindscape to turn unstable.

    "What are you doing? A trial has never beenpleted like this. You''re tearing the environment apart. You''ll potentially damage your mind!" Ira screeched. This scene baffled him but a light of understanding soon shed within his eyes. His words were being digested in the slightest, Apollo''s actions were already set in stone.

    ''I understand. This is why he was chosen. Although his soul is weak, it is aberrant. His unyielding soul is concentrated on one thing. His trial is done. I need to leave. If he perceives me further¡­''

    Attempting to leave, Ira''s image started fading. However, his actions were halted by Apollo. His vice grip hand dug into Ira''s shoulder. No words were exchanged, but a soul-wrenching frenzy was apparent in Apollo''s eyes.

    When he let go, Ira understood the message. ''He wasing for it and his escape was impossible.''

    With that, Apollo''s eyes regained rity in the independent space but something was different about him. As if some slumbering menace had been awoken, his eyes filled with a smoldering, abyssal me.

    [By the unholy...this is¡­]

 Chapter 108 - Mutated Infernal Nucleus, Insufferable Backlash

    ----

    As Apollo awakened, the atmosphere came to a standstill. The nefarious heat circled his body as it was controlled subconsciously by the power running amok within. Subsequently, his awareness returned at a fluid pace, however, his presence was off. It was as if one was looking at the embodiment of wrath itself.??

    Not to mention, in ce of his veins, molten cracks appeared on his body. At this sight, Azridan marveled. However, it wasn''t long before his thoughts soon changed, despairing at this turn of events.

    [Ira¡­ you fool! Look what you have done! How dare you leave this Wrath within his body! You make my job harder than need be due to your blunder. Even if I wanted to, I can''tpletely rectify this issue. This worldcks Demonic Anima! Imbecile!!]

    A second boundless wrath exploded from Apollo''s body except this felt controlled and aimed directly at something. As quickly as it appeared, it vanished. However, by no means, did it aplish nothing. After all, how can an action made by the former Demon Monarch result in trivial aftershocks?

    From that simple burst of unforeseen anger, arge uproar awashed the Demon World. Those who relied upon Ira for power were momentarily powerless. Furthermore, some even groveled before that overbearing pressure that coated the world.

    ----

    Far past the current world,

    A demon lifted his head ceasing his prior actions. He lifted his head peering into the sky above, "This aura, this revolting hatred containing such an oppressive might; I have only seen this one other time. Is that being not dead? Hoh? Interesting. However, based on this intensity, he has stagnated whereas we have grown! I wee you in the future¡ªAzridan."

    The towering demon chuckled as his formed shrank. Soon enough, he was no taller than two meters. Four extremelyrge and ominously majestic horns wrapped around his head like a crown. His pure silver hair hung past his waist as he turned to the three behind him.

    Thereafter, a malevolent smirk appeared upon his lips, "Xynthos, Kirheim, Zekilyx. It seems our long lost brother is still among us. However, unlike us, his ability to wield the Sin and beyond has fallen to a standstill. It seems our worries for the past millennia have been unwarranted."

    "I felt it as well. However, why should we spare his meager existence any attention now? After all, we have you to rule us demons now¡ªIrzanach. Haven''t you nearlypleted the inheritance? You''ll be the next Demon Monarch!" Xynthos chuckled as he gazed proudly at the calm Izranach.

    "Hmph, that may be true but I have only reached the same point he has. However, what annoys me is the fact he was able to reach this point in a fraction of the time I was. This unsettles me. Is this an omen? Why is it as I reach this moment, a fluctuation of him is felt." Izranach''s eyes remained in the sky as he fell into silence.

    Deep within, he felt something was bound to happen. However, he also felt he was wrong and that it wasn''t Azridan he should worry about. Unbeknownst to him, he shifted his gaze to an entirely different direction and fell into deeper rumination.

    ----

    Apollo clenched his first as the foreign wrath subsided. Unfortunately, his own was still present. Furthermore, it was uncontroble for the current him; even his ability to talk had been robbed from him.

    Based on the current situation, Wrath was still running rampant within Apollo. In fact, it was even greater than before. With Ira gone, there was nothing left to control the remnants of its power.

    One had to remember, Ira was purely Sin¡ªan unadulterated power. Without a suitable container, its properties ran amok. Needless to say, Apollo''s current physique was far from a proper container. Simply put, it was horrifyingly insufficient.

    Let alone a Lesser Demon, even the level beyond¡ªa Greater Demon¡ªwould have trouble dealing with the amount of Sin coursing through his body. With each passing moment, the cracks on his body grew and yet, Apollo''s countenance remained unaffected by this.

    Instead, his eyes were clouded with an immense amount of rage. It was as if part of him was still trapped within the Trial of Rage. Thankfully, his mind was still in a desirable state yet to be entirely consumed. As such, he called out to Azridan.

    ''Azridan...we have toplete the Infernal Ira Stigmata. I can feel the Infernal Nucleus. I am close but I can''t control my body properly. Are you able to do it for me?''

    [Unfortunately, I can''t. This is one thing that is impossible. I can''t dip into your source of sin. Every individual has a unique signature. While it can be siphoned, I can''t be the one to cast your breakthrough. If I take you over, the process will be restarted and this time, it''ll be at a level equal to my understanding of Sin. In light of that...your body would be destroyed.]

    ''If that''s the case, is this the end for me? Do I just give up? I can feel so much power coursing through me and yet I''m unable to use it? Why is this happening? Why is it that I never have an easy journey! Why does everything go wrong?'' Apollo''s rage seethed,menting his powerlessness to change anything.

    Once again, his suppressed wrath was getting the better of him. With that being said, his action was causing his body even more damage. The cracks on his body were spreading at a faster rate. Oddly, with the cracks, no blood seeped out.

    Or rather, his blood was morphing into something else entirely. The problem was, there was nothing to sustain him. If there was, the damage would be reversible and even turned into a blessing. Regrettably, they weren''t in the Demon World.

    [Look at your current mind state, you feel that rage coursing within you? Your Infernal Nucleus is unstable! To be exact, I think it has mutated, it is something belonging to neither a Lesser or Greater Demon. If we form your Stigmata now¡­]

    ''What? If we form it what?'' Apollo''s asked grimly. From Azridan''s tone, he understood his next words were nothing good but he needed to hear it.

    [You''ll die soon. Your internal system, it''s being mutted. If this damage continues or even is entuated by the Infernal Ira Stigmata, the deterioration rate will hasten.]

    ''So you mean...my actions have brought about the inevitable? Me trying to harness my Sin has resulted in the repercussions happening anyway? Are you¡­.are you ying with me Azridan? Please tell me you''re joking¡­'' Apollo pleaded wherein the rage within his eyes bolstered.

    [I''m sorryd. My words are far from a joke. This is the reality of the matter.]

    ''What caused this!?'' Apollo snarled, clenching his jaw to the point his teeth creaked. This was hard for him to ept. He was dying? All he did was seek power and yet he was once again facing death? Was fate ying some type of cruel game with him? Was destiny testing his sanity?

    [The one who gave your trial, as well as this world, caused this. However, if I''m being more specific, you caused this. Do you recall those moments of bloodlust in which you lost control? It was due to small bits of Pride and Wrath melding with your mind. The trial of every Sin tests a quality you must triumph above.

    [However, I didn''t feel the fluctuation of triumph from you. Instead, it felt as if you had shattered your trial. In doing so, the primal wave of Ira forced into your body was never reimed. In other words, you forcefully ending your trial gave birth to this current situation. You should already understand this from your current state¡ªtoo much Sin is dangerous. Especially so for a newborn Demon.]

    ''So...I am to me for this mess. No it''s not my fault. It''s the detestable Ira whose to me. It preyed upon the weakness in my mind! I wanted it all to disappear and that''s what it did¡ªit vanished. So why am I being punished? No...there has to be a way to correct this,'' Apollo muttered. As he was now, he couldn''t ept this as truth.

    [Haah...as my sessor, I''ll just have to make a sacrifice for you. There is a way to slow this event, but it''s not without its drawbacks. After doing so, I''ll most likely have to recuperate my soul. Without a body, this technique is something teetering on being forbidden.]

    ''Recuperate your soul? That means...''

    [Correct. You''ll be on your own.]

 Chapter 109 - Sacrificial Imprint, Forming The Stigmata

    ----

    Apollo''s face turned grim when he heard that he would be on his own. It wasn''t like this world possessed someone else well versed in the ways of being a demon. After all, they didn''t originate from this world nor had they ever ventured here. Hence, he was left in a rut. ??

    Much of which caused by the fact that Azridan''s word provided him with a sense of rity. It enabled Apollo to take a step back and digest exactly what Azridan was trying to tell him.

    ''It is my fault. I couldn''t face the fact that I have barely made any progress in power. While it may appear that I have, that is only when pinned against my peers. I don''t hold the power to guard myself against unknown or powerful threats,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    [I''ve told you already, don''t mull over this anymore. My sessor, you muste to understand; things happen because they are supposed to. We must take a step back ande to realize, you are far from normal and so is your situation. Reincarnation, the mixing of souls; all of these things are acts that defy the natural order.

    [Thus, it is only natural you face extreme hardship in your pursuit of power. If you didn''t, I don''t think you woulde to aplish much. Those without obstacles becent. But that is a matter for another time; we have to tend to your devolving internal condition.]

    ''You''re right. I can''t let myself be defeated but that doesn''t take away from the fact that I will be causing unknown damage to you,'' Apollo replied, sighing ruefully.

    [I, who no longer possesses a body, will have to ce my desires on you. That just means the weight on your shoulders bes that much greater. When I recover, I will reveal to you a tale. One that will shed light on your purpose as my sessor.]

    ''I''ll ept it unconditionally at that time,'' Apollo instantly conceded, lowering his head. For a moment, his body trembled. The violet hue of his eyes deepened bringing the progress of the corruption to a halt.

    "Hooo¡­It''s been a while since I''ve used this technique let alone attempt it without the suitable body, however, I will not fret. This is what must be, I will reverse or at the very least, stifle this grim situation," Azridan said, taking possession of Apollo''s body.

    There was only one way to deal with the condition of his body. It was to suppress and confine the overabundance of Sin elsewhere. In this case, it was a special technique. Azridan lifted his finger, slicing his palm, near molten blood seeped from the wound.

    ''It has degenerated to this state already? This is Purgatory''s Blood! If we waited any longer his vitality would have been utterly ruined. As I warned him, Wrath is the most vtile Sin of them all. This is strictly due to the Hellfire''s different variations. Of course, Ira awakened the most dreadful of the bunch.''

    For Hellfire, its color determined its potency. The darker it was, the more dreadful the mes that came along with it. Furthermore, Hellfire was an obscure me in that it could be manifested through two different scenarios.

    One being the harnessing of Sin, the other being the extraction of it from a sinful corpse. The former was the direct cultivation of a demon whereas thetter was more of abative technique. It could only be done if one possessed a certain other Sin. As it was now, it wasn''t something Apollo was capable of.

    On the contrary, Azridan manipted the Hellfire with ease going as far as extracting it from Apollo''s body for an instant.

    "Invoke Acedia!" Azridan roared, a ripple spreading from his body. Albeit short-lived, the ripple aplished a lot; the surroundings froze. In that window of time, Azridan drew a symbol around Apollo''s navel.

    It looked like a "Z" surrounded by a ring, intersected with three crossing lines. When it waspleted, a sizzling noise sounded from his skin as it soon branded. However, the process was far from done.

    Azridan''s expression filled with indescribable agony as a ck, ethereal fog was extracted from his forehead. When itnded on the lines of the seal, Azridan''s countenance paled whereas the drawn symbol shimmered exuberantly.

    "Ugh¡­ Suppress the rampant Ira! I invoke the Daemonic Restraint Imprint: Sin Suppression!" Azridan roared formed a type of star hand seal. Numerous crimson chains first ejected from the imprint then inverted piercing Apollo''s body.

    Like a devouring whale, it swallowed almost every bit of the surplus Ira in Apollo''s body, only stopping when Azridan performed another seal. With this, his eyelids felt heavy as he swayed, failing to muster sufficient strength.

    "As I thought...this is extremely taxing. Although it was only 30% of my soul, I require all of it to remain active as the system''s warden. Sadly, I''ll have to relinquish that title for a set period until I recover. It is done," Azridan said, the deep hue in Apollo''s eyes disappearing.

    At the same time, Apollo looked at himself incredulously, however, not in a good sense. He felt nearly identical to the moment before amassing the Infernal Nucleus. At a nce, he could tell his body had entered a weakened state.

    As Azridan said, this option came with immense drawbacks. Be that as it may, Azridan still urged Apollo to continue with his action. Needless to say, the danger had subsided by arge degree.

    [Immediately form the Stigmata. Your internal state is disastrous, you need its effects now!]

    "Right!" Apollo hurriedly responded. He took a moment to calm himself before urging all the Ira in his body to flow towards the obscure symbols above his chest. As he did so, the symbol grew, soon covering his entire left pectoral. When his body was nearly devoid of that power, he executed another action.

    He urged thest of the Ira toward his Infernal Nucleus. As such, a faint connection strengthening by the second was created. With that, a shred of power returned to Apollo''s body. It was farfetched but he had weathered the storm.

    [Atst, you have created it.]

    Albeit faint, there was liveliness flowing from Apollo''s heart. Although it was out of rhythm and shoddy, it was just enough to revitalize Apollo to a certain extent. This was all thanks to the creation of a small silverish crystal embedded in his heart. It was what was known as the Infant Heart of Wrath.

    With the appearance of this faint power, he knew he was still alive. Unfortunately, it was long before his joy turned into reluctance. A score of system alerts appeared before his eyes. The first of which he didn''t want to seee to light despite being warned it was a repercussion.

    ?System Alert! The system warden will enter slumber in 10 days for an undetermined period of time. During that time, the system and rewards will still be active, however, guidance will be naught.?

    "I''m sorry Azridan...this is all my fault," Apollo sighed ashamed of the transgressions taking ce in this independent space. If he had resolved the situation in a more suitable manner, perhaps this wouldn''t have happened.

    [I''ve already told you. Drawbacks and obstacles are inevitable. I for one should understand this notion. Falling from my position is a pristine example of this. Nheless, we still have time. As the system told you, you have 10 days.]

    "Very well. I won''t dwell over the matter then. But what I will say is, I''ll make sure to uphold the demeanor of a demon in your absence," Apollo proimed with a resolute gaze. Concurrently, he glimpsed over notifications.

    ''So that''s why I feel weak despite advancing.''

    ?System Alert! The rampant energies previously damaging your internal state have been suppressed and the immediate threat to your life has been resolved. Due to the damage, based on this world''s standards, all Experience will be diverted to healing.?

    ?System Alert! Progress has beenpromised. Affected stat: -Vitality 20.0. The rewarding stat gain of these aforementioned stats from achieving the Zul Warrior Realm equivalent will be halved.?

    ?System Alert! Congrattions, the equivalent to the Zul Warrior Realm has been achieved. The Infernal Ira Stigmata has formed and linked with Infernal Nucleus: Strength +50.0, Agility + 35.0, and Vitality +25.0.?

    ?System Alert! Congrattions, all objectives of the Journey to Sovereignty Part One have beenpleted. The rewards will beputed.?

    ''That''s right. All the rewards were question marks. I wonder what I''ll be rewarded,'' Apollo thought, dismissing the notifications.

    [Hmm, your current state will take ample time and resources to restore. Furthermore, the seal on you won''t suffice forever. It''s simply keeping your problems at bay. You need to be a Greater Demon as soon as possible and advance your mastery with Sin.]

    "Consider it done," Apollo replied.

    [Music to my ears. Now, we have other matters to take care of. For example, the summoning item. With your state, you''ll need a reliable partner. Not to mention, I have to assign new things to you before my status is frozen.]

 Chapter 110 - Summoning Circle Invocation, Imploring Voice

    ----

    ?System Alert! The rewards for thepletion of your quest is currently being calcted. After the process is done, you will be awarded. Furthermore, additional rewards will be given due to your irregr way of oveing your Trial.? ??

    ''Hm? I''ll be rewarded for doing that? However, it''s still undetermined exactly how I''ll be renumerated. There still exists the possibility of the reward being rather underwhelming. Nevertheless, any item served as a bonus will be an additional help.'' Apollo thought as he looked at the fading message before him.

    It wasn''t long after that Azridan urged him to continue forward with other matters.

    [Lad, I''m not sure if your body will return to its prime state before the selection trial. Therefore, I think it''s time we act upon that item in your possession. Luckily, now that you''ve be a full-fledged Lesser Demon, your worries should have lessened a great deal.]

    "What do you mean? Does bing a Lesser Demon also give me other benefits I''m unaware of?" Apollo questioned, withdrawing the Soulbound Demonic Companion Summoning Inscription. As he gazed at it, he felt a faint aura emanating from it. If it was before, he would have been unable to do so.

    ''Is this the aura of Sin leaking from this item but what type is this?'' Apollo thought to himself, thoroughly examining the inscription badge. Faint ck wisps of energy wreathed the item in his hand. It even went as far as to seep in his hand without his consent. It found the power in his body to be appetizing.

    [Precisely. Now that you''re a Lesser Demon, your repertoire of possible Demonic Companions should have expanded. Inparison, it''s simr to someone likening a pond to an ocean. More importantly, seldom would you find a being less than a Lesser Demon in the Demon World. If so, they''d be a demon in the process of creation. Of course, there remain some anomalies.]

    "I see. So then, I don''t have to worry about failing to pick a suitablepanion?" Apollo asked, holding back a sigh of relief. He didn''t want to get his hopes up before receiving confirmation.

    [Precisely. There''s bound to be apanion that fulfills your needs. Unfortunately, I must forewarn you. Using that inscription is taxing on your soul, if you don''t choose apanion within a certain time period then the inscription will be rendered null. I estimate you''ll have no more than one minute.

    [Moreover, there is a period of inactivity for this specific inscription. Failure to choose will bar you from entering for another 3 years. Hence, it is always rmended to take losses on apanion rather than possessing stringent requirements. After all, ackingpanion that you can attempt to cultivate is better than possessing nopanion at all.]

    "I understand what you mean. If ites down to it, I won''t hesitate to make an impromptu decision. However, I have a question, I thought I was unable to select mypanion? Also, will these summonings onlye from the Demon World?"

    [Yes and no. While you are unable to choose, you''re able to reject. Based on the feeling of temptation, you''ll understand apanion''s general strength. That way, you retain the ability to indirectly choose yourpanion.]

    [As for what I call the Demon World, it is in fact a chain of worlds. In total, there are nine worlds harboring a multitude of demons, however, one of them is uninhabited and has been that way for eons. After the first demon monarch, there has never been another.

    [As for the other 7, they are ruled over by the Lords whereas the remaining one is where wepeted.]

    "Who are we?" Apollo asked, embers of curiosity apparent in his eyes.

    [That''s a tale for another time. It''s not time for you to know. Knowing will just make you more curious. When you achieve sufficient strength, I will personally guide you there. For now, we need to invoke that inscription. Use your blood to draw the symbol on the ground. It needs to be ratherrge as you''ll have to sit within.]

    Apollo shifted his gaze from the array underneath him to the inscription in his hand. They shared simrities in that they were both forms of "magic circles." The only difference was the origin of the symbols and the intricacies of each circle. Inparison, the inscription was many times more detailed.

    "Uh...how do you expect me to draw this? I don''t understand the essence behind this," Apollo muttered, finding himself ipetent as to how he should continue. Even though Azridan made it sound simple, it felt far from it.

    [That''s the beauty of the item. You don''t need to understand the essence, just replicate the orientations. As long as the major parts are intact, then the inscription will activate.]

    "Very well then," Apollo nodded. He got to work inscribing therge magic circle to the best of his abilities. He didn''t possess any inscription tools but Demons didn''t use those. Instead, they used the best material they would muster¡ªtheir blood. Apollo pricked his finger to draw the circle.

    Unfortunately, the immensity of the circle required copious amounts of blood. It wasn''t long before his countenance paled but on the bright side, it was nearly done. By the time he finished it, he seemed like a ghost.

    [That''s good enough. Don''t replenish yourself. It''s best to enter that ne in this state. The closer to "death" you are, the more demonic one will feel in that realm. Furthermore, the residual Ira afflicting your soul will also work in your favor. You should be tap into powers otherwise unattainable. However, exercise caution and do not utilize it to an extent that injures your soul.]

    "So, try to stimte Ira in my mind but don''t allow it to overtake me?" Apollo surmised, taking a seat within the middle of the inscription circle.

    [That is correct. Press the inscription on your forehead and allow it to activate.]

    Doing exactly so, Apollo''s eyes shuddered before closing. An ethereal feeling washed over him, robbing control over his body. In exchange, his soul traveled elsewhere. He found himself within a stifling and murky atmosphere. The grayish cloud seemed both endless and dense.

    Furthermore, with that endless expanse, numerous voices called out to him, lulling him in their directions. Luckily, through willpower alone, Apollo barely managed to retain a clear conscience. ''Such strong temptation...it seems like they want to corrupt me rather than form a contract. It''s as if they treat me as prey. Very well, if that''s how they see me¡­''

    In alignment with his thoughts, Apollo''s soul aura red containing bits of pure Ira. Despite that, the numerous voices only grew far more intense. The aroma of his soul was a delicacy to them!

    "A fresh Demon with such a pure source of Sin. Be my ve," uttered a malevolent voice.

    "Be my power," uttered another.

    "Hehehe, you won''t go far without me. Come,e join with me and we''ll taste the most delicious of power," culled a scious voice. Thatst voice carried with it an intent nearly capable of threatening Apollo''s state.

    Thus, he tried his best to distance himself from it. Be that as it may, the longer he stayed in the obscure realm, the more he felt tempted to form a contract with the ever-present mesmerizing voices. This was a trait of the demons¡ªUnforeseen Temptations. There existed no other being more adept in temptations than a demon.

    "Silence, all of you," spoke an archaic voice. Surprisingly, after that voice sounded, the voices of the realm quieted instantly. On the other hand, Apollo felt a pang of trepidation. To be able to quell those demons with such ease, what type of existence was this? If it possessed any malicious intent, Apollo felt he would be powerless to resist.

    "Young one, ease your nerves. I don''te bearing malicious intent. Instead, I beseech your help. I can tell from the origin of your soul, you have yet to enter the Demonic World and be corrupted by their treacherous environment. As such, you''re the only candidate I can look to," spoke the voice in an oddly gentle tone. It sounded almost motherly.

    "Who...no...what are you?" Apollo questioned.

    "Me? I am a demon of the highest order. Unfortunately, I possess a special identity so I''m unable to disclose that to you. Just know, I am being hunted for the aspects of my abilities. It seems people covet us now. Hard times are among us, we must be a collective. Will you ept this task that I''m willing to delegate to you?" the voice spoke again.

    "I¡­" Apollo paused for a moment, contemting. Now that he was a demon, he was sensitive to negative intents to a certain extent, yet he sensed none emanating from the voice. This meant only one thing¡ªthis voice was genuine.

    "I will ept but what is it you need me to do?"

    "I implore you to form a contract with my offspring. Grow with them and cultivate them into something capable of changing this world with you. I sense your soul is one capable of great things. Thus, I have no qualms delegating this to you," the voice responded, a tendril drilling into Apollo''s mind.

    "Your offspring? You want them to be mypanion? But what type of demon are you? I need one thatpliments me," Apollo responded hastily.

    "We are a species beneficial to all. There is no time for me to go into detail. Your soul is crumbling as we speak. Your time is nearly over. What is your answer?"

    "I ept!" Apollo''s soul bellowed, noticing the murky clouds around growing faint.

    "I ce my hopes in you then."

 Chapter 111 - An Omen And Blessing, Rare Demonic Species

    ----

    Apollo gasped, his expression filled with deep exasperation. That prior out-of-body experience as well as the voice speaking to him left a sizable impression on him. Furthermore, another reason remained for his exasperation. ??

    When his consciousness returned, a scene leaving him astounded unfolded¡ªhis summoning''s appearance punctured a hole in the fabric of space. While the summoning of this creature didn''t cause any otherrge turbulence, there was a looming shade epassing the creature''s forming body. Additionally, its potency grew to the point of tangibility.

    However, after a certain point, its body seemed to be experiencing some trouble; small chains formed within the shade constricting its movement. Be that as it may, the creature showed no reaction, unresponsive to the outside stimulus. On the other hand, Azridan was shocked by the entrance of this creature.

    [Hmm, I know this fluctuation? Wait, WHAT?! How did you manage to contract a species like this? Dark lords, this is not good. I think the world is rejecting this summoning. Wait no, that''s only partly right!]

    Azridan''s voice began to fill with panic. The summon Apollo contracted was not only one of great origin but its existence only meant one thing; an inevitable omen was to take ce. The issue was, no one knew just when the catastrophe it symbolized would take ce.

    "Azridan...what type of summoning is this?" Apollo muttered after great difficulty. Looking at the abnormality before him, he felt a slight connection with it despite its seemingly absent signs of life.

    [My sessor, this is a serpent of great stiptions. In short, it''s what we demons call a World''s End Serpent but that isn''t its official name. With each one''s birth, it symbolizes a great threat in the future. However, it is also prophesied as the descent of the true Demon Monarch. Hence, it is a double-edged sword in the truest sense. The fact you are the one to contract can only mean one thing¡ªyou, my young one, were always fated to be what I seek for you to be.]

    As Azridan bestowed this information upon Apollo, he examined the qualities of the serpent before him. Its outer appearance was extremely dull, almost lifeless but a small ripple of unfamiliar energy told Apollo otherwise.

    Equally important, its size remained irregr as it continued to congeal from its incorporeal state; over 1 meter long. However, based on what the voice told him, this offspring was just birthed. In other words, from birth, this summoning was the size of some natural full-grown snakes!

    Just what type of being could give to such a thing? More importantly, how would he support this? As he was now, he was unfamiliar with the acts of nurturing life. This was understandable seeing as he himself could still be thought of as a child.

    [Hmm? This particr offspring seems to have multiple seals ced around its essence. I wonder why that is so. Allow me to borrow your body for a moment. I must quell my curiosities.]

    ''En,'' Apollo nodded, allowing Azridan to momentarily take him over. Compared to his prior actions of possessing Apollo, this time was exceedingly short. It wasn''t due to Azridan''s unwillingness but rather it was Azridan''s soul who was far too fragile. Regrettably, it was unable to sustain more than half a second of possession.

    Nevertheless, in that small time frame, Azridan was able to collect the information he needed. s, what he learned was grimmer than he previously imagined. It seemed the timeline was even shorter than he hoped for.

    [This child''s mother was being hunted by those 3 and it seems to be another amongst their ranks. Interesting, so that''s how much the Demonic Linked Worlds have changed. Even then, this raises the question of how long before their deal backfires on them? I believe it''s their doing¡ªthis uing cmity¡ªthat is.

    [Contrary to how it sounds, you can perceive their asinine actions as your blessing. That specific demon is a highly coveted species. I won''t disclose its secrets now but I will tell you this; cultivate them well. The more efforts you put in, the more benefits you will reap. With that being said, name it to seal the contract.]

    "A name¡­" Apollo murmured, falling into deep thought afterward. Sparing the serpent frequent nces, Apollo looked at the color of its midnight blue scales then upwards. Atop its head, between two small horns was a pulsating flowing silver stream of scale to the tip of its tail. This one aspect resonated with Apollo. It felt as if endless power was sealed within this small body.

    "Ouroboros," Apollo muttered.

    ''Ding!''

    ?System Alert! The Soulbound Demonic Companionship has been formed! Yourpanion ?Ouroboros? is awakening. The bond is solidifying.?

    The serpent''s eye trembled, opening slowly. Its pure silver and inquisitive pupils gazed upon Apollo with faint signs of familiarity. Quietly, it slithered to Apollo''s foot before hissing. Although it didn''t speak, Apollo understood what the serpent was asking for.

    He bent down, allowing the snake to lick his forehead. In ce, a small symbol appeared at the sight of the lick. It was an obscure marking but it was something this type of species could only do once in a lifetime. To put it differently, this snake branded Apollo for life.

    In a sense, they now shared one life. Simrly, this also meant they shared a mind.

    "Did you give birth to me? I don''t think that is right. We aren''t the same," a small boyish voice entered Apollo''s mind, shocking him slightly.

    "A male? Furthermore, how can you speak so clearly from birth?" Apollo questioned.

    "I was born long ago. When I was created, I could already perceive the world but here...this isn''t what I felt. This world feels bad. It''s not enough. Can we leave?" Ouroboros pleaded. What it meant was the Natural Essence of this world wasn''t suited to its taste.

    Being that it was conceived in a higher world and it was by far a higher being, it craved the sustenance of Demonic Anima. Unfortunately, that wasn''t something present in the world. Of course, this didn''t mean they would be out of options.

    "I''m sorry to tell you this but I don''t possess a way to currently leave this ce. If we wish to do so, we''ll have to both grow stronger," Apollo replied, slightly apologetic. He understood what it was like to be without parents and afortable environment.

    Instead of responding right away, Ouroboros began sniffing Apollo or more specifically, his pouch. "I smell something familiar and delicious, is it for me?"

    [The serpent is talking about the items from clearing your Demonic Conduct. At the moment it is only a Silver Umbra Serpent but it still feeds on chaos. Give it one of those Inferior Crystallized Chaos you have remaining.]

    Nodding, Apollo retrieved the item, cing it before Ouroboros'' mouth. In one fluid motion, it gulped the shard and hissed happily. Not long after, its eyelids fluttered, threatening to close.

    "Tired¡­" Ouroboros muttered, a shocking scene taking ce. From over one meter, the serpent shrunk to the size of a palm. Afterward, it zipped to Apollo''s palm curling up and falling asleep.

    [The seals in its body have inhibited its digestion. It''ll have to sleep often to digest the energies flowing throughout properly. I must sayd, you''re quite the lucky one. Although you have run into your fair share of difficulties, a blessing has befallen you.]

    ''Is this snake really that strong?'' Apollo questioned, eyeing the now palm-sized Ouroboros. While looking at it gave him a positive influence, he wasn''t one to immediately believe everything told to him.

    [It''s not that it is obscenely strong, it''s the innate abilities they obtain when at different stages of maturity that are mind-boggling. As I told you earlier, they are beacons for the next Demon Monarch. But, that doesn''t mean your position is guaranteed, you''ll definitelye in contact with possible contenders for the mantle.]

    "I see. When the timees, I''ll make sure to trample whoever stands in my way. I already owe you a great deal. I''m sure part of your desire has something to do with this exact thing," Apollo responded.

    [It does but we needed to elerate our ns. The system rewards have been generated.]

    ?System Alert! Reward(s) for the quest ?Journey to Sovereignty Part One? have been determined. You have been rewarded: 50 ?Tainted Demonic Shards?, 60 ?Inferior Crystallized Chaos?, 50 ?Fragments of Sin?, ?System Upgrade? and ?Household Creation Medallion?.?

    "Oh my god- ablgghhh¡­" Apollo''s body jerked and spasmed as if struck by lightning. When he stopped, he looked around in horror, "What the hell was that?!"

    [Fool! Didn''t I warn you? You are now a full-fledged demon! You can''t mention that name. If you do, damage will be inflicted. Moreover, each mention increases the subsequent punishment.]

    "That is my blunder but the rewards are too shocking," Apollo responded defensively. He was right, due to the quest being arge milestone, he received ample rewards.

    [You think this pitiful amount of resources is worthy of awe? Heh, if you were to see my past collection, endless defecation would befall you. Nheless, we have other matters to handle. Allow me to generate your next grand task before the slumber soon ims me.]

    ?System Alert! Another Main Mission is being generated.?

    ?System Alert! ?System Upgrade? of undetermined length willmence in 1 minute. In the meantime, all system menus will be inactive.?

 Chapter 112 - In Light Of The Upcoming Absence

    ----

    ''The system will be inactive? Does that mean I''ll be unable to track my progress?'' Apollo thought to himself as he looked at the message shing before his eyes. This was the first time he had experienced the system ceasing function. Despite there being a minute left, each passing second felt akin to an eternity.??

    [What uncanny timing. It seems you''ll be without both I and the system for quite some time. Nevertheless, don''t find this disheartening. Think of it as a time for you to explore yourself. Although you have be a Lesser Demon, you''re unfamiliar with whates along with it. As a result, it is time for your next mission.

    ?System Alert: Next Main Mission ?Journey to Sovereignty Part Two? has been generated.?

    Quest Name: Journey to Sovereignty Part Two

    Quest Information: Although your road to power is still arduous, your advancement has marked the progress on your path. However, in order to truly obtain the mantle that awaits you, you must aplish tasks otherwise impossible for typical demons. Through pure grit and unbreakable tenacity, you are to shatter the barrier and take control of your first demon while also performing what only a few can aplish.

    Objectives:

    -Achieve the 4th Level of the Demon Monarch System. (0/1)

    -Open the Tainted Temple and achieve the Spirit Apprentice Realm equivalent. (0/1)

    -Advance further upon Demonic Conduct achieving at least Stage 5. (0/1)

    -Fulfill the qualifications to be a Greater Demon. (0/1)

    -Subdue your first Demonic Spirit. (0/1)

    Rewards:

    -Information on the Stigmata

    -Vital Sessor Knowledge

    -???

    -???

    Time Limit: 3.5 years (Equal to the time left on your Suppression Imprint.)

    ''Information about the Second Sin? Why does it seem as if the path is undetermined? Moreover, it also appears that demons are not supposed to dabble with more than one Sin?'' Apollo thought to himself with inspecting the mission information.

    [That''s correct. The order you acquire sins is always undetermined as you are the crucial factor in deciding the next step. Based on your actions, emotions, and beliefs, you manifest the sign of your next Sin. In truth, only certain demons are able to break the shackle and tap into another Sin, but that doesn''t mean they always do so. After all, the 7 Lords I told you about all took a single Sin to the pinnacle and remained that way. Even those who wielded dual Sins were unable to contest them when serious.]

    ''Interesting. What happens if you reach or surpass their attainments in those Sins?'' Apollo questioned, desire building in his eyes. It would be a lie to say he wasn''t excited to learn of such supreme existences. If even Azridan held them to such a high degree, their strength must bemendable.

    [Then you''ll obtain the true state of the Demon Monarch. At that time¡­ it wouldn''t be far fetched to say one would reach invincibility. I''m sure I told you before, the method I gave you allows one to harness the Sins properly but allow me to delve deeper into its secrets.]

    [First and foremost, while all demons possess a stigmata, they are not all the same. Oftentimes, the stigmata is their body themselves with it acting as the vessel of Sin. Additionally, they all possess either a Tainted Temple or Infernal Nucleus to hold Demonic Anima andplement that "vessel". Meanwhile, the technique I have given you allows you, in a sense, to wear Sin.]

    ''Hm? If I only wear Sin, isn''t that weaker than the Demons who draw it into their body and meld with it?'' Apollo asked, curious about the differences. From the way it sounded, it seemed as if the stigmata retained the power and not himself.

    [That''s incorrect. Although you "wear" yours, the stigmata are you, they are linked to your vital functions just as the others, if not to a greater extent. Furthermore, you must keep in mind a typical demon can only have one or the other whereas you can shatter this limitation. The creation of multiple stigmata instilled with Pure Sin allows your body to undergo painful yet extremely advantageous changes. But, you must remember, never allow your stigmata to run amok.]

    ''Why is that?'' Apollo''s ears perked up. Needless to say, dire information was about to be imparted to him.

    [That is because, after a certain point, these certain stigmata assimte with their primal source. This is another reason I didn''t want you to meet Ira but...it is already done. There is nothing we can do, you Ira Stigmata is already in an obscure state. You''ll have to evolve quicker than your prior transformation.]

    ''Does that mean these stigmata are irregr? From your words, it seems as if stigmata aren''t supposed to do that,'' Apollo responded.

    [Not really, if I''m to be frank with you, this method is one that came directly from the inheritance of the Great One. All of the other demons possessed the derived version. These, in your possession, are the ones of First Creation. In other words, there is no other demon below my rivals with stigmata on par with these.]

    "I see," Apollo nodded before ncing down at Ouroboros in his palm. The coiled serpent was emanating an aura slightly familiar to him or rather, he was started at something identical to the aura.

    ''Why is its aura identical to Fragments of Sin?'' Apollo murmured, examining Ouroboros closely. No matter how he looked at him, Apollo couldn''t discern where the aura was leaking from. It just seemed as if it was something natural to Ouroboros.

    [Don''t mind him. His body is just undergoing its innate process. This is part of what I warned you about. Make sure to cultivate him well. When certain issues arise, you''ll find yourself possessing more means at your disposal that you were otherwise privy to.]

    [That''s enough about that. Time is running out, there is but a few seconds left before your menus deactivate. Use all your stat points and bring your body to the highest state. Although I have more time left, I can feel my consciousness slipping.]

    Immediately after, Apollo brought up his stat page, dumping all his stat points into the skills. After doing so, he took a moment. Based on the exceedinglyrge changes that took ce in his stats, he remained appalled for quite some time.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.3

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [0.01%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 14

    Level: 100 [Locked]

    Experience: [Locked]

    Health: 7,770/7,770

    Stamina: 7,770/7,770

    Body Cultivation Realm: Rank 1 Zul Warrior

    Physique: Heaven-Grade (Low Tier)

    Zuls: 2,340

    Strength: 195.0

    Agility: 180.0

    Intelligence: 125.0

    Vitality: 111.0

    [?Traits?]-

    ?Increased Essence Affinity?

    ?Major Poison Resistance?

    ?Tenacious Shadows?

    ?Sacrificial Vigor?

    ?Fiendish Force?

    [?Techniques?]-

    ?Supreme Demon Body: 7 Sinful Stigmata?

    ?Baleful Steps: Phantasmal Daemos?

    ?War Path: Nine Infernal Annihtions?

    Stat Points: 0

    ''Although I used all my stat points, my stats seem beyond what they should be. Furthermore, why do they all seem regted.'' Apollo inquired, pensive about his current state.

    [Actually, you''re weaker than you''re supposed to be. With such a pure Infernal Ira Stigmata, you should be at least twice as strong as this. But unfortunately, I had to seal you as that power was more destructive than constructive for you currently. However, once you acquire the physique needed, you''ll break the seal on your own and return to your proper state.

    [However, I must warn you. Exercise pristine control of yourself for the time being. Although that seal is there, if your emotions go haywire, you''ll temporarily give it the boost needed to override the sealing. If so, you''ll suffer unforeseen damage at that point. Even asking you to achieve the Greater Demon state of being is a conservative approach.

    [As you are now, you fail to understand just how pure that stigmata you possess is. Although it isn''tplete, it is...well it is overwhelming. Of course, just me telling you about it isn''t enough. Rather, it is better for you to learn.]

    ?System Alert! System Upgrade nowmencing. All features are now deactivated. Until further notice, your exact state will be unavable.?

    Apollo didn''t pay the message much mind this time around. Due to the earlier notice, it was something he already came to expect. On the other hand, he was much more interested in what Azridan was saying. If he meant it was better for him to learn, then that meant he saw it fit for him to train the stigmata.

    [Let''s familiarize you with your body and the way to train it.]

 Chapter 113 - Partially Understanding Demons

    ----

    [It''s pertinent to your growth that you understand the workings of these stigmata. Try extracting a small piece of essence from it and drawing it into your Infernal Nucleus but as you do so, try absorbing trace amounts of Natural Essence from this world as well.] ??

    Apollo nodded, following Azridan''s instructions. The symbols over his heart and left arm glowed with a dark crimson hue as his insides warmed. At the same time, he absorbed trace amounts of the ubiquitous Natural Essence. Although he did so sparingly, it couldn''t be said to look that way.

    Due to his ravenous meridians, the Natural Essence flow toward him in an ample stream. It was like a child running toward a parent with gifts in tow. Subsequently, while examining his internals, Apollo looked on with disbelief.

    While his meridians thrummed with power despite the faint injuries, another sensation was coursing throughout his body.

    "W-what is this?" Apollo marveled.

    [That is, your power.]

    "My power? Does such a force reside inside me? If so, I need to reach higher heights to control this! But, what exactly is this?" Apollo questioned. The euphoric feeling of the vibrant energy coursing through him made him feel as if he was unbeatable. Compared to the originally colorless Natural Essence within his body, this felt much more fit.

    In fact, the residual Natural Essence in his body churned and shifted color into tri-colored energy albeit faint and wholly unsolid. The ck, crimson, and dark grey blended together generating a fiendish aura.

    [This would be iplete Demonic Anima. This is the purpose of the Infernal Nucleus, it is to gather Demonic Anima and disperse it through your body. Meanwhile, the purpose of your stigmata is to consolidate Sin and weaponize the Demonic Anima. One without the other is virtually powerless. Hence, a demon who loses their nucleus is one who will walk the path of futility.]

    ''What if they open that thing called the Tainted Temple? Wouldn''t they be able to ultimately reverse the adverse situation they found themselves in?'' Apollo asked, summoning a tendril of Hellfire. He examined its properties, learning he was incapable of imitating the exact me he was refined by.

    [Good question but not entirely. While it would open a new path for them, that type of task is a tedious thing toplete. Not to mention, you''d need toprehend the more spirit-based Sins. Take Wrath, for example, that''s more physical than anything.]

    While listening, Apollo tapped the Hellfire against his fingers, he felt no heat emanating from it but when he touched it against the ground, it immediately began corroding the magic circle he was sitting in. Shortly after, the ground itself possessed a deep hole the size of a finger. Furthermore, the puncture was smooth and glossed over like fine ss.

    "Damn! This is hot but why can''t I feel anything? Wait, what were you saying? Spirit-based sins? But aren''t all Sins, in a sense, spirit-based? Aren''t they derived from emotions?" Apollo paused his actions, perplexed with what Azridan was disclosing.

    The euphoria he experienced was ephemeral, reced by deep intrigue. As Sins were the basis of his power, it was something he needed to know without the omission of any information. Hence, he gave Azridan his undivided attention.

    [Oh, exemryprehension there. Correct, all Sin possesses two aspects¡ªthe physical and metaphysical or what you would call anything to do with the mind but that doesn''t mean all can see that. Let''s talk about the demon race Ifrits, they are beings of pure Wrath but possess no mental abilities. This is a form of equivalent exchange, a limitation is ced.

    [In exchange for a stupendous physique, their intellectual ability ispromised. In the same way, when a Sin is chosen, it''d take a substantial amount of effort to learn the other half of it or choose a new one for that matter. Although every soul possesses numerous qualities, we all have a trait that makes us, undeniably unique.

    [Fortunately, after you are proven worthy, this will no longer be an issue for you. Now, begin training your Ira and interacting with your created impure Demonic Anima. I''ll give you pointers.]

    Thus, Apollo returned to training. He attempted to familiarize himself with his current body but that was easier said than done. With each evolution, the requirements for training would be far more stringent. To put it differently, the longer he stayed in this world, the slower his progress would be.

    Nevertheless, when an unbearable pain surged through his body, Azridan urged him to take a break. This meant his stigmata was funneling too much energy through his body. However, Azridan remained surprised. Every time this happened, he was shocked by how long it took for the next recurrence.

    [Is this due to his mutated infernal Nucleus? It should be able to store arger amount of impure Demonic Anima than a typical Lesser Demon. Then again, this Natural Essence isn''t enough to convert the pure form of Demonic Anima so I can''t make that assumption properly. To do so, he''ll need toe in contact with the Spiritual Essence talked about in those books.

    [On the other hand, why did the system choose this world? Are there things happening I''m unaware of? For the fastest progress, thisd could have been sent directly to the Demonic Linked Worlds. That way, he wouldn''t need to go through this process but that is just my own impression.]

    As Azridan pondered to himself, Apollo continued to acquaint himself with the stigmata. With time, he grew ustomed to the scorching sensation flowing through his body. When he became oblivious to his surroundings after a few days, Ouroboros awoke, blinking his shimmering amethyst eyes.

    Filled with curiosity as well as desire, he slithered up Apollo''s arm, finding himself on Apollo''s neck. Baring his fangs, he bit Apollo''s neck, siphoning a portion of the Demonic Anima he was converting. As a result, Apollo''s eyes mmed open.

    "Ouroboros, why''d you bite me?" Apollo muttered, stupefied by Ouroboros'' actions. He turned his head but didn''t pull Ouroboros off. First, he was still in his palm-sized form, thus, Apollo didn''t really feel the prick. The only reason he was forced awake, was the reverse flow of the Demonic Anima that alerted him of something being awry.

    "I smelled food so I ate. Is this not okay, Master?" Ouroboros'' innocent voice appeared in Apollo''s mind. It seemed as if he did no wrong, causing Apollo to fall silent for a moment. s, he ultimately gave in as the voice sounded as if this was something natural. Which of course, was the truth.

    "Ah, so you eat Demonic Anima as well. Very well, we''ll just have to share my source. I look forward to finding out what you''re capable of in the future." Apollo responded nonchntly, closing his eyes once again. This time, he didn''t find himself in that same state.

    Although he didn''t realize it, he was subconsciously tracking Azridan''s weakening voice. Thus, often he would sit and conversate with Azridan about things weighing on his mind. With that, he learned far more about Demonic Spirits and such.

    Apparently, it was something unique to the system. Being as he wasn''t in the world, the system allowed for a different type of control. Unlike the way Azridan controlled demons, Apollo was able to partially summon a Demon''s soul!

    When he learned this information, in his mind, Azridan''s words grew faint and his directions absent. Amidst his training, Azridan had entered the long-awaited slumber. In turn, Apollo opened his eyes.

    "I will aplish all tasks handed to me. Before you awaken, I will at least arrive at the state inviting me to wield that Second Sin. I must," Apollo vowed to himself. With that pledge, he seemed to turn into a training fanatic, spending nearly all his time training his cultivation base.

    While he neglectedbat, it didn''t linger on his mind. If there was one thing he was proud of, it was his usefulness in battle. In fact, amongst his age group, he believed it to be rarity for one to find one on par with him. After all, the training of a grand demon wasn''t just for show. With time, his aura continued to increase, solidify and then bolster once again.

    This repeated process of cultivation resulted in Apollo having various thoughts about the items he received. ''That Household Creation Medallion, I''ll have to ask Azridan about it when he awakes. As it is now, I can''t appraise items to obtain information.''

    After a short while, Apollo once again retired to training his Demonic Anima. Meanwhile, the atmosphere of the ship in other areas grew fervent. The timeline was shortening and the selection event was near!

 Chapter 114 - Assumptions Lead To Overwhelming Expectations (I)

    ----

    The days continued to pass and with that, Apollo''s aura bolstered and became unrestrained. Now that his cultivation was advancing, it was difficult to keep his aura under wraps. Especially so, since it was impure Demonic Anima flowing through him in ce of Natural Essence. ??

    In its own right, this type of energy was both vtile and extremely powerful. Hence, expecting Apollo to be able to control from initial interaction was asking for more than the doable. To do so, he would need to familiarize himself with using it inbat. That way, it would appear more natural as well as deepen his understanding of it.

    Shortly after, the atmosphere of the independent space dwindled triggering Apollo''s eyes opened. Unlike before, it seemed the independent space was deteriorating in benefits. In light of this, Apollo rose to his feet, loosening his body; muffled explosions sounded from his joints as he stretched, rocking from side to side.

    "Sitting for so long, it feels good to get up and move around. Furthermore, based on my aura, I should havee in contact with the next small level. If I''m not mistaken, my current physique should be on par with a Rank 2 Zul Warrior at the least," Apollo muttered before punching the air before him.

    A small ripple in space happened before another muffled explosion sounded. This was just the state of his body, there was no essence sacrificed behind the movement. However, Apollo squinted, observing the small changes in that strike.

    ''That doesn''t seem to be what I should be capable of. There are trace amounts of Hellfire in each of my attacks but this isn''t my doing, it should be the essence leaking from the suppressed Stigmata. Just this modicum of Sin has increased my striking power so much, imagine if myplete power was unsealed,'' Apollo marveled at his strength.

    In due time, his excitement died down. He realized something, he overlooked the fact that this muffled explosion and prolonged rumbling wasn''t his doing. In fact, he was so enraptured by advancing; he forgot to observe his surroundings.

    For quite some time, the ship had begun rumbling as if it was slowing down. Not long after he came to this realization, an announcement from a thunderous voice reverberated throughout the ships.

    "We are enclosing on the boundary of Pangea Ind. To those of you currently undergoing frantic attempts at advancing, your time is running out. I implore you to conclude your actions if you find yourself unable to move forward. This is because the barrier surrounding the ind will disrupt concentration; take this as a warning."

    ''Hmm? So, the ind possesses a barrier capable of disrupting concertation. It must have been put in ce in the event the Terrors ever reach this ce. It seems to possess great importance to these higher nobles,'' Apollo concluded, ncing at the awake Ouroboros.

    To his surprise, he was stilltched onto his neck, drawing his Demonic Anima, yet he didn''t feel any powerlessness wash over him. It was something that baffled him, usually, when your essence was extracted, you''d feel faint.

    It was simr to a human giving blood. After a certain amount was removed from the body, a feeling of fragility and weariness would present itself. Hence, Apollo was taken aback by the situation. In exchange for his Demonic Anima, it seemed Ouroboros was giving him something else.

    ''Although I don''t know much about what Ouroboros is doing, this is most likely one of the traits Azridan was referring to. If it continues to grow, it may reach the extent where we reach mutual exchange. No, it isn''t a matter of if but when,'' Apollo internalized.

    Raising a finger, he ced it on Ouroboros'' forehead. In response, he hissed. "What is it, Master? Did I do something wrong?"

    "No, I wanted to know if you know what this energy you''re providing is?" Apollo questioned, gently rubbing his finger on its head. Now that they shared a soul link, it felt as if Ouroboros was a part of him. Needless to say, his repressed tender feelings surfaced in the presence of it.

    "Oh, I don''t know. Your energy just tastes good, Master. So in return, I just give you mine," Ouroboros answered. Surprisingly, he let go as he had reached saturation and couldn''t contain any more energy without falling asleep.

    After letting go, he slithered his tongue against Apollo''s neck, instantly healing the bite marks. It was as if Ouroboros had never absorbed an iota of energy from him.

    Apollo touched his neck, baffled. ''He gave me his energy? I wonder what type of energy that is. Could it have something to do with the Inferior Crystallized Chaos it ate; that''s a possibility. Nheless, as long as mybat power isn''t inhibited, there''s no need to dwell on the matter.''

    Now that the ship was decelerating, the formations inside each of the rooms were losing potency. With the way they were designed, they relied upon the motion of the ship to process the Natural Essence it was intaking. In turn, it would be purified and funneled to the circles; a felicitous mechanism.

    ''There''s nothing left for me to take advantage of within this room.'' Apollo thought to himself. As Ouroboros fell into another slumber on his shoulder, Apollo ignited the inscription on the floor, burning it, thereafter, exiting the independent space.

    When he reached outside, he was surprised. The sealing of the room was on another levelpared to the type of lobby area. Just as he was unable to sense outside of the room, others were unable to peer inside.

    However, as he left, he was immediately made aware of the situation at hand. At some time, both Kayn and Cynthia appeared to have entered cultivation, except their momentum eclipsed his.

    While their gathering speeds were simr, the differencey in their auras. Kayn''s was akin to a deep sea whereas Cynthia''s was reminiscent of a raging stream. It seemed to have something to do with both their cultivation methods as well as their personalities.

    Naturally, when he exited the room, both of them sensed him, opening their eyes. For a moment, there was only silence until their eyes filled with both awe and rm. For starters, Apollo''s aura was still the same anomaly it had always been.

    There was a dissonance between his direct strength and the aura he radiated. Unlike his direct strength being on par with a Rank 2 Zul Warrior, his aura was that of ate-stage Zul Warrior. This only appeared when one''s cultivation method was at a rank allowing the cultivator''sbat power to skip levels.

    Of course, Apollo wasn''t wholly aware of this. While he understood he was strong from the way he dealt with the mercenaries, he didn''t have a clear understanding of how strong. After all, they were depleted of Natural Essence.

    When one loses the sustenance of their Natural Essence, while they retain some of the defensive capabilities from their peak, it plummets inparison. Thus, Apollo gained the chance to do away with them.

    Meanwhile, Kayn''s thought delved even deeper into the matter. ''Is that a Spirit Summon on his shoulder? Their soul aura is nearly identical, that only happens when one contracts with a spirit but then again there is no record of a species with this type of aura in the catalog of the Academies.''

    Unable to dismiss his curiosity, Kayn''s gazed at Apollo''s questioningly, "Is that perhaps a Spirit Summon? Could it be you have be a Spirit Apprentice?"

    "H-huh? Wait a minute, are you telling me my sweet little boy has discovered how to open that path of Cultivation on his own?" Cynthia gawked, examining Ouroboros more closely. Now that she looked at it, it indeed shared various simrities with Apollo.

    Under the questioning, Apollo found himself bing unusually irritated. The questions weren''t necessarily invasive and yet, he was already clenching his fists, his aura seething.

    Upon noticing this, Kayn''s eyebrows jumped, ''His emotional state seemed irregr. Such normal questions wouldn''t usually result in this odd reaction. Exactly what is taking ce?''

    In turn, Cynthia grasped Apollo''s hand, "Calm down, breathe. Control your emotions." At her words, Apollo continued to re at Kayn attempting to repress his roiling emotions. Unbeknownst to him, the stigmata under his clothes emitted a soft hue prompting Ouroboros to open his eyes.

    Ouroboros'' amethyst eyes shimmered with hostility looking at Kayn, "Master is angry!" The silver stream of scales flowing down Ouroboros'' back shimmered, the traces of Ira subsiding in Apollo''s mind.

    Meanwhile, Cynthia was baffled by this scene. ''Why is he so angry? This is unlike anything I''ve seen before. Then again, just as quickly as it appeared, it is disappearing. Something is taking ce¡­ I hope my nephew stays safe.''

    ''That was odd, where did thate from?'' Apollo mindlessly muttered to himself. On the other side, he shook his head, "This is not a Spirit Summon, it''s something simr to a contracted beast."

    "WHAT?!" Kayn eximed.

    As a result, Apollo was astonished by his bizarre reaction. ''Why is his reaction so great?''

 Chapter 115 - Assumptions Lead To Overwhelming Expectations (II)

    ----

    As far as Kayn''s oundish reaction went, Apollo was unable to understand why it was so. Was it really so amazing that he possessed something akin to a Contracted Beast? To him, it wasn''t some awe-inspiring action. Hence, he looked at Kayn wordlessly. Not to mention, he was more concerned with his prior state. ??

    ''If it wasn''t due to Ouroboros and Aunty''s doings, I would have most likely flew into an obscene rage. I don''t understand, Azridan warned me to keep my emotions in check, but he didn''t mention that even slight stimulus retains the ability to affect me like this,'' Apollo thought, ruminating over the previous dilemma.

    "Ahem, pardon my reaction. Based on your expression, I can tell you don''t understand why I am like so. Allow me to exin, remember I mentioned the Spirit Cultivators possessing the ability to control beast¡ªthat is their names, Contracted Beast," Kayn stated.

    As a result, Apollo''s eyebrows rose, "Ah I''m aware of their name. So, with that, you believed I perhaps possessed the ability of a Spirit Cultivator? But, to be that, I would need this Spirit Summon you just talked about, no?"

    "No, not necessarily. You don''t need a Spirit Summon to be a Spirit Cultivator. The makings of a Spirit Cultivatory in the ability to use their soul to interact with others. To do so requires an existing talent. Do you understand what this means?!" Kayn eximed, fervent excitement apparent in his eyes.

    "That I have the talent for Spirit Cultivation?" Apollo replied with a chagrined smile. Kayn''s abundant tion left Apollo feeling a pang of difort. He could tell Kayn found his surefire way to a preferable future, ergo, the ardent gleam in Kayn''s eyes.

    "That''s only partly true! That means, without a doubt, you''ll be admitted. All that remains is for you to present your Contracted Beast to the Administrators. Naturally, this also means you have virtually secured a route to your rise. It was quick, but it seems my decision to sacrifice those children has already begun to pay off.

    Before I likened your responses to nothing but pride, but it seems you contain the ability to enact your word within that body of yours. My god, it seems the divine fates have shone their light upon you," Kayn marveled, even going as far as to p animatedly.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s frown deepened. He felt a tingle in his fingers when Kayn mentioned "divine fate" and "god". ''Please don''t tell me, just hearing those words result in a punishment being afflicted upon me...''

    Fortunately, the expectant punishment didn''t happen and the tingling subsided. However, in response to Kayn''s words, Apollo shrugged, "I''d rather not. I would like to take a look and see what this trial entails. Not to mention, there''s no proof it''ll happen as you say.

    "As we discussed, the Academies are all a facade. In their eyes, my origin may overshadow my ability. There may even remain a chance I''ll face tant oppression. As such, I''d like to first test the waters. Entering blindly would be a foolish mistake," Apollo denounced adamantly.

    "Ah, what you say is true. Now that you mention it, you may even be questioned! What will be your alibi?" Kayn inquired, rubbing his chin, eyes glued to Ouroboros reposed on Apollo''s shoulder.

    "I''ll go with the flow. If my assumptions are correct, I won''t be the one forming my alibi," Apollo mysteriously answered the question. In response, Kayn gave a small nod, symbolizing his eptance.

    Meanwhile, Cynthia also spoke up, "That beast is beautiful. What type of species is it?"

    "An Umbra Serpent," Apollo answered, gaining Cynthia''s stupefaction. She didn''t quite understand what that species was nor had she heard of it. The more she thought about it, the more her skepticism and bewilderment grew.

    "Don''t worry, I had the same expression. I don''t know it''s origins, I just happened to chance upon it somehow," Apollo chuckled at his aunt''s adorable appearance. It appeared as if the extensive thinking hurt.

    "Nheless, I must tell you; I am amazed by your actions. With this, I''ll be able to assuredly rest the safety of the others in your hands. While I''m unsure of this year''s trials, you should possess the ability to do this much," Kayn said, looking at Apollo with a meaningful gaze.

    "Oh? I understand that look. What will you give me in return? If you''re unable to determine what to give me...I''d like all the Spirit Shards in the family''s possession. That should suffice no matter how small the collection is," Apollo chuckled, not rejecting the request like he would have usually done.

    As he said, the dynamic of their rtionship was him being both a hired shield and weapon. Thus, for his movement, payment would be needed; which in this case, was the Spirit Shards. As mentioned earlier, Spirit Shards were the smallest hard currency among cultivators. Within their ranks, actual money was worthless to a certain extent.

    Naturally, it wouldn''t bepletely useless. After all, if one imednd, it would prove useful in the event you hired mortals to do your agricultural and meager construction endeavors. As such, only when one reached the level of owning their ownnd would they vest attention toward things like coins.

    "I can oblige to that," Kayn assented. To him, this was well worth the exchange. Especially so, due to the chance of obtaining those same shards in abundanceter on.

    With a small smirk appearing on Apollo''s lips, the doors behind them opened. Shortly after, one by one, the other 9 youths appeared from their independent spaces. In front, Aaron and Lily led, followed by Xineen.

    At a nce, Apollo could tell they had made suitable advancements. However, the solemn aura of advancement dissipated when Lily and Xineen took notice of the small Ouroboros located on Apollo''s shoulder. Once again, he frowned; he knew those expressions they were showing would turn into an annoyance once again.

    "Oh my goodness, what is that cute little thing?" Xineen eximed, her eyes gleaming with ted curiosity. In her eyes, Ouroboros'' silver scales was the prettiest thing she had everid eyes on.

    Simrly, Lily''s eyes shimmered as well. Unlike her typical quietness, she spoke up. It appeared the maturity of age was getting to her, "That...that''s a beast! But how can a serpent be so pretty? Can I touch it, Apollo?"

    "Err¡­" Apollo blinked wordlessly, unable to respond. In truth, he wasn''t sure how Ouroboros would react with others. Additionally, he wasn''t aware of the extent of Ouroboros'' strength. What if it returned to its normal state andshed out at them. That could be a potentially fatal encounter.

    Fortunately, his worries were debunked. Ouroboros'' words resounded in Apollo''s mind, "Oh, I like these faces. Let them touch me. Ouroboros like girls, Master."

    Thus, Apollo released a mental sigh, ultimately nodding. As such, Xineen and Lily rushed up to Ouroboros, blessing him with gentle rubs. In response, he hissed happily, enjoying their touch.

    "Ahem, aren''t you enjoying this a little too much?" Apollo chided, sparing the girls the same words as well. Unfortunately, neither side responded to him, leaving him baffled. Paying it no mind, Apollo devoted his attention elsewhere.

    Under close inspection, he noticed the ring changes in Aaron''s demeanor. First, even when at rest, his hand rested upon the hilt of his sword, a sharp gleam circting throughout his eyes. Silently, Apollo nodded in praise.

    ''If I remember correctly, Azridan mentioned this is something along the lines of intent. Additionally, it is a telltale sign, that one possesses at least a semnce of talent in spiritual cultivation. With this, it seems there''s another one among us who will do rtively well.''

    Alternatively, Apollo nced at Kayn who was also filled with satisfaction. ''It seems my ns have presented suitable results. Although only Aaron, Apollo, Lily show strong signs of intent, at least Xineen presents faint signs of it as well. It seems the environment of the ship was extremely beneficial to everyone.''

    "Aaron, your body feels irregr. What''s the state of your meridians?" Apollo inquired, even without the system, he sensed something off with Aaron''s body. If it was put in words, it felt as if he was undergoing a metamorphosis.

    "I''m not sure, but I do know I caused a malfunction in my formation circle halfway through cultivation. s, causing me to dismiss cultivating and practice the sword instead," Apollo disclosed, garnering the shock, especially so for Cynthia.

    ''Oh no...why did that have to happen now,'' Cynthia frowned looking at her son, slightly distraught.

    At the same time, another announcement sounded throughout the ship. "We are now passing through the barrier, brace yourself!" A momentter, arge shockwave passed through the hull and beyond of therge ships, deactivating all formations and jolting awake many in a cultivation haze.

    In light of this, numerous youths groaned, spitting up close. They were this close to advancing at yet their attempts were thwarted by the appearance of this barrier; this was just their luck.

    On the other hand, Apollo''s eyes glistened at he looked at the iing wave. For some odd reason, he could see rune evident within. This mystified him.

    At that time, the ship''s momentum came to a halt.

 Chapter 116 - Arrival At Pangea Island

    ----

    It wasn''t long after the ship came to a stop that Apollo began dismissing Xineen and Lily, "Okay! That''s enough, go away," he waved them away with a re. Now that the ship had ceased movement, many of theponents within ceased action. ??

    For example, the formation circles used previously fell into a dull, lifeless state. The domain rulers¡ªthe Astarte Family¡ªinstilled countermeasures within their formation circles; when the ship ceased movement, the flow of Natural Essence would be disrupted.

    The basis of the circles was to absorb the Natural Essence gathered through massive intake valves that were then churned and purified into something easily digestible amidst cultivation. However, this all relied on the perpetual motion of the ship. Thus, when it stopped moving, it marked the time of departure being near.

    s, the ship continued to hover above the ind before lowering at a specific ce. Meanwhile, Apollo and Aaron smirked at each other. Although they couldn''t cultivate, they could do something else¡ªtest each other.

    ''Boom!''

    Apollo disappeared from his spot, throwing a punch without warning. Despite that, Aaron still responded in a timely manner. However, when he felt the weight of Apollo''s attack, his eyes widened.

    ''This strength... it has surpassed that of a Rank 3 Zul Warrior. No, it''s even greater than mine and I have reached the 4th Rank. This is interesting,'' Aaron thought to himself, withdrawing his de.

    During the previous strike, he used his hilt to block. Thus, with him drawing his weapon, his true potential was unsheathed. As grasped his weapon, Aaron leaned forward, tapping his foot. His image shifted into a sharp blur leaving an extensive scar on the floor causing both Kayn''s and Cynthia''s surprise.

    "Isn''t this the de Wind Movement Technique? But¡­ when did he start learning that? I don''t recall him asking for that technique," Kayn muttered, rubbing his chin. As he spectated the battle, he became privy to even more stupefying information.

    Small cuts opened on Apollo''s arms when he defended against Aaron''s attacks. It appeared Aaron''s intent was more developed than they had previously thought. Due to this, Apollo changed his approach.

    "You''ve grown stronger but¡­ so have I," Apollo chuckled darkly, his aura growing increasingly menacing. Yet, despite this, Aaron remained focused amid the looming murky atmosphere of Apollo''s aura.

    "Quicksilver Swordy Third Form: Silver Winds!" Aaron eximed thrusting his sword, a sheen of silver light burst from his sword billowing towards Apollo who, in response, made his own move.

    "Demonic Massacre Wave," Apollo muttered, nonchntly waving his arm. This time, it was empowered by Demonic Anima. Consequently, a sense of rm engulfed Aaron, prompting him to dodge.

    The moment he dodged, Apollo followed up by stabbing his arm wreathed in Hellfire before Aaron''s throat stopping mid-strike with a small smile, "You have definitely grown, it''s a draw," he chuckled.

    Looking at his torso, Apollo''s hand grasped Aaron''s sword a centimeter away from puncturing his stomach. Due to the battles with the Demonic Beast, Aaron had already be ustomed to true battle. Naturally, this extended to bouts with humans as well.

    "I had an exemry role model to chase after," Aaron nodded, withdrawing his sword. If one looked closely, they''d realize traces of blood on his sword. Turning over his palm, Apollo looked at a deep gash on his hand.

    Fortunately, it wasn''t there for long as he looked at it healing at a visible pace. Not only did the pendant heal him, but his Infernal Nucleus was also distributing Anima to heal him. At the site of the wound, a low sizzling noise could be heard.

    ''Hoh? My boys seemed to have advanced again, then, what about you?'' Cynthia mused, looking in Lily''s direction. Unlike the boys, she wasn''t one to immediately demonstrate her gains. Only these boys would be so headstrong as to exert superiority at any given moment.

    As for her, she had other matters on her mind, ''Everyone is bing stronger but there are still unanswered questions. While I know Father died, what about Mother? I''ve never heard about her.''

    "Ahem, I believe it''s time we depart. I can sense movement on the ship," Kayn cleared his throat, alerting everyone. While they exited their quarters, others did the same. Soon enough, the expansive deck of the ship was filled with numerous youths and their guardians.

    At that time, the scene became turbulent. The countless youths all possessed tumultuous aurae due to their hasty advancements. There was no time to acquaint themselves with the newfound strengths and gain control of their aurae. Hence, it was a sight to behold.

    ''It seems these youths are experiencing something simr to me. But my situation only arose due to myck of understanding with Demonic Anima. If it was better, even after advancing, I would have been able to withdraw my aura. Therefore, I can''t say our situations are one and the same,'' Apollo shook his head.

    Based on the appearances of the youths present, it was clear some of them were attempting to withdraw their auras as they stood. With the signs of strain appearing on their faces, Apollo had to muster sizeable willpower to refrain from chuckling.

    Shortly after, the same cultivator who made the announcement earlier spoke again. Based on his aura, it was clear he attained mastery of his cultivation. Although he stood before everyone, his aura and his being couldn''t be sensed¡ªthey were all perfectly masked.

    "I am Gabriel Astarte, 1st Elder of the Astarte Family. I have been tasked to inform you all that those who appear within the top 100 will be rewarded handsomely. Those of you who make it within the top 50 will receive a Natural Blessing of the Heaven Grade," Gabriel informed without a fluctuation in emotion.

    However, a voice sounded, "Do the rewards end there? What about the top 30 and top 10?"

    In response to this question, Gabriel chuckled, "Do you believe you''re able to aplish that? Allow me to enlighten you, you''ll be going up against both the Great and Supreme Families'' children. This includes ours as well, therefore, I don''t believe it''s a task aplishable.

    "Likewise, should that oddity arise, I''ll personally reward the individual or multiple youths who aplish this. With that being said, there is something you muste to realize¡ªpride is good but it can also be detrimental," Gabriel warned, his expression turning solemnly before continuing.

    "You must do well to remember, there''s always a sky beyond a sky. If you dismiss this notion, you''ll more than likely find yourself in a precarious situation throughout every endeavor you attempt."

    Hearing these words, numerous youths fell silent. However, Apollo felt these words weren''t entirely true. In fact, he even attempted to rebut these words only to be halted by Kayn, "Damnd. I thought you said you weren''t going to cause trouble. Don''t you know how to lower your head?"

    Despite Kayn concealing his voice, Gabriel still heard it. Due to his cultivation eclipsing Kayn''s he held dominance over all channels of Natural Essence within a certain domain. Thus, his eyebrow rose in curiosity.

    "You lot over there, it seems you have ad who wants to spare some words. Allow him to. It''ll do no justice to thwart a young cultivator''s heart, he must learn the process on his own," Gabriel said, chuckling lightheartedly.

    As a result, everyone turned Kayn and the others. The nearby Shaanti even went beyond others to sneer. Any instance of them suffering embarrassment was pleasure obtained by the Shaanti.

    Meanwhile, Apollo paid all this no mind, "I don''t believe that to be entirely correct. While it is true there may exist skies beyond skies, there is no reason to lower your head in all situations. If you do so, your progress will stagnate. Only under pressure shall your willingness to take advantage of all means to survive,e to light."

    "Interesting; that is true. But, let me ask you a question. What will that heart do in the face of invible power? At that point, the notion of you possessing ample heart is reduced to an insignificance," Gabriel crossed his arms, finding himself intrigued by this youth.

    "During the advent of adversity, one can be defeated but never can they admit defeat," Apollo adamantly replied, gaining Gabriel''s admiration. Slowly, a single p from his turned into boisterousughter.

    "Well said! I look forward to your results. If you are one of those who show an exemry performance, I''d love to pin you against a youth from my family but enough with that. You all need to depart the ship and seek housing in the city. There''s only 3 days before the registrations begin."

 Chapter 117 - A New Stage, Initial Grand Scale

    ----

    After Gabriel urged them all to depart, the doors exiting the hull of the ship opened, extending manyrge bridges to the ground below. However, before anyone could move, when the doors opened, everyone was stupefied by the density of the Natural Essence in this ce. ??

    While a majority stopped and stared at the exit, others scoffed. The one''s remaining in awe stood before the others, blocking the exit for the others. Soon enough, mor broke out.

    "Damn! Move your asses! I''ve been holed up on this ship long enough. Stop acting like backwater dregs who''ve never experienced dense Natural Essences and move, you''re wasting precious time!" scowled a voice in the back. This indignance in his voice grew when he realized no one paid attention to his screams.

    "Damn! Are you idiots listening? If just this much is enough to amaze you, you''ll never amount to shit!" snarled the voice again. However, this time, his words garnered a response.

    "Will you shut up already? What are you in a rush for? I''m willing to bet your offsprings will be amongst the first to be eliminated. Those who are impatient usually are the ones who perish first," chuckled a voice filled with impish intent.

    Soon enough, verbose raucous broke out only to be dispelled by Gabriel''s loud bellow, "LEAVE!"

    Naturally, when he roared, they ran. After all, who would want to face the ire of someone possessing a Zul Lord cultivation base as well as a Spirit Master attainment? Such abination was dreadful, earning him a position directly under his Family''s Patriarch.

    ----

    When everyone arrived outside, once again, they were shocked. Being inside didn''t allow them to see the city in its entirety but now that they were outside, they could. As far as the eye could see, a dome-shaped barrier existed around this entire expansive city.

    Furthermore, the city itself was floating, connected to the continents below by chains formed naturally. Not only were they made by condensed Natural Essence, but it consisted of Spiritual Essence of rivaling purity in the same amount. In other words, the chains were the purest form of energy in this world.

    Thus, with this being a type of holynd of the humans, this ce was heavily guarded. Compared to the guardians beasts over the Zephus Domain, the one here was without contest. An Empyrean Dragon, this was the guardian beast presiding over Pangea Ind.

    Enthralled by the scene, many people marveled at the sight of the ck-gold Dragon in the sky. Its crimson eyes opened from a fleeting moment, sparing them a nce. From that one nce, everyone felt as if their secrets wereid bare; all except Apollo and Ouroboros.

    Consequently, the dragon opened its eyes again and silently gazed at Ouroboros. It didn''t pay Apollo much attention but when it peered at Ouroboros, it felt a sense of dread, as well as its bloodline cowering. This was a feeling it was never felt before. In this world, even the other guardian beast needed to show it respect.

    Hence, it was baffled by this development. Nevertheless, it wasn''t something that required its immediate attention as it could sense Ouroboros had yet to even develop power rivaling a Rank 3 Spirit Beast let alone contain the ability to threaten it.

    Be that as it may, it wasn''t long before Ouroboros and Apollo snapped out of their prolonged daze. With the dragon no longer paying them any mind, they did the same. As such, they shuffled along with the others taking in the towering buildings and majesticyout of the buildings.

    Every building located on this ind seemed to possess grand origin as they all possessed a sort of imperial formation inscribed on their walls. It served as both a defensive measure and aesthetic appeal. The wless curvature of the lines left one reveling at their beauty.

    "Do you know the history of this ind?" Kayn asked, breaking Apollo''s ogling gaze.

    In response, Apollo shook his head. The book inside the family library didn''t mention the history of such an illustrious ind. "No, but I get the feeling you want to disclose it to me, so go ahead."

    "Heh, with pleasure. First and foremost, this city we''re in is the only city on this entire ind. It spans across the horizon. There," Kayn paused, pointing to a towering building, threatening to pierce the clouds, "That''s the central area. This ce is divided into 5 areas, namely: the Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern, and Central Districts. Each of which is broken down further by the standard of essence it houses."

    To put it in perspective, Pangea Ind was equal in size to the Zephus Domain. On top of that, it housed various mysteries that until this very moment, had yet to be unearthed.

    "In this way, I''m guessing these districts have something to do with the orientation of the Academies, right? If I recall what you said properly, all of the War Academies are on this ind," Apollomented, rubbing his chin.

    "Correct. This also determines the ranking of the academies. However, for some reason unknown to those outside, entrance into the Central District isn''t permitted. Even the Supreme Families are unable to barge into there. Nevertheless, the most important information pertaining to this ind is it was unaffected by the Great Shift and the events after." Kayn said with admiration apparent in his eyes.

    The Great Shift was the event that happened after the beacon smashed into the. The ensuing effect was the continents drifting apart due to therge collision. Yet, throughout all of this, Pangea Ind was wholly unaffected.

    In fact, those chains held the continents from drifting even further apart and causing further disruptions. Because of this, iparably pure Natural and Spiritual Essence appeared in this ce. Furthermore, it was the only ce one could connect with the other world; another reason Spirit Cultivators weren''t found roaming all the continents.

    Additionally, the essence here was so dense it formed a dense fog. Depending on the area entered, it varied in thickness.

    "I see, so even the Terrors were unable to affect this ce. If that''s so, is that barrier around us natural or manmade?" Apollo inquired, pointing towards the dome encasing them.

    "Ah, that. I''m not exactly sure. In some instances, it seems natural while in others, it appears to be man-made. We''vee to the conclusion that it is the result of a coalition. It has to be the handiwork of both man and nature. Only then, would you get this abomination we have before us," Kayn uttered with a trace of uncertainty in his tone.

    "Hm, an abomination you say," Apollo muttered, his thoughts trailing. ''Maybe this world has secrets that even the inhabitants are unaware of. For Kayn to mention an abomination, this has put a thought in my mind¡ªI''m one as well.''

    "That''s the only conclusion but that''s enough of that. You''ll learn more about this ce as you climb the rankings in the Academies. In the meantime, we need to find housing. There are only 3 days remaining before registration desks open. Then would mark the start of the trial as well as your most difficult battles yet," Kayn warned solemnly.

    In response, Apollo shrugged nonchntly. As he was now, not much about this world or its youth would surprise him. After all, his mind remained on much more distant ces, ''I just want to open my Tainted Temple so I can summon the spirit of a Demon. I wonder, will that be an easy process or will I face bumps in the road as with everything else? Furthermore, how would their power hold up against Spirits?

    Unlike Astarat, the world Spirits resided in was an upper world. As such, this raised questions in Apollo''s mind. Would their power be simr? What type of ranking did they possess to ssify powers and was his grand purpose to defeat them?

    All these notions circted in his mind rapidly, rendering him nk. Fortunately, Ouroboros nipped his neck, jolting him awake, ''It seems I fell too deep into thought.

    When he awoke, he realized he was standing before a grandiose inn amongst others. It was specially designed to house those who came in hopes of attempting the Selection Trial with a pavilion-style exterior.

    Even if they didn''t possess the ability to partake in the trial, just these three days spent in this inn was enough to rectify them journeying afar.

    Inside, the amenities were outfitted with state of the art cultivation assisting tools. While there were no resources, as long one possessed their own, this ce was a holy ground. The only downside, everything cost Spirit Shards to use.

    Thus, it was an unspoken rule to prepare copious amounts of Spirit Shards beforehand. Unfortunately, those of families with lower backgrounds were at a disadvantage. In their situation, they typically funneled all resources to their sole star talent in hopes of makingst-minute and game-changing advancements.

    Hence, Kayn did just that. "These are thest of the family''s Spirit Shards you requested. Rent an Intermediate-Grade Room and make as much of an impact on your cultivation base as possible," he said, holding 3 Spirit Shards before Apollo.

 Chapter 118 - Sapphyr

    ----

    "Hm, an Intermediate Cultivation Room? Are the effects that great?" Apollo muttered, iming the Spirit Shards from Kayn. In addition to the Spirit Shards he received from the system as well as what he found in the pouch Irauk gave him, he now had 16 of them in his possession.??

    "Well, in truth, they''re lesser rooms but those formations in the ships pale inparison to the effects of these rooms. The formation coupled with the density of Natural Essence on this ind transforms them into an insurmountable benefit," Kayn added while ncing at the line of youths.

    Unable to rebut, Apollo nodded. It was true, even if the formation was only on par with the one in the ship, there was no doubt with the state of the Natural Essence here, it was capable of bolstering it to new heights. This was the virtue of being the holynd of cultivation, why all those who wished to make grand strides in their cultivation sought to venture here even if for a meager 3 days.

    "Go along, we''ll rent normal spaces," Kayn urged once again, prompting others to follow along as he approached a remote corner. Left with no other choice, Apollo stood on an extensive line of youths.

    Luckily, it moved quickly as these weren''t normal people. As the conversation was curt, no excess words were spared. Soon enough, it was nearly Apollo''s turn, however, he caught wind of a familiar face.

    Violeta stood two spots before him, approaching the desk with an exaggerated sway of her hips. Furthermore, it seemed she changed her outfit to something more provocative¡ªall of her curves showcased for all to see. Some even bit the bait, ogling at her figure.

    Meanwhile, Apollo shook his head derisively, muttering to himself, "I understand why Aunty dislikes these women, they''re tasteless. unting their slightly above average bodies, they seek the benefits of men. That type of vain thinking will only limit their growth."

    After offering his thoughts, he fell silent, listening to the exchange at the desk. As he was now, he wasn''t privy to the differences in lesser cultivation rooms.

    "What will you be renting? Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Perfected or Supreme Lesser Cultivation Room?" a beautiful yet cold ivory haired woman asked, her voicecking in emotion.

    "Intermediate," Violeta replied curtly. However, Apollo pondered to himself, determining the difference between the choices shouldn''t be small. Based on the way people seldom chose anything above Advanced, the price of them had to be insane.

    "1 Spirit Stone per day. Do you want the standard 3 days or are your Spirit Shards insufficient?" thedy asked once again.

    "3 days," Violeta sinctly replied. In a sh, a badge appeared on the desk, Violeta wordlessly iming it and leaving. There was no need for them to tell her where to go as the badge served as a beacon. It released a wisp of essence connected to the room.

    Afterward, the next person chose an Advanced Lesser Cultivation Room. s, it was Apollo''s chance, stepping forward.

    Once again thedy repeated her words, but Apollo remained silent. Naturally, his silence irritated the woman, invoking her ire, "Listen, kid, I asked a question, which room will you pick? You had ample time to choose, your decision should''ve been made before reaching here."

    "Ah, my issue is I''m unaware of the other rooms'' prices. I''ve only heard the Advanced and below. Tell me, how much are the Perfected and Supreme rooms?" Apollo replied, ignoring her attitude and remaining calm. If his anger red in the slightest, he already witnessed the possible consequences.

    "Hoh? What is your background?" thedy raised her eyebrow, taking a slight interest in Apollo. The reason no one picked the rooms above Advanced wasn''t due to their uselessness but because they weren''t cost-effective. Outside of the central areas of continents that bordered Pangea Ind and the ind itself, nowhere else could be mined from Spirit Shards and its rarer, purer forms.

    "Just a typical small noble family. Luckily, I had a miser ancestor who saved all their stones from long before. In exchange, all his hopes and dreamsy in these shards," Apollo winked at thedy, earning her amused chuckle.

    At the sight of this, many gasped, an appalled person even gawking, "Oh my god! Is he flirting with the Administrator? He has balls! I wonder how his trial will go in 3 days!"

    ''Wait...Administrator?'' Apollo thought to himself, sizing up thedy before him. In his eyes, he didn''t flirt and was just revealing a portion of the truth. However, to the murmurs, thedy cracked a smile in return.

    "That pet on your shoulder is abnormal. That alone tells me you must have much to hide but I don''t care much about it if you don''t want to disclose your origins. The reason no one wanted to use the rooms is that the Great Families and Supreme Families typically reserve them. Seldom are the rooms free and if they are, our prices are exorbitant," thedy smiled thinly.

    "That''s nice information and all but you still haven''t told me the price," Apollo grumbled, almost bing annoyed. This once again shocked him as these things usually didn''t evoke a reaction for him.

    "Hoh, impatient boy. You must have a high Fire Affinity and maybe even Dark. Interesting, the Perfected Rooms are 5 Spirit Shards per day whereas the Supreme are 10 Spirit Shards per 12 hours," chuckled the woman, awaiting Apollo''s reaction.

    Contrary to her expectations, it didn''te. Conversely, Apollo was left in a pensive state, he was trying to determine thebination of rooms he could make use of. After all, it was never mentioned that you couldn''t rent multiple types of rooms.

    "I''ll rent a Supreme Room for 12 hours, 1 Perfected Room for 1 day, and 1 Intermediate for 1 day. The time only begins from the time I enter the room, correct? Oh, I didn''t catch your name," Apollo said, retrieving every Spirit Shard in his possession while maintaining eye contact with the administrator.

    Due to his actions, nearly all the remaining youth''s eyes widened. The number of Spirit Shards he possessed was something a small noble family should be incapable of mustering. The number of Spirit Shards trickling in every continent didn''t surpass 1,000 pieces in number.

    What''s more, every continent possessed countless small noble families. At most, they should only be able to muster 3-6 Spirit Shards. Furthermore, this wasn''t in a few months or a year but in a decade! This was the disparity between the items allowed to flow within virtually powerless hands.

    They were only supplied with the bare necessity needed tobat the Terrors in their area.

    "Hoh? I wonder if I believe your story, and yes, the time begins the moment the badge enters the locks on the rooms, activating their mechanism. As for my name, you may refer to me as Administrator Sapphyr," thedy chuckled, presenting Apollo three distinctly different badges.

    Picking each one up, Apollo noticed the difference in material. Inparison, the Intermediate Room Key looked shabbypared to the other two made out of pristine crystal material.

    "Make sure to return them before leaving in light of your trial," Administrator Sapphyr reminded. Looking at his departing back, Sapphyr muttered to herself, ''I have a feeling that boy is irregr¡­''

    Unbeknownst to others, she slid her hand under her chair forming a signal. After doing so, a fleeting shadow departed from her body, surveilling Apollo''s route. "Xezym, don''t interfere with the boy but tell me if he is skilled in the Dark Element. I sense an enigmatic fluctuation from him."

    "Roger, my Lady," the shadowy figure replied, melding with Apollo''s shadow. However, his actions didn''t go unnoticed. Ouroboros'' eyes mmed open, hissing.

    ''Master, I feel someone close. I think you are being watched but I can''t tell where. You should be careful,'' Ouroboros warned Apollo.

    Immediately after, Apollo came to a halt. Examining his surroundings, he failed to notice anything out of ce. Unlike Azridan or Ouroboros, Apollo didn''t have a matured perception, thus, unable to sense the spirit lurking in his shadow.

    Furthermore, the spirit didn''t possess any malicious intent so he couldn''t perceive its presence. Nevertheless, after ample searching anding up short, Apollo entered the Intermediate Lesser Cultivation Room, astonished by the environment.

    "Wow...not only is this ce full of vibrant essence, but the effects of this room also serve to benefit the individual," Apollo marveled, punching the air. Contrary to what he expected, nothing happened.

    "This ce is perfect, Kayn was correct, this ce is iparable to the independent space of the ship," Apollo smirked, while the doors closed behind him. But, lurking in the shadow, Xezym remained concealed.

 Chapter 119 - Actions Done In The Shadows

    ----

    "Ouroboros, distance yourself. I''m not sure to what extent I''ll take this training, so it''s better for you to distance yourself," Apollo warned, urging Ouroboros to move away as far as possible. With his current intentions during training, there was a chance of him causing a turbulence within this ce.??

    If Ouroborus was too close, there remained a chance he could suffer injuries. Due to his current attainments, when wielding his demonic technique, there was still a small instance in which the initial aura was uncontroble. Naturally, this was another reason the system had yet to reveal the prompt he sought.

    Until he reached perfect mastery with his current techniques, the step beyond would forever remain an enigma. Nevertheless, that wasn''t much of a worry seeing as his current progress was both worthwhile and continuously hastening. Although he didn''t train properly with the Annihtions or the Baneful Steps in these past few months, his other actions caused small increases as a supplemental effect.

    "It''s okay, Master. Whatever technique you want to use will not hurt me. Did you forget? I absorb your power, so my internalposition matches yours," Ouroboros replied, blinking curiously.

    "I''m aware, but sometimes my techniques inflict damage to myself, ego, me warning you beforehand. However, if you feel you''re strong enough then I won''t implore you to distance yourself. This may even serve to benefit us," Apollo determined, rubbing his chin with a trace of intrigue flowing through his eyes.

    ''I don''t know Ouroboros'' special abilities, therefore, this should be an opportune time to test out my theories,'' Apollo thought to myself. After some time, he took a stance¡ªthe one he used right before executing the Partial Shade Silhouette.

    This time, however, wasn''t like the rest. Before enshrouding himself in the half mantle of the shadows, he stimted his Demonic Anima. As a result, the nket of aura that seeped from his body possessed a far darker color. Additionally, it emanated an aura of death along with it, like some being of the most baleful energies wasing to life.

    ''As I thought, Natural Essence was one of the barriers restraining me from deepening my understanding of this technique. Prior to creating this Anima, the Partial Shade Silhouette, other than feeling dark, possessed no other sensations. Thus, feeling iplete. Luckily, this is no longer the case.'' Apollo smiled without restraints.

    Disappearing, embers of flickering shadowy mes detached from his body as he moved. The feeling coursing through his was like no other. His body felt as if it was a fish returning to freshwaters.

    However, while unaware, Xezym rose from the shadows still masking his presence. This odd presence of Demonic Anima, in his mind, gravitated towards the dark variation of Natural Essence. But, when Xezym''s perception delved deeper into Apollo''s aura, he found he understood nothing.

    ''What is this energy he''s using. It seems simr to the Natural Essence of this world but then, when stripped bare, it is fundamentally different. I would even dare say it''s far stronger! Moreover, it''s...nefarious,'' Xezym mused, spectating Apollo''s actions.

    This was a first, although he was a spirit from a higher world, he had never before seen an energy so evil in its base form. Despite being curious to know more, Xezym made no movements, his vacant eyes gleamed, inspecting Apollo more closely.

    ''Hm? I shouldn''t make any moves, lurking within him seems to be something extremely dangerous.Is this... energy I feel, and is it sealed? What is this youth? No wonder he has tickled the attention of my Lady. It seems he indeed holds secrets; ones that go deeper than we can possibly understand. It''s his fortune my master isn''t one to scheme. If so, she would have never been able to form a contract with me,'' Xezym thought, a hint of pride apparent in his mind.

    However, that was his blunder. Albeit, short, Apollo paused. ''What is this I feel? I feel a presence but¡­'' His eyes danced across the room but once again came up clueless but that didn''t mean he was without his own thoughts.

    ''Someone has to be watching me. If so, their cultivation base is many times higher than mine to conceal their presence like this,'' Apollo internalized, his eyes alternating between different corners of the room. Unbeknownst to him, he was looking in the direction of the cloaked Xezym, who, for a moment was shocked.

    If thisd found his hiding spot he would have found that absurd! As he was now, his cultivation was equal to that of a Spirit Lord. One must know, this was the 4th realm of Spirit Cultivation! Not to mention, a Body Cultivator was not equal to Spirit Cultivator.

    Their disadvantagey in the fact a Spirit Cultivator possessed the upper hand of numbers! They retained the ability to summon their contracted spirits. Additionally, unless there was a special set of circumstances, a Spirit Cultivator usually possessed some type of cultivation in Body Cultivation.

    Of course, not all could go far on this route. During the selection trials, this would be tested as well. After all, a defenseless Spirit Cultivation was a useless tool on the battlefield. If you entered the clutches of the Terrors with a weak body, your demise was inevitable. For this reason, those who climbed the rank of the World Remation Task Force were few and far in between.

    ''I must report this to Lady Sapphyr, this boy doesn''t realize it but his senses border on the line of making contracts. Perhaps, this is why that beast follows him obediently. If she can, it''ll be in her best interest to recruit this young boy,'' Xezym surmised, understanding what he needed to do next.

    Rather than showing himself, Xezym retired to Apollo''s shadowpletely. At that time, the watchful eyes Apollo felt on his back vanished, ''The presence has left but that doesn''t mean they won''t return. It''s better not to show my secrets. Hence, I''ll stick to my two basic tactics for now.''

    As he settled his mind on tempering his grasp on the Partial Shade Silhouette, Apollo leapt to the other side of the room. There was a convenient panel located on the side with dials to tweak the atmosphere. However, there were only two options to do so; calibrate the gravity and temperature.

    ''Hm, I wonder how these two aspects affect training, let''s find out,'' Apollo shrugged, turning the dials. Consequently, his first attempt, he turned it far too much, nearly smashing into the ground. With his actions, he increased the gravity by over 25 times!

    It had to be known, on Astarat, the gravity was twice that of Earth and 3 times that of Apollo''s previous world. In short, this new feeling was foreign to both his mind and body but that wasn''t only for a moment.

    While he wasn''t able to move properly, his body twitched causing his muscles to spasm. Furthermore, his pores opened and closed while expelling a thin film of Demonic Anima; a bronzeyer appearing on his body allowing him to slowly limate to the changes.

    ''Interesting. Is this the high adaptation ability of demons, Azridan mentioned? Oh! There''s Hellfire in this film. What''s more, the Hellfire and Demonic Anima appear to harbor thoughts of mixing. Unfortunately, it seems tock a catalyst,'' Apollo analyzed the power.

    In due time, he rose to his feet. Exhaling, he closed his eyes before visualizing a weapon. The Demonic Anima interacted with his thoughts, gravitating towards his palm. Before it, the air roiled, a crude weapon appearing. It looked to be a cross between a spear, scythe and staff. In essence, it was what he was most familiar with¡ªa long weapon.

    Tapping his foot, Apollo took a heavy step, a footprint appearing in the ground. In addition to the step, he flung his arm, a crimson arc billowing forth. Unlike the usual happenings, the arc dissipated just two meters away from him.

    The increased gravity interfered with the strength of the Demonic Massacre Wave but this is what Apollo sought. Only when it was difficult to use would he understand the moves at a fundamental level. Simrly, trying to perform the Partial Shade Silhouette resulted in a flickering and thin mantle cloaking him.

    The issuey with his meridians. The gravity affected the output and flow of his energy whereas the temperature hampered the interactions with the atmosphere. As it was now, the environment inside the room rivaled the weakest areas of the Demonic Linked Worlds.

    Of course, Apollo wasn''t aware of this. What he was doing was, in essence, preparing himself for the future. Meanwhile, this state excited Apollo. While continuing to deepen his understanding of both his body and his techniques, he entered a frenzied state.

    Even when exhaustion engulfed his body, he disregarded. By no means would he let this experience go to waste. Chancing upon self-enlightenment was a crucial yet elusive moment to cultivation.

 Chapter 120 - Obtaining A Favor

    ----

    Unfortunately, this thought didn''t fit this script for long; the timer on the room red continuously. That marked the end of his usage, a shockwave originating from the innermost wall of the room pushed him into the corridor, ejecting Apollo from the room without his consent. Thus, his state was disrupted.??

    Although frustration stemming from this issue arose within him, Apollo quelled it this time, the scene from before nowhere to be seen. However, at his appearance, murmurs began to sound within the corridor of this pavilion-like Inn.

    "Why are you so dirty...just how high did you set your settings in that room? What a madman." asked a questioning voice, prompting Apollo to turn around. Surprisingly, Sapphyr was standing behind him.

    Naturally, this wasn''t coincidental, Xezym had called her here. With her arrival, he appeared from Apollo''s shadow, showcasing his features. While his stature was thin, a deadly aura remained around his matured countenance. However, only his cheeks and below could be seen as the rest was hidden by a cloak sewn from shadow itself.

    "So, I was right. You are well versed in both the Dark and Fire Elements but to my understanding, they''re irregr. May I know your background, Apollo?" Sapphyr said, offering a slight smile.

    Contrary to her expectations, Apollo didn''t answer but squinted, examining her thoroughly, ''So she WAS the one spying on me and that thing behind her was what Ouroboros and I sensed. Fascinating, so that''s what a Spirit looks like. I wonder how strong it is.

    "Ahem, care to answer?" Sapphyr repeated, snapping her fingers to grasp Apollo''s attention.

    "How do you know my name, and why was I singled out? I''m sure you don''t know the names of every individual here," Apollo responded, scrutinizing her appearance. In the event of the slightest lie, he would be able to sense it.

    "That''s true but as I told you before, you''re an intriguing little boy, thus, gaining my interest. It''s just a shame, if you were purely Dark I would have snatched you into my ss but you just had to possess Fire. That means I''d have to butt head with that insufferable fool," Sapphyr sighed ruefully, recalling a certain person''s headstrong attitude.

    "I told you my background and if you know my name, then you should also know my story. There''s nothing else for me to disclose, that''d be a silly move on my part," Apollo retorted, shaking his head. In this matter, his lips were sealed. Disclosing that information would be borderline breaching the boundaries of his secrets.

    Not to mention, he wasn''t sure if he was even able to do so. Typically, with items not belongings to worlds, they would also possess safety measures to secure their existence. Which, in contrast, meant dealing something untoward the one who sought to jeopardize their safety. This was true even if unintentional.

    While Apollo wasn''t aware of this fact, his spection drew an answer close to this line. This was due to the punishment he suffered at the faintest mention of a "god". Meaning, under no circumstances would he disclose the existence of his system.

    "Mm, I guess so. We all have matters that we don''t wish to disclose. Nevertheless, as an Administrator, there are things I''m privy to that others aren''t. For example, you nearly destroyed that Lesser Cultivation Room. Furthermore, the settings you used rivaled that of a Zul Warrior preparing to breakthrough into the next realm," Sapphyr chuckled, leaning next to Apollo''s ear.

    Without pause, she continued, "This leads me to believe your body is stronger than you let on. The energy that surrounds you is something that shouldn''t appear within these lower families. I advise you to keep this under wraps."

    Hearing this information, Apollo''s eyes widened in shock not because of her revealing what she knew but rather his own capabilities. ''Could it be that thin film augmented my aura further than I assumed? I thought it was an anomaly but it seems even worse than I previously thought.''

    Apollo turned his head to the side, locking sights with Sapphyr, "This is the technique I use. Besides this, there is nothing else for me to use. If someone is to covet it, they''ll never be able to use it."

    At the end of his words, Apollo''s lips formed a dark smile. Those Demonic Techniques couldn''t be used without a specific state¡ªbeing a demon. Not only would initializing the technique be impossible, but trying to force it would prove to be fatal.

    "Just take it as a warning. Don''t see me as a hostile person. On the contrary, you should see me as someone looking out for you. You, who are young, have yet to understand the immensity of the schemes Supreme and Great Families employ," Sapphyr warned in a solemn tone.

    "You speak as if you originate from one and have experienced this firsthand," Apollo replied sinctly, narrowing his eyes as he gazed at her. Albeit faint, he swore he caught wind of a faltering in her cold atmosphere.

    "That doesn''t concern you but you''ve hit the nail on the head. I do indeed hail from a Supreme Family," Sapphyr admitted, garnering Apollo''s faint surprise.

    ''This means her background is among the top of the world but¡­'' Apollo mused over her words for a moment before offering his own opinion, "Why does your tone carry a trace of heavy heartedness? Such a background should be something you take pride in."

    It had to be known, in this world, the Supreme Families were those who, after much trampling, had climbed to the three current pinnacles of the world. Their reputations were pristine in that they invoked substantial emotions of fear.

    Yet, none of them truly obtained the peak of the world. If that was so, how could the restrictions of the Central District of Pangea Ind prohibit them from entering. Thus, while they seemed to be omnipotent on the surface, they weren''t the true overlords of this world. It just seemed the overlord was no longer interested in the world or here at all for that matter.

    "That would be true if I was what is dubbed as a Scion. Unfortunately, that isn''t the case. The inner workings of a Supreme Family are even more treacherous than the way they treat the outside world. Hmm...I don''t understand why I''m telling you this. You''re a child, what help does this bring?" Sapphyr muttered, her eyes ncing towards the closing Lesser Room door.

    Numerous cracks, burn marks and even dents remained inside the room. It appalled her to see such a scene, ''It seems Xezym''s words were correct, his strength is aberrant. Despite this being a Lesser Cultivation Room, it still possesses ayer of defensive measure around it, how did he aplish this?"

    "Ahem...while talking to you is opening my eyes to illusory matters of this world, idling here reduces my chances at breaking through. While others are making advancements, I''m here talking," Apollo frowned, showing his displeasure with Sapphyr upying his time.

    As it was now, he could still feel the remnantprehensions he made in his techniques. He wished to strike the iron while it was hot because the sensation was fading with each passing moment!

    "This is my fault, so allow me to help you out," Sapphy muttered before continuing, "However, this doesn''te without you owing me a favor as well because what I''m about to do will help you more than you understand."

    Intrigued, Apollo rose his eyebrows. "What is it? Will you allow me to train with that Spirit of yours?" Apollo questioned, peering in Xezym''s direction. While his aura was restrained, Apollo was sure this Spirit''s cultivation base was something that would leave him astounded.

    Hence, if he could spar with it, it would allow him to understand the disparity between humans and spirit. Nevertheless, this was an opportunity that didn''te easy.

    "What? No, I can''t allow that. Not only is he a Spirit Lord, but a Spirit''s body is also iparable to a human. Unless you possess a Body Cultivation half a realm above them, it isn''t rmended for you to confront one," Sapphyr refused.

    Instead, Sapphyr held out her dainty hand, "I''ll help you in another way."

 Chapter 121 - Demonic Animas Innate Ability

    ----

    "Hm? What do you want?" Apollo curiously looked at Sapphyr. While holding out her hand, she didn''t disclose what she intended to do. Thus, earning Apollo''s immediate skepticism.??

    "Obviously, I want you to hand me your Supreme Cultivation badge. I''ll tweak it for you," Sapphyr scoffed, wondering if this boy possessed a faulty head. If she was holding her hand out and was an administrator, what else could her intentions be?

    "Hoh? Isn''t it dangerous to show favoritism?" Apollo chuckled but still handed his room key to Sapphyr. Although he said this, there was no chance of him forfeiting this opportunity. If what he thought she was doing was correct, then he would once again receive a small boon.

    Sapphyr imed his room key, pointing her finger at it. A special wisp of energy flowed from her finger, altering certain mechanisms on the crystal card. This small action garnered his shock, based on her actions, he thought some otherrge urrence would take ce but it didn''t.

    "There you go, I have increased the duration of your usage from 12 hours to 1 day. Think of it as mypensation, use it well. Oh, and in the future, should I need your assistance, you''ll be open to listening to my problems, right?" Sapphyr smiled, however, inside that smile were deep worries. One''s Apollo couldn''t understand at the moment.

    Be that as it may, if he could use this opportunity to achieve new heights then, by all means, he didn''t mind offering his services. After all, he was already treated as a hired weapon for his family, therefore, what''s adding another upant to his list of "employment".

    "That''s a given. You can take this as my hiring fee," Apollo chuckled, bidding his adieu with a wave. In a moment, he rushed up the stairs behind him leading up to the levels housing theuded Perfected and Supreme Cultivation rooms.

    Meanwhile, Xezym observed Apollo as he rushed into the distance, "My Lady, why have you helped that boy? Do you really believe he''ll be useful in the struggle?"

    "I''m not sure, but I sense the aura of that bloke on him. It seems he hase in contact with him already. With that, I can view him as half an ally. Furthermore, take a look at that room, do you see the destruction he has caused to its structure? It''ll take at least 100 times what he paid to repair it," Sapphyr uttered, turning her gaze into the distance.

    "I understand. I, as well, believe that youth possesses some power transcending this world. I didn''t tell you as I don''t know if you''ll understand this but¡­ most of his power seems to be sealed," Xezym spoke with a solemn voice.

    For a moment, the atmosphere between them became quiet until Sapphyr spoke, "Sealed, you say? If so, inparison to you, how strong do you think he is currently?"

    "If we''re speaking about his unsealed strength. I suppose he should be approaching approximately 30% of my strength and this isn''t a conservative guess. Right now, based on the aura he showed, he should rest at about 6% of my strength," Xezym disclosed, rubbing his chin in thought.

    "6 percent?! In other words, he hides nearly 80% of his strength? Not to mention, he''s 6 times stronger than the typical Rank 1 Zul Warrior?" Sapphyr''s eyes widened with disbelief.

    "I suppose this is correct, there isn''t much else for me to tell you. Oh, wait, your words are incorrect. He isn''t hiding his power, instead, it seems that seal is the action of someone else. Perhaps, his true power is something even he is incapable of utilizing," Xezym replied with a hint of awe in his tone.

    Among the type of spirit race he originated from, they all respected power. It was a type of principle circting throughout all their ranks. Needless to say, catching wind of power rivaling their races inside a seemingly human boy of this world left Xezym astounded.

    "Onest question, do you think he rivals the Scions?" Sapphyr asked sinctly, gazing into Xezym''s profound eyes.

    "Mm...as he is now, no. You know how bizarre those people''s strengths are. It''s like they were beings born between worlds. They look human but possess strength from birth rivaling the barbaric spirit races. It''s mystifying to think about but he may be on par with the Nine Glories." Xylem answered truthfully.

    With that, their conversation came to an end, Sapphyr''s expression turning solemn. Thinking about something, her fist clenched. ''When will I get my revenge... I will have it!''

    ----

    Rushing up the stairs, Apollo paused in his steps, ''Such a pure feeling of Wrath. Whose sinful thoughts are these? If I''m being honest...it rivals the Wrath coursing through me. I wonder, will I be able to do that?'' Apollo mused, tapping his chin.

    Soon enough, he came to a floor filled with 18 doors. 13 of them seemed inferior to 5 of the others. Firstly, the appearance of the 5 doors seemed to be forged from Spirit Shards themselves, veins forming a grand inscription forming on each of them. More importantly, the doors themselves seemed to exude essence.

    Then Apollo saw this, he was stupefied. Just the Natural Essence in this hall alone seemed to be twice that of the lower floor.

    ''Is this why I needed to show my key card to the guard below? Even if you cultivate here in the corridor, the results would be astonishing. I wonder what it''s like inside a room withplete inscriptions.''

    cing his hand against his unupied door, Apollo opened it. To start off his experience on the floor, he entered a Perfected Room. In his mind, it was best to save the most useful forst. There was a chance he could breakthrough at a critical moment with the assistance of its augmented environment.

    As the door closed behind him, Apollo peered at the dials on the wall. Once again, he set it to the maximum. This time, however, he was renderedpletely immobile, mming against the floor.

    Unlike the floors below, even the minimum standard of these rooms were set to the baseline of the Great Families'' middle-rank talents. In other words, the room was limated to those who possessed at least Middle Tier Heaven-Grade bodies and trained in a Heaven-Grade or above Cultivation Method.

    Additionally, a minimum of a Rank 6 Zul Warrior cultivation base required. Ergo, Apollo''s current state. Fortunately, Xezym was no longer watching him and there was no surveince equipment located in the rooms.

    As a result, Apollo let loose. He released his unbridled aura, forming into a thin crimson bronzeyer on his skin. Furthermore, reaching into his spatial pouch, he retrieved the only remaining weapon inside¡ªKrone''s crimson scimitar.

    Apollo exhaled, "Azridan told me not to use the weapons of this world after bing a full-fledged demon but I never understood why. I should rectify this issue right now. Let''s experiment before bing engrossed in cultivation."

    After examining the weapon for a moment, understanding its general condition, Apollo took a stance. The atmosphere roiled around him at an extremely slow pace. This environment ced even more stringent conditions on him than thest. Naturally, this didn''t discourage Apollo.

    On the contract, it incited hisbative spirit, ''This room is made for them but I''ll ovee them.''

    A hazy jetstream fired from his lungs with a low rumble as he exhaled. At the same time, the crimson scimitar in his hand vibrated, emitting a low cry. If one were ignorant to the existence of Sword Intent, they would think this was it, however, that was wrong.

    In fact, the truth of the matter was much worse. "Demonic Massacre Wave!" Apollo bellowed, a sizable arc spanning 3 meters fired from the weapon. The strain was apparent as that one strike caused Apollo''s shoulder to throb.

    Yet, that wasn''t the most shocking matter. If one looked closely, a piece of the scimitar''s de fell off. Prior to his use, the state, while not pristine, was more than capable of handling continued usage before needing in-depth repairs.

    Once again, Apollo fired the Demonic Massacre Wave, this time, amplifying the amount of Demonic Anima used to wield it. Conversely, arge part of the de decayed but Apollo''s paid this no mind.

    Once more, he had entered a state oblivious to his surroundings. A state usually unattainable by others was something he entered like breathing! Clearly, there were other forces at y in this matter.

    With another sh, the scimitar crumbled at its core, bing dust! Meanwhile, Apollo looked at his hand incredulously. With the disappearing weight of the weapon, he understood why Azridan didn''t rmend using this world''s weapons!

    "They can''t contain my power!" Apollo muttered with a deranged look in his eyes. Numerous thoughts circted in his mind, as his heavy breaths continued in the room.

 Chapter 122 - Seeking Comprehension From Ouroboros

    ----

    Apollo watched the weapon in his palm crumble to dust in his hand with a bewildered expression. Truth be told, he didn''t utilize his technique to the fullest extent, if he did, the destruction of the weapon would''vee much sooner.??

    After all, there existed a concrete reason Azridan urged him not to reveal to this world the true state of his energy. Firstly, the flow of Demonic Anima was the inverse of this world''s Natural Essence. Thus, it wasn''t proper for him to use the items rted to this world.

    Even when he wasn''t a demon, what he used wasn''t truly Natural Essence. While it wasn''t Demonic Anima either, it was something existing between both energies. It was a type of mysterious energy, an enigma to nearly all except a few. This was because only when ssified as a Demi-human could his body perform this. Moreover, this principle was something unheard of until him.

    The Natural Essence blended with his blood, turning into something more practical for usage. The general uses being him sacrificing "health" and "stamina" to execute techniques. However, now, the situation was entirely different.

    Due to the inverse frequency of Demonic Anima, it was extremely destructive to items centered around Natural Essence. This meant, as long as he was strong enough, he could virtually be the bane of all worldly items. This was another reason Azridan warned him he would be unable to use the techniques of this world.

    How would he initialize the conversion process if he was incapable of using it at all? So, Azridan told him to focus solely on what he was given. Only when he understood them at their base, would he understand just these two techniques would open up a world of variations.

    Soon enough, Apollo awakened from his stupor, "So that''s it. Not only are my reversed meridians contradictory to the skills of this world, my energy distorts Natural Essence but I''m curious. Where does my current limit with this lie and how do I test that?"

    For a while, Apollo fell into a pensive state. Countless scenarios formted in his mind; provoking those stronger than him, stealing countless weapons to experiment on, the list went on. However, it wasn''t long before he came with a scenario much more practical than the rest.

    "That''s it! Let''s attempt to destroy this room, hahaha!" Apolloughed maniacally, afterward deploying his techniques at maximum output. At the same time, his pores underwent respiration, absorbing the dense fog of Natural Essence at a continually hastening pace.

    At first, it was slow akin to a trickle but as his body limated to the state of the new gravity and temperature, he perspired the impurities of his body. In exchange, the scenery inside the room went through a dire change.

    "These walls are so hard¡­ much sturdier than an Intermediate Room," Apollo muttered looking at the exposed bones of his knuckles. Inparison, the room''s walls and surface were in a much better state. Although the walls and floor possessed dents in them, they could barely suffice to be called that.

    ''This isn''t enough. If I want to be stronger, I''ll have to be more ruthless to myself. I''ll have to...annihte my physique,'' Apollo thought, obtaining a moment of rity. He always wondered why these techniques were called annihtions when as they were now, were rather weak.

    Hence, he understood the weakness in the equation was him. ''Perhaps, if these were in Azridan''s hand, he could probably sunder a world. After all, the things he could perform with my disgustingly weak body was astonishing.''

    In ordance with his discovery, Apollo started to experiment with the Natural Essence. Within doing so, his curiosity grew heights. ''What would happen if there was no more Natural Essence in this room to maintain itself? This is an interesting query, I would like to find out,'' Apollo chuckled to himself sheepishly.

    As such, his body reacted like a ravenous wolf. Each of his opened 180 pores opened with dark tendrils extending from them but that wasn''t all that took ce. Concurrently, new acupoints opened one by one, dripping fresh blood.

    The process that took months to aplish before, was now happening in mere moments. While the pain was iparable, it was something Apollo could handle. After all, in this absurd environment where the temperature rose above 300 Celsius, and the gravity 30 times that of the, the temporary pain of opening pore was unworthy of mention.

    185...200...205...215. The number of opened pores continued to increase. What''s more, the meridians themselves were undergoing tempering as they converted the energy in Demonic Anima which assimted with itself.

    Additionally, Apollo''s Infernal Nucleus went into overdrive as it started rotations. With each revolution, the Demonic Anima it made became purer. Simrly, the ensuing destruction of the Demonic Massacre Wave Apollo released inted to new heights.

    Each sessive hit caused a deeper gash in the wall, some even going as far as causing the room to tremble. Unbeknownst to him, his actions were alerting those in the rooms surrounding him. It went without saying, his actions were beyond disruptive.

    Of course, this was part of his intentions. It wouldn''t be Apollo if he didn''t cause a disturbance. Naturally, there was a reason behind this. When he reached the floor, he noticed that all 5 of the Supreme Rooms were upied save one but that one wasn''t like the rest.

    There was a sign on it, alerting the others it was in need of repair. Like Apollo, someone else hade to this ce recently with destructive intentions. Essentially, destroying the room in an instant.

    Even though it was fixed, in its current state it only operated at 60% capacity. While it was stronger than a Perfected Room, it wouldn''t offer theplete experience of a Supreme Lesser Cultivation Room.

    Shortly after, Apollo reached a level of exhaustion that even he couldn''t ignore, dropping to his knees.

    "Whoa Master, this environment is fun!" Ouroboros eximed, slithering around the room without restriction. It was as if the room was his yground. Unlike Apollo, there was no period of limation needed for him.

    "You...can move freely? Wow, that''s intriguing. What else can you do?" Apollo question.

    "Uhh...this!" Ouroboros hissed, a shade of imprable shadows forming around his body. Soon after, even with his soul connection, Apollo was unable to sense him. In essence, Ouroboros possessed the ability of perfect concealment.

    Apollo''s eyes widened in disbelief. ''Isn''t this simr to the Partial Shade Silhouette?'' The more Apollo stared at the ce Ouroboros disappeared from, the more he felt shreds ofprehension flowing into his mind.

    ''The Partial Shade Silhouette. If I take a page out of Ouroboros'' book, then I''ll be able to understand the essence of this technique.''

    Once again, Apollo summoned the iplete shade. This time, however, his legs were disappearing. Unfortunately, he was only able to maintain this state for less than 30 seconds, the shadowy image of his legs reappearing.

    After resting for a moment, Apollo tried again. During this attempt, he was able to hold it for an additional 10 seconds. Naturally, Apollo found this uneptable as he sought to reach a state where he could enter this realm like breathing.

    To put it differently, he wanted to turn it into an involuntary function. At that time, even when going up against an opponent he was incapable of defeating, this technique would enable him to possess confidence in escaping.

    The hours passed and alternating between the Demonic Massacre Wave and Partial Shade Silhouette, both teetered on the edge of deepened understanding. Equally important, his body reached a state of saturation.

    This meant, in a single day, he had reached the tipping point to enter the Rank 3 Zul Warrior equivalent. However, before he could advance, Apollo felt an odd sensation. In fact, it was growing stronger with each passing moment.

    "This feeling¡­ it''s as if I can feel all the energy in this room properly. What is this?" Apollo looked around, his mind pulsating. With each pulse, his surroundings became clearer. Furthermore, he was able to see all the ripples in the energy within the room.

    ''Could it be the continued usage of my techniques has caused me toe in contact with the threshold of the Tainted Temple!?'' Apollo''s eyes widened in shock, his actions growing fervent.

    This idea provided him excess levels of incentive. Unfortunately, as he reached this level, it stagnated not moving any further. This caused Apollo to frown, that was, until he realized his blunder.

 Chapter 123 - Grand Scale Disturbance

    ----

    "That''s where the issue lies, I forgot about those Tainted Shards. There''s a reason it''s called the Tainted Temple. It seems a special type of energy is needed to form it," Apollo reasoned to himself as he looked at the obsidian shard resting in his palm.??

    Unlike the Spirit Shards, this one was nearly 3 times the size. Furthermore, Apollo could feel energy simr to the Demonic Anima coursing throughout it. It wasn''t long before he understood this was an energy that liberated the mind.

    ''Is this something simr to the Spiritual Essence? If so, perhaps I''ll be able to achieve this level early but then again, this is only rtive. When inparison to those others, then I''mcking. After all, from Sapphyr''s words, I''m willing to bet the youths of the higher families have already entered that stage.''

    Although he continuallypared himself to the talents of the higher families, Apollo was never discouraged. In fact, in all instances, he used them as a reference to trample upon because, at the end of the day, this was his supreme goal¡ªto conquer all of this world. He would turn everything into his prey.

    Thus, he tightened his grasp on the Tainted Shard until it cracked. He repeated this process until the ambient Tainted Essence in the air matched that of the Natural Essence. Additionally, he sat in a lotus position.

    ''I don''t possess another Sin but I do possess Wrath. How about I attempt to learn its spirit-based counterpart. With that, I should be able to open my Tainted Temple,'' Apollo thought to himself, ncing around the room.

    Based on the information Azridan told him, unlike other cultivators, he didn''t need to enter a serene state. The basis of Demons was chaos. As such, the more turbulent his thought, the moreplete the following temple would be.

    Naturally, this came with its own dangers. The moreplete the Tainted Temple was, the higher the possibility of Carnal Corruption taking ce. Ergo, Azridan rmended his possessing a will of steel before attempting this.

    Unfortunately, the person in mention was a youth and the prime trait of youth was impatience. Additionally, there was no doubt Apollo was the epitome of impatience. He sought power as soon as possible. So much so, he was willing to undergo tortuous levels of pain now.

    "I can do this¡­ I must. If my starting point is too low, my climb to the top will be too lengthy. I have other matters to attend to rather than worry about the trivialities attached to a lower status in an academy," Apollo muttered to himself.

    Soon after, he started absorbing the Tainted Essence, which in short, was the missing half of Demonic Anima, however, it couldn''t be converted. This was due to hisck of a Tainted Temple.

    Much like the Infernal Nucleus transfigured the Natural Essence, the Tainted Temple did the same with the Spiritual Essence or directly interacted with the Tainted Essence without those powerful shards.

    As Apollo absorbed the energy, he did so differently. While he used his pore to absorb the Natural Essence, he utilized his nostrils to absorb the Tainted Essence. In a few moments, it felt as if des were being stabbed into his mind.

    Those same des soon exacerbating a more terrible pain. Fortunately, it was still well within Apollo''s tolerance but that couldn''t be said for long. In just 3 minutes, streams of blood flowed from his eyes.

    Screams capable of instilling the worst kind of trepidation was soon heard. Even though the floor possessed sound-absorbing qualities, Apollo''s energy disrupted that, awakening all those within a certain perimeter. Luckily, however, the defenses of the Supreme Room were something he was unable to hamper.

    Otherwise, he would have provoked existences above his own capabilities. Meanwhile, a group of youths stood before Apollo''s door with annoyed expressions. If their cultivation was to be disrupted, so would his. Loud bangs could be heard from the door.

    However, Apollo didn''t respond, or rather, he couldn''t. At this moment, the stigmata shimmered under his robes¡ªwisps of pure Ira was invading his soul. While it wasn''t to the extent of his trial, it was still powerful nheless. To deal with it required hisplete attention to subdue.

    Yet, even then, he was struggling toplete the task. Concurrently, the mor against the door grew louder. In light of hisck of reaction, tendrils of blue energy could be seen seeping under the crack of the door.

    Usually, there was a defensive mechanism of the room preventing anyone from interfering with the one using the room but as mentioned earlier, Apollo was the bane of this room. Therefore, he bought consequences to himself as well.

    ''BOOM!''

    The door was blown apart showing 9 incensed youths of varying levels. Surprisingly, they didn''t belong to the Supreme Families but rather the Great Families. More specifically, these were the Nine Glories Xezym mentioned. This meant their talents were at least above the Saint-grade.

    Despite their appearance, Apollo still didn''t spare them any attention.

    "Oi, your ignorance knows no bounds! Don''t you know others on this floor are cultivating? Not to mention¡­ who are you? I''ve never seen someone like you," spoke a rough-looking youth with barbaric attire and wild chestnut hair. Between his eyebrows was an orange mark filled with savagery.

    "Typhir, calm down, do you feel that energy he''s emitting? He should be making some type of breakthrough but I''ve never seen anything like this. It''s rather interesting," a blonde-haired beauty spoke, examining Apollo''s aura closely.

    "Mn, you''re right ire," another female youth sinctly agreed, nodding, her azure hair danced in the wind. There was a refined oriental aura around her, however, if one looked closely they would realize a tinge of free will residing within her.

    "Veria, be quiet. I say we disrupt him. It''s not fair he had disturbed us all. It''s bad enough we struggle to chase after those Scions let alone the even more nonsensical Paragons. This kid here is just making our progress that much harder," snarled Typhir.

    "Oi. This is why you; ''ll nevere in contact with them. Such ardent chasing will only result in you making countless mistakes. You must remember,mitting the act ofparison is to wee the thief of confidence into your mind," Veria chided, offering Typhir a warning.

    "Tch¡­" Typhir clicked his tongue not offering another word. Instead, the group of youths continued to watch Apollo as his countenance paled and contorted.

    "Do you think he''s trying to open his Soul Temple?" ire asked, albeit faint, she could feel threads of soul fluctuation. This was her specialty, therefore, she was able to sense it better than the others.

    "Mmm¡­ he might be but might also not be. His aura is too chaotic to be doing so. Perhaps he''s just mutting himself. It may even be possible he is a madman. Going off the condition of this room, he must also be the source of the rumbling on this floor earlier," a calm youth added.

    "You think so Aeon? That might be true," ire nodded, a hint of adoration entering her eyes as she stared at the gentle youth Aeon. There seemed to be some underlying feelings present between the two. At her words, Aeon offered a faint smile.

    "Damn!I don''t understand why all the girls gravitate to you, what is it? I''m much better than you¡­" Typhir snarled, nearly walking out. Unlike Aeon, there wasn''t a single youth amongst the Glories who could stand him.

    Meanwhile, inside Apollo''s mind, his consciousness entered a deep ce.

    "Hmm? Is this the Tainted Temple?" Apollo''s consciousness looked at a crystal orb in his mind. The two technique tomes in his mind circled them perpetually but the murky grey crystal seemed unresponsive. Not only was it locked in ce by ck chains but it was trembling along with the chains. A foreign obsidian force was attacking the chains and damaging the entire space.

    Needless to say, this was the Tainted Essence. Apollo continued to spectate this happening but after a certain moment, he was tempted to touch the crystal.

    "I must. This is my mind, and to finish this process, it needs my help," Apollo insisted, cing his hand on the crystal. Countless emotions flowed through him turning his mind grey but it then dissipated.

    Or rather, it seemed something was absorbing it. With the way things were progressing, it seemed he would be able to open his Tainted Temple! With this revtion, Apollo became ecstatic, his physical body trembling.

    Afterward, arge diabolic shockwave originating from his forehead burst forward. The wave was so overbearing, even the youths standing before him guarded themselves with their nearly master Essence Aegis. If one looked closely, they''d realize two types of energies weaved within their barriers.

    In other words, all 9 of these youths had already be Spirit Cultivators! The only thing theycked was their first Contracted Spirits. Now, another one entered their ranks.

    Quietly, Apollo opened his amethyst eyes peering at the people before him. Instead of wiping the bloodstains off his face, it receded back into his skin of its own ord. Closing his eyes, Apollo could perceive everything as if his eyes were still open.

    ''So this is the perception Azridan mentioned.''

    "May I help you all?" Apollo questioned with a yful smile, alternating his gaze between the disgruntled group.

    "Actually, you can. Your actions have disrupted us all. Thus, we have ounts to settle with you. What do you have to say for yourself?" ire stepped forward, taking lead.

    "Hmmm, my apologies. Well, now that you''re out of your rooms. Mind if I take one," Apollo chuckled, rising to his feet. As his room was now, the cirction was faulty.

    When they heard these words, they were all appalled. "D-did you not hear what we said? How do you have the gall to ask such a stupid question? You must have nuts the size of melons!"

    "Well, you see. I have cultivation to undergo. As for you all¡­ well, I couldn''t care less," Apollo shrugged, walking past them, a dangerous gleam circting in his eyes.

    ''If I provoke them all, I wonder how the selection trials will transpire. It seems three of these people are rather skilled. I''m unable to discern their strength,'' Apollo mused, ncing at 3 of the youths; 2 females and 1 male.

    "Oi, I don''t like that attitude," Typhir grumbled, withdrawing arge broadsword. After doing so, his aura red, presenting his Rank 9 Zul Warrior cultivation. Yet, whenpared to Krone, his aura was at least 5 times thicker.

    The atmosphere then turned hostile, Apollo halting in his steps. "Would you like to have a friendly spar then?"

 Chapter 124 - Hostile Environment

    ----

    "Tch¡­ a spar? Do you really think this is going to be a spar? No, I''ll simply beat you up to relieve my anger. As for you, you''ll be unable to do a single thing to stop me," Typhir arrogantly spat, looking at Apollo as if he was an insignificant person.??

    However, in response, Apollo chuckled, "Funny, you talk big but I don''t see you approaching me. Are you scared?" Apollo winked, provoking Typhir further.Of all those present, he was the only one who showed a reaction to Apollo''s provocations.

    Thus, he was marked as Apollo''s target. His crude behavior was apanied by an even shorter temper. Of course, this was another reason the Nine Glories were unable to stand him. Speaking of which, those same people distanced themselves from Apollo and Typhir with intrigued gazes.

    "Hm, how strong do you think this boy is?" ire asked Aeon, who was silently sizing Apollo. For a moment, he remained silent, trying to urately gauge Apollo''s strength.

    "Mm, I''m not sure. Based on his fluctuations, his cultivation shouldn''t surpass the 2nd rank of Zul Warrior Realm but¡­ his aura is irregr. Let''s just say he''s somewhere around the 5-6th level to be safe," Aeon estimated.

    Meanwhile, both Typhir and Apollo''s aura continued to climb. The hostile atmosphere between them became palpable. Typhir brandished his weapon whereas Apollo took a barehanded approach. Naturally, this earned colorful expression from everyone present.

    One had to know, all their weapons they possessed as Glories were at least Rank 5. In other words, the capabilities of their equipment were something Apollo was entirely unfamiliar with. Nevertheless, this was a scenario Apollo couldn''t change. As of now, there were no usable weapons in his arsenal.

    ''Hm¡­ his aura is vibrant and he''s many times stronger than Krone. Even though I''m stronger than back then, I still need to be careful. He should able to break through my defenses with ease but I should possess the means tobat him,'' Apollo mused to himself, observing Typhir''s wide stance.

    "Are you an idiot or are you belittling me? You should already feel there is a difference between our cultivation base. If you don''t raise a suitable weapon, then you won''t even understand how you lost. No, you may even suffer injuries rendering you incapable of joining the Selection Trials. I''m sure that''d be a shame, now wouldn''t it," Typhir chuckled, showing a cynical smirk.

    ''Oh, he intends to deal extensive damage to me? Let''s both y that game then,'' Apollo internalized, before ring his own aura. At the same time, the defensive film from earlier escaped from the Infernal Stigmata, coating Apollo''s body.

    "It''s amusing. You continue to talk but that flimsy aura of yours isn''t intimidating in the slightest. Allow me to show you how it is really done," Apollo grinned faintly, the malevolent aura around him assaulting everyone.

    In response, Typhir clicked his tongue in annoyance, "Tch.. your impudent actions will be your own undoing. It''ll give birth to your defeat!"

    ''Bang!''

    With a forceful stomp, Typhir dashed toward Apollo who weed his advance. Instead of moving, Apollo thrust his hand forward. Although it seemed harmless, the blow was vicious, hiding his trusty Demonic Massacre Wave.

    Of course, the senses of a Glory were not to be underestimated. Before the strike could reach him, Typhir leaned out of the way, thrusting his broadsword forward. Even though he didn''t use any technique, just the force generated by the weapon was enough to send Apollo a few steps backward.

    ''Strong, perhaps stronger than I estimated. It seems I''ll have to take this seriously, this isn''t a fight with low-level Spirit Beasts; this is a human with the cognitive ability to adapt to my attacks. Not to mention, his other abilities should be high as well. If I''m not mistaken, he specializes in Body Cultivation.''

    "Hoh? Why do I feel like you''re incapable of making that scenarioe to light? If you think you are, then, by all means,e at me," Apollo responded with a wink, as he flitted around the room,further incensing Typhir. If there was one department he had him beat, it was speed.

    "Hah!? Why are you running? Get back here," Typhir eximed, irritated by Apollo''s evasive actions. Evidently, in this situation, Apollo needed to test the waters first before he took any blows head-on.

    As Typhir mentioned earlier, there was a chance of suffering a blow that would be detrimental to hister performance. Thus, Apollo didn''t use his usual upfront and headstrong assault method. This time, he calmly analyzed the situation. Using soft force, he deflected Typhir''s shes that made their way to him.

    Due to this, Typhir''s frustration soared to new heights. Rather than outright attack Apollo, he aimed a destructive blow at the floor below. Subsequently,rge fragments of the floor were obliterated flying into the air.

    Unfortunately, this didn''t do anything except create mobile tforms for the agile Apollo. With light taps, he whizzed across the airborne pieces of ground, that was, until Typhir took a change of actions.

    Typhir''s sword shed horizontally. Attacked by a wave of crazed essence, the rocks first crumbled and then turned molten. In a single attack, he had effortlessly weaved the uses of both Earth and Fire Essence. Essentially, he destroyed Apollo''s ying field.

    ''Hm, I''ve gotten a good grasp of his strength now,'' Apollo nodded to himself, dashing in. This time, he didn''t retreat, meeting his fist with Typhir''s de. As a result, the flesh on his knuckles was mutted but at a visible pace, it began healing.

    The Glories on the sidelines took note of this, impressed by his healing ability. It was something that didn''t belong to this level of cultivation. In fact, it was something only seen by the next level. That was when Natural Essence could be manipted with ease to tend to your own wounds.

    "Could this boy have talent rivaling us?" Veria muttered, gaping at Apollo''s hand.

    "No, not quite. It seems his ability is centered around this one aspect. His other abilities seem rathercking. This entire time, all he''s done is avoid Typhir until now. Perhaps, it is now, the real show begins," Aeon shook his head, dismissing Veria''s ideas.

    At this, she fell silent, spectating the battle further.

    While time passed, their shes grew increasingly violent. Furthermore, with each blow, Apollo''s body began to adapt to the damage it was receiving. Due to this, Apollo''s momentum picked up as time went on.

    Typhir, on the other hand, found this uneptable; his own attacks picking up in vtility. Moreover, his essences seemed to seethe, nearly approaching a new height. Amidst his frustration, he nearly revealed his entire cultivation base!

    In truth, throughout this whole ensemble, he had been holding back. If he didn''t, perhaps this battle would have been over with the first strike. Luckily, Typhir''s anger wasn''t one that allowed him to be blinded by rage.

    Under his barbaric appearance was a calcting mind, ''So, with 40 percent of my strength, he hasn''t suffered any losses. Let''s make a jump to 70% then.''

    ''Boom!''

    In an instant, a turbulent cyclone appeared around Typhir, his eyes grew savage as he peered at Apollo, "Do you know why I was named Typhir? The violent winds appeared on the day of ck sun marking my birth, symbolizing the one blessed by the scorching winds."

    Typhir drew back his broadsword, sliding it against his arm. Afterward, a fusion of smoldering heat and violent winds melded together. Around his de, a deep red hue pulsated before raising the sword above his head.

    "So you were holding back? What a surprise, so was I," Apollo closed his eyes opening them again in the next instant. Crimson mes danced in his eyes, the Infernal Ira Stigmata pulsating frantically.

    Now that his Tainted Temple was opened, it appeared he possessed some ability with dealing with the corruption of Ira. Nevertheless, it was nowhere near beingplete, hence, Apollo hastened his actions.

    Dark wisps of Hellfire coated his left fist before dashing back in. Their first strikes met each other, decimating a radius of 3 yards around them. Additionally, the resulting shockwave continued beyond them, prompting the other Glories to once again defend with their own Essence Aegis.

    "Haha! Amazing, it seems youare stronger than I thought!" Typhirughed, filled with excitement. The events of earlier had already left his mind, reced by the thrill of battling with this fellow.

    Likewise, Apollo felt the same way, "You are strong too. Should we take this up another notch? I''m sure this is far from your limit!" Apollo uttered, the Hellfire around his hand growing more active.

    "Again!" Typhir roared in response, his feet stampeding the ground as they sought to sh again. If so, the resulting reaction would be even more harrowing than thest. Unfortunately, it never came to be, a fleeting figure appeared grasping each of their limbs.

    With ease, their destructive attacks were neutralized, each of them ending up impaled into a wall, on opposite sides. For a moment, their expressions were nk.

 Chapter 125 - Malice Of The Top Glory

    ----

    Amidst Apollo and Typhir''s nk expressions, Xezym''s half-hidden appearance came into view. Furthermore, rhythmic tapping of heels could be heard from down the corridor. Therge disturbance from their fight above had alerted people downstairs, prompting a few to respond.??

    Needless to say, the first to respond was Sapphyr. Based on the fluctuations of the vigorous aura, she possessed a general idea of the two forces in question. From both of which she sensed the vibe of prolonged headaches¡ªApollo and Typhir.

    Naturally, before she could reach there, she had Xezym travel ahead in the shadows. In nearly an instant, he arrived in the room, disabling both of the assants with but a single move; effortlessly at that.

    This alone, made one wonder just how strong the Spirit Lord Realm was. At the same time, it gave Apollo an impression of why Sapphyr rejected earlier his idea. During Xezym''s simple feat, Apollo didn''t sense a single fluctuation not even from Xezym''s breath.

    This meant dealing with the two was easier than breathing for him. Soon enough, Sapphyr''s frowning countenance entered the iparably damaged room. At a nce, she could tell this ce would have to be put out ofmission for repairs.

    "Yet another room damaged to no end," Sapphyr sighed, shaking her head. Her eyes looked at Apollo filled with displeasure before shifting to Typhir a momentter.

    "When I led you here, it was to cultivate, not cause an obscene amount of damage and cause trouble. I don''t understand, is sticking to simple cultivation that hard for you," Sapphyr''s cold rended on the nk Apollo still stuck in the wall.

    Throughout the entire scolding, he could only blink silently. However, instead of her words, he was focused on something else entirely, ''I didn''t even see Xezym enter the room nor make a movement. He''ll make a good training partner. Maybe I can learn something about the speed of shadows from him.''

    "Ugh¡­" Apollo groaned, removing himself from the wall before cracking his neck. A simr action took ce with Typhir considering he was in the same situation.

    After freeing himself, Apollo looked at Sapphyr with an innocent smile, "What do you mean? I was innocently cultivating," Apollo shrugged nonchntly.

    "You call THIS cultivating innocently? Look at the extensive damage done to the room, what do you have to say about this?" Sapphyr eximed, nearly losing control of her temper for a split second.

    Not only would she have to report the damage, but she''d also have to bear the brunt of the costs due to this happening under her watch. The only way to circumvent this issue was to give specific names for the cause of the problems. However, if she did that, it would be equal to offending future powers.

    After all, in this room, resided all the youths destined to reach at least the level of their families highest positions. Thus, she could only take a loss, swallowing her indignance.

    "Hoo," Sapphy exhaled before continuing, "Nevermind, you''re just like him. No wonder you''ve met him already. All of you please exit the premises before I add your names to the report."

    "Wait, before we go, we have matters to settle. Furthermore, you can''t dictate to us whether we stay or go. As we are now, we have simr statuses," an aloof youth who had yet to speak smiled scornfully.

    "Lazaro Astarte, no one asked for your input. Just leave quietly," Sapphyr snarled, shooting the aloof youth a vicious nce. Unfortunately, it didn''t seem to phase him as he continued.

    "Sapphyr Braum, or should I say the disowneddy of the Braum Family now struggling to obtain a standing for herself," Lazaro chuckled amusedly, however, a secondter, his words halted.

    A cold obsidian de rested on his throat, "Watch your words. If you speak those words filled with such impudence again, I don''t mind offending your family by extinguishing the me of their Glory," Xezym coldly spat.

    When Apollo heard these overbearing words, his eyes shimmered, ''Do all beings from worlds outside of this one possess these types of overbearing attitudes? It would be a lie if I said I don''t enjoy witnessing this.''

    The person who spoke earlier hailed from the Astarte Family and was their top talent. In truth, although he possessed a status as a Glory, he was closer to the level of the Scions. Alongside him, there were two others approaching this level.

    "I suggest you lower your de. Although you said you don''t mind, you know very well you''re unable to contest my grandfather''s spirit. As you know, if he awakens from his slumber, someone will need to be the subject of his ire. Will that be you?" Lazaro smirked contemptuously, cing his finger on Xezym''s de.

    Conversely, Xeyzm''s countenance darkened in ordance with Lazaro''s words. He understood what Lazaro''s threat meant. It was in the past, but he had once gone up against that Spirit and the results were not desirable. There existed a reason Xezym never raised his hood anymore, even during the dead of the night.

    Shortly after Lazaro''s remark, Xezym lowered his de. While he meant his words, it wasn''t time for him to act. As they were now, they possessed enough enemies as it. Them adding another one was not the optimal decision.

    However, this didn''t mean he would always concede. Hidden under his hood, his eyes zed with a ghastly intent concealed from the others.

    "Good decision. Now, tell me, Sapphyr Braum-

    "That''s Administrator to you. Where is yourmon decency?" Sapphyr growled, her gaze dropping several degrees. Be that as it may, instead of being intimidated, Lazaro chuckled at her behavior.

    "Ms. Braum, calm your nerves. I would like to know what you''ll do about this youth here. It was his fault that our cultivation was disturbed. If you don''t remedy this issue, I don''t mind taking matters into my own hands," Lazaro smiled, gazing in Apollo''s direction.

    When he noticed that foul gaze, Ouroboros appeared from under the crease of Apollo''s robes. His amethyst eyes gazed curiously at Lazaro, "Master, this person, we should kill him. Maybe I want to eat him!"

    At the mention of these words, Apollo''s eyebrows jumped, the others perceiving this as his response to Lazaro, "You eat people? That''s neat. I want to witness that."

    "No, Master, I don''t think I can do that yet. I just have the urge to do so. This person''s aura feels infuriating. Just being around him makes me want to devour him!" Ouroboros eximed, starting to hiss frantically.

    At the same time, his aura fluctuated greatly simr to Apollo''s prior condition. "Ouroboros, are you afflicted by Ira right now?" Apollo questioned, meeting gazes with Ouroboros. Within his eyes, a weird glint was circting.

    "This¡­ is master''s rage. It''s not mine...but I can''t control it anymore!" Ouroboros uttered, his aura turning chaotic. Due to ingesting so much of Apollo''s overwhelming Ira, in turn, Ouroboros was affected by an Ira beyond his level as well.

    However, unlike Apollo, there didn''t seem to be anything wrong with Ouroboros'' body. The only thing out of the ordinary was his mental state. Besides that, the rampant destruction of physique didn''t take ce.

    Naturally, both Sapphyr and Xezym took notice of Ouroboros'' actions but didn''t say much. For one, they didn''t understand what this beast was nor did they possess a soul link with it to trante its actions.

    Several moments passed in silence once Apollo turned, quelling Ouroboros'' fury. Although he was unable to solve the issue, he was capable of something else, "Sleep little buddy," Apollo muttered, feeding Ouroboros an Inferior Crystallized Chaos.

    Not long after, Ouroboros fell into another slumber, Apollo ncing at the conversation picking up in hostility. "If we have an issue, why don''t we settle it in the trials," Apollo shrugged.

    At a nce, he could tell that while Sapphyr was born into one of the Supreme Families, there was something wrong with her status. Even those a level below, from a Great Family, treated her as air.

    ''Is there some underlying issue between the families? If so, have I walked into an annoyance?'' Apollo mused, narrowing his eyes on Sapphyr. The more he thought about it, the more he felt this was true and that the Supreme Lesser Cultivation Room wasn''t worth the trouble.

    "Are you sure those words carry a weight you can bear?" Lazaro gazed at Apollo contemptuously. While Typhir was upfront with his actions, Lazaro was one of the despicable assortment.

    "Sure, I don''t mind hastening my ns of trampling upon you so-called Glory," Apollo smiled carelessly. Any words they uttered went in one ear and out the other. To put it differently, they meant nothing to him. Even if someone was stronger than him, in his eyes, they were worthless.

    His mind has been trained by Azridan, who in his own right, treated this world as a yground. Thus, Apollo started to adopt this mindset as well.

    Without sparing another word, Lazaro smiled. After a few moments, he turned around, retreating from the room, however, if one looked on his face, his countenance darkened resembling a demon. ''Let''s y then kid.''

 Chapter 126 - Stumbling Upon An Incomplete Ability

    ----

    After the others exited, only Apollo, Sapphyr, and Xezym were left in the destroyed room. As she continued to peer around, internalizing the damages, a visible frown could be seen stered upon her face. Once incensed, she looked at Apollo. She couldn''t understand; why was it so hard for this youth not to cause situations to go awry!??

    "Do you have a deathwish, Apollo? No, seriously! Is there something wrong with you? GOD! Do you know who those nine kids were? I warned you at the desk that people seldom traveled. Now, there''s a chance you''ve offended all of them. Do you understand the repercussion of your actions?" Sapphyr red, firing a lengthy scolding at Apollo.

    At the mention of that name, Apollo''s fingers tingled once again except it was more intense than thest time. "Meh, they''re just the offsprings of the Great Families," Apollo shrugged, treating this situation as an insignificant urrence. As a result, Sapphyr looked at him, bewildered.

    "I can''t tell if your courage knows no bounds or your brain is defective and you''re an idiot," Sapphyr blinked incredulously, unable to wrap her mind around this odd youth before her.

    "Perhaps a mixture of both but like I said, in my eyes, they''re not worthy of my fear," Apollo shook his head, dismissing her words. The way he was primed, he possessed his own point of view, developing his own set of ideals.

    "Oh? Then what about your family? That youth Lazaro Astarte is one hateful individual when he doesn''t get his way. Between me and you, he''s known to throw a temper tantrum and you, Apollo, have caused him to not get his way. With this, there is a chance even your family may be targeted! The reach of a Great Family, while iparable to a Supreme Family, is not to be underestimated.

    "Not to mention, the Astartes are en route to bing the 4th Supreme Family! If thates to fruition then¡­" Sapphyr sighed, shaking her head with a defeated expression. All signs of her prior cold expression disappearing, "Your future will crumble before it sees the light of glory."

    Although she tried to hide it, Apollo picked up on the hurt in her voice. To his understanding, this wasn''t directed at him. In light of this, he made an assumption, perhaps it wasn''t him she was scolding.

    "Do you have a treacherous history of your own? If you do, then I suggest you find a way to obtain strength. I can see it inside you; you are stronger than me but possess a weakness; what is it?" Apollo continually asked, attempting to pry into her situation.

    Before letting her answer, Apollo addressed her question, "What makes you think I care about my family? When did I ever mention them? It''d be incorrect to assume that anything he does will affect me."

    Despite his heartless words, Sapphyr remained silent not uttering anything for awhile. The silence seemed uncharacteristic inducing his next actions. Only after looking into her eyes had Apollo realized she had fallen into a daze. It seemed as if she was reliving some type of deep-rooted trauma.

    This was evident from the various negative emotions Apollo felt emanating from her. The strongest one being a mixed emotion but both derivatives seemed to be of Wrath.

    ''Maybe I can help her,'' Apollo mused, narrowing his eyes. Even Xezym was helpless in times like this,menting his own inadequacy. After all, during that tragic event, it was he who she looked to for help. Unfortunately, he was unable to do so and the event transpired without him offering a resolution.

    While she remained in this type of torpor, Apollo moved closer, cing his hand on her shoulder. Although he was unable to see her memories, he was enveloped by her emotion. For some time, it felt like his body wasn''t his but once he released his own will, he understood something.

    ''I can absorb emotions rted to Sin!'' Apollo thought, jubnt at this revtion. His own emotions enveloped Sapphyr''s drawing them near, however, only those centered around both anger and fear reacted to him.

    In fact, if the system was active, he would have received a notification. While it was never disclosed, he chanced upon a secret benefit to his cultivation technique albeit extremely weakened and iplete.

    If he wished to strengthen this ability, he would need the respective Sin. Naturally, it was the one centered around swallowing any and everything. The transference was extremely slow but each passing moment contributed to Sapphyr regaining her rightful mental state.

    On the other hand, Apollo entered torpor for a moment as well. During that short period, he once again met Ira, but this time, he didn''t confront it. Contrarily, he silently marveled at it locked within a cage.

    ''Could it be Ira is unique to every individual? I don''t think this is the primal source; I believe this is the sealing imprint! Has my mind traveled inside it? Had I known this, I would have attempted this earlier; this is amazing!''

    Apollo was unable to conceal his shock. The more he delved into the matter, the more he discovered small bits of information. When inside the imprint, while incapable of absorbing the energy, he was able to feel the pure Ira inside it. This, in turn, created the opportunity to understand more about it.

    ording to what he discerned, his wielding of Wrath was iplete. If he wished to deepen it, he needed to upgrade his Infant Heart of Wrath. Only when it reached a certain threshold would his physique undergo a second cleansing of the Hellfire.

    However, this one wouldn''t possess a trial. That was something that happened in two instances. When one first developed their sin and when they sought to im mastery. Of course, thetter''s difficulty was exponentially increased. Hence, the reason only 4 Demons had everpleted the trial.

    Now, a 5th one sought to travel in their footsteps but to do so would require an immense, invible will. While the first was a simple mixture of physical and mental tests, the second awakening, the mastery, transcended both of these.

    Soon enough, Apollo''s eyes regained focus. When he looked at Sapphyr, he found her staring at him weirdly. "What did you do to me?"

    "I don''t know. I just touched you," Apollo blinked, tilting his head to the side. He knew what she was asking but why would he disclose that information. For one, he barely knew the woman. Additionally, he wasn''t a trusting person. Even when telling the truth, he wasn''t telling the truth. Ergo, his current attitude.

    "Wh-...Just go away. Go use that Supreme Room and do NOT cause a disturbance," Sapphyr groaned, shaking her head in frustration. However, under the surface, she remained curious about what he did to her. This was the first time she was able to escape that muddled state within such a short time frame.

    "Xezym, stay with and watch over that buffoon. If he starts to cause a raucous please deal with him ordingly," Sapphyr peered back at Xezym. As things were now, her te was full enough. She didn''t need even more discrepancies on her te.

    "Very well mydy," Xezym nodded respectfully. Meanwhile, Apollo had a grin stered on his face.

    ''I only used about three-quarters of the room duration but I definitely won''t be able to ask for additional time due to these damages. Not to mention, there are less than 26 hours left until the trials begin. A day in that room will suffice.''

    During Sapphyr''s exit, Apollo smiled to Xezym, "Come along. Watch over me so I don''t do anything foolish."

    Due to Apollo''s seemingly warm tone, Xezym knew something was amiss, ''This cunning youth wants something from me.''

 Chapter 127 - Seeking Guidance, Enlightenment

    ----

    "Xezym if you''d like, you''re more than wee to apany me into the room. In fact, I think you should," Apollo nodded in ordance with Sapphyr''s words. As he was now, he was unable to see exactly how he should advance with the Partial Shade Silhouette, however, in front of him stood someone well versed in the ways of the shadows.??

    "Mmm¡­ Mydy are you sure about this? This youth is too excited to be surveilled by me. I think he has other ns. What do you think?" Xezym spoke telepathically with Sapphyr, gazing at Apollo under his hood.

    "Mm¡­ that depends. I''ll leave all decisions up to you. If I''m not mistaken, he wants to use you as a training partner. I give you permission to do so but don''t damage him greatly. He still needs to partake in the uing trial, understand?" Sappyhr said after a short deliberation.

    "Very well mydy, I will go along with this odd youth, however, I will watch out for his cunning ways. If he seeks my guidance then it wille at a cost," Xezym nodded with a small smirk on his lips.

    When he saw this smirk, Apollo felt a shiver run down his back. Coupled with his shadowy attire, that smirk only served to exacerbate the dark feeling Xezym exuded. Since both of them hade to their decision, Sapphyr bid her adieu.

    Meanwhile, both Apollo and Xezym entered the Supreme Room that was partly out ofmission. At a nce, Apollo understood why it was so. Despite the intact formations, numerous cracks littered the wall. It seemed as if the previous party''s target wasn''t the formations but rather the material of the room itself.

    Compared to the Perfected version, this one was many times sturdier. With a single cursory nce, Apollo could discern there was no chance of him damaging this ce. Furthermore, he could tell if he sought to do so, the only thing to suffer damage would be him.

    Aftering to this assumption, Apollo extricated his gaze from the wall and instead looked at Xezym, "Ahem, esteemed Master Xezym, may I bother you to offer me some guidance. I understand you''re unparalleled in the way of the shadows. Thus, I implore you to help me. Is this possible?" Apollo shamelessly praised Xezym with flowery words.

    "Hmph, cut the act. This isn''t you, I''ve seen your technique already. While it is strong, itcks the basics of the shadows. The problem isn''t the technique but you. Youck familiarity with the Dark Element. In other words, to correct that, you need to increase your resonance," Xezym waved off Apollo''s folly.

    "My resonance?" Apollo tilted his head in bewilderment. This was the first time he heard the term resonance. Hence, his reaction. Not to mention, unlike typical people his elements weren''t determined by him but rather the techniques he used.

    To put it differently, while a human would be element locked after a certain age, this wasn''t the case for a demon. As a result, this was a topic Azridan grazed over. In his mind, it was something Apollo would sooner ortere in contact with of his own ord. Thus, it posed no meaning to disclose prior to now.

    "Yes, resonance. It just means how well certain elements interact with you. Like so," Xezym raised his hand, waving it around in the air. Even an instant was an understatement for how fast the Dark Elements gathered around Xezym''s finger. Before Apollo could blink, Xezym''s entire arm disappeared.

    "You see this? The Dark Elements have lowered their defense to me, bing docile. This allows me to then bend them to my will at a whim. Unfortunately, this is something you''re incapable ofpleting for two reasons.

    "Firstly, based on the fluctuations in your mind, youck a Dark Source or a source of any kind. Without one, the amount of elements you can interact with is limited. Secondly, your temple you''ve opened is one immature and two, irregr. I can''t tell what you are but I can say with certainty, the elements don''t flow within you properly," Xezym asserted.

    "Mm, that''s true. It''s due to my cultivation technique that I''m unable to mesh with these elements well but in exchange, I''ve gained other things. All I need is for you to demonstrate one of your techniques. Also, what is a Dark Source?" Apollo questioned, while faintly addressing his irregrities.

    "A Dark Source is just like any other. It''s a marking inside the Soul Temple that signifies the basis of an Element. Usually, one acquires this in a spur ofprehension and engraves the symbol birthed by their soul on the object in their mind but I''m not sure how you''ll go about that," Xezym stated with apparent uncertainty.

    ''Hmm, engrave? Why does this sound simr to the Infernal Ira Stigmata on my body? Does this mean I''ll have to engrave a second set on my mind but that doesn''t seem entirely correct...

    ''While usible, there should be some minute differences. After all, the mind and body are one but not the same. Maybe if I ruminate over this matter for a short while I''ll achieve the answer,'' Apollo mused, contemting the way to advance with the spiritual side of the Sins.

    "If your true intention isn''t to learn my techniques but instead graspprehension from it, then I don''t mind showing you a few instances of my specialties," Xezym offered. Although his image of Apollo was obscure, there still remained the fact he helped his master out of her emotional turmoil.

    "Of course! This is what I''ve been asking for this entire time!" Apollo eximed, exiting his small session of contemtion.

    "Very well, watch closely," Xezym casually stated. In the next moment, his body slowly sunk into the floor, taking possession of Apollo''s shadows. Inside, he moved around like a fish in water, reappearing behind Apollo, but when he did so, Apollo didn''t respond.

    His presence was so well concealed, Apollo hadn''t even noticed him rising from the shadows.

    "Do you understand now? The darkness surrounds us and when one embraces it, we be imperceivable. At that moment, we are our deadliest and in our mostfortable form," Xezym uttered, startling Apollo.

    "Again! This time, slow down the process and don''t enter the shadows. I''m not capable of that yet. Instead, do something simpler for me. Can you emte this technique?" Apollo asked, executing the Partial Shade Silhouette immediately after.

    "Certainly, this is simr to my Phantom Strafe, just many times slower," Xezym said, his tenebrous attire cascading into shadowy embers. A momentter, his ck appearance took a step appearing 5 meters away from Apollo. With the next step, hended face to face with Apollo.

    "Is this what you want? As you see, when I''m under the transient umbra, my presence is obscured and enshrouded with the protection of the darkness. Of course, if someone with a deeper understanding were to enter with me, they could knock me out of this state but that requires a concrete mastery," Xezym exined, realizing Apollo had fallen into a trance-like state.

    Due to this discovery, Xezym fell silent, observing Apollo, ''Has he gainedprehension from a single usage? Perhaps his mental state is sublime. If so, maybe I will see if he''s able to learn the arts of the spirits. Typically, humans should be incapable of this until they be a Spirit Warrior, but for some reason, I have faith in him.''

    Amidst Xezym''s observation, Apollo''s figure vibrated, small bits of shadowy embers flowing from his body. Unlike his prior utilization, the mantle of shadows crept up his waist, and beyond. Both his mastery of the technique and understanding of the shadows were deepening, entering a profound area.

    Although his entire physique wasn''t enveloped in the shadows, more than 60% was. However, just as the technique became stronger, the consumption multiplied. Apollo''s brows furrowed while his Demonic Anima depleted at a rapid rate.

    ''As I thought, an anomaly is what he is. His technique is absorbing fragments of my technique to make itplete. Maybe the next level of this skill he is using is simr if not identical to my own. That''s the only exnation for this uncanny resemnce but then¡­ what is he and where did he chance upon this technique?''

    While Xezym pondered to himself, Apollo''s body autonomously absorbed Natural Essence, converting it for his use. With this, time continued to pass, seconds turning into minutes and minutes into hours.

    Despite him neglecting it, Apollo''s cultivation was still increasing as well as something else. Throughout the entire process, unless Apollo asked for pointers, Xezym stood to the side, witnessing his familiarity increase.

 Chapter 128 - A Grand Shock

    ----

    23 hourster,??

    "I believe it''s time you awaken. While you have made great strides in your cultivation, the time for registration approaches. It''d be a shame if you missed it due to overzealous cultivation," Xezym warned Apollo, jolting him awake.

    "How long has it been?" Apollo muttered while a shade of darkness shed in his eyes but dissipated shortly after. Needless to say, Xezym discerned this silently.

    "Nearly one day. There is still time for you to makest-minute touch-ups but there really isn''t much to aplish in the approaching two hours. After all, it appears you''ve made some type of breakthrough during this session, correct?" Xezym nced at Apollo, nodding at the change in his aura.

    ''While he doesn''t have a dark source, his understanding of the shadows has undergone substantial growth. Perhaps he is a special case and doesn''t require the existence of these things typically needed for humans,'' Xezym spected, extricating his gaze from Apollo.

    Now that the end of his cultivation time grew near, Apollo rose from the seated position. It was time he headed to do other things. Any other progress could be made through practical use.

    "I appreciate your demonstration, it has helped me," Apollo thanked Xezym before leaving the rtively undamaged room. While he didn''t exacerbate the damages already present, there were still some discrepancies within the operations. Naturally, this wasn''t his fault so he wouldn''t be med for it.

    However, this left a question in Xezym''s mind, ''He utterly destroyed the previous rooms yet was unable to do anything here. It seems my assumptions were true. He hasn''t reached the level of the Scions. Each one of them is capable of tearing this space asunder should they will it.''

    While Xezym ruminated over this, Apollo exited the premises. After heading downstairs, he caught wind of Sapphyr but didn''t approach her. This was due to the unfamiliar female standing before her, seemingly much older. However, between the two there was an uncanny resemnce.

    As Apollo passed by, he opened his ear eavesdropping on the situation at hand. When he heard the topic of the conversation, his eyes widened and his ears perked up. Based on what he heard, something was amiss!

    "Ugh! Not only did you disgrace the family in the past, but you also can''t even handle grunt work? Do you wish for me, your mother, to live a terrible life until the end? From young, I have groomed you to be a ster child, yet look at your current appearance. Despite all our hard work¡­ you still couldn''t be a Scion. You know the Supremes don''t ept anything less than yet," Sapphyr''s mother frowned, but inside her voice was hurt.

    Due to Sapphyr''s past transgressions, Teresa, her mother, bore the brunt of her decisions. While at first, she was silent about her qualms with the situation, after experiencing the sordid actions of the Braum Family, she needed an outlet.

    "I understand but there isn''t much I can do, you know what she did! My talent isn''t the same. Let alone Scion, I''m not even a Glory of my generation anymore," Sapphyr sulked, vexation appearing in her eyes.

    At this sight, Teresa''s heart softened. She raised her hands cupping her daughter''s cheeks "I know...don''t mind my words. I''ve been trying to hold on to my sanity but every day it is tested at the torment of that woman. I don''t understand how such a disgusting being can be alive," she sighed.

    "Ahem...excuse my intrusion but I have a question. Who in the Braum Family are you talking about?" uttered a voice that appeared out of nowhere. A slender figure with luxurious silver locks and an extremely beautiful appearance emerged before the two. However, while her countenance was beautiful, her countenance was cold.

    All Sapphyr did was spare the neer a nce but afterward, her expression darkened, "No one called for you Sarai! Leave," Sapphyr scoffed.

    "I wasn''t talking to you now was I," Sarai asserted, an overbearing crashing down upon Sapphyr. Surprisingly, besides her, no one else was affected by the pressure. This alone spoke volumes of the neer''s control over their power. As it was now, Sapphyr was far from their match.

    With each passing moment, the pressure bearing down on Sapphyr increased, bringing her to her knees. Witnessing this sight, Teresa frowned, "Stop, stop stop! She is your sister, how can you be so cruel?"

    Meanwhile, as this took ce, Apollo watched silently. Not only was he amazed by the situation, but he was perplexed by the events that lead up to this. From their conversation, all he obtained was obscure bits of information. However, what he did understand was this person and Sapphyr shared a rtionship.

    "Hmph, half-sister. Your useless blood runs through her and that is the reason she is so weak," Sarai snorted, abolishing the pressure on Sapphyr, allowing her to gasp for air. "This is the reason you aren''t weed in the family. Father was right to disown you. Even the new generation of Braum will easily surpass you; you disappoint me."

    ''Wow, such malice from this woman. She puts that Krystedy to shame. This is what you call a true venomous existence. It''s a shame the world is like this,'' Apollo thought to himself, shaking his head.

    He had seen enough, turning around to depart from the area. Additionally, it wasn''t his ce to offer assistance and quite frankly, he would be useless. Up against that type of power, he''d simply be asking for death.

    No sooner than he left, however, did he have to turn back; something else far more surprising happened. Xezym appeared brandishing his slender obsidian sword, "Release her!"

    "Heh, Kraydin,e forth," Sarai chuckled, a spatial portal opening revealing a knight adorned with polished, slender ck armor. Vibrant, golden eyes shone through the cracks in a majestic helmet, an extensive tassel swaying in the breezeless air.

    "Are you sure you want to raise your sword? Once I raise mine, I will not relinquish it until your end is nigh," Kraydin threatened in a grim tone.

    In response, Xezym frowned. It went without saying, Kraydin was far stronger than him. First of all, he wasn''t a normal spirit but rather a Heroic Spirit. This meant two things; the weapon he wielded also possessed an awakening ability and part of his power was always sealed.

    Additionally, this meant he had surpassed the Spirit Lord level. Inparison, Xezym wasn''t one. Not only had he not awakened, but his weapon wasn''t something unique to him.

    "All I ask is that you release her. Hasn''t she been tormented enough? She is already considered amoner, why tarnish her more like this?" Xezym frowned, feeling untold sorrow for Sapphyr.

    "That is not my ce, I simply act upon my orders," Kraydin answered, paying no heed to Xezym''s plea. Simrly, Sarai didn''t spare a single nce. Not once had her eyes filled with disgust left Sapphyr.

    "You know, sometimes it isn''t you that I me, but Father. While he is strong, he is also weak. You possess no martial talent, only beauty but that is worthless. A good heart? That''s useless as well," Sarai peered at Teresa, "If you never appeared, the Braum''s would have given birth to a better heir and be the Empyrean Family but no, we still reside at our current level."

    Unable to respond, Teresa choked, looking down at her daughter. At this point, it wasn''t herself she was worried about but rather her. "What happened to the gentle girl you used to be? Why are you like this now? Has the pursuit of power corrupted all of you? I don''t understand, after what you seek is achieved¡­ what will you have left?" Teresa''s voice trembled.

    "Hmph, I think it''s better you leave Pangea Ind. I don''t wish to see you ever again. If I do¡­" Sarai paused, summoning a slender, golden rapier from her palm. A secondter, it pressed against Sapphyr''s throat, drawing blood, "It will be the end of you."

    Several moments passed in silence before she responded but when Sapphyr lifted her head, both Kraydin and Sarai were nowhere to be found. Having to suffer this kind of embarrassment once again, tears flowed down Sapphyr''s cheeks.

    The somber atmosphere grew when those who witnessed the scene unfold began to murmur. Everyone on the ind was familiar with each of the families controlling an entire district, however, this one, the Southern District was free reign. There was no ruling family nor did scenes like this appear.

    Hence, those in the perimeter were surprised but soon enough, a booming voice was heard. "All of those present clear the area!"

    ''Oh, I know this voice.'' Apollo thought to himself, ncing behind himself. Although he heard a voice, he saw no one. However, he soon felt a tap on his shoulder.

    "Well, if it isn''t that littled from years ago except...you''re not so little anymore are ya?" Irauk chuckled, with a mischievous smirk. Before Apollo could respond, he raised his finger, flicking Apollo on the forehead. Behind the flick was a heavy force, sending Apollo hurtling into the grounded Sapphyr.

    ''BANG!''

    ''That''s for lying to me in the past, you young brute,'' Irauk muttered to himself, lifting his lip into a sneer.

    Meanwhile, Apollo held his forehead groaning but had yet to realize heid on top of someone, lips pressed together. When he did, his eyes widened in shock.

 Chapter 129 - Enraged Lioness

    ----

    After Irauk''s abrupt actions, both he and surrounding folks widened their eyes in shock. While he meant to deal with the youth, he didn''t intend for this odd situation to ur. Before his very eyes, both Apollo and Sapphyr''s lips locked.??

    Simrly, standing next to the two, Teresa was stupefied. The situation had undergone an abrupt turn of events. Not only did the atmosphere turn awkward, Sapphyr started to hyperventte, knocking Apollo into the distance, only to be caught by the cackling Irauk.

    "Ahahaha, you''ve gone and kissed that fiery woman? I must say, my youth you have balls!" Iraukughed boisterously, pping his knee the process. However, Apollo''s countenance darkened into a frown.

    Due to Irauk''s action, Sapphyr was left staring daggers at him with eyes screaming bloody murder. All things considered, from the way her childhood transpired, this was essentially her first kiss. Although it was idental, her thoughts weren''t exactly rational.

    "Damn! What do you mean? This is all your fault, you idiot!" Apollo bellowed to Irauk, turning his head to the side, "I had no intention! Look at my forehead, you did this! You''re the cause of it."

    "Oh whatsoever do you mean? Little ol'' me is innocent," Irauk shrugged, ending his words with a wink. In response, Apollo could only stare at him incredulously. Frankly speaking, he was beginning to regret ever meeting this man.

    Meanwhile, Sapphyr rose to her feet with a frigid gaze, "You two idiots! It''s always you two! One can''t stop causing mayhem while the other is ridiculously childish. I''ve had enough!" She screeched, withdrawing a silver rapier with a polished gold quillon and loop guard. It seemed to be a staple in the Braum Family as all of the female offspring were taught to wield it with ster skills.

    "Oh? It looks like you have enraged the irrational temper in that lioness. I''ll leave this matter up to you," Irauk grinned, distancing himself from the confusion. While he retreated, Sapphyr advanced with lightning-quick movements.

    In light of this, all Apollo could do was frown. This wasn''t his doing and yet he would have to deal with the repercussions. In the future, should he get the chance, he would definitely remember this ordeal. ''I will repay you for this Irauk,'' Apollo thought to himself, ncing at Irauk giddy expression.

    Unfortunately, he couldn''t avert his attention for long. With a single step, Sapphyr had appeared before him, thrusting her rapier. Despite the sharp momentum and her unbridled rage, she didn''t aim for his vitals. Instead, it seemed as if she wanted to poke him full of holes.

    Thus, Apollo was left on this defensive. Against her precise torrent of simple thrusts, all he could do was defend. However, that didn''t abstain him from suffering damage. In fact, because of his hasty preparations and using his arms to guard, innumerable nicks could be seen littering his arms.

    At a nce, however, one could tell Sapphyr was holding back and simply venting her anger on thed. With every move, she repressed the use of Natural Essence, using pure strength but that coupled with the grade of her weapon was still a force to be reckoned with.

    ''Damn...why is she so angry? That was MY first kiss, not to mention, I haven''t even had mying of age rite yet. I should be the angry one, not her,'' Apollo mentally grumbled, sucking in a sharp breath with the appearance of each new cut.

    "Dammit! Have you had enough yet?" Apollo scowled, frowning at her relentless barrage. Even though he tried utilizing his technique, he came to realize she could keep up effortlessly. Against an opponent of this standard, it was useless for him to try to retreat nor retaliate.

    ''Is the disparity thisrge? Come to think of it, I don''t even know her standard of body cultivation. The fact she''s using her body to keep up with my technique means that she should be at the least tens of times stronger than me. The current level of my Partial Shade Silhouette doubles my speed at the minimum,'' Apollo thought, estimating the difference in their strengths.

    While in thought, an rm rang in his head, prompting him to hastily lean back. When he did so, Sapphyr''s rapier passed against his face, "Shut up, this is your fault. So, just remain quiet and ept your beating. Based on Xezym''s words, you should be good at healing, so this much is enough!"

    After her growl, Apollo fell quiet but signs of anger appeared on him. In ordance, his emotions seething caused the immediate space, 2 centimeters away from him to boil. Shortly after, the film surrounding his body seemed to alter as his eyes grew crimson. Despite trying to control it, his anger was getting the best of him.

    Irauk''s eyebrows raised when he noticed this change. ''I''ll intervene, I don''t like that fluctuation emitting from the boy. It seems the damage he''s suffering is causing some unforeseen mental problems. Not to mention, back then I already determine he possessed both dark and fiery tendencies. In my absence¡­ they may have grown.''

    ''Whoosh!''

    Unable to sit on the sidelines any longer, Irauk made his move. Appearing before the two with a trail of mes, he ced his left index finger on the tip of Sapphyr''s rapier catching it and the other on Apollo''s forehead.

    "Okay, okay, simmer down now. Both of you are getting too riled up. Control your emotions lest you alert some existences in this ce that prove to be rather annoying," Irauk chided in, alternating his gaze between the two.

    It took some time but Apollo''s anger diminished. Fortunately, in his case, the revolution of the crystal in his mind contributed to the mitigation of the overwhelming emotions but unlike the previous times, there was a foreign emotion mixed in.

    ''Fear? What was I scared of? No...it wasn''t my fear. This must have something to do with opening my temple. If I''m not mistaken, I believe fear is the inverse of anger. Together, they shouldplete Ira but then...what does Ira fear?'' Apollo pondered, falling into deep thought.

    "Are you decent now?" Irauk asked, ncing at Sapphyr''s whose eyes still contained traces of vexation.

    "Yes, leave me alone. Go take that boy to register and get out of my sight!" Sapphyr scoffed, waving her arm and leaving the premise. As he felt her emotions, Xezym trailed behind her.

    Only after reaching a suitable distance did Xezym offer his thoughts. "My Lady¡­ why did you target the boy and not Irauk?" Xezym questioned, arriving by Sapphyr''s side, however, for awhile she didn''t respond, her eyes seeming vacant. As a result, Xezym continued, "Is it because he stole your first kiss?"

    A small rection to this sentence took ce, Sapphyr lifting her head, "Yes and also because I can''t do anything to Irauk. You don''t know it¡­ but that man never shows his true strength. That yful appearance hides a strength that is just nonsensical. Don''t you remember that incident in the past?"

    "Ah, that''s right¡­ He was the one who saved you, wasn''t he? How could I forget this matter; my apologies, my Lady," Xezym nodded, bowing his head. The conversation between the two ceased as she relocated to the area the examination would take ce, there were still some mandatory duties she needed to fulfill.

    Meanwhile, Irauk dragged Apollo to the same general area, just a different section, "Oi, you got what you deserved. How dare you lie to me. You did indeed hail from a small noble family! I have been surveilling you this entire time. You came with a group of 12 you imbecile," Irauk muttered, digging his knuckled into Apollo''s head.

    "Damn, what the hell? Let go of me!" Apollo groaned, trying his darndest to escape from Irauk''s grasp vice grip. Of course, his actions were to no avail. He only released his when they arrived before a sea of people.

    Located before their very eyes was an expansive coliseum construct spanning farther than the eyes could see. Inside were innumerable tforms for countless battles to take ce on. Additionally, half of the area was cordoned off and resembled that of a grandiosebyrinth.

    Alongside this was another edifice but it seemed more like a tower than anything else. In front were 6 extensive lines spanning thousands of yards.

    "That tower is where you will register and conduct your exams and inside that coliseum over there is will you will undergo thebat section of the trials. I wish you luck, I have other matters to attend to," Irauk winked, catching wind of a few people approaching Apollo''s general direction.

    In a sh, Irauk disappeared, leaving the shocked Apollo. Ogling at the buildings, a sh of memories belonging to someone else shed in his mind, ''What a grand pce. It seems multiple battles took ce there.''

    "Apollo!" A voice called out to him.

 Chapter 130 - Haughty Figures, Indifference Towards All

    ----

    "Hmm? Kayn, what happened?" Apollo answered, exiting his stupor. Truthfully, he was still stuck in a rut over what he just saw. Just a glimpse of that magnificent cross between a pce, mausoleum, and coliseum left him in awe.??

    "I''m just here to remind you to register with haste! For some reason, the desk is closing early this year. Don''t miss your chance," Kayn urged, pointing at the base of the tower. Located on the surface, the desks which initially numbered less than 10 multiplied to over 20 of them; each stationed by people of both varying ages and statuses.

    However, upon closer examination, Apollo noticed Sapphyr was nowhere to be seen, ''I thought she was an Administrator, shouldn''t she take part in the registration process? Nevertheless, this isn''t my matter, I need to im a spot,'' Apollo thought but didn''t dwell on the matter for longer than a moment.

    "Ah, thanks for the reminder, I''ll go get an identification spot now," Apollo nodded, taking ce in line. Although the process was fast and quite simple, the sheer volume of participants turned this event into a lengthy wait.

    To upy himself, Apollo stood there gathering Natural Essence to refill his depleted reserves. The superficial state he was in now, after his earlier defensive straits, was a facade. While it appeared his injuries had healed thoroughly on the surface, in truth, he exhausted more resources than the signs showed.

    As he did so, Apollo spared half of his attention to observe the fluid movement of the registration line. The other half was used to inspect the interaction of his internal structures. While examining them, he marveled at the fact he was able to tweak the absorption rate of his own ord.

    It wasn''t as simple as increasing or decreasing the momentum of the absorption; he could now shift the orientation of the absorption site. In other words, he could allow the energy to gather directly inside a wound, virtually increasing the healing process by folds! The more he learned about the Tainted Temple, the more he was impressed by it.

    Furthermore, he came to understand why some people never advanced into Spirit Cultivation. After opening the Tainted Temple, he was able to sense a second set of meridians in his body. However, unlike the vibrant physical ones, these seemed dead.

    In fact, he had a feeling the only reason he was able to sense them was due to his sacrificing over half the Tainted Demonic Shards in his possession toplete the process. In exchange, the excess energy most likely flowed through these channels, enabling the current situation.

    While fascinated with his internal state, his consciousness attempted to delve deeper but it was useless. No matter what he tried, he was unable to influence those seemingly dead meridians.

    After ample tries, it was soon his turn.

    "ce your hand on the desk please. I''ll determine whether or not your bone age is less than 20, minimum body cultivation requirement, and if you have participated in this test once before. Should you fail to meet any of the criteria, you''ll be immediately disqualified," spoke the person manning the desk Apollo approached.

    Upon receiving direction, Apollo raised his hand, cing it on an inscription on the desk. Low noises could be heard from the table as it attempted to affirm his information. However, the attendee''s face soon dropped when he noticed the inscription still undergoing the process.

    Usually, this process took no longer than 3 seconds to take ce, but at this point, 30 seconds had psed without results. This leads the attendee to believe one of two things; either this youth before him was hiding his state or he wasn''t a human but a Terror in disguise.

    Of course, thetter choice was extreme in his eyes leading him to discard the idea. As for the former, he dismissed this as well. Naturally, this was because the inscription finally generated Apollo''s results.

    [Bone Age: 14 years, 11 months, 3 days.]

    [Meridian State: Top Tier Heaven Meridians.]

    [Cultivation Realms: Estimated Rank 7 Zul Warrior | Irregr Spirit Apprentice.]

    [Prior Participations: 0.]

    [Participant #1112666]

    When the information appeared, the attendant was taken aback. This youth before him was only 14 yet the inscription had found traces of him being a Spirit Apprentice. If the inscription was correct then that meant he just discovered someone on the level of Glories!

    "Do you possess a cultivation realm in the way of Spirit Cultivation?" the attendee inquired, his eyes inspecting Apollo closely.

    Due to that gaze, Apollo felt something was amiss. While ncing at his result, he weighed his choices, ''This person seems too excited with me potentially possessing that type of cultivation. Perhaps I should y dumb for a short while.''

    "Uhm¡­what exactly is Spirit Cultivation?" Apollo answered with a question of his own, faking extreme puzzlement.

    "The advancing of the mind to reach new heights. Have you experienced anything simr to this recently," the attendee continued to pry deeper.

    It went without saying, Apollo wasn''t going to disclose the matters unique to him, "No, but it sounds like it''ll be fun to attempt."

    "Mmm...I see, perhaps the inscription picked up on your talent. Perhaps that is a reason for the irregr ranking. Very well, take this card and wait until registration is done. Afterward, all participants will head inside there for further testing,'' the attendee instructed, pushing the matters of Apollo''s state to the back of his mind.

    Not to mention, when he saw Apollo didn''t possess Saint Meridians, his tion diminished. Now, with Apollo denying the fact, his interest in the situation decreased further. What the attendee sought was a distinct talent to im his bonus but unfortunately, Apollo wasn''t one to let people ride his coattails.

    Nevertheless, after returning to Kayn and the others, Apollo heard numerous people fail the registrations due to multiple reasons. Some tried to mask their age, others tried to deny ever participating while the rest failed to reach the minimum requirement but none were able to fool the inscriptions.

    "There are over one million participations and there seems to be an additional influx still on the way," Apollo stated, peering at the approaching crowd of people. Based on his estimations, at least 3 million people would participate in the trial.

    "Yeah, but less than 1 percent will pass, obtaining a seat in an academy. Not only are the spots in each sessive academy sparse, but even the weakest academy can only ept up to 4,000 people. Moreover, you must keep in mind, the top academies only ept apprentices based on scores," Kayn disclosed, rubbing his chin.

    As he heard this, Apollo''s eyebrows rose, "Hmm, does that mean the top colleges never fulfill their quota of people?"

    "Essentially. What''s more, is they never exceed one-tenth of the allotted spots. But, the surprising part is...just one of the chosen few can contest all of the students of the lowest college. This is howrge the disparity between the two worlds are," Kayn responded with a hint of veneration present.

    "So, they travel the elite route. Fewer numbers, more capability. I wonder though¡­" Apollo muttered in response, specting over the conditions of the 9 Famed Academies.

    While pensive, a resounding bell tolled, signifying the beginning of the trials. However, when the bells tolled, murmurs began. A college of 30 youths appeared walking towards the base of the tower with evident indifference.

    Amongst the crowd were the Glories but they''re the focus of the masses. Located before them were 5 other youths with demeanors belonging to those who felt themselves to be invible. This was especially true for the leading two. Their indifference towards all knew no bounds, not even sparing their surroundings a nce.

    Meanwhile, a voice entered Apollo''s ears causing him to turn, "The Paragons, Scions, Glories and the Elites."

    "Hmm? Who are you?" Apollo tilted his head with uncertainty. He felt he knew this person, but then again, he didn''t.

    "Do you not remember me? That''s bad because I remember you," the neer continued. Until the person''s identity hit him, Apollo remained silent.

    "Ragnvald..?" Apollo answered, half unsure. To achieve this answer required him to scour his mind for simrities.

    "Correct. I guess 4 years is enough to change the appearance greatly," Ragnvald chuckled but in truth, he looked nearly the same. The only apparent difference was his height and the masculine facial features he possessed.

    Unlike before, his grey hair was tied into a loose ponytail flowing down his back. The prior gentleness he possessed was now reced with a mature calm.

    "I see. Are the others here as well?" Apollo questioned, recalling the faces of 4 other youth each with their own personalities.

    "Yes, although, I''m not sure of their location. But, we''ll undoubtedly meet upter. After all, I''m confident in your ability, as for theirs, well that goes without saying. Enough of that talk though, let''s enter the Sky Appraisal Tower," Ragnvald urged Apollo to follow along, to which he did.

    In addition, behind Apollo, his family members followed in tow. Now that he received the items from Kayn, he didn''t fret over this matter. Actually, he weed it because something told him he would need to possess numbers in an uing event.

 Chapter 131 - Breakdown Of Examination

    ----

    While everyone gathered before the Sky Appraisal Tower, a familiar face appeared. Gabriel Astarte, doubling as the steward for their guidance nced over all of the youths.??

    "All of you are to enter and based on your numbers, enter one of the designated paths. Each door will have a marking to indicate which column you belong to. If you fail to follow directions, you will be immediately disqualified. As we are training you for the task force, you will need to possess the discipline and the apt ability to follow directions."

    After giving them a warning, the two grand doors behind him opened, revealing an extensive corridor spanning for an uncountable distance. However, on each side was a staircase. But, located at various odd steps were doorways marked with strange symbols.

    "Flip over your identification cards. The symbol on the back should match the step you must exit the staircase. Obviously, this is to promote fairness. After all, these cards will also y a role in the course of your future tests," Gabriel informed.

    In ordance with this information, all the youths reversed their cards, revealing their own symbol. Without hesitation, every single youth stepped forth with the Paragons, Scions, Glories, and Elites leading the way.

    However, something odd took ce. Unlike the rest who branched off into a staircase including the Glories and below, the Paragons and Scions ignored their existences, continuing to walk forward in the tower, embraced by the distant darkness. By their actions, it seemed they retained special rights.

    A spatial door opened before them, enveloping them before disappearing without a sign. This scene surprised many, but when they remembered their illustrious status, they disregarded the earlier scene.

    Unbeknownst to the rest, those individuals arrived before their respective family heads and higher personage. While the others underwent their tests, these few sat in wait.

    ''Hmm, as I thought, the treatment between different levels is great. This only serves to further cements my im about grasping a good starting point. Otherwise, my everyday routine will most likely be filled with trivial annoyances,'' Apollo thought before climbing the stairs but not before feeling a tug on his shirt.

    He paused for a moment, followed by a nce over his shoulder. Surprisingly, he was shocked to see a crimson-haired beauty with a proud smile on her face, staring back at him.

    "I knew it was you! What was your name again...ah ahh¡­ it''s on the tip of my tongue. Don''t tell me, I''ll remember it, hold on!" she quipped, trying her darnedest to recall this fellow''s name. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried, she failed to remember his name.

    "Apollo, Nadida. It''s Apollo," he shook his head, with an amused chuckle. It seemed her personality went through zero changes in their absence.

    "Dang! I told you, I had it! You suck! Ahem, but you did get stronger, look how tall you''ve gotten!" Nadida eximed, holding her hand to Apollo''s forehead, measuring the distance from hers. Additionally, she squeezed his arm, approving his physique with a pleased nod.

    "Even Adeon isn''t this robust, this is cool. Just wait until he sees you. Oh, I can see it now, that grumpy guy is going to lose his top! Oh yeah, and you''re years younger than him," Nadida giggled, seemingly excited to see Adeon''s dismay.

    "Wow...you haven''t changed. You still talk so much," Apollo blinked, continuing to climb the stairs.

    "W-what?! I''ll have you know, I''ve gotten stronger as well," Nadida harrumphed, stupefied by Apollo''s words. However, in response, he just waved his hand as if saying ''Yeah, yeah, sure I hear you already.''

    While continuing to climb the stairs, the two caught up, exchanging their experiences. Surprisingly, not only did they advance, but they did so by leaps and bounds. All 5 of the youths had attained at least the peak of the Zul Warrior Realm. This was true, even for the unmotivated Rhett.

    Soon enough, they reached the top of their respective staircase. When they did, their eyes were met with a marvelous sight. Upon reaching this ce, the scenery changed bing an expansive room.

    Large ivory stone walls expanded up to 100 meters on both sides. Furthermore, stgmites of simr colors hung from the wall engraved with awe-inspiring runes. From them, leaked afortable aura.

    Equally important, there were numerous yet identical sets of equipment of varying value, all capable of testing different aspects of cultivation. Located in sets of 2, they were divvied for what appeared to be 1000 people. After everyone who was to appear here arrived, the instructor appeared.

    "I am Nivel, the instructor of you all from the 1113th batch. For those of you who don''t know, I hail from the Victorious Sword Academy. While I don''t sense sword intent from any of you, I am still responsible for administering yourprehensive exam. Allow me to exin what will take ce," a dignified man spoke.

    Coupled with the marvelous sword hanging at his waist, his sharp countenance and piercing eyes maized the room, everyone falling silent. Due to his atmosphere, there was no doubt in their mind that if they misspoke, something untoward them would happen.

    Even Apollo was uncharacteristically silent.

    "First and foremost, I''ll test your potential. Before you say you''ve already been tested; you haven''t. Unless you hail from at least a Great Family, then you''ve yet to experience a proper test. In fact, can any of you tell me what a Natural Root is?" Nivel questioned, his eyes sweeping across the mass of youths.

    Just as he expected, the room was silent. In this batch, not one offspring of a Great Family could be found. This meant within 1000 youths, not one member of a Great Family could be found. In other words, the majority of numbers were made up of youths from small noble children seeking to grasp a notable future.

    "Very well, a Natural Root is the result of your Dantian and Meridians merging as one. Although you may not have felt it, when you opened your Dantian, you created a mystical thing. This is known as the Natural Root. It determines the potential of your body. Furthermore, unlike your meridians, it can''t be trained. Hence, why we test for it; it marks thetent potential hidden within you. We''ll now bring it out.

    "Located before each of you is a colorless fist-sized orb. Pick that up and hold it in your palms. There is no need for any other actions, the orb will do the rest of the work," Nivel instructed, pointing his finger at the feet of everyone present.

    One by one, the orbs were picked up. When Apollo picked his up, Nadida looked over to him, winking her clear golden eyes, whispering, "I hope you don''t have anything below a crimson grade or you''ll hear my mouth."

    "Quiet and do as your told!" Nivel barked, ring in Nadida''s direction causing her silence.

    Meanwhile, Apollo was overwhelmed with curiosity, ''Crimson grade? I don''t even know what this is, much less the lowest or highest grades. What the hell does that color indicate?''

    Fortunately, his worries were soon dispelled. As the youths waited for the urrence to happen, Nivel disclosed more information rted to the Natural Root.

    "Those of you unfamiliar with the ranking, allow me to enlighten you and expand your ipetent minds. The Natural Root exists in 5 differentiations; Mortal, King, Emperor, Saint, and Empyrean Grade. Each of which is further divided into 9 levels. Your ranking is determined by the vibrancy of your color."

    As Nivel spoke, the numerous orbs started to emit various colors.

    "If you receive the grey color, you''re worthless; you''ve attained the Mortal Root. If you achieve the green color, meh, you''re subpar, possessing the King Root. Should you acquire the violet color, congrattions, you''re above the masses with an Emperor Root. Lastly, Crimson, you''ve reached the Saint Root and Diamond, the Empyrean Root. Now, will you all be worthless or not? Don''t disgrace your families," Nivel chuckled, ncing at the colors appearing in the room.

    At the moment, it was too early to tell, but based on the momentum, he could estimate exactly where everyone would end up. With his current estimations, he was disappointed in this generation.

    Typically, most youths who were born to small noble families would harbor talents in the range of high Mortal Roots to extremely low Emperor Roots but this meant their potential was only average. Even the most useless offspring of a Great Family was born with a low Emperor Root. This was, of course, due to superior births.

    This type of talent was both hereditary as well as granted by fate. Thus, it was something that couldn''t be tampered with. Be that as it may, Apollo''s expression became colorful. The range of his fluctuations was far too great, it was like witnessing a jackpot spin with the ultimate oue full of uncertainty.

    After 5 minutes, the results were determined and Nivel was surprised. He just didn''t know whether he shouldugh or cry.

 Chapter 132 - Uncertain Stipulations

    ----

    While undergoing their tests, a majority of the youths present fell victim to the gue of society¡ªto be average. At this sight, Nivel shook his head. It was wrong of him to retain any hopes of seeing something surprising.??

    Over 95% of the youths present only achieved grey to green Natural Roots. In other words, most of them were unable to reach the Zul Emperor Realm, unless they encountered some fortuitous events. However, how could that happen if the academies would instead focus on those capable of achieving far more?

    Hence, Nivel shook his head, ''A predominant number of these youths will be doomed to fall into nihility. Most of them will end up in the grunt division of the World Remation Task Force. It''s a shame to see, but this is how life advances.''

    Fortunately, his doubts weren''t exacerbated. The other 5% had pulled through, obtaining the minimum to clutch a more adequate fate. Around two-thirds of the remaining 5% achieved the violet Emperor Root.

    A faint few achieved above the 5th-degree root of this particr grade. This meant their root had at least 5 branches on it. However, the rare few like Nadida achieved an even more illustrious feat; a 9th degree Saint Root. While falling short of the Empyrean Root, it was still a sight to behold.

    One had to know, obtaining this meant if they didn''t suffer catastrophic means, they retained the prerequisite potential to achieve the Zul Sovereign level. This was equivalent to the Grand Masters of the Supreme Families.

    Of course, the ones to achieve this was few and far between. Besides Nadida, only 2 other people attained this feat. Additionally, theirs weren''t asplete as hers, insinuating they hovered between the 8th and 9th. Nevertheless, with the appearance of thismendable talent, Nivel bestowed praise.

    "Very good! It seems there will be an additional Scion in the future, but to be entirely sure, we''ll have to examine your other abilities. After all, a true Scion isn''t just well versed in one category. Moving alon- hmm? Wait¡­ you over there, what is wrong with your orb?" Nivel questioned, his sightsnding on the bewildered Apollo.

    "Uhh¡­" Apollo blinked, unable to answer the question. He, too, was uncertain as to what took ce. At first, his test was going fine but then it went haywire, changing colors in a rapid frenzy. The end result was what he held in his hands¡ªa pitch-ck colored orb resembling a crystal.

    Upon closer inspection, Nivel scrutinized the state of the orb, "You¡­ THIS IS A VARIANT EMPYREAN ROOT!" Unlike his proper character, Nivel lost his wits, such a thing was only seen within Paragons and even then it was a rarity.

    Amongst the two current Paragons, neither of them possessed a Variant Empyrean Root. This meant one of a few things. The examinee was blessed with a Heavenly Body; the examinee''s body was an anomaly or the potential it possessed was even greater than what could be tested.

    However, for thetter to be true, it would require someone of great origin! Nivel was unable to believe that a youth from a small family could possess such prestigious potential. Usually, this once in an eon talent was found amidst the ranks of Supreme Children, but an appearance of one of those hadn''t happened since the initial invasion of Terrors.

    While this looked to be a great sign, Nivel frowned as he dissected the situation, ''Is this boy an omen of the past legends¡ªa Supreme Child? If so, then that would mark the urrence of a catastrophic event!''

    As his thoughts traveled afar, Nivel looked at Apollo with an expression of horror. The more he examined the crystal-like appearance, the more he felt this was true. For one, the color was too dark, surpassing the level of the previous Supreme Child.

    ''I must beseech an audience with the Sage of the Fleeting Divination Academy. I must ascertain whether or not a catastrophe is truly upon us, if so, we must make adequate preparations. I alone can''t make this assumption, ording to what is known, a Supreme Child should have shattered the orb. Let''s now dwell on this matter, I must continue with this exam,'' Nivel thought.

    Once he determined his course of action, Nivel cleared his throat, regaining everyone''s attention. "Alright, so there is indeed hidden talent amongst you, but I can''t allow that to disrupt our progress; we are on a timeline. Next, we''ll test your Soul State Aptitude or Spirit Aptitude for short. For this, you don''t need any prior cultivation in the mind.

    "This time, you''ll see a crystal prism located next to the position of the orb''s prior cement. To undergo this test, you''ll need to utilize this Soul Bar. Once again, based on the color, it''ll determine your born mental potential. However, unlike the prior test, this one doesn''t have sub differentiations."

    Inparison to the Natural Root, the Spirit Aptitude was far easier to test. All the prism did was invade the mind with a gentle yet propagating energy. Depending on how long it took for the energy to cause you to faint, it determined your aptitude.

    "When I administer this test, depending on how long you withstand the torment of the Soul Bar, your potential will be determined. Before I begin, I need to make you aware of a few things. One, if youst less than 10 seconds your test ends here.

    "If you''re unable to withstand this pain, you''ll never open your Soul Temple without dying and that is where you''ll be determined a waste. We, the Academy''s, train you with the purpose of cultivating you into beings capable of ying the Terrors. If you can''t wield a Spirit, you won''tst against them unless your Body Cultivation eclipses them. If you evere face to face with one, then you''ll understand the connotations behind my words.

    "Nevertheless, back to the task at hand. Here is the breakdown of the chart," Nivel uttered, waving his arm. Before everyone''s eyes, a listprised of his sword energy appeared. With his grasp of the sword, the words were easy to see.

    [Soul Aptitude Breakdown]

    Withstand the allotted time:

    White - 15 to 20 seconds. (Ranking: F)

    Red - 21 to 30 seconds. (Ranking: E)

    Yellow - 31 to 45 seconds. (Ranking: D)

    Orange - 46 to 70 seconds. (Ranking: C)

    Azure - 71 to 100 seconds. (Ranking: B)

    Cyan - 3 to 5 minutes. (Ranking: A)

    Silver - 15 - 30 minutes. (Ranking: S)

    Gold - At least 1 hour. (Ranking: SS)

    ck - At least 3 hours. (Ranking: SSS)

    "Something I must tell you all, to achieve beyond the A-Rank, after achieving the duration, you must retain rity of thought. If you faint, your ranking will drop to the preceding rank. However, this won''t happen with Rank F to A. This restriction due to the special circumstances surrounding those rankings. Now, begin!" Nivel eximed.

    With a snap, the Soul Bars emitted low vibrations, sending a small fluctuation into the mind of the others. When he saw this, Apollo closed his eyes in preparation for an assault.

    Like the others, he, too, was subject to a gentle touch. At first, during the first 10 seconds, it felt as if a fly was buzzing around his mind¡ªequating to nothing more than an annoyance, but that couldn''t be said for others.

    At 3 seconds, 2% of the examinees tapped out, fainting where they sat. This meant they didn''t even possess a modicum of the will required to open the Soul Temple. When the 5-second mark approached, over 10% of the examinees fainted.

    By the time 10 seconds psed, nearly 50% of the examinees copsed. Be that as it may, a few like Nadida, Apollo, and a couple of others lookedpletely unaffected by the Soul Bar. Naturally, this was because they didn''t experience the pain the others did, or rather it wasn''t substantial enough to warrant a change in expression.

    Theirx expressions continued well into the 100-second mark. It was at that time changes in countenances began. Some wanted to tap out but they understood they needed to achieve at least an A rank Aptitude. If not, they''d be limited to the Elites at max.

    Meanwhile, unlike those struggling to achieve this standard, Apollo even retained the ability to think, ''Should I end my test early? My prior results were already stunning enough. Even though the pressure continues to multiply, it has yet to approach even a fraction of the pain I felt when opening the Tainted Temple.''

    As he contemted the route to take, time continued topse quickly. Unbeknownst to him, the exam had distorted his concept of time. A thought taking an instant before was now taking upwards of 3 seconds toplete.

    Soon enough, Nadida''s eyebrows trembled, opening for a moment but when she saw Apollo''sx expression, apetitive spirit rose from within the depths of her. This forced her to continue the exam as good enough wouldn''t suffice for her.

 Chapter 133 - Feigned Gold Standard

    ----

    From the start of the test, approximately 1 hour psed. As of now, only 6 participants remained in the test. Of course, both Apollo and Nadida were present. This was of no surprise to Nivel.??

    From between their brows, he sensed the prerequisite unyielding will of a true cultivator. Both of these youths possessed the makings to contract with a Spirit. After all, it wasn''t a painless process. It required a lot of engraving and the sacrificing of a portion of the mental space.

    Despite being able to continue, Apollo groaned, opening his eyes and releasing the Soul Bar. After doing so, the Soul Bar emitted a gold light symbolizing him having achieved the SS Rank, or in other words, the Gold Standard.

    Simrly, within a couple of seconds of each other, all of the other 5 youths relinquished their grasps of the Soul Bar, but unlike Apollo, who was feigning his state, the other youths truly struggled to retain rity of mind.

    Some present even went as far as to bite their tongues. Albeit, a primal technique, in this state, it worked. The pain jolted their minds awake just long enough to sustain the short recovery.

    When Nivel caught wind of this, he nodded. "I''m impressed. At most, I thought one or two of you would achieve this level. It seems you all want to im better futures for yourself. You may even be able to contract with Heroic Spirit, of course, that depends upon your own capabilities.

    "I''ll now announce the top results. Needless to say, theck of an SSS Rank potential is to be expected. To achieve a Paragon''s status without training is a miracle in and of itself; not to mention tedious. Nevertheless, the results are satisfactory.

    "We have 6 SS Rank Aptitudes, 2 S Rank Aptitudes, 25 A Rank Aptitudes, 74 B Rank Aptitudes, and the rest¡­ well you all know your own results based on your color. As for those half of you who failed to meet the requirements¡­ I''m afraid this marks the end of your exams

    "However, don''t fret there still remains a spot for you. After all, you all possess potential beyond the typical standard for Body Cultivation. Therefore, I''ll allow admittance into the Lower 3 Academies. Albeit iparable to the rest, it is still better than being trained by your respective families," Nivel announced, providing a way out that usually didn''t appear.

    Due to this, their previously dejected eyes lit up. What little potential they did possess wouldn''t be squandered; this alone enlivened them. Even if they were cast away to odd Academies, this was still a substantial opportunity.

    "I''ll allow you all some time to recuperate as the tests are far from done," Nivel uttered, his eyes focused on the 6 youths who scored an SS Rank aptitude. Although it didn''t show, he was ecstatic. If he yed his cards right, he could essentially snag a few for his own legion.

    Even if they didn''t possess talent with the sword, just the fact they showcased ample Spirit Cultivator potential meant they possessed arge possibility for growth. Simrly, this meant theirprehension should be high as well.

    Basically, Nivel saw them all as nk tes. If they possessed no skill, as long as they achieved the demeanor matching his practice, he would instill the technique into their being. That way, there were no worries on his side.

    As he pondered, the youths entered a state of recuperation. Moreover, the atmosphere contained Spiritual Essence that flowed into their minds of its own ord. There was a purpose for its existence.

    After all, while it seemed to be a wisp of gentle energy at first, that wasn''t truly the case. In fact, the Soul Bar was by far a tyrannic item. With each second, the vtility of the energy doubled. Soon enough, it reached a level capable of leaving hidden injuries in the mind.

    Thus, this modified Spiritual Essence was needed to rectify this issue before it evolved into something with long term effects. If left untreated, their potentials could suffer irreparable damage upon trying to link with the Spirit Worlds.

    Of course, Nivel didn''t allow them to dawdle. While they recovered, he was already setting up the next exam. This one, however, was different. He would have to monitor it for himself. It was the Elemental Resonance Stele.

    Only after forming a few hand seals did the stele erect. Across its exterior were numerous inscriptions detailing its respective element. Besides the normal ones, there were even rarer elements such as Space and Time. Of course, there were things going beyond the elements but as they were now, their cultivations were insufficient.

    Much like the previous assessments, this one was divided into 9 Levels with Level 1 being the lowest and Level 9 being the greatest.

    By the time Nivel finished his preparations, the youth''s countenances all took a turn for the better, regaining a tinge of vibrancy. A small smile appeared on his face when he saw this, punctuality always impressed him, even if it was unconsciously.

    Afterward, he woke them all with a resounding p, "That''ll be enough, all your mental wounds should have finished healing, but even if they didn''t, that''s okay. As you take this test, the environment will continue to heal you. I just had to ensure your minds were steady enough to take this next test.

    "Due to past errors, we have learned that a muddled mind interferes with the results even if this tests your innate ability. What we''ll be testing for is theprehension you possess. To do so, we''ll have you discern different levels of elements you possess an affinity for," Nivel instructed, gesturing towards the stele before.

    Meanwhile, Apollo and Nadida conversed about their potential. Surprisingly, this time, Nivel didn''t stop them. It appeared that his stern directions had be muchxer due to the presence of their ample capabilities.

    "You didn''t let me down, no, no, you were far beyond what I thought! Dude, an Empyrean Root? Do you know what that means? That means your body is both strong and has the potential to be exponentially stronger!" Nadida eximed, grabbing Apollo''s hand.

    However, Apollo was taken aback. Only he knew that something was amiss with his exam, ''I wonder how they would react if they learned this stigmata on my body prohibited the energy from entering me properly. If it went on any longer, perhaps the orb would have crackedpletely.''

    At a nce, the orb used to test the Natural Root semed to retain its former secure state but that was far from the truth. Located upon the sites Apollo rested his hands, indistinct spider web cracks could be seen inside.

    In other words, just as Nivel expected...Apollo was a cmitous child! The very appearance of his talent was an omen. Regrettably, this factor would always be overlooked as these orbs were discarded upon usage. It served no other purpose once a person''s signature energy was instilled nor could it be flushed.

    "I see. You know what they say, it''s always darkest before the dawn," Apollo smiled meaningfully. Laced within his words was a sign of him detaching from his old emotional weights. Additionally, it also foreboded to something else.

    "Yeah, oh, look. That guy is another one who had SS Rank Aptitude right? Oh! Look, it seems he has conflicting elements. Fire and Water; what an oddbination," Nadida eximed, watching as the other youths approached the stele one by one.

    The time each one spent up there varied as some possessed singr elements while others more than one. However, what remained constant was that each person was only given a minute toprehend the element as deep as they could. This, in turn, would present a general indication of theirprehension skills.

    "Hmm, Level 6 Fire and Level 6 Water. That''s odd. You''re a perfect Dual Attibrute," Nivel uttered with great surprise. To have an equal affinity meant two things. One, your shorings with each element could be supplemented with little to no effort, and two, your rate of advancement would be a tinge slower than other due to the requirements.

    When one was deemed to be "perfect" in more than a singr element, it meant it was pertinent to their growth they advanced both sides simultaneously, as well as equally. The best-case scenario was to always evade imbnce.

    "What is your name?" Nivel asked the gray hair youth with clear cerulean eyes.

    "Leone," the youth replied, lifting his hand. In his left hand, a clear blue me with liquid consistency was birthed. Soon enough, the same exact me appeared in his right. In response, Nivel''s eyes widened.

    "Elemental Ovep! It''s surprising that you possess this technique without proper training. I expect you''ll reach Level 7 fairly soon. There is, without a doubt in my mind, a spot for you in the Famed 9 Academies," Nivel praised before moving along to the next examinee.

    In the meantime, Apollo nced at the stele. Unbeknownst to him, a strange ck symbol appeared in his right eye but when it did, the breakdown of the inscription became clear as day to him.

 Chapter 134 - Monstrous Duo, Reappearance

    ----

    After Leone''s test, various odd talents appeared with the highest being a Level 7 Wind Affinity. With a simple flick of their finger, they were capable of conjuring violent winds reminiscent of a hurricane.??

    However, before it could get out of hand, Nivel shed his hand, dispersing it with Sword Energy, "Very good. There are only two of you left to be tested. You two, who have been chatting all this while,e up and test yourprehension. After that, we''ll be done with the basic exams. You all will then move on."

    "Ladies first," Apollo gestured to Nadida. Due to the oddity taking ce with his eyes, he felt it was best he allowed Nadida to go before him. Something told him he would cause this exam to go haywire as well. After all, what else could it mean for him to understand the inscriptions at such a level.

    "Hmm? When did you be such a gentleman, but I''m curious as to how I''llpare to you, so I''ll finish my test quickly!" Nadida giggled, before storming up to the stele. With a rxed expression, she ced her palm on the stele''s hand groove.

    As she closed her eyes, wisps of fire birthed around her wrists immediately. Additionally, after a short moment, her hair fluttered in the wind with metallic lights emanating from it.

    While he witnessed this, Nivel''s jaw dropped uncharacteristically, but that was understandable. After all, what Nadida was performing wasn''t normal. "S-simultaneous Invocation!" Nivel stammered, lifting his finger incredulously.

    Even as he muttered his words, the elements Nadida stimted continued to increase. From the initial Fire, Wind, and Metal, Lightning and Earth entered the mix. Luckily, before he could suffer a heart attack, the surpises stopped, or at least so he thought.

    From Level 2, they all increased in tandem, until finally stopping at Level 7. At the sight of this, most of the present youths could only gape. Not only was this girl talented, but she possessed a monstrousprehension. Five Affinities¡ªthat''s how many she resonated with.

    "Five Level 7 Affinities¡­ 4 offensive and 1 defensive. SS Rank Spirit Aptitude and perfected Saint Root. This type of talent¡­ you''re already a Glory. No that''s incorrect¡­ you''re one step away from the prerequisites of a Scion," Nivel uttered, taken aback by the situation at hand.

    "Mn, this much is to be expected. Those Great Families will soon understand, they aren''t the only talent in the world and soon enough¡­ I''lle for the Scions and maybe even the Paragons as well," Nadida dered, filled with unhindered confidence.

    "Those are some grand ims to live up toss. Do you believe yourself capable of breathing life into your aspirations?" Nivel questioned, finding this young girl to be intriguing. Her personality was just as the elements she possessed suggested¡ªstraightforward,bative, and unyielding.

    "I do," Nadida nodded fervently, before continuing, "This type ofprehension is only just the beginning. Anyway, my test is done, I''ve fulfilled all my affinities at once. You can test Apollo now," she finished with a giggle, tapping her foot.

    As Apollo approached, he nodded to her, "I wasn''t aware you were so talented. I thought you were just talkative," he remarked with a smirk.

    "Whatever, let me see you beat that," Nadida uttered with a small scoff.

    "Maybe," Apollo responded mysteriously. Although he reached the stele, he didn''t put his hands on it. Instead, he pondered over the fact he could see the flow of the inscriptions so closely.

    While doing so, he lifted his gaze to match Nivel''s. Unlike his expectations, there was no response from Nivel, ''Could it be there''s no change in my eyes? If not...then what is taking ce?''

    Of course, what Apollo didn''t know was that the Tainted Temple was doing its job albeit incorrectly. Due to himcking the Sin to power it, he was unable to use this power properly. If he could, this meager use was nowhere near the height of his capabilities.

    "You may begin at any time, you don''t need to await my beckon," Nivel disclosed, thinking the youth standing him was awaiting his direction.

    "Oh, no I''m just thinking about a few things. What Nadida did was overwhelming, I''m just considering if I''m capable of doing so as well," Apollo responded with a light chuckle.

    "Have you evere in contact with the elements and tried to sense them before?" Nivel inquired .

    "Nope,I''ve never done that. Why?" Apollo returned a question as well. Despite being unfamiliar, he understood he possessed affinities due to the Wyvern. What he didn''t know, was that he also drew his affinities from another source.

    "Then it is impossible. To perform that feat, you would have needed to familiarize yourself with your identified elements beforehand. Of course, even possessing prior familiarity doesn''t take away from the difficulty of actually doing it," Nivel said, before continuing, "Just go at your own pace."

    Naturally, Apollo wasn''t one to just sit back. Now that Nadida had sparked his interest, he, too, needed to attempt was she did. As such, Apollo made up his mind. ''I''ll just familiarize myself now then.''

    Shortly after, he closed his eyes, cing his hand in the groove. At first, what he discerned was a jumbled mess, but in a single moment, he found a few instances he was familiar with.

    ''This warmth...this should be the Fire Element. Ah, this vacancy should be the Dark Element. Hmm, the freedom; the Wind. The solidity; the Earth, that piercing feeling is undoubtedly Metal. I can also feel an unsurpassed lethality¡­ Lightning! Oh, but what is this?''

    Before Apollo very eyes, the Dark and Fire Element fused in his mind giving birth to a dark me. Needless to say, he understood the familiarity of the fusion, ''Hellfire,'' he thought to himself.

    Meanwhile, on the outside, both Apollo and the stele showed no reaction. What he was doing wasn''tprehending the elements, but instead feeling out their presence. Hence, theck of response from both.

    Nevertheless, this didn''t stay that way for long. It started with the Fire Element increasing rapidly first. It went without saying, this was due to the presence of the Infernal Ira Stigmata, Wrath was a Sin that burned all, thus, achieving the pinnacle of mes.

    Simrly, the Dark and Wind Element deepened simultaneously. In light of both his familiarity with the Partial Shade Silhouette and Xezym''s teachings, his understanding couldn''t bepared to its former state.

    To make the Partial Shade Silhouette appear, one had to blend the shadows with the fleeting wind, bing a phantom. In exchange, he resonated with these affinities effortlessly.

    While Apollo continued, the atmosphere fell silent. A nefarious aura was leaking from his palm but it couldn''t be ssified as an element but Nivel understood what it was, ''Oh? This boy has an intent. Furthermore, it''s the one all soldiers must acquire; murderous intent. Could he already possess the makings of a ruthless soldier? To be so young yet possess this, is surprising.''

    Amidst Nivel''s shock, Apollo took the exam up another level. Unlike the others, he retained the ability to control his body while still sensing the content of the stele. A smile appeared on his face, "Are you ready? 3...2...1!"

    Once the countdown reached one, an explosive shockwave emitted from his body. Every affinity jumped from Level 2 to Level 5 in an instant. Moreover, it continued to steadily climb gaining speed with eachprehension.

    "H-holy fuck! How is this possible? Didn''t he say he was unfamiliar with the elements?" Nivel muttered. The sight before his eyes was appalling, but when he took a step back and thought about it, it wasn''t too astonishing.

    After all, this youth before him was capable of both an Empyrean Root as well as SS Rank Aptitude, why would his spontaneousprehension becking. When he realized this, Nivel''s eyes glimmered.

    ''W-wait...is that the Spatial Element? Monster! Now, I really want to see how far he can take these 7 Elements,'' Nivel grew ecstatic when he witnesses the spatial distortions taking ce around Apollo.

    However, Apollo was more surprised by something else.

    ?System Alert! The Demon Monarch System haspleted its upgrade. For more information, open the interface. Many new options have been added. Additionally, your traits have been condensed into the beginning trait of your race. However, aspensation for the current world, the standard will conform to this world.?

    ?System Alert! All stats have been changed to match your current standards.?

    Due to the message, Apollo was shocked. What weird timing, if the system appeared beforehand, he wouldn''t be surprised by his own result. He would have already possessed a general idea of the situation.

    Nheless, now that the system was back, he felt almostplete. All that was missing was the guidance of Azridan, but he understood it would take time for his soul to properly heal.

    Soon enough, his trial came to an end. When he opened his eyes, the first thing that met his eyes was Nivel''s astounded expression followed by his loud bellow.

 Chapter 135 - The Trials Begin! (I)

    ----

    "I-insane! While you aren''t a Scion in strength, you already match them in potential! Not only do you have the highest body potential I''ve seen yet, but all of your affinities, save for Space and Earth, have reached Level 7!" Nivel bellowed, his eyes widened in shock.??

    The most confounding thing was the fact this was spontaneousprehension. In other words, if he left Apollo toprehend the elements for longer, there was a chance he could learn their even deeper forms. Of course, toprehend and actually utilize were two different concepts.

    To utilize, you''d need to enact theprehension on your body. This was the part that stumped many youths. If the body were incapable of moving ordingly, then they''d have to wait until it reached the required level to utilize theirprehension.

    Thus, the reason why the Academies urged all Spirit Cultivators to train their bodies as well. After all, the body was the vessel that everything flowed through. With an insufficient body cameckluster performance.

    Luckily, this wasn''t an issue for Apollo. Firstly, he possessed the Demon Monarch System; this alone allowed him to bypass the issues typical cultivators would face. Naturally, this came with its own drawbacks that only he would face.

    Additionally, as mentioned before, both his potentials were deemed sufficient. So, his body would most likely evolve at a race that would rival his spiritual acquisition. But, all this was under the pretenses of him being a normal "human" in Nivel''s eyes.

    After regting his emotions, Nivel cleared his throat, "Ahem, well now that the basic examinations are over, the result will be tallied. Out of the 1,000 initial participants, 486 of you will pass onto the livebat and battle analysis stage. I wish you all luck there as I will not be the one to apany you.

    "However, Leone, Apollo, Nadida, and you other 3 with SS Rank Spirit Aptitudes, even if your battle results are subpar, there will, without a doubt, be a slot remaining for you all. While potential can''t be trained, battle awareness and anything pertaining tobat can be. Therefore, this test isn''t extremely crucial to you all as it is for the others. This concludes what I must disclose."

    Upon leaving this small piece of information, Nivel vanished into thin air, or rather, he shed his hand down, opening a spatial portal with sword energy alone. Needless to say, this feat left some of the students in awe.

    On one hand, they spected Nivel''s cultivation realm and venerated him whereas, on another, they aspired to reach the height where they''d be able to perform those same actions. Apollo, on the other hand, was making much differentparisons.

    ''This feeling is much weaker than that Kraydin spirit but slightly stronger than Xezym. However, I wonder how he goes up against Irauk, I''ve never once witnessed his full strength. Usually, those who have such easygoing personalities hide tremendous strength. But, why do they do that?'' Apollo pondered.

    He, as well, kept a portion of his strength hidden but he had his reasons. If his entire arsenal was showcased for all to see, how could he be a dark horse in this trial? Not to mention, with the element of surprise, he''ll control any battle hees in contact with.

    Naturally, this was only true against people he held a general advantage over. Whenpared to the Nine Glories he met before, victory in a bout against them was still unknown. By the virtue of Typhir''s ever-growing aura, one could tell each of them acted within some sort of limitation.

    Soon enough, anotherrge spatial door opened on the other side of the examination floor. Inside, Gabriel Astarte stood, gazing upon all with a weing expression.

    "So, you all are the ones who passed. This year''s passing rate exceeds that of the prior year''s, I wonder if this is something I should worry about," he chuckled, continuing, "Nheless, I have been alerted of 6 potential Glories and 3 potential Scions. The top 10 scorers, please step forward."

    Slowly but surely, the top 10 including Apollo who was ratherckadaisical, stepped forward. When Gabriel noticed the familiar face of Apollo, his expression was mixed. While there was surprise, there also seemed to be another emotionced within.

    "Ah, youngd. It seems your words were justified. You aren''t just outspoken but talented as well. But, do well to monitor who you mouth off to. The people of this world don''t all follow the same mind, do you understand?" Gabriel warned, but didn''t show any malice.

    ''Hmm? It appears he''s trying to warn me. If I remember correctly, that boy from the group was named Lazaro Astarte. In other words, this is his family member. However, there doesn''t seem to be any hostility in his voice or words, why is that so?'' Apollo mused, looking into Gabriel''s eyes silently.

    After a short moment, he responded with a nod, "I understand your words, but sometimes the shing of heads is how we determine our ce and im superiority," Apollo chuckled lightheartedly.

    Unless he came before someone irrational, Apollo wouldn''t change his attitude towards any. Only when faced with someone he was incapable of gaining the upper hand on, would he withdraw to prosperter.

    In light of this response, Gabriel smiled, "Very well. Hopefully, you two don''t end in an irreconcble position. It''d be a shame to lose any talent in this generation. After all, something tells me we''ll require the presence of all of you. But, enough of that, follow me."

    As such, therge group of youths followed Gabriel into the portal. Once all of them were inside, the doorway closed, darkness embracing all of them. Unsurprisingly, this was only for a moment as the scenery changed, astounding all of them. This was the first time they had seen such an expansive battle arena.

    Unlike the rest though, Apollo''s was drawn elsewhere. The new changes to his interface both surprised and confused him. In short, there were too many options. All the prior things he thought about were now turned into a menu!

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.3

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [1.10%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 14

    Level: 100 [Locked]

    Experience: [Locked]

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 3,025 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 4 Zul Warrior

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 1 Spirit Apprentice

    Meridians: Heaven-Grade (Top Tier)

    Zuls: 5,000

    Oz: 195

    Strength: 250.0

    Agility: 200.0

    Intelligence: 195.0

    Vitality: 121.0

    Comprehension: 19.5

    Willpower: 19.5

    [?Traits?]- 4

    ?Infernal Demonic Body?

    ?Tainted Nebulous Mind?

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 3

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 7: Fire, Darkness, Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?] [?Interdimensional Inventory?]

    Stat Points: 0

    "All these changes¡­" Apollo muttered incredulously. Not only did many of the options possess the ability to copse now, but his health indicator also turned into a percentage. Simrly, his stamina was exchanged for the Demonic Anima Reserve.

    Moreover, there was also the new Willpower, Comprehension, and Oz options. To expound on the terms, Willpower and Comprehensions detailed his "Spirit Aptitude." As for Oz, this was the both mental pressure of his mind as well as the space of his Spiritual Conscience.

    Every increase in Oz was equal to an increase of 1 square meter of space in the Spiritual Conscience.

    However, the thing that surprised him most of all was the addition of his "Interdimensional Inventory" and "Demonic Servants" tab. While he understood he would be capable of summoning demons, he wasn''t aware they would be ssified as his servants.

    To be a servant meant they would have to be loyal to him, in addition to him holding supreme authority over them. But, ording to Azridan, even the weakest Demon should be stronger than him, due to him being born in this world.

    Thus, he was left conflicted. How would he triumph over this issue? If his assumptions were correct, then he''d have to sh head-on with multiple demons before ever achieving a servant contract. This was something easier said than done.

    ''To take advantage of this summoning ability, I should refrain from attempting anything until I believe I''m suitably strong or Azridan reappears and I seek his guidance,'' Apollo determined.

    With his mind made up, he joined the rest in surveilling his surroundings. Initially, he didn''t think much of what he was witnessing but when continued to peer around he was once again surprised.

    First of all, every Academies administrative personnel was divided into sections high above these both divided and innumerable battle tforms. From what he could tell, there was at least 100 said tform and they were capable of housing at least 10 battles at the same time.

    To put it differently, in one instance, 2,000 people could battle at most. This alone drastically reduced the time needed to conduct this part of the exams to a fraction of the time.

    Of course, it went without saying this was the purpose of the tform being designed this way. Just when they arrived, simr portals continued to open, revealing groups in eitherrge or smaller amounts.

 Chapter 136 - The Trials Begin! (II)

    ----

    In addition to the youths standing in the middle of the arenas, multiple portals opened revealing groups of various different sizes. Much like Apollo''s group, many of the participants were eliminated before even reaching this stage. As such, the numbers were less than 60 percent of the initial value. As of now, they sat approximately 1.8 million participants.??

    However, this substantial number surprised the staff sitting high above the tforms. With such arge remainder of contestants, they''d have to implement a ratherrge rapid elimination stage. After all, there were only 30,000 official spots to be handed out. So, only around 2 percent could move along.

    Meanwhile, as the youths stood in the arena, changes took ce. Unlike before, certain members located above made their move. Moving at a speed that rivaled teleportation, they arrived before the other youths.

    "Alright, with all of you now present, we can proceed forth with the rules as well as what will take ce. Surprisingly, the number of participants is nearly six times that of what we estimated. Thus, we''ll have to enact an additional stage. For this, we''ll use a special method."

    For a moment, the speaker paused, causing murmurs amongst the kids. The suspense built amongst them as they peered around. "Gabriel, I''ll allow you to disclose what we''ll do."

    "Heh, Vellore, howzy you are," Gabriel chuckled. However, shortly after, he took up the mantle, "For this round, we''ll spare you frombat but only for a single moment. Before weunch you all into heated battle, we must ustom you to a pressure you wille in contact with.

    After saying this, Gabriel smiled, "Yvaine,e forth." Behind Gabriel, a dignified titanic body appeared from arge portal. To deal with the youths, Gabriel summoned his Heroic Spirit. Furthermore, it was a rather strong one seeing as forces, as well as space around it, was being manipted effortlessly.

    However, after his Spirit appeared, the numerous personnel rivaling Gabriel summoned their Spirits ordingly. Within a short moment, the countless arenas were littered with extremely strong Spirits.

    With each Spirit designated to a tform below, Gabriel continued, "To reduce the number to a more manageable level, we''ll have to utilize our Spirits. Of course, we won''t torture you all. The rules of this stage will be quite simple. Think of it as expounding on the Spirit Aptitude test, except, it will also physically challenge you simultaneously."

    When the gathering of youths heard this, they frowned. They had just dealt with a monumental pressure from the Soul Bar and now they would have to undergo a task of even more stringent conditions. The strength of a living Spirit''s power was iparable to the Soul Bar.

    Unlike that item, they were alive. To put it differently, they possessed the ability to tweak their power at a whim. Thus, within an instant, the test they''d present could take a turn for the worst.

    Fortunately, the examiners wouldn''t do something so unexpected. But, they would do something that would prove to be rather difficult to withstand. Without dy, Gabriel continued to present more information about the uing task.

    "In this round, there will be three rules. Simr to your prior exam, should you lose consciousness, you''ll be disqualified from the selection. Additionally, should you fall out of the ring, you''ll also find yourself in a simr predicament. Lastly, you''re unable to utilize any tools to help you. What we want to see is raw strength," Gabriel stated in a stern tone.

    Upon hearing Gabriel''sst words, Yvaine opened his deep ck eyes. Inside them, was a profound vacancy that seemed to embody the deep void. Inparison to Xezym, they seemed to be nearly the same level or at least this was the general impression he gave.

    "Now, here is your task. Withstand the pressure of the Spirit located on your battle arena. You will have 3 minutes to properly prepare yourself. This way, you can''tin that you weren''t ready. You''ve been primed," Gabriel said with a cursory nce before leaving.

    Upon Gabriel''s exit, Yvaine crossed his arms, waiting for the signal to begin his tyranny. Much like the other spirits, after spending years with their summoners, they achieved mutual respect. This was especially true for those ssified as Heroic Spirits.

    Their intellect went beyond the typical Spirit. In fact, there were instances in which a Spirit Cultivator summoned a mindless Spirit. Besides this, there were also incidences where the cultivator summoned irregr Spirits such as weapons, items, or even armors. When it came to the oue, unless you tried, the possibilities were endless.

    Although the others were curious about Spirits, they didn''t act upon their curiosity. For one, the pressure they exuded was stifling despite keeping it withdrawn. This was a sign that their power was capable of being restricted by the world.

    Of course, there were those such as Apollo, unable to withhold their curiosity. Without hesitation, Apollo approached Yvaine, inspecting his grand armor. The beige-white metal mixture, ented with gold markings shone in Apollo''s eyes.

    "Your name is Yvaine, correct? Have you ever done battle with Kraydin?" Apollo asked, drawing the attention of countless youths on his tform. Unlike him, they didn''t know who Kraydin was. WhileSarai retained a certain reputation on Pangea Ind, a majority of these youths were from backwater areas.

    As such, their knowledge of this ce was limited. Nevertheless, Yvaine changed his sights, looking down at Apollo. The tant difference could be seen. Yvaine''s stature was over twice that of Apollo. Just his sword alone rivaled Apollo''s height.

    "I have, but why does that interest you?" Yvaine questioned, upholding a dignified expression. A glimmer passed through his eyes as he gazed at Apollo. Albeit distinct, a trace of interest appeared in his eyes.

    "Hoh? Your body is far stronger than it should be at your level. I''m intrigued to see how you''ll fare against my pressure. Even though it''s been mitigated, it should still be something you all are incapable of withstanding," Yvaine added with unconcealed confidence.

    Naturally, this confidence was justified. Any Spirit restricted by the world was one of great strength. Moreover, every single one at this standard possessed their own range of confidence birthed from this ability.

    "Mm, well I''ve seen his aura and you two have a simr orientation. So, I was curious. If you don''t mind, can you tell me who won?" Apollo asked.

    "No one," Yvained sinctly replied, but his tone seemed to be mysterious. Present in his words was a look of dissatisfaction. Shockingly, Apollo was familiar with this look. It was the one that appeared when one couldn''t fight to their content.

    "Was it in this world or your world? I''m fairly certain you two originate from the same Spirit World, correct? Not to mention, there should also be multiple worlds, right? Or, at the very least, many areas to onerge world."

    "You...ask a lot of questions; I will not answer them. If you gain entry to your academy, then you''ll be privy to this information when you attempt to contact those worlds. More importantly, I implore you to prepare yourself for what is toe, because I will not be holding back," Yvaine solemnly stated.

    In response, Apollo clicked his tongue in annoyance. He wanted this information because he understood his attempts wouldn''t be like the rest. While the people of this world interacted with Spirits, he would do so with Demons.

    Hence, his situation was fundamentally different. Unfortunately, no matter how much he tried to pry information from Yvaine, after he said his earlier words, he closed his eyes and didn''t utter another sound.

    Left with no other choice, Apollo focused on preparing himself. Yet, even then, he didn''t take any drastic precautions. Quite frankly, it was unneeded. There was no damage present in his body, so all he needed to do was perform his normal actions.

    Once 3 minutes psed, Gabriel took action, "Begin!"

    At his beckon, Yvaine as well as the other Spirits acted. A torrent of pressure rained down on the many participants. However, as soon as it appeared, it changed directions. Initially, the pressure was acting in a downwards direction, now it was spreading horizontally with the intent of pushing the participants.

    When the wave of pressure hit them, it was like impacting with an extremely solid wall. Those with weaker bodies immediately coughed up blood and was knocked into the distance. But, those withparatively stronger bodies only felt slight difort.

    As for those with bodies like Apollo, they seemed virtually unaffected by the appearance of this wave. Be that as it may, it couldn''t stay like this for long. It was fast but right behind that wave of pressure was a fast enclosing second wave.

    Additionally, this one was far morepact than thest one. Those who failed to recover their standing wasunched into the airnding outside of the tform heavily. What''s more, even Apollo was forced to take a step back.

    At the sight of this, a small smirk formed on Yvaine''s lips, "This is only the beginning. Don''t fail to endure it now."

 Chapter 137 - Withstanding Spiritual Pressure

    ----

    Upon hearing Yvaine''s chuckle as well as his noticing his gaze, Apollo stared back at him. Due to his position, it was quite easy toe to the realization that most of Yvaine''s attention was falling on him. For the most part, on this stage, although it wasn''t the strongest, Apollo had the thickest aura.??

    With their sights locked on each other, Apollo''s eyebrows rose with intrigue, ''Is he targeting me? I wonder if he''s gone as far to increase the difficulty.''

    While he pondered this, another wave of imposing pressure billowed forward. At a nce, this one would without a doubt knock some of the contestants off the tform.

    ''BANG!''

    If the prior collisions wereparable to ramming into a stone wall, then this one was glorified steel. Forget defending against it, many of the participants were swept off the tform without a chance at resisting. As this happened, there wasn''t the slightest change in Yvaine''s expression.

    In truth, he hadn''t even utilized 10 percent of his upper limit. With crossed arms yetx shoulders, he looked at the remaining participants. In his eyes, the number was still far toorge. So, Yvaine lifted a finger and tapped it against the elbow of his armor.

    As a result, another shockwave struck the contestants, but this one was even more ruthless than thest. The pause was nonexistent! In other words, from the perspective of those on the receiving end, it felt as if the tides had superimposed.

    At this point, many youths began summoning their Essence Aegis'' to increase their defenses. Sadly, their attempts proved to be nearly worthless. Outside of those who achieved near mastery of the technique, a majority of the youth''s futile defenses were torn to shreds.

    When they saw this, a tinge of horror appeared in their eyes. They couldn''t believe how strong a Spirit was. This only led them to specte the strength of a Terror if it required one to possess a Spirit to go against.

    Meanwhile, a sh of indignance shed within Apollo''s eye. The entire time Yvaine performed these actions, his eyes hadn''t left Apollo. He wanted to test his endurance. That earlier question rose a few suspicions.

    Yvaine sought an answer. If Apollo was privy to Kraydin''s power, then how strong was he truly? After all, that was a Spirit that belonged to a member of a Supreme Family.

    Of course, what he didn''t know was Apollo never witnessed Kraydin''s power firsthand. It was just the Tainted Temple producing a general range of Kraydin''s power. Nevertheless, Yvaine continued was he was doing.

    This time, however, he tapped his elbow three times sending a true superimposed barrage of pressure. In truth, although less than 5 five seconds had passed, he was growing impatient. To him, his time could be better spent, attempting to break through to the next level or familiarize himself with his restraints in attempts to shatter them.

    However, that was easier said than done. Save for one, no Heroic Spirit had ever broken the restrictions ced on them by the world. To do so would prove to be a monumental task. Thus, many wanted to achieve it but could never touch the boundary.

    After all, aplishing this feat was a sign of true strength. To possess the power tobat a world''sws was an unimaginable power to possess. Nheless, while unimaginable, it was also seemingly unobtainable.

    When he thought about this, a low grunt was heard from Yvaine. For a moment, the pressure he released was far too strong for those present. In fact, some even suffered immediate fractures, falling unconscious.

    Upon noticing this, Gabriel sent Yvaine a mental message, "Restrain some of your power. If you eliminate too many of them or wound them too severely, the next part of the trials will be gued with an imbnce."

    "Ah, my apologies. My mind wandered," Yvained replied, reining in some of his pressure. Be that as it may, the damage caused by his actions was done.

    Out of the former 20,000 youths present on the tform, under Yvaine''s dominant force, only 8,000 remained standing or still inside the confines of the ring. In light of the ring being capable of housing around 200 battles, that was only when ounting for a battle''srge area. In this current situation, it could contain a much vaster audience.

    With the youths standing in a rooted position, there was ample enough space to fit theirrge volume. However, with each elimination, the breathing room of each individual expanded. Thus, space became the least of their worries.

    "You all are doing well to endure the torment of this spiritual pressure. An estimated 900,000 still stands among you. Until this number dwindles to around two-thirds of this value, the unpleasant impacts will continue," Gabriel uttered, keeping a watchful eye over each of the tforms.

    The Spirits continued to assault the youths with ruthless waves of pressure. Many who were unable to withstand it fell. Yet, on the stage Apollo was located on, an anomaly took ce.

    It wasn''t his doing but in the space around Apollo, small spatial distortions absorbed a great deal of the force behind the waves. So, anyone near Apollo was subject to pressure far less than what Yvaine released.

    Some present noticed this but didn''t talk about it. Around Apollo were those already of high talents. So, even if they passed due to the actions of another, not much would be said about it.

    With that being said, Nadida turned towards Apollo in surprise. At first, she couldn''t understand why the pressure she felt was progressing in the opposite direction. But, when she looked at him, she understood what was happening.

    Through the use of the Spatial Element, a portion of the unrelenting pressure was disced somewhere else. In fact, that pressure was forced on many unsuspecting people, the difficulty of their experience increasing by many folds.

    ''Hoh? What an uncanny use of teh Spatial Element. However, his understanding of the element seems vague. Allow me to show you how it is done,'' Yvaine thought, cing his hand on the hilt of his sword.

    However, when Gabriel noticed this, his expression twitched. He was crestfallen and conflicted if he should allow Yvaine to continue. In the event of him drawing that weapon, the power he could wield would multiply indefinitely.

    Fortunately, his worries were thwarted by Yvaine''s reassurance, "Don''t worry, I will not increase my pressure to an unbearable level. I''m sure you see it, I''m just curious to know how much this kid is able to withstand my pressure if I manipte it."

    "Ah, very well. But, don''t make him your focus of elimination. His potential is amongst the highest five. Even if he is eliminated, there will definitely be exceptions made for him. Furthermore, I''m unsure whether you''ll actually be able to do that. As you see, unlike the others, he hasn''t even fallen to his knees despite you continually changing the direction of your pressure," Gabriel responded.

    "That is true, which is why he has stimted my intrigue," Yvaine added. Finally, lifting his wrist, he unsheated his sword, a wave of pressure cascading outward. Unlike before, this one felt like was wreathed in two elements¡ªSpatial and Metal.

    At the same time, as soon as it appeared, it disappeared but notpletely. The nket of energy, reappeared around Apollo, canceling the spatial fluctuation around. This, in turn, caused Apollo to bear the brunt of the attack.

    Due to this, Apollo''s eyes narrowed. ''So you are focusing on me¡­ Very well then. This pressure, while different from that of Natural Essence, should still be within my capabilities.''

    Simr to the rest, Apollo formed his variation of the Essence Aegis. However, the shape of his carried with it his demonic properties. Moreover, the Hellfire interspersed throughout sought to burn the Spatial Element Yvaine was wielding.

    Albeit insufficient, it showed signs ofpleting this purpose. But, before it could do so, everyone''s actions were halted.

    "That''s enough! The numbers have dwindled to a suitable degree! We''ll now make the preparations for the Elimination Round. All Spirit ceased your actions," Gabrielmanded, the sea of pressure birthed by the Spirit vanished in an instant.

    Though the youths thought they would receive a period to recuperate, that wasn''t the case. The unusually jovial Vellore interjected immediately after Gabriel finished, "Now, let''s us proceed forth into the Battle Royale Elimination stage! All of you are now enemies. The round will not end until there is only half of you remaining."

    What followed was a scene of chaos. The tformscked any specific order to the madness, the youths turned on each other with hast. Their main purpose now was to remain standing. It was either them or the opposition. Therefore, now was not the time to be merciful. trying to eliminate anyone nearby without mercy.

 Chapter 138 - Inured To Death

    ----

    Upon hearing the bellow from Vellore, multiple youths took action immediately. Their first instinct was to charge the person nearest to them. Due to their hectic state of mind, many didn''t even stop to gauge said person. The only thing they wanted was to secure their own path towards the future.??

    However, those like Apollo dissected the scene on a deeper level, ''This has to be a test of some sort. Creating this type of confusion only serves one purpose¡ªto test one''s reaction amidst pressure. If you react without ample preparation, then you put yourself at risk.''

    Apollo silently watched those enclosing on him. Unlike the others, he noticed an increased number flowing towards his general direction. Naturally, there was more than one reason behind this. First, those in his proximity were in rtively better states due to his earlier actions.

    Secondly, those who came from his batch understood that he was someone who was undoubtedly guaranteed a spot. In light of this thinking, they also assumed he would be a difficult opponent. If they were to eliminate him early and get him out of their hair, then the difficulty of theirter trial should decrease significantly.

    After all, when they arrived at this ce, all of them caught wind of the grandbyrinth construct. It didn''t take much more to infer the next trial would center around that space. Not to mention, if it was to be utilized under abat setting, then that could only mean one thing¡ªthey would need topete against each.

    Thus, on his tform, Apollo faced an increased volume of assants. Of course, he didn''t shy away from battle. On the contrary, he weed it. Since advancing, he had yet to partake in a proper battle. His bones were aching to experience some action.

    "Ahem, what is that expression? Are you thinking of robbing all the fun from me too? That wouldn''t be too fun now would it?" Nadida tapped Apollo''s shoulder with a small re. He didn''t realize it, but an expectant gleam shed in his eyes as he watched the iing wave of people.

    "Rx, there''s more than enough for you as well. Just move to your heart''s content," Apollo chuckled, fading into embers of shadowy mes. With his current use of the Partial Shade Silhouette, he was arriving at the point of seeming like a true phantom.

    Unfortunately, the truly achieve that feat, he would need to advance to the next form of the technique. However, his body had yet to reach the requirement to support it. Unless he moved forward with his control of Sin and stepped into his Greater Demon form, then perfecting the Partial Shade Silhouette would be his highest current limit.

    "Get that guy! If we leave him on the tform then our livester will be much harder. Unlike him, we don''t have a talent that delighted our examiner. So, we should work together because his aura also seems strong," yelled a white-haired youth, looking at Apollo with hostile eyes.

    A few acted in line with his thoughts, making their move along with the youth. Although they were untrained and seemingly unfamiliar, they paced themselves to arrive at Apollo from all angles simultaneously.

    When he saw this, Apollo''s eyebrows rose. At times like these, he wished he possessed a weapon to deal with an increased number of foes. His bare hands could only get him so far, and using the techniques he knew before the eyes of these unknown experts was a no-go.

    Under the current circumstances, doing so ran the risk of exposing his irregr powers. Only his movement technique could be used because it resembled regr techniques. As such, Apollo resorted to the only possible solution, using pure physical strength.

    With a vicious stomp, he sprang forward towards one of the youths. If he couldn''t attack them all, then his best bet was to disrupt their momentum by taking out the lead. Hence, the white-haired youth became his target.

    Unable to match up with him, the youth changed his foot stance, his dashing to a skidding halt. From behind his back, he withdrew two small daggers. As his eyes remained on Apollo, faints arcs of wind encased his body.

    Afterward, his agility increased by a substantial amount. However, it wasn''t so drastic as to render Apollo''s own techniques insufficient. In fact, Apollo chuckled when he saw his actions. Due to his increased dynamic vision, he was able to see the smallest movements being made by his adversary.

    Additionally, he now possessed an infant Spiritual Conscience. Meaning, not only were his senses heightened, but it was as if he opened the sixth sense as well. Without looking, he ced his hand behind his neck, guarding against a ruthless attack from one of the other youths.

    ''It appears they have no qualms damaging someone to this level. If this type of blownded on someone with a weak body, it would take a considerable amount of time to recover. They''d be unable to continue,'' Apollo thought.

    Luckily, his timely actions stopped the attacker. However, there was now a sword pierced through his palm, and even though he guarded the attack, the youth responsible for it still attempted to continue.

    With cold eyes, Apollo nced towards them. A creepy smiled appeared on his lips as he swung his arm. Two daggers traveling at Apollo from odd angles were stopped. Instead ofnding on Apollo, the strike ended up piercing the back of the youth still in Apollo''s grasp.

    Based on theck of reactions from those above, Apollo came to the conclusion, injuries and even fatalities were something normal in their eyes. The way they saw it, if you were unable to survive, then you were useless, to begin with.

    The youth''s eyes widened as his body stiffened. The way the daggers entered his back, both his spine and nape were hit. In an instant, he was paralyzed but not before a dark smile formed on Apollo''s lips.

    Just as the youth stiffened, Apollo''s vice grip hands tightened around their neck. If the holders of this trial didn''t react to injuries or deaths of the contestants, then why would he shy away frommitting such actions?

    As it stood, he still needed to advance in Demonic Conduct. By doing so, he could fulfill one of the objectives of his mission. Additionally, something told him that this conduct was extremely important. Why else would it show up in the mission as well as possess simrities with Sins?

    After tightening his grip, Apollo released the lifeless body of the youth. His cold eyes then fell on the white-haired youth. "Come," Apollo uttered. Menacing confidence leaked from his body.

    Subsequently, when the other youths who teamed up with this one witnessed this, they paused in their movements. Until now, they had never experienced the scene of a murder, let alone one done so emotionlessly.

    Horror crept into their minds. Perhaps this wasn''t the opponent they wanted to face. Even if they could overwhelm him with numbers, those unlucky to enter his grasp would not suffer a pleasant demise.

    Needless to say, as these thoughts entered their mind, all thoughts of following through with their earlier words vanished. Just one kill, that was all it took for Apollo to clear a sizable area.

    Contrary to what they thought, he didn''t chase anyone. After all, he couldn''t. He needed them to be deemed malicious by the system before he could kill them. It seemed there were strict guidelines he needed to follow. A mindless killing machine was something he couldn''t be.

    For him to be the Demon Monarch, he would need to retain supetive control of his emotions. To lead by example was to conquer one''s self.

    Upon noticing these scenes y out, a few expressions changed. On one hand, Gabriel''s eyes narrowed, ''Just as I thought, he does possess a murderous intent. For that split moment, I sensed it. It was something born of pure ughter.''

    On another hand, Irauk leaned forward. ''That boy¡­ just what have you experienced to make you kill without flinching? What they did wasn''t horrible, yet you retaliated in such an absolute way. Of course, there will be no consequences, this trial is one where all rights to life are forfeit but still.''

    "Who is that person?" One of the Paragon''s spoke, ncing behind them to an older male with grey hair falling to their ankles. His visage was one of both age and vitality.

    "Someone named Apollo Kaiser; a contender for the spots of the Scions. As he is now, he can already be called this Tenth Glory. Why, have you taken interest in him, Odessa?" the man questioned.

    "I want him," Odessa replied, her silver eyes locking on Apollo''s position.

    "Hoh? That''ll be quite difficult to aplish," he replied.

    Odessa nced over her shoulder. Within her eyes was an unsurpassed haughtiness. "Why is that, Sirius? Can''t I have what I want? Who else can challenge a Paragon,"

    In response, Sirius gave a mysterious smile, "What if I said another Paragon has already set their eyes on him?"

    Odessa''s expression darkened, seemingly unhappy with this response, "Another? Do you mean Alistair? What do I care about the Braums? Have we Crux''s ever feared the Braums?"

    "Now, calm down littledy. Who I am talking about is not from your generation. I meant them," Sirius shook his head, pointing in a certain direction.

 Chapter 139 - Mysterious History

    ----

    As Odessa looked in the direction Sirius was pointing, she fell silent. The person in question remained in deep thought, negligent of their existence. Not only did he not look in their directions, but his eyes also fell on the tforms below intently.??

    "Him? How is that so? From what I remember, he doesn''t belong to a family. In fact, we don''t even know his origins. He was merely bought to the academies in the past, wasn''t he?" Odessa questioned, her sights locked on the man.

    "Correct, but that doesn''t diminish from the fact that man possesses great strength. There was an incident in the past inside the Braum Family''s residence and he singlehandedly quelled the Grand Master of the family. That man, Irauk, remains an enigma. Even until now, we have yet to understand his movements," Sirius stated, looking at Irauk with an obscure gaze.

    Finally, noticing additional gazes falling on him, Irauk looked up. Although he didn''t speak, there was a faint smile on his visage. Faster than a blink, he disappeared from where he sat.

    However, when he did so, the two stopped their movements. Because, in the next moment, Irauk was standing beside them. "May I help you, Sirius? Is there a reason you''re looking at me like this? Why do I feel as if you''re talking about me to thisss, that''s pretty impolite, if so."

    "Hmm, perhaps so but I don''t bear any malicious intent. I''m just trying to deter thisss from coveting that boy on the field. For some odd reason, she has taken a fancy towards him. While I don''t know what sense it''s in, I have already warned her, so there is no need for you to appear," Sirius shook his head, ncing towards another person besides him.

    When Irauk appeared, this person''s eyes filled with battle intent, however, Sirius was well aware they were by no means a match for Irauk. For one, they weren''t even from the same generation. Let alone Irauk, this person wasn''t even a match for Odessa who had yet to fully mature.

    "Very well, but I suggest you don''t get involved with that youth. This warning doesn''t stem from my actions but his. There is something odd about this youth I''ve taken interest in. Should you get on his wrong side, I fear he will stop at no ends to rid you from this world. Take a look at what he did to that youth," Irauk chuckled, pointing at the tform.

    Without sparing the tform a nce, Sirius nodded along with Irauk, "I understand what you mean, that youth is by far amongst the most ruthless of children I''ve ever seen. Regardless of whatever matters took ce before, there should at least be a sign of hesitation but with him there was none.

    "Anyway, beyond that, there''s another interesting youth amongst the children. Who is that girl down there on the same tform with the scarlet hair? Her potential isrge but she is unknown. It seems you have also been keeping your attention on her as well," Sirius continued.

    "Thatss is a handful named Nadida. I chanced upon her during my travels throughout the Zephus Domain. Actually, there''s arger set of youths I''ve rounded up but it appears their actions are more lowkey inparison," Irauk stated.

    Meanwhile, as they conversed, the battle on the numerous tforms heated up. Due to theck of opponents, Apollo resorted to a more passive stance on the field. Silently, he spectated many battles taking ce. Initially, it was boring to watch but as the numbers on the tform dwindled the scene took a drastic change.

    With fewer numbers on the field, that meant they were closer to the end of this battle royale stage. As such, the chance of them being eliminated grew steeper. Tobat this, many youths made vicious moves, even attacking those they teamed up with during moments of weakness.

    Naturally, this was something they didn''t expect. Although they had just met, teaming up to deal with countless enemies developed a budding understanding. Unfortunately, this thought was shattered when the youths indulged in their treacherous actions.

    In the eyes of many above, looks of interest shone. What they were looking for were ruthless individuals to cultivate into soldiers. When it came to survival, it preceded camaraderie. This was something many didn''t learn until they faced perilous situations.

    But, in this trial where their individual future was paramount to sess, this notion became evident before their eyes. The path to sess was the crushing defeat of both their friends and foes alike. The only thing that mattered to them was their personal interests. Only a select few cherished theirrades over self-interest but that was a novelty.

    ''This is quite boring,'' Apollo thought to himself. Unable to sit still for another moment, he made a move. In light of this, his actions didn''t have a specific target. Thus, everyone became his target.

    It didn''t matter who because anyone closest to him became subject to his vicious attacks. With a single hit, those of weaker cultivations were bought to their knees. With another, they were knocked unconscious. With the third and final one, they were tossed out of the ring.

    During his domineering use of strength, many tried to avoid him but couldn''t. Even if they did so sessfully, they soon found flying bodies approaching their general direction. The way Apollonded hisst blows, it wasn''t just one person who was the target of his attack, but anyone standing on the axis.

    "Hey, you''re eliminating too much! Leave me some idiot!" Nadida screeched, mming another youth''s head into the tform, knocking them unconscious. Much like Apollo, she enjoyedbat. But, most of all, she enjoyed triumphing over herpetitions.

    Since birth, herpetitive spirit had always been unsurpassed. Her matchless drive incited her to always seek the best one and overtake them. Hence, why shepared herself to Adeon, Ragnvald, and Apollo so much. Something inside told her that these 3 youth would forever be the backs she was chasing.

    "Hoh? Then why don''t youe over here then? I think battling against you will be much more fun," Apollo smiled in return. Without hesitation, he rushed in towards Nadida but unlike his actions with the rest, he wasn''t intent on eliminating Nadida. He just wanted a worthwhile battle to at least test the extent of his current body.

    Amidst every situation, Apollo''s opponent was always leagues above him. Whether it was withstanding Yvaine''s pressure or lightly sparring with Xezym''s, he couldn''t properly gauge his power with them. The difference in strength was far toorge.

    Thus, he needed a peer to understand his general growth. As a result, he''d use Nadida as a benchmark.

    A fighting intent zed in Nadida''s golden eyes as she rushed toward him as well. Upon witnessing their actions, the other youths scurried away. This was a battle they wouldn''t want to suffer aftershocks of.

    ''Bang!''

    Apollo''s fist met Nadida''s metallic forearm. After synthesizing the Metal Element with her body, she was capable of effortlessly hardening her skin. This type of usage was something Apollo had never seen before, but it intrigued him.

    "It seems the stele wasn''t a proper test of yourprehension. Perhaps it goes beyond what you showed," Apollo stated with slight surprise. At the same time, in his clenched palm, embers of hellfire were summoned.

    As he punched Nadida once more, she sucked in a breath of cool air. Despite hardening her skin, she felt an unbearable burning sensation on her skin. In short, it felt unpleasant.

    Fortunately, her affinities were aplenty. She bent over, pping her hands against the floor summoning countless earthen spikes. In response, Apollo retreated, tapping his foot to weave between the openings in the attacks.

    However, he soon noticed the openings decreasing. The speed at which she was conjuring the spurs were increasing consistently. It soon reached the point where advancing would require him to withstand a few blows with his body.

    This was due to the fact she also conjured a defensive earthen orb around herself. It was an immacte dual usage of offensive-defensive techniques of a singr element. Obviously, if utilized properly, each element could be capable of both attacking and defending.

    ''I specialize in offense with the strong physique of a demon being my defense. Inparison, my arsenal iscking. I wonder...what did Azridan mean by his earlier words? If I learn the way, using the techniques of this world would be easy. So, what is the way?'' Apollo wondered.

    While looking at Nadida''s focused expression, a sh of insight dawned upon him, ''It must have something to do with that ordeal in the exam with the stele. I''ll look into that further.''

    Aftering to his conclusion, Apollo slowed down his dodging process. In exchange, he grabbed and broke the edges off Nadida''s attack, using them to retaliate. If he didn''t have his own arsenal then it was most practical to use one''s attacks against themselves.

    Their battle continued to escte without a winner in sight. Unbeknownst to Apollo, Nadida''s essence reserves are simply massive. Even under continued usage, she had yet to show signs of exhaustion. Based on this alone, it appeared he met a worthy adversary.

    ''My shorings are appearing. In these situations, I''m limited to my body but the more I battle the more I be ustomed to my strength,'' Apollo mused.

    The two became oblivious to the decreasing numbers on their tform. In truth, this was something that didn''t matter to them in the slightest; they were enjoying themselves.

 Chapter 140 - The Team Battles Arrive

    ----

    The battle between Apollo and Nadida continued to grow far more intense. Both of their expressions turned to one filled with exhration. They were enjoying the shes that caused the ones surrounding them to be unsettled. The violent ripples of their actions interfered with the other contestants'' attempts.??

    Despite not being their intention, it was the result of their strong battle. The searing heat from Apollo''s hellfire, Nadida''s adept use of the Lightning and Earth element, these things coupled together created a disastrous environment.

    "More, this can''t be all you''re capable of. With your test results, you should be able to cause far more destruction! Lay it on me," Nadida eximed with an impassioned gaze, her eyes zed with fervent yearning.

    Of course, Apollo couldn''t respond properly. Although his body was strong, he was limited in what he could utilize. Nevertheless, even under the circumstances, by no means was he at a disadvantage.

    While it appeared he was the one suffering the most damage in their bout, it was all superficial. As quickly as he was received damage was as fast as the pendant healed him. This ultimately led him to believe his peerscked the ability to damage him properly.

    However, that wasn''t entirely true. Once he came in contact with the Scions and Glories unmitigated strength, he woulde to realize that just as he possessed certain capabilities far beyond his peers, so did others. On the other hand, he was pleasantly surprised by the ingenious way Nadidabined elements.

    Oftentimes, she would use the Metal and Lightning attribute in tandem. Due to the elements'' ability to enhance each other, the lightning increased the lethality of the metal des she conjured.

    Additionally, she would use bursts of wind to propel the des at even more nonsensical speeds. To perform this, it required at least a Level 5 affinity with the elements in use, as well as a strong mind to support the concurrent usage of the skills.

    Needless to say, Nadida excelled in both of these qualities, but this didn''t mean Apollo was simply a sitting duck. Duringbat, he was learning new ways to subtly manipte both his Hellfire as well as Demonic Anima.

    ''Is this the way? If I feed the Hellfire sufficient Demonic Anima while maintaining an image of a weapon in my mind, I can create a basic hellfire weapon. I''ll call this skill Hellfire Armament,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    However, when he did so, he received a notification from the system.

    ?System Alert! Due to your actions, you have unlocked the trait ?Hellfire Molding?. But, as it is now, it is an iplete trait; continued usage and perfecting the ratio of the Hellfire will increase the state of the skill.?

    As he received this notification, a spear-like ck and gray weapon appeared in his hands. With a suitable weapon in his hand, Apollo''sbat ability rose to new heights. Using simple thrusts and swings of the weapons, he knocked away torrents of Nadida''s attacks.

    "That''s more like it!" Nadida giggled. Her seemingly endless reserves of Natural Essence still continued strong despite her simultaneously wielding 3 elements. Typically, with this type of consumption, one would onlyst upwards of 10 minutes before their reserves bottomed out.

    Yet, Nadida''s and Apollo''s battle reached 30 minutes with ease. Apollo''s situation was understandable due both to the system and his body assisting him with the conversion of Demonic Anima from ambient Natural Essence. But, he couldn''t understand Nadida''s case.

    "Why are your reserves so deep? Do you not tire?" Apollo questioned, smacking away an electrified earth spear. Unbeknownst to him, his actions caused a youth next to him to be impaled while embroiled in battle.

    In fact, this situation took ce multiple times. Not only did the ripples themselves damage those in the vicinity, but Apollo''s defenses also contributed to injuries as well. Obviously, even after he became aware of this, he didn''t change his actions. Why would he? After all, their objective was to dwindle the numbers as far as possible.

    "My body was born this way. From young, I''ve always been filled with energy. After cultivating, this property carried over. I''ll let you in on a little secret, my reserves are 10 timesrger than the typical cultivator of my level. But, can you guess my cultivation?" Nadida giggled, a yful smile appearing on her lips.

    Intrigued by her words, Apollo dashed forward, "If this is a battle of reserves then allow me to change the ying field. I wonder if you can continue this type of usage for much longer. Although you haven''t shown signs of exhaustion, there''s bound to be fatigueden in your meridians.

    "The rapid consumption of Natural Essence should have left your meridians in a tender state, no?" Apollo chuckled, thrusting the crude spear in his hand. The force behind it bent space at the tip. Even though he was unfamiliar with the correct usage of the space element, there were always faint signs of it in his attacks.

    ''This element is fairly new, I wonder where it came from. It only appeared after the system alerted me of the upgradepletion. Could it be system upgrades are linked to my body as well? If so, could it also be a prerequisite in evolution?'' Apollo wondered while his attack came in contact with Nadida.

    For the first time, she withdrew a weapon. However, its shape and type were weird in Apollo''s eyes. She wielded twin sai''s, holding them between the openings. As she moved, the wind appeared at her feet, hastening her movements.

    Additionally, crackles of lightning appeared at the three tips of her weapons. To her, it didn''t matter if Apollo''s strong suit was his strength. If she utilized the rightbination, she could neutralize his strength.

    "Hmm?" Apollo''s eyes widened. When their weapons made contact, it felt as if he was hitting air. Upon the first sh, he couldn''t quite understand what he was feeling. His eyes witnessed the sh, but his body told him that was false.

    ''Is she mitigating my force or absorbing it? Her elements are Lightning, Metal, Earth, Fire, and Wind. Which of these possess the property of absorption?''

    While in thought, Apollo broke down her strengths and weaknesses. At a nce, her affinitiesplimented each other well. When pinned together, they possessed a versatile mixture.

    Unfortunately, before he could delve deeper into her strengths, everyone on the tform froze in their steps. It was as if space was locked down by a supreme being.

    "That is enough. You guys have reached the numbers desired to continue into the next stage. I suggest you save your energy because there will barely be any time to devote to recovery soon enough," Sirius stated, stepping forward from the stand.

    Upon doing so, he astonished all the youths. Using a leisurely gait, he strolled through the air stopping above them. To the participants below, this feat was a magical thing. To walk on air was something they all aspired to do.

    However, to perform this would require one to attain the Zul Lord Realm. At that time, one could either turn their own Natural Essence into a solid-state or even the world''s essence. Furthermore, one could use the outside world as their supply rather than internals.

    In other words, breaking through to this realm allowed one to surpass the mortal limits. In a sense, you''d be a lord of Natural Essence. Hence, its name.

    Amidst Sirius speech, countless staff members came and dealt with the damaged bodies strewn across the tforms. Some youths lost arms, others legs, but themon urrence was all those injured were damaged in a way that would affect their futures.

    To secure a spot, those still on the stage could only be ssified as ruthless.

    "Now, I will inform you that the next stage will be the Team Battles but you will have no say in the way things unfold. The teams will be chose arbitrarily upon the participant keys. The only reassurance you have is that your team members can only be chosen within your examination batch," Sirius disclosed.

    A few momentster, he circled the air ncing at the Scions, "Furthermore, to give you a decent picture of what we''re looking for, the Scions will participate in this as well. Moreover, they''ll be contenders for the top spots. This should inspire you all to present your best performances."

    Right after he heard this, Apollo lifted his head. ''The Scions you say? I''m curious. How do they match up to the Glories? ording to Nivel, they should be the level of youths after them. Each category seems to denote the general quantification of both potential and current strength.''

    Meanwhile, Sirius continued to distribute information, "Not only will you have to find your way to the exit, but ced upon the various paths are vicious Spirit Beasts. In truth, they''re closer to Demonic Beasts than Spirit Beast due to certain events but that isn''t important.

    "What''s important is every team will have a designated leader. On top of that, the points for thisst test will be evaluated on both the individual and team level. Any deaths on your team will result in you losing 10% of your team points. Keep in mind, each team will consist of 10 people. If all die, then well¡­ you know the oue," Sirius shrugged.

    After speaking, a towering stone door granting ess to thebyrinth opened. In ordance with this, the backs of all keys lit up. Those keys bearing the same symbols joined together without fail.

    As such, all youths were grouped together without their say so. When Apollo saw who was in his group, he was surprised.

 Chapter 141 - Entering The Labyrinth

    ----

    As the grand doors to the next trials opened, a scene surprising to all took ce. Instead of them entering the doors themselves, a suction force of great magnitude originating from the inside pulled all 300,000 participants inside. Unbeknownst to every single individual, thebyrinth''s interior was actually located in another space.??

    While they were unable to see the academy staff located high above, the same couldn''t be said about those peering down. The entire situation was present before their eyes. All of the youths were ced inside thebyrinth at random positions. There was no order or pattern to the way they entered.

    However, what remained true was the fact they all were divided into groups of 10. Surprisingly, those among Apollo''s group were a few familiar faces. Of course, the term was used loosely as he didn''t truly "know" them. They were simply part of his examination batch.

    As for who they were, there was both Leone as well as Nadida. In other words, when it came to overall talent, his team was by no meanscking. In fact, inparison to the over 30,000 teams that were made. The talent present in his group as an average was capable of entering the top 1 percentile.

    ----

    While traveling throughout what seemed to be a spatial tunnel, Apollo nced to his sides, finding Nadida clinging to his arm. It was a rather odd thing to experience; the way she was holding him, it was as if she was frightened.

    "Nadida...can you...let go of my arm?" Apollo asked, trying to pry his arm away from her grasp. Unfortunately, his attempts proved to be useless; it was like she was glued to him. the way her vice-grip grasp wrapped around his arms was shocking!

    "N-NO!!! We''re not on the ground. No way..no way¡­ NO WAY!" Nadida panicked, shaking her head back and forth frantically. Apparently, she was deathly afraid of height. Although her character was tough, it seemed she suffered from her weaknesses as well.

    All Apollo could do was sigh in return. Since he couldn''t get her off his arm, Apollo simply let her be. In the meantime, he examined the spatial tunnel. In truth, it felt as if he was staying stagnant but theyout around his the thing undergoing constant movement. Now that he was giving his undivided attention, it was quite an odd sensation.

    However, while it was odd, it was also beneficial to him. His violet eyes shimmered, an obscure half-rune forming in his eyes. When it appeared, spatial winds, as well as ripples, were picked up by his eyes. At first, it seemed vague but the more Apollo decrypted them, the more he felt he could replicate what was taking ce.

    Thus, with his free hand, he attempted to do so, ''ording to Xezym, you must make the elements docile to you. My Affinity with the Spatial Element is only Level 3 but I can perceive these ripple. This should mean it''s within my grasp to attempt this.''

    Following his thought, Apollo waved his hand back and forth while also moving his hand in an obscure pattern. Albeit slowly, small amounts of the Spatial Element vibrated. Although it was part of Natural Essence, it appeared to possess its own set of rules.

    This assumption came from the fact Apollo''s increased Essence Affinity didn''t affect how he interacted with the element. Additionally, there was also the fact Elemental Resonance possessed a tab in and of itself.

    Amid being engrossed in this learning attempt, a light appeared on the other side of the spatial tunnel. For all 10 of them, it felt like gravity was multiplied tenfold for an instant. But, Apollo thought this to be ratherfortable. Inside the Lesser Cultivation Room, the superpressed gravity left an impression on his body.

    In a sense, he retained a nimble adaptive ability towards the change in gravity. Regrettably, that couldn''t be said about the rest of his teammates. During that single instant, they were disoriented, mming above the cold, hard floor of thebyrinth.

    Luckily, Leone wasparable to Nadida in talent. Thus, he was able to regte the change in gravity by manipting the heat around him. In light of this, hended safely, unlike the 7 others.

    "This¡­ why is the atmosphere like this?" Leone muttered, taking in his surrounding. To sum up the environment, it could only be described in one word¡ªmurky. From the outside, it appeared majestic and well kept. But, now that they entered, they learned it to not be the case.

    The colossal walls of thebyrinth were filled with thorned vines, thick dew, and overgrown moss. Furthermore, the moss seemed to dampen the surroundings'' ability to create Natural Essence. In other words, this ce wascking Natural Essence.

    "So this is why that old man said that. Speaking of which, who was that old man?"Apollo muttered, before looking down and continuing with a hint of annoyance, "Okay, NOW you can get off. We''re standing on solid ground, you no longer have that as an excuse."

    In response, Nadida opened her eyes before letting go with a whimper.

    "Why are you so mean!? Can''t a girl cling to you? What is wrong with a beautifuldy looking to you for support? Gosh! DUMMY," Nadida spat, throwing a tantrum while stomping her foot with a huff.

    Meanwhile, Apollo paid her no mind, directing his attention elsewhere. Much like them, other teams were falling out of the sky in odd ces. Some of them found it easy to manage against the change in the environment while the others didn''t.

    Be that as it may, Apollo didn''t have the opportunity to mind others'' business for long. Once everyone was inside, they could hear the grand stone doors close with a resounding boom.

    In fact, the resulting shockwave nearly knocked them off their feet. This only left them questioning the material the door was made out of and why a simple action such as closing was so devastating.

    Nheless, other matters presented themselves.

    "So, what is the n? I''m sure the academy leaders won''t make this easy for us. How do we proceed forth?" Leone asked, dragging his hand against the grimybyrinth wall. Surprisingly, when he did so, he felt his body weakened for a moment.

    "Hmm?" Apollo looked in his direction, noticing Leone''s words fall short. The silence was oddly ced. But, when he saw Leone''s paling countenance, coupled with him sniffing his fingers, Apollo put two and two together.

    "It appears there''s a time limit ced upon us by this environment. You just touched the wall, didn''t you?" Apollo questioned.

    "Yes," Leone nodded, color once again appearing in his face. However, he didn''t seem to be at his full capacity anymore.

    "My guess is the moss on these walls is poisonous to us. I''ll even go as far as to say it was ced there to add difficulty to our challenge. We''ll have to monitor our Natural Essence usage. Without a proper source, it''ll be dangerous to fall below a certain threshold," Apollo warned.

    Afterward, he fell silent for a moment. A question dawned upon him causing him to touch the wall as well but the results varied from Leone''s. Unlike him, Apollo didn''t fall pale nor did he feel any weakness.

    However, he did gain more information on his surroundings.

    ?System Alert! You have resisted Grade 3 Toxin ?Sordid Ameliorate Moss?. Your Demonic Anima reserves are unaffected.?

    After this message appeared, Apollo''s eyes widened. It was even worse than he estimated. At first, he believed the moss to just provide physical fatigue but based on what he was told, it was actually devouring the Natural Essence reserves.

    "Do not touch that moss under any circumstances," Apollo grimly warned, before continuing, "Furthermore, we need to move. I believe the moss is growing."

    Upon entry, the moss barely covered the surface of the wall, but now, it has advanced at least 1 cm. Although it was a small movement, Apollo''s sharp sense was able to pick up on this fact.

    "Let''s go, I''ll listen to your warning," Nadida nodded, "It would do you all well to heed his warning as well.

    Naturally, the others were aware of Apollo''s results, thus, they obliged without much contest.

    However, before they could take a single step, two towering wolves appeared. Their disheveled hides his rippling physiques that impacted the floor with great vigor.

    "What the¡­" Apollo''s eyes narrowed.

 Chapter 142 - Deal With A Devil

    ----

    "Huh? Why is the stature of these beasts sorge? They''re at least 4 meters long and what''s with this aura they exude?" Leone questioned, his silver eyes gleaming with curiosity. This type of beast was something he had never seen the likes of before. Hence, he was unable to glean any information from its physique.??

    Apollo shook his head in response. "I don''t know but I can say one thing. They aren''t the typical Spirit Beast." Now that the system was back, once again, it gave him information, however, it seemed to breakdown these beasts even more than before.

    Monster Name: Frenzied Twilight Wolf

    Cultivation: Peak Stage Rank 3 Dark Beast

    Health: 18,500 (100%)

    Zuls: 6,300

    Strength: 315.0

    Agility: 256.0

    Chance of Defeat: 6.2% (Under Current Conditions [Team]: 43.5%)

    ''This deeper information; it even provides the breakdown of its Strength and Agility. Not to mention, it appears its Zul ratio is simr to mine. Interesting. However, the fact its strength eclipses ours is a bit unsettling. Do they expect us to be able to battle beyond our levels?'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Not only were there two of such wolves, but they were ssified as Dark Beast. Much like Demonic Beast, they were variants of Spirit Beasts. They only came to be when exposed to an atmosphere devoid of Natural Essence.

    Due to that change, their body functions grew to draw in any type of energy to continue existing. In this case, they absorbed the dark, murky energy of this ce. Which, of course, wasden with bits of the toxic air the moss exuded.

    To put it differently, Dark Beast possessed an innate ability simr to Apollo''s. Of course, they had yet to be aware of this but that would soon change.

    Without hesitation, hostility shed in the eyes of the two wolves. They charged at Apollo''s party without fail. Due to the glimpse into their stats the system gave, Apollo wasn''t shocked by their speed.

    However, he was shocked by Nadida''s immediate reaction. As soon as the wolves charged, she ced her hands on the floor conjuring four thick bs of earth. With the narrow paths of thebyrinth, it provided ample defense. Unfortunately, it came with a drawback as well¡ªthey couldn''t advance.

    The width of the summoned walls blocked both sides. But, this was Nadida''s intentions. After doing so, she turned around and looked at the party, "How will we deal with them? To get a good result, we''ll need to move in a proper fashion. We can''t afford to waste time on matters like thister."

    "Well, first of all, these beast are peak Stage 3 beast. Additionally, they appear to be a hybrid of the Strength and Agility archetype. You have thergest reserves, so you''ll act as our flexible vanguard. We also need a leader, who will take that position?" Apollo questioned.

    Amid their nning, one of the thick earthen walls shattered due to the wolves'' repeated impacts. While their ws couldn''t destroy it in one attempt, their dedicated actions dealt with it nigh effortlessly.

    "You. Everyone is aware of your potential, so take the lead and keep order," Nadidamented, giving Apollo a meaningful look.

    Sadly, Apollo shook his head. He was against that idea. While there were team points, there were also individual points. With that being said, he felt confident in his ability to y the monsters and locate the end of thebyrinth with ease. After all, he possessed a Tainted Temple.

    As of right now, it was giving him an iplete image of his surroundings. It wasn''t the best of quality due to his inept knowledge of how to utilize or train himself to grow more adept with it but it would more than suffice; any foresight was a one-up in this situation. Not to mention, through the most basic efforts, he felt he would achieve a general understanding soon enough.

    Nadida frowned when she received this reply. After sparing the matter some thought, she pulled Apollo to the side. She noticed something in the way he looked at the others, "You''re going to extort them, aren''t you? I''ve seen that look many times where I''m from. I can feel it, you won''t make a move without them guaranteeing some type of payment or benefit, right?"

    With a smile, Apollo nodded, "Correct. I never said I wouldn''t do it, I just won''t do it without gaining something. After all, any additional work is a hassle on my part. Not just you and I, even Leone only needs to exit this ce to grasp a seat in the academies. The other 7 aren''t of our worries."

    "I can''t say your reasoning is wrong but...how will you make allies that way?" Nadida questioned, her deep golden eyes locking sights with Apollo.

    For a moment, Apollo was silent. Due to his past experiences, it''ll be a longshot to say he sought allied. Thus, he answered, "I''ll summon them."

    Following his answer, Nadida eye''s widened, "B-but, that''s not the same! What about human interaction and building bonds, as well as growing stronger together?"

    "Have cultivators not done that with their spirits? To my understanding, Spirits must train as well. Their powers aren''t stagnant. ording to my knowledge, they should possess a growth system that we derived from them," Apollo retorted, giving a nonchnt shrug.

    "Fine, let''s say that you are right. Wouldn''t at some point...loneliness ovee you?"

    It was only for a moment, but a brooding light appeared in Apollo''s eyes, "I havee to know loneliness and I can''t say that I mind it. Amid my loneliness, I found my own truth. I don''t desire to be liked, I simply seek my own power. That way, there is no letdown, there is no disappointment; there is only me on my journey," Apollo replied, brushing aside Nadida.

    "Let''s deal with the matters at hand, don''t worry about the things pertaining to me. It''ll be more worthwhile for you to focus on yourself. After all, I have learned from many experiences that this world isn''t kind. When you least expect or even when you prepare for it, you can still be presented with unpleasant circumstances."

    From his eyes, emotions seemed to vanish. Nevertheless, Apollo turned his head towards the others, "Do you all want to pass this exam?"

    "I do!" a small youth immediately responded, his orange lock fell down his face, but his shaky eyes highlighted his doubt with himself. This scene was simr to their others on the team as well.

    "Very well, if I promise to guarantee a passing score, what will you offer me in return," Apollo question. At the same time, another wall shattered, "Think fast, time is running out."

    Apollo used the pressure tactic to draw out their desire. He didn''t present his conditions, instead, he used this to see how much they were willing to give up now, to see the lightter.

    The orange hair youth fell quiet for a short while before answering, "If you can guarantee that I''ll pass, I''ll give you half of whatever they bestow us with uponpletion. This is a promise, I won''t break it. I swear!"

    "What is your name?" Apollo inquired before giving an answer.

    "us," the orange-haired youth replied.

    "Very well, us. I don''t need you to promise me this because if you fail to follow through on your side of the deal," Apollo leaned closer with a daunting pause, sporting cold eyes, "I will kill you. This goes for all of you looking to strike a deal with me."

    The entirety of the party shivered, recounting the way he killed with that youth from before without as much as a hitch in his breathing nor a flinch of his shoulder. In light of this, there was no doubt in their minds.

    Even if they didn''t attend the same colleges, when they graduated, they would all find themselves in the ranks of the World Remation Task Force. It was at that time, their fates would be sealed.

    "I-I understand!" us nodded frantically. At the same time, the other 6 members nodded as well. With the deal sealed, Apollomitted their faces to memory. Soon after, the wolves finally bust through.

    Meanwhile, Apollo made his move as well. If this ce didn''t have the means to supply Natural Essence to convert, then he''d just have to revert to his old self. This time, he minimized the use of his Hellfire, conjuring a dagger with a 30-centimeter long de.

    With swift movements, Apollo pounced on one of the wolves while giving an order, "Nadida, Leone, handle the second wolf. Moreover, the moss will destroy your Natural Essence reserves. I''m sure Leone is aware of this already."

    Their shadows shed as the trio was quick to act.

 Chapter 143 - Advancing Forward, Perceiving Danger

    ----

    ''Fwoosh!''??

    Their rapid movements made haste contact with the Frenzied Twilight Wolves. Whereas Apollo took one on single-handedly, Nadida and Leonemitted to one. Although it was only at the peak of Rank 3, its stats were far beyond what everyone possessed currently.

    Not to mention, they were acting cautiously to preserve as much reserve energy as possible. After all, based on what they saw from the outside, theyout of thebyrinth currently housing them was extremely vast. If they weren''t careful, they''d run out of Natural Essence to utilize before even reaching the end.

    As such, when Apollo gained control of the momentum of his battle, he looked towards the other seven, "Don''t just stand around. Contribute as well," Apollomanded while firing an intimidating gaze.

    "Oh! Yes! Don''t worry," us obediently nodded, drawing a in-looking sword from a small ring on his finger. At the same time, the other youths withdrew their weapons. Without having to tell them, they split into 2 sets of 3 and provided meager aid to both of their teammates.

    Meanwhile, as he defended against the attacks of the Frenzied Twilight Wolf, Apollo inspected the situation closely, ''I just learned Hellfire Molding and usage would increase my mastery of it but¡­ it''ll require me to fine-tune the stream of Demonic Anima I use. To do so would consume most of my perception. Do I have enough to spare? Furthermore, would it be smart to even depend on these teammates?''

    Despite his contemtion, small embers of Hellfire birthed at his fingers subconsciously. When it happened, the Frenzied Twilight Wolf''s attacks lost vigor right beforending on his fist. Obviously, this was the effect of the Hellfire.

    While it possessed extreme offensive capabilities, those same strong suits became a defensive tactic. Although subtle to Apollo''s body, it was tyrannical to all others. It mercilessly burned the wolf''s w leading to incensed howls.

    ''Aooowooo!!''

    However, this didn''t phase Apollo. In fact, he was delighted to see this subconscious use required insignificant consumption. Unfortunately, that couldn''t be said to be true for long. After bing aware of it, it instantly bolstered.

    "Whoa, what is this heat? What type of me is that ck?" us questioned with widened eyes. When he tried to attack the wolf just now, just a single ember of mes still on its paws caused us to feel unbearable heat.

    He could only question what type of pain the beast was being inflicted with. This only served to further cement us'' view of Apollo as a monster. But, he wasn''t wrong;pared to them, Apollo could truly be seen as a "monster".

    ''They may not be the best, but their small attacks are getting the job done. Additionally, the damage to the wolf''s paws is beginning to take its toll. Its movement is bing sloppy, and the pain upon impacting the ground should be reaching an unbearable level,'' Apollo surmised, looking at the hesitant actions of the wolf.

    Before dashing, it would make an abrupt pause, seemingly lifting its paw and then resuming its actions. Naturally, Apollo and his team would take advantage of this hesitation. The beast that seemed so daunting at first now lost its edge due to Apollo''s indirect actions.

    In the meantime, Nadida and Leone''s battle was even more shocking for what they performed wasn''t usually seen. They used each other''s already actuated Elements to piggyback their attacks. To put it differently, when Nadidaunched an attackced with Fire Elements, Leone would do the same, adding in trace amounts of the Water Element.

    Due to this, even though the Frenzied Twilight Wolf was capable of deteriorating the state of the Natural Essence, the solidity of their understanding enabled their elements to still pack a punch upon impact.

    Not to mention, Nadida continued to use opposing elements to entuate their damaging capabilities. Surprisingly enough, in their ranks, there was also an archer possessing dual elements of Ice and Lightning.

    His specialty provided two debilitating effects. The mastery in ice promoted slowness while the lightning elementspiled on Nadida''s stronger version. So, their fight was spent with the beast spent in a near immobile state for a greater part of the duration.

    Soon enough, both the wolves fell. However, there was no celebration. Apollo and the others regrouped, sharing their condition.

    "How much of your reserves did you all use?" Apollo questioned, examining their countenance for signs of budding exhaustion. One of the worst things to do wasck information before heading into a battle.

    "For the most part, I''m okay. I still have above 95% of my reserves," Nadida replied lightheartedly. This was a matter she didn''t take seriously. After all, she possessed full confidence in her variant reserves.

    When he heard this, Apollo''s eyebrows raised, ''Interesting. If she has over 90% of her reserves then her overall capacity should be on par with or slightly inferior to mine. However, her cultivation realm surpasses mine, she just hasn''t told me.''

    Unbeknownst to Nadida, Apollo possessed all her information save for the quantity of her Dantian and other internal secrets. Besides those, her true cultivation, age; it was all apparent to Apollo.

    Name: Nadida

    Age: 18

    Cultivation: Rank 1 Zul Knight

    .

    .

    .

    Despite knowing her information, Apollo didn''t press the matters. For one, if he did, it would raise suspicion. If their Soul State Aptitude were truly equal then he wouldn''t retain the ability to peer into her like that. Thus, he left the matter alone.

    One thing he didn''t need was someone prying into his secrets. Although he had a semnce of faith in the system''s defenses, resting all his trust in it was something he couldn''t do. Only his caution would soothe his on-edge mind.

    "Errr, I have about 85% percent of my reserves left. I minimized my usage. Plus, I have a few pills with me should our reserves drop to a dangerously low level," Leone muttered, patting the pouch on his side.

    ''Ah, that''s right. Resources, it''s a shame my cultivation ate all of mine. I don''t have any on me. That was a blunder on my part. I need to take into ount these types of situations next time,'' Apollo thought, a sh a realization appearing in his eyes.

    "My state isn''t terrible, but I also haven''t been inbat that heated before, so I used a surplus of Natural Essence that was unneeded. I''m in the 70% range," us chuckled with a hint of embarrassment in his tone.

    Once again, Apollo didn''t press the matters. He had a feeling that most small noble families operated the ways his family did. Which was, focusing a predominant portion of their time on cultivation instead of honing and regting theirbat standards. While it wasn''t an overly stupid move, in perilous situations, it wasn''t a viable way of advancing.

    "I suggest you use this experience as an in-depth training experience. Based on what I was told, it''s a dogfight within the walls of the academies. Should you fail to suffice, you probably won''tst," Apollo warned, cing his hand against the wall next to him while closing his eyes.

    Luckily, in his situation, the Sordid Ameliorate Moss was incapable of damaging his internals. This enabled him to take actions the others couldn''t. While in contact with the wall, a rough outline of the next 100 yards entered his mind. But, a frown appeared on his face.

    He felt an aura beyond that he didn''t like. If his assumptions were correct, then they were rather unlucky. None of them were in the position to deal with this type of opponent.

    "I''m warning you now, approximately 120 yards ahead; there is either one powerful beast or a collection of rtively weaker beasts whose aura synthesize to what I''m sensing," Apollo warned.

    As mentioned before, the images that entered his Tainted Temple were shoddy at best. Therefore, his information wasn''t concrete but offered insight.

    "Regardless of which it is, they both present their dangers we have to ovee. What about other teams do you sense them?" Nadida asked, noticing Apollo''s actions. ''Is he feeling vibrations or tracking their essence signature Or, perhaps he could be melding the methods together.''

    "Hold on," Apollo said, repeating his actions. It took a while, but in the distance, he saw multiple cloudy blue orbs. Even after he tried to focus, he noticed he couldn''t look inside these orbs.

    "I believe there are, but I''m unaware of their identity. It seems everyone has some sort of protection present around them. Truthfully speaking, I think it''s the keys we entered with. They seem to be the pivotal point," Apollo responded.

    "We move with caution then," Nadida nodded, continuing, "I''ll take the lead.Although they didn''t mention it, there must be some safety measure installed into the key cards."

    "True. Alright, we''ll stay close together. Leone, you''ll man the center while I guard the rear. The rest of you, break into 3 tiers of 2-4-2 with Leone in your center," Apollo instructed, prompting the team to take up a formation.

    Upon witnessing this, the academy leaders nodded their heads. Unlike arge number of the parties experiencing panic in the trial, they were shocked by Apollo''s team showing a ster reaction on par with the Glories and Scions.

    However, they also became curious, why did the entire party seem terrified of one person for an instant?

 Chapter 144 - Arising Interest

    ----

    In the stands above the trial tforms, the many academy administrators and below continued to watch the scenes unravel during the trials. Those like Sirius and Irauk paid close attention to people of simr capabilities to Apollo.??

    Whereas Apollo was Irauk''s main focus, Sirius was more so focused on finding youths with the prerequisite temperament he was looking for. However, a screen of numerous captured events rose above the tform.

    Every inch of the tforms below came under the purview of their critique. Due to the way it wasid out, the images of the centers were those of the more favored youths. Not only were there the Scions and Glories, but there was also the top 1000 scoring individuals and their apanying team.

    "Hm? Isn''t that scene taking ce rather unusual? Why are his teammates trembling like that? I wonder what he said to them," a snow-white haired man, whose appearance also appeared to be childish, nced at the screen containing Apollo and his team. A mischievous smile appeared on his lips, causing the female next to him to frown.

    "Calm down and don''t even think of doing such a thing. You''re already a hassle on the battlefield as is. We are not recruiting that kid. I don''t care how much he sparks your interest. Also, I would advise against you performing any questionable means," a woman with simr snow-white hair red at this person.

    "Tch¡­ Aurora why are you such a buzzkill? I''m pretty sure that kid threatened his team or at the very least intimidated them into submission," the guy countered.

    "Ask me if I care, because I don''t; I''ve had enough of you. If you mention another word, Cyr, then you''ll be dealing with me," Aurora uttered in an adamant tone, her unblemished white hair red.

    Surprisingly, after she said this, Cyr''s interest died down considerably. Despite being a menace on the battlefield, this woman¡ªhis elder sister¡ªwas something he just couldn''t go up against. If he did, without a doubt, he would end up on the losing end. After all, her identity wasn''t a simple one.

    Meanwhile, Sirius turned towards them, "Actually, in this position, that boy Cyr isn''t wrong. In fact, I would like to share some thoughts with you; what do you say?"

    In response, Aurora frowned. She didn''t like that Sirius was inciting this little handful to speak his mind. Albeit the presence of his innate fear of his sister, if he was passionate about something, even her ire wasn''t enough to thwart his mouth.

    "Yes! We can speak. Is it about that boy? I hear he isn''t even 15, yet very ruthless. If we could team up, we could strip Terrors bare!" Cyr responded animatedly, jumping out of his seat. Naturally, his action caused a smallmotion but it soon turned silent.

    After all, all members of the War Academies were familiar with each other; they all held some type of position in the World Remation Task Force. This was true whether it being inactive or active members of that army.

    "Indeed, but what intrigues me most is the way he handles any given situation. Take a look at the screens on the borders, they''re all individuals from small noble families on the outskirts of every continent. When met with the Dark Beasts and the adverse environment of the Dark Ruin Labyrinth, what ismon amongst them¡ªpanic. This obviously leads to their mistakes."

    Upon Sirius'' mention, Cyr took a closer look,paring the results side by side. The more he looked, the more he understood what Sirius was trying to imply.

    "The way this youth gained his power might not be the same as other youths. His assessment of the situation, grasp of his surroundings, and that cautious maneuvering¡ªall this behavior points to one thing," Cyr surmised, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. While doing so, a fervent curiosity appeared in his eyes.

    "Are our conclusions the same? Do you believe he is a Spirit Cultivator as well? This is the only usible reason. The way he moves implies he has prior knowledge of what is toe. This could only happen if he has developed a perception from his Soul Conscience," Sirius nodded with the same expression.

    However, when they heard this, something else''s expression changed. Not that he examined closely, Irauk nodded to himself, ''How could I have overlooked this fact? The way he is inspecting the walls, monitoring the situation, it was all points towards him creating a mental image of his surrounding. Sneakyd, how dare you hide this from me? I could have given you some tips on how to mold your conscience!''

    "Yes! But, if that''s true; doesn''t that mean he is on par with Typhir and the others? I wonder if he''s begun to sense Spiritual Essence. Unlike Natural Essence, this is a bit more tricky. It''s a shame it only appears when one is primed to contact another world," Cyr shook his head.

    "Even without this, he already was. Have you forgotten his results? Unfortunately, we have already lost this youth to someone else," Sirius sighed,menting the fact he didn''t meet Apollo before Irauk. If so, he would have another illustrious name to add to his repertoire of finely crafted soldiers.

    "Who?! Who took this boy?" Cyr bellowed, his eyes widening with shock. The whole point of this trial was to allow for the War Academies to select their potential students based on the allotted seats they were given. Moreover, to promote fairness, the order of recruitment was based on a raffle.

    However, the individuals still retained the right to reject an offer in hopes of a better option presenting itself. But, that also ran a risk. If one''s potential wasn''t up to par and their pride led to rejecting the first offer, there wasn''t a guarantee someone else would choose them.

    In light of this, there were some academy personnel who didn''t take well to rejection and would harbor grudges. Hence, it could lead to the possibility of said individual forfeiting their chance to enter the War Academies at all.

    Nevertheless, this was only true if the youth in question''s potential was only slightly above the average. If their capabilities warranted it, then they could easily be forgiven but not without some hardships of their own.

    "That would be me," Irauk turned toward Cyr with a cheeky smile. Shockingly, when Cyr saw this expression, he froze losing all signs of vigor.

    "O-oh...it''s Sir Irauk. Okay, my apologies," Cyr stammered, taking a seat with visible displeasure. He continued to grumble to himself, shooting his sister a nasty look.

    "What exactly are you looking at me for? I told you not to worry about the kid but you just don''t listen to me. So, you live and you learn. Now sit quietly or you''ll be my sparring partner after these trials finish," Aurora said, cing obscene amounts of emphasis on sparring.

    On the other hand, Sirius''s eyebrows rose with intrigue, "I just realized, the path this team is set on, isn''t it the most dangerous one? Just the initial monsters start at the peak of the 3rd Rank, I wonder how they''ll cope with the future foes. Not to mention, in a moment they will run into those..."

    "Hm, they''ll handle it. There is Apollo and there is Nadida. Besides, we all know the paths connect. Perhaps they''ll run into help allies in the future to ovee what they will have to face," Irauk said, donning a mysterious smile. A red run appeared in his eyes when he looked at thebyrinth below.

    ----

    At the same time, back in the Dark Ruin Labyrinth,

    Apollo paused, retracting his hand from the wall. It was odd, he felt a sensation foreign to him burrowing into his mind.

    ''Hmm? Why is the image in my mind bing partly clearer? Huh!? Am I seeing this correctly, no way¡­'' Apollo''s pupil contracted upon deciphering the information appearing in his mind.

    "Halt! Change formations now," Apollo eximed dashing to the front of everyone including Nadida.

    In light of his odd reaction, Nadida tilted her head to the side, "Why the sudden change of attitude?"

    "Well, because...actually, no need for me to say anything. Witness it for yourself," Apollomented, raising his finger.

    From within the murky obstructive fog in the distance, numerous pythons with strong electric arc crackling around their body slithered towards them. Surprisingly, despite theirrge 3 meter long physiques, their bodies moved soundlessly. Furthermore, the lightning surrounding was ck.

    More importantly, their numbers were above 40, numbering close to 50. In other words, if it was a typical party, they''d have to deal with 5 opponents. However, what Apollo learned from their aura made him shake his head.

    ''Let alone 5, they probably won''t be able to handle one. Although they are still Peak Rank 3¡­ they are bloodline beast. As such, I can probably look at them as being closer to the baseline Rank 4 strength,'' Apollo surmised, with a small frown.

    Not even 1 hour in and they were already confronting a situation that didn''t look too well. It was at times like this Apollo wish he had a better grasp of his powers.

    ''I am far from enough. I need to get stronger¡­ overwhelmingly so. I''ll have to do it,'' Apollo sighed, holding his arm out before him, ''Ouroboros, awaken.''

 Chapter 145 - Ouroboros Influence

    ----

    Upon hearing Apollo''s mentalmand, Ouroboros who was sleeping under the cor of his top robe trembled. At first, he seemed groggy but then his amethyst eyes opened with a weird glint of power shining within. While faint, signs of him advancing in power were appearing.??

    Not to mention, his aura was also growing to be nearly identical to Apollo''s. As he peered his head from under Apollo''s cor, his clear eyes continued to blink, ''You...called for me, Master?''

    ''Yes, are you up for some fun? Are you able to take on your true form?'' Apollo questioned. At the same time, his sights remained locked on the iing sea of silver pythons.

    ''I can easily take that form, Master. But, Ouroboros is hungry. Can I have food in exchange for this?'' Ouroboros shifted its clear gaze to Apollo whose eyes remained unmoving.

    ''You may. Now proceed,'' Apollo nodded in confirmation causing jubnce to sh in Ouroboros. Although it didn''t have hands, Apollo swore he heard a pping noise. Furthermore, there was a repeated tapping that grew heavier and heavier on his shoulder.

    Upon noticing this, he finally spared Ouroboros a nce, widening his eyes, ''Oi.. not on me. Change on the ground!''

    ''No, it''s better this way. I...keep getting this urge; I think I can help you like this. Allow me to continue master,'' Ouroboros adjured. For a moment, Apollo was silent while looking into Ouroboros'' eyes.

    Albeit faint, he felt what Ouroboros was hinting at, ''Very well.''

    Immediately after, Ouroboros'' change proceeded forth at a rapid pace. From a palm-size, he grew. 10 centimeters...50 centimeters...1 meter.

    His growth continued past his initial size! Surprisingly enough, in this short period of time, he had experienced arge development in both his body and mind. From the start, Ouroboros'' size only stopped after approaching 1.8 meters.

    In other words, he was already on par with Apollo''s height. However, be that as it may, Ouroboros still remained on his shoulders.

    ''This weight...he''s at least 500 kilograms. Just howpact is his physique to weigh this much? It''s astonishing to think about,'' Apollo mused.

    Meanwhile, amid Ouroboros'' change,the silver pythons with numerous ck arcs of electricity arrived before them. Yet, when they did, Apollo felt unhindered confidence. With Ouroboros by his side, for some odd reason, he felt empowered.

    More precisely, his stigmata felt empowered. It was as if Ouroboros was manipting its structure. An odd power birthed from this interaction was flowing through Apollo.

    ''I...I know this power. Isn''t this what I felt when Ira nearly seeded in taking me over? Does this mean Ouroboros can store away Sin and use it at ater time? Then...wouldn''t he be a glorified Sin vessel?'' Apollo blinked, stupefied by this development.

    But then, he thought about Azridan''s words as well as Ouroboros. He had mentioned to him before, the rage he felt wasn''t his own and was, in fact, Apollo''s. Once he realized this, Apollo smirked.

    ''I think I found a way to circumvent theck of Natural Essence here. It''ll just require Ouroboros. While it is a shame that he falls into a slumber after absorbing energy, it seems bestowing that energy doesn''te with any drawbacks except hunger. Fortunately, this is something I can easily deal with thanks to the system.''

    "WHOA! What the hell is that?" Nadida shrieked, appalled by the appearance of Ouroboros. Moreover, she was even more shocked by the fact Apollo seemed unfazed with arge snake wrapped around his neck.

    ''Master, I''ve learned a new ability. Open your mind to me! I don''t need to stay here,'' Ouroboros uttered. Without hesitation, Apollo obliged. He had a slight feeling about what Ouroboros sought to do.

    After doing so, the connection between the two deepened.Ouroboros pressed his head against Apollo and made direct contact with his Tainted Temple. Before everyone''s eyes, Ouroboros vanished.

    A few momentster, he reappeared in Apollo''s mind; he had taken shelter there! To put it differently, what he did was simr to what one did to make a contract with a Spirit. Only after sacrificing part of one''s Soul Temple to the Spirit would the contract finalize.

    In exchange, they took root in your mind. Of course, this came with drawbacks. Both the cultivator and the Spirit would, in essence, share a life source. However, it wasn''t extreme for both sides. The death of either side didn''t mean definite peril of the other; the cost was the piece of their souls they tied into the contract.

    In other words, the death of a cultivator would weaken a Spirit drastically and vice versa. This was why it was seen as a double-edged sword¡ªan extremely powerful one.

    ''Fwoosh!''

    With a step, Apollo activated the Partial Shade Silhouette but this time felt different. Rather than shadow embers flowing with the wind, they wrapped around him, obscuring his body. He was utilizing what he learned from Xezym''s presentation.

    When the academy personnel saw this, their eyes grew intrigued. Sirius even went as far as to muster some faint words, ''Isn''t this the technique that littless from the Braum Family Spirit uses? Interesting, what is their connection? Have they met through Irauk?

    Meanwhile, back inside thebyrinth, Apollo grouped his team together. "I''ll keep the vanguard position this time. Nadida you''re on the defensive. We''ll finish these beasts quickly."

    "Wait but that snak-"

    Before Nadida could finish, Apollo turned in her direction with a cold re. Shockingly, his pupils were irregr, simr to that of Ouroboros with elliptical pupils, "Stop dwelling on unimportant matters and listen to the matters. You have delegated me as team leader, correct?"

    "Y...yes," Nadida stammered, shocked by Apollo''s change.

    "Then stop questioning things and listen to my instructions. Form the rear and focus on defense. I won''t kill them but I will damage them heavily," Apollomanded, dashing into the fray of monsters.

    As he did so, he was met with sudden inspiration. Using his Hellfire Molding ability, he held out his forming conjuring a long weapon, ''I''ll make quick work of these beasts while using Ouroboros'' Demonic Anima and Sin supply. I won''t need to sacrifice my own.''

    A crude ck scythe with impure gray spot interspersed throughout was conjured. Oddly enough, as he held it in his hands, it felt right. ''This feeling...could this be the weapons of the demons? Perhaps so, it is after all a long weapon.''

    After creating the weapon, a strong current pooled at the tip of its de. ''I think I understood what the Demonic Massacre Wavecked. In my case, it''s two things. Firstly, itcked intent. I have to seek to massacre when I use this. Secondly, I believe it needs the concept of a Sin behind his.

    Uponing across thisprehension, Apollo closed his eyes and dropped his weapon to a rxed grip. However, the aura around the de''s point condensed constantly. By sacrificing Ouroboros'' energy, he was tapping into the essence of his technique.

    Unlike any of his prior uses, the Demonic Massacre Wave Apollo held now felt pure. So much so the space sounding it trembled.

    With one swing, he repelled nearly half of the present beast. Although he didn''t kill them, he fulfilled his purpose, ''That''s it! I''ve got it. The wave is to be unstoppable, doing away with all in its path. The reason it''s one attack is that its opposers are not meant to be left standing afterward! Again!''

    Once again, Apollo duplicated his actions, engrossed in the action of learning. At the same time, numerous alerts appeared before his eyes.

    ?System Alert! Your mastery of the ?First Annihtion: Demonic Massacre Wave? has increased by 15%.?

    ?System Alert! Your mastery of the ?First Annihtion: Demonic Massacre Wave? has increased by 35%.?

    ?System Alert! Your mastery of the ?First Annihtion: Demonic Massacre Wave? has increased by 40%. To achieve full mastery, please seed inprehend to deepest meaning.?

    ''The deepest meaning? There''s another one?'' Apollo mused,unching another Demonic Massacre Wave. This time, however, numerous of the pythons were split in half. Unfortunately, his countenance was also paling.

    Even though he wasn''t exhausting his reserves, the nature of the pure Ira Ouroboros siphoned from him was too tyrannical. If he gambled and tried toplete this learning experience, there was a chance of damaging himself.

    s, Apollo cut his losses and settled with his currentprehension of the technique. Nheless, because he knew he was on the right path, he felt more invigorated than ever.

    "Nadida, offense, now!" Apollo bellowed,nding by her side as he grasped her hand. Unbeknownst to him, his forceful actions caused her to blush. She was used to being the one calling the shots, therefore, this change of pace was out of the ordinary for her.

    To say she wasn''t overwhelmed would be an untruth.

    Without dy, the two sprang into action. On one hand, there was Apollo zipping around the battlefield, rounding up the python by kicking them towards the center. On another, there was Nadida summoning numerous earth walls in the shape of an octagonal cage.

    Contrary to the team''s beliefs, she didn''t conjure thest wall leaving arge opening. Naturally, this was due to Apollo''s directions.

    In a sh, Apollo appeared at the opening, "All of you perish." With a sh of his weapon, he sent a colossal Demonic Massacre Wave hurtling forward. The end result, mutted snake bodies were seen strewn throughout the cage.

    At the sight of this, the expressions of his teammates paled. That strike was far too strong!

 Chapter 146 - Atmosphere Laced With Oddities

    ----

    "U-uh¡­ Apollo, what was that strike? Even from here, it felt terrible," Nadida stammered, looking at Apollo''sx back as the scythe made of Hellfire in his hand disintegrated before her very eyes. This was the first time she had witnessed his strike as all this while he had been holding back. Needless to say, the destruction she stumbled upon was something she just couldn''t wrap her mind around.??

    "It''s my strike, but that isn''t what''s important right now. Do you feel a vibration from your trial identification card?" Apollo asked while pulling the card from his pocket. Unlike before, the card shimmered and showed holographic information.

    Truthfully speaking, this was a matter that shocked Apollo as well as the other teammates. They weren''t aware that the technologies of the Academies were so advanced. Holographic projection, that was something out of their wildest dreams.

    By utilizing Natural Essence as the screen, using a unique formation embedded in the card, one was able to disy certain information. For example, right now, before everyone''s eyes, three sets of information appeared.

    (Current Team Ranking: [1,016th out of 30,136])

    (Current Individual Ranking: [169th out of 301,318])

    (Individual Points: [1,020] | Team Points: [2,140])

    "Hm, isn''t there some oddities about these points? They aren''t consistent. I have 545 and I''m sure Nadida has more so how are there only slightly over 2,000 team points," Leone questioned, his face filled with bewilderment.

    Based on his calctions, then they should at least have upwards of 4,000 points. In fact, it should be close to double what they have right now. Hence, confusion appeared amongst the multiple teams in the Dark Ruin Labyrinth. They wanted to understand just how these points were calcted.

    "Hmm, well, let''s see. Right now, I have 1,020 points. If we take a step back and look at what we have aplished, then we''ll realize we have only done three things," Apollo chimed in, rubbing his chin whilst his eyes remained glued to the holographic screen before him.

    "Hm? As far as I know, we''ve only defeated two sets of monsters," us added. Other than this, he was sure they hadn''t aplished anything else.

    "Incorrect. We have been here for an hour now. That should amount to something within the points. If we continue under the assumption that the first set of monsters were worth 20 points and then the second set was worth 40, we''ll have a few misceneous points unounted for. That should be what we were rewarded for the duration of our survival?

    "What makes you believe our survival is being monitored?" Leone asked, interested in Apollo''s discoveries. While at this point they were all spection, there was sound reasoning behind them. Thus, Leone wasn''t able to immediately dismiss it as a falsity.

    "Take a look at the points, or specifically the numbers between the teams and individual rankings. Moreover, while doing that, remember what that old fogey said. Every teammate''s death results in a 10% decrease in points," Apollo reminded, causing realization to sh in the other''s eyes.

    "Ah! That means people have already died! In the beginning, there was an even number of 301,360 people. But now, there are already over 40 of them missing from the list. I see what you''re saying, but wait, that doesn''t tell us how individual points are calcted," Nadida blurted but became pensive after.

    "Yes it does," Apollo nodded, continuing, "What if there is a contribution percentage system in ce? That would determine the individuals worth in the team. Let''s assume at max, a member can be rewarded 50% percent of the kill''s worth. The highest contributor would im half of that max in other words 25% while the rest is divided amongst the remainder of the team."

    For several moments there was silence amid the team contemting Apollo''s words. Everything he presented so far sounded usible, however, there was still no concrete evidence. Be that as it may, they still saw his deductive reasoning as something mind-boggling. How could he catch all this from staring at the information?

    "It''s possible. How about we keep moving to ascertain our assumptions? That''s the only direct way to test it out, no?" Nadida responded, taking a step closer.

    "That goes without saying. What, do you think we''re going to stay here? We have a trial toplete. This little contemtion session has taken up enough of our time. We move now," Apollomanded, taking a step forth without waiting for their answers.

    Nevertheless, they deemed his forceful attitude as justified. Based on the strength he presented, half of the team believed he could clear thisbyrinth on his own. But, that was only true if the difficulty of advancement remained the same.

    As the team moved forward, their journey fell silent. Simr to earlier, upon advancing, Apollo sealed off his sight. He used the advice of Azridan and trained his other senses so that in the event they were robbed from him, he would never bepromised.

    Furthermore, disabling his sight surprisingly allowed him to form a moreplete mental image of the areas they were approaching as well as whence they came.

    Disturbingly enough, even after advancing for over 2 hours, walking on a straight path; they had yet toe in contact with any other enemies. Additionally, there were no breaks in the path either. Obviously, all this felt weird to Apollo.

    From the outside, each of the paths on thebyrinth was filled with twists and turns. As such, they should have already approached one. Regardless of their conservation of energy, they were still moving with haste.

    Thus, Apollo came to two assumptions, ''Either the distortion of space has obscured howrge we thought thisbyrinth to be or...we''re in an illusion. The first one is easy to deal with, however, if it''s the second¡­ how do we deal with that?''

    Without sufficient evidence, Apollo didn''t bring up his spections with the others. Contrarily, he moved forward, hoping to dispel his worries. Unfortunately, even after increasing his pace further, no changes in the path appeared. It was like a stretch of neverending straightness.

    Finally, another issue gave rise to his suspicions. Albeit faint, he heard the sound of continuous dripping. It wasn''t evident at first but now that he had focused on his other sense, he found some discrepancies.

    "Halt," Apollo said, holding up his fist. After doing so, he bent down and grabbed a handful of the decrepit dirt. To confirm his suspicions, he threw it. But, contrary to what everyone expected, the moment he threw it up, it dropped almost instantly.

    "There''s¡­ no environment here," Apollo muttered, narrowing his eyes. Now that his worries had been confirmed, he looked for anything out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, his teammates didn''t understand what had him on edge.

    "Is there something wrong? What do you mean this ce has no environment?" Nadida questioned, walking up to his side. Before she received an answer, Apollo first looked down then over at the walls he had been dragging his hand across.

    Instead of replying in a straightforward manner, Apollo asked a question, "This cecks an atmosphere. Think back to when we first entered this ce, what did you feel?"

    "When we entered here, it was like we came through a spatial storm. After that, the winds here were viol-. Wait¡­ what happened to the winds? Why is the atmosphere so tranquil?" Nadida widened her eyes, realizing what they had all overlooked.

    "I believe we are trapped in an illusion. In fact, I even think it''s safe to say we haven''t moved from our initial position after our battle with those pythons. That was a blunder on my part, I should have recognized the abnormality of the environment. Perhaps those snakes weren''t what we should''ve been on the lookout for," Apollo stated with a grim expression.

    "If so, aren''t our bodies in danger? If our conscience is trapped in an illusion, how do we get out of it?" Nadida asked, trying to conceal her trembling palms. Not only was she scared of heights, but she was also terribly afraid of the thought of failing. Hence, when she heard her body could be in possible danger, her reaction was great.

    "Calm down, think rationally. I don''t think our bodies are in danger," Apollo said, raising his hand towards her.

    "Huh? What makes you think that?" Leone stepped forth, peering in the direction Apollo currently gazed in.

    "That''s simple. If the body is in grave danger, even if in an illusion, the defensive response should be enough to shock us awake. Therefore, I don''t think this is an illusion to endanger us but rather hamper our advance. I...don''t think this is an illusion made by beasts," Apollo uttered.

    Upon saying that, he closed his eyes, rxing his body. ''What was that feeling earlier? I need to recount that. I need to reim the same sensation that happened during my sh with Nadida and in front of the Elemental Resonance Stele. If I can grasp that feeling, maybe I can spur a reaction from my eyes again.''

    On the other hand, the others became tense. They couldn''t judge whether or not they were truly trapped in an illusion. It felt all too real; the control they had over their bodies, their surroundings. For this to be an illusion, the caster would need to be well-versed in it.

    ''I have an open Soul Temple, an illusion shouldn''t affect me unless..'' Nadida raised her head looking at Apollo whose eyes were opening. Unlike before, they seemed to swallow her.

    "H-huh? Apollo..?" Nadida murmured, somehow enraptured by his gaze.

    "So that''s how it was done. I understand now," Apollo answered. Calmly, he walked closer to his members behind him, his hand covered in the abominable Hellfire.

 Chapter 147 - Forming A Plan

    ----

    As he walked closer, the team backed up. For some odd reason, the feeling Apollo was emanating felt as if he meant harm towards them. Additionally, with each step, the Hellfire in his hand grew in size. From a small pea size, it grew until it enveloped his entire arm encasing it in what seemed like the shape of a sword.??

    "W-wait¡­ Apollo, what''s the meaning of this? We''re teammates. If you kill us, our points will tank!" us uttered, taking a trembling step backward. However, they soon realized they were unable to retreat any further. It seemed as if some invisible wall blocked them from doing so.

    "Eh? What is this?!" Leone eximed. After bumping into whatever was behind him, he began to feel around. Despite there being nothing there visible to his naked eyes, his hand pressed against a solid wall.

    "I think Apollo''s assumptions are correct. We have definitely been trapped inside some type of illusion. Our paths of retreat have been cut off. Still, I don''t understand why Apollo ising after us. Has he been possessed?" Leone asked, turning towards Nadida. But, as he did so, his eyes widened in shock.

    Unlike the others, Nadida didn''t retreat. From the moment her eyes made contact with Apollo''s, she had frozen. In the eyes of those around them, her eyes seemed to be lifeless. It was as if the connection to her mind was forcefully severed.

    Meanwhile, Apollo nodded his head at this discovery. ording to the situation at hand, he had grasped the feeling from before. However, he also noticed some differences. This time, it didn''t seem as if he was capable of peering into things unnoticed by the naked eye.

    On the contrary, it appeared as if he was capable of "swallowing" people''s minds. ''Is this connected to another Sin''s ability? It''s a shame Azridan isn''t here to give me pointers on what is taking ce. Nheless, based on what is known about Sin, I can assume this is rted to either Gluttony or Greed.''

    As Apollo''s mind came to this assumption, his expression grew solemn, "Don''t move. This goes for all of you. I will try to remedy this situation but it will require you to work along with me. Anyone who resists runs the risk of damaging their minds. Since wecked familiarity with illusions, there is only one remaining way to deal with it¡ªoverpower it,"

    When the rest heard this, they couldn''t help but tremble. These words sounded like the most reckless n thus far! The mind was a fragile thing and all of them were inept in the ways of it. Even though Apollo tried to reassure them, it proved to be futile.

    "I...don''t think I can do that," Leone muttered, defiantly shaking his head. In his case, his spirit aptitude was far too great to leave this situation up to chance. Unbeknownst to them all, this dilemma they now stood in was the objective of this illusion they were under.

    It reinforced the doubts they held towards certain matters. Furthermore, it made it so that if the slightest sign of doubt entered their mind, it would be enhanced instantly. Hence, why everyone so adamantly rejected Apollo''s idea.

    Upon witnessing Apollo frowned, ''Just as I expected, the illusion makes them innately inclined to reject my suggestions to break free of this ce. Unfortunately, if I do so forcefully...it''ll without doubt damage all of our minds. If I''m not mistaken, whoever has made this illusion has weaved our consciousness together.''

    Just as he fell into contemtion, Nadida awoke, her eyes regaining light. However, there was also panic within her eyes, "A-Apollo! There''s someone standing before our bodies!"

    "What? How do you know that?" Apollo questioned, interested in this new piece of information.

    "Well, when I looked into your eyes. Not only did I feel my mind being swallowed, it felt as if you devoured some veil that was covering my eyes. For a brief moment, my awareness returned to my body. When it did, I saw the silhouette of some person.''

    "Hm, I see. Perhaps, we need to experiment with this matter more. Sadly, it''ll prove to be quite the task. These ones here rejected my suggestions. Even if we find a way, if they doubt us, we won''t be able to escape unharmed."

    "Wait, there''s more," Nadida added, before taking a deep breath, "The figure seems to be a woman but she was cloaked. Additionally, when they realized I had broken away from their illusion, they reinforced the potency of the spell at least 5 times over!"

    Once he heard this, Apollo fell into a silent pensive state, ''To immediately reinforce the illusion, the person would need to siphon strength from the veil over our minds as well. That should be the weakness in this scenario.''

    "I may have a way to resolve this predicament, however, it''ll require at least 4 of us. Do you think it is possible to get the others to follow our ns ordingly?" Apollo questioned, ncing at Nadida.

    "Maybe. In all honesty, I''m not certain. When I looked into that person''s eyes, it made me feel as if breaking free was an impossibility," Nadida answered, her expression gradually showing signs of bing crestfallen.

    Fortunately, before she could sink deeper, Apollo imbued his fingers with Demonic Anima and snapped. A strong shockwave sounded next to her ears, jolting her away.

    "E-eek! My ears!" Nadida eximed, clutching her head.

    "We can''t allow doubt to enter your mind as well. It''s already bad enough that we are the only two of sound mind right now," Apollo stated. After doing so, he walked over to us and Leone as well.

    Since there was no other choice, Apollo would have to take more primitive actions.

    Although they tried to retreat once again, there was nowhere to go. Thus, as Apollo repeated his actions, their bodies trembled. If one looked closely, they''d see thin trickles of blood flowing from their ears.

    "A-aaaacgh!" they screamed in pain together. However, unlike before, their eyes were clear, the shroud of uncertainty dissipating from within.

    "M-my ears¡­ they hurt so bad! Oh, it''s so damn bad," us screamed. Due to one ruptured eardrum, he was unaware of just how loud he was yelling.

    "Damn! Shut up!" Leone scowled, punching him square in the face. In light of this odd development, both Apollo and Nadida became surprised. Although, Apollo had a semnce of an idea about what was taking ce.

    ''I''m pretty sure the traces of Wrath in my energy has incited their anger. Nevertheless, this is better than them having doubts about proceeding forward.''

    "Are you two proper now? If so, let''s discuss the n to ovee this illusion. Even if we can''t use the other 6. I believe the strength of our 4bined consciousness should be enough," Apollo stated, crossing his arms while awaiting the other''s responses.

    "W-...what do you have nned?" Leone asked, holding his ear. Despite wanting to, he didn''t heal his ear. If this ce wasn''t real, then the pain should uphold the rity of his mind.

    "The same thing I did with Nadida. All three of you need to look at my eyes simultaneously. When that happens, all three of you should momentarily break free. At the same time, the illusion upon the rest of us should weaken. It is then I will try to forcefully break," Apollo disclosed.

    "I see but what about those 6?" Leone pointed at the ones still covering against the invisible wall.

    "Once the illusion is weakened, it shouldn''t have too much of an effect on their minds, if any at all. Because, when you break free, the issuer of this illusion will shift their attention to you. Therefore, our worries should vanish," Apollo responded.

    In response, the three nodded. They hade to terms with the fact those 6 would have to be experimental sacrifices. Whether or not they triumphed over this matter was their own concern.

    Soon after, Apollo closed his eyes once again. This time, the feeling he was searching for was much deeper. ''I must devour all, so, supply me with stronger greed. If I''m to be to Monarch, I must covet all!''

    Upon finding the right mindset, Apollo opened his eyes. Surprisingly, inside his eyes seemed to be a kind of void. In ce of the previous amethyst color, an enrapturing deep-ck whirlpool appeared in his right eye.

    Concurrently, Nadida, Leone, and us looked into his eyes. Much like before, they fell into the state Nadida did earlier.

    ----

    Back inside the true Dark Ruin Labyrinth,

    With strong gasps, Nadida and the two others awakened. As she described, the silhouette belonging to a female appeared before them. However, upon closer inspection, it didn''t seem to be an actual person.

    "T-that''s an Illusion Wraith Fox!" Leone eximed.

    A grey light shined under the hood of the figure as it noticed those whobroke free of its control.

    "You little vermin, return to my mindscape and forever be trapped. You shall know what it feels like to be trapped. We are not mindless beasts to be trapped in a cage and used for ughter at the whims of you vile humans!" the silhouette erupted, taking on the form of a 6-meter long fox.

    However, its eyes soon rattled with trepidation when it noticed something else taking ce.

 Chapter 148 - Offering A Deal

    ----

    Inside the illusion still currently trapping Apollo, he looked around. Immediately, he took notice of the shaky environment. After the three before him eye''s turned lifeless, the environment''s stability seemed to grow faulty.??

    "As I thought, when someone breaks free from the illusion, the one who conjured this illusion must use the mental energy initially meant to maintain it, to draw the others back in. But, doing so weakens the illusion as a whole. Thus, allow me to break it!"

    Now that he understood the basis of the illusion, Apollo pped his hand together. Not only did his aura re, but the look in his eyes changed. He now gazed upon the environment with apparent disgust.

    Due to his actions, it continued to tremble. The violent murderous aura leaking from him hastened the demolition. In the beginning, the destruction of the mindscape first started with the colossal walls. From there, piece by piece, they crumbled. The fragments that fell soon dissipated into motes of fleeting light.

    ''Krrk!'' ''Krrrrrrrrrkkk!''

    A sound reminiscent of shattering ss sounded as what seemed to be a screen cracked. The growing fractures soon connected causingrge clumps of the illusion to go missing. Naturally, this gave Apollo the ability to peer outside and inspect the situation going on.

    ''Is that a Dark Beast? It seems my assumptions were off. I thought someone targeted us, but that doesn''t appear to be the case,'' Apollo internalized whilst raising his hands. With a grasping motion, he broke the rest of the illusion¡ªin the process, freeing his mind.

    As a result, his murderous aura returned to his body. While it did, he opened his eyes to gaze at the fox before him.

    However, in response to his reappearance, the Illusion Wraith Fox trembled. In its eyes, his aura was something only the Terrors should possess. For a human to emanate this feeling, something wasn''t right!

    "Y-you''re not a human!" the fox screeched, taking an apprehensive step back.

    Apollo''s eyebrows rose with interest when he saw this. ''A speaking beast? ording to Azridan, a situation like this only appears after a beast reaches a certain cultivation or possesses high innate abilities. From this fox''s aura, it can''t have reached Rank 6. So, thetter should be the reason behind its sentience.''

    "Oh? Why do you say I''m not human?" Apollo questioned, taking calm steps forward. As he did so, not only did he not brandish a weapon, he retracted his aura. He was intrigued by this situation. Why was a beast like this located here?

    "Do you really need to ask me that question? Take a look at your aura, it''s too dark! That''s not something a human possesses. What are you? A Terror? But they don''t look like you," the fox replied with an almost human-like sneer.

    "Nope," Apollo shook his head, standing face to face with the beast. Surprisingly, neither of them made a move. Just staring into its eyes, Apollo found himself bing more curious.

    "You must have a name, what is it?" Apollo asked.

    "Tch, why should I tell y-.."

    Before the fox could continue, Apollo grabbed its jaw with cold eyes. His frigid gaze looked to be unusually aggravated, "You have already caused me to idle here long enough. It is because of your actions that our ranking has fallen, now answer my question. Furthermore, consider yourself lucky that you are a special case; if not, I would kill you. "

    The look in Apollo''s eyes struck something deep inside the fox. This special species didn''t possess high physical prowess. Hence, why Apollo was able to subdue it with his current strength. Its strengthy in its mind. But, now that Apollo had broken free from its clutches, what else could it do?

    "E...ia," the fox replied. Shockingly, with its defeated expression, the fox began reverting to a humanoid form. Before Apollo''s eyes, she shrunk to a height simr to Nadida.

    "I have a question, how do you have sentience and why are you here?"

    "Y-you! You never answered my question either!" ia scowled. Due to her actions, her hood fell revealing her features.

    Even in her human form, she still gave off a foxy appeal. Her slender face and sharp gray eyes, as well as her frilly teal hair; it all looked simr to her odd blend of colors in her beast form.

    "I''m a human," Apollo shrugged.

    "No, you''re not! You don''t smell the same-

    "I''m...a...human!" Apollo asserted, his eyes shining with a dangerous light. Hidden within there was a message along the lines of, ''If you can''t take a hint, I will kill you.''

    "O-oh...I see. You must just be a special human then," ia conceded, nodding in understanding, before she continued, "All of my species usually achieves sentience after Rank 4. I have a Royal Bloodline so I did so after achieving Rank 3. Unfortunately¡­ you humans...you!"

    While speaking, ia began trembling. Not only this, but frustrated tears appeared in her eyes as well, "You all murdered my family andmandeered our realm!"

    ''Oh? So she hates the human race? Interesting,'' Apollo smiled before tapping ia''s shoulder, "How much do you hate them?"

    "I hate them all. All of you revolting humans," ia snarled. Her eyes glowed with emotion. However, from Apollo''s view, he saw a stream of Sin. Furthermore, it was one his body found to be a delicacy.

    "Very well," Apollo nodded.

    For several moments, there was silence. As their gaze locked, Apollo lifted his hand and ced it on ia''s forehead. In a continuous stream, the wrath she contained flowed into Apollo. While any other sin was impossible, because of Sapphyr''s predicament, he came to understand he could absorb people''s wrath.

    However, he would have to do so carefully. The only reason he was doing so now was due to his repeated usage of those earlier Demonic Massacre Waves. Unbeknownst to him, while using them, he had almost immediately burned through Ouroboros'' reserves.

    Albeit being a Sin vessel, it appeared the amount Ouroboros could contain at the moment was minuscule at best. Fortunately, while hecked the ability to contain Sin inrge volumes, he could still absorb Sin at seemingly any level of purity. This more than made up for his shorings.

    Loud gasps could be hearding from ia as she looked at Apollo. The fact all her rage was leaving her body stupefied her, "W-what are you doing? What type of ability is this to absorb my emotions?"

    Before answering, Apollo withdrew his hand and closed his eyes. As her rage coursed through him, Apollo tried to calm down and settle the seething emotion that came along as an attachment to absorbing Sin. Only after some time did Apollo open his eyes.

    "Follow me," Apollo said. Not only did he ignore her, but he also wanted to im her as his contracted beast! Although her physical prowess was extremelycking, he saw her as an impable source of Wrath. If she were always in the presence of humans, then her rage would always be present.

    "Follow you? What makes you think I would do that? I detest all you humans," ia scoffed, showing a disgusted sneer. Moreover, a proud expression stemming from her bloodline appeared on her face. Needless to say, her disgust towards the human race deep.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s eyes shined with a menacing light, "You''re not the only one who holds detest towards them. Follow me and I will make it so youe to realize your revenge. Also, you mentioned you''re of a royal bloodline?"

    "Yes! Don''t you know about bloodlines? There are levels to them! My species carrying a royal bloodline is iparable to the likes of those beasts carrying meager ordinary bloodlines! Hmph!" ia scoffed. Apollo''sck of information surrounding this matter seemed to annoy.

    Nevertheless, it was understandable. Once one''s bloodline reached a certain height, one possessed a certain level of pride. It was simr to how a cultivator''s pride swelled when they advanced to a new realm.

    "Hoh? Tell me about them then and give me your answer. I don''t have the luxury of idling here for much longer. If you decline, then I''ll simply treat you how I deem the other beasts¡ªlike points," Apollo threatened, keeping a nonchnt tone as if this matter wasn''t something important to him in the slightest.

    "I don''t know too much about it but what I do know is I''m known as a King Beast! It means I am one of a Royal Bloodline. Beyond that would be an Emperor Beast; they possess what is known as an Imperial Bloodline. Sadly, I''m unlearned in anything beyond this. You sickening humans killed my parents before I could!" ia spat.

    "That''s outside of my concern. Now tell, what is your decision?" Apollo asked but unlike before, his tone was severe as if it was hisst time asking this question.

 Chapter 149 - An Addition

    ----

    "If I ept...can you guarantee you''ll be able to give me the chance to avenge my family? If you can...then¡ªI won''t hesitate to fulfill whatever it is you need me to do," ia stated, her resolute gaze looking into Apollo''s eyes.??

    "No," Apollo replied in a straightforward manner. While confident in himself, he didn''t have a clear grasp of the highest powers of this world. Thus, making an assumption at this point would be baseless. It was much better to leave a matter such as this for the future.

    "H-huh? Then why would I form a contract with you?" ia''s face contorted in rage. She was unable to find the meaning behind their conversation. In her eyes, it was much better if Apollo had just left her be. However, if so, how would Apollo be able to take advantage of her ardent hatred?

    "I am not finished," Apollo spoke unhurriedly. With a short pause, he continued, "I can''t guarantee that at this moment in time, but the future is an untold thing. Not only will the opportunity have a chance at presenting itself, but I should be able to give you the power needed to enact revenge on your own. Granted, for that to happen, you must take my deal."

    After hearing Apollo''s words, her protests died down, "In the future, you say. How far into the future will this be?"

    "Undetermined, but I can promise that this chance will present itself. So tell me, do you ept or not?"

    Before answering, ia looked past Apollo and gazed upon the rest of his party in the background. Compared to Apollo, she didn''t sense the feeling nor the smell he emanated. Because of this, she came to the conclusion this youth before her eyes weren''t like the rest.

    "I''ll ept but how will we form a contract? I was never taught the way nor do I understand how to go about performing the ritual," ia muttered, slowly rising to her feet.

    "I''ll handle that part," Apollo stated before forming a small Hellfire knife on his left index finger. With a focused expression, he recalled the shape of therge circle used to form a contract with Ouroboros and replicated something simr on his palm.

    After it was done, he raised his palm, cing it before ia''s forehead. Surprisingly, his arbitrary actions worked, except, an anguish-filled expression crept upon ia''s countenance.

    "W....w-what''s wrong? What is this? It hurts so bad!" ia shrieked. On top of the pain triggering her pupils to constrict, her body trembled uncontrobly. Unlike before, he was using a Demonic Method on a being that wasn''t ssified as a Demon.

    Hence, the process proceeded forth on a tangent. Two things that didn''t happen with Ouroboros took ce. On one hand, Apollo and ia forcefully interchanged a piece of their souls unknowingly. As a result, the system alerted Apollo of a change in his ability.

    ?System Alert! Due to the absorption of a foreign soul fragment, you have awakened the traits ?Mental Resistance? and ?Tainted Temple: Dark Mind??

    ''Hoh? Mental Resistance and it seems an ability of the Tainted Temple has awakened. I wasn''t expecting something like this to happen. Does this mean I can use the souls of non-Demonic beings to fuel my growth? If so, then why don''t I capitalize on this matter.''

    Now that he came to this assumption, he wanted to test if this was true. If it was, he would have found a way to elerate the growth of his Tainted Temple. After all, as he was now, his growth had decelerated. Without the sustenance of pure Demonic Anima, he was unable to break past the threshold of Lv.100.

    Not to mention, the more he thought about it, the more he felt his spection could be correct.Just like the Spirits, there seemed to be some sort of restraint ced on him. As far as this matter went, he was unsure if it was him or the system being restrained. Nevertheless, this was an answer he wouldn''te across for a long while.

    On the other hand, Apollo witnessed a brand only visible to him appear on ia''s forehead. It was simr to a ck diamond outline filled with a reversed crimson question mark symbol inside. Only once the symbol settled did the pain ia experienced settle down.

    However, within her eyes was a foreign shade of loyalty.

    ?System Alert! Your new Soul Servant ia''s contract has been sealed. She can now take ce inside your Tainted Temple. Furthermore, a mental channel unique to this type of follower has been established.?

    Upon reading the message before his eyes, Apollo nced at ia and spoke using his mind, ''Can you hear me?''

    ''Ahh! Too loud, turn it down!'' ia''s eyes showed immense amounts of pain as she clutched her head. Apparently, it would take a while for her to limate to whatever change she just experienced. But, one thing remained clear, by no means was this new master a human.

    Now that she was in a sense connected to his Tainted Temple, the aura she felting from it disturbed her. In fact, just focusing on it seemed to fill her with unbridled rage. Obviously, this was due to the traces of Ira Apollo tried to engrave on his temple.

    Despite it not beingplete, it was still more potent than the average Soul Temple.

    Although it was a foreign feeling, because Apollo created his first Soul Servant, he was guided by the system. In addition to detailing how to absorb her into his Tainted Temple, it also alerted him of another ability.

    As he turned around, his eyes shimmered with a murky light. When his party looked at his eyes, they once again felt the sensation of falling into an illusion. Except, in this case, the environment they were pulled into was influenced by the state of Apollo''s being.

    In other words, it was dreadful. Nheless, he soon canceled this illusion with a pleased expression, ''What a neat ability. It''s a shame the capacity of my Tainted Temple has already been reached with the appearance of ia. However, something tells me I can still summon one more thing.''

    "Ahem, we need to move now! Our points have taken a nosedive and I''m not just talking about our team points. It seems we were stuck in that beast''s illusion longer than I presumed," Apollo frowned, once again disconcerted with the actions of ia. Then again, if he was in her shoes, he understood where she wasing from.

    But, just because he understood this matter, didn''t mean he found it to be eptable. When the chance presented itself, he would undoubtedly make her face the consequences.

    "Wait...where did that beast go? Did you just form a contract with it? Does that mean you''re a Spirit Cultivator?" Nadida gawked. What''s more, the others carried the same expression. Even though he didn''t voice it, the actions he performed verified this im.

    In response, Apollo shrugged. Due to them falling so far behind, he didn''t spare them the chance to pry deeper into this matter, "Either keep up or I will leave you," Apollo uttered before storming off into the distance.

    Unlike before, he was now utilizing the Partial Shade Silhouette to elerate. As such, before they could protest, he had already appeared nearly 25 meters away from their initial position. With that kind of speed, it wouldn''t take long for them to lose sight of his silhouette.

    Therefore, left with no other choice, the rest of the part bit their tongue and dashed into the distance. Appallingly, as they advanced, fresh bodies littered their path. At first, with the speed Apollo was traveling, they believed he would bypass any enemies that presented themselves.

    Naturally, this turned out to be a false assumption. On top of killing them, he did it so fast the beasts'' expressions were filled with shock upon death. Unbeknownst to them, while moving forward, he was also familiarizing himself with the new Dark Mind ability.

    In his case, he didn''t possess the weakness ia did. He wasn''t limited by a frail body. All he needed was for the illusion to immobilize his opponent for a moment. In that small time frame, he delivered vicious strikes aimed solely at their most crucial vital areas.

    Obviously, the ensuing scene was the frozen Dark Beast falling in one swift manner. Equally important, due to him having absorbed ia''s wrath, he was overflowing with power that needed to be dispelled.

    ''It seems the stigmata is finally calming down. That abrupt source of energy nearly pushed it to the limit. I''ll have to be careful and monitor how much Wrath I absorb. I should only do so when it''s bottoming out,'' Apollo thought, retracting his arms from the chest cavity of another Frenzied Twilight Wolf.

    Amid his actions, something attracted his gaze. ''I sense people.''

 Chapter 150 - Plundering Points Amid The Labyrinths Restriction

    ----

    Due to the pause in his actions, Nadida and the others found the time to catch up to Apollo. However, this also meant they came in contact with what he saw. It appeared the situation inside the Dark Ruin Labyrinth was even worse than they thought.??

    "Are those teams...killing each other?" Leone nked. Right in front of them, two teams surrounded by 3rge Dark Beast carcasses remained inbat. In addition to those bodies, there were 5 more that seemed to be mangled contestants. From their current state, they couldn''t discern whether this was caused by the beast or the fight taking ce.

    "Precisely. To be honest, this is the smartest choice. By reducing thepetition, they increase their chances in the long run," Apollo nodded, finding these actions justified. Meanwhile, the others were stupefied by his words.

    "You...you don''t feel anything while witnessing this? I mean, at the end of the day, aren''t they still people?" Leone countered, his expressing carrying with it a pang of remorse for the fallen.

    "Are they my people? Why would I spare any feelings for the dead? They aren''t my issue. My main concern is reaching the end and that is all. The trail of bodies and those who perish mean nothing to me," Apollo shook his head, but continued, "However, if you take a closer look, you''d realize something."

    "What?" us blurted.

    "Take a look at the person who isn''t taking part in the fight. In his grasp are numerous identity cards that I presume belong to the opposing side''s dead members. Beyond that, he also seems to be doing something. If I''m not mistaken, then points can also be stolen from another team. In other words, this trial itself supports ruthlessness. Your childish way of thinking will only lead you into a perilous situation," Apollo said, a trace of disdain appearing on his face.

    "I-..." Leone muttered but found himself unable to retort Apollo. Upon noticing this, Nadida stepped forth, seeking to alleviate the tense atmosphere between the party. To her, it seemed as if Apollo''s leading goal was to create emotional distance with the party.

    "That''s enough Apollo, don''t you think? Don''t beat up little Leone like that," she frowned. In response, Apollo shrugged.

    Moreover, he took a step forward approaching the two parties in confrontation. Holding out his hand, he once again summoned a weapon conjured of Hellfire. Surprisingly, it once again took the shape of a scythe. It appeared to be a form he felt the mostfortable with. Even with him advancing, the other parties didn''t notice. His presence was not only concealed but his steps were soundless!

    A predatory gleam shed in his eyes, before stamping his foot with an explosive noise. Finally, because of that move, the parties were alerted. Sadly, before they could respond, Apollo had already enclosed on their position.

    "Who are you!?" one of them shouted but all they received was Apollo''s cold eyes and unsettling smile.

    "Your death," Apollo uttered. However, his target wasn''t those inbat but rather the one wielding all the identification cards. When they realized this, his team members attempted to avert their attention from their current battle.

    Needless to say, that wasn''t a smart choice. It waste, but they finally understood what Apollo''s words meant. He didn''t physically cause their death, but in that window of time their attention was vested elsewhere, the opposingnded both vicious and fatal blows.

    "Y-yo-....ugh...Heartless¡­" A dying participant uttered as their body lifelessly fell to the floor. After killing them, the other set of individuals stepped over their corpses and rushed towards Apollo who grasped all their cards.

    "I should thank you for these," Apollo chuckled, dropping the lifeless body in his hands. Although they wanted to pounce on him, the emotionless eyes peering back at them doused all thoughts of retaliation.

    "Tch¡­ what is your name? Why do you seem familiar?" one of them uttered.

    "I don''t know," Apollo responded. Soon after, he stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled. At first, they thought this was a call for back-up lurking in the distance, but they soon realized theymitted a grave mistake.

    With a casual swing of his scythe, he lobbed out the remaining 4 people''s heads. Using minimal effort, he had recovered plenty of points. After all, obtaining two new sources of points was by no means a small deal.

    (Individual Points [+2,560])

    (Team Points: [+6,300])

    (Current Team Ranking: [6,104th out of 30,136])

    (Current Individual Ranking: [2,020th out of 301,318])

    (Individual Points: [3,580] | Team Points: [8,440])

    "The fall was that great? There are over 6,000 teams ahead of us. If we factor out thoseprised of the Scions and Glories, then there are still just barely 6,000 teams. Apparently, the Nine Glories don''t ount for the talents in the Supreme Families who exist at that level. It seems to be some type of baseline that their progenies must surpass," Apollo surmised.

    As the weapon in his hands dissipated, he inspected the walls of thebyrinth. Compared to before, the area covered by moss was massive. Along the wall, it seemed the moss grew at a universal rate. Because of this, Apollo questioned what would happen if the moss reached the ground.

    Of course, this was just curiosity and not something he wished to witnesse to light. Something told him the situation would turn awry if that were to happen. Not just for the others, but for him as well. After all, if everyone was to perish and the atmosphere was filled with the likes of this moss, how would he advance?

    It hadn''t be apparent, but now that there was even more of it present, he came to realize the moss was interfering with the mental image he was forming. On the area the moss was located, the image became blurry and indiscernible. Even after focusing his undivided attention on that spot, the image wouldn''t be any clearer.

    Hence, he concluded allowing the moss to grow to that point was something that couldn''t be allowed.

    "We need to move quicker. I''m not sure how much of thisbyrinth we have covered, but we need to do so at a hastened pace. This moss'' propagation rate is elerating and my image of this ce is deteriorating. We move," Apollo warned, tossing aside the useless cards.

    "What?! Let''s move then!" Nadida eximed, rushing even before Apollo could react. However, Apollo was met with a thought. Approaching a wall, he scaled it. From their initial angle, while it was colossal, it wasn''t to the point of making one believe it was impossible to scale.

    Unfortunately, that did ring true from Apollo''s thoughts, ''Why does it feel like the walls are stretching endlessly? ording to what we saw, I should have reached the top already but..''

    As Apollo looked up, he found himself at an equidistance on the wall. Shifting his gaze from the top back to the surface, whenever he moved, the wall moved along with him. Unbeknownst to him, this wall was embedded with a defensive formation.

    In addition to confusing the senses, it liquidated part of the wall causing whoever tried to scale the wall to be unaware of them perpetually slipping down. This was another reason behind the moss, it camouged the formation beneath it. Furthermore, to perceive the formation, one''s perception and knowledge of formations would need to be quite high.

    Naturally, after multiple attempts, Apollo dismissed the idea of climbing the wall to get a bird''s eye view of thebyrinth.

    "I should have expected some measures to be put in ce to thwart us from climbing the walls. If not, that''d make the progression of the trial entirely too easy. One would virtually be able to climb above and simply transverse thebyrinth from above the walls," Apollo sighed as he flicked his finger.

    Further along in the distance, the miniature Demonic Massacre Wave came in contact with something and created an odd noise that reverberated back towards them. Just as that happened, Apollo dodged to the side.

    Shockingly enough, where he stood, arge fissure spanning for countless meters appeared. Slow, even steps were heard as a familiar face presented itself.

    "I knew I had felt that aura before. Did you detect me or did you just haphazardlyunch that move in my direction? Hmm, I don''t think thetter is the case. You should be a strong contender with your results so it''d be in my best interest not to downy your capabilities."

    ''Hoh? It''s him,'' Apollo smirked.

 Chapter 151 - Harbinger Of Unsettling News

    ----

    "Typhir, so it''s you," Apollo nodded, standing at leisure. Although this was an odd response to abative person appearing before you, Apollo had his reasons for doing so. For one, Typhir wasn''t exuding any hostile intent. While his aura always seemed ready for battle, there weren''t actually signs of him making a move. Hence, Apollo''sx reaction.??

    "Indeed, it is I, Typhir," he nodded. On his back, therge greatsword remained fixed. Not only did he not reach for it, but he also crossed his arm with an odd expression before continuing, "I am actually happy I''vee in contact with you. There are some things that I''ll need to alert you of."

    ''Hoh? Interesting, I wonder what could be so important that a Glory has sought me out. No, the better question is how did he locate my position? Was herandomly dropped nearby or was he actively seeking me out?'' Apollo mused, gazing at Typhir with a thoughtful expression.

    "Talk," Apollo uttered.

    "Oh, believe you me, I will. First and foremost, I suggest you stay on the defensive. Lazaro is looking for you. Before we entered this ce, I caught wind of not only him, but ire and Aeon plotting along with him. Their 3 families have always had close ties, so, things like this happen quite often. However, I can''t tolerate underhanded measures like that," Typhir shook his head.

    "Oh? But why have youe to forewarn me?" Apollo question. The way he saw it, Typhir was by no means a friend. Due to this, he couldn''t fathom the reason behind his actions.

    "I determine those worthy of my praise and respect based on their reaction in battle. Yes, you feel like a murderous demon in battle, but, your means are like mine. Straightforward and seeking more power. Thus, I look at you as a worthy adversary. Not to mention, I have learned of your potential," Typhir nodded in admittance.

    "I see. You said Lazaro is targeting me, how so?" Apollo inquired, taking a step near Typhir. For some odd reason, this straightforward yet brusque follow was more tolerable than anyone else he hade in contact with. Perhaps it was due to him being unaware of his own nature.

    "He is the vilest vermin of them all. He''s like a venomous viper; you can never leave your back turned towards him lest he sinks his fangs into you and leaves you paralyzed by his toxicity. ire and Aeon are in the same boat just not as extreme. Behind their gentle appearances are two conniving beings. It is not the Glories who can''t stand me, but I, who can''t stand the other Glories!" Typhir eximed with unchallenged pride.

    Surprisingly, the aura he was exuding now made even Apollo take a step back, ''This feeling¡­ even the other Glories didn''t give off this sensation. Is Typhir stronger than he lets on?''

    Nevertheless, unless Typhir showed it, Apollo wouldn''t be able to peer into his strength. It was unknown why, but even the system wasn''t generating information on Typhir. In light of this, Apollo came to his own assumption, but as they were now, they were just baseless spection unbacked by concrete evidence.

    "Before you make a move, there is more. They have looked into all of your matters. To put it differently, Lazaro is putting his specialty into y. He''ll be targeting your family members. Unfortunately, that isn''t all. The other 7 Glories have decided to move in ordance with him," Typhir stated, monitoring Apollo''s reaction before disclosing even more harrowing news.

    "That piece of information doesn''t do anything for me," Apollo shook his head. While he was quick to dismiss this, that wouldn''t be the case for long. After Typhir made him aware of an even grimmer situation, he fell silent.

    "What if I say there is somed in his clutches right now? What was their name? I believe Aaron, it was?" Typhir muttered with a trace of uncertainty in his voice.

    "You said what?" Apollo looked at Typhir with a frigid gaze. Despite doing so, it wasn''t truly meant for him. The news he received merely shocked him enough to warrant a heated response.

    "As I thought, you do possess ties. It is as I just said, they possess- Wait!" Typhir reached out, grasping Apollo''s arm. Before he could finish, Apollo had already attempted to rush forward. ording to how he gauged the Glories'' strengths, Aaron was far from a match for any of them.

    "Release my arm before you lose yours," Apollo glowered at Typhir.

    "I can''t do that. After all, I have yet to fully inform you of the situation. The team of the Great Families Glory has be an anomaly this year," Typhir stated in a severe tone. Within his eyes, there were apparent signs of disgust.

    "What...does that mean? Speak straightforwardly like you are used to," Apollo brusquely replied.

    "Okay, in simple words, they''ve be a wild team. That means¡­all 8 of them have been assigned to one team. I was initially part of the roster, but I rejected this. So tell me, how will you deal with this if you rush off without proper preparations."

    With the appearance of this information, Apollo''s rationality finally returned. If what Typhir said was true then regardless of the tactics he used, there was no way he would be able to go up against 8 opponents on par with Typhir. In fact, doing so and keeping an intact body would be a far-fetched dream.

    "What do you suppose I do? Unlike the rest, Aaron is my brother. While the others can all perish, I will look after my brother," Apollo spat, his unmoving expression locked on Typhir. Since he regained his traditional thinking, Typhir released his arm.

    "What if I say, let''s team-up. We may not be able to defeat them all but, we''ll have better chances. Yes, before you say so, this isn''t my issue but¡­ if we don''t solve this, how will we engage in battle in the future?!" Typhir erupted, his aura ring to obscene levels.

    Based on his words, the only reason he confronted Apollo was due to the fact there was a chance they wouldn''t be able to finish the battle they started earlier. To summarize, this was a battle-crazed idiot who only possesses a singr thought process. However, witnessing this scene, Apollo chuckled.

    "With your way of thinking, betraying someone seems nigh impossible. If I had to put it into words, you bond with fists. Very well, let''s team-up. Should we aplish our mission, I''ll owe you a favor," Apollo responded, ncing at Nadida.

    "Nadida, I will need your help as well. Of course, not for free. Name your price in Spirit Shards and I will pay it."

    "Hmph, is your imageof me so low? I view you as a friend. Do I need to be motivated by material gains to move for a friend? Tch, if that''s how you see me¡­" Nadida paused, her lip trembling, "I won''t forgive you."

    At this sight, Apollo''s expression became odd. He was unsure how to respond to this. While he understood camaraderie to a certain extent, he also knew that the number of people he would aid without material incentive could be counted on one hand. s, he sighed.

    "Forgive my words, I have sphemed your feelings. Nevertheless, you must realize these peers have families of great origins behind them. Are emotions really enough to warrant you endangering yourself l-

    Before Apollo could finish, Nadida interjected with a scream "Yes! Above all else, one should make sure to look out for your close allies!"

    For some time, Apollo was speechless but Typhir nodded, "You are a fine woman. I like your mindset. Your leading appeal isn''t your beauty, but your valiant heart!"

    Meanwhile, Apollo nced back at the others, "Consider our deal void. More important matters have appeared. If there is a chance toplete themter then we''ll resume progress. If not, then so be it."

    Upon leaving this message, Apollo nced at Typhir and Nadida. They didn''t exchange words, but their meaningful expressions meant one thing¡ªit was time to move.

    ''Fwoosh!''

    At speeds that eclipsed what they moved at priorly, the trio zipped through the narrowing path of the Dark Ruin Labyrinth. In this case, Apollo didn''t need to formte a mental image. Shockingly, Typhir hadmitted the path he traveled to memory.

    Obviously, there was bound to be movement on the other side. But, ording to Typhir, from whence he came, there was only one path forward. So even if the other side advanced, as long as the trio moved with haste, then it was only a matter of time before they made contact.

    During their journey, each following step caused Apollo''s eyes to grow colder. Unbeknownst to him, his Tainted Temple was being stimted. Albeit small, a faint connection was happening between his Infernal Nucleus and Tainted Temple.

 Chapter 152 - Unforeseen Challenges

    ----

    Several moments had passed since leaving their initial spot and the trio had made ample progress.??

    "Up ahead, when wee to a fork in the road, we''ll turn right. I learned the hard way that the leftward path only leads to a dead-end," Typhir warned before pausing. His memory of the path wasn''tpletely instantaneous, it required him to recall all the various paths. After all, thisbyrinth was exceedinglyrge.

    Inparison, a human''s body wouldn''t even take up one-ten thousandth of the entirety of thisyout. Nevertheless, they still moved forward rapidly.

    Uponing across the fork, the trio took the right path without any hesitation. Due to Apollo''s special trait, he was well aware of the genuine directions Typhir was guiding them with.

    However, after doing so, Typhir held out his palm, "Something isn''t right. From here¡­ it should be a straight path for over a kilometer, but, that isn''t the case right now. Not only has the path been cut in half, but there are now three paths. Could theyout of thebyrinth be changing?"

    Apollo''s countenance fell as well. He dropped to one knee, cing his hand on the ground. He was looking to see whether or not anything in his vicinity was shifting. Now that he acquired the mental resistance trait, he immediately ruled out falling victim to another illusion.

    Sure enough, after his perception burrowed far enough into the ground, he came to realize a few shifting tes underneath the ground. Additionally, theyout of the walls was shifting minutely at a set interval of 10 seconds. If one didn''t spare this ample attention, they would have been none the wiser of this fact.

    "It is as you think, this ce doesn''t conform to one setyout, it is constantly experiencing change. This meansmitting the earlier shape to memory is useless. What we need to do is return to actively sensing our surroundings and acting on that," Apollo stated with a heavy tone.

    In truth, Typhir''s way of travel was much faster than doing this because the speed he could recall the path he took was quicker than creating an immediate image. Unfortunately, they weren''t left with many options.

    "Hmm...I''ve been keeping this under wraps, but I''ll guess I''ll have to utilize it," Typhir nodded after sparing the matter some thought. His prior hazel pupil now red with a fervent blue light. So much so, even Apollo and Nadida could see it. But, Nadida''s reaction was much greater.

    Unlike Apollo, she had experienced Irauk''s teaching. Thus, she was privy to both matters and techniques Apollo wasn''t. For example, this technique Typhir was utilizing was one unique to a Spirit Cultivator. It was known as Mind''s Eyes. It allowed one to imbue their Soul Conscience into their eyes bolstering it to obscene heights.

    Of course, as with any technique, there were increasing levels of mastery. Typhir''s utilization was merely the most basic iteration of the technique. Not to mention, his control was subpar as arge volume of his spirit was being wasted instead of properly flowing into his eyes.

    Nheless, to be able to wield that technique at his young age of 16 was amendable feat. Until now, even Nadida at 18 was unable to use it properly. In fact, amongst those Irauk took in, only Adeon was able to wield this technique.

    "Hm? Those eyes, are they allowing you to see more than you typically could? If so, how much greater is it?" Apollo questioned, noticing a change in Typhir''s temperament upon activating these eyes.

    "Yes, as for the amount, it varies. Also, to be a true Glory, one must be able to utilize this technique. Even if you have high potential but can''t use this technique, then you''re not truly a Glory. All this does is link one''s Soul Conscience inside the temple to their eyes.This can also be done with the other senses but, only when you attainplete mastery can you do so to all senses simultaneously," Typhir answered, before taking a tempestuous step forward.

    A gale of dirt was kicked up by his new movement speed that surprised even Apollo. Unbeknownst to him, Typhir was now fortifying his body with a special flow of Natural Essence unique to this family. As Apollo assumed when he first met Typhir, his family¡ªthe Estrada lead the way in Body Cultivation.

    Even the Supreme Families paled inparison when it came to the matters pertaining to the body. What''s more, the Supremes often sought guidance from Typhir''s grandfather to find special ways to meld both Spiritual and Natural Essence together to fortify the body.

    Sadly, that was something easier said than done. Tobine both entities into one required a specific bnce that had yet to be seen.

    Naturally, Apollo couldn''t let Typhir speed ahead by his lonesome. As he was about to elerate, he paused, ncing back at Nadida. Since his identity as a "Spirit Cultivator" was revealed, he spoke up, "I suggest you utilize some of your Zul Knight cultivation base to keep up. We''ll be trying to beat thebyrinth before more changes can ur."

    Just as he left this message, Apollo zoomed forward, kicking up his own sizable cloud of dust. Soon enough, he caught up side by side with Typhir by utilizing his Partial Shade Silhouette at maximum capacity. Luckily, the consumption peaked at 1 unit of Demonic Anima per second. In other words, he could use his top speed for 3,000 seconds before he was void of energy in this space.

    "Did you clear all the monsters here?" Apollo asked. Now that he took a look, he came to realize there was no prey to provide points left on this route.

    "Of course, I need points as well. But, keep in mind, I didn''t travel far on this path and this isn''t thepletely same path. After I sensed you, I proceeded in your direction instead of advancing. So, there should still be a fair share of beasts for you to y," Typhir nodded.

    Behind them, Nadida gazed at their back with apetitive expression, ''You two aren''t the only one who is fast.''

    Under her feet, small springs of the Wind Element formed. However, that wasn''t all. Crackles of lightning assaulted her legs. With her next step, a small sonic boom sounds. By infusing her limbs with dual speed augmenting attributes, she increased her speed to their leagues. Just, her expression wasn''t asx as theirs.

    There was a certain amount of pain that came along with utilizing techniques in this manner. Hence, why it wasn''t rmended to do so unless one''s body reached at least the Zul Knight standard. Even a Zul Warrior only wielded their essence through weapons.

    Seldom did cultivators under that standard use their bodies. The strength of the elements that made up Natural Essence was not to be underestimated, lest they provoke unforeseen damage to their bodies.

    While advancing, both Typhir''s and Apollo''s ear twitched. The sounds of shing entered their ears but it didn''t appear to be any beast involved. Based on the signatures of the fluctuations, the energy colliding together came from humans.

    "Do you think it''s them?" Apollo asked.

    "No, the fluctuations are too weak. Even if the Glories hold back, the fluctuation still possesses a certain vibe. In these shes, they arecking," Typhir responded.

    But, as they came closer, Apollo squinted. He recognized two of the auras present. In fact, he had spent some time with both of them. ''One of them is Xineen but the other...what is her name? Violeta, I believe?'' Apollo thought inwardly.

    ----

    Meanwhile, on the other side,

    "Y-youu! Why did you target my party? You could have advanced without ruthlessly attacking up," Xineen scowled, dropping to one knee. Despite putting up a prolonged defense, her reserves were running out. Under the assault of Violeta''s attacks, she was forced to exhaust herself.

    "Heh, you already know of the feud between the Kaiser and Shaanti, why ask such a silly question? To see you fail is in my best interest," Violeta chuckled, summoning a dark purple orb in her hand.

    As she held in before her, thin whipsshed at Xineen who defended with her damaged sword. Inside Violeta''s attacks seemed to be a corrosive aura that continuously weathered Xineen''s de.

    "Don''t you think you should just give up and ept your fate? You''re the only one left standing in your party. At this point, entering an academy is simply a pipe dream. You should just die!"

    "N-no! The Grand Elder has asked us to enter an academy and he has treated us well. I will not let my family down," Xineen retorted, a desperate aura exuding from her body. But, in return, Violeta presented a cruel smile. In her other hand, she conjured an even stronger dark orb.

    However, when she unleashed it, her eyes widened. It was deflected with ease as a silhouette appeared before her very eyes.

 Chapter 153 - A Controlled Mind

    ----

    "Haiz, I didn''t want to appear, but I have epted Kayn''s promise, therefore, I must abide by my words," Apollo uttered while ncing behind him at Xineen. He didn''t pay much attention to Violeta in front of him. From what he saw, he could tell Xineen was on herst straits.??

    If he hadn''t intervened, hatst attack Violetaunched would have most likely killed her.

    "A-Apollo! Thank you¡­" Xineen said, giving a weakened nod. In her eyes was immense gratitude. Although she put up a strong front, she was truly scared. She understood she wasn''t Violeta''s match. Throughout the whole ordeal, she prayed someone woulde to her aid.

    "There is no need for thanks, it is simply within the description of what I signed up for," Apollo shrugged. At the same time, Typhir appeared, taking a look at the scene. When his eyes fell on Violeta, a trace of disgust entered his eyes.

    ''This disgusting wench gives me the same vibe as ire. She is no good,'' Typhir surmised, shaking his head.

    Subsequently, he approached Xineen. Based on what he saw, he understood there was some rtion between Apollo and this girl. So, he offered his assistance, "Take this pill and recover some of your energy. You''re at a level that''ll damage your body. If you''ve never run out of reserves, it''s no surprise you''d be oblivious to this fact."

    However, Xineen was hesitant. This unfamiliar face was handing her a strange pill. How did she know it wasn''t poisoned? s, Apollo interjected, "It''s okay to take, he is trustworthy."

    On the other hand, Violeta didn''t appreciate the fact she was being ignored. She was being treated as if she was air, "Hello, don''t you see me standing here? Also, that gir- Oh wait, did she say, Apollo? Aren''t you the boy I''m looking for," Violeta giggled.

    Now that she realized who Apollo was, she took a step forth with a half-coquettish aura. She walked with a sway of her hips towards Apollo, however, once again, Typhir stepped forth but this time with a hostile posture.

    With his hand ced on the hilt of his de, he peered at Violeta, "I advise you to take a step back, distasteful woman. I can tell from your aura there is nothing good about you. I suggest you leave this ce before it bes your grave," Typhir threatened.

    For a moment, her expression fell but quickly recovered, "Oh? I don''t have any business with you, what I want is him. You wouldn''te between him and me, now would you?"

    As Violeta spoke, a pinkish gleam flowed from her eyes. Like her aunt, she was using the Carnal Eyes of Bewitchment to sway Typhir. Although it could be used on the same sex, if their orientation wasn''t obscure, then it wouldn''t be as effective as it was on the opposite sex.

    At first, it seemed Typhir was unaffected but then something changed. Despite having an unfavorable opinion of the girl before him, he couldn''t deny the state of her body. While her curves weren''t the best he had seen, they were still pleasant to the eye.

    Not to mention, even though he was a Spirit Cultivator, his mind wasn''t exactly his strong suit. Hence, unsurprisingly, he stepped aside allowing her to proceed toward Apollo.

    ''This technique is just as Aunty said. If you dress in a way that stimtes the lust of the opposite sex, then the chances of hypnosis increase drastically. This young man has a strong aura yet he still fell victim to my bewitchment. I like this feeling of power; of dominance,'' Violeta smirked, licking her lips in an unsettling manner.

    Meanwhile, Apollo spared her a fleeting nce. Although he wasn''t very amused by the situation at hand, he was surprised to find someone of Typhir''s stature stuck in what seemed to be an emotional haze. Unlike an illusion technique, the ocr technique Violeta allowed the one affected to retain their senses, however, their mind would fall under their control.

    Therefore, instead of an illusion technique, this was more along the lines of mind control. Additionally, it was one that preyed on the emotions of the victim. As such, it wasn''t a very easy situation to remedy nor was it easy to avoid. There was only one way to do so¡ªto be emotionless.

    Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. To be human was to be a creature of emotion. A good example of this was Typhir''s current situation. His hand previously grasping his de fell to his side. Afterward, he looked at Violeta with both a subservient as well as lustful gaze.

    "Madam, what is it you need me to do? After I do so, you will reward me right?" Typhir questioned, locking his sights on Violeta''s body. Under the control of the technique, even his speech patterns changed.

    ''Hoh? Very interesting, his aura seems to have turned irregr. It has reached a point that even my Tainted Temple finds satisfactory. I should look into this matter further,'' Apollo thought, ncing at the subtle actions between Typhir and Violeta.

    "Yes, do me a favor and seize that boy. Once you finish that task, I will reward you handsomely," Violeta gave a coquettish giggle, unting her feminine appeal.

    "Consider this matter aplished," Typhir answered with a confident smile. As he turned and met Apollo''s gaze, he unsheathed his sword, before continuing, "I suggest you surrender for my mistress, lest I lob off those limbs of yours. That way, your escape will be sealed!''

    In response, Apollo remained silent, pushing Xineen behind him. ''I don''t have time to deal with this...it''s a waste of time.'' Apollo thought, signs of aggravation appearing on his features. The whole point of himing here was to fulfill hismissioned task and continue on his journey.

    This current situation was far outside his estimation. When it came to the information of his peers and their techniques, he was more thancking. Before he left, he should have sought information from Kayn to make ample preparations for an ordeal like this. After all, while stronger than he was before, he wasn''t impervious.

    "No, I suggest you lower your weapon and break free from her grasp. Is your mind so weak that a subpar female can control it with a trivial technique? If so, you''re a letdown," Apollo retorted with vicious words.

    As a result, Typhir''s aura seethed. Immediately after, he dashed forth at an incredible speed. However, Apollo responded in kind, sprinting towards him as well. But, as far as Apollo''s actions went, while moving forward, subtle signs of the Dark Mind technique festered in his eyes.

    If her mental technique was capable of affecting Typhir, then in his eyes, so could his. Regrettably, there was a conflict. Not only did his attempts fail, it only served to further incense Typhir.

    He rose his greatsword and performed a horizontal sh that caused a distortion in the atmosphere. Even though it was a simple physical force, it was so great it caused this phenomenon. Upon witnessing this, Apollo crossed his arms before his body, absorbing the blow.

    Although he retreated a few steps as a result and lost some feeling in his arms, Apollo stamped his foot, advancing once again.

    "Stand down. Don''t needlessly throw away your life. You can''t defeat me," Typhir bellowed. In light of his changing pressure, strange markings appeared across his arm. Once again, he swung his sword, but this time, a thunderous sound rang in everyone''s ears. An eerie silence followed after albeit only for a moment.

    The thick obstructive cloud formed by his attack was cut in half. Behind it, an infuriated Apollo stood. Much like him, strange markings originating from Apollo''s heart stretched down his arm. Furthermore, his eyes ckened instead of turning a deeper shade of purple.

    In addition to this, if one looked closely, they''d realize Apollo''s arms experiencing unsettling growths. A guttural voice escaped his lips, "Since you can''t solve this situation on your own, allow me to pummel some sense into you."

    ''Fwoosh!''

    An afterimage was left in ce of Apollo''s previous position upon making his move. An instantter, a harrowing explosive sound resounded followed by an obscenelyrge formed in the ground but a shocking scene remained inside it.

    Different from what Apollo expected, Typhir didn''t just remain standing after that blow, hepletely blocked Apollo''s powerful blow fueled by Hellfire. Around his de was an obscure aura that seemed both formless and rigid!

    "To think you''d make me wield my Intent...you shouldn''t have done that," Typhir uttered with a daunting smirk.

    ''BOOM!''

 Chapter 154 - The Terror Known As Apollo

    ----

    After Typhir smirked, he barely moved his shoulder but thepiled boosts to his strength caused it to enter a nonsensical realm. That small action caused Apollo to m into the parallelbyrinth wall over 20 meters away! However, Typhir was far from done.??

    He didn''t give Apollo the chance to take a breather at all. Less than a secondter, he appeared before Apollo, striking his greatsword 3 times. But, while those strikes seemed to be in, they followed a connected path. No matter which way Apollo sought to respond, all paths of escape had been cut off.

    In other words, the only to deal with the current situation was to face it head-on and triumph over it. Sadly, with Typhir''s current state that was easier said than done. Now that Apollo had engaged inbat with him, the information the system previously withheld now became apparent.

    Not only was Typhir a glorified Zul Knight, but he was also far along the path.

    Name: Typhir

    Age: 16

    Cultivation: Rank 4 Zul Knight

    Zuls: 14,700

    Strength:---

    .

    .

    .

    ''These stats¡­ they''re so inted! It appears in our previous battle, he was holding back more than I presumed,'' Apollo thought, widening his eyes with shock. Left with no other choice, Apollo defended against the three strikes. The bacsh of receiving them, however, caused Apollo to cough copious amounts of blood.

    "As I said, you''ll be unable to win against me. Concede and be subservient to my mistress!" Typhir stated in a domineering tone. After Apollo coughed up blood, Typhir didn''t press him further.

    Presumably, Apollo''s demeanor wasn''t one that would yield in circumstances like this. Firstly, this situation was unnatural. To deal with it, he had thoughts of dealing with Violeta. That way, he could continue without annoyances popping up and inhibiting his progress.

    Secondly, the Infernal Ira Stigmata was escaping his control. But, this wasn''t something he wished to happen right now. For now, it was only a gut feeling, but something told him his every action was under the purview of all those who remained outside of this space.

    Regardless of whether or not this was true, another matter of even more dire circumstance remained¡ªhe was unaware of how the people would take to him transforming into something the world had never seen before.

    Albeit only once, when he became a Lesser Demon, the transform catapulted him into a state far beyond the limits of a normal cultivator. While the exact increase was unknown due to the circumstances he changed under, it would definitely be a gamechanger.

    However, one must remember, his vitality was still damaged. This wasn''t the vitality of his body but rather the unstable vitality of his Infernal Nucleus.

    ''Calm down...calm down,'' Apollo repeated in his mind, trying to coerce his stigmata to cease its actions. Unfortunately, Typhir''s strike did more damage than he thought. Thus, Apollo found himself left with no other choice.

    "Don''t me me for being ruthless, me your inability to challenge your current state," Apollo said in a solemn tone before retreating far away. Amid doing so, he channeled his Demonic Anima into a strike he had only used once before.

    Despite possessing Demonic Anima, he still wasn''t sure if he shouldunch this attack. This was due to the fact the system had yet to generate information on the Second Annihtion. Besides the name of it, there was no other information about this technique. Not to mention, thest time he used this technique, it nearly tore him apart.

    Granted, he was still a Demi-human at that point, but it had to be known, the Annihtions were not techniques meant to be learned at this stage. Usually, a Demon of suitable strength would attempt to learn it only when they were capable of using it more than once without falling to their knee.

    In light of this, Apollo wasn''t sure if he reached that standard. Moreover, Azridan had left him a warning¡ªnot to use that second annihtion unless in a dire situation. Thus, the question remained¡ªwas this a perilous situation?

    He ruminated over this matter for a short moment beforeing to his decision. It wasn''t the time to second guess. The longer he idled here, the greater the chances of Aaron''s facing grave danger. s, dropping his stance, Apollo conjured another Hellfire Scythe.

    Except, this one wasn''tplete. As soon as it was summoned, it started vibrating and disfiguring from the overbearing energy Apollo forced into it. The space trembled but stilled soon after. The effect of this technique was absurd, to say the least.

    When the fluctuations reached Typhir''s senses, an rm rang in his mind, "What are you doing? Cease your actions, you may damage the mistress," he roared.

    Obviously, Apollo paid no heed to his words. His mind was made up surrounding this matter, and only one thing would change it¡ªTyphir breaking free from the clutches of Violeta''s technique. Regrettably, this didn''t seem to be a usible desire. The shroud of emotion covering his mind was still very much and potent nheless.

    Even Nadida fell victim to his assault upon trying to get close. Due to this, Apollo had her remain in the background with Xineen. At the same time, once his aura climbed to its peak, he took a step and made his move.

    Likewise, Typhir did the same. It wasn''t the time to be passive, he''d need to confront this attack head-on. Unknown to him though, Apollo concealed his back-up n in the event this one failed to present what he was looking for.

    "Second Annihtion: Nether Severance," Apollo uttered. A singr wave of energy possessing an abundance of devouring properties billowed forward in search of Typhir.

    On the other hand, Typhir tightened his grip on his sword, vibrant runes illuminating it. Meeting the attack, he uttered arge battle cry. Upon contact, a sonorous screech resounded for at least 3 seconds. The disorienting noise not only affected them but Violeta as well.

    To deal with it, she closed her eyes. But, that was a blunder and a rookie mistake. A stiption behind the connection between her technique and victim was that it required her sights to remain on them at all times. Of course, there was a workaround, but different from the rest, she had yet to touch upon the exalted practice known as Spirit Cultivation.

    Needless to say, her control of Typhir was severed. Sadly, the damage was done and Apollo didn''t take any chances. Before Typhir could recover from the collision of their attacks, Apollo appeared with a fist bathe in Hellfire.

    ''Bang!''

    Without hesitation, Apollo threw a relentless punch aimed at Typhir''s forehead. Simr to his earlier predicament, Typhir was both unconscious and imnted deep into the otherbyrinth''s wall.

    ''As I thought¡­ that strike is still abominable,'' Apollo thought, gasping for air. That single strike has cost over ? of his Demonic Anima reserves but that wasn''t the most shocking part. When he utilized it, there was a small barrier around the technique restricting him from using itsplete power.

    Unbeknownst to him, now that the system leveled up, it was capable of putting failsafe measures in ce. In the event that an attack he was wielding was beyond his capabilities, it would step in.

    Due to the bizarre consumption, Apollo fell to one knee. Trying to gather himself after arge drain like that was easier said than done.

    All ofa sudden, there was movement, Violeta appeared before Apollo with a cynical smile and sinister gleam in her eye. Once again, she activated her Carnal Eyes of Bewitchment. Though, unlike before, she imbued it with everyst ounce of lust she could muster.

    "You''ll be mine and you''ll be none the wiser. That other guy may have been strong, but he isn''t quite the looker as you are. Plus, my aunt has tasked me to do this. That way, I can milk my family even more," Violeta uttered, following up with maniacalughter.

    However, midway through she paused. Something felt off; when she used this technique, there was supposed to be a faint link between her and the victim. Yet, there was no such link in her mind.

    In fact, dark thoughts and scenes of her harrowing murder submerged her mind. The more she looked at these scenes, the more terrified she became. The worst part was even after trying to cancel her technique it wouldn''t work!

    "N-not human...w-what is this. What are you? Don''te near me," Violeta stammered in panic as she retreated.

    Meanwhile, Apollo lifted his head gazing into her eyes, "Correct, I''m not a human but you are and you''ve been deemed malicious," he smiled, rising to his feet.

    "May you learn in the afterlife," Apollo stated in a in tone.

 Chapter 155 - Death To Advance

    ----

    With an unhurried gait, Apollo approached the paralyzed Violeta. Each subsequent step caused her heart to palpitate. For some odd reason, they were reminiscent of beating drums in her ear. On the other hand, she couldn''t understand why she felt like this.??

    "W-what is this pressure? What are you? You can''t be a human¡­ what vile tactics have you unsightly Kaiser''s taken part in!? Stay away from me, I''ll report you to the academies," Violeta mumbled, taking steps in retreat.

    Unfortunately, her actions were futile. After just a few steps, she was backed into a wall with no path for retreat. But, Apollo continued to look at her with an almost vacant gaze. Her expression filled with despair as her mind traveled to dark ces.

    "You talk too much, shut up. Where is that haughty attitude from earlier? Why don''t you bring it back? Or, better yet, why don''t you beg for your meaningless life as I pry it away from you," Apollo uttered with a dark chuckle.

    A few stepster, he stood before her. In response, the atmosphere turned silent. Regardless of what she did, the look in his eyes told Violeta that the following situation wouldn''t turn out well. After all, the Dark Mind ability was still active and coercing her thoughts.

    Apollo lifted his arm and clutched her jaw, lifting her up. Surprisingly, he didn''t act quickly; other thoughts entered his mind while gazing at her, ''That''s right, the mission requires me to advance in Demonic Conduct and a prime candidate for that exists before me, so, let''s take advantage. I''ll be with you shortly Aaron, in the meantime, I need to solidify my path to power.''

    Aftering to terms with what needed to be down, a dark vortex formed in Apollo''s right eye. As their two gazes met, Violeta who was stricken with fear, froze on the spot whereas her expression became nk.

    Once she fell deep enough, Apollo released his grasp and watched his technique do its damage. On the floor, she both writhed and tossed back and forth. Furthermore, prolonged screams of terror sounded from her.

    Both Nadida and Xineen were appalled by the situation taking ce. Although they didn''t see Apollo do anything to her, they understood he had afflicted her with something causing obscene amounts of mental pain.

    As a result, Nadida approached him, "A-Apollo...what''d you do to her? It sounds like someone is torturing her heartlessly. I''ve never heard such bloody screams before."

    "Well, she likes to y with mental techniques, so I let her have a taste of her own medicine. Right now, she should be experiencing her darkest fears in a loop. My only gripe with this situation, however, is that I''m not proficient enough in my technique to witness it firsthand," Apollo answered, shocking Nadida.

    "Y-you...is her pain pleasurable for you? I know that she is in the wrong, but to obtain pleasure from this situation is-...

    "Disturbing? Is that the word you''re looking for? Unfortunately, Nadida, I''m not an individual looking for the world to ept," Apollo uttered, turning back toward Nadida with vacant eyes.

    That emotionless look, as if life was a triviality to him, made Nadida shudder. In light of this, she could only wonder what Apollo experienced to warp his mind like this. In her eyes, he was far too young to have such a cynical outlook on life.

    Naturally, she wasn''t aware of the aftereffects of techniques nor could she fathom the torture he was put through in both lifetimes. Each of these things added together gave birth to what she witnessed now¡ªthis malevolent youth before her.

    Luckily, the one''s outside the spatial barrier of this area were unable to peer into the fluctuations of energy. In other words, while they were able to look inside and monitor the images, they were unable to sense the different qualities in energy.

    Hence, in their eyes, it just appeared Apollo''s means were more overbearing than the rest. They didn''t liken it to being from another world altogether. If they did, then perhaps there was a chance the trial would be halted at this very moment¡ªif that was possible, of course.

    "A-aggh! Stop¡­ stop! Don''t you know who I am? You can''t kill me. I am destined to be great. No, no, you must grovel at my feet and kiss them, what are you all doing?" Violeta screeched, clutching her head. As she rolled back and forth, a shade of despair filled her eyes further. It appeared her mind was on the brink of copse.

    Without the Soul Temple to assist her in defending against mental attacks like the one Apollo was using, she was akin to a sitting duck. On the other hand, Nadida conjured a wind de in the attempt to end her suffering, however, she was met with Apollo''s murderous gaze.

    "Intervene and you''ll suffer the same fate," Apollo stated in a distorted voice, one dripping with unconcealed malice.

    Nadida quivered, looking between Apollo and Violeta multiple times. She didn''t understand what was wrong or even why she was being threatened as well. All she sought to do was help Apollo retain his human heart, but it seemed he didn''t want that. "Y-you¡­"

    Once again, Apollo ignored Nadida and picked Violeta up by the throat, mming her into the wall. Before doing so, he disabled his technique and spoke to a conscious Violeta, "You like taking advantage of your gender, don''t you?"

    "I-I''m sorry¡­ I''m...really sorry," Violeta muttered powerlessly, wrapping her hands around Apollo''s wrist. She tried to pry his grip away from her neck but it was all useless, "P-please release me. I won''t try to fulfill my aunt''s desires anymore. I promise!"

    "Do you know that your words are easily seen through? Like Typhir said earlier, you''re deceitful. Even now, in the threat of death, you''re scheming. You think I''ll release you and then you''ll find a way to get back at me? Oh, you even harbor thoughts of trying the mental technique again to see if the first try was a fluke?"

    "H-how...Wait...I mean no, that isn''t true!" Violeta denied. Sadly, she wasn''t aware of the fact Apollo was sensitive to those types of feelings and thoughts. s, once again, he put her under the effects of the Dark Mind.

    Tears rolled from her eyes as her pupil constricted to the size of needles. The repeated cycle of her death and being ravaged by her controlled subordinate plunged her into madness. In fact, it escted to the point that she released bodily fluid.

    The unsightly scene caused Nadida to cover her mouth. Fortunately, as Apollo was growing impatient, the notification that followed was akin to a hymn in his ears.

    ?System Alert! An additional victim to the Tortuous Path of Demonic Conduct has been added. [Current Stage Two: 7/10]?

    Due to him havingpleted what he sought to do, Apollo snapped her neck and put an end to her suffering. Just like that, another existence fell under his clutches. At the same time, Nadida hunched over, vomiting at this sight. She couldn''t get over witnessing such cold-blooded murder.

    "We move," Apollo stated, brushing off the matter. However, before he left, he approached Typhir, "Wake up, I know you aren''t unconscious anymore. Stop faking before I give you another blow that will make it a reality."

    Upon hearing these words, Typhir smiled and opened his eyes, "Ruthless is what you are. I like it. We go! Thank goodness for getting rid of that distasteful woman. But, weren''t your means a little...deranged?"

    "It doesn''t matter," Apollo shrugged. Whether or not they thought his means were overboard, this didn''t matter to him. The only thing that mattered was the system upgraded and him taking one step closer to achieving power. The bodies left in his wake, foes damaged by his actions, future destroyed by his means¡ªit didn''t deter him from continuing down his own road.

    "D-did something happen to Apollo recently, sister? Why is he like this? I know was cold to the family before, but...he feels detached now," Xineen uttered to Nadida following along.

    "I...don''t know," Nadida answered.

    Meanwhile, Apollo continued to advance down the constantly altering path. Thankfully, both he and Typhir were one step ahead of the changes of the path. Although they came in contact with other parties, they paid these side characters no mind. Enough time had been lost dealing with the encounter between Xineen and Violeta.

    The travels fell silent as there wasn''t much to talk about. Besides, the atmosphere wasn''t exactly one that weed lighthearted talking. By the second, the aura Apollo exuded worsened. Furthermore, his left hand continually clutched his chest at the site of searing pain.

    It wasn''t from absorbing Sin but from uncontrolled emotion. His calm face was a facade that disguised a festering rage. One potent enough to affect the suppression imprint on his stigmata.

    However, it wasn''t without reason. Deep down their current path, the worst of his worries wereing to light. Not only had Apolloe in contact with Lazaro, but there were also even more people implicated in the matter.

    Unbeknownst to all those present, the situation was spiraling out of control at the hand of 3 neers. Surprisingly, only one of the 3 was unfamiliar but they seemed to harbor a grudge.

 Chapter 156 - Insignificant In The Eyes Of Others

    ----

    Repeated shes were heard, however, one could be found kneeling as he held his own against the continuous blows of his foe. Surprisingly, his adversary didn''t appear to target him for his identification at all. No, it appeared to be much deeper, as if there was unmentioned animosity between the two.??

    "W-who are you? I don''t know you and have already offered to give up my points to you, yet you don''t answer. So, tell me, why do you target me alone? What about the others in the party," Aaron questioned while lifting his sword to parry an iing blow.

    Shockingly, rather than a sessful block, he was blown into the wall, gasping for breath. Yet, while his body looked to be in shambles, his grasp around his weapon didn''t loosen in the slightest. In fact, it tightened as a focused expression appeared on his face.

    ''This entire time this person has yet to utter a word. But, even then, I get this feeling of familiarity when I look at him despite never havinge in contact with him. What is this feeling then?'' Aaron thought while extricating himself from the wall. Luckily, prior to mming into the wall, he took precautions.

    Before impact, he turned his body in a way that allowed him to avoid the growing moss. While he didn''t possess superior senses to find out what they were, a sixth sense gave him a feeling that it was dangerous to make contact with it.

    In light of this, his moves grew even more meticulous. Essentially, after he took abat stance, he didn''t make another move.

    "You use the sword, it is a shameful weapon. With your origins, the proper weapon is a spear," finally uttered the adversary. Upon mentioning this, golden runes illuminated the shaft of his majestic yet seemingly iplete spear.

    In response, Aaron tried to gather the minimal Natural Essence needed to defend. But, even then, something told him not to defend. Due to this thought, he acted quickly by shifting his feet and performing a half-circle step.

    Fortunately, it was enough to dodge a relentless beam of spear intent. However, this wasn''t a one and done confrontation. The spear wielder immediately followed up with a precise thrust.

    At this point, the only thing on Aaron''s mind was retaliation. Thus, he stabbed his sword to meet the tip of the spear. When they collided, whereas Aaron was forced back over 10 meters, his opponent remained standing with zero signs of contact.

    "The bloodline runs through you, yet you''re a disappointment. Who are you? This impurity flowing through your veins is repugnant. If your bloodline was of a Great Family, it would be eptable, but you smell of inferiority. So, whose offspring are you? Shall I take matters into my hands and extinguish all traces of the Dongguang from you."

    "I''m unable to answer you. The only thing I know is that I''m a Kaiser. Furthermore, I''m unfamiliar with what a Dongguang is. How about you introduce yourself," Aaron muttered, cing a second hand on his word.

    Normally, he would wield his sword with one hand. However, this person before him was someone he couldn''t afford to take lightly. Let alone two hands, Aaron felt even six would be far from enough. Not to mention, throughout this whole ordeal, he felt this foe was holding back.

    "The fact you are unaware of my identity goes to show youck upbringing as well as background; Kaisers? This name feels oddly familiar but I''m unable to recall where I''ve heard it. Nevertheless, I am Aran Dongguang, the First Scion¡ªthe Scion of the Spear," Aran responded with a in tone.

    Meanwhile, Aaron fell into contemtion. He thought about the words the old man said to them before opening the gates. ''The Scions have entered the mix but that doesn''t exin why I''ve been targeted. Not to mention, he keeps mentioning bloodline. Is there something I''m overlooking here?''

    "Dongguang, is that...one of the 3 Supreme Families?" Aaron questioned. Unintentionally, his eyes continued to fall on the spear. For some odd reason, he felt a small resonance within him. Furthermore, it was stronger than when he used the sword.

    Unbeknownst to him, the Dongguangs only wielded spears. Due to this fact, they wereuded as the children blessed by the spear. With it in tow, their advance was nigh unstoppable; only moving forward, never to retreat.

    "Correct, it is good to know you''re brain isn''tpletely useless. We are part of the Dongguang Family. Now, I''ll ask you again; whose offspring are you and why do you carry our bloodline?" Aran questioned in a more forceful tone. Additionally, a formless pressure released from his body, baring down on Aaron.

    When he felt this, Aaron gauged even Kayn''s pressure when riled up paled inparison. This spoke volumes of the young man''s power before him. It had to be known, Kayn was a glorified Zul General. At that level, one was capable of doing extraordinary things.

    Yet, albeit not reaching that level, the pressure Aran exuded felt on par with such an expert. To witness this was a mind-boggling development. Nevertheless, just because the opponent seemed insurmountable, it didn''t deter Aaron. On the contrary, this pressure made him desire to reach that level.

    "Hoh? The indomitable spirit of the Dongguang is present and it is pure. Interesting. Now I would like to know your predecessor even more. Such a pure indomitable spirit isn''t something that is learned; it must be possessed innately," Aran praised but disappeared soon after.

    Unable to track his movements, Aaron tensed. At the same time, he felt for the change in air direction to hint at the position of Aran. Sadly, such a thing didn''t happen. The aura Aran encased himself in was like a spear.

    In other shifts, he didn''t disce air upon moving, he pierced it! Using a linear path, he appeared before Aaron''s eyes at an incredible speed. With a sharp thrust, he pierced Apollo''s shoulder pinning him to the wall.

    "Utilization of senses, Natural Essence, and beyond is all garbage. You need to do better if you wish to be one of us. There is arge potential in you, yet it is untapped. Even you, the owner of this body, are unaware of it. Should I perhaps put you through a hellish experience to draw it out? However, I wonder, what would happen faster; you tapping into that potential or your death?" Aran stated in a tone that came off as rhetorical.

    "You keep mentioning the Dongguang. Are you insinuating that I''m one of them?" Aaron asked, gripping the shaft of the spear. Shockingly, when he did so, a searing pain appeared on his palm. The spear rejected his touch!

    Aran shook his head with disdain apparent in his eyes, "I wouldn''t advise you to do that. This isn''t the typical weapon¡ªit chooses its wielder. Those unworthy will incite the ire of this spear that even I am unable to control. After all, Baldur is a Spirit passed down in the family. Only the sessor can wield it."

    Upon hearing this, Aaron''s eyes widened. He had never heard of a Spirit that could be passed down much less a weapon spirit. "Are you saying that''s your Spirit?"

    "No, this is not my true Spirit; it''s the family''s spirit. My Spirit has yet to require me to summon it. Although, they are connected since they share the same name," Aran answered but shrugged soon after, "Now, let''s quell my curiosity and find out the answer to my thoughts."

    An instantter, his spear retracted and stabbed into Aaron''s other shoulder. Naturally, an expression of pain appeared. As he sucked in a sharp breath, another strike found his way on his body.

    "U-ugh...why do you do this? Simple curiosity? Are you that bored that you''ll go to such lengths to antagonize me?" Aaron muttered through clenched teeth.

    "I have told you before, the offspring of the Dongguang can''t be weak. You haven''t even reached the level of a Glory; how unsightly you are. So, in ordance, I must awaken our traits in you to make you stronger. If you are to die in the process then you are not worthy," Aran said.

    To an outsider, his logic might sound nonsensical. However, this sight was in fact how many of the youths of a Supreme Family was trained and/or awakened. An older member inflicted damage upon to the point of madness.

    Despite being extreme, it''s sess need not be mentioned. After all, the Supremes are who remained in power.

    Thus, this repeated over and over. In the meantime, Lazaro, ire, and Aeon stood back watching this matter take ce. Not only would they not dare confront a Scion, but this was also what they were going to do anyway. It was like watching a parentplete your homework without lifting a finger.

    Regrettably, they were unaware of the unstable storm fast approaching.

 Chapter 157 - Wrath Sundering The Skies (I)

    ----

    Several momentster,??

    "I thought our families were ruthless but this type of training...it''s ungodly," ir muttered, holding her mouth in shock. At this point, not only was Aaron''s torso riddled with holes, Aran looked at him as if this was a natural sight to behold.

    "It''s not our ce toment on their tactics. If they were subpar, the Supreme Families would have long since abandoned them. Furthermore, don''t forget they possess special bloodlines stemming from extremely powerful ancestors," Aeon stated, his eyes unmoving from the spectacle before him.

    For some reason, this talk sparked something inside Lazaro, "Hm, my family will be the 4th Supreme Family. Once my grandfather breaks through, he''ll achieve the level required to sit on the same throne. At the same time, his Spirit will achieve the ability to imbue part of its power into its weapon and deem it a Lineage Spirit."

    "Hm? Is that the weapon in Aran''s hand? Is that why it has an odd fluctuation to it? It appeared to absorb both Natural Essence and Spiritual Essence from Aran," iremented while focusing on the spear.

    "Correct, that''s created by what is known as a Legendary Spirit. One can only be one of those after experiencing the liberation of a Heroic Spirit. Sadly, only one Spirit has reached that level through natural means," Lazaro stated with a frown.

    However, the others didn''t pry into this matter. Despite all hailing from a Great Family, even then there was a divide in what was known and what matters could be spoken about. If one mentioned the wrong thing, then there was a chance of provoking someone of higher stature.

    Meanwhile, Aran continued to shake his head with disappointment. 47 times¡ªthis was how many times until now he had thrust his spear into Aaron. Granted, many of the strikes were on the same precise location, so there were no more than 5 holes on his body. However, while the number was small, the size was far from it.

    Each subsequent thrust caused the wound to expand. Not to mention, with the precision of each blow and the urate use of strength, Aran only increased the puncture by 1-centimeter with each strike.

    Of course, doing so put Aaron through a world of pain. At first, one would believe being attacked on the same spot would lessen the pain, but that was far from the truth in this case. Due to the state of his injuries, Aaron swore the pain was superimposing.

    Additionally, there was another thing being overlooked¡ªeach strike appeared to fall right next to a major meridian. To put it differently, the slightest slip up could lead to an unfortunate series of events happening to Aaron.

    Be that as it may, Aran was not worried about this matter in the slightest. For starters, the pressure bearing down on Aaron rendered him immobile. So much as twitching a thumb proved to be a monumental task.

    Unbeknownst to Aaron, he was under the influence of the next level Earth Element¡ªGravity Maniption. Aran had created a small pocket consisting entirely of supergravity. In that small area, it was increased by ten-fold. But, that wasn''t all, this was in addition to the presence of his actual aura.

    So, in truth, it was more like twenty-fold. Nevertheless, Aran''s deep golden shimmered with a sharp intent. As he retracted his spear once more, his silver hair tied into a long ponytail sway in the wind.

    "Origin Spear: Nine Points to One," Aran uttered. If one witnessed the move he used, they''d believe he thrust his spear one time but their eyes would have read the information wrong. Faster than the eye could see, Aran brandished his spear 9 times.

    However, each move wasced with 9 sub-strikes created from pure Spear Intent. In the meantime, time seemed to slow in Aaron''s eyes. The path of those strikes, how much damage it would deal to him, the pain that followed¡ªall these matters were being calcted in his mind.

    Moreover, his pupils were shining with a faint golden light. Golden pupils¡ªthis was the trait of the Dongguang. Every descendant possessed them and based on the depth of color, one could determine how high in the hierarchy their parents came from.

    In the beginning, Aaron''s golden color was faint. But, in less time than it took to blink, the color deepened to a shade only slightly inferior to Aran. In light of this, before the overwhelming strike couldnd, Aran halted his attack.

    "Hoh? Your parents¡­ they seem to be on par with my predecessor. I will stop my attempts here. I advise you to open your Soul Temple soon. Upon doing so, the bloodline will properly activate. Only then, will you be able to enter my eyes in the slightest.

    "As you are now, you''re not enough," Aran said. Withdrawing his weapon, he rested it on his shoulders before walking away. Just like that, he left the hole-ridden Aaron to fall unconscious. Amid his departure, his gait seemed to be both leisurely and quick.

    After each blink, his body appeared at least 10 meters away. It was unknown if this was his natural stride or a strange movement technique, but one this was clear¡ªperforming this was as easy as breathing for him.

    Meanwhile, the other three lying in wait approached the unconscious Aaron now that Aran had left.

    "What do you suppose we do with him? If we touch him, we''ll probably kill him. His state is horrible and there isn''t any Natural Essence present to heal with. Do we...heal his wounds to a certain degree?" ire questioned as she looked to Aeon and Lazaro for answers.

    Unsurprisingly, Lazaro shook his head, "Not at all. If this is what that Scion wanted he would have healed the boy. Instead, he left him to fend for himself. After finishing what he needed to, he left. In a sense, you could interpret it as him giving us permission to deal with him as we like."

    "I don''t think that is the smartest idea. I overheard part of their conversation¡ªI believe this youth carries part of the Dongguang Family bloodline within him. And, you guys know all too well how out of hand those people get. Let''s just wait here for our target," Aeon interjected.

    "That logic is sound. We wait then," Lazaro nodded in agreement.

    ----

    On the other side, back by Typhir, Apollo, and the others,

    "We need to elerate faster," Apollo muttered. As he traveled, a foreboding sensation crawled down his back. Moreover, the farther he traveled, the more the feeling grew. Something wasn''t right.

    "If we do that, then we run the risk of exhausting our reserves quicker. You must remember, the Natural Essence gained by pills isn''t as powerful as the one absorbed during cultivation. We don''t purify it as we do in cultivation. To replenish isn''t the same as to cultivate," Typhirmented against it.

    Unfortunately, Apollo was one who was adamant in his ways. Not to mention, his mental state was already unstable due to past transgression. "If you won''t elerate then I''ll go ahead by my lonesome!"

    ''Bang!''

    Without a care for his surroundings, Apollo increased his speed to the maximum by pushing his Demonic Anima to its extremes. Needless to say, the consumption increased in turn, but this was the least of his current worries.

    "Damn! You hardheaded thing. Fuck!" Typhir growled in frustration. Nheless, he too sped up.

    On the other hand, Nadida and Xineen were left frowning. In their attempts to reach their destination quicker, they had left them stranded. To make matters worse, Nadida wouldn''t just leave Xineen.

    Unlike the rest, she wasn''t capable of the high-speed travel they were. Hence, she was baggage. But, while that may be true, Nadida didn''t once contemte leaving her behind. To her, protecting herrades was of the utmost importance.

    "We''ll speed up to but I''ll carry you so we won''t be as far," Nadida uttered, bending down to allow Xineed to straddle her back. Once settled, they took off as well. While traveling, she did her best to retain her vision of Typhir and Apollo''s backs.

    Soon enough, Apollo could feel the traces of Aaron''s aura. However, when he felt how faint they were, his eyes widened with fury, ''I swear if you all cause my brother to perish, everyone will follow him into the afterlife!''

    A crazed gleam entered Apollo''s eye. On top of that, a different type of rune appeared in his right eye. Concurrently, the appearance of this rune induced an increased thumping of his heart. In fact, it was reaching a point that even Typhir could hear.

    When the two came to witness the sight before their eyes, an unbridled fury released from Apollo. The markings on his arms took a crimson color deeper than it had ever reached.

 Chapter 158 - Wrath Sundering The Skies (II)

    ----

    As soon as the foreboding feeling epassing Apollo grew to unprecedented heights, he threw all caution to the wind. Something told him to get to the area in question and to get there with haste. As such, once again, he resorted to exhausting egregious amounts of Demonic Anima to bolster his speed to new heights.??

    Due to this action, he reached that area very shortly. However, when he did, the sight that greeted his eyes was one which invoked a new type of madness in him. For the first time, his mind gravitated towardsmitting a massacre.

    The people standing before him retained theirx expressions as they looked at both him and Typhir appear. Not only did they not make any movements, they even had smiles on their face. In actuality, this was all part of their n.

    "Ah, Typhir, you have led the fool right to us. Exemry deed you muscle brained buffoon. We didn''t even need to ask you to do it yet here you are,mitting such helpful acts. I apud oh dumb one," Lazaro chuckled, giving Typhir a condescending and slow round of apuse.

    In return, each p stimted a fury in Typhir; once again, he was being looked down upon. Because of his family''s orientation, this type of mocking was a normal happenstance for him. But, that didn''t mean he was numb to the fact.

    "Tch, your words have no effect on me. Whether this was your intention or not; it doesn''t take away from the fact your behavior is distasteful. You behave like a child throwing a tantrum when their toys are taken away. It''s really disappointing to be from the same circle as you miscreants," Typhir spat.

    Thus, Lazaro''s expression darkened. Just because he was aware of his personality didn''t mean he gave someone the right to voice their opinion of it, "Watch your words, before I show you why I''m the First Glory of the Great Families," Lazaro threatened whilst narrowing his eyes.

    Of course, this threat didn''t intimidate Typhir in the slightest. What did bother him, however, was the youth standing next to him. On top of the fact he disregarded the presence of the Glories, he took unhurried steps toward the hole-ridden and faintly conscious Aaron. The closer he got, the harder it grew to hold in his rage.

    Even while trying to do so, markings stretched down his arm, all the way to his fingertips. When he came close enough to Aaron, Apollo bent down and ced his fingers before his lips to check for breathing.

    Upon noticing a face breath, he turned towards Typhir, "Give me a few of yourhealing pellets." Unlike before, his tone didn''t seem like a pleading one. No, it sounded like an irrevocablemanding from a superior.

    "Hm? Do you believe we''ll allow you to heal the boy? The whole reason we left him this way was to draw you in. I''m sure with your sharp senses you were able to perceive a feeling of danger," Lazaromented, approaching Apollo.

    However, before he could get close enough, he halted his steps. An unsettling presence assaulted his body prompting him to examine the situation closely. Then he saw it¡ªan enigmatic, yet extremely dark aura seeped from the body of Apollo before him.

    "Take another step, I dare you," Apollo stated, turning his head back at an odd angle with a deranged look in his eyes. Any traces of sanity within appeared to be gone. In its ce, there only remained one thing¡ªimmeasurable wrath.

    Meanwhile, Typhir acted quickly. He handed Apollo numerous pills who then crushed them to dust and use energy to guide them down Aaron''s channel. As he wasn''tpletely conscious, there was no way for him to perform this action himself.

    Only after the hole showed signs of healing did Apollo leave the matter to Typhir. Afterward, he rose to his feet. He turned slowly, looking at the youth before him. Inside his mind, one word repeated¡ª''Murder, murder, murder, murder¡­''

    At the same time, he took unhurried steps toward them. However, with each step, a suffocating pressure billowed from his body. While it didn''t affect the Glories all that much, that could only be said to a certain extent. Surprisingly, once it started, it continued to entuate without end.

    Unconsciously, Apollo was tapping into the Ira sealed within the suppression imprint. Needless to say, his mind didn''t factor in or pay heed to any of the consequences that could or rather would follow. Regardless of what happened, vengeance needed to be administered.

    "Which one you did it?" Apollo questioned, staring at them. There were no signs of inferiority on him. Typically, one was one to bow their heads when in the presence of all Glories. After all, not only were they strong, their backgrounds were of a pristine standard.

    "I don''t see how that matters. We''re all here for a reason, now aren''t we?" Lazaro countered, taking a step forward. He too began releasing a monumental aura of his own. When the two met, it was like a collision of titans. Unlike the other auras Apollo came in contact with, there was something different about Lazaro''s.

    In fact, as the other released their aurae as well, they all contained the same tempestuous energy. On top of Natural Essence, their aurae were ridden with copious amounts of Spiritual Energy propelling them to new heights.

    As a result, the scene that usually happened didn''t. Apollo''s aura was unable to hamper the flow of their aura in the slightest. This was a first; even after tapping into Ira, he was unable to best the heathens that stood before him.

    Nevertheless, this matter didn''t dampen his desire for vengeance in the slightest. On the contrary, under the shade of bloody intent, a glimpse of excitement appeared. But, it wasn''t the excitement that came along with undergoing battle, it was the one that appeared when he wanted to break his opponents. A sadistic string of thoughts circted in his mind but he couldn''t settle upon which to choose.

    Unfortunately, it was soon brought to his attention that his actions couldn''t be sustained for long. Just this simple activation of Ira was once again tormenting his physique.

    ?System Alert! An Infernal Ira Stigmata above your means of handling is being utilized. As a result, every 10 seconds that pass .5 Vitality will be sacrificed to remedy the damage done to your body. Additionally, this sacrifice will be permanent. To counteract it, one will need to find new sources to obtain Vitality.?

    After hearing this message, Apollo tightened his fist. Concurrently, Typhir appeared by his side, "If we don''t defeat them, or at the very least injure them, we won''t make it to the end of the trial. I know we have unquestioned spots in the trial, but I find myself unable to hold back my detest anymore."

    Much like the others, a raging storm birthed around Typhir as he grasped the hilt of his greatsword. Subsequently, the intent from earlier appeared once again whilst brandishing the sword. In ordance, the veins on his arm swelled whereas his body shimmered with a bronze light.

    "Hoh? Is this fool activating the Heavenly Bronze Body? Interesting, so you''re taking this matter seriously. Are you really going against your peers for this imp?" Lazaro questioned, vexation appearing in his eyes.

    In contrast to his thoughts, neither Typhir nor Apollo answered with words. Differently, they replied with actions!

    ''Boom!''

    Each of them took a side with Apollo going left and Typhir going right. On Apollo''s path, there was Aeon, ire, and surprisingly Veria. However, different from the rest, Veria didn''t seem to want to take part in this. Her eyes kept shifting between all the Glories with a frown. It was odd, but something told her a bad result was toe from this sh. Just, she didn''t know what it was.

    No words escaped from Apollo''s lips, just the weaponizing of his Hellfire. Upon making his weapon, a relentless barrage of shes fell upon the Glories. Naturally, they drew their own Weapon Artifacts; each of them being at least Rank 5.

    When Apollo''s weapon shed with them, a vibration was sent through his arm. The Glories didn''t attack one by one but all at once. But, they were shocked to find that something was amiss. With each of them attacking concurrently, they believed he should''ve been repelled with ease.

    Then, why was it he only took 5 steps in retreat? There was a disconnect between the power they sensed earlier and now. After exchanging numerous strikes, they realized something.

    "T-this kid is growing stronger throughout the fight! But that''s not all, his aura is bing more depraved. Do we¡ªdo we that?" ire uttered, looking in Aeon''s direction. She was unsure how they should advance, hence, she looked to him for guidance.

    Aeon gave a solemn nod. He didn''t like the aura emanating from the youth before him. If need be, they needed to extinguish his existence as soon as possible.

    On the other hand, a string of information flowed into Apollo''s mind now that he had utilized the empowered stigmata for more than 60 seconds.

    "Sin Shroud: Wrath''s nket!" Apollo uttered.

 Chapter 159 - Wrath Sundering The Skies (III)

    ----

    Outside the Dark Ruin Labyrinth,??

    "What the hell is that?" Sirius eximed with widened eyes. As he gazed down at the images, one scene, in particr, grasped his attention. In fact, nearly all of the spectator''s attention fell onto the event below. In addition to a person from a Supreme Family seeking out an unknown individual, another mind-boggling scene followed directly after.

    "I''m not sure. There seem to be many anomalies this year with the trial. Is this something we should look into?" Gabriel uttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. For some reason, an unsettling feeling crept up his spine as he looked at the ordeal unfold below.

    On the other hand, Irauk''s eye shimmered with a piercing amber light as he gazed at the protective formation surrounding thebyrinth. Although it was taking some time, his efforts in breaking through it were nearlyplete. Unlike his usuallyx demeanor, something told him to act quickly.

    "I believe we shou- WHAT?!" Sirius paused, then had an outburst. Before their eyes, the image of the screen presenting Apollo and the others became distorted. No, in fact, it ckenedpletely. In other words, for reasons unknown, their view of the happenings below was blocked!

    Upon noticing this, many of the spectators'' faces became solemn. First of all, inside that screen were the talents existing within the top 100 spots. If surveince of them was lost, who knows what could happen. After all, down the path was the most treacherous of enemies. Even if they were strong, their power was immature.

    Furthermore, there was an air of hostility that could be sensed. It couldn''t be discerned through other means, but all it took was a look at the expression of all the individuals. Each one of them possessed features contorted by rage. Hence, not much needed to be said about the animosity being passed around that space.

    "The youth these days are quite the ruthless tyrants, don''t you say? I wonder what will happen when the image of the scene is restored. Imagine the looks upon everyone''s faces if some type of miraculous feat is performed. In fact, should we make some bets?!" Cyr said excitedly, jumping out of his seat.

    "B-bets?! You babbling buffoon. Does your insignificant mind not understand the implications of not being able to surveil those kids below? With that level of malice, someone is ought to die!" Sirius seethed, ring at Cyr who fell quiet.

    "Oh, so...no bets then?" Cyr mumbled with a slightly disappointed expression. Crossing his arms, he sat down and nced at the ckened screen. ''Tch, what does it matter. You all act like you don''t possess treasure in your families.''

    ----

    Meanwhile, back inside the Dark Ruin Labyrinth,

    Apollo utilized a technique foreign to even him. A huge nket of ckened crimson aura spread out, epassing all of them within a dome that prohibited any outsiders from interfering. Moreover, that same dome seemed to interact with everyone''s emotions.

    A thin ribbon attached to the top of the dome cascaded down and attached to Apollo''s forehead. After doing so, it disappeared. But, in its stead, Apollo felt connected to this dome and what it provided¡ªan obscene supply of Wrath from those around him.

    At the same time, another snippet of foreign information entered his mind. However, it was something Apollo was familiar with. Except, the concept it contained was something that eluded his understanding. Even with his irrational mind, something told him not to invoke this technique.

    Thus, he held back and remained apprehensive while gazing at his opponents before him. As they looked at each other, he tightened the grasp of his scythe which bolstered the amount of Hellfire flowing through it.

    Once again, he made his move. At first, he used wide-arc shes to deal with as many opponents'' attacks as he could, but he soon realized this wasn''t ideal. Just the sheer number of attacks he was facing counteracted his intentions. Not to mention, the upkeep of these movements wasn''t tolerable in the slightest.

    The only thing sustaining him at the moment was the pure hatred running rampant in his mind. Frankly speaking, by the moment, his reasoning was slipping away from him. Continuously, he was tempted to use that technique¡ªthe one he was doing his best to refrain from.

    "Kill him! Or, at the very least, render him immobile," Lazaro roared, tanking Typhir''s blow head-on. Surprisingly, whereas Typhir wielded an extremelyrge greatsword, Lazaro wielded two short swords. More importantly, the surprisey in the fact he suffered no losses from Typhir''s heavy blows.

    To be precise, there wasn''t even a change in expression. Naturally, this wasn''t due to their strength being equal. After all, Typhir had activated his Heavenly Bronze Body that bolstered his strength by almost threefold for a short period. What Lazaro was doing was shifting the force elsewhere.

    One reason why no one liked to do battle with the Astartes was in light of their crafty techniques. They all specialized in the redirection and countering of force. In other words, they didn''t seek to attainrge amounts of Zuls, but rather use their enemies Zuls in ordance with theirs. In a sense, they were the worst type of enemies to face. One who borrowed strength from others, to give their damage back to them.

    "Damn vermin! Fight like a man and stop with the insignificant tricks!" Typhir bellowed as the cryptic runes on his arm shimmered with a bronze hue. Once again, hended a monstrous blow. Unfortunately, this time, it was him to suffer the brunt of the force and rebounded into a wall.

    "Idiot, showing your brutish ways only leaves more openings for me to take advantage of you. You muste to realize, I don''t need to best you in speed nor strength," Lazaro chuckled, tapping his head, "As long as I best you here, you can never win."

    Soon after, Lazaro changed his gaze to Aaron on the floor. Since a significant amount of time had passed, he regained a shred of consciousness. He reached for his sword and attempted to stand with a faltering posture.

    "W-where is he," Aaron muttered with nk eyes before continuing, "I didn''t...say I admit defeat. Come, let''s fight again."

    He continued to look around the battlefield, however, his vacant eyes didn''t seem to be looking at anything. On the contrary, the golden light within continued to deepen. Unbeknownst to Aran, Aaron dropped his posture and took a spear stance with a sword in hand.

    It was shocking, to say the least; to treat a sword as a spear was to seek defeat! Their shapes and styles of use werepletely different. Be that as it may, sometimes shocking happened. Unconsciously, Aaron utilized his faint Sword Intent to form a spear.

    With a powerful step, he dashed forward at incredible speed. He didn''t have a target, but he traveled in a linear path and only one person remained in the line he was transversing¡ªLazaro.

    By replicating what he experienced, Aaron tried to perform the technique Aran inflicted on his body. At the same time, Lazaro was already defending against Typhir''s additional blow. As a result, his body contained two forces already.

    s, when he noticed Aaron enclosing, a terrible scene took ce. Due to Typhir having utilized his specialty¡ªscorching winds¡ªLazaro''s daggers were imbued with this attribute. After activation of the "Absorption" rune on them, it retained the ability to hold foreign Natural Essence for .5 seconds before releasing it.

    Naturally, this meant when Aaron attacked, it was time to release. Before doing so, a creepy smile appeared on his lips, "Begone, you insignificant cretin!"

    A torrential yet focused beam of scorching violent winds pierced towards Aaron.

    In the meantime, an audible thumping could be heard as Apollo turned to witness this scene. Time slowed, and everything entered his eyes. This dreadful moment became appallingly clear to him. The vacant look in Aaron''s eyes, the fright within Typhir''s, and the ecstasy within Lazaro''s¡ªApollo saw and focused on it all.

    His body felt frozen and also like it was falling apart. But immediately after, it felt like it was bubbling with nefarious power. ''No¡­ cease your actions,'' Apollo thought. Surprisingly, almost as if he heard him, Lazaro looked in his direction with a faint smirk.

    Clearly, he didn''t have any intentions of withdrawing his blow. A momentter, the slowing of time seemed to pse. Afterward, a muffed thud could be heard. Aaron dropped to his knees, but his right arm was nowhere to be found on his body!

    At thest moment, he turned his body, avoiding certain death but lost his arm in the process. Next to him, his armid, burning to dust.

    Throughout the whole ordeal, Apollo never blinked and it also looked like his breathing halted. He continued to look at them with madness filling his mind.

    All the while, as he fell, Aaron shook his head, "Don''t...Apollo." Just after leaving this message, he fell forward,ying at Lazaro''s feet.

    "No! NOO!!" Apollo bellowed. At this point, the notion of reasoning was a foreign concept to him. He bit his finger and drew the rune apparent in his mind. Once it was done, he pped his hand over his heart and roared.

    "I sacrifice thy Sin to the Stigmata! Sin Armament: Tartarean Fiend Regalia!"

    A wave of Hellfire burst from Apollo''s body, encapsting him within a ck cocoon whilst a dark beam pierced upwards, past even the protection barrier itself.

 Chapter 160 - Enigmatic Presence, A Calm Murderous Storm

    ----

    "S-something is wrong, I don''t understand why this feels like this. Also, what is that ck cocoon that boy has encased himself in," ire muttered while her gaze remained glued to the construct holding Apollo''s unknown state.??

    As they all looked at it, they noticed it seemed to pulse with a vile aura. Additionally, every pulse seemed to interact with the dome around them. The unsettling in the pit of their stomach continued to grow. If they let it be and fester, something told them it would consume their minds.

    Even Typhir halted in his actions. They all silently watched that pitch-ck abyss like crystal.

    "D-do...How is this affecting us?" Veria muttered, clutching her arm with apparent anxiety. In addition, she felt anger brewing in her mind. The slightest contempt she held towards her peer was being amplified at great speeds. For now, she couldn''t understand why.

    "I don''t know but whatever underhanded tactics this kid is using, they''re extremely potent. Even my Soul Temple, fortified by my artifact, is trembling. Whateveres out of there, we must face it together. I fear if we divide now, the end result will be unpleasant," Aeonmented. He continued to observe the cocoon containing Apollo crack at a slow pace.

    But, just those small cracks spilled an aura so malevolent, the hairs on everyone''s neck stood up. They couldn''t fathom how this type of feeling coulde from someone their age. It was as if they were in the presence of a devil hellbent on torturing those who have wronged.

    As the cracks grew prominent, their nerves grew taut. As of now, all of their Soul Temples were trembling. This rang true even for those in the vast distance. The span of the dreadful feeling birthed from Apollo''s actions was...inconceivable.

    Soon enough, the cocoon shattered. Yet, what stood before their eyes seemed to be something that should exist. The prior physique of Apollo was nowhere to be seen. In its stead, a 2.5-meter tall being remained. However, that wasn''t the eye capturing part of his appearance¡ªthe marvely in his equipment and eyes.

    At the tips of his hair was a reddish color reminiscent of scorching mes. Additionally, two horns of great length protruded from his forehead as his sanguine crimson eyes with a dash of golden hue locked on those before.

    When his feet touched the surface below, he exhaled. The ambient Ira flowed toward him forming an infernal set of armor. Just the heat alone, emanating from the armor warped the space around him.

    "Do you understand your Sin?" Apollo questioned. There was a regal auraced within his voice as he spoke to them. Surprisingly, there were no signs that apanied an obscene wrath such as the one he experienced. He seemed calm, too calm¡ªlike the calm before a murderous storm.

    "W-what the fuck is that?! Is he a Terror? Is this what they look like?" ire screeched, her expression filling with trepidation. Unfortunately, she didn''t understand what they had just provoked.

    Apollo lifted his hand before his chest. He once again used the Hellfire Molding technique, however, the weapon he created was far too realistic. It was as if he materialized an actual weapon from pure mes¡ªsolid in all of its aspects.

    "Sin? What are you on about? Cut the charades, what do you think you ar-" Lazaro mouthed off but was interrupted. In the blink of the eye, Apollo transported before him, leaving a zing trail of mes. Before he could utter the rest of his sentence, Apollo flicked his head, sending him flying into the wall before them.

    "I''ll ask you once again¡ªdo you understand your Sin? All of you who have been deemed malicious by this great one¡ªthe one who has grasped all. Howughable, you impede my descendant''s path. This trivial world seems to believe the notion of being able to handle his uing," Apollo stated. Towards the end, his words seemed to travel to a ce that wasn''t upied by him.

    "Who? Wait, what? Descendant? Is he from a Supreme Family?" Aeon inquired, ncing around for an answer. Sadly, no one here was privy to what he was.

    "Heh, stupid boy, take a gander at my identity and tell me what you believe to be true," Apollo said. Instantly, he appeared before Aeon, looking into his eyes with a dark smile.

    Naturally, in the presence of this anomaly, Aeon fell silent. He had no clue how to answer this question. And, quite frankly, he was too frightened to do so.

    "Now, I will tell you how all of this will go down. Due to you having caused my descendant to invoke a technique that shouldn''t havee about until he was an Archdemon. Allow me to bestow upon you, a fitting punishment. All of you...may die," Apollo chuckled.

    Effortlessly, he waved the scythe in his hand. A Demonic Massacre Wave the size of a fingernail was fired. However, it grew exponentially by devouring the ambient Ira in its surroundings. It didn''t take long to be a strike of mass destruction.

    "Defend, defend!!" Lazaro screamed at the top of his lungs. Simultaneously, all of the Glories disregarded the pact and undid all their seals on their cultivation. Much like Typhir, the revealed cultivations based far beyond what they presented.

    "Insignificant efforts. You go this far to defend. But, what can''t Hellfirebat? It is the me birthed by Sin to punish Sin. Therefore, those of you who don''t live a righteous life, you are and always will be susceptible to these mes," Apollo quipped, showing a yful expression.

    Simr to what he said, the strike ripped through their Essence Aegis'' like paper. It was a shocking sight, those who wereuded as extremely talented amounted to mere toys in the presence of this person before them.

    All of a sudden, a surprising scene took ce; Apollo snapped his fingers. The Demonic Massacre Wave just inches aways from imed their lives dispersed into nothing, flowing back into Apollo''s body. The mastery the one in Apollo''s mind held over these techniques¡ªit was unmatched.

    "Ah, don''t soil your trouser. While I said I''ll do away with you''ll it seems that is counterintuitive. After all, I should leave your undoing to him. It''d be wrong for me to just...rob him of that joy now, wouldn''t it? Well, I should let him once again regain control. Should this incident happen again, then, this world would be the one to suffer," Apollo announced with an amused chuckle.

    For a moment, Apollo''s body fell motionless. During that period, the temperament surrounding him changed poised and mischievous to simply¡ªmurderous. Be that as it may, the ring difference in ability was apparent for all to see.

    When that other persona left, so did its attainments in the Demonic Way. While there wasn''t any change in the appearance of Apollo''s body, the energy seemed to be far less docile. This was something immediately noticed by the others. After all, they all interacted with Essence on a daily basis.

    They understood the less docile the energy is to something, the lower their internal state was! In other words, this form was tearing their foe''s internals asunder. If they could prolong the battle long enough, then, perhaps they could salvage the situation.

    "Listen to me, Aeon, it''s me and you who will confront him head-on. Veria, use your winds to interfere with his movements and ire...try to inhibit his actions by targeting his mind. His anger should have left him extremely unstable. He even thinks he is someone else. What kind of depraved illusion is that?" Lazaro ordered while raising his two short swords in contempt.

    "Kill...I will kill. I have sacrificed my sin to the stigmata. Now, give me more power!" Apollo roared to the sky, inducing arge shockwave that originated from his body. A faint flickering ck aura rose from his feet. Soon after, he took a step; and with it, he coughed up blood. Naturally, in his rage, he disregarded it. But, another was stimted by all these actions¡ªOuroboros; he opened his eyes to reveal a pattern matching Apollo''s within them.

    Everyone made their move; Apollo shing his scythe with vigor, Lazaro and Aeon attempted to stop it in its tracks¡ªa heated battle between immature youths and a demonmenced! At the same time, ire formed a hand seal.

    "Frozen Mind Seal!" ire eximed, trying her best to lock Apollo''s thoughts in transit. Regrettably, it proved to be useless. The diabolic rage present in his mind melt right through her seals.

    Upon realizing this, ire despaired, ''W-what? That''s the first time some almost immediately rendered this move useless. In fact, it didn''t evene in contact with his mind. A corrosive energy so potent...it destroyed everything¡ªeven reason!''

    "G-guys! Stop, retreat! He''ll..he''ll stop at nothing. You have to understand me!" ire eximed, aptly trying to warn the others. Unluckily, the heated sounds of battle drowned out her screams. Or, so she thought.

    For a moment, Apollo turned toward her with a cynical smirk, before shifting attention back to the confrontation. If what she saw was correct, then, she believed this was feigned madness, or perhaps the "persona" never left!

 Chapter 161 - Tartarus Doors

    ----

    The battle between them all continued to grow heated as the moments passed with haste. Alongside, each rapid exchange contributed to the further deterioration of Apollo''s condition. Yet, throughout this all, Apollo remained smiling.??

    The flickering aura continued to climb up his body, now nearly reaching his waist. It seemed he was hiding an attack that was not quite ready yet, but he was well aware of his current state. After all, part of his mind was forcefully converted back to its rational form by none other than Ouroboros.

    "Master, you have temporarily released your seal? You know it will cost extremelyrge quantities of different items to resolve the issue that follows, right?" Ouroboros asked, looking at Apollo.

    "Sure, I''m aware. I lost control for a moment. Actually, it wasn''t me who entered this state nor do I know where the information in my mind came from. It was as if someone was testing me to see my current capabilities. As if, my mind was in a haze and trapped for someone''s assessment," Apollo answered.

    At the same time, he leaned back, dodging a relentless deposed of solid wind. His gaze fell on Veria, which caused him to notice an unusual scowl on her face. But, it didn''t match the path of her ire. Continuously, she shifted her gaze between Aeon, ire, and Lazaro. However, her eyes remained especially long on ire then Aeon for a nearly equal duration.

    ''There''s anger...there''s fear; it''s all present on her mind. And so, she''ll be my puppet,'' Apollo internalized, before taking invasive action. Utilizing the Partial Shade Silhouette with the small part of his rational mind graced by Ouroboros, he broke past their defensive line. After arriving before Veria, Apollo grabbed her arm and wrested her away from the others.

    "What? Attack him," Lazaro bellowed. But, Apollo''s movement technique¡ªcurrently bolstered by the flickering dark aura around him¡ªturned him into an existence that proved to be slippier than a loach. Due to this, Apollo arrived on the other side of the pathway unabated.

    "Damn! How can''t we catch him? There''s 6 of us and only 2 of them!" Lazaro snarled, shooting Apollo a venomous re.

    "Uh, 5, there''s 5 of us. He has Veria," Aeon corrected. Naturally, this minuscule nitpick only served to further frustrate Lazaro. Nevertheless, their mind changed to the important matters at hand¡ªfinding a way to stall Apollo until his bodypletely gave out.

    Meanwhile, a much different situation took ce between Veria and Apollo. An enrapturing gleam burst from Apollo''s right eye as he looked upon her, "You harbor malign emotions towards your peers. Do you wish to see their downfall?"

    Veria trembled upon hearing these words. Moreover, that light Apollo sought awakened in her eyes, "Yes, it makes me sick. Just because she is more physically endowed than I am, ire gets the attention. It was me who knew Aeon first! And Lazaro, he''s just a pretentious prick¡ªthinking he is all high and mighty."

    These emotions were like music to his ears. This was his aim. Typically, when one voiced the source of their rage, hearing the words stimted them further. Needless to say, this was the logic Apollo was currently operating on.

    "Tell me, if you had the power, what would you do?" Apollo questioned, his voice carrying an unusual tempting vibe. It tickled both her ear and emotions as his visage entered her eyes.

    Now that she looked at him, she realized, Apollo''s current form carried with it the appeal of strength. And, this was what she truly wanted¡ªmore strength. Ergo, she fell into Apollo''s trap without much effort needed to be expelled.

    "I...I would-...would smash their faces in, and make them grovel before my feet. Then I would im Aeon for mine right before ire''s very eyes," Veria answered, her reserved and oriental aura disappearing entirely. In ce, only scorn was left. Her mind was contaminated and now wished to see everything burn.

    "Lucky you, because I can do that for you," Apollo chuckled, pricking her forehead with his nail. The energy from her sinful thoughts tranted into power that Apollo siphoned. He then fed it back to the stigmata.

    At this point, from the early invocation, Apollo''s copious wrath proved insufficient to fuel his power till the very end. Hence, he victimized Veria¡ªthe easiest target. Additionally, his mind picked up on another source of immense hatred¡ªTyphir.

    However, this time, Apollo hesitated. What he was doing now was different from what he did to Sapphyr. She was in a half-conscious state, so her mind didn''t guard her emotions well. On the other hand, these people were perfectly cognizant. If he forcefully extracted this emotion, there was a chance of snatching a piece of their soul along with it.

    In fact, this was what took ce with Veria. Unbeknownst to her, she lost a piece of her familiarity with the wind. Simrly, Apollo gained that family by absorbing that fragment. Albeit subtle, there was an immediate increase in his speed. Once more, he touched on the boundary of another sin, it was just a shame he didn''t possess the prerequisites to bond with another one at the moment.

    Subsequently, Apollo continued to pontificate on his options. But, when his eyes fell on Aaron, he made his choice. It was unfortunate, but if he had to make some sacrifices then so be it. On his road, as long as those he deemed worthy were safe, then that was paramount to him.

    In a sh, he disappeared and arrived next to Typhir, gazing into his eyes silently. Before the others could react, he exhausted arge portion of absorbed Wrath to knock away all those in confrontation with Typhir.

    "Pardon my intrusion, but I must take something from you. You maye to hate me, but revenge must be exacted. For, what I am, we don''t take kindly to malicious deeds being done towards us. I will make this up to you in the future, think of it as me owing you a favor," Apollo stated in a solemn yet whimsical tone.

    Regardless of Typhir''s answer, Apollo didn''t wait for it. Identical to Veria, he pricked his forehead, forcefully extracting the Wrath present in Typhir. Compared to hers, it was many times greater. It appeared the qualms Typhir held against this situation was sizable, to say the least.

    Once he absorbed this new set of energy, a second wave of vibrant power flowed through Apollo. Until now, less than 5 minutes had psed but, based on his current state, one would think he had been battling for days.

    Under the Tartarean Fiend Regalia, countless molten wounds opened up. Although it inhibited his movements, Apollo concealed it to the best of his abilities. However, he understood his current state was far from desirable.

    ''I must resort to onest strike,'' Apollo thought to himself. In addition to the two Wrath-based techniques in his mind, there was another. However, ording to the information provided¡ªit was lethal. So much so, there was even a warning for him. Not only would it rue certain destruction, but he was also included. Unless luck was on his side, victory could be pyrrhic.

    Unfortunately, this was a gamble Apollo was willing to bank on. Every morsel of his aura reigned in and congregated at his heart¡ªnot his true one¡ªbut the Infant Heart of Wrath. As it did so, it spun and became increasingly vtile.

    "Let''s y a game, shall we? I wonder, will we survive?" Apollo smiled darkly. At the same time, the scythe in his hands dissipated before raising his palms to his heart.

    Everyone''s eyes widened. The look in Apollo''s eyes, it was one found when one came to terms with death! In other words, whatever he was utilizing, it would most likely if not certainly result in a horrific situation.

    Surprisingly, instead of obsidian mes, pure silvery mes sparked from his body, igniting a calm aura. Yet, that calm seemed all the more murderous than the hostile ck mes.

    "Retreat! RUNNN!" Lazaro bellowed. Without hesitation, all of the Glories dashed into the distance. However, this was all calcted by Apollo. The dome around them wasn''t as simple as they thought. That thread that fell down gave him supreme control of it.

    Thus, Apollo opened a small pocket expelling Aaron''s as well as Typhir''s body from the Wrath''s nket. Now, there was only Apollo and the other Glories left inside.

    Therefore, it marked the time to make his move, "All of you in this world look down upon those who are of lower births! Now...taste their aggravation, their hatred¡ªwitness their ire! Hellfire Aggravation: Tartarus'' Gates."

    Apollo mmed his hands against the floor. His power flowed through both him and it, forming two colossal silvery doors etched with overbearing symbols, each emanating a dreadful heat. As the Glories gazed upon it, they faltered.

    Was this their end? All they saw on the other side of those doors was despair. But, something strange took ce. The doors trembled, bing extremely unstable. A momentter, they turned illusory.

    ''Unfortunately, my descendants, I can''t allow you to summon those doors to this world yet. Furthermore, there is somethinging to your aid. Now, sleep. Repair yourself and grow,'' the regal voice sounded in Apollo''s mind.

    A second before falling unconscious, he could have sworn he saw an extremelyrge w puncturing the Wrath''s nket. After that, his body fell. Shockingly, a simr situation to ce with the rest of them.

 Chapter 162 - Raining On A Parade

    ----

    Several moments before the fateful event,??

    Outside of the Dark Ruin Labyrinth, there was a change in the countenance of Irauk. He continued with his earlier actions. However, the more he did so, the more he felt an aura that unsettled him. At first, he thought it was possible an intruder was involved, but that was promptly dismissed.

    The spatial barrier surrounding the area prohibited even singr Grand Master level experts from prating it with ease. If they wished to do so, it required both time and the ability to avoid the senses of everyone present. As for preemptive measures, only during the selection trial was this space essible.

    In other words, the Supreme Families were not the people who set up the barrier in the first ce. Therefore, Irauk''s mind fell to other things. First, the deeper his senses burrowed, the clearer the sensation of the aura became. It was familiar¡ªit was Apollo. But, that wasn''t entirely true.

    His eyes narrowed, ''Is there an impostor disguising as that boy? No, the signature of his aura is too unique, it can''t be duplicated. Then, what is it? Why does there seem to be another presence mixed in? In fact, its origins seem greater than¡­''

    Silently, Irauk lifted his head to gaze at the Empyrean Dragon guarding this ind. It was certain, the subtle fluctuations he picked up¡ªthey eclipsed even the dragon above. After ascertaining this fact, Irauk retired back to his prior devices.

    Then it happened, that subtle fluctuation became not so subtle. A grant aura burst forth in his eyes. While the image below was shoddy at best, he was well aware¡ªthis wasn''t centered around humans. Something was amiss!

    Left with no other choice, Irauk rose to his feet, "We discontinue the trial now! It is growing way too dangerous inside. The stiptions of allowing these kids to go unmonitored are far too great, woefully so," Irauk said with a grim expression. The uncertainty in his heart grew by the second. It was imperative he got inside.

    "I''m with you on this one, but we''ll need a Grand Master level expert to breach this. Yet, even then, it''ll take 5 uninterrupted minutes of channeling toplete our actions. I''m afraid that''s a reserve we don''t have nor do we hav-"

    Irauk interjected, cutting off Sirius by ring his monumental aura, "I am theGrand Master level expert! Now, we enter!" Irauk roared. This time, his words seemed to be amand as his eyes glowed with an amber light. It had been many years since he felt like this¡ªangry.

    "Y-you''ve broken through? I knew you were close all those years ago, but that was just due to your irregr spirit. In under 15 years, you have reached the concrete height of the Grand Masters? This is inconceivable. That''s¡­ on par with the¡­" Sirius looked at Irauk with both awe and a hint of fear.

    "Yes, it is on par with the past Paragons. In fact, it is much faster seeing as my time for cultivation is much shorter than theirs. Nevertheless, that isn''t what''s important here. What we need to focus on, is making sure those kids are safe and not in any danger. After all, this area is something we stole!" Iraukmanded. He left no room for rebuttal as he looked at Sirius.

    "Very well," Sirius nodded. Before making a move, he nced at Odessa, then to his far-right, "Solomon, you must act as well. I know your Braum Family has animosity with Irauk, but you must also keep in mind the image we must uphold for society. Bury the hatchet and act ordingly."

    Upon hearing these words, another person looked over. He appeared to be middle-aged, his silver eyes hiding great levels of vitality. He was the patriarch of the Braum Family. Better known as Sapphyr''s father. His azure hair with a slight metallic sheen swayed as he took a gander at Solomon.

    "I have no enmity. It wasn''t me who disowned my daughter, nor it is me he quarreled with. The one you need to have this talk with is my father. Then again, do you have the gall do so? I can tell you clear as day that I don''t," Solomon said calmly as he rose to his feet.

    Inside his eyes, there seemed to be a vacancy. Almost as if a piece of him was missing. More importantly, his visage was lethargic. It appeared his outlook was one that was both practical and bleak. After the events that took ce years ago, theckluster outlook had be his escape.

    Nevertheless, he operated within the confines of their expectations. A few momentster, he levitated side by side with Irauk and Sirius.

    "Your words, why does it seem you grow more despondent with each of our meetings. Pardon my blunt words, but I fear you will lose yourself if you don''t get a grip," Siriusmented, taking a glimpse at Solomon. There was a disconnect between the man in his memories and the man present next to him.

    After all, he possessed a second identity¡ªthe Second General of their Army. While he was among the highest echelon, he was extremely powerful in regards to the rest. In actuality, the only one above him was Sirius before him. As for the Dongguangs, well, they were unique.

    Their brutish ways and overbearing spear techniques earned them the roles of Arch Generals and Warlord. Although it was a collective effort when it came to militant actions, amid the true fighting¡ªthe Dongguangs operated on a solo basis. They utilized only the Tyrant Spear Battalion.

    Shortly after, one by one, additional people appeared. They were each the matriarchs and patriarchs of the Great Families. Naturally, each of them bore the emblem of their families.

    A rough-looking yet beautiful copper-skinned woman stepped forward, looking Irauk straight in the eye, "How is my son, Irauk? I know you specialize in an eye technique. You should have been able to peer inside. How is Typhir? He may be strong, but I''m well aware of the strengths of those other youths and the conflict between them."

    "I can''t answer that, Artemis. I haven''t been able to peek inside properly. There is an obscure screen of energy preventing me from doing so properly. If I forcefully intervene, I''m unsure as to whether or not I''ll provoke a foreign entity," Irauk answered.

    Afterward, any other question he ignored. He didn''t have the answers and any further questioning would just infuriate him. The others were aware of this, thus, they didn''t press the matter.

    On the contrary, they focused their aura into their hands and ced it on the spatial barrier. Simultaneously, once at their peak, each one of them overloaded the barrier. This was particrly true for Irauk whose pupil took on an irregr form. If one looked carefully, it looked simr to a reptile''s elliptical eye.

    After several moments, a rift in the barrier opened. And, being the brute he was, Irauk took this matter to the physical level. He wrapped his hand in something that baffled everyone.

    "Y-you¡­ have you achieved harmony between Natural and Spiritual Essence? How is that possible!?" Artemis eximed. Even her father had yet to understand how to enact this principle on his body. Yet, Irauk, less than 1/10th of his age had done so! The secrets surrounding this enigmatic man was far beyond what they understood.

    In light of her words, he only spared her a nce before focusing entirely on the task at hand. The more pressure he put on the rift, the more his own aura unsealed. It even rivals on the brink of entering the parts that were sealed away.

    Hence, he resorted to other means¡ªhis eyes. They changedpletely with is back turned to the rest. Crimson scales appeared as he roared, "BREAK!" Webbed cracks formted around the site his hands rested on.

    Soon enough, the rift was wide enough to allow people inside. Without hesitation, he bolted towards the direction he sensed Apollo''s as well as Nadida''s auraing from.

    When he appeared, he caught sight of the ck dome concealing the person of interest. Once again, he took matters into his hands. He clenched his first, summoning a grandiose image of what seemed to be a scaled w. One strike¡ªthat''s all it took for him to shatter it.

    However, when he saw the state of everyone inside, his expression became odd. At the same time, all of the youths fell powerless. It was like someone had nned everything.

    One thing failed to vanish, however, Irauk caught glimpse of a fading silver me. Despite being unfamiliar, Irauk found the fire to be pleasant. Thus, he opened his mouth a swallowed it.

    Then, he tended to the youths.

    "Reckless fools," Irauk sighed.

 Chapter 163 - Identical Missing Pieces

    ----

    "If all this damage was caused by you all, I don''t want to even think about your current internal states. All of you, you''ll all have to be pulled out of the trial. Needless to say, this won''t inhibit your admittance from an academy. However, this does bar you all from entering the rankings," Irauk muttered.??

    Upon ncing around, Irauk conjured 11 wisps of golden mes and sent them into the bodies of everyone. This included the unaffiliated Xineen and Nadida. A gentle yet purposed me flew into their bodies and dealt with the direst injuries they suffered first.

    But, when his eyes fell on Aaron, Irauk frowned, "A severed arm, with the arm itself burnt to ash. While there are things to heal this, the arm won''t be exactly the same. There will always be a subtle disconnect¡ªthe meridians won''t be the same¡ªit won''t feel natural. Luckily, it''s not his dominant hand. I''ll wait till he awakens to hear his decision."

    Meanwhile, a mind-boggling thing happened in Apollo''s body. More precisely, the pendant around his neck. When the golden mes entered his body, the pendant absorbed it but then released an even stronger me in return. The power itself wasn''t stronger, but it was fine-tuned to Apollo''s body!

    To put it differently, while the others received general healing. Apollo''s exact problems were being healed. Of course, it wasn''t some divine panacea; only the basic functions were being restored with haste. Anything else could be awakened at ater time.

    As long as he regained his basic unhampered power, then academy life shouldn''t be an issue. When he awakened, the only thing on his agenda would be to find things of the utmost Fire Element. After doing so, the pendant should be able to work its magic. Unbeknownst to Apollo, the origins of the pendants were special. Even Azridan was unaware of its true purpose.

    Soon enough, the others caught up as well. The instant Artemis saw the unconscious Typhir, she grabbed him and held him in her embrace, "My sweet b-...hmm? What is this odd feeling? Why does your mind feel tampered with."

    She narrowed her gaze, looking directly into Typhir''s mind. On the surface, his Soul Temple didn''t seem to be damaged, but that wasn''t what she saw. The reason he was unconscious wasn''t due to bodily injuries, it was the damage done to his mind. Fortunately, the golden mes were useful for even this.

    The tendrils parting from it filled in the gaps in his mind. Due to this, Typhir didn''t know it yet, but he had been given a blessing in disguise. With Apollo stealing a part of his Soul Temple, it was reced by Irauk''s irregr power.

    Shortly after, Typhir''s eye fluttered open. The hazy image of Artemis focused, "Mom? Why are you here? Ugh, what happened?" He asked, gripping his head. The brand new portion had yet to settle, thus, there were remnants of pain.

    "That''s what we would like to know. We lost the image of you all, so we are unaware. Care to fill us in, son? What took ce during the moments unounted for? Don''t worry, there will be no repercussions. Well, except for your current conditions. It is fortunate none of you have been killed or damaged greatly," Artemis breathed a sigh of relief.

    The hassle of injured Great Family descendants was too much to bear. The process as well as the people who would appear following the situation could only be ssified as overbearing. While their offspring could sow tyranny and seeds of despair among their peers, the same couldn''t be subject to the same. Needless to say, the upper echelon of the world were notorious hypocrites.

    "OH! Well, you see. It went like this mom. At first, we fought and th-...then¡­" Typhir nked, almost struggling to remember any faint images of the events. However, no matter how much wracked his brain, he was unable to recollect the happenings.

    "Is something wrong my dear? Continue the story, we need a recount of what took ce. All this damage here, it shouldn''t be something you all are capable of unleashing. Was there someone who intervened? Well, besides that boy from the Supremes of course," Artemis insisted.

    But, Typhir his head. "Mom, I can''t remember. I can''t recall anything. Maybe you should ask the Castille Family''s girl, ire should remember well. She was directly involved and contrary to us, her family specializes in the mind."

    "You''re right. That''s a magnificent idea, actually," Artemis answered. Afterward, she rose to her feet and moved over to where the Castille Family''s representative was. Like her, their family representative was a woman.

    "Allea, I have a question. Has your niece remembered anything about the event?"

    Sadly, Allea''s middle-aged yet gentle visage seemed disappointed. Simrly, she shook her head. Something wasn''t adding up, "No, we have nothing. There''s no information. I didn''t ask her about it, I searched her Soul Temple with our familial connection. It was...vacant. No, it was almost as if someone snatched the events from her mind."

    Upon hearing this, Artemis''s expression deepened with interest, "So you''re saying, if her mind is like this, then the others should be in a simr state? Is that it? Well, how much of it is missing?"

    "Well, all of it, after that boy arrived," Allea answered, pointing at the unconscious Apollo in Irauk''s grasp. On the contrary, she didn''t approach them but frowned instead.

    Sure enough, each family''s representative pried for information, but it was for naught. Not a single soul knew anything. This rang true even for Xineen and Nadida who witnessed the dome as well. Everything was gone! But, this rose suspicion; how could one simultaneously eradicate memories from 10 individuals?

    The mental capacity required to do so was obscene. Much less those with established Soul Temples; even Allea was incapable of this and she was the 3rd strongest of the Castille. Beyond her was only her mother and grandmother.

    Nevertheless, with Irauk involved, the chance of interrogating the youth in his hand was slim. To do so, they''d need to be remove Irauk from the equation. Regrettably,until now, finding a way to do so remained an enigma. However, that didn''t mean certain individuals weren''t searching for valuable information to remedy this.

    "Since none of these kids can recall what happened and they''re in no state to continue; we''ll take them back to the special area in Pangea Ind to recuperate," Sirius uttered, waving his hand.

    Immediately after, he turned around and soared away. However, he was still confused and required an answer. Albeit faint, he sensed an extremely dark aura looming around the area. While it didn''t feel like beasts, it felt inhuman. Therefore, it led to his spection.

    ''There''s no chance of them venturing this far is there? Furthermore, they shouldn''t possess the ability to mask or disguise themselves to any extent. If so, we have nevere across a Terror like that. Should they be evolving¡­ then I understand why so many talents have appeared in this generation. We may be in for overly dark times.''

    Meanwhile, both Apollo and Aaron awoke. Naturally, with the trauma their body suffered, each of them was in groggy states. In fact, Apollo could barely move whereas upon movement, Aaron felt like spears were stabbing into his body.

    "I don''t suggest either of you move. Unknownd, you have beenden with tricky to remove spear intent. As for you, o'' stubborn one, your body is simply a mess. Even my Golden Life mes has healed you to a bare minimum. What type of power do you cultivate?"

    "It''s Aaron, not unknown boy. My name is Aaron," Aaron countered weakly.

    "Aaron? Interesting why does your name follow that naming pattern. Wait...are you," Irauk leaned forward, examining Aaron''s eyes. As he thought, Aaron was indeed a descendant. "That exins why the spear intent is sticking to your insides, it favors you."

    On the other hand, in light of the questioning, Apollo remained silent. Regardless, he had other matters on his mind, "Your arm, it didn''t grow back."

    "Ah, that requires a special type of cultivator but even then¡­ it requires an even more meticulous blend of affinities. Light, Water, Wood¡ªthe three pinnacles of healing must meld as one. But to find a deviant Restorer like that, you''re in for an adventure," Irauk chided.

    "So where do we find them?" Apollo asked.

    "The Crux Family, but I don''t think that''s a viable bet. While they are the most renowned healers, they aren''t ones to do favors without anything in return. Not to mention, their old woman doesn''t exactly mesh well with me. However, the young miss does fancy you," Irauk smirked.

    Apollo narrowed his eyes. It was that smirk again, the same one he administered before shoving him into Sapphyr! In other words, there was some foolish gambit present in Irauk''s mind once again.

    "Don''t even think about it," Apollo rejected with haste. In response, Irauk merely shrugged.

    "Nevertheless, you all need to leave. Your ties with this trial have been severed," Irauk said before raising his hand and epassing them in a translucent orb. At a leisure pace, he flew them back outside the Dark Ruin Labyrinth.

 Chapter 164 - Family Mysteries

    ----

    In due time, Irauk as well as the others arrived back at the seated area. Initially, their section only housed the Great and Supreme Family members, however, with this odd situation, they made an exception. Irauk convinced them to allow Apollo''s family members toe forth.??

    Specifically, they did so to ask a few simple questions¡ªfor one, who this person''s parents were and secondly, what type of cultivation technique did he practice. Compared to the rest, he was the only anomaly there. Besides Irauk and his results from the potential assessment, they were unaware of who this person was.

    Hence, they needed to collect information and fast. After all, Nivel had alerted them of the "prophetic words". The birth of such a Supreme Child with unnatural talent was sure to be an unpleasant omen. Perhaps, the prophecy was already in motion.

    Nevertheless, both Kayn and Cynthia arrived in haste. But, when she saw the vacancy on Aaron''s right side, she trembled and turned extremely pale. Painfully, she lifted her arm and touched her son. Like the rest, when they lost sight of the image, she was unaware of what was taking ce.

    Now she knew; terrible things happened. Not only did his body seem damaged, she felt a familiar aura from him, "D-...did they do this to you, dear? Was it them? Please, tell me it wasn''t them," Cynthia muttered with a shaky voice.

    Meanwhile, Aaron raised his head from looking at his own wound. "Mom, do you know someone named Aran? Also, why did he insist that I was from some n known as the Dongguangs? Also, he used this type of strike that damaged me, but I could feel none of the strikes were truly fatal. Instead, it was as if he was seeking to verify my identity."

    "Erm¡­ that''s because¡­ Aran, I believe that''s the name of your older half-brother," Cynthia replied, but her eyes remained stuck on his absent shoulder. This type of injury was known to present adversity in the pursuit of cultivation. After all, to cultivate, one needed to utilize all their meridians.

    This was true for the ones in the arm as well. Without aplete structure of meridians, his potential would fall to a much lower level, unless he grasped some type of special method. Such as the harmony of Spiritual and Natural Essence, or the melding of Intent into Essence. Be that as it may, it was harder said than done.

    Each of these routes created a new path of energy, however, the difficulty to master this ability was unfathomable. This can be seen by the fact no other person had achieved what Irauk save a few unmentioned existences.

    "That ruthless individual is my brother? Why didn''t I feel a deep familial connection with him then? Even the connection between me and Apollo is stronger than that. And, I don''t understand why they use such methods," Aaron said, gritting his teeth. The golden light in his eyes shed as a sharp aura danced across his fingertips.

    Upon noticing this Irauk raised an eyebrow, "You have rudimentary control over Intent already? Interesting, how would you like to be my pupil alongside Apollo and a few others? However, I must warn you, the training is nothing short of perilous; everyone needs to be prepared."

    His answer didn''te immediately, after all, he was focused on the information his mom disclosed. This meant his origins were split between a small noble family and a Supreme Family. But, if that was the case, why didn''t anyonee to look for him? Numerous thoughts circted in his mind as he looked around.

    "I''ll be your pupil, but I would like to know; are you able to get me an audience with this Dongguang Family? I think I need to meet my father, whoever he is," Aaron responded, turning towards Irauk.

    For a moment, Irauk was silent before pondering this matter, "I''m afraid I can''t. If Aran is your half-brother, then that means your father is Suren. And, he is someone that never leaves Catastrophe Line. If you''d like to meet him, it will have to wait until after graduation."

    "I see, then I''ll seek him out when the timees," Aaron nodded.

    In the meantime, Sirius and a few others approached this small circle. Most of their attention was focused on both Irauk and Apollo. Firstly, they were overly interested in the method Irauk used to attain harmony. Secondly, they wanted to understand whose progeny Apollo was.

    Soon enough, Sirius carried an unusual reverent expression, "Sir Irauk, is it possible to disclose to the Crux how you were able to harmonize your inner Spiritual and Natural Essence. As you know, as stated in the tablets, that''s the prerequisite to liberating the potential of achieving the Empyrean Realm."

    "Hmm, you must understand yourself ande to terms with your true inner self. Once you abandon your desires and embrace your fears¡ªyou reach the serene state required to meld the intricacies of your essence. Of course, everyone''s essence is different, therefore, I can''t walk you down your own path. In my case, it was always clear to me what I wanted to achieve, and how to get there. You could say my ancestors left me a path," Irauk answered.

    "I see, but who are your ancestors? This, we have never known," Sirius continued.

    "I''m unable to say as even I am not privy to this information. It is a shame that I can be of no more assistance to you," Irauk answered while shaking his head. Since the answered were finished, Sirius switched over to the silent Apollo.

    Although he seemed to be normal, there was an issue with him¡ªthe was an ever-present rage on his mind right now. Part of it stemmed from something stopping before he could achieve his vengeance and the other came from the overutilization of the Infernal Ira Stigmata. But, luckily it wasn''t as bad as it looked.

    Ouroboros continued to siphon the excess while also distributing his own energy to supplement it. Although it was just a temporary fix, it was enough for now. His current enemies weren''t at the leave that weed his dread. Luckily, there was enmity between the Paragon, Scions, and him.

    "Very well, youngd¡ªtell me, who are your parents? I don''t see them here. While these two carry simr bloodlines to you, it''s not close enough to be your parents," Solomon questioned but then fell silent.

    He narrowed his eyes and inspected Apollo closely. Then, he took a step closer, still questioning, "Is that Sapphyr and Xezym''s aura on you? How are you rted to my daughter and her spirit?"

    "Dead and she was my administrator," Apollo sinctly replied.

    "That isn''t what I''m asking. Their aurae are embedded in you. In other words, you have had prolonged contact. Not to mention, you used a technique simr to Xezym''s; how do you exin that?" Solomon inquired further, cing his hands behind his back.

    For the first time in forever, he took interest in something once again.

    "It''s simple; I was trained by him for a day. Now, stop with your questions. If she is so dear to you, why do you allow her to be embarrassed by that...what was her name? Sarai? It''s truly disgusting how you allow your family to function," Apollo scoffed before taking a leave.

    His irritation,ck of power; being here reminded him of it all. Thus, he took a walk. At first, Solomon wanted to stop him, but Irauk intervened, "Leave the child, who knows what they all just went through."

    "That may be true, but his parents, we still know nothing about them. Certainly, they should possess some background, or at the very least, one of them," Solomon insisted.

    For this, Kayn stepped forth, "If that is what you''d like to know, I can tell you. His father was deemed Abaddon by the World Remation Task Force. However, his real name is Zarel Kaiser. As for his mother, she wasn''t known too well I believe, but her name was Reili Sima; an abandoned daughter of the Sima Family."

    "Wait, did you say Abaddon?" Sirius paused, affected by the name. It appeared he carried some history with it as he turned toward Kayn.

    "I did, that was the title he was given," Kayn assented.

    "I see, so it''s him¡ªthe wolf in sheep''s clothing who unleashed himself at unforeseen moments to reap death and destruction. That is why I gave him that name. So it appears I have some history with that boy. Sadly, it appears his father has perished ording to thatd''s words. Where did you all bury the body?" Sirius asked.

    Surprisingly, Kayn was unable to answer this question. For a while, he remained silent. This was something they never told the family members. While they recovered the body Aiden, the older brother¡ªthe rest was amiss.

    "Actually, after he fell against a Terror," Kayn paused for a moment, "We never recovered the body. The only thing we saw when we went back to where his body should''ve been was destruction," Kayn uttered.

    Upon hearing this information, even Cynthia was shocked. This made her recall an event that her father had once told her.

 Chapter 165 - Apparent Desires

    ----

    Cynthia fell silent as she recounted the conversation between her and herte father. It was rted to Apollo''s dad. When it came to this matter, she was always silent about it. Before he passed, this was the sole request her father asked of her.??

    Almost everyone was unaware of this bit of information, but Apollo''s father was a true anomaly. At birth, he was stillborn. In other words, he was born dead. It was a truly ironic situation. Furthermore, it was something that almost never happened in the Astarat world. The Natural Essence ensured the offspring of this world were healthy.

    At first, they thought something was wrong due to the Terror''s having imed a part of the world. However, that was tossed out the window. Numerous babies were born alongside Zarel, and they were perfectly healthy. His case was unique and that scared them. Soon enough, they gave up and prepared to bury him.

    Yet, when all hope was lost, miraculously, he came to life. The shrill cry of a newborn baby was heard.

    But, that was only for an instant. That was because immediately after, he stopped and uttered his own name "Zarel".There was an otherworldly level of intelligence in his eyes.

    This was odd, even in their world. While the urrences of extremely advanced children happened often, they could never speak at birth. They needed a short time to develop speech patterns.

    Yet, such an event took ce with Apollo''s father. Naturally, this was something that could be taken lightly nor could it be disclosed easily. After all, if it was one thing people coveted, it was unforeseen talents.

    Among his growth, Zarel faced almost no bottlenecks. But, he also experienced a weird pattern of growth. It was never stable! One day he could be a simple mortal, the next, a Zul General. It was something inexplicable.

    This was another reason Sirius believed him to be a wolf in sheep''s clothing. He thought his concealment techniques were that advanced because he was unable to delve into them. One had to know, back then Sirius was already a Spirit Emperor¡ªthe 4th realm of Spirit Cultivation.

    Nheless, Zarel led an obscure life. Although his family was close to him, there always seemed to be an unfamiliar veil around him. Not even Cynthia was capable of peering into his secrets but she didn''t want to.

    In fact, thest time he returned to the family, he bought back Reili. By that time, she was already mysteriously pregnant with Apollo. The oddest part was they shared no intimate moments inside the family. It was like they were strangers; like Zarel waspleting a mission.

    ----

    "Ahem, Miss, are you okay? You have nked out. We''ve been calling you for over 10 minutes," Sirius said, waving his hands before Cynthia. It appeared she was lost in thought for longer than she felt. However, while she recounted the events, she started to piece things together.

    "You said my brother was a wolf in sheep''s clothing right?" Cynthia uttered.

    "Brother, you say? Ah, you''re thess who eloped with the Dongguang''s Golden Child!" Sirius blurted. After his outburst he fell quiet, he was lucky none of the Dongguang''s were here and that Aran traveled by himself.

    After all, simr to Aran, they disliked the fact one of their offspring wasn''t within the walls of the family. Regrettably, the location of the Kaiser Family was never disclosed. Not only did Zarel withhold the information, so did Suren.

    In truth, it was Zarel who facilitated their meeting. He orchestrated a few events that led to budding feelings between Suren and Cynthia. Unfortunately, there were also other things in his calctions. And, because of them, he and Suren settled on an agreement.

    Needless to say, all this time he abided by that agreement.

    "Yes, that''s me. But, that''s what you said, right?" Cynthia added.

    "Yes, he was one indeed. I saw with my very eyes, his change into a calm wrath where he ughtered a Rank 5 Terror. It was something obscene because once they hit Rank 5, only a Spirit Emperor couldbat them. But, he wasn''t one," Sirius answered.

    "What if his body was filled with Spiritual Essence? What if he found a way to let Spiritual Essence temper him the same way Natural Essence did? Wouldn''t he be able to take his pure physique to the level of Terrors?" Irauk interjected.

    "Theoretically, yes. However, that would be impossible. We have tried many times to do so. It doesn''t agree with the body. The natural meridians reject the energy and vice versa for the opposite," Sirius answered. This was one of the issues the Supreme''s researched with the Estrade and Castille.

    Regardless of the routes they took, it all came up empty. No matter how they approached the issue they made no headway. Their techniques came to a standstill. If they could advance them, they had no qualms with disclosing the old obsolete ways to the masses.

    "It''s not impossible at all. The problem is the thought process you all use is too human¡ªtoo recluse. You need to broaden the spectrum of your thinking. You guys test for it, but never utilize it properly. That is, the grade of the Dantian and Soul Temple," Irauk chuckled.

    He waved his hand. Unlike the cloudy white color of Natural Essence, a faint blue aura flew towards his hand. It was Spiritual Essence, but as the others watched they became astounded. Until now, the only way they knew to control this was with the mind.

    Yet, there were no mental fluctuations from Irauk. This meant only his body was being used to stimte the Spiritual Essence. Then again, they also remembered he attained harmony. To summarize, this was an auxiliary ability attached to reaching that state.

    "While that may be true, I never once saw him do something like this," Sirius continued to reject the idea. One enigma on the level of Irauk was enough to deal with. He couldn''t wrap his mind around a second one.

    Nevertheless, Irauk smiled, "Do you think everyone is upfront with their secrets? You hail from a Supreme Family, you should be familiar with the practice of hiding. I''m willing to bet the man in your memories is not as he seems."

    Sirius fell silent. He couldn''t rebut because first, Irauk was right. Secondly, he felt foolish for overlooking this fact. Despite wanting to, Sirius didn''t implore Irauk to disclose the way. At best, it was a lost cause, at worst it was unattainable.

    On the other hand, Apollo continued to venture aimlessly. As he walked, he took in the surroundings. While doing so, his eyes fell on the pavilion he trained in. He was tempted to enter but there was a problem. He didn''t possess any Spirit Shards.

    ''Should I just follow the others to the special healing area? No, I don''t want to see their faces. I need to get my wrath under wraps,'' Apollo thought. However, while thinking to himself, he felt a light tap on his shoulder.

    As he turned, he caught sight of a beauty with luxurious indigo locks and clear silver eyes. Like two limpid moons, she continued to look at him silently. After a while, he became ufortable by her gaze, "Do I know you?"

    It was short, but Odessa smiled, "They say I can''t have you but I would like to have you."

    Upon hearing this, Apollo looked at her nkly. Instead of replying, he walked away. However, he was stopped in ce by a screen of light. While it appeared translucent, when Apollo bumped into it, the screen was solid beyond belief.

    "You know, it''s too rude to just leave like that. Can I at least have an answer? Just because Sir Irauk is your master, that doesn''t give you the position to disrespect a Paragon," Odessa said in a displeased tone.

    "I''m really not in the mood for this. I''m asking nicely, please release me," Apollo said, ignoring what she said.

    In response, her frown deepened. "Give me a reply then."

    Meanwhile, back among the crowd, Sirius looked around but couldn''t find the person he was looking for. "Has anyone seen Odessa?"

    "Oh, yes. She followed right behind thed. I wonder what she could be up to. She concealed her presence meticulously before leaving. It seems you have a handful as a Paragon this generation," Iraukughed.

    In his eyes, he could see exactly what was taking ce. And, to him, it was hrious. The crazyd was being chased by a girl!

 Chapter 166 - Striking Another Deal

    ----

    Both Apollo and Odessa continued to stare at each other. Neither of them took a step back. The sh of two swelled egos took ce. On one hand, we had the ego birthed by their upbringing in an environment thatuded them as the cream of the crop. On another, there was a reckless one who felt no one should interfere with his path.??

    "So? Answer?" Odessa said as she crossed her arms. Moreover, she took a posture symbolizing her not inching from this spot. As Apollo looked at her his expression filled with disgust.

    "I have nothing to say to you. I don''t even know you!" Apollo answered while making odd gestures with his hand. He couldn''t understand why girls were so odd. It''s like they all demanded respect despite their nonexistent connection. In other words, he felt there was something wrong with their heads.

    "I am Odessa Crux, one of this generations'' two Paragons. You should know by my appearance who I am! Now that you know me, answer me," Odessa barked.

    In response, Apollo looked at her incredulously. Immediately after, he punched the light screen and bellowed, "Release me! You damned idiot, what is wrong with you?"

    Of course, this wasn''t the first time he did this.

    Needless to say, the integrity of the barrier she erected proved to be many times sturdier than his fist. No matter how many times he bombarded it with punches, it didn''t fragment in the slightest. At the same time, Odessa had grown to ignore his remarks. She realized something, he was not an easy person to reason with.

    "It doesn''t matter how many times you call me out of my name, I will not listen," Odessa adamantly replied. Once again, Apollo became even more frustrated. He pulled at his hair with an exasperated expression.

    "W-what is wrong with you women? First Irauk, causes me to bump into Sapphyr. Then Nadida is just as crazy as Irauk. Wait," Apollo paused and moved close to the screen with a narrowed gaze, "Did Irauk put you up to this? Damn, if that old fool did this, I promise I will get him back!"

    "Nope, no one saw mee here. It was all my decision. As I said, I want you. Be my subordinate. You can even enter the Seraph Legion of the World Remation Task Force in the future. It doesn''t matter if Irauk is your master," Odessa offered.

    "Wait a minute," Apollo''s expression turned peculiar. Something about her words seemed odd, "Why do you want me, and what is the true reason?"

    Odessa first exhaled then revealed the reason, "I have to surpass the Braums."

    "I...don''t see how I fall into this equation," Apollo replied. This was all her desires and based on her earlier words, Irauk''s status wasn''t simple. Apollo was sure Irauk was capable of pulling some strings to get him a better position. Therefore, she wasn''t running a hard bargain.

    "That''s just it. To be a Paragon, one must lead a huge lead. And, almost all of the Scions are under his grasp. For some reason, most of the superior Scions were birthed by the Braums this generation. And, the Dongguang are too rogue to follow anyone. Do you understand now? I need unknown talents! So I had to approach you first!" Odessa eximed.

    "I understand your dilemma, but I''m not hearing anything that would cement a deal between us. Not to mention, this, around me, not working," Apollo shook his head.

    Finally, Odessa dispelled the barrier. Surprisingly, Apollo didn''t run. There was something much better in his mind. If she came from a Supreme Family, then she was destined to be a cash cow.

    "How many Spirit Shards do you have on hand?" Apollo asked.

    "Somewhere around 10,000."

    Naturally, this amount caused Apollo to gawk. One had to know, it took Kayn decades to acquire less than ten of them. Yet, just this girl here, no older than Nadida, surpassed that amount countless times over.

    "The difference is status really is ridiculous. Very well, give me half of them and consider it a deposit towards your request. However, if you want to seal the deal, I need a few things," Apollo smiled mischievously.

    "I don''t like that smile. It''s the same one my little sister gives father before she extorts him with her adorable cheeks. What do you want? Any oundish requests and I swear I will make your life a living hell. Don''t underestimate my suitors!" Odessa smirked back.

    Nevertheless, Apollo was unaffected. Shortly after, she realized this youth was capable of killing without feeling anything. If she sent people after him, there was arge chance she would get on his bad side. And, if there was one thing she loved¡ªit was life.

    "It''s nothingrge. I need you to either get me Natural Blessings on the Saint-level or convince a Restorer in your family of the highest grade to do you a favor. I have someone who is in need of these things," Apollo requested.

    "Is it you? Based on the information going around, your state should be just as bad as the other Glories. However, it also appears you''re healing far quicker than they are. I guess it pays to have an Empyrean Root. Attacks causing others to be otherwise susceptible to death, it doesn''t have the same effect on you," Odessa muttered before falling into thought.

    ''It''s true, the tablets are right. A rudimentary Empyrean Body will make the Supreme Child far less vulnerable to death. I can''t by any means let him fall into the grasp of Alistair. His mind games, they almost always result in him iming what he seeks; I hate it!''

    "Ahem, so now it is your turn. Tell me your answer," Apollo said. At the same time, he snapped his fingers before Odessa.

    She looked at him, after weighing the situation, "Do I have your word, that you will join my Seraph Legion in the future? If you agree, I will do my best to realize your desires."

    "Sure, just don''t renege on your deal," Apollo said before leaning next to her ear, "Because, I don''t take lightly to someone not fulfilling their side of the deal. It''d be a shame for the world to miss a pretty face like you."

    Simr to Apollo''s earlier state, she was left shocked. He had the audacity to threaten a Paragon of the generation. If word got out of this, they''d believe Odessa had turned into a madwoman. There wasn''t a single soul on Astarat that would disrespect a Paragon. After all, they were the world''s saving grace.

    Soon enough, the deal was finalized. She gave him half the Spirit Shards in her possession and he gave his word. However, that wasn''t all. She made him perform a Heaven''s Oath. Unfortunately, little did she know the rites of this world had no effect on him. Let alone the heavens, not even otherworldly presences could sense him.

    The actions of that voice previously present in Apollo''s mind went beyond anything the people of this world could understand. He didn''t just thwart Apollo''s attempts to summon an otherworldly legion, he sealed his presence from the world.

    Unbeknownst to him, he nearly activated a beacon to this world. But, it was far from the time for those events to take ce. Until he became an Archdemon, he stood no chance against the next series of tasks he needed to fulfill.

    "Don''t forget! After the trials are done, I wille to seek you out again. It doesn''t matter what Academy I join because my advancement n is predetermined. I think I''ll have to monitor you, if not, maybe Alistair will get him crummy hands on you," Odessa announced.

    In response, Apollo shrugged. He entered the pavilion. Unlike thest time, he imed a card to the highest grade room. Dissimr to the other time, he put it on a continuous payment n. Until the trial finished, he would be staying here.

    He needed to explore this unfamiliar me circting throughout his body. To do so, this was the only quiet ce he could recall. Thus, he walked up and entered the room.

    After he settled himself, he sat down in a lotus position. He calmed his mind and entered the depths. However, when he saw his internal state, he grimaced. With all the damage done, he was surprised he was even walking right now.

    Be that as it may, he monitored the me. The ruptures in his meridians and tears in his viscera, all of it was melding back together albeit painfully slow.

 Chapter 167 - Prelude To The Academy Choosing Ceremony

    ----

    While Apollo continued inside the training pavilion, the matters back at the site of the selection trial went on. However, things took an odd turn. Now that a sizable amount of the talents were ejected from the mix, the bnce on the path of Apollo''s team was disrupted.??

    They traversed the path much slower than expected. As a result, it conjoined with a path it wasn''t meant to. But, it served as their saving grace. They ran into the magnanimous Ragnvald. Due to him sensing Nadida and Apollo''s aura on them, he offered to help them reach the end.

    For days, the people sat in the stands as they watched the contestants survive and tap into strengths they didn''t know they possessed. When one desperately clung to life, every ounce of power hidden in their being would be released simultaneously.

    In this way, the Selection Trial proceeded without any other unforeseen matters. As expected, the Scions were the first to exit. This wasn''t anything out of the ordinary so their administrators made no mention of it.

    However, when they saw a cold individual exiting alongside them, they were shocked. Despite restraining his aura, they were sure they felt a pure Ice Intent emanating from his body. This meant his body mixed Water and Wind into the Ice Variant.

    Naturally, the cold individual was Adeon. However, there was also a girl next to him. Her chestnut hair flowed past her shoulder as her cerulean eyes hid an unknown power. As she turned toward Adeon, she frowned.

    "I haven''t seen Nadida or Ragnvald yet. And, there isn''t any sign of Rhett either. I thought we had an agreement toe in first," Socorra questioned while looking around. Unsurprisingly, the end of thebyrinth was the entrance to the natural space.

    In other words, they arrived back outside. Inside the grand walls of the stadium, Socorra continued to examine her surroundings. After themotion caused in the first round, there was no sign of Apollo, nor was there a sign of Nadida.

    "I don''t know the answer. I thought he was weak, but ording to his results everyone keeps mentioning, it appears he is a worthy rival. That trivial trial shouldn''t be enough to stop him from reaching a good cement. Then again, it''s not like the end result really matters," Adeon answered.

    Afterward, he lifted his head to look at Irauk. He raised his hand and performed a hand signal to which Irauk nodded.

    At the same time, Socorra nodded and shifted her attention to the portal behind them. In a steady stream, numerous people exited the trial. Some had bloodied bodies and tattered clothes, others had vacant eyes but one thing remained constant. Everyone who entered seemed to have gone through some tough experiences. At least, this was true for those among the lower ring of talent.

    Those who existed in the top percentile had much better states inparison. Although there were signs of exhaustion, their attire wasn''t in tatters and their appearance wasn''t disheveled.

    Ragnvald and about 10 other people exited in tow. Besides his party, there were the stragglers of Apollo''s party. However, if one looked closely, they''d see us and Leone''s countenances didn''t look so good.

    "T-thank you Ragnvald. It''s thanks to you that we made it out of there alive. Who would have thought they put a Peak Stage Rank 4 beast inside there. Isn''t that too far beyond our capabilities? What were they thinking!" Leone eximed as he gasped for breath.

    Upon seeing Ragnvald, Socorra jumped into his embrace, "Ah! You made it. But, where''s Sister Nadida?"

    "Mm, I''m not sure. These people said she rushed ahead with Apollo, but there was no sign of them no matter how much we advanced. I even spread out my Soul Conscience to make sure. There were no signs of them," Ragnvald shook his head.

    "Hm, I know they''re safe. I have faith in them, but still, we had a promise," Socorra said with a pout. To cate her, Ragnvald rubbed her head while falling into thought.

    ''ording to these people, something happened that made their two strongest members rush ahead. However, after that, they were never heard from again. While I know Socorra has faith, Nadida is only a Rank 1 Zul Knight. Even though she is special, it took all of us to subdue that beast.''

    As he continued mulling over this matter, a resounding p was heard. A message soon followed that appalled all of the participants in this trial.

    "All of those who remain alive now stand before you. From the initial 300,000, there are only 60,000 of you left. As you see, this is why we don''t disclose information on the trial. Every year, there are numerous losses and as you know, they stem from your inadequacies," Sirius spoke.

    With slow steps, he walked across the air as he gazed down at the sea of youths. When directly above them, he continued, "Be that as it may, don''t fret over this matter. What you will learn in the academies is how to operate together. How to be a unit. Not only does this increase survivability, but it promotes a lethal power in numbers. Learn from the mistakes you havemitted today and grow far stronger than you''ve ever been."

    Upon hearing these words, some of the youth''s expressions turned colorful. In truth, when it became too dangerous, they abandoned theirrades. While they understood it was something to be frowned upon, when push came to shove, it was always them over others.

    Even if the other party was more talented, why would one sacrifice themselves? To serve as a scapegoat for someone else wouldn''t make one be remembered as a hero. Especially so, if it was some nameless fool. The answer was simple, they would be forgotten.

    Meanwhile, once again, Odessa disappeared from the stands. After all, she had a promise to deliver on. The Academy Choosing Ceremony was about tomence and there was a certain headstrongd she needed to fetch.

    ----

    With haste, she arrived before the training pavilion. By using both her identity and charms, she was given the ability to stroll upstairs with the master key to the rooms. After all, who would want to offend a Paragon? While they weren''t stronger than everyone now, with unhindered growth, they would soon be the top of this world!

    Fortunately, when she opened the room, she did so carefully. She slipped inside and closed the door. However, when she looked around she was surprised.

    ''This kid is using a Supreme Grade Lesser Cultivation room at its max settings? He''s quite the overachiever. Although it isn''tparable to special rooms, it is still 50 times the state of outside. It''ll allow him topress his Essence much faster. On the other hand, the strain it ces on the body is immense. Just look at sweat on his...body,'' Odessa nked as she looked at Apollo.

    Her eyes fell on a deep gash on his body with several small scars connecting to it. When she saw this apanied by the tattoo over his heart, she was shocked. ''Just what type of cultivation method does he cultivate? I think it''s safe to call him a little beast.''

    She moved forward silently, reaching out to touch the scar. Yet, before she could, Apollo grabbed her wrist and awoke from cultivation. As his eyes opened, a crimson light danced within his amethyst eyes, "Is it time?"

    "Yes," Odessa answered. With a slow nod, her attention fell back on his chest, "That scar and those markings, where did you get them?"

    "In battle and cultivation," Apollo responded while letting go of his wrist. Compared to two weeks ago when the incident happened, his body was in a much better state. Additionally, he felt he was close to achieving one of the first objectives of the mission.

    Every time he focused on his Tainted Temple, it felt like his mind was trying to form a connection with somewhere else! ording to Azridan, this meant his soul would soon be ready to seek out his first demonic servant. However, he was also warned that this process might not be identical to the way this world established contracts with their Spirits.

    "I can heal you if you like. While I''m not on the level of my mother, I can still deal with scars such as these," Odessa offered. By any means necessary, she would ensure that their rtionship was cemented. She couldn''t risk the chance of Apollo defecting to Alistair''s side.

    "No need, this tells of the mistakes I''ve made. That way, I''ll be reminded to use all of my abilities in battle. Thanks for the offer," Apollo rejected. Soon after, he rose to his feet and wore his top. Through the use of Demonic Anima, he evaporated the sweat on his body.

    "Understandable. I won''t pry into your matters. We have all lived our life. Then, we should leave. The ceremony should take ce shortly. I''m curious to know what Academy you choose. After all, from what I hear, Irauk doesn''t require his students to join the academy he is affiliated with."

    Apollo nced at Odessa after hearing this. From his expression, she could tell he was unaware of his identity or how strong she was. Thus, two returned to the ceremony together.

 Chapter 168 - The Chosen Academy (I)

    ----

    "Is there something you want to say? I can feel you stealing nces over there," Apollo asked as he nced at Odessa. Her curious gaze continued to look where his marking above his heart should be. The shape of that tattoo was etched in her mind and it perplexed her.??

    "Did you do that tattoo yourself, or did ite from your cultivation method? If it''s thetter, what kind of cultivation method causes an insignia to appear on your chest. Wait, could it be there''s a Divine Cultivation Method in your hand?" Odessa questioned. The more questions she asked, the more the fervent curiosity increased in her eyes.

    Shockingly, her previously haughty attitude was nowhere to be seen. This spoke volumes of her ability to adapt and read a situation. Like this, she felt it would be more worthwhile to establish a connection. Not to mention, she was genuinely curious.

    Even the majority of the Supreme Family descendants only trained in Heavenly Cultivation Methods. To im a better version, not only did they need to contribute a decent reputation, they needed to prove their worth was up to par. Furthermore, only the direct progeny of themanding line in the family was capable of training in their sole Divine Cultivation Method.

    ''Divine Cultivation Method? Now that I think about it, the system deemed this method to be a Supreme Art. Although I don''t know theparison, seeing as no one in this world mentioned a Supreme Cultivation Method, I think it''s safe to assume this goes well beyond this ce,'' Apollo mused.

    "No, I don''t have one of those. What I train in is just unorthodox. Why are you so curious? Just because I agreed to think about your offer, it doesn''t mean we''re friends. We can travel without speech," Apollo answered before moving his eyes away from her.

    "So grumpy. I thought it was all just an act earlier, but here I am, the most beautiful girl in our generation, yet you still push me away. Could it be¡­ do you like men?" Odessa muttered with an odd expression.

    In response, Apollo paused. He too, turned towards her with an expression of disgust, "Ask me that question again and see if I don''t rip out your tongue. What bullshit is running through your mind? While you are beautiful, I am not one to drool over you humans," Apollo retorted, clicking his tongue.

    On the other hand, Odessa picked up on something, "Humans? Aren''t you one as well? So why do you speak as if you aren''t one of us." Afterward, she leaned closer to inspect Apollo''s expression for possible signs of lying.

    For a moment, Apollo was silent. Then he uttered a short answer, "Sure."

    After that, he fell silent. He stared at the grand gates to the stadium before them, "It seems we can''t continue this conversation. Maybe another time," Apollo said as he disappeared by utilizing the Partial Shade Silhouette.

    Meanwhile, Odessa''s expression became one of deep interest. "He''s hiding something. I have to know what it is. Maybe I can use that as leverage to make sure he never defects from my side. If I can do that, I''ll effectively im a Supreme Child as my subordinate! Maybe¡­ He''s still hard to control."

    Just like Apollo, she too shed inside the stadium to witness the Academy Choosing Ceremony.

    ----

    With a subtle sound, Apollo appeared inside the expansive ring. However, he stayed in an inconspicuous corner. He also listened to Sirius speak as he stood atop the masses in the air.

    "Before we begin the ceremony, there are certain things you need to know. Your identification card will detail the overall ranking you received in the trial. Not just thetter, but the former evaluation will be taken into ount as well. In fact, it will y a muchrger role. After all, potential can''t be taught but habits and discipline can be," Sirius announced.

    He then followed up by waving his hand. As a result of this action, all of the identification cards began buzzing. Shortly after, a single letter followed by a number between 1 to 60,000 was etched on the cards of those who would enter an academy.

    "First and foremost, there is an exception this year. Those of you in 29,999th ce and below will enter the 3 bottom academies by default. While you won''t be the leading force in reiming the world, you can still make for good soldiers. As for those of you above th9see ces, take a look at your card," Sirius instructed with a calm tone.

    Sure enough, everyone followed as per instructions and looked at their card. As Apollo did so, he was shocked. His ce was much higher than he thought it would be due to his disqualification from the second half. While his ce wasn''t extremely high, it was still fairly good.

    [Potential: SSS Rank Evaluation

    Combat Evaluation: B Rank (Disqualified)

    Overall Ranking: S

    cement: 666th ce]

    ''This number, I see it often. Perhaps it''s a sign. I may need to familiarize myself with it in my free time. It may have a connection to Demons. Nevertheless, I failed to deliver on Gabriel''s bet. I didn''t enter the top 100.''

    "Next, if you tap on the overall ranking, you''ll see how many of the academies have chosen to ept you. Additionally, if it reads N/A, then it means the decision hasn''t been made yet. If that is the case for you, then wait patiently. We''ll just have to carefully examine your strongest qualities," Sirius continued as he turned around to walk back towards his seat.

    Meanwhile, Apollo was surprised. On his card, there were 6 Academy Names, additionally, there was even more information.

    [Holy Veritas Academy seeks to ept you. Upon entry, a silver apprentice soldier will be given. The benefits that follow are 10 times the regr amount.]

    [Sacred Beasts Academy seeks to ept you. Upon entry, a silver apprentice soldier status will be given. The benefits that follow are 15 times the regr amount.]

    [Valiant Academy seeks to ept you. Upon entry, a silver apprentice soldier status will be given. The benefits that follow are 12 times the regr amount.]

    [Tempest Academy seeks to ept you. Upon entry, a gold apprentice soldier status will be given. The benefits that follow are 5 times the regr amount.]

    [Vermillion Night Academy seeks to ept you. Upon entry, a diamond apprentice soldier status will be given. The benefits that follow are 3 times the regr amount.]

    In light of the numerous offers, Apollo fell silent. He was shocked to see 5 of the 9 Famed Academies sought him. When it came to information on them, not much needed to be given. Firstly, the seats were organized in a way that gave the participants an idea of each academy.

    Secondly, the offers came with background information on the academies. While each academy offered the same course, they all possessed different master practices. For example, Holy Veritas Academy was the holy ground for those walking the path of Restorers. Needless to say, it was monitored by the Crux Family.

    But, Apollo was more interested in thatst academy. If he was right, then they should specialize in teaching youths the path of mes and Shadows. In other words, this was the best choice.

    However, when he heard Irauk''s message in his mind, he chuckled. He knew there was something going on!

    ''Stubbornd, do you like how I pulled my weight and got the headmaster of the Vermillion Night to increase your offer by a level. When you get inside, I suggest you extort her to the best of your abilities! Then, you shoulde back to me and share.''

    As he conversed with Apollo, Irauk leaned on his hand with an amused smirk, ''It''s because of that boy. That me I had never seen before came from him. I can feel it. Albeit subtle, it carried an aura simr to him. Maybe he has more on him. He could possibly help me unlock my sealed memories. In turn, I''ll make sure his growth is as fast as possible. I feel an omen on the way.''

    The stadium fell silent as numerous youths made their decisions. At the same time, Apollo caught sight of Aaron in the corner of his eye. Compared to two weeks ago, his state was much better. The paleness from the repeated trauma to his body was gone, but so was another thing.

    The sword that usually hung as his waist was nowhere to be seen. In fact, he didn''t carry a weapon at all. He just stood there quietly as he gazed at his options.

    "Aaron, did you receive any offers?" Apollo questioned.

    Concurrently, Lily appeared next to the two as she gasped at Aaron''s arm, "A-Aaron! What happened? Did a beast do that to you?"

    "No, this was done by a person. But, don''t worry about it. I''ll get my revengeter. In the meantime, what Academies will you guys choose?" Aaron inquired as he looked at the two.

    nces were passed back and forth before finally, Lily was the first to answer.

 Chapter 169 - The Chosen Academy (II)

    ----

    "I...was thinking about entering the Holy Veritas Academy. I got offered a standard silver seat, so there was no increase in the resources given. At first, I was skeptical but after seeing your arm, I know my answer now. I will find a way to make your arm better, so I''ll enter it for sure," Lily asserted as she raised her hand to touch Aaron''s shoulder.??

    Although the remnants of pain were still there, he didn''t wince. During the past two weeks, Aaron had alreadye to terms with his lost arm. He understood that remaining in a somber mood because of it would do no good. However, another blow to his already fragile mental state came as a shock.

    The energy Aran left inside of him obliterated his Sword Intent. Albeit rudimentary, that intent was still the leading way of increasing the potency of his attacks. Furthermore, if one became well versed it in, when they ran out of Natural Essence, Intent which was formed by the mind would still be active.

    Yet, despite his former diligence, this path seemed to be destroyed for Aaron. Day by day, his intent crumbled further, until finally, it was no more. All that remained in his body, was the tyrannical energy left by his half brother. Even if he wanted to im it as his own, there was no manual left behind on how to harness the foreign spear intent.

    Not to mention, he didn''t possess any experience in the spear. That instant he copied Aran was just a fleeting one-time thing. It was all due to the spontaneous awakening of his Dongguang Celestial Spear Bloodline. Thus, without his Sword Intent, the offer from the Victorious Sword Academy was revoked.

    To make matters worse, the Dongguang Family were the only ones who didn''t back an Academy. Their military might was strictly made up of their descendants. To enter their legion, not only did one have to wield the spear, they needed to be a Dongguang. Aaron''s problem, however, was the fact he didn''t know where that family was.

    Apparently, the reason Supreme Families were able to retain their power was because of two things. However, the relevant one now was the location. As mentioned before, Pangea Ind attached to every continent.

    Due to this attachment, at the site of those ethereal chains, a rtively small area sporting extremely pure Essence was birthed. These areas are where the Supreme Families established their headquarters. Therefore, whether or not they visited the Pangea Ind often, they wouldn''t lose out.

    Fortunately, Aaron''s paths weren''t sealed. Irauk''s offer still stood and he offered to bring him there in the future. It was unknown why, but he did. As such, he found his choice, "I''ll choose the Vermillion Night Academy. Master Irauk has told me he''ll help with my current situation."

    "Good choice, I''ll be attending the same academy. Furthermore, you don''t need to worry about ack of cultivation materials. Just as you sacrificed for me, I will do that same. One must always abide by their word," Apollo added while waiting for the rest to finish their choice.

    Arge list appeared above everyone''s heads. The list read the names of the Academies and the names of those who chose to attend certain ones. When some people saw a few names in mismatched Academies, they were bewildered. It had to be known, students would have to spend a minimum of 3 years in these Academies.

    If they sacrificed 3 yeast training in something outside of their specialties, then that was extremely detrimental to their growths. Although broadening your horizons sometimes served as a good thing, that wasn''t true for the period where one needed to solidify their foundations.

    Moreover, the World Remation Task Forceprised numerous different Legions. One person didn''t need to learn everything. Each Legion was tasked with a specific set of takes. Additionally, more often than not, the Legions woulde together to form onerge battle and deploy a mass of specialized units. They were better known as the Special Terror Annihtion Units.

    Meanwhile, Odessa''s eyes zeroed in on a single name, "I told Auntie to give him a special spot, did she not do it? The Holy Veritas is one of the 3 Great Academies, how could he turn it down? Furthermore, I told him already, he didn''t have to join the Academy Irauk stayed in. Why didn''t he listen!?" Odessa seethed as she stomped her foot.

    "What''s the issue? Sirius questioned as he turned towards Odessa. Ever since she got back, she seemed on edge. She even did things out of the ordinary such as contacting the family headquarters for favors.

    "That boy! Apollo, I had a deal with him. But, I don''t know how good his word is. He said he''d join me, yet he didn''t grab the olive branchthat I extended," Odessa whined. Although she knew the deal was for the Task Force, she just couldn''t bring herself to fully trust him.

    "Oi, I thought I told you not to seek out that boy? It''s as if you be more defiant as the years go by. Fine, I''ll let you learn on your own. I will not interfere," Sirius said. This time, he was adamant in his decision. After learning of Irauk''s true ability, he was well aware this wasn''t a person he wanted to offend.

    "No! I did listen. Our deal doesn''t stand until yearster. However, I still want to monitor that conniving Alistair. You know how he is, hees and goes. I have no way of knowing what Academy he will choose. OH! That''s it, I''ll just join the same academy as him," Odessa said. With a snap of her fingers, her mind was made up.

    "Absolutely not! Are you insane? You will attend the Holy Veritas Academy and handpick those who willprise your following as per tradition. What do you think the academy was made for?" Sirius immediately denounced.

    In response, Odessa waved her hand. "I''ll just have our lead Scion Ste do it. That''s fine right? Mom has already given me everything I need and Father is monitoring my resources. There''s nothing to worry about."

    Sirius sighed in defeat. While looking at her all he could do was groan. Once her mind was made up, he was well aware that not even her parents could change it. As a result, he looked at Irauk and sent him a mental message.

    Unsurprisingly, Irauk wasx about it, simply struggling. To him, this meant the days at the academy could be much more colorful. Not only did he have the oddballs he recruited, but there were also the 4 quirks of the academy staff and now a Paragon! What more could he ask for?

    With that being said, the Academy Choosing Ceremony came to an end. Each of the War Academies staff rose as they called out those who chose to bear witness to their tutge. After they formed their neat groups, they exited the premise.

    Of course, there were still oddball stragglers. For example, Irauk had his people stay behind. This included Odessa. Before they entered the Academy, there was something he needed to alert them about.

    "Ahem, all you sillyds andsses, I just want to tell you; I am not a teacher. You will still need to find one as you enter the Academy. If I''m being honest, I''m toozy to teach you all. Fortunately, there is a variety of sufficient personnel to teach you. That is all," Irauk eximed.

    While the youths remained frozen, Irauk walked away in boisterousughter. Unforntatrely, he was the only oneughing. Every single one of these youths now felt the yu had made the wrong decisions.

    "Is it toote to rescind? I knew that dumbf-" Apollo seethed, however, his eyes soon widened when he realized was upside down and hundreds of meters in the air.

    "Oh tsk tsk tsk, my sillyd, do you want to continue that sentence? If so, let it go. Just as I will," Irauk smiled mischievously.

    Apollo scoffed. He was now certain he picked the wrong teacher. Unbeknownst to him, Irauk was the number one quirk of Vermillion Night Academy!

    "Tch, I''ll get you back for this. Just you wait. I promise I will make you- eaghhhhhhh," Apollo cut his sentence short as the ground grew close at an obscene speed. The fool had let him go while he was still talking.

    In the meantime, Irauk was still in the air plucking the dirt from under his nails. At the same time, he kept a mental countdown. When he reached zero, he disappeared from where he stood and arrived on the ground.

    As he held out his arm, he caught Apollo''s ankle, "Have you learned your lesson? Or, do you want to have another go?"

    In response, Apollo grunted. As he was now, he knew he would never win in a contest against Irauk. Thus, he nodded and conceded for the first time. Of course, he would still have sure Irauk got his just desserts.

 Chapter 170 - Onward To Vermillion Night

    ----

    As Apollo exhaled as gazed at the others, he remained silent. With his whimsical nature, Irauk took this as Apollo''s agreement. The moment Irauk let go of his ankle, Apollo rebounded and retreated far away. Even though he understood it was useless due to the power gap, he still kept his guard up.??

    On the other hand, Nadida approached with a peal ofughter. "Ahahaha, it seems you''ve experienced thememorative torture administered by none other than our dimwit Master. It''s a shame that he is useless other than his deep pockets and odd jokes."

    "Hmph, if he keeps that attitude, he''ll wind up being surpassed by me. And, when that happens, his jokes will be returned to him," Adeon added as he gave Irauk an icy stare. In response, Nadida chuckled while elbowing him in his gut.

    "Hah, I''d like to see you try. Haven''t you heard his stories? Even the Grand Masters of the Supreme Families haven''t surpassed him. Just because you have a variant talent and irregr aptitude, doesn''t mean you''ll be able to," Nadida smirked.

    Due to her words, the two stared at each other while their auras began to re. Meanwhile, Irauk shook his head. With a snap of his fingers, both of their auras were cut off, "Whoa, simmer down now. This isn''t the time to butt heads. You all can do that after you arrive at the academy.

    "In the meantime, I suggest you go say your farewells," Irauk mentioned. While speaking, his eyes fell on both Apollo and Aaron. Unlike the others who he picked far before this trial took ce, these two still had some family members to bid their adieu to.

    Naturally, they both nodded. Thanks to the thinned crowd, it was quite easy to locate Kayn and Cynthia in the stands looking down at them. As they looked at each other, Apollo''s eyes once again traveled to Aaron''s shoulder.

    "I have made a deal to help you in the future," Apollo uttered. Immediately after, he took a step with Aaron next to him.

    "You know, you didn''t have to," Aaron shook his head. In truth, he felt like a burden at this point. While Apollo had delivered on his promise to achieve strength, he didn''t. Thus, he felt like he had failed Apollo and was now inhibiting his growth.

    "Nonsense, we have already made a vow. We will both seek strength and we''ll go as far as our perseverance takes us," Apollo retorted in an adamant tone. As they continued walking up the extensive staircase, Aaron nodded.

    Afterward, however, he released a sigh. And,ced within were his worries that were previously weighing him down. He knew he could ce his trust in Apollo, but it wasn''t a small task to ovee losing an arm.

    Even though he put up a tough appearance, it pained him deep inside. To a certain extent, he understood the powerlessness Apollo felt in his early years. Thus, Aaron coerced himself to ce his trust in Apollo''s words. Whatever they were to face, then if there was a way for them both to prevail, they would aim for that.

    When they reached the top of the stand, in almost an instant, they found themselves in Cynthia''s embrace. "You guys...you did it," she whispered.

    For a while, they were both silent but then they grinned. Even though she was there when Irauk offered to help, she didn''t exactly know who he was. Additionally, she understood the academies wasn''t somewhere that influence could be thrown around impulsively.

    ording to what her brother told her in the past, inside the War Academies was a ce that promoted fairness. Of course, the environment wasn''t irond. Humans were fickle beings and prone to impulse, however, rarely did the instructors intervene.

    When they did, it was only for matters that were deemed to be dire. For example, a battle between Spirit Cultivators onmon academy ground outside of the designated area. That was something that was not to take ce. Not only would the culprits involved be subject to punishment, but any damages would also have to be covered by their resources.

    "You have abode by your word. You''ve made it into one of the 9 Famed War Academies. My only hope now is that when you graduate, you achieve an illustrious reputation on the battlefield. The family name now depends on you two as well as Lily," Kayn stated as he stepped forward.

    After he spoke, he reached in his pocket and extended his hand. "This isn''t much, but it should be able to do you both well. Now that you have cemented your standing in a worthwhileenvironment, those pouches should be of some use to you."

    Inside both of their hands, there were pouches the size of a palm. However, when they looked inside, there were neatly packed lines of pills that eclipsed any of the other pills in the Kaiser Family''s treasury.

    "Are these specially prepared? These weren''t in the treasury when I entered there," Apollo questioned.

    "No, these are my personal items. They were all gained by offering my services when needed. In other words, these resources came from what circtes within the academic circle. While it can''t bepared to what the Scions and Glories possess, it should help nheless," Kayn answered with a hint of pride present.

    However, little did he know that Apollo''s pouch was currently filled with Spirit Shards. Even if he didn''t have the proper pills, he was sure there was a way to exchange a portion of the items in his possession for what he needed.

    "Auntie, make sure to take care of yourself. When we return, you''ll definitely be pleasantly surprised by how we mature," Apollo smirked. Afterward, he ced the pouch given to him in her palms.

    Truthfully speaking, it wasn''t just done out of filial piety. Something deep down told him to help his aunt. Not only was it the first time she was without her son, but there was also another gnawing feeling. One that told him, she needed strength.

    ''What is the negative wave of feeling? It''s noting from anyone here and it''s very faint,'' Apollo thought as he examined his surroundings. No matter how he did so, it all came up empty. There was nothing in his vicinity that matched this sensation.

    Since he was unable to find it, he pushed the matter to the back of his mind. On the other hand, Cynthia was shocked. She pushed the pouch back almost immediately, "I can''t take your resources. Are you silly? That''s for you!"

    "Nope, it''s yours. I have my resources prepared. Besides, there''s a certain unlikeable man that I can extort for things," Apollo quipped as he pushed the pouch back. At the same time, he moved away so she wouldn''t repeat her action.

    However, when he moved back, he bumped into something. When he did, a voice entered his ears, "I heard that. Who is unlikable? How about I send that crazy lioness to beat you up again," Irauk responded. But, he was unable to keep a straight face as the scene reyed in his mind.

    Although he didn''t respond, Apollo gave Irauk a deadly re. He had learned his lesson, there no was no dead drop on his immediate agenda.

    "Anyway, I''vee to tell you, we need to leave soon. The silly headmaster has alerted me that she wants to perform the orientation for her new students as soon as possible. And, admittance is impossible without one of the academies'' staff members apanying you," Irauk informed.

    Before they could leave, Cynthia moved in an attempt to grasp Apollo''s hand. "Wait, take this back!"

    Naturally, with his head made up, Apollo declined and did something foolish. He jumped off the stand as he waved, "Keep it, I''ll see you soon Auntie. As for you Kayn, perhaps. It depends on what you can offer me in the future."

    ''After all, this world isn''t my focus,'' Apollo thought to himself as he descended towards the ground below.

    Quickly, Aaron gave his farewell also. He followed behind Apollo by jumping as well. In response, Irauk looked at them incredulously. Did these kids think they were Zul Knights? There was no way they''d survive that fall without damage.

    "It''d be wrong of me if I let them go st on the floor, right?" Irauk muttered with a wry smile. Of course, the question was rhetorical. As he disappeared, a message lingered inside Cynthia and Kayn''s ears.

    "I''ll take care of these rascals, there is no need to worry. Their names will definitely resound throughout. Although, I can''t promise whether or not it''ll be for infamy. That child is quite the terror, I tell you."

    ----

    When Irauknded, he held both of them in his grasp. Without hesitation, he dropped them and left the area. "Onward to Vermillion Night. Make the journey and stay be eventful," he grinned.

    Meanwhile, Apollo and Aaron dusted themselves off and followed along.

 Chapter 171 - Scene Behind Sealed Doors

    ----

    Rather than transport them all at once, Irauk made the party travel by foot. After all, the doorway to all of the Academies was inside of Pangea Ind. Due to the advances in technology and innovative uses of both types of Essences, special areas were made.??

    This was why, although Pangea Ind housed numerous colossal buildings, there weren''t any signs of the Academies. A special authority, as well as code, was needed to enter the seals surrounding the schools. Thus, as they transversed the streets of Pangea Ind, the small group behind Irauk chatted amongst themselves.

    "Apollo, what type of seat did you get for the year? ording to what I''ve read in the Central Library here before the trial, the seats are divided into four levels. Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond," Nadida questioned as she pulled Apollo''s arm.

    In addition to the different levels, there were also standards for each level. This was why the offers highlighted how many times the standard would be rewarded. While Apollo''s offer of 3 times the standard didn''t seem too impressive, that was only in retrospect to the other offers.

    Frankly speaking, the difference between the ranks grew in an exponential fashion. In fact, the number of people who received outside of the standard diamond soldier offer was few and far between.

    Moreover, different from what one would think, these freshmen offers only yed a single vital role. The rank annotated the type of package one would receive upon thepletion of orientation.

    "The diamond apprentice soldier," Apollo answered while trying to push her off. Unfortunately, once again, it was like she was glued to his arm. Simrly, Sora tapped his shoulder lightly with innocent eyes.

    "Do you remember me, Apollo?"

    As he turned his head and looked at Socorra, he felt silent. He remembered her face, but couldn''t quite recall her name. After all, not only was she the extremely quiet one of the bunch, it had been over 4 years since they met.

    Nevertheless, as she started pouting, he finally remembered, "It''s Sum," he nodded.

    "What? It''s Socorra. So-cor-ra," Socorra answered in exasperation. In response, Apollo tilted his head.

    With a deadpan expression, he answered her, "That''s what I said. Now, do me a favor and get this thing off of me."

    "Thing? What thing? Oh, and how did you get the diamond offer? That''s not fair! I only got gold. This is ludicrous. IRAUK!" Nadida seethed as she let go of her own ord. However, she stomped toward Irauk.

    Naturally, she didn''t like how different the offers they received were. Thus, she let him have an earful. Sadly, it fell on vacant ears, literally. By using the control granted by his high cultivation, he sealed off his hearing.

    Additionally, with the ample time he spent with her, he knew her well. Like clockwork, every 3 seconds he nodded and grunted to show his "annoyance". Of course, the small smirk on his face didn''t escape the eyes of those like Adeon and Apollo.

    ''Damn, that silly girl is getting yed like a fiddle,'' Apollo thought. But, a part of him was also happy he wasn''t being bothered at that moment. As he gazed at the buildings, he noticed an out of ce clearing up ahead.

    Just as he took notice, Irauk raised his hand. "Stop and don''t take another step. Well, unless you want to be pulverized that is."

    Although they didn''t know why he said this, every halted in their steps. Irauk, however, continued to walk forward. As he continued to move forward, the area before him rippled as if a stone were thrown into a pond. With each step, the ripples grew stronger.

    Due to this fact, Apollo squinted. He was familiar with this type of ripple. In fact, he saw fragments of information inside them, ''It seems my Level 3 Spatial Affinity ising into prominence. But, I still don''t know what these small bits mean. Not to mention, just as quickly as theye, is as fast as they go.''

    Unbeknownst to him, the fluctuations were designed that way. After all, after one reached a certain cultivation realm, what they learned wasn''t the affinity with the Spatial attribute, but the Rules of Space.

    The differencey in the way of utilization. Those with an affinity in the Spatial Attribute retained the ability to attack with it. Meanwhile, those who understood the Rule of Space could merely use it for convenience. For example, teleportation, spatial seals, and even the transmission of information.

    As for the reason behind this type of security measures, these academies were deemed as the holy grounds of humanity to the truest extent. Every single one of them was situated in the heart of the districts and were sustained by Celestial Essence Veins. Which, were the chains that bound the continents together in the form of a vein.

    ''Hmm, so this is the new pattern,'' Irauk mused. His eyes shed with an amber light as another ripple took ce. This time, a strangle puzzle appeared before Irauk. Following the information in his mind, he solved it without fail.

    The sound of numerous gears falling into ce echoed as Irauk stood there leisurely. Shortly after, white doors came into view as what seemed to be a reflective veil receded.

    As the doors opened, Irauk stepped aside, "Enter. If I go first, it''ll just close shortly after due to my presence being absent from the outside. Therefore, you all go first."

    "Me first, me first!" Nadida repeated excitedly. Due to her excitement, she didn''t even wait for an answer before rushing inside. Inparison, the others were much moreposed when they entered.

    Behind them, Irauk smiled, "Wee...to Vermillion Night Academy, home of the Dark Phoenixes."

    -----

    Everyone now stood inside the sealed space. At first, they didn''t know how to respond. Compared to the modernndscape of Pangea Ind, this new scenery was the direct opposite. As far as they could see, there was only one extremelyrge institute building.

    Furthermore, each of its obsidian spires seemed to pierce the sky. Also, the concentration of Essence inside this space was far denser than outside due to the number of formations on the walls of the academy. It kept the essence confined to the area inside of the Academy.

    Additionally, the formation fed the ample verdant flora surrounding the academy walls sufficient essence.

    While marveling at the sight, Apollo noticed but a single bridge leading to the doors of the academy. But, what surprised him was the innumerable fluctuations of Essence taking ce beyond the walls.

    "Is someone in battle?" Apollo questioned.

    "Nope, at least I don''t think so. You''re most likely sensing the training of the other students. During this time, they''d all usually be performing outdoor training. Nevertheless, that''s not your current concern. You need to head to the auditorium. As you see, the are many of you," Irauk informed.

    As he spoke, numerous groups of children entered the academy. He brought them along as he entered as well.

    Once again, the groups wore expressions of deep shock as they traveled along the designated path. The Essence here was so thick it condensed into a mist. Just moving their hands back and forth, a thinyer of essence covered their hands.

    ''The conversion rate of my Demonic Anima is much faster here. Perhaps, I''ll be able to correct my state faster than I thought. Maybe I can even find a way to etch the stigmata on my mind. But first, I need somewhere I won''t be disturbed,'' Apollo mused while arriving before the auditorium.

    Once they entered, rows upon rows of other students greeted them. In the front, a vacant podium stood before velvety ck curtains.

    While Apollo continued to observe his surroundings, Irauk leaned close and whispered in his ear, "Oh, I must warn you. Do not get in trouble. If you think Sapphyr is bad, you''re in for a rude awakening," Irauk warned.

    Upon leaving this warning, he vanished from where he stood. Whereas he left, another person entered. The crisp rhythmic sounds of heels tapping with vigor quieted all conversations.

    Ady dressed in wine-colored robes adorned with crimson gems approached the podium. Her profound ck eyes shimmered with darkness as her scarlet hair flowed down her back.

    Her powerful yet pleasing voice sounded as he presented a pleasant smile, "Ah, it pleases me to know you all have basic manners. That means there won''t be any need for the drilling of discipline week. Now, allow me to introduce myself; I am Geneva Vermillion, the 46th Headmaster of Vermillion Night Academy," she announced.

    "Before you all are truly deemed my students, there are some ground rules we need to go over. It won''t take long, but it will be tedious. I need to understand all of your strengths. So, forgive my prying," Geneva stated before raising her hand.

 Chapter 172 - Freshmen Orientation

    ----

    The auditorium filled with her aura as she raised her hand. ordingly, the students before her fell into a kind of trance. While inside the trance, their abilities wereid bare. However, when she came across two anomalies, Geneva raised her eyebrows with interest.??

    On one hand, there was Apollo. While he was restricted by her aura, he didn''t fall into her grasp. Moreover, even after she increased the intensity, her aura failed to prate his mind. It was as if something was shielding him from her inspection.

    On the other hand, there was Odessa¡ªa Paragon. Not to mention, a progeny of the Crux. Her being here was nothing short of a surprise. Even though she was unaffected by the aura as well, Geneva expected as much. After all, the Supreme Family has numerous capable of shielding the mind.

    Although she wanted to see what this anomaly was about when she sensed the identity on his trial card, Geneva connected the dots, ''Ah, that''s the boy Irauk insisted I rope in. However, from what he tells me, this boy is a handful. So, why is he so insistent? Just an Empyrean Root isn''t enough for me to justify letting a headache run amok.''

    As she looked at Apollo, Geneva became pensive. She thought of the ways she could discern the worth of Apollo. As the Headmaster, she had to lead by example. Thus, she couldn''t break the rules and send him out earlier.

    ''What interests me isn''t his potential, but his mindset. I need to know whether this boy will be an asset or liability to the Vermillion Night Academy in the future. For now, I''ll just leave him be. But, when I have the time, I will monitor his actions. If they''re agreeable, I''ll agree to Irauk''s first suggestion,'' Geneva determined.

    With a snap of her fingers, Geneva abolished the trance nearly everyone was subject to. Needless to say, she got the information she intended to collect.

    "I have confirmed that over 80% of you possess an affinity with our specialty here. For those of you who don''t, there are still numerous sses and areas for you to attend to advance your training. First, let''s talk about the two leading institutes in the academy¡ªthe Umbra Night Institute and the Vermillion mes Institute.

    "As each name suggests, one is centralized around teaching those with high-affinity with fire, while the other for those who travel the path of darkness. Of course, there is also the option to be a dual student. But, to do so, you need to show that your worth and prove you''re capable of withstanding the simultaneous courses," Geneva smiled, before asking, "Any questions."

    As they heard this question, Apollo and the others looked amongst themselves. They all had several questions, however, they also felt it would be answered with them. Plus, it wouldn''t look proper if they presented a question already on the curriculum for the orientation.

    Nevertheless, curious is as curious does. Apollo stood and asked the question on his mind, "Does this mean that to enroll in both institutes, you''d have to contest for a seat?"

    "Mm, it could be seen that way. Each institute has a finite number of mentors. Additionally, they too, have to train themselves. Hence, there are dedicated times and seats. And, they''re all on a firste, first-serve basis. While you can immediately join one, to attend both, you''ll require a special pass as well as sufficient talent. To get that pass, it is I who will determine your ability," Geneva answered with a small smile.

    The reason the academy operated this way with its two institutes was simple. It was an extreme rarity for one to possess a Dark and Fire affinity at the same time. In truth, unless it was a unique circumstance, they didn''t work well together. This was because fire could be seen as a form of light.

    When a spark was ignited, it dispersed all darkness that surrounded it. Therefore, the two affinities were in direct conflict. What Geneva was looking for were either variants or those who were capable of merging the elements to create their own unique path.

    It went without saying, Hellfire was one of these unique mes. Its properties went beyond a simple blend of Fire and Darkness. It was mes birthed by a Sin to deal with a Sin. Therefore, it also had faint properties that others would call Light. But, this wasn''t the type of light others were used to.

    "I see," Apollo nodded. After receiving his answer, he sat. When the chance presented itself, he would definitely approach the Headmaster for that special pass. Not just Hellfire, he wanted to see if he could create other techniques by utilizing the ideas taught within formal practices.

    "If there are no other questions, then we''ll move along to the rules. First and foremost, outside of deemed mortalbat, death is forbidden. Those who are caught viting this rule, not only will you be expelled, you''ll be banned from entering Pangea Ind. In short, you will be a rogue cultivator but that is just the lightest of punishments. What happens to you outside the walls of this Academy after expulsion is not my concern," Geneva stated with indifference.

    In return, a few of the youths had frightened appearances. It seemed their ideas to threaten people with death for extra resources flew out the window. Now, it appeared they needed to rethink their future actions.

    "Secondly, for the next year, you aren''t permitted to leave the academy grounds. This is for your safety. As a freshman, your current ability is but a drop in a vast ocean. If you think you can contribute to anything, you''re sorely mistaken. Do not approach life with a swelled ego, that is how you have a reunion with the earth you came from," Geneva said in a solemn tone.

    "The next rule is more so strictly for you new admittees. Until you reach the peak of the Spirit Apprentice Realm and have contracted your own Spirit as well, you will be unable to continue into your second year."

    As she spoke, Geneva walked away from the podium and through the isles of the auditorium. Her vibrant eyes scoured the crowd for those who already showed adequate signs.

    A look of praise appeared in her eyes as she nodded, "Although it is only a select few, I can see that some of you have already opened your Soul Temples. As long as you hone your Soul Conscience and mature those temples further, you''ll reach the benchmark needed to attempt a contracting session."

    "After myst remark, you all are free to go. Beyond the initial offer you were given, resources are up to your own efforts to acquire. Think of that offer as a starting package. It doesn''t give you any special benefits outside of the first batch of resources you receive.

    "With that, this orientation is concluded. I hope you all prosper inside and outside the walls of this Academy. To help you familiarize yourself with this ce, I will distribute guides. They will also brief you on the way of life," Geneva added.

    After she finished, she disappeared in a wisp of smoke. Exactly 3 minutester, the doors opened. Numerous other students of differing years entered the premises and stood before everyone.

    They called out names as they selected the group of people that Geneva assigned to them. Soon enough, a tall male called Apollo''s as well as a few other''s names.

    Once they gathered, the guide exited the auditorium. He was simr in height to Apollo, however, his slender frame and dark eyes were much different. The guide turned around and looked at the others as he smiled.

    "I''ll keep my introduction short and simple. My name is Lance and I''m a second-year here. Not too long ago, I was in your position. Thus, I will show you the different barracks and other amenities that are vital to everyday life here," Lance uttered.

    Instead of waiting for replies, he began walking with a weird gait. If one looked closely, they''d realize each step seemed to follow a strange pattern. Additionally, a thinyer seemed to be separating his foot and the ground.

    ''I wonder, is he training a special technique at all times?'' Apollo inwardly thought while observing Lance''s obscure technique. Despite being new, Apollo waspelled to follow. However, the issue was he didn''t quite understand how to exercise minute control like that.

    Inparison, his Partial Shade Silhouette was far more exhaustive. The mechanics of the technique wasn''t as fine as what he was witnessing.

    Several momentster, Lance came to his intended stop. "Since you are new, we''ll go on a viewing through the Outer Barracks first."

 Chapter 173 - A Diamond Pupils Ample Resources

    ----

    As Lance took Apollo and his group around the academy grounds, he disclosed the most vital need-to-know information. Firstly, it was brought to Apollo''s attention that the outer, inner, and core areas weren''t based on the standard of the student, but divided by the years.??

    Thus, the Outer Barracks belonged to the freshman as well as those who had yet to graduate into the second course. Simrly, the Inner Barracks housed the second years and the Core Barracks, the third years.

    Naturally, each barrack was outfitted with suitable staff as well as multiple areas to deal with the everyday needs. However, every subsequent area was more spacious than thest. The smallest of them was undoubtedly the outer areas centered around the first years.

    The groups continued to stroll through the Outers Barrack before stopping in front of a limestone building. As they looked up, the sign read "Resource Hall."

    "This will be the most important building you wille in contact with. Not only does it regte the flow of resources circting throughout the Outer Barracks, but it is also where you''ll pick up yourplimentary starter pack," Lance stated while gesturing towards therge building.

    As he now had their attention, he continued, "Once you im what you need to, the ability to im more resources will rest upon your actions. There are two ways to im resources. The orthodox route would be to acquire academic credits byplete tasks assigned to you by Instructions. Additionally, you are rewarded a small amount based on the number of breakthroughs you make in cultivations.

    "With that being said, you can also take look at the mission board located inside the Resource Hall. But, before we do that, we''ll continue the tour of the freshman area. I don''t think I need to tell you without proper credentials, entry to the other barracks is barred," Lance informed.

    His eyes moved across the group as they nodded in understanding. Fortunately, this year''s batch seemed to be filled with capable students that didn''tck mental acuity.

    Soon enough, Lance gave aplete tour of the freshmen facilities. In addition to the aforementioned Resource Halls, there were numerous training halls, different branches to study such as alchemy, formations, smithing, and a few others. Beyond that, there was also the living area.

    Unsurprisingly, this didn''te free. To sustain the expenditure of the Vermillion NIght Academy, a small portion of the resources given to students were to be used to maintain any of the features used inside their personal living areas.

    "Ahem, the guide is now over. I suggest you all visit the Resource Hall again to im your starting resources. After that, you should follow the suggestions I gave pertaining to choosing a suitable cultivation method and preparing for sses. After all, they start tomorrow," Lance states before vanishing from the spot.

    From the use of the Dark Element, it could be seen he held a seat in the Umbra Night Institute. Moreover, Apollo was once again fascinated by the control over his expenditure. As he was now, he sought ways to lessen the burden of his techniques. If his weakness were to be put into words, then it was therge consumption of his skills.

    Just a single usage of the Demonic Massacre Wave resulted in a notable drop in his Demonic Anima Reserves. This was true even if he controlled it to the best of his ability. Although his consciousness was faint at the time, his body still remembered the obscene mastery it held over both Hellfire and Demonic Anima in general.

    ''It had been many years, but that voice spoke to me again at that time. Until now, I still don''t understand who that is. Maybe I''ll find outter, but what I need right now, is to learn how they controlled this power so well. If I don''t get the bacsh of the stigmata under control, then I fear my condition will only worsen over time,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    While he was lost in thought, the others departed the area, leaving him by his lonesome. When he came to, Apollo scoured his memory for the path leading back to the Resource Hall. Fortunately, his recall was improving by the day. Hence, it didn''t take long at all for him tomit it to memory.

    At the same time, he also memorized the location of the Housing Area. ''Based on the number of resources I get, that''ll determine which ranked personal quarters I''ll situate myself in.''

    With a n in mind, Apollo made his move. Since he was inside the walls of the academy, he didn''t have to worry about exhausting his Demonic Aura. As a result, he executed the Partial Shade Silhouette to travel faster.

    But, when he reached the Resource Hall, he became ckjawed. There were at least 2,000 other students lined up before him seeking to im their starting package. It was now he understood why Lance said the first day was the worst. Everyone needed to do the same things.

    Not only did they obtain their resources, but they were also administered a specific identification rank. It detailed their age, potential courses, and the number of academic credits. Additionally, at the very bottom, there was also a ranking.

    This number was only relevant to the top 100 students. Based on their academic ranking, there were bonus rewards that could be gained for the semesters. That meant, per year, there were only 2 chances for students to receive extra items outside of what they exchange for their hard work.

    ''Oh this is a drag,'' Apollo groaned as he looked at the snail''s pace the line was moving. Unlike the trial selection, the academy didn''t allot many instructors to handle this process. Furthermore, the items were prepared beforehand, they werepiled on the spot.

    Thus, it took upwards of 2 minutes just to move a couple of spots. At the rate the line was moving, no one would be able to experience the academy''s amenities. Instead, they''d be mentally exhausted from the torturous boredom they were subject to.

    Since there was no other option, Apollo took the time to absorb trace amounts of the aura here. As he did so, he was shocked. Different from his prior experiences, when he absorbed the essence here, two strands of energy entered his body. Although he was familiar with Spiritual Essence to a certain extent, that was strictly rted to theory.

    What he absorbed was the Tainted Essence present in the shards. Thus, he was left at an impasse at the Spiritual Essence sat in his meridians. If he sent too much of his perception to his internals, then he would also be stuck in ce.

    As the meridians connected to the Tainted Temple was a gray area for him, it was something that required his undivided attention. In light of this, he came to a decision, ''I''ll just try to mimic what that guy Lance did to the best of my ability.''

    Silently, Apollo stood on line. However, if one looked closely, they''d realize a faint shadowy afterimage flickering from his body. The longer it stayed active, the more drops of sweat umted on Apollo''s forehead.

    In the meantime, he took a single step each time the line advanced. In this way, his body was filtering out the damaged parts through the continuous stimtion of the Natural Essence conversion. Of course, it wasn''t rapidly healing him back to his peak state, it was just quickening the process.

    Finally, after several hours had passed, it was Apollo''s turn to enter the Resource Hall. Upon doing so, he was greeted by an old man with a full head of white hair. Be that as it may, his eyes betrayed the state of his body.

    While his body seemed frail, his eyes well filled with exuberant yet dark energy. "Oh, I feel worthwhile darkness on you. Your stay here should be very eventful. Nevertheless, I am the Hall Master of the Outer Barracks Resource Hall, Robyn Graham. Pass me your identification card used in the trial."

    Without hesitation, Apollo obliged. He couldn''t wait to leave this godforsaken area. He just wanted to acquire his stuff and go.

    Yet, that was easier said than done, Robyn''s eyes widened as he looked at the information on the card before him. At the same time, he made some calctions in his mind, ''These markings for his potential, it''s sky-high! It''s already beyond baseline paragon potential. Fine, I''ll make a concession for him. His 3 times will be increased to 5.''

    "Don''t say this old man has never looked out for you. When you get nice things, keep me in mind. Now wait here as I create your credentials," Robyn stated with a cheeky grin. He had found a golden goose! It was his fortune that he volunteered toe down from the top area of the Resource Hall.

 Chapter 174 - Making A Decision

    ----

    Shortly after Robyn left, he reappeared. In his hands were two things. Firstly, there was a diamond embezzled card. Compared to the cards Apollo seen the other student marveling at upon leaving, this card was far more luxurious. Moreover, it was also the only one Apollo had witnessed.??

    Unless they put away their things early, Apollo felt he was the only one to present a diamond offer thus far.

    Secondly, Robyn''s held a spatial ring. Here in the academy, they no longer used primitive means such as spatial pouches. Contrarily, they graduated to using the more convenient counterpart, a spatial ring.

    "Here you go. This is 5 times the standard of a diamond apprentice soldier. In addition to 1,000 usable academic credits, there are also 150 pieces of Spirit Stones as well as ample resources for Body Cultivation," Robyn informed as he presented Apollo the two items.

    ''Five times? So that''s what he meant by him doing me a favor. I wonder if this will cause any dilemmas with the Headmaster? Well, since he offered, I might as well ept. Besides, with the way he worded it, he views this as a transaction as well,'' Apollo thought while reaching out his hand.

    As he imed them, there was a pensive look on his face. While he was familiar with Spirit Shards, he waspletely unfamiliar with Spirit Stones. Not to mention, for some reason, 150 sounded small to him. Fortunately, Robyn was perceptive and understood the disconnect in Apollo''s mind.

    "I''m guessing Spirit Stones are a foreign concept to you. In simple terms, they are Spirit Shards in a far moreplete and purer state. Due to this, the energy inside isn''t just more potent, it is easier to consume. If it were put side by side with a Spirit Shard, then the energy inside a stone is equivalent to just over 100 shards.

    "To summarize, you can think of these 150 stones as being equivalent to 15,000 Spirit Stones. Should youe back at ater time, we can discuss the conversion ratios. For now, take your leave so I can allow the next person in. The day is eluding us as there is still a sizable crowd left to deal with," Robyn asked while showing Apollo the door.

    Since he already, Apollo nodded, "Sure, I''ll also like to look at the catalogter as well."

    "Very well," Robyn replied while looking at Apollo''s exiting figure. As he gazed at him, Robyn smirked. With his wisdom gained over the years, he knew this deal was worthwhile. With what was present on Apollo''s card, just thinking about the grandeur that would be attached to Apollo''s name made Robyn giddy.

    As such, he fulfilled all the following order with tion. There was no way his mood would sour with the possible treasures in the future. After all, there was an expedition to a secret realm that nearly all freshmen had to partake in.

    Truth be told, this was how he made all his deals. By investing in their earlier stages, Robyn was given a tiny fraction of the items they received at that time. When weighed side by side, the exchange was fair.

    In exchange for better initial standards as well as arger chance at obtaining a smooth advancement to the next year, they just had to offer a tiny part of the rewards from their final graduation examination. Not to mention, his assistance didn''t appear to be a one time offer.

    Meanwhile, Apollo made his way back to the Housing Area. Simr to the Resource Hall, it was manned by an older male. Except, he was far younger, seeming to be in his middle ages. As he looked at Apollo, his physique teemed with battle-hardened intent.

    "Wee freshmen, may I see your identification card," the male asked while standing guard before the gate.

    In response, Apollo pulled out his card. Upon doing so, the male smiled and nodded.

    "Ah, so you''ve received the diamond offer. While I can''t show favoritism, I expect great things from you. Less than 20 of those are handed out here every year. Hence, you should count yourself lucky. By the way, my name is Corvin, overseer of the Outer Barrack''s Housing Area," Corvin nodded with a tinge of praise.

    It was always a shock to see that luxurious card being pulled out. It depicted one with a great future ahead of them.

    "The name''s Apollo," Apollo greeted. Afterward, he remembered something Lance had mentioned earlier, "I was told during the freshmen guide that there are different level personal quarters, is that so?"

    "Very. Usually, we don''t present the choice until some weeks in due to you freshmen having ack of academic credits. But, there are always some loopholes and leeway made for those who show they deserve it. And, by that card, I can see that you do," Corvin answered.

    He then turned around and waved for Apollo to follow him while disclosing even more information, "Since you have that card, you should have ample academic credits. Thus, I''ll tell you the quarters are divided into four different types.

    "At the lowest, you have basic which is then followed by the intermediate counterpart. On top of that is advanced and finally, there are the special quarters. I''ll tell you now, it isn''t advised for you to choose thest one. Unlike the other three which have to option of using Spirit Shards and academic credits, special quarters can only be rented with academic credits," Corvin warned.

    Due to this, Apollo became far more curious. If that living couldn''t be rented with spirit shards, that meant one or a few things. First and foremost, this area was meant for the freshmen who were the cream of the crop. Next, this also meant there was a limited number of such rooms.

    Last and most importantly, this meant it was situated for those who existed on the top ranking. Only those people would have enough academic credits to spare in order to shoulder the exuberant monthly cost of the rooms.

    "Oh, and I forgot to tell you. The quarters all operate on a monthly payment system. You can opt to either pay in the beginning or at the end for 10% extra. As for the prices, here is the list," Corvin snapped his wrist in the direction of Apollo.

    A few momentster, Apollo raised his arm and caught a scroll. Upon unraveling it, he caught wind of the appalling prices, especially so far theuded special quarters.

    [Basic Living Quarters - 15 Academic Credits or 45 Spirit Shards per month.]

    [Intermediate Living Quarters - 35 Academic Credits or 140 Spirit Shards per month.]

    [Advanced Living Quarters - 175 Academic Credits or 700 Spirit Shards per month.]

    [Special Living Quarters - 500 Academic Credits per month.]

    After reading the information, Apollo could only stand there in shock. With his 1,000 points, he could only rent the top area for 2 months. After that, if he didn''t find a way to secure a steady influx of credits, he would be broke.

    One must remember, this wasn''t ounting for the cultivation resources he would need to rece. This meant, at most, his points wouldst for a month. Thus, he was conflicted. Should he risk it and gamble on the highest room or should he take the safer route and test the waters.

    After ample time spent pondering this matter, Apollo asked Corvin a question, "Under normal circumstances, what would consider the best route for someone who wields a diamond card? A choice that wouldn''t burden the academic points."

    "If we take into ount the everyday expenditure, then it is advised you settled for advanced living quarters. Furthermore, you should split the cost between spirit shards and academic points. This is because there are certain areas that only take credits as payments. It''s better to be safe than sorry," Corvinmented.

    "Then let''s do it that way for now. I''ll take an advanced living quarter. But, I''d like to pay it all with spirit shards," Apollo stated. Afterward, he pulled out 700 Spirit Shards without dy.

    "Ah, smart choice. In truth, the exchange ratio for academic points to Spirit Shards is 1:10, but we don''t tell the students that. It is up to them to ascertain information rather than assume. Nevertheless, here is your entry inscription," Corvin chuckled while shooting a ray of energy on the back of Apollo''s palm.

    The marking of the number ''74'' appeared on his hand. Corvin then told him which path to take to arrive at his door.

    After settling himself, Apollo fell out onto a spacious bed. Now that the continuous battle and stressful stage was over, he needed rest. After all, tomorrow marked the start of his never-ending cycle of learning and advancing.

 Chapter 175 - Spiritual Lessons

    ----

    Although it felt like the blink of an eye, the next day came. With the rays of the overbearing sun bearing down on his face, Apollo opened his eyes. As he sat up in the new bed of his living quarters, Apollo gripped his forehead.??

    For some odd reason, he was feeling more lethargic than normal. Moreover, he also had something on his mind. Although he didn''t know what it meant exactly, he was sure the recurrence of the same dream was a sign.

    "How long has it been since I dreamed of that darkness. But, this time felt different. Now that my mind is stronger, I could sense some messages hidden within. If I''m not mistaken, then what I''m dreaming of is in fact a world," Apollo muttered to himself while swinging his legs out of bed.

    Since he was awake, he washed his face and body. However, amid his actions, he heard the repeated tolls of three bells. This was then followed by a message entering his ears.

    "Attention all freshmen, after you have your breakfast, please report to the Teaching Hall of the Outer Barracks. We''ll then proceed forth with your first general lesson. The topic of today is something you all must take a step upon, Spiritual Cultivation."

    After hearing this message, Apollo dried his face and wore his robes once again. However, before he could take a step outside, he noticed a package in his doorway. Along with the package, there was a note attached to it that caught Apollo''s eyes.

    "Hello freshmen, this is another edition of the Vermillion Night Academy''s freshmen attire. As you know, the school''s prominent colors are ck and red. Thus, you must wear our pride at all times."

    Upon reading the message, Apollo nced at his own robes, ''Ah, it seems I was given this long ago. That Irauk is a shrewd one. No wonder it didn''t fit me until my body reached a certain standard. But, I have to say, whoever chose the colors did take a rather appealing stylistic approach.

    Since he wore the school''s attire already, he tossed the package inside and closed the door. Naturally, with the design of the school''s formations, the security was irond. Without the keycard in his possession or the master override in possession of those who knew the intricacies of the design, Apollo''s privacy was secure.

    Meanwhile, as soon as he exited the premises, he caught wind of a few familiar faces. For starters, there was the odd Odessa. But, there was also a brute swooning over her with a foolish expression.

    "Wait a minute...when did Typhir get here?" Apollo whispered while blinking incredulously. Now that he looked at Typhir, he remembered the moments right before cking out, he had potentially put him in danger.

    Be that as it may, Apollo somehow didn''t feel a shred of guilt. Once he gave his word, he felt the means justified the end. Except, that was something Apollo had no recollection of. Just after he did so, from that point on, it was all a blur.

    There seemed to be some kind of mental block on his mind at the moment. Furthermore, it was one that didn''t hamper his abilities in the slightest. This meant, inparison to the suppression of the stigmata, it was much more sophisticated.

    Nevertheless, Apollo tried to get past them without being noticed. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Less than 10 seconds after he appeared, Odessa''s gaze was already locked onto him.

    "Hey, isn''t this brute your friend? Come get him! He''s lucky I don''t want to break academy protocol or else I''d be done with him already," Odessa seethed as she red at Apollo. From their interaction in the trial, Odessa knew there was some kind of rtionship between the two.

    Hence, why she immediately tried to thrust the situation at Apollo.

    "Ahem, all I did was tell you how much of a beauty you are. I, a true man, knows when topliment well. Besides, you''re much better than the likes of ire and the other female glories. I can sense it," Typhirmented with an unsettling smile.

    On the other hand, Apollo shook his head. He couldn''t understand why everyone ended up here. Sure, Typhir specialized in one part first, but he could''ve also taken the offer from the Tempest Academy.

    ''Don''t get involved. Nope, don''t do it. Ignore them,'' Apollo repeated in his mind while walking past them. Regrettably, Odessa wasn''t one to suffer alone. She performed a hand movement and once again summoned a barrier before Apollo.

    However, Apollo learned his lesson. Before it could form, Apollo stuck one finger coated in Hellfire. Due to his actions, the barrier didn''t form properly missing its center.

    He turned back and shook his head, "Why don''t you just go get breakfast? I don''t understand you people."

    Sure enough, after saying that, he disappeared in the direction of the Canteen Building. Shortly after, Odessa fled the area as well. Although her strong suit was healing, she didn''tck when it came to movement ability. As per instructions, everyone convened in the canteen and ate their share of breakfast.

    Once done, they gravitated towards the spacious Teaching Hall. Besides the two institutes, the Teaching Hall in each of the barrack areas was where general sses were held. One could easily find a ss to their liking there.

    But, there was only one ss on the agenda for freshmen today¡ªtheir spiritual lessons. Due to the size of the target audience, thergest area was reserved for the teachings today.

    While they waited for an instructor, all of the students took a seat. To upy themselves, some people meditated while others chatted amongst themselves. It went without saying, Apollo was the former.

    Several moments into his meditation, the door opened and closed. With a sh of light, a man appeared in the front of the teaching space. His light aqua hair was tied into a ponytail as his average build was present for all to see.

    In aposed manner, the instructor with a dignified expression spoke, "I''ll make the introduction quick. I am the general instructor of the freshmen, ive Strode. Since my forte is the understanding of Spiritual Cultivation as a whole, I shall impart some of my knowledge unto you."

    The room fell quiet after he spoke. This was because he closed his eyes and projected a marvelous scene before the students. He tapped his forehead with two fingers and summoned faint blue wisps of energy.

    "This goes without saying, but what is in my grasp is Spiritual Essence itself. However, this is my personal essence. Now, can anyone tell me the purpose of it?" ive questioned while ncing around the room.

    Due to theck of hands, ive arbitrarily called on someone. Surprisingly, it happened to be Odessa. Naturally, with her background, she was well learned in the information pertaining to this particr essence.

    "The most basic use is to improve the senses and open the sixth sense by creating a Soul Temple. Beyond that, we can go even further to use it to expand and chisel that same Soul Temple. Lastly, it is also used to sustain our Spirit''s abilities due to the restrictions ced upon them by nar Shifting," Odessa answered.

    ive smiled after she answered and nodded, "Correct, those are the uses. But, you left out how the outside influences affect this. This is where your Soul State Aptitudees into y. The higher the grade, the faster one can attune their mind with the essence. But, this isn''t without drawbacks."

    "Yes, the higher one''s aptitude bes, therger the volume needed to fill the initial level. Not to mention, the following levels will increase exponentially," Odessamented.

    Across the room, Apollo''s eyebrows rose. He wasn''t aware of the drawback of arger aptitude and this was also the first time he was formally learning about this world''s cultivation path. This made him wonder, ''Does my path follow the same rules? It seems my system conforms to the standard of this world.''

    Nevertheless, a loud p sounded, "Enough of the theoretical, let''s get into the actual practice. You can think of me as a guide. I am here to distinguish any discrepancies in the way you practice"

    Thus, following his instructions, everyone closed their eyes in an attempt to enter a meditative state. This included Apollo as well. In the beginning, he held some concerns towards cultivating before everyone, but it soon turned out his worries were unwarranted.

    Be that as it may, with the constant direct of ive, a newfound ability was on the brink of awakening.

 Chapter 176 - Pure Demonic Conversion

    ----

    Numerous groans were heard inside the teaching space as many of the student''s expressions paled. Unlike Body Cultivation, the start of Spiritual Cultivation was extremely painful. Hence, the reason the number of Spirit Cultivators to Body Cultivators was 1:1,000.??

    Nevertheless, ive nodded with a hint of praise on his visage, "I must say, this year''s standard of youths is a tier above. Although you are all experiencing the preliminary pains of this cultivation, none of you have tapped out;mendable tenacity."

    While he continued to walk around, he saw small signs of Spiritual Essence interacting with the student''s head. Specifically, the point between their eyebrows. This was a telltale sign that their Soul Temple was ready to be formed.

    Unfortunately, that was something easier said than done. To endure a pain equivalent to your brain being severed in half was not a simple request. If one wanted to do so, they either needed a very strong mind or tenacity that went far beyond the norm.

    However, if it was thetter, there still remained a possibility to incur injury or even death if one refused to admit defeat in the face of peril. One thing most youths disliked was falling behind their peers. Thus, this created apetitive atmosphere.

    Fortunately, ive allowed them to take breaks. After all, the Soul Temple wasn''t something that required a fluent opening. As long as they primed their mind to the precipice, then they could take the final step at any point. The importancey in the fact they liberate their minds to their utmost ability.

    As a result, various boast could be heard circting the room as many students took their breaks. On the other hand, students like Apollo, Typhir, Odessa, and the others who alreadypleted this process, continued in their endeavors without interruption.

    In the meantime, ive gazed at them silently. Compared to a few past batches, their mental strength seemed to be many times stronger. Based on the fluctuations surrounding them, it was safe to say they already stepped beyond the first rank of the Spirit Apprentice Realm.

    Yet, when he looked at Apollo, he could sense nothing. ive found this to be extremely odd. After all, he was aware of Apollo, and out of everyone, he held the most rxed expression. It was as if he experienced no pain whatsoever from tempering his mind.

    If so, then from ive''s perspective, Apollo must possess some kind of variant mind. Additionally, it had to be one that concealed all signs of activity. Otherwise, there was no other way for him to exin what was taking ce before his very eyes.

    Of course, it wasn''t what ive thought it to be. In fact, it was much, much worse. Unbeknownst to him, by introducing Apollo to Spiritual Essence in an orthodox way, he enabled the scenario needed to spur Apollo.

    He awakened a new trait!

    ?System Alert! You have awakened a new trait. Furthermore, it is deemed as a Pinnacle Vital trait. You have unlocked ?Pure Demonic Conversion?.?

    As this message sounded in Apollo''s mind, he paused what he was doing. Since his advancement in this type of cultivation, he possessed the ability for the notification to appear in either his mind or in the world before him.

    Naturally, in his current situation, he picked the former. While doing so, he expanded on the information to understand exactly what the Pure aspect depicted. Since it deemed the ability to be a pinnacle vital trait, that meant it couldn''t be trained through regr means.

    It means it could only grow along with the state of his being, which as of right now, was a meager Lesser Demon.

    Trait Name: Pure Demonic Conversion

    Type: Pinnacle (Vital)

    Level: MAXED

    Information: Typically, this ability is awakened in a demon that travels the path of supreme power. Unlike the rest of its peers, it isn''t limited to one source of power. By using its body as the furnace, any and all energy of matching aspects can be converted into Pure Demonic Anima to power your very being. However, the immensity of the scale effect is determined by your Demonic Order.

    Effect -

    ?Lesser? - By absorbing an energy source of a simr type, you are allowed to convert 0.01-0.1 units of Pure Demonic Anima every second. The value is determined by the thickness of the ambient energy surrounding you.

    Conversion Cost: 20% of the energy in conversion.

    Current Environment = 0.08 Pure Demon Anima per second.

    .

    .

    .

    As he looked at the information before him, Apollo was frozen in shock! This was the Pure Demonic Anima Azridan mentioned before. It was something he was in dire need of. After all, not only did it contribute to the eleration of his race evolution, it could also assist in recovering quicker.

    However, when he saw how much he could create at the moment, he was appalled. It had to be known, immediately after bing a Lesser Demon, his body could already hold upwards of 3,000 units of Demonic Anima.

    Yet, with his current conversion rate, it would take over a day just to recuperate his Demonic Anima should he exhaust it all. Not to mention, this took into ount the Demonic that was being split between his Tainted Temple and Infernal Nucleus. Thus, Apollo came to an apt conclusion.

    ''I need to harness Wrath properly soon enough. This is the beauty of Demons learned by Azridan, they possess more than one pool of resources that can also blend together seamlessly,'' Apollo mused.

    Nevertheless, since his Demonic Anima Reserves were full, he continued forward with his current actions. However, the abysmally slow rate of improvement made Apollo feel a sense of dread.

    Unlike the rest, who focused on a single aspect with each type of cultivation. Apollo''s anima flowed into three different sources of its own ord. There was his Infernal Nucleus, slowly but surely strengthening his body, the Tainted Temple doing so to his mind and finally, the Stigmata which was converting the anima into a stream of information for him to decipher.

    ''Unlike the rest, I believe most of my time will be spent absorbing resources. Inparison, there''s just not enough time,'' Apollo thought while opening his eyes.

    As he did so, he caught sight of ive examining his curiously. In response, Apollo did the same. However, in his case, he much more curious about the type of Spirit he held. Truth be told, he held a fascination towards them.

    More importantly, he held a curiosity towards understanding how a Demon would far against them. Since there were a plethora of worlds out there, there were bound to be beings on par with the Demons.

    "Young one, may I ask you a question?" ive approached.

    As there was hostility in his tone or his vibe, Apollo nodded in consent.

    "Is there no pain present when you cultivate your mind? Different from the rest, your expression is always cid as you cultivate it. Additionally, I can''t sense the energy you are cultivating. While I can see you absorbing Spiritual Essences, there are no signs of you chiseling your mind," ive probed while crouching beside Apollo.

    "Ah, there is a reason for that. Simply put, the pain isn''t enough to garner a reaction. I have been through some unspeakable things. My body is the culmination of destructive techniques," Apollo replied in a calm tone.

    However, from theck of emotion in his voice, ive couldn''t tell if this was the truth or not. If it was, then thisd before him was nothing short of an enigma. As far as he knew, there was no pain on par with forming the Soul Temple. After all, one must not underestimate the horror that apanied doing so.

    "I see, well, you may continue. Don''t allow me to impede your progress. But, a bit of advice, use the spirit tools, i.e, the shards and/or stones to promote a faster absorption rate," ive advised before returning to his inspection route.

    ''Use the stones, huh,'' Apollo mused. Since the information came from an instructor, it didn''t hurt to try. Apollo retrieved a single Spirit Stone and held it in his palms. Before experimenting with the lesser version, he wanted to see how these held up with the Tainted Shards.

    Thus, Apollo attempted to absorb the energy. At first, it was going well, but then the system message rang, alerting Apollo of the new abilities drawback. After absorbing the stone to the point of nihility, Apollo opened his eyes.

    ''Oh, woe is me. What a disgusting consumption,'' Apollo sighed.

 Chapter 177 - The Woes Of A Demon

    ----

    ?System Alert! After the conversion loss, 2.40 units of Pure Demonic Anima has been formed. It is being automatically refined with the impure Demonic Anima in the body. So far, the reserves have been increased. [Total: 3,075.25].???

    While looking at the message, Apollo didn''t know how to feel. First of all, the energy inside should have been enough to increase the value by at least 4 times what currently showed. However, what the system didn''t detail was the fact the conversion loss was repetitious.

    It wasn''t a simple 20% loss at the end of the absorption process. Every second that psed, twenty percent of the value absorption was lost in the action of conversion. In other words, yet another issue had presented itself that Apollo needed to remedy.

    ''The only option for me now is to focus on bing a Greater Demon with haste. However, to do that, I need more Pure Demonic Anima as well as¡­ Wait, I wonder; since Ouroboros can consume Crystallized Chaos and create Fragments of Sin, am I able to do the same? After all, I''m not a normal Demon. At least, I don''t think I am,'' Apollo internalized.

    Due to spur of the moment thought, Apollo couldn''t wait until the lesson was over. In the meantime, he continued to retrieve and absorb the energy within Spirit Shards. Since the Spirit Stones were harder to bye, he switched back to the more circted variety.

    Until he secured a way to receive the Spirit Stones in a steady stream, his use of them would be exceedingly sparse. After all, there was only so much he could extort from Odessa before needing an evenrger volume of resources.

    Based on what Odessa and ive said, the requirements for the potential he possessed would result in an exponential need for resources. Especially so since upon conversion, he lost a significant portion of the energy inside the stones.

    Therefore, with his choice made, he retired to circting the Pure Demonic Anima he made. However, soon enough, he came across another issue. His body didn''t allow him to increase his parameters unless he was at peak reserves.

    In other words, if his energy was under his total amount, the energy absorbed would be used to supplement that until he was back in top form. Fortunately, in that scenario, the numbers were different.

    Due to the fact cultivation required the energy in absorption to be tempered, only the most useful parts of the energy werebined into strength. By that same logic, for recovery, all energy would suffice. Additionally, the energy wouldn''t need to be tempered as the body would regte it.

    As such, upon entering the continuous cycle of cultivation, Apollo became far more familiarized with his internal workings. Naturally, this was due to more than one reason.

    Firstly, now that he was actively training his Tainted Temple, those set of almost dead meridians reacted to the energy flowing through them. Slowly but surely, the use of them was being awakened.

    Secondly, the Pure Demonic Anima was melding together to rece the old. During that process, it flowed through Apollo''s inner channels of its own ord. As it reached his Infernal Nucleus, it circled it a few times before forming a thinyer.

    After several hours of repetition, ive pped his hands.

    "Alright, that will end your first lesson on Spiritual Cultivations. In 3 weeks, we''ll continue forward with it. At that time, I think we''ll delve deeper into the matters and familiarize you all with the Soul Conscience. After all, the aim is to prepare to use it to venture to another world."

    Upon informing them of this information, ive nced towards a select few in ss with a thoughtful expression, "As for those of you who already possess a cultivation in the Spiritual Way, let''s make a little wager."

    As soon as the word wager was heard by Apollo, he perked up. There was nothing he liked more than a good deal, especially from someone with either deep pockets or skills he could witness.

    A momentter, ive smiled, "I''m thinking of making a little race type event. However, there can only be three winners. As for the task, be the first one to reach the state of contacting a Spirit. Although this starts from this moment forward, the deadline is inconclusive. It''ll go based on the first to achieve the task."

    On the other hand, Apollo rubbed his chin. There was no harm participating in an extracurricr task such as this, but he did have a question, "The rewards, what are they?"

    "Let''s see, for the most part, I''ll supply Spirit Stones. But, I''ll also throw in a Natural Blessing to assist in the cultivation of the body. After all, both the body and mind need to be equally strong to tread far upon your own respective paths," ive answered after sparing the matter a short thought.

    "Very well, I will join," Apollo nodded. Before anyone else could answer, he left the premises. With his earlier thoughts fresh on his mind, he wanted to test them out as soon as possible. That meant, even if he was to miss out on mingling with peers.

    However, before he could get far, a handnded on his shoulder. For a moment, he was hostile, almost responding with a blow. But, when he recalled the rules and realized the aura of the person, Apollo rxed.

    "What is it, Typhir? I have things to do," Apollo asked while turning back ever so slightly.

    For a short while, Typhir was silent. Then, he showed a cheeky grin, "That Odessa girl, you know her, right? I ask that you put in a good word for me and hook us up!"

    Apollo froze. He was speechless! This was the reason he was being stopped? "What!? You can''t be serious. Not to mention, didn''t you say before that you aren''t interested in women?"

    In response, Typhir smirked and swiped his nose, "No, you have me all wrong brother! I said I hate conniving woman! That girl there is strong. And, I love strong women. While growing up, I witnessed boundless strength from my mother. It was then I came to the conclusion of the traits my spouse must possess."

    "Eh, I wish you luck then. I don''t know whatpels you to chase a Paragon woman. You''re much better off staying by yourself. I''m pretty sure someone will end up murdering you in your sleep," Apollo scoffed while shaking his head.

    Naturally, the two continued to go back and forth. Unfortunately, Apollo had met his match. Not only was Typhir even more headstrong than he was, but his aura also seemed to have subtle improvements. Thus, Apollo conceded, but not really.

    Still, they parted ways with Apollo returning to his living quarters and Typhir going about his business.

    Once he situated his belongings, Apollo called up the Interdimensional Inventory for the first time. Numerous square slots beyond what Apollo could see filled his eyes, but some of them seemed dim. As he touched them, a message popped up.

    ?System Alert! Due to your insufficient inheritance level, this portion of the inventory is inessible. Once you have achieved the proper requisites, this tab will open allowing you to further cement yourself as a Demon.?

    ''Hm, inheritance level. So, that means the system itself seems to be some type of inheritance. If that''s the case, then why was I chosen? I''m sure there are other people out there who can fulfill this role just as well,'' Apollo thought while retrieving a Crystallized Chaos.

    On top of what he was rewarded forpleting his task, it appeared there was also an additional reward for achieving the 3rd level of the Demon Monarch System.

    Before, his Crystallized Chaos'' numbered no more than 60. However, now there were exactly 200, situated into two clean stacks of 100. In light of this, any qualms with wasting a resource for Ouroboros exited his mind.

    As he held the chaotic shard, Apollo looked at the energy inside. ording to Azridan, it was something the rivaled Pure Demonic Anima and Sin. It was just known as Chaos. Now that he held it, he came to realize something.

    ''Didn''t I feel an energy like this before? I''m sure I did. At least, that''s what my mind is telling me,'' Apollo thought. While ruminating over this problem, both his Infernal Nucleus and Tainted Temple thrummed in ordance.

    When their frequency reached resonance, Apollo''s mind nked as his eyes felt vacant. Soon enough, he felt like he was falling through endless darkness. No matter how he tried to grasp on something, his mind just kept sinking further.

    By the time he did regain himself, he was baffled.

    "What the fuck is this¡­" Apollo uttered with an incredulous gaze. He couldn''t believe his eyes. He didn''t quite understand how, but he was in another ce! Or, at least his mind was.

    As he looked down and clenched his fist, Apollo realized a small disconnect with his body. It was as if the signal to his body was being bounced before arriving at where he intended.

    Be that as it may, he realized he held an innate curiosity for this ce. As a result, he took a step forward and the scenery took an overwhelming turn.

 Chapter 178 - Spiritual Connection Of The Nihilistic Rings

    ----

    The moment Apollo moved, the scenery changed into one boasting an obscenely negative atmosphere. In fact, it was so prominent that Apollo dropped to his knees upon appearing here. Moreover, there seemed to be an unbearable pressure bearing down on his mind.??

    While simr to what he experienced inside the Lesser Cultivation Rooms, it was also fundamentally different. Not only was it taking much longer to limate to this ce, but Apollo also wasn''t actually here with his physical body. This greatly contributed to his current afflictions.

    "W-what is this ce¡­" Apollo muttered while looking in the distance. For miles toe spanning across the vast dismal horizon, colossal mountains spew magma that emitted a dreadful aura greeted Apollo''s view. Although he was quite familiar with heat due to Hellfire, this ce was advanced along that spectrum.

    One thing hecked was information on the world of inhabitants to the Demon. In addition to that, he alsocked knowledge pertaining to how he ended up here. In his attempts to channel the energy within the Crystallized Chaos, his body performed an action of his own.

    Before he could get a clear grasp of the situation at hand, a low yet prolonged rumbling sounded. The longer itsted, the more pronounced it became. Whatever the source was, it was enclosing fast.

    Thus, Apollo tried to rise to his feet. With the unfamiliar atmosphere, he only seeded after much effort. Fortunately, there was arge column of obsidian stone nearby to take shelter behind.

    By the time he situated himself behind it, the source of the prolonged rumbles appeared. It was a creature Apollo was entirely unfamiliar with. Even whenpared to the demonic form he took, this thing looked unsettling.

    A creature appearing to be a cross between a boar and reptilian monster appeared. However, it was encased in ghastly mes that emitted a shrill me. Almost as if it was searching for his presence, it stopped and looked around.

    Unlike his typical reaction, Apollo controlled his breathing. Something told him to do so. Even though the creature before him didn''t seem particrly strong, there was a looming sense of danger as he looked at it.

    ''Is this some type of demonic creature? But the problem is why does it feel so dangerous. And, why do I feel so powerless,'' Apollo mused to himself. For some odd reason, the connection between both his Stigmata and Infernal Nucleus was non-existent at the moment.

    Furthermore, no matter how he tried to stimte his Tainted Temple, it seemed to be upied with other matters. In other words, as of right now, Apollo possessed zerobat ability. Not to mention, he was only in this world spiritually.

    Be that as it may, it didn''t mean he was clear of dangers. On the contrary, it meant he was in a far more precarious situation. After all, the soul was both elusive and vital. If it wasn''t, it would be the mostplicated aspect to advance upon.

    Nevertheless, despite his current situation, Apollo wanted to explore this word further. As it was now, it feltplete and as it was focused solely on a particr Sin that was ever-present in the atmosphere.

    ''Could this be the world of Ira? Azridan did say the Demonic Wordprises 9 worlds. Beyond that, each world isposed of a Sin''s primal source. If this is the world of Ira, shouldn''t there be a ruler here? Compared to me now, and this thing before me, I wonder just how strong they are,'' Apollo internalized.

    Since the creature failed to locate Apollo''s position due to the extremely weak fluctuations from his soul, it departed the area. Albeit slowly, the creature still showed high signs of intelligence by inspecting its route of retreat.

    Simrly, at a safe distance, Apollo tailed the creature. It had to have a ce to call home. In this foreign world, where he was unaware of how long his stay was, Apollo moved cautiously.

    ''Thankfully, this isn''t the first time I''ve felt so powerless. Had not it been for my initial training from Azridan, I wouldn''t possess the knowledge to deal with this situation.

    All of a sudden, the creature paused. However, it wasn''t due to Apollo. It narrowed its eyes as it looked into the distance. Hidden behind a thick smoke, the silhouette of an impish figure appeared.

    Typically, demons wouldn''t be so apprehensive of a foe. However, this impish was one nefarious for its whimsical deeds and abhorrent behavior. Not only did it prey on their weakness, but once the Imp realized it possessed the upper hand, it toyed with its victim.

    Hence, why the lizard looked at the Imp. Surprisingly, while the creature looked at the imp, its body trembled. From over 7 meters long, it shrunk to a 2-meter tall bipedal being. Despite its simrities to humans in its new form, it wasn''t quite proper to call it human.

    "Taranaki, why have you traveled this far?" The creature in its human-like form asked. Two small horns grew from its forehead as burnt orange scales covered his cheeks and neck.

    "Seizin, don''t fret. Ie because I sense a foreign presence. One that seems both infantile and tasty. Tell me, you don''t intend to hog this gift to yourself, do you?" The impish figure smirked mischievously awaiting the response.

    "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but just as quickly as it appeared it as quickly as the presence faded. I don''t know if they''ve left but I will tell you this, I can''t sense their Ira," Seizin answered with a displeased expression.

    "No, you''re wrong. You''re simply looking in the wrong ces. Additionally, if I''m being frank, your race is one that is terrible at location and sensing. Luckily, I don''t have the issue," Taranaki the Imp chuckled.

    With a snap of his fingers, a ripple of ck energy was sent forth. But, there was also a weakness to it. It traveled both linearly and in a straight line. To put it differently, as long as one remained against the surface, they could potentially avoid detection.

    Unfortunately, this wasn''t something Apollo was capable of at the moment. Thus, he was bombarded by the wave of strange power. However, as it touched him, not much happened. In fact, the Imp found it to be extremely odd.

    Even though his energy came in contact with something, he was unable to detect where exactly the point of origin was located. Soon enough, Apollo learned why the energy was unable to affect him. Naturally, the system yed arge role in this, but the true saving grace was the item itself he used.

    ?System Alert! The system has finally designated the location your mind has formed a ?Fractured Soul Link? with. As of right now, your soul has entered the 3rd Nihilistic Ring of the Demon World¡ªAshiraem. Generating additional information on your current condition.?

    ?System Alert! Due to the current intensity of your soul, 90% of it is being utilized to root your soul in its ce until a return link can be established. If not, there is a substantial chance of your soul suffering from ?Chaotic Temporal Dissonance?. As a result, your soul is experiencing arge debuff from this environment.?

    ?System Alert! Due to the ?Crystallized Chaos? used to establish this mental link, your soul is encased in the residue of chaotic order. At random intervals, your presence will be unable to be detected as well as unable to be hidden. Do well to understand the pattern within the chaos. Time Remaining: 5 minutes. For now, survive.?

    Meanwhile, as Apollo received this information, the Imp''s expression became oneden with fury. His ything was unable to be found. All his efforts were proving to be for naught as he repeated the action continuously.

    "Damn, foolish foreign thing! You weak demon,e out,e out, wherever you are~" Taranaki uttered in a sing-songy tone. Since he couldn''t use advanced matters, he resorted to the tactics used before one came in across his power¡ªhe dashed forward.

    But, since these beings were one of adequate power, their movements gave Apollo arge sign before happening. As the Imp approached, Apollo cautiously inched by the outside.

    Based on what the soul said, he could infer that dying here would present some kind of damage. While the system didn''t mention it in a straightforward manner, the system wouldn''t warn him to survive for no apparent reason.

    ''Surviving isn''t as easy as the system makes it sound. I still don''t know how damage in this ce works, and quite frankly, I would not like to. At least, not until I know I can regain the semnce of strength needed to protect myself,'' Apollo thought.

    Be that as it may, despite trying his best, a ck eye filled with mischievous intent looked directly at him. Or, that was what appeared to happen. As the Imp looked at his current position, he tilted his head.

    For a second, it could''ve sworn it saw something his. Yet, shortly after, the presence disappeared.

    "What in the demonic world is going on. This soul feels as if it has yet to reach the Lesser standard and yet I can''t find it? Are you telling me I''m incapable of finding something weaker than an infant Lesser Demon?!" The Imp seethed, pounding the ground.

    Regrettably, the moment he did so, Apollo''s appearance reappeared in the route of an approaching boulder. It was then Apollo was hit with a thought of great importance.

    ''If I''m in soul form, can the world itself hurt me? Does the world possess a soul to do so?'' Apollo internalized while staring at therge iing obsidian rock.

 Chapter 179 - The Lords Appearance

    ----

    As therge boulder traveled closer to him, Apollo squinted. Usually, he would be able to sense some kind of energy emanating from something approaching him, however, this couldn''t be said to be his current case. No matter how much he tried to sense the boulder, it felt dead. Or, at least, whatever energy the boulder contained was beyond his ability as of right now.??

    Left with no other choice, Apollo made an abrupt decision. He took a step back, exiting from some kind of temporary chaotic zone the crystal ced upon him. At the same time, both Seizin and Taranaki looked at Apollo with fervent coveting expressions.

    "Yes! Albeit faint, this little roach is emanating some pretty pure Ira. If I were to absorb it, I''d further cement myself in the level of the Greater Demons! Come here you slippery loach!" Taranaki eximed. Without hesitation, he dashed towards Apollo''s position.

    Even if he was at full power, Apollo came to realize a very important bit of information, ''I am far from their match. From his eleration alone, I can tell his Agility should be somewhere along the line of 3 times higher than mine. Not to mention, this is when the Baleful Steps are added into the equation.''

    Fortunately, something surprising happened. As the Imp''s w reached him, it passed right through his body as if it was non-corporeal. At first, Apollo didn''t understand why this was so. It was clear the sense of dread he felt was real and the danger that followed was imminent.

    Yet, nothing happened. Even the Imp himself was baffled by the situation. However, as he examined more closely, he came to a conclusion, "So that''s what it is. Your soul has no source of sin! While you are here, you''re so weak the world doesn''t acknowledge you as worthy! Tch, if that''s the case, you''re useless."

    Uponing to this conclusion, the Imp turned around and left without a moment''s notice. Simrly, Seizin was also frustrated by the situation. On the other hand, while these two were right, it wasn''t the entirety of Apollo''s situation.

    ?System Alert! 1% of your soul strength has been exhausted to immediately nullify the effects of the Chaotic Temporal Dissonance. However, your presence will still fail to register at odd times.?

    ''So that''s why I felt marginally weaker the moment the boulder was about to make contact. Well, if this isn''t something I can control. I should at least take it upon myself to learn more about this world before I''m ejected,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Thus, Apollo traveled slowly in pursuit of the two retreating demons. Unfortunately, with every passing moment, the distance between the two parties grew wider. Additionally, no matter how much he tried, Apollo couldn''t stimte his body enough to allow it to execute the Partial Shade Silhouette.

    After numerous attempts at doing so, Apollopletely stopped trying. In the meantime, he shifted his attention elsewhere. Albeit extremely faint, he could sense a gathering of auras that resembled his regr one.

    The problem was, it was entirely too far into the distance, and based on the timer the system alert showed, there weren''t even 5 minutes left. With that in mind, he began to ponder over some matters, ''The next time Ie, is there a way to strengthen the connection? And, if so, will I arrive at the same point I did?"

    The more he pondered, the more he wishedAzridanpleted the healing process of his soul. But, he was aware that damage to such an elusive thing would take monumental effort to correct. This was true even for someone as strong as Azridan.

    The stronger the soul meant the moreplicated it was to heal when damaged. It was like a puzzle with numerous extra pieces being added to increase theplexity. Likewise, it would be hard to solve once thatplexity was deepened.

    Hence, Azridan''s current predicament. If it was him healing someone of a weaker soul orientation, then so much time wouldn''t be sacrificed in exchange. Nevertheless, just because he was absent, that didn''t mean he left Apollo without vital information.

    In fact, as Apollo pondered, a message appeared before him.

    ?System Alert! A message from the warden has been saved. All prerequisites have been met to receive it. Would you like to be aware of the contents??

    Without dy, Apollo gave his consent. A momentter, a scroll of information appeared before his eyes.

    [Azridan: In light of my absence, should you stumble upon the way to enter the first Nihilistic Ring your mind is linked to, I will depart some information to you. First, there are two ways to enter this ce. The first is pretty much chaotic, literally. I''m guessing you were curious and tried to venture beyond using this method so I won''t go into detail.]

    [However, the second way is the vital way for a Demon to return to his world. You must utilize the organ made by Sin to link back to your world. In your case, there is only the Infant Heart of Wrath. Use that to etch the opposite drawing of the stigmata on your mind. When the two collide, you''ll awaken your ability.]

    [Should you find yourself in the ring early, do your best to stay hidden and survive. If not, your mind will be submerged in a debilitating fury upon returning to whence you came.]

    After reading the message, it disappeared. On the other hand, Apollo now understood. His thoughts were indeed correct, to travel deeper into his mental training would require the inverse flow of his body. Besides this, he also felt there was a hintced within that he had yet to decipher.

    "So, that means toe back here and enter the right way, I mustplete that task beforehand. It is pointless to be here if I''m unable to gain any strength from it," Apollo muttered. Afterward, he took a step forward aimlessly.

    Not only did he continue to contemte how to handle the reverse inscription, but he was also curious about the matter of creating a household. ording to Azridan, it was vital to someone who sought to be at least a Noblesse.

    Which, in other words, was an Archdemon who gained an extremely noble status. However, that was far from the top of the food chain.

    Meanwhile, subconsciously, Apollo continued to wander forth. As he did so, the feeling from the familiar sensation grew intense. Although he was sure he''d never been here, this aura that he was chasing; he was sure he had felt it somewhere.

    ''I''m in the world of Ira. Everything here is so pure. Does that mean the direction I am following, is this where this world''s rule presides? If so, then I must seek them out on my journeys. He should have the means to correct my issue with Ira,'' Apollo thought.

    Once his mind was made up, Apollo continued advancing. In doing so, arge castle with magma spires reaching the sky entered his eyes. Based on the distance alone, Apollo knew he wouldn''t'' reach there.

    Fortunately, that wasn''t his current objective. He sought to sear the location of this ce into his mind. That way, by analyzing thendscape, he would understand his location. Despite the world being expansive, this castle seemed to take up a quarter of thendmass.

    Needless to say, the ruler must have an abundance of loyal servants to upy such a magnitude ofnd. Just as he continued with his actions, he was unaware of a change he caused.

    ----

    Inside the Lord''s Castle of Ashiraem,

    "Hmm? I know this scent. Has Azridan returned?" A being of great origin sat up from slouching in his throne. He then looked in Apollo''s general direction with interest.

    "No, that seems wrong. Although Azridan''s scent is present, it is being overpowered by another. Oh? Has someone been scalded by Ira? Interesting. I must go meet them," he chuckled.

    Before he could make a move, an attendee by his side gripped his arms, "Lord Saehtyn wait! You know you have a meeting with Lord Beelzebub. If you leave him idle, he is sure to cause issues in this world. You remember how he devoured the Infernal Riverst time," the attendee frowned.

    "Tch, damn glutton. I promise I''ll only disappear for a second," Saehtyn replied. Before the attendee could answer, he opened a fiery portal and stepped through it.

    Immediately, he arrived before Apollo. At first, he was surprised by Apollo''s tiny stature. From his 100-meter tall form, Saehtyn shrunk until he was just over 3-meters tall.

    Right after, he stepped towards Apollo, "Are you rted to Azridan?"

    In response, Apollo looked at this person in curiosity. For reasons unknown to him, the person before him felt both unreasonably dangerous and oddly family. Hence, Apollo nodded, "Yes, I am."

    "In what way," Saehtyn questioned while crossing his arm. An oppressive aura leaked from him that began to singe Apollo''s skin.

    Shockingly, Saehtyn could bypass the Chaotic Temporal Dissonance!

    "Sessor¡­" Apollo answered after much difficulty.

    "If that is true, then tell me hisst name. The people who can utter it can be counted on two hands." Contrarily, Saehtyn increased his pressure. Over the years, there were many who have imed to have a rtionship with Azridan.

    But, what many didn''t know is, Azridan is the one who gave pointers to the Lords. Thus, allowing anyone to sphemy his name was something they wouldn''t do.

    Under the pressure, Apollo fell to his knee. At the same time, only one thought passed through his mind, ''Strong. Overwhelmingly strong. This must be the ruler. I...can''t even breathe.''

 Chapter 180 - Exhausted Link

    ----

    The longer Apollo was subject to Saehtyn''s aura, the more dreadful it felt. Slowly, his feet indented the floor as the pressure bearing down on him amplified. In response, Saehtyn silently inspected Apollo''s reaction to his aura.??

    At first, the reaction was subpar. However, as the matters of his soul wereid bare, Saehtyn rubbed his chin in thought, "So that''s what it is. Although you were initially weak, you''re even weaker due to the route you took here. Whatever object of chaos you used is inferior."

    As Apollo tried to lift his neck, his bones creaked, "Yes, this was all done on a whim. It wasn''t my intent toe here. I''m well aware of how weak I am in the grand scheme of things," he answered. Finally, after much effort, he was able to raise his head and look Saehtyn in his eyes.

    "Now, by all means, answer my question. What is Azridan''sst name?" Saehtyn pressed on.

    With a deep exhale, Apollo spoke the demon tongue, "T''hkrain."

    "Correct. However, do you know his true identity? I mean the one that supersedes his attempt at bing the Monarch," Saehtyn asked. While doing so, he leaned closer to Apollo, examining his physique. Albeit faint, he could smell some notable Iraing off of him.

    "No, Master said until I am strong enough, he wouldn''t disclose his history to me," Apollo answered without fail. Upon receiving this answer, Saehtyn smiled and released his aura.

    "All truths, that sounds like that old man. However, I will give you a hint. He was the pinnacle of a demon forged through war. In battle, that man was unsurpassed. It''s a shame he vested most of his attention to epting the inheritance in the end. Heh, they think the veil is over us Lord''s eyes but that is far from the case," Saehtyn grumbled with a solemn expression.

    Shortly after, his expression turned neutral as he looked over Apollo, "It seems Ira is the first Sin. If you travel the path of the uing Monarch then you''ll venture through all the Sin. But, it seems you have some experiences that are unresolved. The way you approach Ira at the moment is wrong."

    "Then, are you capable of giving me pointers?" Apollo implored. Unlike his usual strong-willed demeanor, he was lowering his head. "If I''m not mistaken, you should be the ruler of this Ring, no? That means you''re called Lord Saehtyn, right?"

    Naturally, it wasn''t surprising that Apollo was lowering his head right now. After all, the being who stood before him was the First Lord - The Emperor of Wrath, Ira''s Contractor¡ªSaehtyn. When it came to the attainments in Ira, as Azridan mentioned once before, he was nearly unsurpassed.

    Not only was he the sole individual toe close to subduing Ira, but he was also a Noblesse who evolved beyond the limits of an Archdemon. On a whim, he could control Ira in a way that required Apollo to utilize every ounce of his soul.

    Nevertheless, it seemed to be Apollo''s fortune. Typically, beings of his stature would be haughty and immediately reject this idea of imparting pointers. However, this couldn''t be said to be the case. In fact, Saehtyn looked at Apollo with interest. As of now, it was unknown just how deep his tiers with Azridan went.

    "Correct, that is my name. However, before I give you pointers, tell me. What is Ira and how do you depict Wrath?" Before answering, Saehtyn posed a question of his own. He needed to understand Apollo''s currentprehension of this power.

    Thus, Apollo delivered an answer, "Ira is a being that is neither alive nor dead. But, Wrath is what it generates and it is an emotion. Beyond that, I don''t know much else. For the moment, I''m without guidance," Apollo revealed.

    As a result, Saehtyn nodded in eptance. "At least you are honest with yourself. If you werecent with your trivial attainments, I would have let you where you stood. If it is one thing I hate, it is someone who acts haughtier than their ability allows. Nheless, I will give you guidance amid your short remainder here."

    "First, show me your chest. Although this is just your soul avatar, I have my ways of ascertaining what your current standing is," Saehtyn instructed. At the same time, he moved his left hand in a strange way. Not long after, a symbol appeared in the sky before Saehtyn''s hand.

    Needless to say, Apollo obliged and moved his top robe. Although his skin was bare, once Saehtyn performed his next actions, the outline of Apollo''s stigmata appeared. For a moment, Saehtyn was pensive, but then he realized what happened.

    "An abnormal trial that gave birth to your irregr stigmata, I see. Very well, there are a few things I need to tell you. Firstly, this symbol has another effect beyond revealing your true state, it will prohibit you froming within 10,000 kilometers of that castle in the distance," Saehtyn disclosed.

    Afterward, Saehtyn tapped his nail over Apollo''s heart. From the center, a rune circle expanded over his chest until it melded with his heart. Once it was done, Apollo didn''t feel any difference which obviously baffled him for a short while.

    "Are you saying I can''t seek further guidance from you?" Apollo muttered. It would be a lie if he said he didn''t feel slightly displeased about this.

    "No, that is not why I''ve put this symbol on you. It is due to my Archdemons that patrol the perimeter of the castle. They are perceptive to new sources of Ira and they don''t take lightly to intrusions. Even though I rule over them, they''re not the bunch that is easy to control. Thus, I leave them to their own devices," Saehtyn answered, before continuing.

    "Secondly, this symbol is the guidance you seek. When you return to whence you came, this symbolid on your Infant Heart of Wrath will walk you through what youck. Not only do you need to engrave your Sin on your Infernal Nucleus, but you also need to link the mirror aspects of Ira together. Once you do that, you will enter a new realm of power," Saehtyn said.

    Before Apollo could reply, Saehtyn stopped him. This time, he offered some insight, "When you''re strong enough, only then can you approach my castle. Upon Azridan''s return, I don''t want to be med forpromising your safety. After all, he isn''t someone I can handle.

    "In the meantime, let me correct a few things. One, you must remember that Ira is power. Don''t treat it as an emotion. Treat it as a separate being and bond with it. Once you allow yourself to be vulnerable, you will understand that Ira is an omnipotent Sin.

    "Two, focus on the broad thing before you pay attention to the minuscule. If you start from the small aspects, you hinder your growth. The deeper yourprehension bes, the more the intricacies be clear. Before that happens, don''t force anything. Do you understand?"

    After digesting the information, Apollo nodded. For the most part, he understood what Saehtyn was trying to tell him. He was focusing entirely too much on trying to perfect everything rted to the engravement without taking a step back and studying his Stigmata''s formation.

    "Very well. Not only is your timeing to an end. So is mine. Allow me to send you back safely as I return to where I came from," Saethyn announced. A momentter, his stature continued to expand. Soon enough, he returned to his natural state.

    However, his appearance was slightly different than before. Part of his aura seemed to be unrestrained as a crown of silver mes appeared around his 4 royal horns flowing with magma. Additionally, a mantleposed of Hellfire of an obscene purity draped down his shoulder.

    In light of this appearance, Apollo''s jaw dropped. Simply put, the current appearance of Saehtyn was one of absolute power. This was a realm that Apollo aspired to reach. Thus, his desires were ignited once again.

    On the other hand, Saehtyn held out his palm. A stream of energy caused Apollo''s figure to fade from this world as Saehtyn continued to stare at the spot for a moment.

    Once Apollo waspletely gone, Saehtyn muttered to himself, "I don''t know whatpels me to help that little one but something about him feels different." For a while, Saehtyn paused. "Things are changing and this is needed. Not to mention, the visit of those 4 are bing more frequent. Yet, to me, their momentum seems underwhelming."

 Chapter 181 - Complete Reunion

    ----

    Several moments after he was safely ejected from Ashiraem by Saehtyn, Apollo opened his eyes back in Astarat. As he rose to his feet, he staggered for a moment. Due to the continued usage of copious amounts of mental strength, his body felt faint. Even though there was no damage done, the first experience was always the hardest.??

    On the other hand, Apollo tapped his forehead. Now that he exited Ashiraem, he could tell there was something additional in his mind. Moreover, it felt extremely different. It went without saying, it was the symbol Saehtyn imnted on him.

    "It''s like a little voice is in my mind telling me how to move forward. However, before I do so, I need to refill my depleted reserves. It appears this ability was more consuming than I thought. Over 3,000 units have been exhausted and I was only there for 5 minutes.

    ?System Alert! Your conscience has returned after 8 hours and 30 minutes of suspension. Or, to put it differently, 30,000 seconds. Additional travel of the same type will be barred for 30 days to allow your soul to recuperate.?

    While reading this message, Apollo nked. He didn''t understand what happened. Based on what the system told him, he was only in the world for 5 minutes. If that was the case and his soul was suspended for over 8 hours, there was a mystery with the Chaotic Temporal Dissonance.

    ''Could it be it caused the time flow surrounding my soul to increase 100 fold? I was only gone for 300 seconds but it turned out to be 30,000. Or, perhaps Ashiraem''s time flow is much slower than here? That''s also a usibility,'' Apollo through while ruminating over the matter.

    Nevertheless, he soon stopped. Regardless of whatever he thought at the moment, until he gathered concrete evidence, it was all mere spection at this point. Besides, he didn''t have any intention of visiting that world again until he solved the issue of arriving there properly.

    The abysmal state was far too powerless. If it weren''t for the unpredictability of the Chaotic Temporal Dissonance, he would have been unable to defend himself. Him being akin to a sitting duck was a sensation that didn''t sit right with him.

    Fortunately, the general sses until the Institutes opened from enrollment was only a weekly matter. Obviously, it was done this way to allow the students ample time to cultivate. After all, if they attended ss too often, it would hamper their progress with advancing.

    This, unsurprisingly, was detrimental to the grand purpose of the War Academies. On top of grooming them into soldiers as the years passed, they also needed to make sure they possessed ample strength to achieve a sufficient amount of strength and contribution to the World Remation Task Force.

    Be that as it may, Apollo summoned more resources and started to recuperate. Although he wished he could speed up the process, in his current state, there was no way to do so.

    Only after sitting in a single position did his reserves return back to their peak state. But, as this happened, Apollo realized a ring issue. If his absorption rate stayed stagnant as his reserves increased, upon utilizing all of it, the recovery process would take far longer!

    In light of this, Apollo delved deeper into his mind to interact with the voice present in his mind. Unfortunately, before he could do that, a knock was heard on his residence. First, he wasn''t going to reply and just focus on cultivating. But, after not answering the first knock, the second set was harder and faster as well.

    Thus, Apollo knew, the more he didn''t answer, the more the knocking would be obnoxious. Furthermore, Apollo had an idea who was at the door. Or, at the very least it was summed down to a very minute list of people.

    In frustration, Apollo flung open the door, "Damn! What is it?"

    "Ahem, the old quirk has told us toe to fetch you and meet at the Practic Building," Nadida smiled innocently. Behind her, not only was there Ragnvald, but the whole gang was there¡ªincluding Rhett, Adeon, and Socorra. In fact, even Aaron was present.

    "Why are we being directed there? Shouldn''t we focus on cultivation?" Apollo questioned in a grumbling tone. Just as he was about to immerse himself, he was interrupted. If he could, he could bathe all these people in Hellfire.

    Yet, this was just something he couldn''t do. As a result, he tagged along. As he did so, he continued to look at Rhett. Compared to before, he couldn''t fathom the change Rhett went through. Based on what he remembered, he was sure the glutton should be the size of a boulder but that wasn''t the case.

    "Uh, are you all sure this guy is Rhett? Wasn''t he a tub ofrd before?" Apollo blinked incredulously.

    "Yes, but he has a special constitution. After he turned 15, almost all of his fat was burned and turned into a source of energy. Now, his cultivation is even on par with us. To tell you the truth, we were surprised when this happened," Ragnvald answered as he ruffled Rhett''s hair.

    "Oi, stop! Unless you''re giving me some treats, don''t pet me. Unless, do you have some meat in the ring of yours? Share, share!" Rhett eximed with a fervent expression in his eyes.

    ''Well, even though his body has changed, his personality is exactly the same,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    In the meantime, the group of 7 arrived at the Practice Building. Awaiting their arrival was Irauk as well as a beauty in which Apollo frowned upon seeing.

    "Ah, you tardy bunch have made it! Anyways, you all need to meet the Head Instructor of the Umbra Night Institute, Sapphyr Braum. Should any of you want to enter, you''ll most likely end up in her ss.

    "So, why are we here?" Adeon interjected as Irauk spoke. Of all of them, he was the one with the least. No matter who he was before, his attitude was always the same.

    For a moment, Irauk remained silent. However, as he calmed himself, he smiled. "Well as you know, freshmen are prohibited from leaving the area. And, withoutbat the senses dull. So, I have arranged for you all to be sparring partners. In this way, you all can sharpen each other''s faults. Ah, except for Socorra of course."

    In response, the bunch looked at him oddly. Something was amiss, he was acting too much like an actual teacher right now.

    "What''s the catch?" Apollo inquired with narrowed eyes.

    "Well, that''seasy! You all will have to foot the bill for using this area''s special area!" Irauk cackled. After pping his knee, he left the area, leaving a displeased group of youths. As they were now, they all possessed a finite sum of resources. None of the options to acquire more had been opened to them yet.

    Luckily, Sapphyr was much more level headed. "Be at ease. There is an area solely for freshmen. While it is less intense, it is free of charge, you can spar there. You may all go, but stay behind Apollo, I need to ask you something."

    While the others moved forward, just Sapphyr and Apollo were left.

    "Ahem, first, I want to say sorry. It was rash of me to behave like that. I hope you can understand I wasn''t exactly in the best space when that happened," Saphhyr said after exhaling.

    Although he didn''t like the fact he was the one subject to the thrashing, Apollo still nodded. In short, he understood how embarrassing her situation was. Furthermore, he could say he was slightly more learned in the matters of women.

    "I understand, but how about some rpense. I''m sure you have some Spirits Stones, no? Why don''t you give me some? I think my trauma will be perfectly healed then," Apollo smirked mischievously.

    Even though she knew this was a facade, she still felt she was slightly wrong. Thus, she handed Apollo 25 Spirit Stones while questioning him, "Is it true you were disqualified from thetter part of the trial?"

    "Yup! Not just me, all the Glories were. It seems we got into a scuffle and none of us can remember," Apollo answered. However, it appeared there were some untruths to his words. As he said this, a hint of malice appeared in his eyes that was quickly concealed.

    "I see," Sapphyr nodded, "Well, make sure to watch your back. Go and meet with the others."

    As Apollo entered the building, Sapphyr summoned Xezym, "It seems it is true. But I don''t understand why."

    "We''ll learnter," Xezym responded before they both disappeared.

 Chapter 182 - Inverse Absolute Engravement (I)

    ----

    As the youths sparred, Apollo was shocked to find not just Adeon or Ragnvald, he was no match for Rhett. In light of such a shocking revtion, Apollo pondered. ''Does it mean these three are stronger than the Glories? Then, what the heck are their origins and how did Irauk find them?''??

    Unlike Adeon and Ragnvald who continued to spar with each other without suffering losses, for the first time in forever, Apollo was left on the ground gasping for air. Based on the ice attacks Adeon wielded, he was sure his affinity surpassedmon sense.

    He wielded it as an extension of his body and as if he was breathing! He conjured countless ice des and attacked Ragnvald. However, it wasn''t controlled by his body but his mind! In other words, Adeon could be seen as a prodigy.

    Even though they were all introduced to Spirit Cultivation at the same time, he grasped the uses of the techniques much quicker than the others. While he couldn''t be said to be adept as he couldn''t move at all while the des were in movement, it was still on par with the movement of Ragnvald''s body.

    "Ah, you''re learning very fast. However, you have still yet to reach the level that will allow you to beat me. Let me show you why." Ragnvald pped his hands together and then performed a downward swipe.

    Regardless of how much mental strength Adeon channeled, the ice des mmed against the ground and shattered. At the sight of this, Adeon''s eyes narrowed, "Your Sovereign Gravity Field has grown stronger. My mental link is paper before it, I concede."

    Shockingly, as he did so, Adeon reabsorbed the expended essence by dissolving and inhaling the ice. Now that their sparring was over, they both took a breather and rxed their heightened states.

    Meanwhile, Nadida leaned over Apollo, "Don''t tell me you''re tired! We didn''t even get to spar yet! Get up. No no no, get up this instant!"

    Apollo groaned but ultimately got up. While fighting, he came to realize something, most of his techniques were made for killing. Thus, when sparring he had to hold back heavily. Even though his attacks were strong enough to kill anyone here, it would expose the nature of his attacks if he didn''t do so.

    At that point, some type of exnation would need to be given. And, quite frankly, that was something he didn''t feel like doing.

    Simr to Adeon and Ragnvald, Apollo and Nadida sparred whereas Aaron and Rhett did the same. Inparison, Rhett and Aaron''s spar was less intense. Topensate for his missing arm, Rhett toned down his speed as well as utilized. Although it left a sour taste in his mouth, Aaron didn''t fret.

    As he knew, these were his current circumstances. Fortunately, after he entered his residence, Irauk sought him out and handed him a booklet. When he read the contents, he was shocked. He wanted to know how Irauk got his hands on the special training method of the Dongguang!

    Based on what was known, they were the most tightly knit family there was. Hence, Aaron had a feeling Irauk either pulled some strings, stole this manual, or even outright copied this from someone. Nevertheless, the only thing that mattered to Aaron was the fact he possessed it now.

    "Here Ie," Aaron eximed after exhaling. While in his residence, he used the cirction method of the [Sky Piercing Celestial Spear Techniques] to stimte the persistent spear intent left behind by Aran to the best of his ability. Regrettably, that was easier said than done.

    Until now, less than 5 percent of the intent hidden inside him could be imed as his own. Yet, just that small amount was extremely potent. Needless to say, this made him look forward to theplete result.

    On the other hand, while stabbing a spear forward imed from the Artifact Hall, Rhett dodged all his strikes with disturbing flexibility. Yet, despite all the openings Aaron presented, Rhett didn''t retaliate.

    On the contrary, he gently pointed them out by tapping on them, "When you lunge, you leave your right side open to attack. While I know it is a weakness formed by your missing arm, you have to make it a habit topensate for it."

    In light of his pointers, Aaron nodded, "I understand. I will try to ovee this shoring. In the meantime, continue to help me hone this spear."

    The pair continued to spar with all of the inconsistencies in Aaron''s attack beingid bare. On the flipside, Nadida and Apollo''s battle heated up.

    Unlike during the trial where a portion of her cultivation base was hidden, her full prowess was on disy. Yet, by utilizing his specialty¡ªhis speed, Apollo was able to deflect most if not all of her attacks.

    "You got faster! But, you also seemed to be guarding against damage. Could it be you aren''t fully healed from the events that took ce during the trial?" Nadida questioned while attacking with a fusion of lightning and fire.

    However, as Apollo gazed at the iing attack. He was reminded of a past event. Hence, he instinctively dodged the attack even though most mes were incapable of hurting him.

    Afterward, he raised his hand. "I concede, I can''t continue." Without waiting for her answer, Apollo turned and left the area. As he looked down, he saw his hand trembling uncontrobly. The reason he stopped wasn''t due to her overwhelming attacks, he could feel the grasp of his anger subconsciously slipping.

    Therefore, it was time to throw in the towel before something unpleasant took ce for everyone to see.

    Upon returning to his residence, Apollo gasped and leaned against the door, ''The memories of my first life are still so vibrant. I thought I dealt with them, but it seems I was lying to myself. I need to take my mind off this, I need to move forward with the engravement.

    In addition to retrieving arge amount of Spirit Shards, Apollo also took out the remainder of his Tainted Shards. At the same time, he released Ouroboros and ia from his temple.

    Since he was unaware of the bacsh of his uing actions, he would rather these two remain outside away from whatever was about to take ce. However, the two looked at him curiously after looking at the sea of shards surrounding him.

    "Master, are you about to do something big? Do you need me to look after you and monitor your state?" Ouroboros questioned.

    "No, it''s okay. I have a guide. Everything should be okay, but should anything go awry, then you may step in and use your ability to correct the errors." While they talked, ia stepped forward and pulled Apollo''s shirt.

    "Master, that ce you stored me. It has contributed greatly to my growth. It was even more beneficial than the environment I was born in. What is that ce? Can I go back?" ia pleaded.

    "Sadly, you can''t. I''m about to venture into uncharted territories for myself and I''m unaware how it will affect you. So, just sit tight and wait for me to finish," Apollo answered. Subsequently, he crushed the shards one by one.

    This in turn increased the ambient essence presence in his residence. ording to the information given by Saehtyn, what he was about to partake in required an overwhelminglyrge volume of energy. Therefore, before the energy peaked, Apollo couldn''t make his move.

    However, before he could move forward, there was one more thing he needed.

    "Remember, I am giving you this power to avenge your parents. Never forget the wrongs that have been done to you. If you do, you will lose your desire and the reason you seek power. Do you want that to happen? To let down your parents and fail to right the wrongs?" Apollo uttered.

    "No, not at all!" ia snarled. Obviously, Apollo''s words stimted her rage, "I will definitely avenge!"

    "Very well, now sleep," Apollo respondedckadaisically. He ced his hand on her mind and absorbed her wrath. Every time he performed this, it became easier and felt more natural to him. With this, his preparations wereplete.

    As he closed his eyes, Apollo chanted the mantra needed to open himself to Ira. ''I have to be vulnerable.''

    "Wrath is power; I don''t seek it, however, I fall within its embrace. Burning all, wrath ignites. The mes of my Ira are boundless!" Apollo chanted continuously. With him as the origin, a cyclone formed in the room.

 Chapter 183 - Inverse Absolute Engravement (II)

    ----

    As the cyclone formed, Apollo followed the instruction of the voice in his mind. The lines of the stigmata on his body appeared in his mind. Immediately, he discarded therge bits. His only current focus was the outline.??

    In the words of Saehtyn, different results required different approaches. Not all demons practiced the way Saehtyn did, but then again, there wasn''t another demon who achieved what he did with Ira.

    Hence, this alone gave Apollo enough reason to follow after him. Besides, to beseech help wasn''t a sign of weakness. It was a sign that someone was mature enough to admit they needed help. Only those who were presumptuous to the extreme couldn''t perform this action.

    And such was why they would never truly be strong. Nheless, as Apollo examined the stigmata, he learned more about it. The structure was a singr existence. In fact, it was numerous odd demonic words weaved together but it was anguage Apollo was unfamiliar with.

    That was, until he matched it with the mantra. He soon realized each word resonated with a fragment of the stigmata. And, as he repeated a single word, the structure became exceedingly clear to him. Due to this, Apollo continued with his actions.

    Soon enough, it was stripped bare. But, just this simple action caused his body to perspire incessantly. As Saehtyn said, to move forward it was a matter of will and not the body. No matter what state they reached, Sin would always overpower the body.

    It was up to one''s mental strength to persist through the pain. Thus, Apollo clenched his teeth and tried his darndest to deal with the searing pain burrowing into his body. Fortunately, the way Saehtyn exined was many times quicker than the typical way of doing this.

    This just went to show the guidance of a pinnacle expert was worth more than blindly guessing the path of advancing. Nevertheless, it was surprising how on point Apollo''s guess was.

    Slowly, the imprint appeared on Apollo''s mind. However, when just 3% done, Apollo''s willpower petered out. With an exaggerated gasp, Apollo fell forward. Before he attempted to recover, he waited until the pain passed.

    Thankfully, he knew his limits. If he pushed too hard, he could potentially put himself in danger. Even though Ourosboros was present, the extent of his abilities had yet to be fully explored.

    "I''m making progress. Much more progress than I have made on my own during this entire time. I can feel it, the end is getting closer. I will evolve into a Greater Demon," Apollo vowed.

    Several momentster, he sat in a stance and absorbed essence for over 10 hours. Finally, after reaching his peak state, he repeated the cycle once again. This time, he was able to persist until 10% done.

    With just this alone, Apollo could feel a new realm of power coursing through him. Just absorbing the essence alone wasn''t the only way for him to cultivate. After all, the stigmata was something that required his anima. In return, it spat out a type of energy that cleansed him.

    In light of this, Apollo was tempted to check his current stats.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.3

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [1.10%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 14

    Level: 100 [Locked]

    Experience: [Locked]

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 3,083 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 6 Zul Warrior

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 2 Spirit Apprentice

    Meridians: Heaven-Grade (Top Tier)

    Zuls: 6,000

    Oz: 195

    Strength: 300.0

    Agility: 235.0

    Intelligence: 212.0

    Vitality: 141.0

    Comprehension: 21.2

    Willpower: 21.2

    [?Traits?]- 4

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 3

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 7: Fire, Darkness, Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?] [?Interdimensional Inventory?]

    Stat Points: 0

    "Now that my level is locked, cultivation directly increases all of my stats. Wait a minute, when I was in Ashiraem, I felt as if a restriction was lifted. That should''ve had something to do with my level. If so, by the standard of the system, I wonder what level Saehtyn has reached," Apollo mused.

    Soon enough, Apollo tried onest time to further his engravement. By the end, he was left with 25% of itpleted. However, any further and he felt he would venture into insanity. Just a single percent felt like too much to ask for.

    This was not something that could be done in one sitting. Since that was the case, Apollo retrieved a Crystallized Chaos and fed it to Ouroboros. At the same time, ia had awakened days ago.

    Unbeknownst to Apollo, hisst attempt took days toplete. In fact, he could even guess the tolls of the next general lesson bells were fast approaching. However, before that happened, he still had something to do.

    "You two stay here, I need to go do a few things," Apollo said. Before leaving, he left a few resources that both Ouroboros and ia could use.

    As he reached outside, he saw who he was in search of, "Excuse me, Sir Corvin. I need a favor, can you tell me where Aaron Kaiser''s residence is?"

    "That is quite easy. Let me check," Corvin answered. Upon checking the directory, he found the area with ease, "If you follow the stream into the intermediate area, you''ll find his residence. It is marked number 34."

    In return, Apollo nodded. While strolling through the intermediate area, he saw numerous other students mingling with each other. While this was a natural sight, Apollo felt it was a bother. It was much essential time from training just wasted to a triviality.

    Nevertheless, he soon arrived at Aaron''s door. After knocking, he was let inside. Upon entering, he noticed the immediate differences between his and Aaron''s residence. The formations inside were far weaker and it wasn''t as spacious.

    "Is this area sufficient for you? Just say the word and I''ll give you the funds needed to upgrade. It isn''t a hassle," Apollo offered.

    However, Aaron declined. "It is fine. I don''t spend much time here anyway. Since my problem is my body, I need to get used to it faster. To do so, there is nothing faster thanbat. So, tell me, what brings you here Apollo?"

    "Here, this is for you," Apollo responded while tossing a pouch to Aaron. As he opened it, Aaron caught wind of 25 Spirit Stones inside.

    "Are these Spirit Stones," Aaron muttered incredulously. Naturally, Apollo nodded. Furthermore, since he knew Aaron, he gave him a meaningful look.

    "I got those specifically for you. You need to open your Soul Temple and those are better than Spirit Shards at doing so. Not to mention, that didn''te from my pockets. I extorted someone as per my specialty," Apollo smirked.

    While the two caught up, the triple toll of the general seminar bells sounded. But,pared to before, the sound was much more sonorous. Apparently, in thest session, there were some people who didn''t attend.

    As a consequence, the staff made the bells unbearable to listen to. With this, there would be no excuses to be heard for missing the seminar.

    While everyone made their way to the ssroom, Apollo looked skeptically at the ssroom. Inparison, there were many people present that weren''tst time. In addition, not only was ive present, but there was also Sapphyr.

    Once everyone settled, ive spoke to the ss, "Today will be slightly special. At first, I was going to use the typical practice to start awakening and honing the Soul Conscience. However, Miss Sapphyr has brought it to my attention that more drastic means would yield better results for you all. With that being said, let''s change a few things."

    ive waved his arms and performed hand seals that caused everyone to be grouped of his own ord. "Some in your group may possess Spiritual Cultivations while some may not. Even though this doesn''t matter, this should give those who don''t know what to do a sense of direction."

    ive then took a step back and allowed Sapphyr to take a step forward and take the lead, "Today''s task won''t be exceedingly hard, you''ll just be moving blind. Literally, all of your senses will be robbed from you save your hearing. But, this will only happen to one person in a group at a time. Your objective will be to solve the noise."

    "Noise? What noise?" Everyone questioned causing murmurs in the ssroom. In response, Saphhyr simply smiled. She formed some hand gestures and soon after, everyone clutched their head in pain.

    Typhir even went as far as to scream, "Shut that shit off!"

 Chapter 184 - Spiritual Lessons (II)

    ----

    In groups of 4, the students continued to roll around on the floor in anguish. After Saphhyr conjured numerous dark orbs that emitted a terrible sound, the students were debilitated. Much less sense the orb, they couldn''t even focus to ovee the noise.??

    Furthermore, as time went by, the ringing seemed to grow more unbearable. While watching this, ive was taken aback, "Miss Sapphyr isn''t this slightly extreme? Since their hearing is the only active sense, it is being overloaded by your actions. Wouldn''t there be a chance of damaging them?"

    "No," Saphhyr responded while examining everyone. Although they were feeling pain, there was nothing threatening about her technique. At best, it was an annoyance, "This is what they need. The more they desire for something to happen, the higher the chances of it taking ce."

    "Ah, I see," ive nodded in understanding. Now that he recalled, the Soul Conscience indeed awakened better when the cultivator strongly desired to solve something. In this case, it would be to stop the god awful ringing entering their ears.

    Meanwhile, Apollo clutched his head in a world of darkness. In his eyes, this was far more annoying than trying to finish the engraving process. However, this also reminded him of the training Azridan put him through. Unlike others, he had experience traversing through the darkness.

    The only problem was he couldn''t focus with the overwhelming noise bouncing around his mind. Every time he tried to use his Soul Conscience, it was like his mind was experiencing static interruption. It was simr to the static experienced on old satellite television when the signal went bad.

    Silently, both Sapphyr and ive watched the youths. After a certain duration psed, Saphhyr changed her hand movements. In ordance, 3 out 4 in every group who didn''t possess an awakened Soul Conscience regained their sense.

    On the other hand, the ones still subject to the sounds felt it worse. The waves from the orb condensed on that sole person. However, before doing so, there was an instant wherein it was nullified. Although some people didn''t pick up on it, those with stronger minds noticed it.

    ''I felt that! It was only for an instant but my mind was sound. I''m guessing Sapphyr did something. The question remains, how can we manipte this to our advantage?'' Apollo thought.

    Since no one was able toplete the task after 15 continuous minutes, Sapphyr gave them a break. While doing so, she also went on to exin the task they needed toplete, "I know I catapulted you all into this exercise without exining what you needed to do, there was a reason behind this. I wanted to test your reasons.

    "But, it seems I was asking for a tad too much. So, let me tell you how you need to proceed forward. Your aim is to crush the source of the sound. During your next attempt, I will take it a step further and iste the groups. When that happens, the sound will reverberate. In other words, it will be many times worst," Sapphyr warned.

    "Instructor Sapphyr, why are you so harsh?!" Typhir bawled. Even though the sound was gone, he still clutched his head. He swore he could still hear the residue of the orb ringing in his mind. The oaf was momentarily scared.

    "Harsh? If you believe I am harsh, I warn you to never step within the Institute of Vermillion mes," Sapphyr chuckled, finding Typhir''s behavior to be amusing.

    Meanwhile, this quip gained many people''s attention. Simultaneously, numerous people asked the same question "Why?" It was a known fact, the Fire Affinity was argely universal affinity. It was found in nearly 1 in 4 people. Thus, it was deemed to be one of the fundamental affinities.

    Hence, the capacity of the Institute of Vermillion mes eclipsed the Umbra Night Institute. As a result, the training methods inside were more tyrannical to weed out those who were insufficient to remain there. Of course, on rare asions, one whocked talent but persevered would appearance, keeping hold of their seat.

    "Well, to put it lightly, you''ll be cooked alive. I hope your Fire Affinity is at least a Level5 if you wish you step foot in there," Sapphyr shrugged as if this meant nothing to her; which it didn''t. She was a pure darkness cultivator with no other affinities.

    "Heh, then I have nothing to worry about. I already have a Level 8 Affinity," Typhir boasted while sticking out his chest. However, his pride was soon attacked when others showcased the same affinity level. Right then and there, he wanted to challenge them to battle.

    Unfortunately, Sapphyr''s stern look doused his desire. Unlike the other Glories, although he was unruly, he showed respect.

    Nevertheless, their break was over. Sapphyr drew a shadow symbol on her hand and snapped summoning dark yet translucent orbs around everyone. Afterward, repeated the hand signs. The ringing once again bombarded everything.

    This time, however, the orb didn''t stay stationary. It revolved around everyone in the group of 4 and followed a constantly changing course. That way, should someone try to memorize the path the orb took, it was futile.

    Even those who could utilize their Soul Conscience to a rudimentary extent didn''t fare well. However, after assessing the situation and calming down, one by one, they noticed the situation wasn''t as bad as it seemed. In fact, every pulse within the ring triggered a minute reaction from their Soul Temple.

    One thing they overlooked was the Dark Element possessed the strongest ability when it came to any mental aspects. Upon taking a step back, they focused on the part of their Soul Temple stimted by Sapphyr''s technique.

    This was even more true for Apollo. His Temple was of the Dark Element. More importantly, it was in an obscure state due to the partial engraving. With each pulse, his temple released a pulse as well.

    ''I need to grasp this feeling. Don''t let it go,'' Apollo inwardly thought. Momentster, his breathing still and even his hearing ceased. In exchange, there was a fleeting wave undting towards him.

    However, when he reached forward to grasp it. It didn''t feel like energy at all. What he grabbed was the head of someone in his group! Naturally, he released their head. Concurrently, he also lost grasp of the sensation.

    Once again, a break came. For some reason, this time around everyone felt exhausted. Unlike before, the reverberations intensified and made it hard to pinpoint the source. Be that as it may, Sapphyr had a smile on her face.

    "You''re all grasping this quickly. Although you made mistakes, it is clear you''re sensing the pulse from your Soul Conscience. The issue now is you need to distinguish the difference between the two simultaneous waves."

    In light of this, ive took a step forth and discussed with Sapphyr, "May I offer them a hint that may shine a light on the way out?"

    "You may. Just don''t spoon-feed them. They still need to understand the feeling for themself," Sapphyr answered.

    "Well, that is to be understood. If we didn''t speak in a cryptic way, how could we be called Instructors?" ive retorted with a chuckle. First, he gathered their attention, and then he offered some advice.

    "You must remember the reason we cultivate and what we cultivate when ites to the Spiritual Way. Furthermore, not just for this exercise in particr, in general, you must first understand yourself before attempting to understand others."

    Even though he said he was providing a hint, nearly everyone was dumbfounded by the end of his words. In actuality, although his words were spot on, the choice of words left everyone at an impasse. It would take some deliberating to digest the meaning.

    "Haah?! What does that mean? What is with your old people and your funny way with words," Typhir grumbled.

    "Yeah, I agree with him on this one," Nadidamented. Like Typhir, she was one who liked when people were more direct.

    Though she didn''t say anything, at the mention of "old" Sapphyr''s eyebrow trembled. In truth, she wasn''t that old. She had yet to reach her 30s as she was part of thest generation. Yet, a girl no older than 18 was calling her old.

    On the other hand, Apollo continued to silentlyprehend. He connected what ive said to Saehtyn''s advice. It was simr in nature, the start with himself as the origin, it was akin to looking at the bigger picture.

    s, he was hit with inspiration. He waited patiently for the next batch of practice while reiming that feeling from earlier.

 Chapter 185 - Infant Heart Of Wrath Matures

    ----

    After they were given the usual break, Sapphyr once again activated the technique. This time was differentpared to the others. Not just Apollo, but many others fell silent. The instant that pulse appeared, the youths calmed themselves. This time, they didn''t put their focus on the foreign ripple.??

    On the contrary, their interest remained in the activity of themselves. Thus, they caught sight of natural changes in their mind. Not only did the internal image they could form deepen, but they split the ripple apart.

    Once it was in two pieces, they collided together and formed an even moreplete image. In this way, many of the youths found the technique to train the conscience. It was to divide and collide! Be that as it may, Apollo''s case was much different.

    The ripple was familiar but elusive. Luckily, this was a feeling he had be familiar with. During the Trial Selection, while he was controlled, his body went through a small change as a result. Although the meridians weren''t active at that point, they were still linked properly.

    As a result, Apollo came to a conclusion. ''This is it. The heart isn''t just rted to the physical. This pulse is like a heartbeat. To do as you wish, the true heart must be in sync. That means the heart must control both the mind and heart. But, I fear to do so, my Infant Heart of Wrath needs to mature.''

    As it was now, his Infant Heart of Wrath was incapable of handling that type of strain. If so, it would lose energy quickly. Thus, the remedy was to funnel all his active reserves into this organ.

    Once this matter became clear, Apollo moved forward with haste. With each heartbeat-like pulse, the Infant Heart of Wrath grewrger albeit slightly. Nevertheless, at this point, every advance was beneficial.

    In turn, the orb emanating the noise became clear. Yet, Apollo still left it alone. It wasn''t high on his to-do list. When inspiration hit, one always needed to capitalize on it. By the time he exhausted all of his reserves, the Infant Heart of Wrath doubled in size.

    As a result, it stepped across a small threshold. At the same time, a change took ce inside Apollo''s mind. Although he didn''t feel any stronger, everything felt clearer. His Tainted Temple purified to the next degree.

    ?System Alert! The Infant Heart of Wrath has involved into the Diabolic Heart of Wrath (Iplete). Additionally, the ability attached to it is showing signs of awakening. Continue with your actions topletely unearth it.?

    As Apollo opened his eyes, they burned through the dark veil covering his senses. Concurrently, in his right hand, he held the dark orb emitting the noise. When he crushed it, the dark orb surrounding his group faded.

    It wasn''t just him who learned the secret. Those like Adeon, Odessa, Ragnvald, and a few others awakened alongside him. It seemed all theirprehensions were on par with each other. Although their paths differed, the end result was identical.

    "That''s more like it. I am pleased that a handful of you havepleted the exercise. This should give you an idea of how to train your senses. As you know, the most vital thing for a soldier is to possess ster information gathering abilities with their senses. When you be skilled enough you will even be able to suspend your senses and sense beyond what is normal," Sapphyr smiled.

    A few momentster, ivemented, "With this, after the others awaken ss can be deemed as over. For those of you who have aplished this already, you can exit if you''d like. There''s no reason to halt cultivation. Indulge in your own ways."

    "However, before you go, I shall inform you all now; the next session won''t be for at least 3 weeks. The basics have been covered. For now, just focus on cementing and familiarizing yourself with this. As for the topic next time, we''ll discuss Spirits," ive announced.

    Without further adieu, Apollo exited the premises. The remnants of inspiration were still present. Not to mention, now that his Diabolic Heart of Wrath matured, he could possibly take a step forward with engraving! The surplus energy could be contained by the Diabolic Heart of Wrath.

    Upon leaving, Apollo made a stop at the front gate of the Outer Barrack living quarters. If he couldn''t change his state of being, he could at least change the conditions in his room. Again, Apollo approached Corvin for a small favor.

    "Sir Corvin, I had another small request. Can you tell me if it is usible?" Apollo asked while standing before Corvin.

    "Hmm, it depends on how absurd the request is. If it isn''t some oundish request, I''m sure it can be done. Just don''t say I''ve never looked out for you," Corvin chuckled, awaiting Apollo''s request.

    ''It seems everyone here operates with the same mindset. But, I can''t say I don''t like it. It makes interaction much easier and straightforward. I rather like those who don''t hide their desires,'' Apollo mused.

    "I wanted to know if you can upgrade the formation inside my room. I want to increase my cultivation speed, however, I absorb more than the formation gathers. This is even after I supply them with sufficient Spirit Shards," Apollo revealed.

    "Hmm, that''s one of the leading costs of the Special Quarters amongst other things. Tell you what, if you only want the formations, I can engrave them. However, it''ll increase the cost of your sole living space to 50% of the Special level. Is this agreeable to you?" Corvin bargained. He understood Apollo didn''t want to pay the full price and was only in cultivation.

    Thus, the additional benefits of the special area need not be mentioned.

    Immediately, Apollo assented. In his eyes, all these resources were temporary. On the contrary, the power he could gain was permanent.

    "Very well, your monthly expense will be noted at 1.1k Spirit Shards. Or, you can settle for an even 10 Spirit Stones. The payment is up to you. Additionally, since you are still in the Advanced area without the special formation, you aren''t limited to the Academic Credit payments."

    Without dy, Apollo ced 10 Spirit Stones on the desk before them. As they disappeared, Apollo followed after Corvin. Despite his rough appearance, Corvin was in fact a Silver Formation Master. This alone qualified him to take up a more meaningful job.

    Yet, with his personality, he didn''t wish to have an abundance of responsibility. Hence, he wasfortable where he was. Not only was he the overseer of freshmen where he could monitor talent, but he could also formte deals with them when it benefited both sides. It was the best of both worlds, a win-win situation if you must.

    Sure enough, Corvin entered Apollo''s residential area. Unlike what he thought, the core of the formation was located outside of the small building. In a matter of minutes, Corvin revamped the core functions of the formation.

    Naturally, it came at a cost. "I must warn you, you may gain some temporary enemies. This area is a shared abundance of both Natural and Spiritual Essence. To summarize, now that your formation is upgraded, you will thin the others'' resources by arge degree. I suggest you make yourself sparse until night," Corvin warned.

    Unbeknownst to Corvin, Apollo didn''t n on venturing out of this area for any means. Everything he could need was present inside his spatial. Thus, Apollo bid his farewell and entered his residence.

    Just after doing so, a message appeared.

    ?System Alert! Based on the new environment, a small change has urred in your skill: Pure Demonic Conversion.?

    ?System Alert! Current Conversion Cost: 18%?

    ?System Alert! Current Environment: 0.1 Pure Demonic Anima per second.?

    "While the change isn''t overlyrge, every small difference counts. Now, let''s get to business," Apollo voiced while taking a seat in the middle of the formation located in the center of the room.

    Not long after he sat down, Apollo entered a state void of his surroundings. Like a glutton, he absorbed the energy around him as his insides churned it into usable energy. Had not for the upgrade to both the formation and his heart, this wouldn''t be possible.

    Silver wisps of Hellfire rose from his body as it flowed toward his mind. To continue engraving, he needed to move from the anima itself to using Hellfire. Yet, Apollo wasn''t aware of this. The Diabolic Heart of Wrath catalyzed this process on his own.

    Slowly, it inched up from his Infernal Nucleus. Usually, this wouldn''t hurt Apollo but there were apparent signs of the pain growing to be monumental.

 Chapter 186 - Hellfire Strengthening

    ----

    Besides the germinating pain flowing through his body, Apollo felt his actions were correct. ording to Azridan, when the Hellfire became clearer and was able to harm you as well, this indicated it stepping across the next boundary. Additionally, the pain only signified the Hellfire tempering the physique to the next level.??

    Furthermore, as the pain spread to his mind, Apollo''s hair stood on end. At the tip of each of them, a tiny spark of Hellfire could be seen traveling downward. Not long after, all of the pain gathered in his heart.

    Before he took another step forward, Apollo''s eyes mmed open. He crouched over and vomited copious amounts of ckened blood. Naturally, this was the prior numerous faults that the Diabolic Heart of Wrath tempered out of his meridians and Infernal Nucleus.

    ''It''s one step closer,'' Apollo thought as he felt his body lighten a great degree. Albeit slowly, his body was catching up to the abnormality of his Infernal Ira Stigmata. If he could enter Ashiraem again and fall under the tutge of Saehtyn, there were no doubts in his mind about oveing this issue.

    "Whoa Master, you feel stronger! I like this feeling. Wait," Ouroboros paused, sniffing Apollo''s forehead, "You went back to a ce near my home! Next time you have to take me along."

    After regting his aura, Apollo nodded and looked at Ouroboros. "Sure, I''ll take you along. However, Azridan told me your identity is special so you''ll have to conceal your presence while we are there okay? But, first, I need to learn how to travel there properly," Apollo answered, rubbing the scale on top of Ouroboros'' head.

    "I don''t have that ability right now. I''m sorry for my uselessness, Master," Ouroboros responded in a downcast tone. In response, Apollo shook his head and denounced that idea.

    "It is my responsibility to cultivate you, so your weakness is my fault. Don''t me yourself. But, we won''t be weak for long. We will grasp more power and be immutable," Apollo responded in a spirited tone.

    He raised his hand to the sky and clenched it. ''It''s time to stop dying. I need to spend every passing moment training. I must be able to enter Saehtyn''s castle. Once I have done that, I can open the path to master Ira!''

    Thus, Apollo put Ouroboros down next to him and gave him an additional 5 Crystallized Chaos while returning to cultivating. Once again, he simultaneously tackled his problems. After the exercise was done in ss, he came to realize something.

    Although he required a bnce between mind and body, he could still split his focus in two and tackle two issues at once. In light of this, half of his attention was vested in engraving the stigmata symbol on his Infernal Nucleus while the other half was focused on directing the Hellfire to etch the inverse.

    In this state, hours passed. Only when his Pure Demonic Aura waspletely exhausted did he take a break and recuperate his aura over the course of 10 hours. Under this repeated cycle, Apollo continued to move closer to the point of a breakthrough.

    Despite the pain, Apollo pressed on. As he did so, his racial meter also climbed as well. In other words, unlike the initial evolution, to be a stronger demon, it was based solely on hisprehension of Sin. Naturally, this could be determined by the way the Imp wanted to absorb his Ira.

    However, soon enough he ran into an issue. His progress on engravement came to a standstill when both sides reached 85%. The intensity of the Hellfire failed to etch anymore of the intricate symbols of the stigmata. Due to this, Apollo started to grow frustrated.

    Fortunately, before his anger became oundish, the symbol on his heart imnted by Saehtyn glowed. Afterward, a stream of information flowed into his mind. However, as Apollo listened, it felt more like real-time direction than it did an instilled message. Thus, Apollo pondered over the true purpose of this symbol.

    ''Could it be Saehtyn is monitoring me? The timing of this information is too coincidental. Nevertheless, if he is, I don''t sense any ulterior motives. Then again, he is a being much greater than I am. He should be able to shield such things from me.''

    Soon enough, Apollo pushed this matter to the back of his mind. In ordance with Saehtyn''s directions, Apollo retrieved 10 Fragments of Sin from his Interdimensional Inventory. In the beginning, Apollo was surprised by this instruction.

    Azridan told him these items were useless on their own. Hence, he never looked over their details. However, what Azridan didn''t let him know was that it was only useless because he had yet to step into demon-hood. In other words, even if he wished to learn more about them, the detail would havee up inconclusive.

    Now, the situation was entirely different. Thus, as Apollo looked at the usage of the fragment of Sin, he wasn''t surprised. He was ted. Alone, it was a tool but when mixed with other items, the oue was just what he needed!

    Item Name: Fragment of Sin

    Item Type: Universal Tool

    Item Rank: Elementary

    Usage: The Fragment of Sin is the materialization of a Demon''s excess Sin while advancing to a new level. This onlyes into existence during the neutral point in evolution. As a result, this item doesn''t possess an inherent type. It can be used with any and all methods.

    ?Augment of Sin? - By using this item while utilizing an ability focused around your Sin, it possesses the ability to increase the potency by 10%. However, due to its fragmented nature, it is only capable of increasing the intensity to the initial Greater Demon state at best.

    ----

    "So that''s why Saehtyn said about 10 of them. I''m guessing 10 is the number required for my Hellfire to reach the initial Greater Demon standard of Hellfire. However, that also sounds like a world of pain. Just the insignificant increase earlier introduced me to a world of pain. But, as they say; no pain, no gain," Apollo muttered after steeling himself.

    As he repeatedly activated the Augment of Sin ability attached to the item, Apollo''s aura skyrocketed. In fact, it became so great, even Ouroboros was frightened by what he saw. Thankfully, when he saw Apollo was still in control, he didn''t intervene.

    Furthermore, it seemed all of the Sin was channeled into the Hellfire. Needless to say, this strengthened it to a nonsensical degree. So much so, as he formed the de-like image to continue etching, Apollo could hear a searing noise from both the pit of his stomach and his mind.

    Due to this, his Diabolic Heart of Wrath pulsated. It sent a protective aura to these two organs that regted the pain to a certain degree. Despite wanting to stop, Apollo couldn''t. He was well aware this state was temporary and already disappearing from his grasp.

    As a result, he did the opposite of what he desired. He threw caution to the wind and pressed on without result. Consequently, both his mind and body strengthened while also bing weak.

    Regardless, he was at a point wherein he couldn''t stop. And so, right before losing control, the process finished! A faint shockwave undted from his body. Once again, the whirlpool formed around his body.

    However, unlike before where he absorbed solely Natural Essence, the energy he gathered now was mixed with Spiritual Essence of an equivalent standard. Moreover, an alert appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

    ?System Alert! The Tainted Temple and Infernal Nucleus have been linked to each other as well as the Diabolic Heart of Wrath (Iplete). As a result, the Inner Physique has evolved greatly.?

    ?System Alert! Congrattions, you have reached the Saint Meridians (Middle Tier). Due to the burst of energy, all rted pores have been opened. The Infernal Demonic Body and Tainted Nebulous Mind are maturing.?

    While his body absorbed the energy, Apollo drooped. The hard part was finally over. The pain was great but as he read these messages, he felt it was worth it. In addition to the small upgrade, he could feel the space of his reserves deepening. It should be something to be ecstatic about.

    Yet, Apollo didn''t know if he shouldugh or cry. In his current state, all that meant was the conversion would take that much longer. If that was the case, even if he was unprepared, he needed to enter Ashiraem once again and test his theories.

    Luckily, the way to do so was also within the information Saehtyn provided. He was well aware that the world Apollo came from was incapable of training him properly. Still, it still appeared to have some use.

 Chapter 187 - Orthodox Path To The Nihilistic Rings

    ----

    While the power-up Apollo experienced felt great, when his rational mind recovered, he looked at it from a whole perspective. Even if he gained temporary power, it wasn''t the true fix for his current issues. They all stemmed from a singr notion, he needed to evolve beyond a Lesser Demon.??

    There was only so much he could aplish while remaining at this level. Everything rested on him being capable of taking the next step and quickly at that. Every day that passed was one less day before the suppression on the Infernal Ira Stigmata wore off. At that point, his demise would be determined.

    Thus, Apollo exhaled and looked at Ouroboros. "You said you wanted to join me the next time I venture back to that ce, right? What if I tell you we can go there soon enough? I just need to make sure that I recover to my current peak state first."

    "Really, Master? Are you serious! Yes, yes, a million times yes. Take me with you. I want to see what you did. Looking through your memories is boring! I want to experience on my own," Ouroboros answered. He teemed with excitement as he teleported to Apollo''s and slithered around it.

    However, Apollo was more shocked by the actions he just performed. "Ouroboros, did you just teleport?"

    "Oh, yes. After our talk, I focus on my current abilities. I found that although I can''t go where you want me to go, I can still move around within a small radius of myself without restriction!" Ouroboros eximed.

    Meanwhile, Apollo fell silent. ''I wonder, will he be able to do this in Ashiraem? Compared to this world, the environment is many times more solid. And, that is just what I experienced with my soul. It''s quite hard to imagine just what would happen if I go there the correct way.

    On the other hand, Ouroboros nudged Apollo''s cheek impatiently, "Master, when can we go? How long will it take?"

    In response, Apollo scratched his scale and responded, "In should take less than a day."

    Afterward, both of them fell silent. Ouroboros watched Apollo as he recovered and Apollo searched through the information in his mind simultaneously. Soon enough, he found the piece of instruction rted to entering Ashiraem. In fact, it detailed how to enter all of the Nihilistic Rings but he didn''t possess the required powers to do so.

    Thus, he was restricted to this one source. Nevertheless, this was more than enough for the current him. After all, his mission had no requirements of him venturing to other ces. In fact, not even the current one required him to enter Ashiraem.

    While that may be the case on the surface, it wasn''t truly the case. If Apollo didn''t enter Ashiraem, there was absolutely no way to evolve into a Greater Demon on Astarat, race wise at least. For him to do so, he needed to reach a certain standard.

    And to do that, he would need the Demon Monarch System to reach at least the 4th level. In actuality, this was one of the reason''s achieving the 4th level was rated amongst the immediate objectives for him toplete. However, that was easier said than done.

    To do so, it would require him to do 1 of three things. Firstly, he would need to bathe within his own Hellfire that reached the Greater Demon standard until his entire body was cleansed. This would then trigger the evolution of the system.

    Secondly, he could form a servant contract with his first Demon. This would cement him in the way of the Monarch, the one who rules by control and authority. However, that was an even harder option for him as of right.

    Unlike what was known to the Lords and those attempting to seed the Monarch, he didn''t control any Lesser Demons. Due to his magnificence, all the Lesser Demons followed him of his own ord. The lowest being the Monarch controlled forcefully was a peak Greater Demon.

    In other words, to properly seed him, Apollo would need to follow in his exact footsteps at the very least. Unfortunately, if that was the case, APollo was a long way away from doing so.

    However, that only rang true if he was alone, which he wasn''t. As of right now, there was already a few tools at his dispense that others would never be able toe in contact with. For example, the system itself. Although it didn''t present an overwhelming advantage, it was his ticket to glory.

    Nevertheless, after 12 continuous hours, Apollo recovered to beyond his peak state. Now thrumming with power, Apollo rose to his feet. Upon doing so, he also retrieved a number of items. Specifically, he withdrew 20 Fragments of Sin and 2 Cystrallized Chaos.

    ording to Saehtyn, the item of chaos he used wasn''t the true issue. The problem with his arrivaly in the way he utilized it. From what he sensed, he could tell Apollo used it alone. So, he told him the correct way to do so.

    Contrary to absorbing the energy inside, Apollo first crushed the 20 Fragments of Sin into a pile of dust before him. Afterward, he also crushed the two Crystallized Chaos. If he was unlearned, he would have stopped here, but he was far from done.

    As he closed his eyes, Apollo focused on the Ira in his body. Once it was stimted, he slit his palm and let his blood filled with Ira flow onto the pile. Only after 20 dropsnded, one for every Fragment of Sin, did the color and sensation change.

    Turbulence arose that soon quieted down. Since it settled, Apollo continued with his actions. This time, he took his finger and started to etch arge diagram on the floor. When each portion waspleted, a sizzling noise could be heard from the lines.

    Additionally, Apollo could feel the drawing draining power through his finger, ''This must be why Saehtyn said this isn''t typically used. Only when a Demon sets out to conquer worlds once meeting a barrier in their path to more power would they use this. However, most of them could do so like breathing as they would be attempting to be Archdemons at that point.

    Fortunately, it wasn''t an overly demanding practice. By the time hepleted the diagram, Apollo still possessed over 50% of his reserves. Of course, this could only be limated to the increase in his reserves from his prior advancement.

    As he was now, his reserves made a sizable jump from just under 3,100 to an even 3,600. That was a more than 10% increase. Inparison to the pain he withstood, Apollo felt this jump was reasonable. Anything less and he would feel as if he was wronged.

    While he mulled over this, the diagram trembled. Before him, a tiny crack appeared that soon started to expand. As he looked at its growth rate, Apollo doubted whether or not is was capable of allowing a person through.

    In its current form, it was smaller than half of his body. At most, it seemed like it could only let through Ouroboros. However, that was only for now. Shortly after his doubts arrived, so did a notification.

    ?System Alert! Due to your actions, you have learned the ability Infernal Doorway (Rudimentary).?

    Ability Name: Infernal Doorway Summoning

    Rank: Abysmal

    Level: Rudimentary

    Information: By melding the Chaos and Sin together, the path to demon-hood is awakened. However, based on the purity of the items used to awaken this ability, it falls under a rudimentary use.

    Duration: Equal to the Sin Volume sacrificed x 120 seconds.

    Cooldown: 30 days.

    ----

    ?System Alert! As of right now, you''re capable of staying in Ashiraem for a limited time. As you arrive, a timer above your head will appear.?

    All of a sudden, the crack expanded to the size of Apollo. In the meantime, Apollo looked back and nodded to Ouroboros. Since there was a duration to stay, without hesitation, Apollo stepped inside.

    In a matter of moments, he arrived on the other side. At first, he was disoriented due to the rough travel. But, once he examined his surroundings, Apollo nodded.

    "So, as I thought, Saehtyn has some sort of control over my location," Apollo muttered. The beacon on him caused his arrival to be at least 10,000 kilometers away from the castle. At this distance, therge castle looked like no more than a typical pir.

    Nevertheless, Apollo didn''t feel a hint of frustration. In fact, he was delighted by his current location.

 Chapter 188 - Instinctive Guide (I)

    ----

    After settling his condition in Ashiraem, Apollo felt much morefortable than on hisst visit. Since his body transferred along with him, there was no suppression on his soul to keep the link intact. Naturally, this meant he could exercise his entirebat ability. After all, he would soone to realize it was needed and perhaps even beyond that.??

    Although he truly wanted to move closer to Saehtyn''s castle, whenever he crossed over the edge of 10,000 kilometers away, his body was pushed back 10 meters by a thin barrier. Furthermore, the moment this happened, his aura was concealed by the barrier.

    As Saehtyn stated before, this was done to prevent his early demise. If he thought humans were bad, a demon in pursuit of power could only be seen as a bloodthirsty monster. Of course, this wasn''t true for all Demons, only for those who had yet to establish themselves.

    Additionally, as for those who established themselves, they all possessed a deep understanding of their stigmata. Once they achieved this state, a method to hone themselves appeared from within their markings. Thus, there was no need for them tomit mindless ughter nor was there any meaning to conquering unless their progress halted for too long.

    Nevertheless, after this happened numerous times, Apollo ceased his actions. Left with no other choice, he looked in the opposite direction, "It seems our journey will continue in this direction Ouroboros," he muttered while taking a step forward.

    "Yes, this ce is lovely. Any direction we go is good!" Ouroboros eximed. At the same time, he hissed jubntly. In response to his excitement, Apollo chuckled. It seemed Ouroboros enjoyed the Nihilistic Rings far more than he did Astarat.

    "No, not just any direction. As you can see, we are prohibited from going in a certain direction. However, that''s fine because it doesn''t appear to be the most beneficial path right now," Apollomented. Afterward, he looked east of the barrier before him.

    Albeit faint, he could sense that feeling from hisst visit. It was as if something was calling out to him. Thus, after inspecting his surroundings and ascertaining there was no one nearby, Apollo took a step forward.

    As he walked, the sensation he felt grew more noticeable. In fact, it felt as if he possessed a connection with it. This only served to heighten his desire to unearth the mystery behind the signal.

    Soon enough, as his body limated to the area, he returned to using the Partial Shade Silhouette. Shockingly, the distance he could travel in an instant increased by 20%! Needless to say, with how boundless Ashiraem was, this was truly a saving grace. Since he was on a schedule, it was best he could travel both fast and efficiently.

    On the other hand, Apollo still felt this wasn''t enough, ''If only I could learn the Second Step. I''m sure the speed I would be capable of disying would eclipse my current state.''

    However, what Apollo overlooked was the fact he was still elerating with each passing moment. A majority of the Pure Demonic Anima was flowing towards his legs and bolstering the technique. Concurrently, his Diabolic Heart of Wrath spun inside his heart.

    Around his feet, a small cyclone of infernal energy appeared. Each step left a small imprint of Hellfire that soon petered out. Only after this took ce a few times did Apollo be cognizant of it.

    ''Or, perhaps I don''t need to worry about that step. If I can continue like this, then my worries will be alleviated. The only issue is the consumption,'' Apollo thought to himself. In the corner of his eye, his reserve meter was draining at a noticeable rate.

    At first, it was the usual consumption of.1 units. However, as he elerated indefinitely, the consumption rate rose exponentially. As of right now, he was exhausting .8 units with each passing second. Not to mention, unless he stopped and rested, his body wasn''t absorbing any energies from his surroundings

    Needless to say, it was a monumental task to do so. In fact, there wasn''t any Lesser Demon capable of actively absorbing energy while in action. They all needed to focus on their surroundings. In its normal state, Pure Demonic Aura possessed a tyrannical nature.

    As it was absorbed, it also needed to be tamed. Thus, Apollo closely monitored his consumption. If it reached below 50% of his total reserves, he dampened his actions. One must remember, this was an unfamiliar ce. He was unsure of what danger lurked in the shadows.

    Therefore, he needed to move with caution. Fortunately, by the time his reserves dwindled to 90% area, he had already crossed 100 kilometers. On the other hand,pared to the beginning wherein he was traveling blindly with his exact destination in mind, now that he was closer, he could feel where the general area of interest was.

    Meanwhile, after traveling over 500 kilometers, there were sightings of other Demons in the area. Simrly, just as he sensed them, they were well aware of his existence. But, when Apollo pried into the situation, he was relieved to find these were just Lesser Demons.

    On another hand, the numbers were increasing faster than Apollo liked. Due to this, he stopped his movements and took shelter behind arge rock. Something told him these Demons were interested in him just like thest set were.

    Upon taking cover, he quickly ryed orders to Ouroboros, "Ouroboros, maximum sensing range now." Almost instantly, Ouroboros closed his eyes as well. A breakdown of the surrounding 100-meter radius entered his mind. After it was set up, he ryed the information to Apollo.

    "There are 11 of such demons in the vicinity and they''re enclosing? Just as I thought," Apollo nodded. In the meantime, he was more shocked by the speed his reserves were refilling. Since there was no need to use his conversion trait, this was unadulterated absorption.

    Inparison, Apollo was absorbing over 2 units of Pure Demonic Anima with each passing second. By the time one of the Demons arrived within 20 meters of him, his reserves had already filled back to 80%. At this rate, he only needed 6 more minutes topletely finish.

    Sadly, things didn''t always go as nned. A threatening roar sounded from the iing Demon as it elerated towards Apollo''s position. Surprisingly, the speed it moved was much faster than Apollo.

    Before an attack couldnd, Apollo performed a sidestep with Ouroboros in his grasp. As he looked at the Demon, he received the need-to-know information about it.

    Demon Name: Lesser Hellfire Ifrit

    Demonic Prowess:Lesser Demon

    Demonic Standing: Vagrant

    Health: 100%

    ''Vagrant? What does this mean?'' Apollo mused while examining the information before his eyes. Besides this, everything else in his view was more or less familiar to him. But, after some pondering, Apollo came up with an exnation.

    ''This must be simr to why Saehtyn is called a Lord. It shouldn''t have anything to do with his cultivation, rather, it should be likened to his reputation! In other words, using his power, he gained a standing. So, a vagrant should just be some nameless demon. Under this assumption, I should be a vagrant as well,'' Apollo deliberated.

    Once again, a strong blow came and Apollo dodged, retreating far away. He had yet to conjure a weapon, so he was defenseless. Not to mention, something felt off about the Ifrit''s blows. Even he was incapable of causing so much damage to the ground.

    With every blow, an indent at least 20 centimeters deep appeared. On the other hand, when Apollo struck the ground to test the durability of this world, he felt a pain in his wrist. The strike only made an indent slightly over 3 centimeters.

    Nevertheless, this wasn''t Apollo''s specialty. As he stuck out his hand, Apollo was shocked by what followed. For a moment, there was nothing. However, after what felt like a dam bursting took ce, arge clump of Hellfire appeared.

    At the same time, Apollo was further emboldened by a notification.

    ?System Alert! Due to your prior actions, the old ability Hellfire Molding has changed. It has now be the ability known as Hellfire Manifestation (I). The ability is the same, however, it is far stronger.?

    "With this, it should at least even the ying field," Apollo stated with confidence. Soon after, the Hellfire began taking an odd shape. At first, it appeared to be a long ax. But then, it shifted into a condensed scythe.

    Once the weapon appeared, a look of determination appeared on Apollo''s expression. "Come," he said.

    In response, the Lesser Ifrit roared.

 Chapter 189 - Instinctive Guide (II)

    ----

    Both Apollo and the Lesser Ifrit dashed forward. From their momentum, their charge seemed to be equally strong. However, that was untrue. Since this was Apollo''s first battle in this world, he failed to grasp how strength varied here.??

    When their strikes met, Apollo felt terror. With the arrival of the Lesser Ifrit''s strike, Apollo''s body sank into the ground. At the same time, just over 6% of his Health was shaved off from that single collision.

    Even though the status of Lesser Demon seemed simr, that was a misconstrued notion. This was especially true for those of the Ifrit race. As mentioned by Azridan before, while theycked worthwhile mental acuity, their physical capabilities were greatly amplified.

    Now, Apollo got to witness this truth firsthand. As he gazed into the madness filled eyes of the Lesser Ifrit''s towering figure, he kicked off his front foot in retreat. In response, the Ifrit bellowed once again.

    While it was in pursuit, Apollo gauged the Ifrit''s ability to damage was approximately 6 times greater than his. This assumption was backed by the fact blows from the Glories who were of simr strength only shaved off 1% of his health upon collision.

    Naturally, thisrge difference left a sour taste in his mouth. If each battle were to be this difficult, how could he advance much less reach the destination he was drawn to. Not to mention, 6% of his Health wasn''t a meager amount.

    Although his Vitality wasn''t overwhelming and unfit for his current strength, it was still notable when looked at as a whole. Additionally, it wasn''t ascking as before. The recent advancement added a great deal to his current reservoir. A few vital skills weren''t the only thing that was unlocked.

    Before the Lesser Ifrit could reach him, Apollo took a glimpse at his status.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.3

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [15.50%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 14

    Level: 100 [Locked]

    Experience: [Locked]

    Health: 94%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 3,600 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 8 Zul Warrior

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 4 Spirit Apprentice

    Meridians: Saint-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 7,800

    Oz: 280

    Strength: 390.0

    Agility: 300.0

    Intelligence: 280.0

    Vitality: 200.0

    Comprehension: 28.0

    Willpower: 28.0

    [?Traits?]- 5

    ?Pure Demonic Conversion?

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 5

    ?Hellfire Manifestation (I)?

    ?Infernal Doorway Summoning?

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 7: Fire, Darkness, Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?] [?Interdimensional Inventory?]

    Stat Points: 0

    Since he was incapable of creating distance between him and the Lesser Ifrit, Apollo tightened his grip on the Hellfire Manifestation and delivered another strong blow. Because he held the upper hand with momentum this time, he only lost 5% of his Health.

    Be that as it may, there was still an overwhelming numb feeling in his arms as he received yet another blow. In a fit of rage, the Lesser Ifrit delivered a barrage of overwhelming smashes. Additionally, with itsst blow, the Ifrit aimed a punch at Apollo''s torso.

    Fortunately, there was still room to defend. Correspondingly, Apollo held the scythe before him. However, with the sheer force instill in the blow, Apollo shot back like an arrow in flight. Had not for the rock he mmed into, there was no doubt he would be knocked flying even further.

    Be that as it may, the blow still created a sizable distance of 200 meters between them. Apollo acted before the Ifrit could pursue and retreated even further without restraint.

    Once far enough, Apollo took a breather. Moreover, he wiped the bloodstain from his lip as he looked at the opponent. As he nced at his current health meter, he felt it was correct. After all, his body was feeling the aches of those repeated impacts. So much so, he had half a mind not to return to battle.

    Unfortunately, that wasn''t an option. The only path to his destination was through this strip of enemies. Thus, after clearing his mind, Apollo recounted the way the Ifrit fought and dissected it for any weakness.

    ''A simple yet overwhelming straightforward attack pattern. Even though some of the strikes look like a weakness, they close so fast that it can''t be counted as such. Is overpowering them truly the only way to beat this opponent?'' Apollo frowned at this thought. He refused to believe there was no way to defeat this enemy.

    Not to mention, this was not how he wanted to spend his fleeting time here. Hence, he steeled himself, "Just over 40% of my Health is left. Before this expires, I need to find a way to deal with them," Apollo stated.

    He dashed back into the fight. But, this time, he didn''t allow himself to be tossed around. Even though the strikes hurt, he followed up with his own. In this way, he found that the Ifrit responded to attacks in a robotic way.

    Once this revtion came to light, Apollo showcased a cunning use of his Partial Shade Silhouette. The moment before the Ifrit''s next punchnded, he disappeared. When he reappeared, he was at its side. More importantly, his following sh caused a hurtling wind.

    All of his fury was instilled into that strike. He sought to split the Ifrit in half with one ferocious blow! Sadly, such a dream was oundish. Simrly, the Infrit turned its body and put its hand on its ribs. Unlike most areas of its body, the Infrits ws were reinforced with hardened magma.

    Needless to say, it was a monumental task to break through its defenses. In light of this, Apollo''s strike only diminished its health meter by 10%. This value only appeared because the curved de of the scythe barely punctured its torso.

    Obviously, due to itscking mind, it wasn''t capable of calcting angle and distances, hence, why the blow slipped through its actions. Although it was damage nheless, Apollo didn''t feel a shred of tion.

    As the demon looked at Apollo, he could see the rage in its eyes swelling. If this demon was anything simr to him, then when angry, theirbat strength increased. Even before this was factored in, the Infrit was already a colossus of an enemy.

    For the first time, Apollo was in a situation where he possessed zero leverage. There was no upper hand to take advantage of. Whether it was strength or agility, he was outssed in all. Yet, for some odd reason, he didn''t feel frustrated by this.

    Different from his peers, Apollo was a firm believer that perilous situations are what gave birth to obscene power. When put in a precarious situation, it was when he felt most alive. In line with his thoughts, the Diabolic Heart of Wrath started to pulsate.

    It took over the rhythm of his heart. In the beginning, it seemed erratic. But then, it started to follow a pattern. As it did so, Apollo''s eyes turned crimson. While this took ce, Apollo once again shed with the Ifrit.

    ''More strength!'' Apollo roared in his mind. Each of his subsequent blows became more violent. Furthermore, the ripples of energy that resulted from their fight alerted the other Lesser Ifrits that were further in the distance.

    Needless to say, while these two stimted their Sin Power, they attracted other demons. There was nothing more enticing than the chance to absorb more Sin.

    By the time Apollo noticed this, the situation already took an unsightly turn. All of the foes moved toward the fight. Even if the Ifrits possessed no sense of camaraderie, there was a distinct difference in the quality of Sin before their eyes.

    ''Thump!'' ''Thump!'' ''Thump!''

    In ordance with the unsettling situation, something simr to adrenaline rushed through Apollo. While a symphony of crazed roars resounded, Apollo smiled. It was odd indeed. While in this weird predicament, Apollo didn''t frown, he smiled!

    However, it wasn''t baseless excitement. His Diabolic Heart of Wrath wasn''t beating for no reason. It had a purpose and was fulfilling its task. Slowly, the Infernal Ira Stigmata extended down his shoulders to his fingertips.

    At the same time, Apollo followed along with the Ifrits. He let out a bestial war cry as the HellfireManifestation flowed back into his body. From there, a string of system alerts sounded. However, the first one was the most important of them all.

    ?System Alert! The Diabolic Heart of Wrath (Iplete) prerequisites for the first ability have been met. As a result, it is awakened. You now possess the ability to activate your first demonic form.?

    With the appearance of the notification, a text of information appeared in Apollo''s mind. In ordance, he uttered a single line, "Awaken the Iraym Bloodline!"

 Chapter 190 - Instinctive Guide (III)

    ----

    ?System Alert! The Iraym Bloodline of Hellfire Domination is now awakening.???

    An umtion of Ira burst from Apollo''s body as he underwent a rapid change. The transformation he experienced during the selection trial and during his initial change was just a basic form. Inparison, what he was turning into now was far stronger.

    Even in the Nihilistic Rings, a demon that possessed a bloodline meant it was above the norm. As for Apollo''s bloodline, it was an understatement to just call it above the norm. Any bloodline with the moniker "Dominator" attached to it meant it resided at the pinnacle of the demonic spectrum.

    If it was to be put inparison with the ranking of Astarat, it would be the equivalent of the Empyrean Dragon''s bloodline just far stronger. After all, when it came to demons, there was no need to exercise restraint. They grew to the height of their power without the Nihilistics Rings forcefully cing protective restraints on them.

    On the other hand, Astarat''s current state was incapable of handling foreign beings'' true power. Thus, it ced these restraints on them to protect itself. Just the damage caused by the invasion of the Terrors was enough to deal with. If it needed to deal with the destructive nature of demons as well, then its demise was nigh.

    On the other hand, as the Lesser Ifrits witnessed Apollo''s change, they were ovee by greed. They all sought to devour this sensation Apollo was exuding. However, when they saw Apollo''s current appearance, they stopped in their tracks.

    On top of the strangle me-like markings covering his left chest and arms, two horns flowing with magma appeared on his forehead. At the same time, both his eyes pulsated with a crimson-golden light.

    ''Power, this is power,'' Apollo thought as he clenched his first. However, the change was far from done.

    ?System Alert! With the appearance of your Iraym Form, an item of unspoken origin is awakening.?

    Due to the disappearance of the weapon, Apollo had long since pushed the matters of it to the back of his mind. However, now that he took on a strong demonic form, the knuckles reappeared. Except, when they showed themselves, Apollo wasn''t sure what to call them.

    Under their new appearance, they couldn''t quite be called knuckles nor could they be called gauntlets or ws. First and foremost, they were too form-fitted to his hand. Additionally, although the material wasfortable around his fingers and extremely malleable, its lethality didn''t seempromised in the slightest.

    In fact, it was far sharper than the first knife Azridan gave him. While wielding this weapon, Apollo felt he could conquer all. However, since he was still in the state of transforming, he couldn''t move yet.

    Only after the me sigil on his chest connected to the rest of the stigmata could he move again. This time, he moved with pride. While fast, he didn''t move at a rushed pace.

    As he balled his hand into a fist, the sound of sharp metal striking together sounded. In response, the nearest Lesser Infit threw its own destructive punch. Upon collision, pin-drop silence pervaded, and then a sonic boom exploded.

    Both sides were thrown back a few steps. However, inparison to before, Apollo was left in a better state. Even though he was still at a loss, it was minimal. In this exchange, he lost just under 1%.

    "That was wrong," Apollo muttered. In hisst blow, he didn''t control the new strength flowing through him properly. Hence, why he was still at a loss despite awakening this bloodline. Most of his power dispersed before the attacks collided.

    Just because he experienced an increase in strength, it didn''t mean it was clear sailing from here on out. He still needed to limate to the current power and im it as his. Until then, he would continue to fail in his attempts at overpowering an Ifrit.

    On the other hand, as Ouroboros saw Apollo''s change. He was stimted as well, "I can change here too!"

    Ouroboros leapt off Apollo''s shoulder and slithered across the floor. Simr tost time, his body expanded. Since Apollo had been feeding him copious amounts of Crystallized Chaos, his true form wasrger than his prior transformation.

    Yet, even after reaching 2 meters, he wasn''t done changing. The scale atop his head that was different in nature from the rest shimmered and protruded into a horn. Furthermore, 2 small yet pure silver wings appeared on Ouroboros'' back. Once this happened, his transformation stopped there.

    "Master, I will help you fight," Ouroboros eximed. Before awaiting Apollo''s response, he rushed forward while still low to the ground. When he arrived before an Infrit, he whipped his tail and sent one flying. Even after guarding, the Ifrit was still sent sliding backward.

    As he watched this, any worries he held for Ouroboros were dispelled from his mind. Based on what he was seeing, Ouroboros already had a substantial grasp of his strength. Naturally, this was due to the innate instruction of his species.

    He didn''t require any to teach him. Through the bestial knowledge instilled in his bloodline, Ouroboros was capable of regting himself. Thus, as long as he was in the Nihilistic Rings, he was like a fish thrown into a pond. To summarize, he let hell loose upon his opponent.

    On the other hand, as Apollo incessantly shed with his opponent, he started to understand the flow of the energy. Fortunately, before venturing here, he connected his two power sources together. If he didn''t, his meridians wouldn''t be able to withstand the ferocity of the energy flowing through him.

    This time, as Apollo punched, he summoned ayer of Hellfire. Although an Ifrit specialized in Hellfire as well, a strange sight to behold happened. As the Ifrit used Hellfire as well, upon collision, Apollo''s sapped strength from it.

    Needless to say, this scene originated from the "Hellfire Dominator" of his bloodline. Any and all Hellfire under a certain threshold would be subject to his control. Of course, he wasn''t the only demon in the Nihilistic Rings that was of this bloodline. But, he was the only abnormality there was.

    As insinuated by the system''s words, this was simply his first form. Even Saehtyn was an evolved demon. Except for a Greater Demon, based on the number of paired horns present on a demon, you could tell how many times they evolved. As for Saehtyn, he had 3 pairs. In other words, he was a Noblesse.

    On the other hand, now that the Ifrit was enraged by the losses it was suffering at Apollo''s hand, it opened a pair of decrepit wings. Afterward, it pped them and created a cloud of soot to block Apollo''s vision. Sadly, with a powerful p, the cloud was dispersed.

    Be that as it may, it was already before Apollo by the time the cloud extinguished. Once again, a barrage of vicious blows ensued with Apollo pushing the Ifrit marginally with each sh. And, because of this, Apollo''s attacked with continually increasing vigor.

    The thunderous echoes of his blows reverberated throughout the Ifrit''s body.

    Against this barrage, the Ifrit was now put in Apollo''s previous predicament. With overarching strength, he pummeled the Ifrit into the ground. Amid his actions, the cruelty in his eyes grew.

    From a fist, Apollo started to use his hands as a sharp spear. Not to mention, the ster material of the gauntlet further augmented this action. Numerous gaping holes appeared in its chest Apollo continued to impale him.

    The fury of all his losses was being returned. Moreover, what hecked became apparent to him. He sought to go against a demon in his human form. As Azridan warned him before, a human''s physique was iparable to the power a demon could contain.

    Now, since this issue was resolved, Apollo could retaliate. Yet, the more he fought, the faster he grew tired. This is where his damaged Vitality took its toll. Unlike the Ifrit who possessed an exuberant Vitality, Apollo''s luminescent me was dwindling.

    In this form, one thing hecked was restraint. All of his blows were fueled by a surplus of energy. Luckily, Ouroboros was by his side. He appeared after killing his opponent and together, the two slew Apollo''s opponent.

    Upon its death, Apollo nearly jumped for joy.

    ?System Alert! Level and Experience have been temporarily unlocked while in this world.?

    Afterward, Apollo''s experience bar increased to 13%. Not only did he receive experience from his own kills, but Ouroboros'' victories as well. Despite the budding exhaustion, to learn he could gain experience again, that was too much of a shock!

    By the time the two killed all 11 Ifrits, Apollo''s experience meter reached over 70%. Equally, as they fell, Apollo absorbed their internal Ira.

    Now thatbat was over and he took on this demonic form, the path to his destination was much more manageable!

 Chapter 191 - Abnormal Demon Knight

    ----

    In addition to the unlocking of all the previously locked functions of the system, when Apollo looked through the battle logs, he was surprised. The exact value of experience granted eclipsed that of humans many times over. At this point, he held no qualms will finding andmitting a massacre of lesser Ifrits.??

    However, he then remembered this may have something to do with their level difference. Although it wasn''t depicted, Apollo was sure there was a significant difference between them. Otherwise, the experience gain wouldn''t have been sorge.

    Nevertheless, since thebat was over, both Ouroboros and Apollo calmed down. Even after waiting for a decent period, there were no signs of iing enemies. Thus, they took this opportunity to recuperate.

    At the same time, Ouroboros'' change started to revert to its normal appearance. It was clear he hadn''t reached the level to hold this transformation as his base form. In fact, he consumed nearly all the Chaos in his body to enter this form. It''d take a decent amount of Crystallized Chaos to recover what he lost.

    On the other hand, Apollo was in a much different situation. Not only did he not know how to take on his human form of his own ord, but there were also no signs of him doing so forcefully either. As he sat down to recover, in addition to alleviating his exhaustion, the Pure Demonic Anima also sustained this form.

    Naturally, the Diabolic Heart of Wrath''s evolution also yed an extremelyrge role. Had not for that, he wouldn''t even be able to enter this state. At most, he would have taken on a basic demon form once again.

    ''Interesting, I should find something or someone can tell me more about the exact abilities of this transformation. I can tell by the name that it is a race closely linked to Ira, but it doesn''t distinguish the benefits of this form in great form. Although,'' Apollo paused and clenched his fist.

    ''I must say, the vitality of this form is beyondpare. The exuberant feeling coursing through me is at least 3 times that I felt when I first became a Lesser Demon,'' Apollo internalized.

    By the time, Ouroboros recovered, Apollo was finished as well. Moreover, now that the battle was over. Apollo could tell with unhindered rity that the connection with this instinctual guide deepened. To be precise, he felt like he needed to arrive at this very moment.

    In light of this, Apollo nced at the time in the corner of his eye. ''There are just over 3 days left in this ce. I sacrificed 4 units of Sin for every unit the Fragment of Sin bolstered. Luckily, this ce is mending the consumed Sin. However, the question remains, how much can I get done in three days here?''

    Now that he recovered to a suitable degree, Apollo cut his recovery period short. In exchange for thispromise, he sought to reach the area of interest quicker. Thus, with Ouroboros on his shoulder, he resumed traveling.

    Even though he was advancing in an area that only seemed to house Lesser Demons, the environment was growing harsher by the second. If it kept up with this trend, it would soon reach a level that began to cause Sin Interference. This only happened when a begin with insufficient grasp entered an area wherein the concentration of Sin Energy was too pure.

    From there, the interference could devolve into hysteria. At that point, the mind would begin to deteriorate. The high levels would corrupt the mind, and if it were due to Ira, it would induce a mindless rage that robbed one of all rationality.

    Fortunately, this issue could be circumvented in Apollo''s case. Unlike others, he possessed Ouroboros who could siphon the excess from him. More importantly, Ouroboros possessed a body with the Pinnacle Adaptation trait.

    Meanwhile, as the two continued on their journey, they started to meet foes exhibiting these symptoms. The Lesser Ifrits they faced now were more deranged than their previous brethren. Due to this, even though Apollo possessed an understanding of his power, he still experienced some difficulty to y the continually appearing enemies.

    In fact, it wasn''t long before he came in contact with a Lesser Ifrit that suffered a mutation due to the overload of Sin. Two extremelyrge yet mangled fiery wings protruded from its back as it stood before Apollo.

    As it looked at Apollo, its eyes appeared to be clouded by irritation and madness. It appeared to be in a forever berserk state. However, Apollo found something different. ''Based on these Sin levels, I''m sure it''ll trante into copious amounts of experience. I may even jump to Level 101 in one go. Compared to the earlier levels, I wonder how this upgrade would fare against.''

    Without any prior signs, the Lesser Ifrit rushed towards Apollo. While it was faster than the others before, Apollo had time to familiarize himself with the extent of this body. As a result, when the Ifrit''s explosive punch bombarded the ground, the only thing it struck through was Apollo''s after image.

    Since he wasn''t as bulky as most other foes he came in contact with, the nimbleness granted by this was something Apollo could take advantage of. While empowered by the Partial Shade Silhouette, Apollo simultaneously conjured a nket of Hellfire.

    Inspiration then hit him as he reduced the Hellfire to a fine needle. After adding a small rotation to it, he clicked his thumb. However, as it hurtled forward, it started losing momentum the further it distanced from Apollo. In light of this, Apollo narrowed his eyes.

    ''The control isn''t just physical. It requires a strong mental link to perform long-distance attacks. However, that is one thing I''m not sure how to go about doing. Perhaps I should steal a piece of ire''s soul. ording to Typhir, her family specializes in mental practice. I don''t want the techniques, just the logic behind it,'' Apollo determined.

    In the meantime, he repeatedly conjured and fired the Hellfire needles. Although they seemed to be ineffective. While he continued to dodge the Ifrit''s attacks, he could see signs of the area under repeating impact weakening. Obviously, what he aimed for was the joints of the opponent.

    Despite his transformation, due to that mutation, by no means did he want to take a hit. The destructive capabilities it currently possessed were obscene, to say the least. Every impact with the ground caused a huge obstruction of splintered rocks.

    Nheless, under the repeated attacks of Apollo, the Ifrit''s knee was soon blown through. After losing the function of that leg, it fell to one knee and roared. On the other hand, Apollo repeated his actions with its other leg.

    As Apollo walked up to it with a calm expression, its roars grew frantic. Afterward, it pped its wings. A searing wind billowed towards Apollo that caused him to defend. Despite that, due to the irregrities of Ifrit, Apollo''s arm suffered small burns.

    But, soon after, they started recovering at a visible rate. Upon seeing this, the Ifrit continued to p its wings at a hastened pace. Although it couldn''t be used for flight, it could be used as a means ofbat as seen from its current actions.

    Only after several moments did its attempts peter out. On the other hand, Apollo felt a pang of frustration from this prolonged issue. Amid its roars, Apollo approached with unhurried steps, "All of that noise, allow me to put you out of your misery."

    ''Splich!'' ''Zzzzzt!''

    With an arm covered in a thickyer of Hellfire, Apollo thrust his arm through the gaped mouth of the Ifrit. In response, arge source of experience flowed into his body. However, this time, both the Sin and experience melded as one. And, because of the rewards, Apollo smiled.

    ?System Alert! Congrattions, you have reached Level 101.?

    ?All basic stats have been raised by 10.?

    Once he settled the matters with the corpse, Apollo tossed it aside. Different from before, there was a single confrontation after this battle. As such, Apollo soon arrived in front of his intended destination. It was a deste cave.

    Yet, as he and Ouroboros stood before it, not only did the beacon be clear as day, a dreadful feeling washed over him. It was so intense, even the system generation information that it never did before.

    ?System Alert! The aura of a Knight-level, peak Greater Demon has been detected. One of the pieces has been located. Please exercise caution, the abnormal aura exhibits dangerous levels of Superbia and Ira.?

    All of a sudden, the ground shook as a maic voice sounded from with this the deste darkness of the cave, "State your name and who has sent you here. Other than those few, no one else knows of my location nor existence."

    In response, Apollo fell silent. In short, he didn''t know how to answer this. Truthfully speaking, it was his instincts that brought him here.

    Still, the silence was by far not the best option. Frustration could be felt from the cave entrance as the voice sounded once again, "I''ll only repeat myself once more. Who dares to advise you to intrude upon this great one, Fuhrer''s, humble ce of escape. If you fail to answer, I will end your pitiful existence where you stand."

 Chapter 192 - Infernal Pride Of An Ancient Demon

    ----

    Once the voice resounded, Apollo''s mind was assaulted by trepidation. Even in his current demon form, the aura emanating from the cave entrance caused him to take a step back. Despite the system informing him of the location of a "piece", the only thing he felt was unspeakable terror. If this was a piece needed in his path, then just what would he have to attain in the long run???

    Furthermore, not just Apollo, even Ouroboros felt apprehensive about this existence. He shirked back on Apollo''s shoulder and took cover behind his neck. Yet, even then, he still didn''t feel safe. "Master, this isn''t safe. Something feels very wrong. It feels like if anything were to happen, we''d be powerless to resist!"

    "I know, but what do you expect me to do? Something deep within me resonated with me and guided me in this direction. Somehow, whatever resides in this cage is important to me. Whether it is the demon itself, or something it is guarding, both of them seem to be in my best interest," Apollo responded. Afterward, he tried to soothe the uneasiness in Ouroboros.

    Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Before he could do so properly, Ouroboros screamed out in his mind suddenly. Furthermore, from his tone, it seemed he was entering a panic, "Master, we have to leave now! Leave, leave! This thing ising!"

    Be that as it may, Ouroboros'' request became useless. While it sounded in Apollo''s mind, the pressure surrounding them underwent a tangible shift. From suppressive, it became restrictive and locked them in ce. In fact, this included their minds as well. The mental channel used for theirmunication appeared to be interrupted at the moment.

    Under this pressure, Apollo found himself defenseless. Additionally, at this point, he reckoned this aura was many times worse than Saehtyn''s. Even if Saehtyn withheld a vast majority of his aura, Apollo wasn''t judging the vastness, he was judging the purity of fear the aura could inflict.

    Whenpared to this one, the aura Saehtyn presented paled inparison in all aspects. But, he also didn''t want to witness the true aura of Saehtyn. From what he could infer, he was sure Saehtyn''s real power was something he was just incapable of sensing. After all, how could the difference between a Greater Demon and Noblesse be small?

    Not to mention, one who reached the nes of the Lords. Just the subservience of Ira''s boundless power spoke volumes of one''s true capabilities.

    On the other hand, as Apollo remained rooted in ce by the aura, rhythmic yet heavy steps sounded from within the cave. With each step, the ripple of the step synchronized with the tiny fluctuations in the restrictive aura. Not long after the first footstep sounded, a monumental figure appeared from the darkness of the deste cave entrance.

    And, after seeing what came forward, Apollo was perplexed. If he could speak again, he would still be shocked and wordless. After all, the being that exited from the cave wasn''t something you''d expect to find in this type of environment. A few things immediately became apparent to Apollo.

    Firstly, this demon took the word "knight" to an extreme. Unlike the other demons Apollo came in contact with, most of whom sported bare bodies, this particr demon was adorned in luxurious armor.

    From head to toe, its body was outfitted with imposing ck armor that connected seamlessly. Furthermore, each piece of armor possessed fine marking. Each stroke of the demonic runes was like a work of art and every single one gave off a unique feeling.

    Shortly after the demon appeared, the dark helmet covering its head receded. From the thin T-shaped opening for his eyes, an aged visage appeared before Apollo. When Apollo saw this, he didn''t know what to think. Frankly speaking, he didn''t know a demon could look so ancient.

    "Since you don''t want to talk, I have locked your speech for a while. If you''re unable to give me the answers I need, then I shall just seek them out myself," Fuhrer stated suddenly. From his calm tone, Apollo could tell this demon was sure he could obtain what information he needed through his own means.

    Yet, Fuhrer then changed his mind, "Unless, are you ready to talk? I can already sense something from you and if it is correct, then your current abilities have let me down tremendously." Afterward, Fuhrer snapped his fingers. In a sh, the pressure bearing down on the two was alleviated.

    Yet, that didn''t mean they were in the clear. Nevertheless, Apollo understood silence wouldn''t suffice. Thus, he answered, "Truthfully speaking, no one sent me here. At least, I don''t think so. What brought me here was a gut feeling. I don''t know why I was attracted here, but I need to be here it seems."

    For a moment, Fuhrer was silent. While that happened, Apollo examined him. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn''t understand what he saw. If he crossed referenced this demon with what he experiences thus far, there would still be a disconnect in his knowledge.

    As far as he knew, he thought all demons retained their youthful appearance. Take Saehtyn for example, he looked no older than a middle-aged man. However, from what Azridan stated before, he possessed a rtionship with Azridan. This meant Saehtyn was at least thousands of years old. Yet, there were no signs of this present on him.

    Meanwhile, this other demon, Fuhrer, looked like an old man. Granted, this was only in retrospect to his visage. When it came to the matters of aura, physique, or demeanor; by no means could any of these aspects be called weathered by time.

    Hence, only two conclusions came into Apollo''s mind. Either this appearance before him was an illusion that Fuhrer kept up at all times or he was truly far older than Saehtyn and Azridan. However, if that was the case, then his current power sitting at the Greater Demon standard made no sense at all. Thus, for every question Apollo posed to himself and answered, two more arose in its ce.

    When it came to the matters of demons, it was clear Apollo only possessed a modicum of understanding. What he didn''t know was that due to the great vitality of demons, their lifespans were astronomical. In fact, to a demon, 1 year would be equivalent to a thousand for a human.

    To put it differently, it would take thousands of years for demons to show signs of age. Then, it would take even more effort for those signs to increase. Thus, Fuhrer wasn''t a regr demon, but an ancient. After all, how could a regr demon be a vital piece in the grand scheme of things?

    "Very well. Unfortunately, that doesn''t suffice." Fuhrer answered. But, before saying another word, he ced his hand on a longsword inside a hilt on the side of his waist. Based on the answer Apollo gave, it was clear he would confront him. In light of this, Apollo gulped preemptively.

    Although he wanted to defend this as a truth, Apollo was sure reasoning wouldn''t get through to this old demon. Not to mention, he wasn''t sure how Fuhrer would react to his words. On top of that, the system warming was still fresh on his mind.

    This was among the first times the system ever generated a warning like that. This meant if he made the wrong move, he would be in imminent danger. Yet, that was counterintuitive to his purpose of being here.

    First, the fact Fuhrer was deemed a piece meant his cooperation was vital for Apollo''s future. His presence was dire to the grand goal and Apollo''s purpose. Without him, Apollo would be missing arge piece of the puzzle.

    Second, this was a foe he was incapable ofbatting in the slightest. In fact, Apollo felt this demon held more power in a single pinky finger than he did his entire body.

    Third, Apollo didn''t quite understand what the Knight-level meant. Truthfully speaking, he wished to learn more about it. However, in this current predicament, that was easier said than done.

    Nevertheless, with his hand on his de, Fuhrer inspected Apollo more closely. Thus, he soon found out a piece of information that made him chuckle, "The Iraym Bloodline? Is that what gives you the confidence to appear before me? Asinine, you aren''t the only current individual alive with this bloodline. Yet, even they don''t have the gall to seek me out. Very well, during my years of sealing myself away, it seems the old ones have long forgotten about my strength."

    In response, Apollo was once again at a loss. What was this old demon going on about? All he sought was pointers yet here he was mouthing off. On the other hand, it seemed his own words angered himself.

    He unsheathed a razor-sharp de. Just this action caused a shrill cry to emit from the de. As he dashed towards Apollo, Apollo''s mind nked. "Wait, wait, wait! Azridan! Ie due to Azridan!"

    After uttering this, Apollo mmed his eyes shut from fear.

 Chapter 193 - Fuhrers Confrontation

    ----

    Right before Fuhrer kicked off his front to elerate at breakneck speeds, Apollo screamed in panic. Before doing so, he was at an extreme loss. In truth, he didn''t understand why this demon seemed so hostile. If it were in the event that he interrupted his practice, Apollo would understand.??

    However, when Apollo arrived here, there were no fluctuations. This indicated the old demon wasn''t in the process of practicing. In fact, to Apollo, it seemed more like this being was too prideful. Almost like it would not tolerate anyone intruding upon this area.

    Additionally, it seemed the demon was hostile to the world itself. After all, some of his words seemed to be aimed at the world itself. Naturally, this rose questions, but once again, Apollo bit his tongue. If he overstepped any boundaries, a severed head seemed to be the least of his worries.

    "Wait, wait! I''m Azridan''s sessor! I think that is what guided me here," Apollo eximed in panic. Afterward, his eyes mmed shut. He didn''t want to witness what was about to happen. Yet, as he waited, he felt no pain whatsoever.

    Therefore, he opened his eyes and took a peek at his surroundings. In response, he found a scowling Fuhrer still in the motion of taking a step. As he looked at him, Apollo swore he saw rage building in Fuhrer''s eyes and he was right.

    Soon after, Fuhrer bellowed in disgust, "That''s what this familiar aura on you is? You''re the sessor of that damned fool?! Now you deserve even more punishment! After I trained that insufferable fool, all he cared about was the Monarch''s mantle and fulfilling the prophecy but I warned him it wasn''t his destiny! He forgot all about this old man."

    In his fit of rage, Fuhrer''s aura continued to bolstering. But, it didn''t travel far from his body as he kept it contained. Had not for this, his aura would''ve decimated both the area and Apollo all the same.

    Meanwhile, Apollo was shocked by this information. If Fuhrer trained Azridan, then that meant most of the techniques in his hand, Fuhrer should be capable of using them. Furthermore, Apollo now understood part of the reason this demon was so cranky. He felt abandoned.

    Perhaps, he wasn''t just sealed here of his own ord. Maybe, even Azridan didn''t possess the ability to retrieve him from this ce. In fact, now that Apollo looked at the situation as a whole, he came to realize something. Fuhrer didn''t move any further than 10 meters from the cave entrance.

    Either he wasn''t permitted to do so, or if he did, something inexplicable would happen. Nevertheless, based on the strength of Fuhrer, he didn''t want to find out if any of the two spections were correct.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer still seemed agitated. "So that is why you approach me? You seek my training only to abandon me as well? Well, I will tell you this instant, I decline! I will not train you, so you can return from whence you came. And, I don''t mean this in context to the Rings. You''re no-... Hmm?" Fuhrer''s rant ended abruptly as he examined Apollo more closely.

    Now that he did, he picked up on a few irregrities. For example, he couldn''t discern Apollo''s true origins. Also, he couldn''t understand why the dissonance between his soul purity and his body was gradually weakening. This was something he''d never seen before. Except,

    "Foul youth, have you taken possession of someone''s body? Why does your body not match the frequency of your original soul? Who are you and how can Azridan allow you to do such a thing?" Fuhrer frowned. Shortly after, he raised his de to Apollo''s chin.

    "I must warn you, I don''t take kindly to liars. So tell me, what is your origin and where did Azridan find you," Fuhrer added. While awaiting Apollo''s answer, he seemed to activate some technique that enabled him to see through lies. He gazed at Apollo''s Diabolic Heart of Wrath.

    In response, Apollo was stumped for words. First and foremost, he didn''t seek out Azridan nor did Azridan seek him out. ording to what they both knew, a 3rd part sought out both of them and paired them together. However, this new demon, APollo was unsure if he could trust him to tell him the whole truth.

    So, Apollo settled for some omission. "I don''t know if I took possession of someone''s body, but I will tell you it was given to me. I also didn''t seek out Azridan nor did he. I just happened to chance upon his guidance."

    For a brief period, Fuhrer was silent. As he processed the information, he witnessed no faults in Apollo''s heart. In other words, these words were theplete truth. ''If that''s true, then what is wrong with him? This is an interesting situation. I can sense power beyond what Azridan cultivated emanating from this boy.''

    "Tell me, where is Azridan?" Fuhrer questioned.

    At this point, Apollo looked at him with an odd expression. Fortunately, he soon realized what was wrong. "Azridan...doesn''t have a body. He didn''t tell me what happened but I remember he said that he was betrayed or fell victim to some scheme. I don''t know the details."

    "Oh, so the boy is dead. Wait, WHAT?!" Fuhrer''s eyes widened as he approached Apollo.

    ''How long was this guy holed up here? He doesn''t even know what took ce outside? Then, maybe Azridan didn''t abandon him. I think he may have lost his body soon after leaving this man. It''ll have to wait until Azridan awakens to know the truth.''

    "If it''s like this, then boy, you must have spoken with his soul. In that case, you must promise me something. Avenge Azridan and bring the ones who betrayed him before me," Fuhrer stated in a grim tone. For the first time, he took on an appearance even more dignified than Saehtyn. Even without pressure, the imperious aura in his eyes made Apollo oblige.

    "I will. But, I don''t have long here nor do I know how strong they are," Apollo answered.

    "They are on a level suspended between a Daemos and Noblesse. It will require all my training for you to reach that level. But, before that, let''s have a wager. If you remain standing after 10 blows, you maye under my tutge," Fuhrer announced.

    Although it had been millennia since he trained someone, in addition to this jarring information, there was something subtly pleasing about this youth. If he had to put it in words, then only one sentence fit.

    ''It may be faint, but I can smell the aura of both my old master and friend from this youth. I wonder how he is rted to them. It is a shame they are long gone,'' Fuhrer mused.

    At the same time, Apollo gave his immediate answer, "I will do it! But, may I ask for a handicap?" In other eyes, this may seem shameless, however, Apollo was aware that this was an insurmountable adversary. Even if Fuhrer held back, Apollo was certain one blow was enough to end him.

    "What do you request?" Fuhrer inquired. He rxed his stance and took his hand off his de. In actuality, he was intrigued by this youth. If it was any other demon of the Lesser standard, they would find looking in his eyes to be difficult. Yet, he could tell from his gaze, Apollo was only wary of his strength and not of death.

    "I want to know if I can use my partner," Apollo asked. After, he reached behind him and presented Ouroboros.

    "Hm? You''ve bonded with one of those? Oh, and it was a newborn. Interesting, the mostplete imprint I''ve ever seen. However, no, you can''t use that baby hydra. Besides, you don''t need to. It''ll be incapable of help in any way possible. In fact, I suggest you put him in a secure location. My de has already identally in one of his kind in my youth," Fuhrer warned.

    Needless to say, Apollo acted quickly. He set Ouroboros back inside his Tainted Temple and stood at leisure. "So...what now?"

    "Now, you ready yourself and prepare your bloodline! If you seek my training, there are a few basic qualities you must possess. One, you need fine instincts! If you are to walk this path and attempt your hand at bing the Monarch, you must be prepared to withstand dangers from all angles. This includes me!" Fuhrer eximed.

    After cing his hands on the de once again, Fuhrer disappeared while unsheathing his de. The only thing left in his prior position was a lifelike but fading shadowy afterimage. Upon seeing this, Apollo was surprised!

    ''Could this be the Second Baleful Step?'' Apollo marveled. Yet, an instantter, both his Tainted Temple and Diabolic Heart of Wrath trembled. With both of them empowering each other, Apollo sensed imminent danger. Simrly, a whisper entered his ears.

    "Behind." Upon hearing the voice, Apollo turned around. However, before he could defend himself. A boulder-like force hit his chest. Without pause, he flew back at a speed greater than he could achieve himself.

    Only after smashing into a wall deep in the cave did Apollo stop. Obviously, such an overpowered strike was beyond him. Apollo''s eyes widened while his entire body remained embedded into the wall.

    Frankly speaking, even breathing felt hard right now.

    ?System Alert! Your health has decreased drastically. Your Health has fallen under 50%. Now sacrificing some Demonic Reserves to mend your broken ribs.?

    As he craned his head down, Apollo witnessed a gaping indent on his right rib. Although the point of impact was small, nearly all of his ribs on this side were broken. In light of this, Apollo became glum. How was he supposed to handle at least 10 of these strikes?

 Chapter 194 - Insurmountable Opponent

    ----

    While still impaled in the wall, Apollo was left in a dazed state. Just a single hit and he was rendered into a state he had barely been before. Typically, it would take much effort for him to be made defenseless. Yet, with one simple action, Fuhrer did just that. Additionally, Apollo felt conflicted based on what he saw.??

    Just before impact, Apollo was sure he didn''t feel a blow for a while. Even as he witnessed Fuhrer''s actions, he didn''t feel the strikend on him until he was already mid-flight.

    Naturally, this was attributed to Fuhrer''s skillful disy of control. Not only did he dexterously reverse his grip while also attacking, right before it touched Apollo''s torso, but he also retracted the blow. To summarize, Fuhrer never actually hit Apollo!

    Simply using the air pressure from his attack, he was able to cause this type of damage to Apollo. Consequently, as his ribs healed, Apollo gasped for air. He was sure one of his ribs punctured a lung. Luckily, the inner damage was being healed by sacrificing copious amounts of Pure Demonic Anima.

    ''How is this the strength of a Greater Demon? I''m pretty sure those two demons from before aren''t capable of this in the slightest. What is Fuhrer''s true power,'' Apollo inwardly thought.

    "You must be confused. I guess at this point, you should be wondering how someone who is at the Greater Demon phase is capable of doing this right? First, I have been alive for over 100,000 years, do you truly believe a Greater Demon is what I am?" Fuhrer smiled while shifting eyes between the indent on Apollo''s chest and his wordless expression.

    Amid the process, Apollo coughed continuously. Moreover, he relented from his dazed state and looked at Fuhrer with a solemn gaze. On the other hand, Fuhrer shook his head with disappointment. Truthfully speaking, even though he knew Apollo was merely a Lesser Demon, he expected more out of him.

    After all, he didn''t just possess the Iraym Bloodline, he also sought to chase the Monarch position. In the beginning, he didn''t have a desire to aplish such a thing, however, as he experienced untold pain and embraced Azridan''spany, he found himself looking forward to iming this title.

    Thus, Apollo didn''t just look at Fuhrer with apprehension, he was crestfallen by his own weakness. Fortunately, with his personality, all this did was stimte the stubborn trait in him.

    "Boy, I must tell you, your physique is subpar. You may be stronger than some Lesser Demons, but this just won''t suffice. Your senses are too dull, I can''t even count that as a real blow. Your use of the Iraym Bloodline is nonexistent. So many issues to correct," Fuhrer sighed but deep in his eyes was excitement.

    "I understand this Fuhrer," Apollo uttered through his pained groans. Surprisingly, unlike other times when he was told he was weak, he didn''t experience a re of anger. Obviously, it was partly due to therge chasm separating his and Fuhrer''s power.

    However, the real reasony in the fact Fuhrer''s words carried genuine feelings. This was most likely his style of teaching. In his mind, the worst thing to do was drown a student with praise when it was undeserved. If one did this, they would only give birth to acent fool.

    Nevertheless, after Apollo responded, Fuhrer took a moment to assess how he handled the de''s strike and even broke down the weaknesses.

    "When I attacked, I feared that one hit would have broken you. Because of this, you should have witnessed me withdrawing. But, truthfully, I did so long ago. When I saw how long it took you to register this fact in your mind, I then understood howcking your mental acuity is," Fuhrer said after some thought.

    He then continued, "Let me ask you a question, do you perhaps, think you should give up on your road to power? If I''m to be honest with you, your starting point seems rather...underwhelming."

    In exchange, Apollo frowned. This wasn''t what he sought, he didn''t want to give up. In fact, aftering all this way, he couldn''t give up. How could he let his dedication thus far fall short? After much effort, he removed himself from the walk and shook his head, "I can continue! Just one strike isn''t enough to deter me."

    "Good, at least you have the mettle needed. Well then, don''t me me for being impolite," Fuhrer smirked. He then continued, "Then let me tell you the first issue. Like a me, everything about an Iraym should flicker. If you can''t aplish this, how can you call yourself the dominator of Hellfire? When it appears, you are to be one with Hellfire. Sadly, this is easier said than done. You should have been practicing this since birth."

    "I need to flicker," Apollo muttered. As the words repeated in his mind, he conjured hellfire in the palm of his hand. As he looked at the dying embers on the edge of it fade to nothingness, the ball of mes reflected in his eyes.

    While he tried toprehend this matter, Fuhrer remained silent. He allowed him a brief period to process this information. Moreover, when he posed this wager, he never mentioned a time limit. He just announced that Apollo needed to withstand all his blows.

    When the mes died out, Apollo closed his eyes and took a breather. Once he opened them, they flickered with lively energy. Although he didn''t understand what Fuhrer meantpletely, at least he grasped the need to know. Hellfire wasn''t just a means to attack people.

    It could also be used as a source of power. However, this depended on both the Sin Power in one''s body and the mastery they held over the mes. If either of these thingscked, then it would only spell doom for one. This is because an uncontrolled Hellfire could damage even the user themselves. Thus, why many demons outside of this Iraym didn''t practice this ability.

    "Again, I am ready!" Apollo eximed. This time, before Fuhrer moved, Apollo had already put up a guard with a focused gazed. If push came to shove, he was sure he could handle at least one blow now.

    But, Fuhrer smiled at this, "You don''t possess the Absolute Barrier of the prideful demons, do you think the physical means you are utilizing will stop my advance? Let me show you what happens when one practices the Tenebrous Way."

    Immediately after, the aura that was contained in his afterimage from before flowed into his sword. Once it reached saturation, Fuhrer smiled and took a feint step. Afterward, he left a ringing sonic boom in its ce. By effortlessly tearing through space, he arrived before Apollo.

    Fuhrer then dropped his stance and pooled most of his strength into his forearms. As he moved his arms in one fluid motion, he flicked the weapon guard on his de. It only moved a short distance, yet Apollo once again found himself stuck inside the wall.

    In fact, he was much deeper than before. To top it off, his forearms were bent out of ce! In other words, Fuhrer showed him that this type of guarding was suboptimal for a demon. Some of those demons possessed strength so overwhelming, they could explode other demons with a single strike.

    Hence, Fuhrer wanted to drill this matter into his mind now. This way of thinking didn''t suit a demon who wished to enter past the Noble Boundary! Luckily, Apollo was gasping this time because all of the force was aimed at his arms. Additionally, Fuhrer controlled the blow so that it would spread beyond them.

    "That makes 2," Fuhrer chuckled. By now, Apollo could tell the earlier hostile appearance was a front. He was sure that was some type of test to examine his mettle. Once again, Fuhrer pulled his blows. Be that as it may, Apollo still felt this demon standing before him was an insurmountable opponent.

    When he attacked he couldn''t see it. And when he slowed down to allow Apollo the glory of doing so, he found no weaknesses to exploit. When he struck, it was like he was void of any openings.

    ''Does this have something to do with this Tenebrous Way, he uttered?'' Apollo thought to himself. At the same time, the system finally finished generating information on Fuhrer. As Apollo looked at it, his eyes widened. His earlier spection was far away from what he thought to be the truth.

    Demon Name: Erus Fuhrer

    Demonic Power: Peak Greater Demon (Sealed Daemos)

    Demonic Standing: Knight (Ancient Arch Lord)

    Title: Lord Tenebrous, Guardian of the Tenebrous Sword.

    ''A Daemos...isn''t that what Azridan said one needs to be to take up the Demon Monarch mantle? Could this perhaps be...the true Demon Monarch?'' Apollo marveled.

    "Are you," Apollo paused to collect his thoughts before continuing, "the Demon Monarch? I mean, are you the one of the past?"

    In response, Fuhrer smiled and dropped his sword to his waist, "Do you believe I am? Has something told you my true power? This assumption is only possible for one who has seen it woulde to that immediate conclusion. So tell me, how have you seen my sealed power? I can''t ess it, so it shouldn''t be able to be seen."

    Slowly, Apollo muttered, "Because you are a piece."

    Fuhrer''s eyes widened once hearing this. Furthermore, he understood what drove this youth to him. It wasn''t Azridan, it was something woven much deeper!

 Chapter 195 - Overbearing Guidance (I)

    ----

    "Before your questions deepen, I shall tell you right now. I am not the first Demon Monarch. However, I was alive during his reign. If you want to know my true identity, you''d have to properly seed the Demon Monarch''s mantle. Only then will I reveal to you who I am. Secondly, you also need to find one who is worthy of the Tenebrous Sword," Fuhrer announced before holding his hand up towards Apollo.??

    "Now, as I said before, that is only the second strike. You still need to withstand 8 more of such blows. I will only allow you 30 seconds before I move again," Fuhrer smiled. However, this time, a ghastly purplish aura appeared around the hilt of his sword. While it didn''t move, it permeated towards the bottom of his weapon''s de.

    Meanwhile, Apollo took the time granted to him to stimte his anima as much as possible. However, he soon realized his energy was near bottoming out. ''These two hits drained over 90% of my energy? What¡­''

    Upon noticing the change in Apollo''s expression, Fuhrer took a guess at what he was experiencing, "I''m guessing the consumption of an Iraym''s Smoldering Healing ability is more than you can handle huh? By now, your Pure Demonic Anima should be nearly exhausted right?"

    Apollo gave a silent nod. Everything Fuhrer mentioned was correct. Everything about an Iraym was new to him and to limate to it would take some time. However, time wasn''t something that Fuhrer seemed to be giving him.

    Fortunately, Fuhrer didn''t seem to be the type to leave zero ways out, "Why do you possess Noble Practices yet fail to utilize them?"

    ''Noble Practices? What is he talking about? I''ve never heard of such things,'' Apollo thought. At a loss, he gave Fuhrer a dumbfounded expression.

    "Oh? Has Azridan not told what Noble Practices are? Interesting. He should''ve, seeing as I was the one who taught the one in his possession to him. Nevertheless, I am talking about the Baleful Steps and the Annihtions. He had given these prized techniques to you, no? I sense the aura in your pathways," Fuhrer questioned.

    "No, I ask that you tell me now?" Apollo answered. Although he could infer what they meant, he didn''t want to specte and then lose out on vital information. After all, there was nothing more valuable than teachings from one who has surpassed that level. Not to mention, it was also someone who gave birth to an individual that nearly seeded the Demon Monarch.

    "Very well. How should I put this, ah! In short, Noble Practices are the techniques that possess the ability to drive one across the Noble Boundary. Some may be powered by Sin, others by Chaos, but that all have something inmon¡ªwhile aiming towards the pinnacle, they seek to propel one towards the realm of the Daemos."

    "And, this Noble Boundary, that is?" Apollo rubbed his chin in thought.

    "The realm holding the prerequisite to the power of Seven Lords. Let me break it down for you, the can only be 7 Lords in a generation. But, the position of Lord is open to anyone who bes a Noblesse. However, if one announces their journey to Monarchhood, then they forfeit the right to participate in this battle.

    "If that''s the case, how can there only be 7 Lords at a time? Surely, there are demons who reach this realm, no?" Apollo responded. While all this seemed very interesting, there seemed to be darker powers at y here. If there could only be 7 Lords, what happened to the Noblesse who didn''t seek to attempt the Monarch''s trials?

    "Of course. But, once you reach this level, something inevitable happens. No matter how much they resist, the two absolute Primal Sin sources seek to meld as one. Thus, the newborn Noblesse is drawn towards the existing Lord," Fuhrer answered. At the same time, he took notice of Apollo''s physique recovering by a substantial degree.

    ''His Smoldering Regeneration seems rather abnormal. It''s a shame his body is incapable of handling that Noble practice. If so, I would have taught it to him. Maybe on his next journey here. I just hope this youth has what it takes to release me from this seal. I have guarded the Tenebrous Sword for far too long,'' Fuhrer sighed internally.

    While he came here of his own ord in the past, now that he had been here for countless millennia, the bleak daily passage numbed his soul. In truth, his sword wished to taste the mes of battle once again. But, with his current state, an unsealing would most like result in his perishing.

    "That is?" Apollo perked up. This information while beyond his current knowledge, it interested him. For some odd reason, something told him he had to confront the Lord. Furthermore, this feeling also hinted that it had nothing to do with this conversation. It was something muchrger.

    "By establishing the Lone Oath. This special circumstance creates a special restraint. For now, at least, it''s just a safety measure. However, half of the possession of the Nobless goes to the Lord. Now, we have talked long enough, prepare for the third strike," Fuhrer eximed.

    As he moved his arms, his feet remained rooted in ce. But, as Apollo looked at the towering wave of purplish energy hurtling towards him, his jaw gaped. ''I-isn''t this the Demonic Massacre Wave, but why does it feel different. Also, it''s reaching the ceiling! What a monstrous output.''

    In response, Apollo exhausted the rest of his Demonic Anima as quickly. In return, a Demonic Massacre Wave less than one-tenth of the one Fuhrer released met his strike. Albeit slightly, he curved the blow into the wall next to him. Be that as it may, Fuhrer''s eyes narrowed.

    ''That weapon around his hand. Where have I seen it before? I didn''t realize it before because of its dormant state, but isn''t that a Forsaken Weapon? Why does he have the weapon of him? Interesting, I must know your destiny even more,'' Fuhrer determined.

    On the other hand, Apollo dropped to his knees and gasped. The sudden exhaustion of his energy left him feeling faint. If it weren''t for the upgrade of his internal, he would have undoubtedly fainted by now. Yet, Apollo smiled. From Fuhrer''s disy, he could tell what hecked.

    "There is no intent within your Annihtion. If you continue down this path, you will never gain absolute mastery over these techniques. Still, since I have taken a liking to you, I will give you an example of all the techniques you can utilize right now. If you show an exemryprehension, I may even show the subsequent level," Fuhrer bartered.

    "Give me...5 minutes," Apollo panted in response. Shortly after, he continued, "You never assigned a time limit. So I should be able to request the duration of recuperation, right?"

    "Correct. I''m d you caught wind of this. When I posed it to Azridan in the past, it took him 7 strikes to muster the courage to ask. Then again, it also took 7 blows to push him to this point. I believe he was an Archdemon already back then," Fuhrer nodded. While Apollo recovered, he reminisced of the days he trained Azridan.

    ''They possess simr tenacity, but there is also something different about this boy. Maybe their pasts are simr, however, the way they have epted it is not. Well, there may also be different circumstances surrounding them. Azridan''s father was a Lord and so was his mother but he was a hidden child. Besides I, I''m not sure many others are privy to this.''

    Not long after Fuhrer started reminiscing, Apollo roused him from his stupor, "Fuhrer, I am ready. We may go again."

    Naturally, Fuhrer obliged. Once again, he executed the Demonic Massacre Wave. In fact, the 4th to 8th strikes were all this technique. By the time Apollo experienced the 5th hit of this technique, not only did nearly 2 days pass, hiscking intent already showed signs of making progress.

    This advancement was due to witnessing the damage done to the rocks surrounding them. Even after the wave disappeared, the aura of death lingered on. No, it was more correct to call it ughter.

    With the 9th strike, Fuhrer finally switched to Nether Severance. However, Apollo didn''t even attempt to contest. He tried to evade the Partial Shade Silhouette. Unfortunately, it was useless. Fuhrer pulled a strange movement and the Nether Severance reacted by encasing itself in a dark aura that made it impossible to sense.

    "Your mind is limited. You aren''t the only thing these techniques can be used on. For thisst strike, I will do something special. Although I have to warn you, it may end your stay here early. So, choose wisely. Do you think you have gained from this venture yet?" Fuhrer questioned in a solemn tone.

 Chapter 196 - Overbearing Guidance (II)

    ----

    Upon hearing Fuhrer''s question, Apollo fell silent. He pondered this matter. Did he truly learn enough from his experience so far? Not to mention, there was still slightly over 1 day remaining for his stay duration. But, when he weighed this matter against the fact thest strike could offer copious amounts of inspiration, Apollo was conflicted.??

    Although he didn''t know exactly what Fuhrer intended to do with hisst strike, he was sure it was something beyond his current knowledge. Yet, be that as it may, he still couldn''t ovee this gnawing feeling that it wasn''t time yet.

    Thus, Apollo finally made his decision. "I''m not ready to witness what you intend to do, there are still things I want to know. For example, how there are two seamlessly blended powers in your body. Shouldn''t there be a small conflict from them both being present?"

    "Ah, you see that''s a question I''ve been waiting for you to ask me. Simply put, this requires the utilization of Noble Practices at the very least. Once you acquire their essence, you then realize what is needed to use your power at the pinnacle. In truth, I only practice one method¡ªthe Tenebrous Way. However, it possesses a special quality, it blends in with both nothing and all," Fuhrer chuckled.

    "Does this mean the Annihtions and Baleful Step can do the same?" Apollo questioned. If this was true, then rather than waste time on an obscene strike, he wanted guidance in this.

    "Hold ond, you must remember, this is a Noble Practice! Are you a Noblesse or even an Archdemon for that matter? Absolutely not. Additionally, can you use the 7th Annihtion and the 5th Baleful Step? If not, then you have no means of evening close to your essence. However, you are not without luck," Fuhrer stated before tilting his de at an odd angle.

    "Truthfully speaking, I was going tobine the Nether Severance along with the Demonic Massacre Wave while permeating it with the Tenebrous Thread. But, it seems there is no point in that. Let''s augment you to the highest degree possible. For the tenth strike, fight me."

    After speaking, both Fuhrer''s size and aura began deting. From a peak Greater Demon, his aura fell until it barely grazed the cusp of an initial Greater Demon. In other words, he was a peak Lesser Demon.

    Meanwhile, as Apollo heard the word "fight", he was stricken with apprehension. While to others it may seem to be more of a fair fight, that was by no means the case. One thing that couldn''t be overlooked was Fuhrer''s battle experience as well as the supetive control over his power. Even if he dropped his strength to such a level, his physique stilled retained the memory of his prior body.

    Fortunately, the more Apollo thought about this, the more he realized he was overthinking things. One, Fuhrer wasn''t hostile. Two, the main reason for this fight was to gauge his current strength and develop a suitable method to advance the grasp of his abilities.

    "In our first spar, I will overwhelm you with speed. Ready yourself!" Fuhrer eximed. From the jump, Fuhrer utilized the advanced form of Apollo''s Partial Shade Silhouette. While it looked simr, Fuhrer''s entire body vanished. When he moved, he traveled in the imprable shadows.

    In Apollo''s eyes, all he saw was a shadow zipping around. When a few moments passed and Fuhrer still didn''t attack, embers of Hellfire flickered around Apollo''s metallic ws. Yet, at that very moment, Fuhrer made his move.

    The sonorous peal of high-quality metal scraped together as Fuhrer''s explosive thrust connected with the back of Apollo''s palm. "You have gotten faster, but your flicker is still terrible. Move faster, think faster, BE FASTER!"

    Fwoosh!

    An indiscernible strike from Fuhrer''s elbownded on Apollo causing him to take a few steps back. When he realized this, Apollo was surprised. It appeared Fuhrer was holding back far more than he estimated. However, in light of this revtion, Apollo''s expression turned solemn.

    ''Just by using this stepping method, he''s amplifying his spontaneous eleration by at least 10 times. That elbow never moved, or at least I couldn''t track it. This is harder than he makes it out to be but I think I understand,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    As Fuhrer took a step forward, Apollo inhaled and closed his eyes. He thought back to the training that took ce within the Academy. Although it wasn''t some extreme practice, the basis could be used now. Hence, Apollo stimted both the Tainted Temple and the Diabolic Heart of Wrath concurrently.

    His heart spewed Hellfire whereas his temple released a wave of mental energy. Once they collided, a pained expression appeared on Apollo''s face, however, the results were amazing. For a split second, he could see a mirage of Fuhrer.

    Thus, he titled his left shoulder back ever so slightly. Albeit small, the action was effective. Contrary to Fuhrer''s expectations of stabbing through his shoulder, he was only able to form a small gash.

    "Interesting, your flicker at that moment was sufficient for your current stand. But, we are priming you to be a Monarch! How can we allow you to merely conform within your standard?" Fuhrer retorted after giving slight praise.

    This time, his attacks took a more violent approach. Each subsequent strike grew heavier as itpounded on the preceding attack. By the time Apollo defended against the 15th blow, up to his knees were embedded in the ground.

    "I thought I told you, utilize your techniques! Fuel them with Sin and meld your mind with the strike. Half of these strikes should have been averted by you! Are you one of those fools who lose their wits under pressure? If so, you''re in for a rude awakening, your journey itself is pressure!" Fuhrer snarled.

    Although he said this, in truth, Apollo''s release of his techniques took too long in respect to Fuhrer''s strike. By the time he conjured enough to release a strike, Fuhrer was already delivering the next blow.

    "It''s not that! You said it yourself, you will overwhelm me with speed! In battle, the one who possesses the upper hand in speed controls the momentum of the following shes!" Apollo retorted. Being thrashed in his forte was a frustrating thing. Not to mention, it was to the point where it was overwhelming.

    "You must learn to deal with it. Your words may be correct in certain but what happens when I debunk this? Come at me with your fastest strike," Fuhrermanded. Afterward, he changed his stance. He merely stood there awaiting APollo''s confrontation.

    Naturally, Apollo didn''t shy away from this request. He dashed in with his Partial Shade Silhouette tuned to the maximum output. Once he reached Fuhrer, he thrust his hand forward in the form of a spear. Yet, contrary to what he expected, Fuhrer didn''t as much as flinch!

    Right before the blownded, Fuhrer lifted his sword and guided Apollo''s body away from him. Soon, Apollo found himself hurtling through the air. Oddly enough, his speed remained constant.

    Due to this, when hended, Apollo''s eyes narrowed, ''That action generated no force whatsoever. And, I saw every movement of it. So how is this possible?''

    In the meantime, Fuhrermanded him toe at him again. Only, this time, when Fuhrer responded, Apollo found his face against the ground. Once again, his attack was parried effortlessly.

    "Do you understand? It isn''t the one with the superior speed that wins, it is the one with superior intellect and senses. In each of your strikes, I moved slower than you. Not only this, I used your own force to deal with you. Now, tell me, in a real battle, which opponent would have perished?" Fuhrer questioned.

    "This one who possessed my role," Apollo answered.

    "Correct, but incorrect. The one who would lose is the one who lost their wits. If you retained a sound mind while the other''s patience whittled away, then an opening is bound to present itself. I shall train you to open these weaknesses. AGAIN!" Fuhrer bellowed before releasing a torrential aura.

    In response, Apollo nodded. Their numerous exchangesmenced, and Fuhrer ridiculed each wrong movement. In fact, Fuhrer already determined Apollo''s next Sin through certain means but he kept it under wraps. For now, he simply peered into Apollo''s internal state.

    As it was bathed in Sin, it was strengthened. Now, the Hellfire was incapable of causing him any difort. Unfortunately, the system alerted Apollo that his end was near.

    ?System Alert! 35 minute(s) remain in your stay in Ashiraem.?

    "It seems my stay here will cease soon," Apollo muttered.

    "I figured as much. Your connection is growing weaker. Nevertheless, before you go, allow me to show you that strike," Fuhrer said before taking a menacing stance.

 Chapter 197 - Return To Astarat

    ----

    "Your time left in this ce is waning. Therefore, allow me to show you a strike that will serve as the foundation of yourprehension," Fuhrer uttered. Immediately after, he took a stance that caused the surroundings to still. In fact, even Apollo''s breath halted.??

    The stifling aura emanating split in the three. The first aura Apollo sensed was a mastered source of Ira. The immense Wrath it produced caused Apollo to marveled silently. Its reddish color continued to deepen until it was the color of blood.

    Then, a second aura, one Apollo wasn''t quite familiar with appeared. Nevertheless, this was known as Superbia or the one that produces Pride. A faint silver aura appeared around both Fuhrer in his sword. As the crimson and silver aura collided, they both yielded. Due to Fuhrer''s mastery, neither one could ovee the other.

    Still, the collision caused the surface around Fuhrer''s feet to splinter and break apart. From there, he injected the third aura. It was mostly violet with faint traces of ck interspersed throughout. Once all three auras interacted, Fuhrer gazed upon Apollo.

    "As I told you before, the Sins need a medium to be seamlessly blended. Their primal sources never seek to meld as one. Thus, there is a collision when trying to do so. However, if you inject a simrly strong power to act as a catalyst, this issue can be bypassed. Take a look," Fuhrer instructed.

    While moving his sword before his chest, the aurae all gathered on the de of his weapon. Soon enough, an additionalyer formed around his sword. "This is the first strike of my specialty. It melds not only the First and Second Annihtions, it is empowered by the Baleful Step Second Step. Watch closely, don''t avert your gaze. Even if it bes overwhelming, do not look away."

    In response, Apollo nodded, "Very well. I won''t look away. I am ready." after he spoke, Apollo''s expression grew solemn. He used every morsel of energy still inside him to conjure a rough shield of Hellfire around him. Although simr to the Essence Aegis technique of Astarat. This version was much stronger due to the fact it could also attack.

    Of course, this was in the event that Apollo wasn''tpletely on the defensive. If so, he couldunch pieces of the shield as an attack. While training with Fuhrer, he became privy to a few other abilities surrounding the Iraym''s who dominate the Hellfire. In light of this, Apollo then wondered if Fuhrer was also an Iraym from his extensive knowledge.

    Soon enough, these matters were pushed to the back of his mind, the strike was ready. From a two-handed stance, Fuhrer switched to utilizing one hand. In this way, he seemed to be free. It appeared his swordy wasn''t a two-handed one. After all, although long, his sword didn''t have to be one of great weight.

    "Once you reach my level, your technique is engraved on your body. To put it differently, you be your technique. Thus, I am Fuhrer, the Master of the Tenebrous Way and Embodiment of Infernal Pride. Now, bare ware to the first strike.

    As he took a step, everything slowed down. Even as he did so, his arm remained outstretched. The shadow of the Baleful Steps soon encased his entire figure.

    "Infernal Tenebrous Swordy: First Strike," Fuhrer muttered. Afterward, he executed a simple upward sh. Yet, as the follow-up of the strike hurtled forward, achasm spanning farther than Apollo could see opened up.

    When the aura of strike subsided, the same chasm began crumbling and copsing in on itself. At the same time, Apollo gaped at what he saw. Not only did a simple sh caused astonishing amounts of destruction, but all the ambient Ira also seemed to be gone.

    In other words, Fuhrer''s one strike turned this area into a dead zone. For it to refill once again, it wouldmost likely tame some time. Needless to say, this was the reason Fuhrer asked him before if he wanted to witness that strike that early.

    After heunched it, Apollo''s connection with the world weakened further. Concurrently, his Iraym form also subsided. Now that he once again turned into his human form, Fuhrer raised his eyebrow.

    "I see, you''re a human turned demon. No, even that is incorrect. I''m not exactly sure how to characterize what you are. Your predicament is extremely special. Fortunately, it''s the uniqueness of your situation that makes me look forward to what you aplish. Now, tell me, did you witness the strike?" Fuhrer questioned.

    Apollo then fell silent as he pondered what he witnessed. He was sure he witnessed the two Annihtions amplifying each other. But, that also caused the consumption of the strike to increase drastically. Then, the strike became undetectable.

    Only after the damage was done did Apollo realize what Fuhrer had done, "That strike¡­ it wasn''t done by your body. All of the ambient Sin was wrest away by you. Theck of a faltering aura tells me not an iota of your energy was utilized," Apollomented. He was amazed by this. If there was one thing he wished to learn, it was how to use the world to attack.

    "Correct, once your will is strong enough, you can make anything your weapon. This includes the world''s power as well. When it steps into the boundary of Manifestation, you''ll know more about your own will. Before you go," Fuhrer held out his hand and flicked his finger.

    A b of stone moved aside and revealed a storage space containing both Crystallized Chaos, Fragments of Sin as well as another unknown material.

    "I''m sure you''re familiar with two of these items. As for thest one, they''re known as Anima Crystal. Unlike the others that can grow in grade, these don''t. Just the energy inside fluctuates as it absorbs more. I can tell where youe from doesn''t have any anima; thus your rate of training isbored," Fuhrer said.

    "True, and my conversion ability wastes too much time. Since I''m a Lesser Demon, it''s not very strong," Apollo responded.

    "I''m aware. You should take these materials. And, when youe back, I expect to see great improvements in your abilities. Also, I hope to hear information about you finding me one capable of wielding the Tenebrous Sword. I will teach you three Noble Practice at the time youplete this task," Fuhrer announced.

    Upon hearing this, Apollo grew interested. He was sure the Tenebrous Sword wasn''t an actual sword and was in fact a practice. The only question was, was it beyond a Noble Practice? After all, this was the technique from a Daemos and he only seemed to be a guardian of it.

    "Does the sessor have to be a demon as well?" Apollo questioned.

    "I would prefer for it toe from your Household. The holder of the Tenebrous Sword is to be the liaison of the Demon Monarch," Fuhrer answered with prideced in his tone.

    Shortly after, Apollo was rendered speechless. Based on his words, then that meant, "Are you...the liaison of the past Demon Monarch, Fuhrer?"

    As a response, Fuhrer simply smiled, "Find your own path. When you retrace the steps of the Monarch, the answers will align before you. Should you show promise, then I give my word that I will follow you. Thus, go peacefully," Fuhrer uttered before crossing his arms across his chest.

    Afterward, he closed his eyes and the obsidian helmet surrounded his visage once again. He then took a few steps back and took a seat on a stone seat in the background.

    On the other hand, Apollo imed the entire contents of the storage area.

    ?System Alert! ?Fragments of Sin? x300 ?Crystallized Chaos? x200 ?Anima Crystals? x500 has been added to your Interdimensional Inventory.?

    ?System Alert! Brace yourself, the connection between the Ashiraem Ring has psed. The doorway to your world is opening once again to im you.?

    Shortly after, before Apollo could respond the portal opened and swallowed him inside. As that happened, Fuhrer opened his eyes and looked at the down closing portal.

    "Interesting, that world on the other side is rather weak. I am surprised he can grow so strong. Perhaps there are other forces at y that are helping him grow. I wonder, just who or what it is," Fuhrer whispered to himself.

    ----

    Back in the world of Astarat,

    Apollo and Ouroboros fell through the portal causing mor. When he returned, pains originating from his demonic organs shot through his body.

    "Ugh, what the fuck," Apollo groaned. The return was different from the journey there. It seemed the different states of the world affected his body differently than his soul. Nevertheless, his body soon limated to the changes it experienced.

    As he nced over to his bed, he saw ia meditating quietly. Small fluctuations appeared around her body. It appeared she was on the cusp of a breakthrough. Even his loud interruption didn''t wake her from her state.

    Thus, Apollo didn''t interfere with her actions. First, he did the calctions in his mind but when he looked at the date on his wall, only 30 days had passed.

    "Huh? Wasn''t the ratio 1:100? Then perhaps that had something to do with the Temporal Dissonance," Apollo mumbled.

    Meanwhile, a knock was heard on Apollo''s door shortly after his return.

 Chapter 198 - A Visit

    ----

    As the knock was heard on his door, Apollo turned his attention towards it. From the repeated and hurried knocks, he could tell whoever it was that came to his residence was either in a hurry or they had been trying to get in contact with him. Whichever it was, Apollo didn''t care for it much.??

    Since they were in the Academy and were unable to leave the premises, there weren''t many events that could be counted as an emergency. Not to mention, news to the outside world was sealed off by special channels. If one sought to get information in and out of this ce, they would need a special privilege.

    Nevertheless, under the repeated knocking, Apollo ultimately gave way. "You may enter," he said. Afterward, he waved his arm and undid the security formation on the door. Thay way, when the person entered, they wouldn''t be subject to an attack.

    However, he saw the person that walked through the door, he was shocked. "Uh, Odessa, why have youe all this way? Don''t you live in the Special Area? It seems worthless toe to this area.

    "Well, yes, but I came to see you. As we have a deal, I need to also monitor your progress. If you fall behind, you pose the risk of reneging on our deal. And, that is something a Crux can''t tolerate, let alone me," Odessa answered with crossed arms and she walked through the doorway.

    On the other hand, Apollo examined her silently. When he saw her neat unfamiliar uniform and the sword hanging at her waist, he became curious, "That uniform, it doesn''t seem to be part of the regr student edition. Have you been given special privileges?"

    "No, not really. Since you''ve been missing in action for over 4 weeks, you''ve missed out on a few events and things taking ce in the school. However, I''ll summarize for you, some students have joined the student council and some have joined the disciplinarymittee. Thus, they are given extra Academic Credits and the end of every week. While it isn''trge, it''ll help to cultivate faster," Odessa responded.

    Then, she inspected his clothes and appearance, ''I get a dangerous vibe from him although he is trying to conceal it. He must have made ample progress in lieu of his disappearance. I guess my worries are unwarranted. He doesn''t seem to be azy individual. But, his appearance also seems rather haggard. What has he been doing?''

    "Ahem, Apollo. Why do you look as if someone has tossed you around nonstop without giving you sufficient rest? If I''m being honest, it looks as if someone was bullying you," Odessa blinked innocently before taking a few steps forward. Once she was close, she raised her hand.

    However, it was soon grabbed midair as Apollo gazed at her silently for a moment, "What are you doing?" He kept her hand in ce while awaiting her answer. Even though he didn''t sense any malice, he didn''t understand why she was attempting to get so close.

    "Well, if you''re to be one of my people, then I can''t allow you to look like this. Let me fix you if you intend on stepping out of this ce. After all, I believe we have another lesson soon enough. On top of that, the Institutes will be opening their doors soon for the year," Odessa answered.

    After finding her words to be the truth, Apollo released her hand. Honestly speaking, her words were correct. If he looked into his mirror, he would realize ashes embedded on his skin and scorch marks on the edges of his uniform.

    Thus, he let her do her thing. Afterward, her hands shone with rejuvenating light. Not only did it work on people, but it also worked on material as well. Soon enough, the singed areas of his uniform looked brand new. Once done, she took a step away and nodded.

    "You look much better now. Also, with your aura, I suggest you join the disciplinarymittee. Keep in mind, this only pertains to the outer barracks and in addition to this, the students are somewhat unruly. Especially those amongst the group preparing to graduate. They seem to believe in some type of hierarchy. So, their actions be slightly tyrannical," Odessamented while still tending to Apollo''s undone hair.

    Meanwhile, Apollo peered at her silently. ''Where is that haughty attitude from our first meeting? Why is she acting as if we''re close friends? It could be due to the fact she''s scared that the other Paragon may be able to steal her subordinates. But, why take this route? Isn''t making your subordinates fear you much better? That way, if they think of betraying you, they''ll understand death soon follows," Apollo thought to himself.

    However, as his curiosity grew, he soon voiced his opinion, "Odessa, why are you doing this? Do you seek to gain something out of this behavior?"

    "Eh? Can''t I just pamper my people a little bit? Do I have to possess some sort of motive? But, if you must know, then my followers must all uphold a certain reputation. If you were to tarnish mine, how would I look in public?" Odessa asked. While she did, her expression became slightly frustrated. When had she ever been questioned? Usually, people would be happy to be in her presence.

    Yet, this boy in front of her seemed to care less and was also unaffected by both her charms and her intent to garner a rtionship. Even if her family ruled through fear, something told her that tactic wouldn''t work on this boy before her.

    In fact, she had a feeling that if she tried this way, she would be invoking his ire. And, based on what she saw on the stage, she was well aware this youth was a killer. If she didn''t y her cards right, should she allow him to gain enough strength that would be the end of her?

    Likewise, she also thought she could turn him into a weapon to use against Alistair. That way, she would increase the chances of her family bing the undisputed top dog even amongst the Supreme Families. However, to make this reality, they also needed to deal with the Dongguangs.

    Unlike the rest, they didn''t showcase their power. Thus, the Supreme''s were still on the fence as to whether or not there was a 3rd Paragon of this generation. Not to mention, even after extensive questioning, their actions got them nowhere.

    "Mm, I see. And, there is no other reason correct? I only ask this because you seem awfully close. I''ll warn you now, don''t develop any weird ideas towards me. Most likely than not, the answer will remain no to whatever you seek," Apollo stated before stepping away.

    At this point, ia''s aura was growing even more erratic. Undoubtedly, she was on the edge of a breakthrough. However, it seemed to be failing at the moment.

    Therefore, Apollo took action, ''I told you I would help you gain strength. Thus, allow me to help you.''

    As he walked forward, Apollo created a ball of blended Essence on his hand. When Odessa saw this, her eyes widened. ''This is one of the abilities of the Saint Meridians, Absolute Control! Does this mean his internal state has stepped into the Saint threshold? This information isn''t known to others. As far as they know, he only possesses Heaven Meridians. I need to keep this a secret.''

    While Apollo held the condensed essence, he tapped a finger against it and caused a thread of essence to separate from the orb. He then tapped his finger against her stomach followed by her forehead. An instantter, in a continuous stream, the threads flowed inside her.

    Naturally, this sustained her actions while Apollo took a step back, "With this, your breakthrough should be cemented. Also, Odessa why is your expression like that?" Apollo questioned while turning towards Odessa.

    "That control. It doesn''t belong to the low-grade Saint Meridians. No, it belongs to at least the middle-grade. How did you make such a drastic jump? You can''t say that you''ve hidden it. It is impossible to fool the testing equipment. Tell me, I promise I will keep it a secret," Odessa implored while grabbing Apollo''s hands with a fervent expression.

    "It''s just due to my practice method. It requires me to temper my internals above all. So, even if I fall outside of the age of internal upgrading practice, such a thing doesn''t prohibit me," Apollo shrugged in response. This information wasn''t anything valuable to him. After all, if anyone tried to practice what he did, they''d just be killing themselves.

    "Then, does that mean your potential is limitless? What does the end stage of this technique describe? Will you unlock the fabled Supreme Meridians?" Odessa questioned. Even she herself only possessed high-grade Divine Meridians. However, she possessed 7 Blessed Aperture Meridians.

    This meant, if she practiced her healing methods, she could be the world''s top healer without contest. Of course, this was information she withheld from people. If everyone became aware of it, then there would be an endless line of people beseeching her to heal their injured loved ones.

    "I can''t answer that as I don''t know what it is," Apollo answered. As a result, Odessa''s excitement dampened.

    ''Even so, I''ll keep this a secret from my family as well. They don''t need to know everything that happens, after all, they said I need to grow on my own. So, I must also possess my own share of secrets,'' Odessa thought.

    Then, arge shockwave took ce.

 Chapter 199 - Convinced By A Paragon

    ----

    Shortly after the shockwave took ce, ia opened her eyes. As she did, numerous mental fluctuations exited from her eyes. As she looked down at her hands, she felt there was something irregr about her body, but she couldn''t put her finger on it. However, if she had to take a blind guess, she was sure it was due to being in Apollo''s presence.??

    ''Based on what my parents told me, even if I have a Royal Bloodline, my mind is too strong for a Rank 4. It''s like it was empowered during the point of advancement,'' ia thought as he nced at Apollo and Odessa conversing.

    Due to her disturbance, the two stopped and turned towards her. Although there was a short silence, Odessa soon broke it, "I''m guessing this is the beast that you took control of in the Dark Labyrinth? If so, it''s shocking that you''ve already allowed her to increase a cultivation realm. How did you do so? Did you sacrifice part of the resources I gave you?"

    "No," Apollo replied while continuing to inspect ia. Overall, he was pleased by what he saw. Although it was indiscernible to her, Apollo could see traces of Wrath flowing within her mind. Subtly, it was empowering her mind to be more lethal and vtile. Soon enough, she could be one of his weapons.

    "Then how did you," Odessa pressed on.

    "Stop asking so many questions. Do you not know what the word privacy means?" Apollo retorted before walking towards ia. He then tapped her forehead and felt the signature of her mental power. When he saw traces of his own signature inside, it opened his mind to other possibilities.

    ''This must be the reason behind the recipients of the contract being unable to defy the issuer of the contract. Interesting, but they also seem rather weak. Thus, I can only control a summon near my own level. Anyone beyond it, I''ll have to tempt them into a fair contract or,'' Apollo paused and looked down at the medallion in his hand.

    ''ording to Fuhrer, if a demon enters a household, based on the ranking I bestow them, a certain amount of absolute loyalty is generated. But, there are still workarounds. My Sin must always overpower theirs or our goals must stay uniquely aligned. I should be able to pull this off,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    As he moved his hand from her forehead, he looked at ia, "How do you feel?"

    "Stronger, much stronger. I don''t know what you did to me, but thank you I''m one step closer to-" ia thanked. However, Apollo interjected with a certain look.

    ''Don''t mention that goal to the public. Are you trying to attract hostile intentions towards yourself? Without a doubt, if the current leaders are aware of your existence, then they''ll surely suspect you of harboring a grudge for what they''ve done. Therefore, watch your words and speak normally,'' Apollo warned through the mental link.

    While she became silent, Apollo looked back towards Odessa, "So, tell me. What exactly did youe here for? You said you had been looking for me for days? It can''t be as simple as wanting to check on my progress."

    In response, Odessa smirked and ced her hand on her hip, "I want you to either join the student council with me or join the disciplinarymittee. I want you to start building a name for yourself early. Not only will you be rewarded by the academy if you pass the exam, but I will also reward you as all. How does that sound?"

    "It sounds like a hassle. Like I''ll be spending too much time with you and away from cultivation. Doesn''t that sound counterintuitive?" Apollo responded.

    If she wanted him to advance with haste and upkeep a certain image, then joining these student bodies would result in a decrease in the time spent undergoing cultivation. However, it wasn''t a position that only came with consequences, there were also matters that could benefit him faster.

    For example, once per month, the council members were allowed to meet with the Headmaster and submit a report detailing how the school can be made to better suit everyone. Furthermore, there was also the chance to enter a special division directly under the Headmaster.

    Not only did this require talent, but it also required the individual to deal with the masses and hold a position on one of the student bodies. In ce of the instructors and staff, the student council and disciplinarymittee could be seen as the youthful sword and shields.

    "Not at all. While on duty, there is an area dedicated to cultivation. Additionally, the rewards at the very least are Spirit Stones and Academy Credits. As you gain more of those, you can use the special facilities here. For example, did you know there were areas here to sense elements and familiarize yourself with Intent?" Odessa questioned.

    Upon hearing this, Apollo''s eyebrow arched. As soon as he heard the word intent, he perked up. At first, she had his curiosity, but now, she had his attention, "Is that true? Then where are they? We weren''t shown this on the tour of the Outer Barracks."

    "That''s because it isn''t located in the barracks. It''s located in the center of the academy between the two institutes. But, their cost is astronomical and the spots are limited. So, freshmen rarely obtain the chance to experiment with this until they be sophomores. However, if you join themittee and overpower the ones from the prior year, you can get in there faster," Odessa revealed.

    "So what you mean to say is, I have to create enmity to gain a chance?" Apollo answered. Although her words didn''t say this, what individual would ept their spot being taken from them forcefully? There was bound to be retaliation. Nevertheless, Apollo wasn''t one to shy away just because of signs of conflict.

    "Well, no but yes. You could say that is true, but how about I back you up? Would that suffice?" Odessa questioned with an earnest expression.

    Be that as it may, Apollo frowned. In truth, that would make it worst. On top of their being unknown suitors of this girl, he would gain a reputation of being protected by a girl stronger than him. With his pride, he didn''t know if this was something he could ept.

    Thus, he shook his head, "While you can assist in the shadow with the administration, leave the actual students to me. It''s better for me to gauge the strength of my upperssmen. After all, sooner orter, we''ll find ourselves in battle. If this ce is like my family member described, there will be ample shing of egos."

    "Very well, I can operate like this. So, thene with me? We''ll head to the Administration Hall to make this concrete. I''ll tell them you''d like to put your name down on the list. Come," Odessa urged while pulling his arm.

    In the meantime, Apollo nced back at Ouroboros and ia. Through the mental link, he spoke to them and gave light orders " You two continue cultivating, I''ll be backter. Ouroboros, the things pertaining to your growth is under the bed."

    After leaving this message, both Apollo and Odessa left the living quarters. As they walked through the barrack grounds, small whispers surrounded them. Contrary to what one would expect, their attention was focused on the uniform Odessa wore. Since this was the freshmen area, they had yet to see the attire of the student council.

    "You''re attracting unwanted attention Odessa, care to speed this trip up," Apollo whispered while taking note of the outside murmurs.

    "Fine," Odessa replied with a tinge of attitude. Nheless, a cluster of light gathered around her legs as she took a step forward. Simrly, Apollo utilized the Partial Shade Silhouette. Just like that, their two figures disappeared from the area.

    ----

    Several minutester, the twonded before the Administration Hall. However, before entering, Apollo turned towards Odessa with apparent surprise, "I was under the assumption that your family moves along the supportive line. Aside from support tactics, you''re pretty fast."

    "Well, a true supporter should be able to survive. If my ability to travel iscking, then the chances of me dying increase. Not to mention, if I have to constantly heal myself, that wouldpromise my usefulness on the battlefield. And, that won''t only disgrace my family, it''ll disgrace my position as a Paragon. Nevertheless, let''s go it," Odessa answered.

    In return, Apollo nodded. There wasn''t much on his agenda for the day and his body also needed to finish regting. The Iraym form seemed to leave residual effects that were benefiting his body. They just seemed to take more effort to digest in this world.

    Fortunately, he was given an abundance of Anima Crystals. Although he had yet to check how much Anima was inside the crystals, he was sure they should sustain his cultivation until he headed back to Ashiraem. When he returned, he found out the cooldown of the portal didn''t begin until he returned from Ashiraem.

    Thus, there were still 30 days until he could perform his next visit with Fuhrer. And, during that time, he swore it be different.

    On the other hand, as he entered the Administration Hall, Apollo was temporarily shocked by the grandiose interior.

 Chapter 200 - Prime Contender

    ----

    Compared to the other areas Apollo had visited, they paled inparison to the Administration Hall. Firstly, it wasn''t located on the Outer Barrack grounds, itid on unaffiliated campus grounds. To reach it, both Odessa and Apollo had to circumvent the other barracks to arrive at this ce.??

    The towering building stood erect and overshadowed all others with its luxurious stone and etched design. Naturally, it was built this way because the Headmaster''s office was situated at the top. After all, how could the Headmaster not have the most luxurious quarters?

    "Ahem, so let''s enter," Odessa muttered before taking a step forward. She then ced her hands on and pushed through the grand double doors. Sure enough, Apollo followed behind and mimicked all her action. Since this was his first time here, he wasn''t sure if there were certain procedures he needed toplete.

    Thus, he left all the minute details of this visit to Odessa. Quite frankly, sparing it any more attention would be a bother. However, as they entered, the spacious inside was more crowded than he first expected. Not just first-years, there also seemed to be second-year and older students.

    "It seems while I was waiting for you, a lot of other students caught wind of this opportunity. That means you''ll have to showcase your talents even more. If you don''t, someone else may take the chance first. Oh, but you can also challenge new students. But, keep in mind, that''ll just create more enmity amongst your peers," Odessa warned.

    In response, Apollo nodded. However, his eyes then fell on a familiar face standing off to the side. His leisure stance showed he didn''t mind too much who went before him. But, there was also a hint of pride on his face as if it wouldn''t be much to deal with them.

    "I''ll be back, one moment," Apollo whispered to Odessa before disappearing. Soon after, he arrived before the person, "Ragnvald," Apollo called out to him.

    After hearing his call, Ragnvald turned his head and inspected Apollo, "Hm? What is it?"

    "Nothing, I''m guessing you''vee here to join one of the student bodies for more resources?" Apollo questioned.

    However, contrary to what he expected, Ragnvald shook his head, "Nah, I''m waiting for the Headmaster. I have to speak with her about something. But, now that you mention it, I may sneak my way in and both Adeon."

    "Adeon?" Apollo''s eyebrow rose before shooting Ragnvald an odd look, "I don''t see him here, unless, has he already been admitted?"

    Once again, Ragnvald shook his head. Yet, this time he also raised his finger, "He''s right behind you."

    Upon hearing this, Apollo followed Ragnvald''s finger. Like he said, Adeon was indeed behind him not far away, leaning against a small pir. When he saw this, Apollo''s expression changed. ''I wasn''t able to sense his presence in the slightest. That''s a first. What cultivation technique does he cultivate?''

    As he felt their gazes on him, Adeon lifted his head in their direction. Although he didn''t make sudden movements, Ragnvald still nodded. Throughout this small exchange, Apollo was still clueless as to why he couldn''t sense Adeon''s presence. Even with his gaze strictly on him, Apollo''s other senses couldn''t pinpoint his location.

    Nevertheless, Apollo pushed this matter to the back of his mind. Since he wasn''t an enemy, this wasn''t an issue he needed to rectify at this very moment.

    On the other hand, names continued to be called to the window on the other side of the hall. As Apollo watched the process, he noticed that they only asked for the academy identification card and assessed the situation from there.

    To his understanding, those who possessed less than silver-level cards were turned away with dejected frowns. ''It seems if you don''t possess a certain status, your chances are nil. This might not be due to the students themselves but because the fact they stand no chance against their opponent,'' Apollo mused while also taking a spot against the wall.

    "You saw that, didn''t you? Anyone who has been rejected means there is a chance they''ll be fatally injured. To take up this position, you must show a few different mandatory mettle. You need to be strong, you need to be ruthless and you need to be impartial. If you fail to be any of these things, you''ll be walked across," Odessamented as she stood next to Apollo''s shoulder."

    "I''m aware," Apollo agreed. From what he saw, even some of those who had gold-level cards seemed to be apprehensive of what came next.

    "I will warn you now, you will be going up against either Zul Warriors or Zul Knights. However, they aren''t your ordinary bunch. Each of them has a consolidated foundation. Hence, you could see them as being equal to 2 or 3 of such opponents while also retaining the wits to act on their advantages. What I''m trying to tell you is be careful, the arena you will use forbat allows injuries," Odessa said while pointing to arge ivory arena in the distance.

    Compared to the one from the trial, it seemed like a minuscule replica. Nheless, Apollo could tell from the flow of energy that it was durable. In fact, based on what he felt, even his strongest strike wouldn''t be able to damage it at the moment.

    "That''s fine by me. I''ve only been cultivating nonstop recently. I feel it''s time I test myself against my peers," Apollo shrugged. By now, the changes from the Iraym Bloodline were nearlyplete. When it waspletely done, Apollo was sure he''d received some worthwhile improvements from his visits.

    Not to mention, there was also the fact he wanted livebat to continue practicing his Noble Practices. If he could understand their essence and reach the next level then hisbat power would experience an immediate boon.

    "If you believe so. Also, some of them possess spirits. If you are teamed up against one who does, I suggest you forfeit. Even if it''s one of the weakest Spirit levels, it isn''t advised for a human to go up against a Spirit," Odessa continued to warn.

    Meanwhile, Apollo simply smiled at her warning, ''Well, I guess it''s a good thing I''m not a human then. Perhaps the Spirits will turn out to be my opponents in the future. As of now, I just seek to test myself against them.''

    At the same time, a voice eximed for the next individual toplete the registration process. Since they stood there for ample time, it was now Apollo''s turn. With an unhurried stride, Apollo sauntered over to the window.

    "Identification card please," the attendee requested.

    In one smooth movement, Apollo handed the card over. When thedy saw it, her expression perked up for a moment, ''Isn''t this one the diamond freshmen cards? Interesting, I wonder how he''ll do against Xavi,'' the attendee thought.

    Much like Apollo, this Xavi person was also a holder of a diamond card. However, they were from the prior year. Thus, there was a significant difference between the time these two spent inside the academy walls.

    "You have been registered as a prime contender. Unlike the others, a prime contender retains the ability to choose opponents above them. In other words, you have the chance to im higher rewarding positions. Granted, that is if you can beat those who currently hold the positions," the attendee informed beforehand Apollo back his card and gesturing for the next person.

    While walking back, Apollo examined the other people. Based on his estimations, there were 7 people who were utterly untouchable. Attempting to fight them at this point would be pointless. Despite their withdrawn auras, Apollo could feel the looming threat of savage beasts.

    "Odessa, I have a question, how did you join the student council, and what is your position?" Apollo inquired while awaiting thepletion of the registration process.

    "Well, Headmaster Geneva referred me but I defeated the prior vice-president. So, she was demoted and I reced her, while the bottom person was kicked out. But, I didn''t really defeat her through overpowering, my endurance just wore her out. After a while, she yielded," Odessa smiled but behind her smile was mischievous intent.

    "You used that barrier ability, didn''t you? If you don''t attack its weakness before itpletely forms, it bes an imprable fortress," Apollo stated while bing pensive.

    "Yeah," Odessa nodded with a small giggle.

    ''If I''m not mistaken, she melds her healing ability and defense together with seamless control. So, when her defense falters, the rejuvenation ability then fortifies the barrier. To summarize, as long as she has Natural Essence then that barrier is a perpetual state of recovery,'' Apollo surmised.

    Then something hit him, "Do you own your Family Spirit? Aaron told me there is someone named Aran who holds a Spirit outside of his own, how does this happen?"

    "Hmm, so you know about those. In short, yes. But, I don''t use it often. Unlike the one from the Dongguangs, if you don''t have a suitable spiritual cultivation level, the aftereffects are terrible," Odessa replied.

    ''Hmm, aftereffects? Interesting, if the Crux requires spiritual cultivation and the Dongguang require intent, then what do the Braums require?'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Still, as he was lost in thought, the announcements for the next part came.

 Chapter 201 - The Chosen Opponents

    ----

    An instructor appeared. While simr to ive in age, his demeanor was much more stern. Since he oversaw the matters of student management, he operated under a strict set of rules. And, now that the registration process was finished, he appeared to give every neer a message.??

    "For those of you who don''t know me, I am the Hall Master of the Disciplinary Hall. You may address me as Rezar," the middle-aged man stated. Even though he seemed to be talking without much energy, his voice boomed throughout the area. Due to this power, the others quieted down immediately.

    Not to mention, his over 2-meter height and broad frame which wasplemented by a battle-hardened aura only further amplified the feeling of reverence these students held for him. However, Apollo could see something much different emanating off of him.

    ''This is murderous intent as well as something rted to the Dark Element. I wonder if he is an instructor in the Institute of Umbra Night. If he isn''t, then I should try to get an audience with him. He may be experienced in using the Dark Element forbat,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    While everyone grouped together into their respective categories, Rezar continued to examine different people. ''Hmm, at least 3 prime contenders this year. Either the disciplinarymittee or the student council will experience slight changes. It seems a year of prosperousbat is among us.''

    Soon enough, Rezar led the rest through the back of the Administration Hall. As they walked through it, Apollo peered at the arena before him as well as 3 other individuals standing inside. At a nce, he could tell these people should hold positions simr to Rezar.

    And, sure enough, he was correct. "Those 3 before you are other special characters. There is the Administration President, Rose or the manager of the student council, and Minerva, her vice president. Lastly, the other male up ahead is my vice-master, Sylvester. If you believe me to be strict, you''re in for a rude awakening," Rezar announced as he stopped before the 3.

    In return, Sylvester was the first to step forward. Before speaking, he pressed his sses against the bridge of his nose and gave everyone a cursory nce, "Mm, there are some promising ones here, however, I also sense great unruliness inside them. If they seek to join our Hall, I will have to temper this fault out of them."

    Despite his strict words, Sylvester looked more like a schr than a warrior. Not only was his framenky, but his hair was also tied into a neat ponytail. Whenpared to Rezar, the difference was hard to wrap their minds around. Even Rezar didn''t approach them in such a stern way.

    On the other hand, Rose who possessed a certain motherly charm, took a step forward, "If you possess the ability to be a part of my student council, then I don''t mind weing you with open arms. The most important part is that you always seek to be better," she smiled.

    As she did so, a few youths could have sworn they saw a radiant and homely light radiating off of her. However, what they didn''t know was this was due to the Spirit she made a contract with. Afterward, her aura underwent subtle changes over the years until it became what it was.

    Unfortunately, it also came with a drawback. One that Rose regretted day in and day out.

    As for thest person, Minerva, she remained quiet. Her eyes seemed to be located elsewhere as she looked into the distance with an enigmatic light. If one looked closely, they would see 3 pupils in her eyes circling with a dark light. Only, the reason behind this was still unknown.

    Yet, she then turned towards Apollo with a grim expression that quickly changed. Be that as it may, Apollo still picked up on this behavior and stared at her with curiosity, ''This girl, she''s weird. Why does it feel as if she isn''t looking at me but through me? I don''t particrly like this feeling. Until I know how strong she is, I''ll refrain from confronting her.''

    With a p, Sylvester broke his stupor, "Now, we''ll sort this out as quick as possible. First and foremost, there are only 3 seats avable on both sides. As for the rest, you''re all incapable ofbating them in the slightest. Most of them can even repel Zul Generals and Soul Warriors whereas most of you, if not all, don''t even have a Spirit yet."

    "Correct. Therefore, you all will bepeting for the chance to enter thest three seats. However, Apollo Kaiser, Adeon Welsh, and Ragnvald Duran. Hmm, Duran? Are you rted to the Duran Great Family?"

    Upon hearing this question, Ragncvald tensed with a tinge of malice in his eyes. Luckily, he got his emotions under control and nodded, "Yes, I am rted to that family."

    "I see, so that''s why you''re as strong as you are. But, what about thisd. I feel as if you look familiar. Why does the surname Kaiser sound so familiar to me?" Rezar mumbled while examining every of Apollo''s appearance. Yet, his mind came up empty. While he was sure he had some type of run-in with the Kaisers before, he couldn''t recall the exact name.

    "It''s whatever, it''lle to meter. It seems all the blows to my head in battle have interfered with my memory," Rezar chuckled. Despite his partially serious words, he found the time to chuckle at them as if they were a mere joke.

    Nevertheless, Sylvester took over, "Initially, you all would have to fight against each other, however, you prime contenders,e with me. We''ll allow you each to engage inbat with the opponent of your choice. That way, you can potentially grab the 10th to 12th seats of either department."

    Needless to say, they followed after him while the other stayed with Rezar to battle amongst themselves. Even though it would be faster to have the student body members thrash these kids, it was done this way to interfere with their schedule as least as possible.

    Thus, they made the freshmen sacrifice their own time by eliminating each other. Once they came in contact with the seats, their numbers would be noticeably smaller.

    ----

    After leading them to a new area, Sylvester let Apollo, Adeon, and Ragnvald spectate the training of the members, "Allow me to give you a small bit of information on them, these people are called the Seats. Anyone with an emblem centered around a shield symbolizes the council. They represent fair order through mannered means. On the other hand, there are those who possess emblems center around swords. Those ones represent the order through power when reason doesn''t suffice."

    "Moreover, a lot of these people originate from Great Families or lower backgrounds but obscene talent. But, to gain these positions, each and every one of them had to discard their status. Their current standing was gained through power alone. In fact, the strongest Seat, Xavi, came from a lower background," Sylvester stated.

    Despite theck of words, each of the trio''s eyes zed with fighting intent. There were many youths inside the training area who possessed specialties on par with them; they were just in a higher form. In other words, Apollo and the rest didn''t treat this as a battlefield but as another ce to receive pointers.

    Granted, that was only if the others were willing.

    "Pick your opponent, and keep in mind, this may not be the extent of their powers nor will I give you hints as to who the 10th to 12th seats are. Should you choose someone outside of them, you will still have to fight them," Sylvester uttered before taking a step back.

    Naturally, this was a test. He wanted to see how strong their senses were. Typically, even if someone tried to hold back their power, there would still be small signs of how strong they truly were. It just took more effort than when it was hidden. Of course, this only rang true for if there was no artifact involved.

    Fortunately, those types of artifacts were prohibited from use inside the academy. If they left the academy walls, then for safety measures, it could be utilized as much as needed.

    Once Sylvester moved, the three silently inspected who to choose. At first, everyone seemed to be of simr strength but then a change happened, they all started practicing their higher techniques. Instantly, differences in strength appeared but not so drastic that these three could immediately discern them.

    Nevertheless, they all made their choices and the results varied from what they expected.

    "Interesting, so Adeon has chosen the 10th seat of the disciplinarymittee. Ragnvald has chosen the 10th seat of the student council and you Apollo...well you have chosen the 9th seat of the disciplinarymittee," Syvelester announced.

    As he uttered Apollo''s number there seemed to be remorse on his face. However, when he looked at Apollo''s expression, something told him that this boy chose this opponent on purpose.

    ''For what reason has he chosen Ephraim?'' Sylvester mused. Withholding his curiosity, Sylvester snapped his fingers and called for the 3 who were chosen.

 Chapter 202 - Going Against A Seat (I)

    ----

    As he chose his opponent, Apollo''s eyes kept falling on a certain young man. Even though he didn''t know the person, something else caused his attention to stay there. This particr youth bore a striking resemnce to Lazaro. Thus, a sense of hostility was birthed despite their unfamiliarity.??

    Nevertheless, Apollo vowed that he would get his revenge on any and all involved in that event. Apparently, that meant family members as well. However, Apollo soon cooled down and thought rationally, ''ording to Headmaster Geneva, we''re disallowed from killing other students. But, there must be some way to settle the score. After all, this environment isn''t as easy going as it seems.''

    Meanwhile, Adeon and Ragnvald chose their opponents much more strategically. They matched the subtle ripple in their person of interest''s aura against their peers. And, when they found that their momentum petered out quicker than the others, they knew who to aim for.

    Unlike what others thought, those in the bottom seats were always tempering themselves to attempt and switch seats with the other members and im their benefits. Thus, their aura was always changing and inching closer to the others. Plus, they never showcased their entire aura until it was time to challenge the others.

    In other words, both Adeon and Ragnvald''s opponents were old seats and each of them was a sophomore. Despite being old seats, that didn''t mean they weren''t worthwhile opponents. In fact, they had each held their 10th seat since freshman year. Whether or not that would change was up to Adeon and Ragnvald''s efforts.

    In the meantime, Sylvester snapped his fingers. Three threads of information flew towards the proper individuals who then paused their training. Each of them took a gander at the trio not far away and understood what time it was.

    "Well, let us go deal with this small matter and return to training," Ephraim said while spinning the two daggers around his fingers. Once they were sheathed, the other two followed along. Unsurprisingly, one wielded an ax whereas the other wielded a seemingly in longsword.

    Not long after leaving their post, they arrived before Sylvester and the others.

    "Ephraim, Zach, and William; these three will be your opponents. I''ll match you properly so you don''t misinterpret the wrong opponent. The 9th seat of the disciplinarymittee; Ephraim Astarte, you''ll be matched against Apollo Kaiser.

    "The 10th seat of the student council, Zach Duran will be matched against the challenger Ragnvald Duran. Lastly, the 10th seat of the disciplinarymittee William Stuart will be matched against the challenger, Adeon Welsh," Sylvester announced. As he did so, he apanied each of his words with a gesture towards the correct opponent.

    "Will this take ce here or will we follow the rules and head towards the Arena of Challenge? Oh, could it perhaps be upied already by the others who didn''t achieve prime contender status?" Ephraim questioned while examining Apollo.

    Albeit faint, he could sense murderous intent emanating off of Apollo''s body. At first, he thought nothing of it, but the longer he stood by this youth, the more prominent the aura became. This rose some rms in his mind.

    ''Does this youth have an issue with me? But, something is odd. Even though he''s showing murderous intent, his eyes seem cid. Could this be an innate effect of his practice method? I''ll have to watch out for him. Those who achieve this type of intent at this age turn out to be overwhelmingly ruthless,'' Ephraim mused to himself.

    "We''ll go the Arena of Challenge. It''ll give the others a goal to aim for if they witness you in battle. Let us go. I just wanted to perform a courtesy and introduce you all before you engage inbat," Sylvester responded.

    With a light tap of his foot, he transversed at least thrice the distance the others did. However, he did so sparingly which allowed the others to keep up with him rather well. Still, Apollo was pleasantly surprised when he witnessed what Sylvester was doing.

    ''This reminds me of both Irauk''s and Saehtyn''s means of travel just slightly different,'' Apollo mused. Simr to those two, Sylvester formed springs of something simr to the fire element on his feet. When they propelled him, he moved forward by utilizing the generated force.

    In other words, there was barely any exertion on his part. Regardless, the 4 soon arrived at the Arena of Challenge where multiple youthsid sprawled out on the surface. Contrary to the ones on the floor, there were 6 youths still standing which made Rezar partially nod.

    "Good, you all have attained the quasi-prime contender status. You all can challenge the prime contenders for their spot. So, now that they''re here, go and pick your opponent. Keep in mind, if you don''t dare to fight them, then there is no way you''llst inbat against the Seats," Rezar stated in a matter-of-fact tone. Truthfully, whether or not the Seats changed didn''t matter to him in the slightest.

    His only purpose was to train, not to get attached. Thus, he tried to remain as impartial as possible. However, if it were matters pertaining to the 1st and 2nd seat of the disciplinarymittee then that''d be a different story. Each of them was capable of receiving blows from Sylvester and remain standing afterward. That alone spoke volumes of their resilience. After all, to be the vice head of any of the academy constructs, one needed a cultivation realm of at least the Spirit Lord Realm.

    Without hesitation, 3 youths stepped forth to challenge Apollo, Adeon, and Ragnvald. Before they reached them, each of them looked at each other. In truth, one of the challengers was apprehensive at first. But, then he remembered the academy didn''t allow killing, thus this should be a fair battle.

    A youth with ming red hair and a short sword approached Apollo, "My name is Jayce, and I seek to do battle with you."

    In response to his word, Apollo shrugged and readied himself. First, he thought about using Hellfire Manifestation but then voted against it. It was imperative he save as much Demonic Anima as possible until it was time to fight Ephraim.

    "Also, this is an elimination round to save time. So, if you are defeated, you will fall into a loser bracket. From there you will fight again to determine who will fight against the always changing 12th seats," Sylvester added, before waving his hand down, "Fight!"

    Contrary to his typical approach, Apollo didn''t rush forward, he stayed rooted in ce and awaited his opponent''s corresponding rush. As Jayce gripped his short sword, he performed an explosive dash. Amid his rush, he pulled his arm back for apound strike.

    Unfortunately, his ns were thwarted by Apollo. In the most simplistic manner possible, Apollo threw a quick punch empowered by Hellfire at Jayce''s wrist. A crisp snapping sound was heard as he sucked in a cool breath. Just one strike, that''s all it took snap the major bone in his wrist.

    This, in turn, caused Jayce to switch to a cautious one-handed wielding style. However, it was clear that he was inexperienced in this form as his posture wasden with faulty openings.

    Be that as it may, from there Jayce became serious. A thick nket of darkness surrounded his de. Afterward, even if his strikes didn''t connect with Apollo, each subsequent strike fired energy waves towards him.

    When he deflected one, Apollo was surprised by what happened. A fracture appeared in the nket of Hellfire surrounding his hand, ''Those are sharp and pack quite a punch,'' Apollo inwardly thought.

    Since it took more Anima to replenish the Hellfire, Apollo switched to evading the waves while moving closer. At the same time, he smirked. "Since this is your style ofbat, let me show how an energy wave is supposed to be."

    Due to the difference in atmosphere, the restriction on Apollo''s internals was nonexistent. So, he could muster his energy much quicker on Astarat than Ashiraem. Hence, within a second, the aura of the Demonic Massacre Wave coating his wave was apparent.

    Once he was was within 5 meters of Jayce, he released it. However, as Jayce watched it hurtle towards him, his eyes widened. Although it didn''t seem like it would kill him, the damage he felt this wave would cause was immense.

    "I forfeit!" Jayce eximed. Before the wave made contact with him, Sylvester flicked his finger and sent an energy wave that shattered it.

    "Apollo Kaiser is the winner and Jayce Aldair falls into the loser bracket. The next round maymence," Sylvester announced.

    Almost simultaneously, all three of them finished their battles. Whereas Ragnvald ended his battle in one explosive strike, Adeon overwhelmed his opponent with anendless barrage of ice spears.

    Immediately after, the next set of battles took ce and these ended even quicker than thest. The moment Sylvester started, Apollo fired a Demonic Massacre Wave that was both thrice the potency and size of thest strike. Needless to say, his opponent instantly forfeited in light of the despair it caused him.

    Now, there only remained the battle between the trio and the Seats. Despite their massive aura, all 3 of them seemed to be rxed.

 Chapter 203 - Going Against A Seat (II)

    ----

    As Apollo and the others stood before the Seats, they looked at them with focused expressions. Furthermore, each of them silently built up their aura in preparation for the beginning of the battle.??

    Still, when Sylvester began the battle, each of their aurae was eclipsed by their respective opponent. However, this didn''t deter their fighting spirit. This was especially true for Apollo. Due to what happened during the selection trial, he was unable to test himself against his peers to find out where hisbat power stood.

    Although potential was vital, that wasn''t his current power. To capitalize on one''s potential, they needed to possess the means to survive until it blossomed into its mature state. And, to do so, one would need overwhelmingbat ability and wits to face all obstacles that may present themselves.

    Shortly after initiating the fights, Sylvester retreated next to Rezar who then spoke, "Tell me old friend, who do you believe will win amongst these three battles? Do you think the positions will remain the same or will it change?"

    In light of his question, Sylvester fell silent as he pondered all the possibilities. At the same time, he examined their aurae as well. Even with his experience, he found this situation hard to judge; there were too many contributing factors that he wasn''t aware of, "If I''m being honest, then Adeon and Ragnvald should each have a chance approaching the 50th percentile. As for Apollo, well he''s going up against a Spirit Warrior so how am I to judge this?"

    "I feel the same way, I just wanted a second opinion. Let''s just witness how this scenario ys out," Rezar agreed while watching the approaching two females from the sideline. Unlike them, Minerva had a solemn expression on her face while looking at Apollo''s dark aura.

    "Death, countless deaths will happen. He is the cause. Do not let him lead everyone to death," Minerva muttered. However, the tongue she spoke made it impossible for the others to understand. In fact, if Apollo were closer to hear, he would realize it sounded exactly like thenguage Fuhrer and Saehtyn spoke. It was the ancientnguage of the demons!

    While she muttered this to herself over and over again, the battles between the six youths finally began. Different from hisst two fights, Apollo took the initiative and dashed towards Ephraim. Additionally, he conjured a scythe with the Hellfire Manifestation ability as soon as he could.

    Thus, his quick sh was met by Ephraim''s own forceful strikes of his two short swords. Even though Apollo lost in the exchange by retreating one step, he only lost 2% of his Health. More importantly, he got a general feel for Ephraim''s unaugmented strength.

    ''If I''m not mistaken, his raw strength should fall somewhere between 500 and 515. It should be manageable to beat him if I overwhelm him with strikes. But, that may be easier said than done,'' Apollo thought to himself while abruptly dodging to the side.

    Without hesitation, Ephraim merged one of his dark abilities with his weapons. Instead of using his hands, two tentacle-like attachments of dark energy attached to his weapon hilts. This allowed him to use his hands for other purposes.

    While watching Apollo''s movements, he formed a few seals that caused a thinyer of dark fog to surround Apollo. As it appeared, Apollo heightened his guard. ording to what he knew, the dark attribute possessed the best disorienting and stealth abilities.

    Coupled with his dagger attack style, Apollo was sure that this youth specialized in such tactics. Not to mention, he sensed subtle fluctuation of Spirirutal Essence emanating from Ephraim. Hence, he also prepared himself against any surprise attacks.

    Unfortunately, he experienced something simr to when he fought against Fuhrer. Although he was the strike, he could barely defend against it. As Ephraim struck forth with both his short swords, Apollo raised his scythe to block.

    Still, he was pushed back over 20 steps. Not to mention, there was a budding numb sensation in his arms. He shook off the pain but when he looked into Ephraim''s eyes, he was surprised by what he saw. His eyes were just ck and nothing else.

    "I don''t know what enmity you have towards me, but because I am of the dark attribute, I can sense it well. Have I done something to offend you, or has my family done so? Seeing as they''re a Great Family, the number of enemies they have rued is innumerable. However, should this be the case, I will warn you now; I don''t take lightly to those who seek to cate their anger through me," Ephraim voiced.

    However, in the dark fog, his voice bounced continuously as his body became faint. In response, Apollo exhaled and tensed his body. Concurrently, he also closed his eyes and chanted a line, ''An Iraym must flicker like a me in all its qualities. Even if I''m not in that form, I can still utilize Hellfire. Therefore, there should at least be remnants of that will in my body.''

    Nevertheless, his first attempt was faulty. As he closed his eyes, he could barely see Ephraim''s silhouette. But, as his Diabolic Heart of Wrath pulsated, it cleared his mind and synchronized with his Tainted Temple.

    With each passing moment, Apollo''s senses grew sharper. Moreover, albeit minuscule to others, his arms and veins began to swell with power. Equally important, the scythe is hands became moreplete. In fact, there were even small etchings on the side of it.

    If one was to read it, they would realize this was a mantra birthed by a Hellfire infinitesimally close to reaching the Greater Demon standard. But, as Ephraim noticed Apollo was bing harder to hit, he first chopped this up to him finally utilizing hisbat techniques. However, when he failed to sense the ripples that should be present, he dismissed this idea.

    ''He isn''t using any ability, he''s adapting to me as an opponent. This means he is one of the worst types of enemies and the best type of ally. He''s an individual who learns quickly through his experiences on the battlefield. Regardless, I''m not in the mood to give up my current spot,'' Ephraim thought while exhaling a long, powerful breath.

    Simultaneously, the Spiritual Essence both in him and around him seethed. Inside the dark fog, a small portal began to open up. From inside, a thin being dressed in tattered ck robes stepped through the portal. While their appearance was concealed, their aura wasn''t.

    The moment this being appeared, Apollo''s eyes mmed open. He felt the threat of a wild beast. Naturally, this was a feeling only a savage Spirit Beast or worthwhile Spirit could give. However, what Apollo felt wasn''t apprehension but excitement. ''I can finally go against a Spirit!''

    "Salem, let''s make quick work of this opponent. You may damage but not kill," Ephraim ordered his Spirit.

    In turn, the Spirit turned towards Ephraim with its deep profound eyes, "I know, I know. I won''t overstep my boundaries, but I will tell you something worth hearing. That youth over there is hiding his power. I sensed from within your temple that he has only been letting a steady stream of power loose. Furthermore, I''ve never felt an energy like it."

    "It''s not Essence?" Ephraim inquired with a surprised expression. This was the first time he heard of energy outside of essence residing in this world. Meanwhile, Salem shook his head and confirmed it wasn''t.

    Under Ephraim''s direction, he confronted Apollo head-on without utilizing any of his dark techniques. To confirm whether or not this opponent was abnormal, he needed to absorb a pure blow.

    When their fists collided, a scene that everyone expected took ce. Apollo slid back,ing to a stop a few secondster. However, Salem merely examined his fists and made a judgment, ''Potent and corrosive is nature. Extremely dark and tyrannical, this energy seems to be beyond the energy of my Spirit World, but, he is weak. This won''t be a problem to deal with.''

    "I''ll be finished in 30 seconds and return to my prior actions," Salem announced. All of a sudden, he disappeared and left a distortion of the air in his ce. An instantter, he arrived before Apollo. Without dy, he twisted his body in the air andnded an explosive heel drop.

    Upon guarding, Apollo''s feet sunk into the arena floor. Furthermore, a small fracture appeared on the bone of his forearm. Unfortunately, Salem''s barrage didn''t stop there. He then executed a seamless aerialbo that left Apollo''s forearms bruised and battered.

    ''I understand why they said humans should never go against a Spirit. These blows are ridiculously heavy, and without my demon form, I''m more fragile. But, I also haven''t been giving it my all,'' Apollo thought.

    Before the next blownded, Apollo closed his eyes and exhaled. Just before itnded on his chest, Apollo caught it. As he opened his eyes, they were crimson. But, unlike the other times, his reasoning didn''t seem to be in shambles. The repeated abuse and guidance from Fuhrer had shown him the way to stimte a small portion of his Ira.

    It was all in control. With each previous situation, he lost control and failed to manage the influx of Ira, "I''ve let yound blows on me far more than I should''ve. Now, let''s do this properly."

    ''Zziiiinggggg!''

 Chapter 204 - An Unnamed Strike

    ----

    In light of Apollo''s actions, not just Rezar but even Sylvester''s eyes widened in shock. A crimson metal alloy encased both of Apollo''s arms as he pushed back Salem. While the things around his arms were shocking, they were more surprised by the fact he could even push back a Spirit in the first ce. ??

    Compared to a human''s physique, a Spirit of the same tier would have a body at least twice as strong as a human. In other words, they should never lose out in a battle of strength with a human. This was true even for those spirits who didn''t specialize in the strength category.

    Yet, Apollo did such a thing. However, this was all due to him chancing upon an opportunity to experience a faint simrity to the time back in the Dark Ruin Labyrinth. Albeit the other iplete part, Apollo was able to summon his Sin Armament, except this one was more direct than the rest.

    As Apollo exhaled, his Diabolic Heart of Wrath throbbed, ''It seems this technique¡ªthe Infernal Arms of Damnation¡ªis more demanding than any other I''ve used before. It''s draining my anima like a gluttonous freak. I''ll have to move as quickly as possible,'' Apollo thought.

    On the other hand, Salem''s countenance turned grim as his hand slipped from Apollo''s grasp. Now that Apollo''s arms underwent this change, there was a looming sense of death surrounding his body. And, it was increasing with each passing moment.

    "If we let him use this technique any longer, there''s a chance his power will continue to grow," Salem stated through the mental channel. At the same time, Ephraim pondered the situation as well. Soon enough, he came to his decision. Since Salem felt it as well, there had to be an imminent threat.

    However, like he stated before, he didn''t have any desire to give up his current seat. In fact, he was training to achieve a higher rank. But, this wasn''t a matter that was up to him. It depended on how far Apollo was willing to go to enact vengeance as well as im what he sought.

    "I permit you to unleash your power, you may ess your Spirit Warrior base. By any means necessary, you must win. That means, even if this boy ends up in the Spiritual Infirmary, you must im victory. Do you understand, Salem?" Ephraim replied with a hint ofmand in his tone.

    In response, Salem nodded, "Roger, consider it done. It is a disgrace for us Spirit''s to utilize our entire cultivation and fail to overwhelm our targets."

    Immediately after, Salem''s aura swelled as the area around him felt suppressed. A thin yet expansive zone of darkness appeared as Apollo gazed at him. However, Salem made a miscalction, the small environment he created wasn''t just to his benefit.

    Whatever world he originated from, it seemed to share simrities with the Baleful Steps in Apollo''s grasp. Once he started to stimte the required pathways, Apollo found that his body was absorbing part of Salem''s energy of its own ord. Moreover, as he became aware of his, he hastened the process marginally.

    "Hoh? Your Dark Element is irregr. Almost as if it doesn''t originate from this ne. Interesting, this will be a worthwhile battle. Perhaps the saying that a human can''tbat a Spirit unless they break free of their chains remains uncontested," Salemmented before dashing toward Apollo.

    Without hesitation, Apollo didn''t the same. But, when he tried to instill Hellfire into his palm, Apollo found that most of it flowed toward his shoulder. There, a small demonic character lit up partially. Be that as it may, information about it still flowed into his mind.

    ''Boundless Destruction. That''s right, the mantra said that Ira was boundless. Azridan also said it was destructive. This vtile Sin, it is the one capable of the most explosive power in the shortest period of time,'' Apollo internalized.

    After this rune lit up, the punch he threw towards Salem became three times more explosive. Thus, Salem changed his course of acting. He didn''tbat the blow, he tapped his hand against Apollo''s fist and used the rebound tounch an aerial counter.

    But, in this state, Apollo''s Tainted Temple was bing sensitive and focused on Salem. So, his movements were countered by Apollo throwing an elbow behind himself to block Salem''s strike.

    Then, before Salem could respond, Apollo fired a Demonic Massacre Wave as a diversion. As Salem shattered the wave with a short swordprising obscene amounts of dark energy, Apollo made a second move.

    Utilizing the Partial Shade Silhouette that he had trained to the peak, he was able to arrive behind Salem. With his next attack, even the surrounding space trembled from the constantly augmenting pressure of his first. Every one of Apollo''s strikes was channeling a minute amount of his modified Ira.

    Due to this, they had all reached the peak of the Lesser Demon standard. Since his irregr Ira existed somewhere between the Greater Demon and Archdemon standard, it didn''t take much effort to elevate his strikes to the height of his level.

    Nevertheless, Salem was not to be underestimated. After all, he was a Spirit who also attained the Spirit Warrior Realm. He was able to weaponize all parts of his body. By instilling a fragment of his power into one of the straps around his wrist, he lengthened it and used it to grasp Apollo''s ankle and throw him off bnce.

    Once again, without pause, Salem performed a heel kick on Apollo''s torso creating another sizable crater. However, when the dust cleared, he saw Apollo had blocked the strike with crossed arms.

    "Quick reflexes. No, that is incorrect. I should say you are starting to respond faster. There was almost no pause between my strikes. This only makes me further interested in you, tell me, how much can you handle," Salem smiled while holding out both arms to his side.

    All of the straps around his wrists deformed and reformed into two short swords with shadow mes dancing off the tips, "It''s been a while since I have awakened the Twins Sword of the Abyss mes. Since this has happened, you are definitely a worthwhile opponent."

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s expression became solemn. His Tainted Temple kept emitting heightened signals of dangers, those weapons were a threat. Left with no other choice, Apollo stopped monitoring his Anima output. He merely exhaled and relinquished all restraints.

    On both arms, each of the runes was fully illuminated. Afterward, both sides rushed in countless times over. Every strike was apanied by loud bangs and expanding cracks on the floor. Yet, neither side gave in.

    By the time they stopped shing, both sides were heaving. Their strong strikes depleted their strength quickly. But, in both of their eyes, there was excitement.

    "You young thing, your strikes are good! This is a first for me. Even in my world, after inheriting these swords, I have never been matched in battle. It is just a shame thating here, fragments our power. But, this new experience has opened my eyes. Again!" Salem eximed before executing a tornado-like spin.

    Numerous shadow threads separated from his body as they shot towards Apollo''s vital areas. Despite defending, due to the high volume of attacks, a few of the attacks made it through his defenses. As he grimaced, he nced at Adeon and Ragnvald''s situation.

    While the others had already finished their battle and retired to recuperating, Apollo was having a much harder time doing so. Not to mention, his health had fallen under 40%. Even his battle abilities were beginning to dwindle.

    More importantly, he had less than 30% of his Anima Reserves remaining. After this dawned on him, Apollo exhaled and lowered his stance, ''It all depends on thisst strike. Take everything learned from Fuhrer and mend it into one.''

    Upon exhaling and discarding his worries, a ck orb with faint crimson lines appeared within Apollo''s ovepped palms. It continued to grow while he focused on Salem preparing a grand strike of his own.

    Although Apollo didn''t know what to call this he was doing, it felt dissimr to both the Demonic Massacre Wave and Nether Severance. To him, it felt like the dark side of Hellfire, one that invokes Sin rather than burn it.

    Once it was ready, Apollo held his palm out and fired it. Out of instinct, Salem tried to sh it apart but he was shocked. His sword didn''t even pass through the orb. It felt almost like metal.

    Salem roared as he continued to exert himself whereas Apollo faltered. On the other side, Ephraim''s body swayed while he fell pale. There was a danger apanied by bing a user of Spirits. Should they get injured, the summoner is injured as well.

    Before the results could be drastic, an armored titan interfered. As the orb was crushed by a sharp greatsword, a long crevice spanning from hundreds of meters appeared. From far away, Rezar gave his input, "That is far enough, the oue of the battle has been determined. We''ll stop here as there are no benefits of letting you two kill yourselves."

    "Correct, I''ll announce the results of the year''s freshman elections," Sylvester added while stepping forward.

 Chapter 205 - Results Of Battle

    ----

    Once Sylvester made the announcement, everything fell silent. Just like Apollo''s battle, the others exhausted themselves as well, it just happened much faster. Thus, the announcements that followed weren''t easy to determine. However, based on the small bit of attitude they saw while in Sylvester''s presence, they were sure he was an impartial individual.??

    In actuality, this was true. Not only did Sylvester take the oue into ount for his calctions, he even factored in the difference in cultivation base found on their identification cards. Thus, after a short period of silence, he looked over the 6 individuals.

    "The results are as so, Apollo Kaiser will take up the 9th Seat of the disciplinarymittee. After recovery, Adeon Welsh and Ephraim Astarte will undergo a round ofbat to determine who will im the 10th Seat. On the other hand, Ragnvald Duran ims the 10th seat of the student council whilst Zach Duran falls to the 11th. Lastly, William Stuart reces thest seat of the disciplinarymittee," Sylvester announced.

    Surprisingly, no one felt surprised or frustrated by this result. After all, there was no reason to be frustrated. Unlike this freshman selection that happened once a year, the seats were allowed tobat each other an unlimited number of times. Furthermore, they could also challenge up to 3 seats per term. In other words, up to 6 challenges could be issued per year.

    In light of this, the student council and disciplinarymittee members dispersed. Some needed to heal while others continued to undergo training. In truth, Sylvester picked up on something during Adeon and Ragnvald''s fight.

    "Rezar, it wasn''t my eyes that were fooling me right? Did that youngd overpower William? His Flowing Swallow Sword Style is light yet quick, so there is no way he should have been overpowered in speed. Yet, that boy didn''t move from his spot. The speed at which he conjures his Ice Element is reaching the Law Boundary. If he opens early invocation, he''ll reach the secondyer of Ice," Sylvester uttered while gazing upon Adeon.

    "Correct, but if you looked closely, you''d realize something very important," Rezar smiled while nodding his head.

    "What is that?" Sylvester questioned while rubbing his chin in thought.

    "Well, first, you must remember that the resources for the seats have already been disbursed. So, even if they lost, by pulling their punches they suffered no losses. Notice how neither William nor Zach utilized any of their killing moves. If they did so, the defenses of these neers would have been broken. They''re ying for the end game, the fights against these freshmen were just a way for them to gauge their strength and determine what ce to aim for," Rezarmented, shedding light on the situation.

    "Ah! That''s correct, how could I forget about this? That is definitely true. Hmm, what cunning youths we''re fostering. But, it''s insight like this that is needed on the uing battlefield. Those who use their brains before their brawn will possess a higher chance at surviving," Sylvester added in agreement.

    "Furthermore, if there is a new addition to the student body management, it''ll call for a summons. That way, they''ll be able to catch wind of how the higher seats who don''t associate themselves with the lower seats are progressing. Nevertheless, give them the slip and allow them to im their items from the resource hall," Rezar stated as he waved his hand.

    This matter didn''t require his supervision, so once he delegated the task, he departed from the area. In response, Sylvester distributed the special slips given to these persons every term. Although the resources given to the seats prior to thispetition could be reimed, it wasn''t.

    On the other hand, the next term''s resources would be cut in half should they fail to reim their old spot. It was designed this way to promotepetition amongst the other seats. This allowed them to constantly push themselves and strive to be on par or better than those above them.

    Meanwhile, as the others departed, the winner of the Loser Bracket and William Stuart were asked to stay behind to determine who would truly im thest spot. Unsurprisingly, since his position was in danger, William didn''t hold back as he did with Adeon.

    He ended their battle with one attack. A single swing of his sword knocked his opponent unconscious. While sheathing it, he walked away.

    ----

    Outside of the Arena of Challenge, Odessa waited for Apollo. When he appeared, and she saw the slip in his hand, she smiled, "You did it! You got into the special student body!"

    "I have," Apollo nodded in response. At the same time, he inspected his internals silently. Although they weren''t in a bad shape, it was depleted. Due to the quick verdict, he didn''t have any time to recover. But, it wasn''t all bad. Thatst strike had caused his meridians connected to the Tainted Temple to react. Now, he could sense them better than before. In fact, this gave him a few insights into the way to increase the rate in which he trained them. Even if it presented more pain, he would take this route. Based on the expectations both Fuhrer and Azridan had for him, he needed to grow faster. And, quite frankly, he too wanted to grow stronger.

    "So? Which one did you join? The student council, right?" Odessa questioned while moving closer. However, when she saw Apollo''s amused expression, she felt something was wrong.

    "Not at all, take a look," Apollo responded while presenting the slip in his hand. As she read it, Odessa''s eyes widened in shock. Although she knew his personality wasn''t suited to joining the student council, she didn''t expect him to aim so high.

    "You actually chose to go against the 9th Seat of the disciplinarymittee and won?! There is a reason why only the 10th and below are presented. Anyone on the 9th and above Seats each owns a Spirit!" Odessa eximed.

    "I''m aware. I went against the Spirit and won," Apollo shrugged. Although, he omitted a few specifics, such as the fact that both he and the Spirit were pushed to the point of exhaustion. The only reason he was given the 9th Seat was due to the fact he didn''t possess a Spirit and couldbat one. Thus, a substantial amount of expectation was ced on Apollo unknowingly.

    "WHAT?! My goodness, how reckless can you get? I advise you to never do that again. Certain Spirits after reaching a certain level can release a second form. What will you do if you''re caught in a situation like that? The two forms are not to bepared. The way their power is amplified is shocking," Odessa warned with a solemn expression.

    However, APollo was more intrigued by the fact Spirits could change forms, ''This sounds eerily simr to what I can do while Ashiraem. But, it also sounds like they take on a form that justpounds on what they can already do. I believe I should find out more about these spirits,'' Apollo thought to himself while gazing at the Dining Hall.

    After the nonstopbat in Ashiraem and the fighting against Salem, he was famished. Thus, before returning to his living quarters, he had Odessa apany for a mean. But, when she found out that he only brought her along to use as a wallet, she frowned.

    Nevertheless, since she deemed him as one of her subordinates, she footed the obscene bill. Compared to a normal person, Apollo ate enough food for 5 people. Naturally, this was due to the Hellfire that burned through nearly all of his energy.

    Shortly after, Apollo retired to his room. But, before he could go inside, Odessa grabbed his arm, "Don''t get sucked into cultivation. There is apound ss tomorrow. Not only will they discuss Spirits, but apparently the Headmaster will make an appearance as well. If I''m not mistaken, the Institutes should be opening shortly," Odessa stated as she released his arm.

    "Oh, the Institutes? I''ll keep that in mind, thank you for the information," Apollo nodded. As he entered his room, he pondered over a few things. Both of the schools'' Institutes would be worthwhile to attend, but ording to Headmaster Geneva, the special admittance couldn''t be achieved yet.

    Nevertheless, since he had ample time in the Academy, he pushed this matter to the back of his mind. Right now, it was more important for him to push his body while it was raw. In light of Fuhrer''s training, every time he pushed Apollo''s body to the brink of copse, where he was void of energy, he made him circte Pure Demonic Anima.

    Needless to say, the effects were leagues above when one merely cultivated incessantly. Combat could be seen as the fire that tempered the body whereas cultivation was the hammer that made further tempering possible. Simrly, the entire process could be seen as forging the vessel.

    While he entered this state of cultivation, Apollo drained the 3 Anima Crystals in an instant. Surprisingly, each one of them contained 1,000 units of energy inside. And, when he absorbed a 4th, he was shocked to find that he hadpletely drained it as well. But, unlike the prior three, he felt saturated with energy.

    "It seems reserves have increased around 10% from pushing myself and utilizing Sin like that. I need to continue to train in control. If my control can suffice, then I can attempt to learn the Second Step," Apollo muttered to himself.

 Chapter 206 - Introduction To Spirits (I)

    ----

    Just as Odessa told him before, as Apollo became immersed in cultivation, the bells symbolizing the beginning of ss tolled. Moreover, they were much louder than they typically were due to the special state of the ss taking ce today. Thus, there were no absences allowed. Those who were absent would face disciplinary action.??

    Also, the instructors were given orders to forcefully fetch them should they runter than 10 minutes. However, this was a ss everyone was interested in, why would they be a straggler by failing to present themselves.

    Apollo then opened his eyes while the peals of the bells continued to resound in his ear, "Attempting to advance my internal state is truly much slower here. Even if I absorb the Anima Crystals, the atmosphere doesn''t allow me to enter the state needed to seamlessly absorb what''s inside to convert to my own."

    Once done, Apollo rose to his feet and exited his living quarters. While doing so, he came in contact with everyone else. Simr to his predicament, the aura around Adeon and Ragnvald seemed slightly difficult to conceal. Hence, Apollo came to an immediate conclusion.

    ''They must have used the experience granted by the earlier battles to advance their cultivation. Furthermore, it doesn''t appear to be on the physical level. If I''m not mistaken, their Soul Temples should have undergone a faint maturing. That means they''re closing to contracting a Spirit,'' Apollo mused.

    On the other hand, Ragnvald silently inspected Apollo. Part of him was still unable to fathom the fact he could go against a Spirit. Even if he used a special technique, the repeated trauma should have mutted his internals. Yet, he didn''t even take a trip to the academy''s Spirit Infirmary.

    This led Ragnvald to be curious about him, ''Something is odd. Not only do all his techniques seem as if they''re made to kill. His aura is mixed in with unadulterated murderous intent. Could it be that he''s some type of evil cultivator? Or, could he be one of those special cases mentioned before. Humans who came in contact with the Terrors and miraculously lived to tell the tale.''

    While he mulled over this fact, Apollo''s mindid on other matters, ''If I join the Institute of Umbra Night, there''s a chance of awakening the Second Baleful Step, however, if I join the Institute of Vermillion mes, there''s a chance of understanding Hellfire at a deeper level. Which one benefits me more?''

    All of a sudden, while he was lost in thought, his Tainted Temple emitted a signal of danger. Instinctively, Apollo raised his arm before him. At the same time, he utilized Hellfire Manifestation. But, when he saw who it was, he dropped his guard and halted the strike right before their neck.

    "Nadida, unless you want to lose your life, I suggest not sneaking up on me," Apollo uttered with a small frown. One minor mishap and his hand would have punctured her throat. In fact, since his hand was so close to her neck, Nadida could feel a searing pain creeping up her neck.

    "I was just testing you! You seemed so lost in thought that I thought it would be fun to jump you. So tell me, who were you thinking about, hmm? Could it be that girl you''ve been hanging around recently? What was her name again," Nadida responded.

    Even though she feigned ignorance, she released a breath she had been holding. Additionally, she took a subtle step back to settle the cold sweat running down her back, ''He''s getting more dangerous. It''s like his first instinct is to kill. What''s happening with Apollo?''

    "What''s with the weird question?" Apollo countered while giving Nadida an odd look. Likewise, Adeon nced in her direction as well. Albeit cold, it seemed some matters were enough to spark his interest.

    "Eh? Why are you deflecting and questioning me now? I asked first, mister. But, since we''re on the subject of questions, where have you been thisst month? Not once did I see you venturing the campus. It''s like you were holed up somewhere," Nadida inquired with a hand on her hip.

    In response, Apollo raised an eyebrow, "That''s exactly what I did. The reason for being here is to take advantage of everything they give here."

    "Yes, but there is also a hidden agenda. We are to use this time to garner allies. When we graduate, we''ll have to form small units who would then have to achieve merits to move up in the chain ofmand inside the World Remation Task Force. You can''t believe we''re simply here to train, right?" Nadida answered with a slightly exasperated expression.

    For a while, Apollo was silent. Truth be told, only a few people could even enter his list of possible allies, the rest seemed to possess an ingrained notion of superiority. If he were to try to secure favors, he was sure a conflict would ensue.

    As he was now, there was no time for him to worry about trivial things such as that. Hence, Apollo shook his head, "There is no reason to seek out allies. I firmly believe that future situations will arise that make your own allies present themselves. Should you move now, you''ll just find an ally who operates under the guise of friendship. Once that happens, you open yourself up to betrayal," Apollo muttered.

    Afterward, their journey fell quiet. During the entire journey to the Teaching Hall, not another word was spoken. Soon enough, everyone arrived inside and took their respective seats.

    However, as they looked around, they realized something. Besides them, there was no other person inside the teaching area. Naturally, small murmurs started to sound as the youths grew restless.

    "Where''s Instructor ive or Headmaster Geneva? Are they supposed to leave by example? DamN! I was sleeping so good," Typhir groaned while shaking his head animatedly. The others wanted to chuckle but they all fell silent.

    Due to the pin-drop silence, Typhir raised his head and looked around, "Uhm, why have you all gotten so quiet? Wait¡­ are you telling me they''re behind me?"

    "No shit, sherlock," Odessa replied with a roll of her eyes. For days he had pestered her and she had grown quite sick of his presence. Nevertheless, there wasn''t much she could do. While under the academy''s roof, she had to abide by their rules.

    "Mr. Estrada, you are correct. Us, of the older generation, is supposed to guide you all down the right path. So, our tardiness is something that can''t be excused. However, you and these sleeping habits need to be corrected. Thus, I shall assign you to chop down the tree in the surrounding woods. Remember, only chop those with this marking of a me," Headmaster Geneva smiled while cing her hand on his shoulder.

    "Y-yes ma''am!" Typhir replied without dy. Yet, inside he loathed the fact he opened his big mouth.

    Meanwhile, shortly after Geneva''s appearance, numerous silhouettes appeared. Surprisingly, almost all of them besides 2 of them were unfamiliar to Apollo. But, Geneva began to exin the situation.

    "As you all might have heard, today I will select the Institute you''ll attend for the next 4 weeks. On top of daily training, you''ll be allotted 1 hour per day to use the respective energy chamber of your institute. Further information will be given by your instructor once you arrive there tomorrow. As of now, ive will exin to you the purpose of the Institutes," Geneva announced before taking a step back.

    In turn, ive walked to the middle of the room. "As I told you all today, you''ll be learning about Spirits. Thus, allow me to give you a first-hand presentation of what you should look forward to."

    After exhaling, ive formed a sequence of hand seals, a portal opened before ive. From inside, a thinly dressed girl withpletely white eyes sauntered through, "This is my Spirit, Emilia. As you can infer, her specialty has something to do with her eyes. She is just one type of Spirit amongst the countless options. In addition to types, there are also forms. For example, this."

    With a snap of his fingers, Emilia changed into pure energy that flowed into ive''s eyes. As that happened, a change took ce. An obscure mask with a thin film that obstructed ives eyes appeared.

    "Some Spirit may possess the ability to take on other forms. Emilia can take on the form of these visors. In exchange, my ocr senses are heightened based on the amount of Spiritual Essence exhausted. Also, keep in mind, my Spirit can be considered a lower ss. The higher the ss of your spirit, the more their assimtion form melds with your body," ive informed the others.

    This intrigued Apollo, based on the shoddy information he was given before, he was under the assumption that a Spirit couldn''t take on an object form if they were a humanoid, "Instructor ive, I have a question, does that mean all spirits can perform this?"

    "No. In fact, some of the higher spirits can only empower themselves. But, in exchange, they acquire an even stronger ability. It just requires the cultivator to attain at least the Spirit Lord Realm to activate. Generally, this ability appears when your Spirit breaks into the Heroic level," ive answered.

    Then, Apollo asked the question on everyone''s mind, "Is a Spiritual Cultivator limited to one Spirit?"

 Chapter 207 - Concealed Discovery

    ----

    Upon hearing this question, both ive and Geneva looked at Apollo silently. Even though most people held this same question, rarely did they voice it. After all, this was a sort of taboo topic for one simple reason. ??

    "Theoretically, no. However, it is also looked down upon as the ultimate shame," ive after giving the matter some thought. As he recalled, Apollo didn''te from a higher family, so there was no way he was privy to certain matters that shouldn''t be addressed. Nevertheless, since this was a space to learn, ive didn''t mind answering the question to the best of his abilities.

    "For what reason?" Apollo pressed on. Now that he found out there was a stigma surrounding this topic, he became all the more curious to find out more about it. He couldn''t just leave his curiosity partially satisfied.

    "Well, in order to ept a new Spirit, especially if you have yet to attain the Soul Emperor Realm, which some also deem the Spirit Emperor Realm, you''ll have to sever the ties with your old Spirit," ived answered.

    In return, Apollo pondered for a moment before asking a follow-up question, "What''s so bad about that? At that point, shouldn''t the cultivator have made use of all his Spirit''s usefulness?"

    "Well, yes. But, you must remember, once under contract, your Spirit is an extremely loyal being. And, the drawback of severing the contract is immense. You can''t forget you are bounded by the soul. Thus, should you do this act, you''ll virtually destroy a part of a Spirit''s soul. That''s something that doesn''t rejuvenate," ive responded.

    He then added, "If the Spirits of the various worlds catch wind of your discarding acts, they''ll all refrain from forming contracts with you. At that point, you''ll lose your viability as a Spirit user. While you can still advance in cultivation, you''ll always be at a disadvantage."

    Simr to Apollo, other students were shocked by this information as well. However, Apollo''s curiosity ran deeper. Something was gnawing at him and it had a lot to do with Azridan.

    ''If Spirit''s are unable to heal their Souls, then how can Azridan do it? There has to be more to it. Even though Salem pales inparison to Fuhrer, when I fought him, I''m sure his body is on par with the Ifrits. It''s just partially sealed. In other words, the Spirits should be on par with the Demons. Yet, they can''t perform that act? Rather than that being true, I think Spirits hide some of their ability,'' Apollo mused.

    Meanwhile, ive saw his expression and proceeded to reveal even more information, "Be that as it may, I must also let you know that the stronger a Spirit bes the harder it is to sever the contract. This is due to the fact that as they grow stronger, the bond of your souls solidify and it bes hard to distinguish the difference between the two. In short, you guys continue to be one."

    "What about Heroic Spirits?" Apollo questioned. Back at the selection trial, he recalled someone mentioning something about a Heroic Spirit. Apparently, this was a Spirit that had undergone an awakening. If so, then the Spirit shouldn''t be the only one to benefit.

    "What exactly are you asking, young one? There is a lot of information pertaining to Heroic Spirits. You have to be a tad more specific if you seek an answer," ive responded. On the other hand, Geneva rested her hand on her hip with a faint smile.

    ''I see why Irauk likes him. He''s curious and also asks the right question. Typically, a freshman wouldn''t inquire about a Heroic Spirit. Unlike a regr spirit, it can only be born through a single process,'' Geneva inwardly praised.

    "Then let me change my question. Heroic Spirits, how exactly are they contracted? I''ve heard that they rarely appear," Apollo questioned once more.

    "Ah, that. Well, first let me tell you more about the Spirits. Like I said earlier, Emilia is a low-ss Spirit. Before reaching the Heroic level, there are two more barriers to surpass, the middle-ss and high-ss category. What happens here isn''t the propulsion of ability but rather the increase in the purity of the Soul Force.

    "Once the purity has crossed a certain boundary, the Spirit can then weaponize their Soul Force to enter their Heroic State. Also, this is the only way the world will allow a Heroic Spirit to be born. It had been tested, Heroic Spirits from their world are disallowed from crossing over to Astarat. Before doing so, they had to forcefully revert to a high-ss Spirit," ive revealed.

    "Then, does that mean the Heroic Awakening is weaker here than in their world?" Apollo questioned. By now, he was fascinated with the information ive presented. After all, this was the first time he learned of this. Not to mention, he also wondered if these restrictions fell upon the demons he needed to contract.

    Unbeknownst to him, a demon had never been contracted before. Thus, this was an untouched topic that only he would be able to shed light upon. There were no outside sources for him to refer to. His situation was both unique and a novelty.

    "Partially but not truly. A portion of their strength is simply sealed away. If they were to leave Astarat, it''d be released and they would return to their original potential. However, the reverse seems to be something taxing for the world to perform. After restricting a number of Heroic Spirit and a Legendary Spirit, the world is rather weak so to speak," ive responded with a heavy expression. It was clear that the invasion had something to do with the weakened state of Astarat.

    It appeared the damage caused by the Terrors ran deeper than normal people were aware of. Vital areas of Astarat suffered some damage than they''ve been trying to repair for eons. But, their own ways tobat the threat also damaged the as well.

    To summarize, utilizing Spirits was a double-edged sword. Since it was a lower world, the threshold of power containment was minuscule at best. In fact, even the world''s guardian, the Empyrean Dragon didn''t reside on Astarat. It was merely a projection circled above Pangea Ind.

    His true body existed just outside the spiritual barrier of Astarat. As he maintained a certain distance, he posed no threat to Astarat''s defensive ability. But, that also meant how much he could intervene was limited.

    "So Normal, Heroic and Legendary; these are the ssification of Spirits? And, going by the way you phrased your words, I''m guessing there is, or maybe even was, just a single Legendary Spirit. What would happen if another Legendary Spirit was to be born?" Apollo leaned forward, resting his chin on the back of his palms.

    "The omen would then befall us. But, that''s enough about Spirits. What''s important now is that you elevate to the middle of the Spirit Apprentice Realm. Your Soul Temple must be stable enough to withstand the bacsh of containing a Spirit''s Soul Force. Typically, a Level 8 Spirit Apprentice would suffice," ive informed.

    Without pause, he began to stride around the room. He instructed every student to engage in the soul forging practice learned during thest session. Once they all did so, he inspected them for certain signs.

    Then, he appeared next to Geneva, "A few of them already show signs of the type of Spirit they''ll contact. However, that boy Apollo, he isn''t showing anything. What does this mean? Is he unable tomunicate with the various Spirit worlds? Or, could it mean his Temple conceals all activity?"

    "No, you''re incorrect. I can sense his flucuatiion and they''re very violent. In fact, they''re so violent, they''re elusive. That''s why you can''t sense them. What he is doing is touching upon a different fundamental boundary," Geneva stated while folding her arms in thought.

    "If that''s true, then what boundary is he touching upon?" ive asked. The more he inspected Apollo, the more he found his understanding to becking. This led him to believe that there was a possibility Apollo could contract a special spirit.

    "I believe his element is inherently mixed into his mind. In other words, the type of spirits this boy can interact with is predetermined. Furthermore, I think it matches his body. Regardless of mind or body, he is emitting the same fluctuations," Geneva muttered. However, she concealed her voice so only ive could hear.

    "Wait, Headmaster, are you saying?" ive''s eyes widened in shock.

    "Correct, I think this boy''s body has attained innate harmony. Although it isn''t on the level of the fabled practice, he''ll advance with virtually no bottlenecks. That is, if he practices the right methods. Should he venture outside of his strong suit, he''ll experience issues. That is both his strength and weakness," Geneva nodded in admittance.

    In response, ive fell silent. If it was true that he reached innate harmony, then that meant both sets of his meridians melded as one. But, ording to the writings, that was a painful process that has appeared since the progenitors first established this practice.

    "It''s like this youth was born to follow a paved path. The question is, is that what he really wants?" Geneva muttered to herself while making a decision. ''He''ll first attend that ce.''

 Chapter 208 - Visiting The Resource Hall

    ----

    Not long after ive instructed everyone to cultivate, ss ended. However, Geneva told a select few students to stay behind. When it was only her, ive, and a few other students remaining, she approached the students with a gentle aura.??

    "Before you all leave, I would like to tell you that there are only a select number of seats this year. In fact, there are only 50 seats between both of the Institutes. But, there are also seed positions. These seed positions are allotted thrice the determined time with facilities whenpared to regr students," Geneva announced while ncing around at the other students.

    Before she continued, she verified any change in expression of the students. A few of them understood what this meeting was about.

    "Headmaster Geneva, are you insinuating that you are the one who chooses the seed positions and that we stand a chance at obtaining one of them?" Nadida asked while looking straight at her.

    "Correct, but it goes far deeper than that. Anything that goes on in this academy runs through my opinion. This means, I also control the number of seats. This year''s number is based on the favored list. Due to some circumstances passed down through the chain of information, we''ll have to go through something called condensed studies.

    "You all are on my favored list. Adeon, Apollo, Nadida, Odessa, Typhir, Leone, and others. You all possess some type of ability pertaining to the two Institutes. So, I''ll like to ask you right now, which Institute would you all like to attend. Based on your decision, in two days, you''ll cease your visits here and head inside the Institute walls," Geneva stated while looking at the students with inquisitive gazes.

    Although she pried into their abilities and knew what would benefit them the most, she was a teacher before anything. It was her duty to test her student''s capabilities and discern whether or not their decision-making abilities were up to par.

    In turn, the group of students fell silent. Simr to Apollo, there were other students with numerous affinities. While this school offered everything, its legacy presided within its mastery of Fire and Darkness. If they could capitalize on the techniques here, it wouldn''t be a loss.

    Even if they stopped training their other affinities, as long as they trained one of these main practices to the peak, then various students were sure they''d garner an exceptional position in the World Remation Task Force.

    The only prerequisite was that they needed to have the foresight to pick a technique to agree with their future Spirit. If there was a conflict of the practice and Spirit, they would have to abolish their entire cultivation. Should they refrain from doing so, they''ll reach a permanent bottleneck.

    After ample deliberation, one by one, the students confronted Geneva and stated their answers. However, as she guessed, some of them made the incorrect decision. Naturally, with the Vermillion Night Academy''s reputation on the line, she wouldn''t allow the star pupils to make the wrong decision.

    "Well, while most of you have made adequate choices, those of you who haven''t, this is for you," Geneva stated before vanishing on the spot. As she left, numerous slips with 3 names flew towards their respective parties.

    As Apollo grabbed his slip, he nced at the information on it. Until now, he was the only one who was incapable of deciding the Institute to enter. Although he knew he would enter both in the long run, he still wanted to choose the most beneficial decision from the start.

    Thus, he led himself to overthink. Since he was unable to make the decision, Geneva made the decision based on what she assessed. Not only was he a freshman who joined the disciplinarymittee, but he also possessed the ability tobat a Spirit. Furthermore, he was the only person to enter themittee as a freshman without some type of inherited Spirit and im a 9th or higher seat.

    [Determined Institute: Institute of Umbra Night]

    [Seeded Position]

    [Instructor: Sapphyr Braum]

    As he looked at this information, Apollo started to wonder if Sapphyr was the instructor of seeded positions or if she was just the instructor in general. However, since everyone dispersed, there was no one else to ask. In light of this, Apollo pushed the matters to the back of his mind.

    ''It looks like it''s the Institute of Umbra Night it is. However, before I worry about that, there''s somewhere else I need to visit,'' Apollo inwardly thought while pushing the matters to the back of his mind.

    As he left the teaching hall, he caught wind of a ragged silhouette. In fact, if he didn''t pay close attention, this person would have eluded his attention, ''Why is his aura so thin? What has he been putting himself through?''

    "Aaron," Apollo called out as he closed in on him.

    "Apollo? What is it?" Aaron questioned, turning around towards Apollo.

    Compared to before, Aaron''s body was noticeably thinner. Furthermore, an increased number of scars appeared on his single arm. While there wasn''t much change in his aura, his appearance was extremely haggard.

    "What happened to you? Why are you in this state? Are the cultivation resources I gave you not enough? If so, then I can give you more. Don''t beat yourself up like this. What if you copse?" Apollo stated while inspected Aaron''s figure closely.

    In response, Aaron shook his head, "That''s wrong. My appearance isn''t due to overworking myself. I don''t know where Irauk got it, but that training manual is hard to master. Without guidance, it is dangerous to practice. But, I''ll have to make due because there is no one to seek out," Aaron answered.

    In exchange, Apollo fell silent, ''Is there some way I can help him? If I can awaken that eye ability again, then I may be able to dissect his technique and give him pointers. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done. Since the trial, I haven''t been able to invoke that state properly. I don''t think it has anything to do with Ira. I should ask Fuhrer about this.''

    When he fought with Fuhrer, it felt like all of his moves were known before he executed them. So, when he attacked, it didn''t feel like he was attacking but rather being lead on. It was like each of his strikes were being sucked into Fuhrer''s grasp. To him, the timing was too coincidental to make sense.

    Even if he left it to coincidence, a coincidence that repeated itself was then called a pattern. At that point, it could no longer be chalked up to mere happenstance. It was a situation birthed by specific actions and predictions.

    ''It was like he was anticipating my movements while also telling me just how I would attacks. Now that I look back on it, perhaps he was trying to show me that I could take a moment to dissect my own attacks. I need to learn new patterns. If I be predictable, that leaves the ability for my opponent to counter,'' Apollo surmised.

    On the other hand, he gave Aaron a nod, "I''ll see if I can find a way to help you out. In the meantime, there''s somewhere I need to visit."

    After saying his goodbye, Apollo disappeared under the shade of his technique. Several momentster, he arrived before the Resource hall. Since he joined themittee, he needed to im his rewards. Moreover, he wanted to see if Robyn could fulfill his promise.

    He needed more resources to experiment with certain matters. Once that was done, he could once again visit Ashiraem, and this time, he was certain he would make much more worthwhile advancements. After all, for some odd reason, an ominous sensation kept appearing in his mind. A voice kept urging him to get stronger and fast. It was as if something was aware of his very existence.

    At the same time, Ouroboros asked him to return. Ever since he came back from Ashiraem, his appetite had amplified. Unbeknownst to him, a part of his bloodline was stimted by the environment. Not only him, but even Apollo was on the verge of change.

    The moment he entered the Resource Hall, Apollo''s expression changed. Additionally, he concealed his aura. When he stepped inside, he felt an odd presence, as if someone was watching him. Just when he was about to retaliate, he eased his tense shoulders.

    "Ahahaha,d, rx! I''m just checking to see who it is that hase. It''s my dear friend. By all means,e inside, what brings you here today? Have you exhausted all your resources?" Robyn''s energized voice reverberated throughout the halls.

    Apollo then saw him sitting behind his desk with a cheeky grin as he continued forward, "No, I have joined the disciplinarymittee. I need you to fulfill this order," he replied while tossing Robyn the slip.

    While reading, Robyn''s expression became colorful, "Oh? The 9th seat, huh? I knew my eyes didn''t fail me. Not even your second year yet you''re already advancing with this pace. Ah, in light of this, let me give you an extra present. Waithere while I fetch it."

    Without dy, Robyn scurried to the back of the Resource Hall. In the meantime, Apollo nced around while thinking about a few of Robyn''s earlier words.

 Chapter 209 - Exclusive Offer

    ----

    While waiting for Robyn to return, Apollo leaned against the disy case. As he looked inside, he saw numerous different items. They spanned from luxurious rings to fine weaponry. However, every single item shared a single trait. They were protected by defensive formations.??

    Although he couldn''t see them, as I put his hand inside, numerous rms rang inside his mind. Naturally, instead of continuing the foolish idea, he retracted his arm, ''It seems even inspection is not allowed. But, for some odd reason, I feel like I could utilize at least one of the items. Well, at least for now. I wonder what grade they are.''

    As he thought about this matter, he nced at his pendant around his neck. Unlike the other items, this item had yet to deteriorate or even degrade despite absorbing copious amounts of Apollo''s aura. This led Apollo to believe his aura was insufficient to damage items of that grade.

    Thus, making the conclusion he could utilize items for some time as well. However, what he didn''t know was the fact that this ne didn''t originate from this world. In actuality, that pendant would never present the same feeling the other items would when on the brink of breaking.

    If he progressed, so did the pendant. Nevertheless, since he wasn''t privy to this information, he continued to make incorrect spections. Fortunately, they weren''t drastic decisions that would harm him.

    On the other hand, while he continued to nce inside the disy cases, Robyn reappeared soundlessly. Before announcing himself, he examined Apollo''s behavior, ''Hoh, it seems that youngd has found some items that interest him. If it was within my power, I would gift him something. Unfortunately, if I did so and it got out that I was the culprit, I''ll have to face Geneva''s ire.''

    After allowing him to nce around enough, Robyn cleared his throat to gain Apollo''s attention, "Something catch your eyed? I''m guessing it''s a weapon above all."

    In response, Apollo turned towards him, "Why did you guess that?" In truth, Robyn''s words were correct. Thest item he went to look at was a pair of refined and pure ck daggers. However, they were a tinge longer than the typical dagger size.

    But, they also weren''t long enough to be called short swords. Nheless, to Apollo, they seemed to be the perfect length. Not to mention, the way all his techniques were increasing in consumption rather than decreasing made him wary. He needed to rely less on Hellfire Manifestation tost longer.

    To do so, he''d need a weapon he was capable of wielding without breaking. Even though those daggers didn''t appear to be some unsurpassed weapon, something was off about it. Luckily, the off presence in Apollo''s case was a great advantage.

    If he had to put it into words, then the weapon agreed with him. It emitted a faint aura of death and destion.

    "Ah, you like that weapon? Interesting, that''s the legacy of the Vermillion Night Academy. Unlike everything else in this ce, it has no price tag. The lineage of the Headmasters never intended to sell it. It is more so a keepsake, a trophy if you will," Robyn chimed as he saw Apollo''s eyes returning to its position.

    "What''s the history behind it?" Apollo questioned, cing his hand against the ss of odd toughness. As his hand made contact with it, it felt like he was touching air, ''A distortion of two spaces? It also seems to be confined to one area. This goes beyond spatial rings and so.''

    "Those weapons are formed from the sole Disaster-Grade to ever appear on this world. After ample sacrifices, it was quelled. However, before its body disappeared into nothingness, the first Headmaster used his special technique of the shadows to forever seal it in suspense," Robyn answered.

    "Disaster-Grade. Does that have something to do with the Terrors? If so, I''ve never heard of something like that. Can you give me any other information about it?" Apollo inquired.

    "It''s a grade for a Terror who has escaped normal means of ssification. If one ever appears, I suggest you run. The sacrifices to quell that beast numbered in the millions. This included other Spirits as well," Robyn warned.

    Before Apollo could ask another question, Robyn opened his palm and presented a small ring, "Absorb the contents into your own ring. After that, let''s have a small talk. If you''re so interested in the items here, perhaps we cane to an agreement.''

    Since his words intrigued Apollo, Apollo moved quickly and did so. However, his nature didn''t allow him to overlook inspecting the contents. When he found the number resource he just acquired rivaled his initial package, this rose questions.

    "I have a question about cultivation, why does this 9th Seat reward so many resources?"

    "Ahem, you think that is a lot young boy? Those resources can''t even grant a single level when you reach the Spirit Lord or the Zul General Realm. Each of those is a substantial watershed. When you experience it, you''lle to realize what I am telling you. In the meantime, why don''t you listen to my proposition," Robyn uttered with a whimsical smile.

    Silently, Apollo took a step back. If he had topare that smile to something, it was like when Azridan used to lead him into a situation that introduced him to a world of pain. Hence, it was instilled in him to always raise a guard now.

    "What is it?" Apollo asked cautiously.

    For a moment, Robyn rubbed his chin with interest. Then, he posed a question of his own, "So tell me, how good would you say your control is?"

    "Control over what exactly? There are plenty of things we seek to control. So, I''m not exactly sure what you''re referring to," Apollo answered.

    In return, Robyn showed another smile, "This shows your background is small. However, it is also a good cautious answer. In our world, the moment we mention control, it pertains to one thing; your mastery over Essence.

    "Now, I''ll ask a better question. Do you have Saint Meridians and can you sense essence without paying attention to it? Has it be inherent or do you need to strain yourself?" Robyn questioned while taking leisure steps forward.

    Before answering, Apollo almost continued to interrogate him. Fortunately, he recalled a piece of information from their first meet. Robyn was the Head of the Resource Hall. Additionally, the Resource Hall was just a broad term.

    When broken down, it epassed numerous departments. One of them being the production department. In other words, the items inside the Resource Hall were manufactured by themselves.

    "Do you mean these silver and blue tendrils forever suspended in the air?" Apollo answered with a question.

    Yet, his weird question garnered Robyn''s further praise, "Correct, so you do have them. But, if they''re tendrils then your temple is insufficient. They should appear as shades. Once that happens, you can read their flow. If you can do that, you can guide it to act for you through any means.

    "For example, keep your eyes peeled," Robyn added. Immediately after, he fell silent while looking directly into Apollo''s eyes. Yet, something more important took ce.

    The tendrils in his peripheral gathered together and formed a doubleyered sphere. Then, another change took ce. A two-toned color me appeared and heated the area around the two.

    Upon seeing this, Apollo''s eyes widened.

    "Do you understand? Your physicality doesn''t need toe into y if your temple is strong enough. How would you like to be my apprentice? Even if you don''t travel the path of creation, what I am teaching you is mere fundamentals. I''ll help you hone your control, in turn, you have to fetch me something," Robyn stated.

    "What is this favor you seek?" Apollo responded. He learned quickly to never trust someone''s words. He operated on his own feelings. Based on his internalprehension, he would determine his answer.

    "There is a special expedition that every single student must participate in. You all venture to a special area and are tested in uniquely changing ways. However, the rewards never change. I would like you to fetch me a special me. If you agree to do so then," Robyn paused his words and pointed at the case carrying the twin weapons.

    "I''ll coerce the Headmaster into giving you that weapon. However, you''ll have to enter that ce and find something to rece it. In other words, I won''t be able to give you that weapon now, but that doesn''t mean it won''t be yours in the future. I can feel it, you''re probably the only person capable of wielding that weapon. I can feel something special about you," Robyn stated with both reverence and caution apparent in his voice.

    Truth be told, he didn''t know if he was garnering the favor of a savior or germinating a catastrophe. But, what he did know was that this youth was a profitable existence. Whether it be in cultivation or fortuitous encounters, something told him that Apollo was the gateway to him achieving a long-awaited breakthrough.

    "That weapon you say. Then I''ll oblige," Apollo nodded while looking at the weapon. Since Robyn''s desires wereid bare, he understood that all his words were the truth. There was no hidden agenda, he was simply operating in his best interest. And, this was something Apollo could respect.

 Chapter 210 - Road To Intent, A Beckon For All

    ----

    "Good choice, follow me," Robyn responded while giving Apollo a pleased smile. If what he thought to be possible was to happen in the future, then he would potentially secure a surefire way to advance on both tiers of cultivation. As long as he taught this youth to the best of his ability, then there was no doubt that he could turn him into a special weapon.??

    "We''ll have to see how good my choice is. Compared to the other instructors, how strong would you say you are?" Apollo questioned while following behind him. As they passed behind the curtain behind the disy area, it was like a whole new world.

    An expansive stone corridor greeted them that soon merged into arge rock tunnel with gems glowing within the wall. Upon looking at them, Apollo could feel an energy signature leaking from it.

    On the other hand, Robyn nced behind him while answering his question, "What I excel at isn''t strength but control. In the face of overwhelming strength, if you have control, you have the upper hand. My abilities were honed through hundreds of years of spiritual practice," Robyn replied before pausing his steps.

    While standing in an open area, Robyn formed numerous hand seals at an obscene speed before shooting a palm forward. At first, Apollo thought it just touched air, however, he soon heard metallic clicking. Gears inside the wall began churning, and the face before their eyes dispersed.

    "This is my special training area. All branches of the Resource Hall lead to my area. All it requires is a specific set of hand seals for each branch. If you be skillful enough, I''ll also teach you the ways of formations. This is my true strength. If I im to be the second in the Academy, then no one else dares to im first," Robyn stated with pride.

    In response, Apollo nodded. When the gears moved and he saw the glimpse of the formation, he was reminded of the doorway connecting to Ashiraem. Naturally, this spurred a few thoughts, ''Would understanding formations allow me to stay longer inside Ashiraem without evolving into a Greater Demon? Perhaps Robyn''s expertise is just what I need.''

    Meanwhile, since Robyn was aware of the happenings of the academy''s operations, he looked at Apollo, "During this first visit, we''ll keep it short. You should have to attend an institute soon. Therefore, I''ll just have you understand the basics of control. First, what do you believe the basis is?"

    Since this was a matter Apollo had never pondered, he took a while to formte an adequate answer. The more he looked into it, the more he realized Robyn''s earlier words were correct, "The basis of control would have to be you. Before you seek to control the outside, you must first seek to control yourself. In other words, I am the basis of control. Is that correct?"

    "The answer isn''t bad, however, you looked too far into it. However, that shows you possess acuteprehension; able to discern minute details from a sentence. But, the basis of control is Intent. In short, Intent is the culmination of your efforts to control your inner self."

    Immediately, Apollo blurted, "Are you saying that you will be teaching me how to use Intent?"

    "No, everyone''s Intent is unique. Thus, only you can awaken it. However, I can help you prime your body and mental state to ept it. Even though it is deemed to be yours, the initial confrontation with it is almost always dangerous. If you''re not careful or supervised, you could even mortally wound yourself. Would you like to know why?" Robyn asked while crossing his arms to create suspense.

    Although Apollo knew this was just a tactic to get him engrossed in learning, it worked. In truth, he was interested in knowing more. After all, something told him that Aaron''s inflicted injuries had a lot to do with this matter.

    What confused Apollo, however, was why Irauk left him alone. If what Robyn was saying was correct, then his training in this by himself was both idiotic and potentially suicidal.

    "It''s simple actually. Your Temple has to be saturated and merge with the special energy emitted by Intent. However, that process is dangerous because it shifts the state of the Temple to something else. This then allows the Temple to draw on Intent even when it''s void of Essence. To summarize, Intent is a third independent energy. A manifestation of your will," Robyn stated before releasing an intangible aura.

    Before, Apollo could perceive all aura and respond ordingly. Yet, while Robyn used his aura, Apollo couldn''t discern where Robyn could potentially attack from. Although the rms rang in his mind, they did so simultaneously. Each signal interfered with thest causing a raucous in his mind.

    "I''m sure you feel. That feeling that alerts you that you''ll be attacked from any and all directions. This is Intent, a formless energy can be manipted in any way you deem fit. Furthermore, because it is created from the evolved mind, it can meld with other things," Robyn revealed before canceling his use of his intent.

    ''Wait, did he say manifestation of will? If I recall properly, there was a part of my stat pages that indicated something surrounding will. Does that have something to do with Intent? If so, I think I understand why Azridan said the intelligence attribute is extremely important. Each of my new attributes seems to be based on intelligence as well as an auxiliary stat,'' Apollo realized.

    "Now, while we''re here in this area sustained by countless Spirit Crystals, try and begin the initial priming of your body. Use your set spiritual meridians to purge your body and create a potential spiritual body. Unlike the body portion, to advance the Saint Meridians is a cumbersome task. In fact, only 1 out of 100,000 who have them can withstand the pain of advancing them," Robyn said in a grave tone.

    Nevertheless, Apollo wasn''t afraid of pain. Without any further response, he followed the directions of Robyn. He first cleared the second set of his meridians by forcing the energy residing in his Tainted Temple. Unlike the rest, what he used was Demonic Anima and Sin. Thus, a ck film coursed around his body that intrigued Robyn.

    ''Hoh? This must be why I get the feeling that this youth will be able to utilize that weapon. It seems that his inherent elements are extremely dark and murderous. He may be able to handle the corruption of those weapons. If he can create a temple that''s ominous enough, it won''t be deteriorated by the nature of those weapons,'' Robyn inwardly thought while watching Apollo''s body tremble.

    As the seconds soon became minutes, Robyn became appalled by Apollo''s tenacity. Even when he tried to do this all those years ago, 90 seconds had been his threshold for his first attempt. Yet, Apollo had been in this state of purging for nearly 5 minutes.

    Of course, what Robyn didn''t know was that Apollo''s body had been cleansed once before by something even more tyrannical than what he used now. Although this targeted his spiritual meridians, his painful tolerance had undergone a metamorphosis. It didn''t matter whether it was a pain capable of crippling someone or driving them mad, Apollo had experienced it.

    Now, he was an existence that would use any means necessary to acquire his strength. Several momentster, Apollo opened his eyes releasing a turbid breath. As he did so, his eyes gleamed with a more exuberant light, ''Hmm? My mind feels light from that small practice. It feels...quicker. Is this the "flicker" Fuhrer was talking about?

    Subconsciously, the Demonic Anima and the Sin melded together and bathed his Temple in Hellfire. As a result, pure quantities of it seeped inside, bing one with it. In other words, once Apollo ventured back to Ashiraem, he would realize some immediate benefits.

    Unfortunately, Robyn stopped him from doing so again. He raised his hand and shook his head, "Don''t continue. If you inspect your meridians, you''ll understand why. You must learn to take things slowly to benefit in the long run. Not to mention, there''s that," Robyn said while pointing his finger upward.

    Almost as if he caused it, the toll of a bell varying from the freshmen convening bell resounded repeatedly. Soon after, all those who this bell pertained to received a signal. Their academy identification card vibrated. As they looked at it, it instructed everyone to gather at their respective Institutes.

    ording to the information, before they could attend the facilities, they needed to possess an adequate understanding of the ce. After all, inside the Institute, it was a strict atmosphere. If the Teaching Hall was likened to a high school, then the Institutes could only be deemed a true martial academy. Tardiness was not tolerated.

    Thus, every single attendee was given an in-depth tour of the Institutes a day prior to sses. That way, whatever they saw was fresh on their mind. As cultivators, their memories were stronger than the typical human.

    "We''ll resume this when you''re free. In the meantime, continue to ponder what your intent should be. It is always best to operate with an intended goal in mind," Robyn suggested while escorting Apollo out.

    Shortly after, he stood outside. He witnessed a stream of students marching towards the grandiose twin buildings in the distance.

 Chapter 211 - The Umbra Night Institute

    ----

    While he watched the other student heading towards the Institute''s front door, Apollo''s attention fell elsewhere. He felt this odd sensation of being watched. Yet, no matter how much he tried to find the origin of the feeling he couldn''t do so. Soon enough, he wanted to push the matters to the back of his mind.??

    However, a small change happened. From within his shadow, Xezym crept out. As he looked at Apollo, he cleared his throat, "Youth Apollo, Lady Sapphyr had instructed me to find you and make sure you attend her sses. ording to her, outside of the previous ss, you have been missing from the area. Thus, she believed there was a chance of you missing this supplementary guide."

    Luckily, Apollo possessed a suitable demeanor. He didn''t jump in fright at Xezym''s abrupt and unannounced appearance, "Was that feeling of being watched just now from you?"

    In response, Xezym''s expression under his hood filled with shock. One had to know, even if he didn''t instill hisplete ability into hiding his presence, his race excelled at innately concealing their presence. In other words, his presence should have given off no signal of being there.

    ''His senses are sharpening, but they are sharpening oddly. It''s as if he is gravitating towards being used to the darkness. Perhaps I should tell Lady Sapphyr of this information. Maybe it would be of use to her,'' Xezym mused before nodding in admittance.

    Afterward, he led Apollo into the stream of students and ventured towards the Institute. At the same time, Apollo pried into the techniques he disyed back in the Lesser Cultivation Room. Both Fuhrer and Xezym used a technique that varied in execution but was identical in their foundations. Needless to say, he wanted to use them as a reference.

    As they entered deeper into conversation, Xezym then posed the circumstance that Lady Sapphyr must agree to him showing him the technique as a whole before doing so. Any disy of favoritism was frowned upon. Thus, any instance of that happening was swept under the rug and kept a secret by the student and the one showing favoritism.

    Since he knew his boundaries, Apollo didn''t press the matter. After all, all he needed to do was coax Sapphyr into allowing Xezym to do so. Not to mention, after examining his features, he was fairly certain that he could charm toplement his appearance that seemed to be more and more devilishly handsome as he advanced and matured.

    In fact, it seemed the elerated time flow in Ashiraem contributed to a change in his body albeit slightly. Due to his internals bing more demon-like, the atmosphere of Ashiraem didn''t affect him too greatly. But, because he was a demon born outside of the Nihilistic Rings, he was affected more than the other.

    Unlike the rest, he needed to absorb more of the source energy of the world. In exchange, the chance of rejection would decrease should he evere across the change to stay permanently.

    Not long after, a sea of students stood before the gates of the tworge Institutes. Each of them bore a striking insignia. The Umbra Night Institutes was a picture of an orb leaking ck energy and Vermillion me held the symbol of a bird bathing in scorching mes.

    As Apollo stared at them long enough, he could have sworn they started to move. At first, it was small movements, but then it seemed like it was trying to form a message. Unfortunately, after some time, Apollo was unable to see any more movements.

    ''I wonder what that was,'' Apollo thought to himself while shifting his attention to the doors of each Institute. But, what he paid attention to most of all was Geneva, who appeared from seemingly nowhere.

    With a small snap, she sent a ripple of energy forward that quelled the masses, "I need you all to separate into two groups. Since you all have been enrolled in an Institute, your academic identification should have undergone a change. As you notice the changes, please find those simr to yours."

    In ordance with her words, every single individual followed her orders, they first looked at their identification cards then divided into two groups. Those who were enrolled into the Umbra Night Institute possessed obsidian-colored cards and those who were chosen to join the Vermillion me Institute possessed scarlet-colored cards.

    Obviously, Apollo belonged to the former. His diamond-embezzled identification card turned ck. Even the unblemished diamonds turn a gem-like ck color. It was a ravishing sight as his gazed remained glued to it for a few moments.

    Once everyone split apart, Geneva spread her arms. In return, the doors to the Institutes opened and presented the instructors who would be guiding this year''s students. At the same time, Geneva spoke again.

    "As I have told you all in the Teaching Hall, there are different levels inside of the Institutes. Based on your card, you''ll understand where you fall and who your overall instructor will be. I will now leave the rest in the capable hands of my instructors," Geneva said before walking off and fading into a fleeting image.

    In lieu of her announcement, one by one the instructors gathered their students and walked into the Institutes. To prevent any confusion or ovepping of the tour, this was done in a staggered manner that allowed the previous group ample time to pass some of the more vital areas.

    It wasn''t long before Apollo''s group was called to enter the Umbra Night Institute. However, besides one person, there was ack of any familiar faces, ''Besides Adeon, no one else possesses the Dark Element? I guess the talk earlier about this element being a rarity was true.''

    "For the next year, I''ll be the instructor of your 92nd group. You can all great me as Instructor Sapphyr," Sapphyr announced while leading her section of no more than 50 students inside. While doing so, she spoke again, "You all are just the seeded category. Next year, you''lle to realize that there are other ssifications that go far beyond seeded. I will do my best to elevate you to your greatest potential."

    In response, most of the group nodded and showed at least the baseline respect. Beforeing here, most of their families had debriefed them on the fact that their reach didn''t extend inside. It was done in this way to cultivate the ability to form their own factions and potentially lead the family and/or contribute to it greatly if not so.

    Right after stepping through the doors, everyone was greeted by the absence of light. But, soon after, Sapphyr lifted her hand and moved it in a motion that seemed to move numerous dials. While they weren''t apparent to everyone else, she could see it as clear as day. Seconds after shepleted it, everyone regained sight. But, that was after the sounds of numerous changing mechanisms took ce.

    When they could examine their surroundings again, white halls with ck etchings on the columns greeted their eyes. Moreover, the corridor was split into three paths that contained many doors.

    "This is the entrance to the first level, as you can see, there is a defensive measure against unwarranted entry put in ce. Unless you learn your entry code that is hidden within your card, there is no other way to be brought inside. Even the instructors must use their own special code to enter. Follow me." Sapphyr led the group through the first corridor.

    Inside, there were numerous quiet mediation areas as well. To use them, one had to use their academic credits. In other words, Apollo came to realize what credits were so important. It wasn''t easy to acquire, but it was effortless to spend. Everything inside the Institutes used strictly academic credits.

    "One advantage this institute has to offer is the quiet atmosphere apanied by the untethered learning. Even though I''m your Instructor, other than when I call for you, or it is time for assembly, there isn''t much you need to do. But, do not venture into anywhere you aren''t permitted to. You''ll suffer punishment and without a doubt, credits will be deducted.

    "What happens if you reach 0 credits?" Apollo questioned while looking inside the second. Compared to the other two, it seemed to possess something different.

    "Then, you won''t be able to enter the best ce here, the Tethered Shadow Origin room. Furthermore, if you have 0 credits for more than one week, you''re enrollment will be revoked," Sapphyr answered calmly.

    From her tone, it was clear she wouldn''t show the fact she was familiar with Apollo. On the other hand, the students gasped upon hearing the word "revoked".

 Chapter 212 - A Glimpse Into The Darkness

    ----

    To quell the continuous string of gasp, Sapphyr raised her hand, "Keep quiet you all. Even though that is a possible scenario, we instructors of the seeded sses are supposed to supply adequate tasks to grant Academic Credits. Not to mention, as you advance in cultivation and show proof, you''ll be rewarded the respective credits."''??

    In response, the students quieted down and started to listen to the information she disclosed. In fact, when it came to her going into deeper details about the Tethered Shadow Origin Room, their eyes gleamed.

    Like the area Odessa had told Apollo about before, that room was special as well. It was a holy ce forprehending the Dark Element. If one''sprehension delved deep enough, they would arrive at the prime form of their element. For example, someone who specializes in Earth could travel more than one path.

    They could travel the path of absolute defense, Crystalline Embodiment. They could also travel the path of suppression, Gravitational Dominance or they could even tap into the simpler yet easily applicable Force Amplification. The choices for future growth were endless, it all depended on one''s predisposition and their own personality.

    On the other hand, Apollo wondered if one could learn all variations of their element at the same time. If one could utilize all prime forms of an element, they could potentially turn into an unstoppable monster. Thus, he looked down the middle hall.

    ording to Sapphyr, unlike the other two, at the end of the middle hall was the room in question. But, there were stringent requirements put in ce to enter. First of all, one had to be enrolled in the Institute. Secondly, they needed to possess over 500 Academic Credits as a single hour inside cost 10 Academic Credits.

    One had to know, it took the typical student 3 days to receiveprehension on what they sought. And, that just was just initialprehension. The deeper one delved into the sensation the room presented, the more they''d find themselves ignorant to time.It wasn''t an odd situation to witness students who ended up exhausting every single possession in their credit but fail to grasp their prime form.

    Basically, unless you possessed a highprehension, it wasn''t advised to test your extreme limits inside. After all, there was a special atmosphere inside that room. It wasn''t an over-exaggeration to say that it sucked one in and preyed on their desire to find the truth.

    "Ahem, that concludes the tour. You may all return to what you were doing before. Unlike when we came in, there is nothing prohibiting you from leaving. Just retrace your steps and you''ll find yourself back on the campus grounds," Sapphyr stated before walking deeper inside the middle hall. While the others left, Apollo stayed behind and looked at her departing figure.

    As she sensed his gaze, she stopped walking and turned back towards him, "Is there something you need Apollo?" For a moment, Apollo was silent. As of right now, he wasn''t sure if he wanted to ask about the matter pertaining to Xezym or if he wanted to press something else. Both of them would ultimately benefit him.

    Soon enough, he determined thetter was what he wanted, "Sapphyr, I want to know if I can see the inside of the Tethered Shadow Origin Room, is that possible?"

    Sapphyr looked at him with intrigue and walked towards him, "Ahem, it''s Instructor Sapphyr to you, use it properly. Also, the Institute has opened to freshmen yet, why so eager?"

    "Well, the way you made it sound, it seemed to be a vital piece of our stay here. So, I wanted to see if it was really as valuable as you say. Also, you say freshman, does that mean there are people in there now?

    "Correct, it is an interconnected space. Even the second and third years can sense you but they don''t pay you all much mind. Usually, the disturbance the freshman are able to cause is minuscule at best. Therger theprehension, therger the disturbance," Sapphyr answered.

    "Hmm, why does this have any significance?" Apollo questioned further.

    "Because, when someone of highprehension enters, the room usually empties. If a disturbance is caused, it makes it hard for anyone else toprehend something. In other words, those with highprehensions have a reputation in this ce. They''re all well known," Sapphyr answered.

    Before, Apollo never asked anyone about it, but now he needed a clearer understanding ofprehension. Even during the trial, the aptitude he achieved wasn''t his true value, it continued to mature while in action. So, he needed some type of reference to understand where he stood.

    "What would you deem as a highprehension," Apollo asked while noticing a small change in her shadow, ''Xezym is here. I should assume he is here at all times. I think her bond with her Spirit goes deeper than a simple ally. He seems¡­diligently loyal to here.''

    "In short, anyone who can stimte a Level 8 connection with an element within 5 seconds is deemed to be over highprehension. If they can reach Level 9 in the same time frame, then they are deemed monstrous. Those of which who can do thetter in the Institute can be counted on my hands," Sapphyr answered without hesitation.

    Meanwhile, Apollo nodded. ''They don''t use a number system, so I have no idea if myprehension indicated by the system is good or not. All I know is that during the trial, it took me quite some time to stimte a Level 7. Could myprehension beckingpared to the so-called monsters here?'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Regardless of what he assumed, there was only one way to verify whether or not his thoughts were the truth, "I would like to enter and get early validation," Apollo requested.

    Unfortunately, Sapphyr''s expression became irregr. Based on the look she gave him, Apollo was sure she would reject the request. However, when he heard the reason behind it, Apollo raised an eyebrow.

    "I don''t have the authority to allow you to enter. Technically, you aren''t a student here yet. Your entry code hasn''t been registered on your card yet. Until then, I''m afraid there is no way to let you in," Sapphyr answered.

    Simr to the entry code into the Institute, all of the special areas carried unique passcodes that were also unique to the students. It was designed this way to keep track of who entered what and at what time. Furthermore, each code attached the unique signature of every cultivator.

    To put it differently, this ess code couldn''t be duplicated. Even a formation master of Robyn''s stature was unable to recreate the unique signature of a cultivator. Hence, the security of the institute was almost irond. If it wasn''t for a certain anomaly, it would be airtight.

    "Ah, I see. Nevermind then Instructor Sapphyr," Apollo responded. He then prepared to leave the area. Since he was denied ess, there was nothing else he wished to do here.

    But, Sapphyr''s expression changed all of sudden. She even gave Apollo a small smile while shaking her head, "Hold on. I don''t know how luck is always on your side, but Headmaster Geneva has sent me a message. She has opened the room for you, but she has triple the cost of your time. She says this is the stiption of allowing you entry. Will you agree to these conditions?"

    Naturally, Apollo didn''t give his answer right away. The natural rate was 10 credits per hour, however, he would have to pay 30! This made him question if his impatience was worth it. Then, he recalled the fact he received to small boons of credits. Not to mention, he was on amicable grounds with Robyn, there was a chance he could find a way to extort him for credits.

    Thus, Apollo consented to this. An instantter, Sapphyr led him down the hallway, "I must warn you, mind your actions. If I''m not mistaken, some of the higher Seats may be inside. There might all be some of the Children of War," Sapphyr warned.

    "Children of War?" Apollo questioned with a small tilt of his head, symbolizing his ignorance towards the term.

    "Those are students who are to graduate and immediately join the World Remation Task Force with a rank of a Squad Leader. If you''re unaware, that means they jump 3 ranks at once. Nevertheless, step inside," Sapphyr said.

    As he extended her arm, a never-ending path into darkness opened up with a shimmering orb present in the middle.

 Chapter 213 - Gravity Of Tethered Shadows

    ----

    As Apollo entered the Tethered Shadow Origin Room, the door closed behind him almost immediately. As that happened, Xezym rose from Sapphyr''s shadow, "Lady Sapphyr, it seems that child has a destiny with darkness. The amount of times the Headmaster has allowed such a thing to be done can be counted on hand. Do you believe she has taken interest in him?"??

    Sapphyr''s looked at Xezym with an equally interested expression, "It may be possible. To enter the Tethered Shadow Origin Room, you know what that means. There''s a chance he''ll contract with a spirit simr to you."

    Unlike a regr area, the Tethered Shadow Origin Room was special. The environment was created by an artifact that came from a world specialized in utilizing shadows. As a result, anyone who trained inside without already possessing a contracted Spirit would be more inclined to contract with such a being.

    The shimmering orb in the middle that also rooted the independent space of that room in ce doubled as a tool that subtly morphed one''s predisposition. This was one of the reasons students typically joined one Institute and nothing else. It was rare to find a Spirit that gave off enough supplemental spirit energy to substantiate taking up a second element.

    Typically, a Spirit would follow one strict path. In turn, this would influence their contractor''s body by storing the Spirit''s essence inside their Soul Temple. Meanwhile, only sometimes would there be some unexined mutations or anomalies. However, the chance of such a thing happening was infinitesimally slim.

    On the other hand. Xezym became pensive. He wondered if it was the correct time to ask this. But, when he realized his earlier words about having ties with the destined path of the shadows, he spoke up, "Lady Sapphyr, there is something I must ask you in ce of thatd."

    "He wants you to train him, doesn''t he?" Sapphyr responded, sparing Xezym a meaningful nce. Since there was nothing but loyalty with him, he nodded without hesitation.

    "That is correct, my Lady," Xezym admitted. Then, he looked at her with an expression to showed he possessed some desire for such a thing. In fact, he lowered his hood that usually hid his face. What appeared was a handsome appearance with snow-white hair and abyss ck eyes.

    "This isn''t something you need to seek my permission for. If you would like to train him and his abilities agree with your methods, then by all means train him. In the future, he will be an ally, or at the very least, he is one to repay those who help him. Also, is it offensive or defensive techniques that he wants to learn?" Sapphyr questioned.

    "Neither, he wanted to learn evacuation techniques. Actually, his current technique is simr if not identical to the rudimentary form of mine. It intrigues me. I wonder just where he learned such a technique without meeting a Spirit," Xezym muttered while falling into thought.

    In the meantime, Sapphyr also mulled over a few things. Firstly, she recalled defensive being Apollo''s leading shoring. During the trial, all of his movements showed that he was what they called a pure attacker. Even if he utilized defensive techniques, they didn''t exist outside of the elementary Essence Aegis technique.

    Thus, Sapphyr thought he would try to tend to this matter. However, as she thought more about his personality, she realized that wasn''t something he would do. To correct any inconsistencies, she was sure he would find a way to make his offensive absolute.

    And, what better was there to do that than to use the boost in agility given from movement techniques to increase lethality. Soon enough, a small smile crept on Sapphyr''s crimson lips, ''That kid is too zealous and aggressive. He belongs with those Dongguangs.''

    ----

    Meanwhile, as those two decided on the matters of Apollo''s future, he was focused on other things. Upon entering the Tethered Shadow Origin Room, the first thing that caught his eye was the environment. Even though it wasn''t as enrapturing as the shimmering obsidian orb in the middle of the space, something felt off.

    First and foremost, there was no atmosphere. It strictlyprised Spiritual Essence with faint amounts of Natural Essence. Yet, it felt more rxing to breathe here than anywhere else. Unbeknownst to him, at a set interval of 20 seconds, the orbs undted a wave of energy.

    Those who possessed a decent Dark Affinity would have their bodies refreshed. For those who didn''t, it would feel like a portion of their energy was sapped away. If Fuhrer was here, he would tell Apollo this was the basis of a strong Sin''s ability and a famous Noble Art.

    As he looked up, he witnessed what seemed to be a ck vortex moving in an orthodox and unchanging pattern. Yet, as he stared into it, he felt as if his soul was being sucked from his body. Fortunately, a hand touched his shoulder that allowed him to regain his wits.

    "It seems you''re new here," spoke a neer as he assisted Apollo in extricating his entire focus from that vortex. When he recovered, he looked at the person to find it was someone he had seen once before.

    "Lance?" Apollo muttered, before continuing, "I took a glimpse and it felt like my consciousness was being consumed. Mind informing me about the matters rted to that thing?"

    "Before I do, I have a question of my own. How did you get in? Furthermore, it seems to be without vital prior knowledge. This is a first for me. The Institutes shouldn''t reopen for another 2 days. You must be rather famous, what was your name again?" Lance rubbed his chin, examining Apollo closely.

    "Apollo Kaiser and I just happened to stumble inside his," Apollo stated. Based on what Sapphyr told him, it was best not to disclose when preferential was given and who bestowed it. Not only did it create hostility, but it could also result in the environment of the academy bing chaotic.

    Even though the students weren''t naive enough to believe the world didn''t have scenarios where favoritism was shown, they still liked to believe in the rulesid bare by the administration.

    In response, Lance gave a knowing smile but didn''t pry further. However, he also didn''t do any to garner a rtionship. In fact, he crossed his arms, "If you want information, we can perform a transaction."

    "A transaction?" Apollo praised his eyebrows. He then followed Lance''s line of sight and noticed he was eyeing his academic identification card. Naturally, Apollo was at a loss. Besides containing his identity, he was sure it didn''t contain much importance.

    Of course, he was wrong. "Correct, we''ll deal in Academic Credits. If you''re interested, I can offer 3 tiers of information. A basic breakdown of the guidelines here will only cost 10 Academic Credits, more detailed shall be 60 Academic Credits andstly, aplete run-down will be 150 Academic Credits."

    When he heard therge differentiation in the prices, Apollo''s jaw almost dropped. Not only did he have to pay 3x the typical student, he felt he was being extorted. Truth be told, he was.

    A few of the meditating students opened their eyes and sneered in Lance''s direction. Some of them even mumbled things under their breath. Although they didn''t mean to butt in, Apollo''s acute hearing picked up on what they were saying.

    ording to what they said, except for the basic information, the prices were trumped up a great deal. Needless to say, extortion was not something Apollo would let happen willfully.

    "Where''s the generosity amongst peers? Would you really go as far as to extort your upperssmen? I know those pieces of information aren''t worth more than 30 and 50 Academic Credits respectively," Apollo replied with a chuckle.

    At first, Lance was shocked, "How did you know? Ahem, I mean-" Lance recovered his demeanor after stuttering before shamelessly talking, "It seems you''re a smart one, the wool has not been pulled over your eyes. Very well, which will you choose?"

    "That''s better, I''ll choose thergest one," Apollo responded.

    Lance then went on to show Apollo how a transfer of credits took ce. Holding their cards together, a screen appeared. Once they agreed on 30, that was the exact amount that deducted from Apollo''s card. Shortly after, Lance gave him an in-depth breakdown the of area.

    He even exined how certain areas were special zones. Sadly, they were almost always upied by the most monstrous individuals. Upon receiving all the need-to-know knowledge, Apollo imed a seat and sat down to meditate.

 Chapter 214 - Glimpse Into Shadows Truth

    ----

    The moment Apollo sat down, he started to follow Lance''s instructions without hesitation. With the information verified as the truth, unlike the others, he didn''t wish to stay here for an extended period of time. He just wished to confirm some doubts he had about this ce.??

    After all, the best way to validate anything was to test it yourself. Hearsay was what it was, just hearsay. However, your own experience was a truth that couldn''t be denied as there was concrete proof that it happened. Hence, why Apollo performed such actions.

    Based on Lance''s information, before one could truly meditate in this ce, they needed to attune their consciousness with the orb in the middle of the space. But, there was a catch, it could only contain so many consciences at once. Each person that mediated on the orb upied a small piece of the orb''s capacity.

    Thus, each person''s mind couldn''t delve into the sameprehension. Just as each individual was unique, so was the information that was spewed out the orb. This was another reason that each person came upon with their own Prime form of an element''s base ability.

    Even if they possessed the same fundamentals, if a technique was wielded by a different person it wouldn''t be the same. There wouldn''t just be differences in outputs, their inherent energy would perform small tweaks to their technique to best suit them. This was known as the adaptive nature of Essence.

    It was another leading reason the humans were able to survive under the congrations of war with the Terrors.

    As Apollo''s conscience entered the orb, he found himself in a nk area with countless ck doors. However, some of them were secured by chains of varying thickness, others were ajar and the rest were simply closed.

    ''I''m guessing the ones with chains must be those with aprehension strong enough to secure their spot and those that a closed are just areas that are upied by normal peoples. As for the open doors, those should be free game,'' Apollo thought while gazing at the marvel before his eyes.

    Beyond that, Apollo picked up on another bit of information thatnce warned him about. Each door varied in dimensions and aura. This symbolized the fact that the requirements to enter different fields ofprehension differed greatly and even became incredibly stringent.

    Furthermore, some doors with looked gave the same feeling as the door itself. That meant these ces were sealed by the orb itself. To enter, one needed not just a highprehension, but a tyrannical will.

    ording to the information given to the second-years, those areas were set aside and fabricated by some supreme Spirit from within the world the orb originated. In other words, there was an inheritance hidden within this orb and until now, there wasn''t a single soul to receive it properly.

    The administration even went as far as to deem the inheritance only fit for a Spirit. A mortal soul probably wouldn''t be able to withstand the immensity of whatever was hidden away.

    Meanwhile, since this was his first attempt and Apollo was only here to prod, he settled for an open door. Additionally, it was one that could barely fit a full-grown man. When he walked inside, Apollo was immediately bombarded by a wave of darkness.

    Subconsciously, the moment his consciousness entered the orb, his eyes closed. In light of this, a few people opened their eyes and looked at Apollo.

    "This neer appears to be a freshman yet his consciousness is solid enough to enter the orb. Perhaps he''ll have a worthwhile future in this ce. However, it seems it isn''t overly strong as the dot he lit up is the size of a pin. He must have entered the lowest tier of areas," someone spoke.

    But, Lance''s take on the situation was different, ''It''s difficult to advance in Spiritual Cultivationpared to the body. Not to mention, he has only been within the academy for slightly over 1 month. With this rate of advancement, it''s safe to say he''ll contract a Spirit before his freshmen year pses. He may even earn the chance to enter those specialized departments."

    While Apollo was unaware of the conversation with him as the topic of focus, he continued to withstand the wave of darkness. After some time, he started to realize something, ''I think this simtes a technique, however, it doesn''t appear to be something that resonates with me.''

    As he continued to withstand wave after wave of spiritual darkness, a string of information appeared in Apollo''s mind, ''Recurring Dark Tide. An offensive technique that mimics the recurrent nature of crashing waves. This isn''t something for me. The control needed is something I''m unfamiliar with.

    Left with no other choice, Apollo withdrew his consciousness and reappeared in the nk area. Unlike the prior time, he saw other people standing around while pondering what to enter now. More importantly, Apollo noticed something else.

    [Recurring Dark Tide. Rank C Partial Spiritual Art derived from Xezym''s initial phase.]

    The door he just entered now disyed information on the matters that could be learned inside. However, when Apollo asked a person next to him if they could see the information, they denied it. This further confirmed what Apollo thought.

    Although this was a shared space, it wasn''t interconnected at the base of things. Each person''s view of this ce was individually locked. Or at the very least, this is what Apollo believed. Until something appeared to disprove the notion, then he wouldn''t think otherwise.

    When Apollo looked in the corner of his eye, he realized he was only inside that area for 8 minutes. Simr to when he experienced the Temporal Dissonance, there was no concept of time. Only when one exited would they be privy to how long they were inside.

    Nevertheless, since he was well within his schedule, he paid this length of time no mind. After all, that venture gave him direction. He knew what to do. He could explore all the small doors until he located what he sought.

    And so, he did just that. He tried as urately as he could toprehend the essence of each area he visited. Even if he didn''t try to learn them, there were small bits he could extract to use forter, should he ever want to create a technique to call his own.

    3 hourster, nearly 100 Academic Credits were spent. Yet, when he recounted what he learned in this timeframe, he realized it wasn''t looking the best for him. ''At this level, each and every door I have visited seem to be either an offensive or defensive technique. It seems my preconceived notion was incorrect.

    ''As long as there is innovation, any element can cover all sections ofbat. Unfortunately, I''m not here for that. Where are the concealment and movement techniques? Is it possible to sense what I''m looking for? Wait, that''s it!'' Apollo eximed.

    Inside the orb''s interior, Apollo''s spiritual form closed its eyes. It then proceeded to release the aura of his Partial Shade Silhouette. At first, the connections with the doors were fleeting, but the longer he upheld this state, the stronger the connections grew.

    In particr, one door began to vibrate. However, the size of it was at least 3 times bigger than any other. Before entering, Apollo took a step back. First, he memorized its position. Then, he awaited the next pulse from the orb.

    Once he actively absorbed it, he reentered the orb''s internal space. Without dy, he sacrificed a great deal of his spiritual energy to pry open the door. When he entered inside, the feeling that assaulted him was 10 times stronger than what he felt in the first door.

    But, the second assault never came. On the contrary, he could tell that the initial assault was never left. It seemed to be continuously present. Due to this sensation, Apollo''s mind churned and attempted toplete the process ofpletion.

    When he linked the aura of his Partial Shade Silhouette to here, his body felt weightless. Compared to the normal execution, he could feel changes happening.

    "I think I understand why I was lead to this ce," Apollo muttered. As he long into the darkness, a scene reyed itself without end. A shadowy figure turned light into darkness and ruled over what they created. When their opponents appeared, all hints of light were converted at their whim.

    "Darkness will always be present. Even within the light, there is darkness. Therefore, one can''t avoid being swallowed and covered in darkness. It is best to embrace it and gather strength within," Apollo uttered in an almost trance-like state. Then it happened, the great change he was awaiting.

 Chapter 215 - The Second Step

    ----

    While engulfed in the sea of darkness, Apollo''s eyes gleamed with a dark yet radiant light. Even whenpared to his surroundings, it was on another level. On one hand, the environment was just teaching him how to attune with the darkness required to elevate his technique to the next form.??

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s aura was morphing to surround him. Thus, even though it came from the same source, the difference could immediately be spotted. For one, Apollo''s darkness possessed a faint tinge of purple whereas the one presented by this area was pure ck.

    However, if Apollo had to choose, he would always im his own. The reason behind this was the fact the technique he was utilizingbined darkness and traces of wind. In other words, his darkness wasn''t a suspended enigma like what he witnessed.

    ''This is it, I can feel it. The barrier that has been prohibiting me is weakening by the second,'' Apollo thought. At the same time, his body inside the Tethered Shadows Origin Room began to leak the same aura and wrapped his body like a capable.

    Unlike the Partial Shade Silhouette, this version didn''t originate from his feet. It originated from the space all around him. To put it differently, the Partial Shade Silhouette was a technique that focused on him, but the second step seemed to depend on the atmosphere.

    Naturally, this happened because of hisprehension. As he submitted his mind to the darkness, the silhouette became more of a mantle. However, even though the technique evolved, it didn''t appear that he was unable to use the other one.

    More importantly, a string of system messages sounded in Apollo''s ear as his amethyst eyes opened. And, as he did so, like the previous attempts, this cleared information showed a technique that surprised him.

    [Umbra''s Embrace. Rank A Spiritual Art. Partial Elementary Fragment Inheritance of the True Umbra Orb. Comprehension gained from the Art can empower all techniques.]

    Upon reading this information, Apollo then nced at the information given by the system.

    ?System Alert! The conditions have been met. The Dark Elementprehension has reached Level 9. The current Agility suffices as a foundation for the mantle. The current state of your internals suffices, however, please continue to advance the Tainted Temple. Any further advancement will require furtherpletion of it.?

    ?System Alert! The Second Baleful Step: Umbra''s Phantom Mantle has been unlocked. Under the cloak of the true night, the monarch is encased in the shadows. All those who wish to seek him shall not discern and those who discern shall not understand.?

    After closing the notifications, Apollo slowly waved his hand back and forth. Every movement seemed to be mimicked by threeyers of an obstructive film. Additionally, even he found it hard to tell which one of theyers was his actual hand.

    ''This is slightly different than what I expected. Compared to what Fuhrer did, this second step seems abnormal. Perhaps it is due to my unfamiliarity with it. Now that I think about it, his technique was indeed just a nket of darkness that was transformed at his whim.

    ''Then, he should also be able to condense theyers into one. Maybe when they return to a fixed point, that''s when the second step will be mastered. Unfortunately, that doesn''t seem to be something possible in the immediate future,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Regardless of the spiritual energy, he sacrificed to control the mantle, beyond the initial execution of the technique, he couldn''t get the shadows to move the way he wanted to. Furthermore, the more he tried to do so forcefully, the more the mantle sapped his energy until he turned pale.

    Luckily, he knew his limits and ceased his actions before it entered dangerous territories. ording to Lance''s information, fainting in this room was potentially fatal. If one''s consciousness wasn''t active, the whirlpool above would make a move on them

    Inparison to looking inside, it was much worse. Since the cultivator would be defenseless, the whirlpool was free to devour as much innate energy as it saw fit. If too much was sapped, then damage would happen to the temple. Naturally, this meant one''sprehension and even future may bepromised.

    As stated before, healing the Soul was a cumbersome task. Those who failed to reach the prerequisite needed to im sovereignty over their soul would never be able toplete such a task on their own. In other words, their road woulde to a premature end.

    Beyond this, another matter happened. Over half of the present students opened their eyes inside the Tethered Shadow Origin Room. When Apolloprehended the fragment, the orb gave a reaction. Even though it was subtle, since they had be used to the aura of this ce, even the smallest changes would be noticed by everyone.

    Thus, they abided by the ground rule and didn''t interrupt Apollo''sprehension until it was done. Anyone who didn''t follow this rule would have at least 50% of their Academic Credits transferred to the one interrupted.

    And, second-years and above possessed quite a number of it. Needless to say, they wouldn''t sacrifice that for a simple first-year, one they knew nothing about for that matter.

    Once Apollo was finished, a few of the people approached him, "It seems you haveprehended the first fragment. And, because of that, allow me to wee you the contenders. If you''re unaware what that is, it is those who haveprehended at least one of elementary fragments of this orb."

    In response, Apollo looked at the neer. Based on his posture and how everyone stood behind him and in a certain subservient manner, Apollo was sure this individual had to be well-known. But, what baffled him was why he approached him. Even ifprehending this fragment was amendable task, it sounded like quite a few others had done so.

    However, the neer''s next introduction surprised Apollo even further, "I can tell by your reaction you''re unaware who we are, even though you bare our symbol. Very well, I am Lucas Ambrose, the 2nd Seat of the disciplinarymittee and also the 4th Child of War. If it isn''t too much, do you mind introducing yourself?"

    Before answering, Apollo examined Lucas silently. As he failed to find and ulterior motives, he introduced himself, "Apollo Kaiser; First year of this institute, and I am the 9th Seat.

    "Ah, so you''re the one who has taken Ephraim''s seat and in a record time no less. Then you should have already imed the bonus package. That must be why you''re here right now," Lucas responded.

    However, the rest of his conversation entered directly into Apollo''s mind, "Was it the headmaster that allowed you toe inside also? Tell me, how many times more do you have to pay to use this?"

    "The way you worded that, has this also happened to you? Then, that means preferential treatment does exist? Also, I have to pay 3 times the normal person," Apollo responded in a simr fashion.

    Unlike Lucas, however, he was inexperienced in using this type ofmunication. So, his message was choppy at best. Fortunately, Lucas deciphered the message with ease.

    "Of course, if you are presented the diamond offer, sooner orter, the benefits in the shadows would begin to surface. Since they''re already giving you treatment of that standard, your potential must be on par with me and Xavi. It''s a shame that his presence is sparse these days. Since he is not only the 1st Seat but the First Child of War, the expectations surrounding him are immense. By the way, do you mind telling me which fragment youprehended?" Lucas questioned.

    At first, Apollo thought he wanted to steal the information he possessed but when he thought about his identity, he was such there was nothing beneficial that woulde out of doing so. Not to mention, the door wasn''t locked. That meant a number of people should be aware of that fragment.

    Thus, Apollo answered, "It''s called the Umbra''s Embrace. But, if you don''t mind telling me, why do you ask?"

    "The answer is simple, it''s because you have onlyprehended a mere partial fragment. Allow me to rify for you, the elementary level consists of 16 partial fragments and each 4pletes an entire fragment. In short, there are only 4 fragments. Moreover, each of them are S Ranked Spiritual Arts," Lucas answered.

    At the same time, he waved his hand, signaling for the others to disperse and return to what they were doing. Soon enough, it was just him and Apollo. He then led him back to the special area he always imed.

    "I''ll be truthful, I havee to you to ask you a question; do you want to join my alliance? Once ites out that you haveprehended a partial on your first visit and all while being a freshman, you''ll be coveted by all. Simrly, you''ll also be targeted by thepulsive degenerates. So, before that happens, I havee," Lucas answered.

    His cerulean eyes didn''t falter in the slightest. After all, what he was doing was the leading task of a Child of War, he was establishing a faction. If one was strong enough, they could even form a Great Family in the future!

    On the other hand, Apollo pondered the situation. In truth, he didn''t intend on staying in Astarast. Whenever the chance arose, he wanted to venture to Ashiraem.

 Chapter 216 - Visit From A Child Of War

    ----

    For a while, Apollo looked at Lucas silently. In addition to possessing ns to venture Ashiraem frequently, he was also affiliated with Odessa. If he went behind her back and made a deal with Lucas that conflicted what they established, his word, something he deemed to be of utmost importance would longer bear any use.??

    Anyone who he sought to make a deal with would shun him and find someone else to do so. After all, the connections of a Paragon were not to be underestimated. In fact, even these Children of War paled greatly when put inparison to Odessa and Alistair.

    Thus, Apollo made his decision, "I thank you for presenting me with the option but I''ll have to respectfully decline. I am already tied together with Odessa. If that wasn''t the case, perhaps I would have taken you up on this decision. Even though I don''t know how important these fragments are, I can tell that your only desire is to use my power and nothing else," Apollo responded.

    In return, Lucas gave Apollo a meaningful look, "Oh, that''s very interesting. You didn''t know?"

    "Know what?" Apollo asked in return while looking at Lucas''s shocked expression. Based on what he saw, he could tell there was something greater in his request. And, not long after being asked, he revealed it.

    "Joining arms with a Paragon ispletely different than doing so with one of us. If I was to make aparison, I''d have to use like and darkness. Each of them can be seen as one of two broad spectrums, correct?" Lucas responded in a cryptic way.

    "That is correct, each of them can be seen as a broad spectrum with numerous variations andprehensions," Apollo nodded without hesitation. His question then made Apollo ponder a few things to which Lucas rified.

    "Then, you can see the paragons as the light and darkness. Each of them could be called a vast faction that epasses numerous factions. We, the Children of War, are supposed to be their weapons. In short, even if you join one of us, you''ll be essentially joining a Paragon once again. So, if you feel like you''re betraying, that''s incorrect," Lucas revealed.

    Upon hearing this information, Apollo''s eyebrows rose. In truth, he was expecting these guys to be apletely separate faction. If this was truly the case, then he had nothing to worry about. That was, except for a simple matter.

    "Ah, then tell me, which of the Paragons will you support?" Apollo inquired. If the answer was to his liking, then he didn''t mind join this individual. In addition to him not mind his direct personality, Apollo also had a feeling he had a sizable collection of fragments.

    If it was possible, he wanted to witness the other fragments. Even though he sensed one, none of the other areas showed resonance with him. This made him believe each fragment was unique and that just because he sensed one, that didn''t mean he had the ability to im the others.

    Still, just because he couldn''t sense them, didn''t mean there wasn''t a way to get them without sacrificing ample time and resources.

    "Well, to be honest, I possess familial ties with the Crux, so my path was predetermined. The one you truly need to ask is Xavi. Until now, I haven''t heard of him joining or intending to join any faction. In fact, I''ve even heard that he has turned down numerous offers. Not to mention, these also came from Great Families and above while on special missions," Lucas said after giving the matter some thought.

    After thinking about it, he knew there was no harm in building a rtionship with Apollo by revealing some of his own information. At the same time, he lifted his arm and showed a marking.

    "Have you ever heard of something called Ancient Families?" Lucas asked while showing a marking in the sign of 6 inverted arrowheads with sharp edges. On the end of it, the tips were darker than the rest of the markings.

    "No, I can''t say that I have," Apollo answered truthfully. Even inside all of the books he had read, Ancient Families were something that was never mentioned. However, be that as it may, it seemed that a prime source for information about it stood before him.

    "Long story short, Ancient Families are stronger than Great Families but loyal to the Supreme Families to a certain extent. There are some, like the Vermillion Family that move their power elsewhere. In their case, this academy. They used their linage to build the foundation of this ce,

    "On the other hand, families like mine are seen as the weapons of the Crux. Due to their practices, their offensive abilities in the family are generallycking. That''s another reason they possess one of the biggest factions on the battlefield," Lucas answered while ncing to his side.

    One of his subordinates approached him, but he issued a signal and ordered for them to hold off on reporting any matters. As Apollo took notice of this, he realized there was more order to Lucas'' operation than he previously thought. Moreover, he didn''t seem to rule by fear.

    Inside his subordinate eyes were only respect and the wilfulness toply, ''So this is the ability of a Child of War. On the battlefield, having an ally like this would lead to increased chances of survival. However, this would also be a terrible opponent to face. If his ability to control morale is simr as well, then he would be a force to be reckoned with in the future,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Shortly after, Apollo continued on what Lucas mentioned, "They''re coveted due to their ability to keep their people alive right? I heard from Odessa that her family is the undisputed first in healing. A single art from them is capable of rejuvenating a legion, right?"

    "Precisely, thus everyone flocks to the underlings of the Seraphim Legion. Every year during the annual battle report, they report the least losses. However, they also present the least des on the battlefield. In that field, the Dongguang lead with a monumental lead. Surprisingly, their mortality rate doesn''t match up. It''s always just slightly under the Crux," Lucas answered before shifting the topic.

    "How about I sweeten the deal, if you join me, then within 3 months, I''ll gather enough people to simte the first fragment rted to the Spiritual Art you just acquired. Is that a deal?" Lucas grinned while holding out his hand to agree to the term.

    But, before Apollo sealed the deal, he looked at Lucas with interest, "Answer this. Do you possess the fragments I can use?"

    "Nope, I use the shadows offensively, I don''t specialize in the movement through shadows. Furthermore, acquiring more than one partial fragment is a monumental task. If you wish to do so, there is a special set of instructions you have to follow," Lucas answered.

    He then went on to reveal that each subsequent attempt to im the next partial fragment would cause the one in his possession to resonate. When they did so, it amplified the difficulty to im it by exhausting the spiritual energy at an exponential rate.

    Finally, Apollo agreed. Truth be told, he had already used far too many Academic Credits today. Before he could acquire a way to earn them steadily, he deemed that it would be best to refrain from wanton spending. He had to be sparse in his usage. For now, it wasn''t worth it to appear here once again.

    ording to Lucas, the first partial fragment''s position was always changing. However, depending on your firstprehension, the path of the others would be set in stone. And, they would only appear on the second-level areas and above.

    Before the next set of Academic Credits were consumed, Lucas helped him leave. While standing at the door, he left a message, "When it is time, I will send of my men to contact you. In the meantime, try to advance further and awaken your Spirit. I''ll ask the Headmaster if I can enact the special use for you."

    "What''s that?" Apollo questioned.

    In return, Lucas smiled mysteriously, "Early livebat. I''ll take you on a mission if I can and allow you to witness how Spiritual Arts are used. Once you be one of my followers, your future will be dependent on my abilities as a leader as well."

    After a short deliberation, Apollo nodded. While he didn''t take any of this to heart, there was a question on his mind. If everyone inside that space possessed a Spirit, why didn''t they summon them inside? ''It must have something to do with the environment of the Tethered Shadow Origin Room.''

    Immediately after exiting the room, both Geneva and Sapphyr''s pristine figures entered his eyes. Specifically, Geneva had a faint smile on her lips. What he didn''t know was that the moment heprehended a partial fragment, the orb sent her a signal.

    As the Headmaster, every generation had to leave a soul marking on it to keep it from losing control. "It seems you''ve done well inside there for your first attempt. You two,e with me."

    Even though her voice was gentle, it carried an authoritative aura that made both Apollo and Sapphyr obey.

 Chapter 217 - Deterioration Of Astarats Condition

    ----

    As the two followed Geneva, Apollo nced at the other students doing their own things. For some odd reason, it was like they couldn''t sense them. It was then his Tainted Temple began to show him what was really happening.??

    To the others, these three didn''t have a presence. However, Geneva simply manipted their shadows to conceal everything. This was one of her specialties, she used the mastered form of Umbra''s Embrace to always stay in the shadows. This revtion made Apollo fear her slightly.

    If she couldn''t be sensed, how would he know when he was being watched. Thus, something told him to move as cautiously as possible. Until he couldbat the instructors at the very least, he wouldn''t consider breaking the rules. On the other hand, Sapphyr acted as if this was a usual urrence.

    "Why the face? The Headmaster is one of the top 5 users of the Dark Elements. Although she looks young, she is older than both of usbined," Sapphyr said while chuckling.

    But, Geneva nced over her shoulder and shot Sapphyr a re, "It isn''t polite to discuss ady''s age, now is it? Furthermore, we aren''t in the presence of others. Shouldn''t you be calling me something?"

    "Uhm, yes Aunty!" Sapphyr nodded obediently. Upon hearing this, Apollo''s eyes widened. Although there was barely any resemnce, Apollo started to notice something. There was a faint simrity in their auras, specifically, the frequency of the darkness fluctuation when they utilized it.

    "Aunty?" Apollo stated while tilting his head to the side.

    "Mhm, this is my father''s half-sister. In other words, I''m part Vermillion and part Braum," Sapphyr responded. Shortly after, the tips of her hair changed color and turned the same color as Geneva.

    "Even though you are my niece, I can''t show you any more favoritism. I already used all my ties to get your away from the Braums at the request of your father. But, I have to uphold my image. There are certain instructors who wanted that spot and to quell them, I had to use my authority," Geneva said beforeing to a stop.

    Before them, a familiar face with a creepy smile stood.

    "Ahem, Miss Headmaster, may I borrow thatd behind you?" Robyn chuckled while pointing at Apollo.

    "No, you may not. I need him for a moment. There are some things we need to discuss. Once we''re done, you may have your prized possession back. Or, did you think I wasn''t aware of your two little deals, hmm?" Geneva gave a knowing smile.

    In response, Robyn choked and started to whistle innocently, "Sure, that will work. In the meantime, I also have something to discuss with you. We''ve made a discovery and it may be a vital one at that."

    After he revealed this, Robyn gave Geneva a signal with his eyes. As a result, she nodded, "Come with us as well then. Tell me about what you''ve found."

    Upon gesturing to him, Robyn joined the party. Rather than paying attention to rest, his eyes gleamed while looking at Apollo, "Hoh? The Umbra''s Embrace. What a surprise, maybe I can teach you how to control this as well. What a treat. You''re following the path of-

    "Quiet!" Geneva interjected, shooting Robyn a meaningful look. Naturally, he understood what she meant and fell quiet. Since Apollo was a freshman and wasn''t privy to free matters, there were some events that couldn''t be discussed around him yet.

    "If you be the leading Child of War, I''ll personally tell you what this old man is trying to reveal to you. Which she shouldn''t be," Geneva stated.

    Momentster, they all traveled quietly in the direction of the Administration Hall''s top office. After several moments, they arrived before the luxurious office door. Unlike what Apollo thought, it didn''t actually open.

    Geneva ced her hand on the door and slipped through. Every door in this ce was outfitted with extremely detailed inscriptions. The appearance of a door was just a facade. In truth, it was more fit to call it a portal. As everyone entered, another person was inside.

    In fact, Apollo was surprised. Since the first day ofing here and engaging in smallbat with the others, this was the first time he had seen Irauk since then, "Where have you been?" Apollo questioned with narrowed eyes.

    "Around," Irauk shrugged, replying lightheartedly. On the other hand, as he opened his eyes and looked at Apollo, he sensed something that felt appetizing to him, "Hoh? I sense a high me on you. Where did you obtain that?"

    ''Appetizing? Is he talking about my Hellfire that keeps undergoing subtle changes? But, if so, why can he sense mes? No, not that I think about it, something was off about Irauk before I fainted, I could have sworn he consumed part of my mes,'' Apollo internalized while scrutinizing Irauk.

    The more he looked at Irauk, the more he felt like he was trying to blend in. This only happened when one didn''t truly belong. Thus, Apollo started to question Irauk''s origins himself. Of course, he didn''t press the matter. As he was now, he held no ability to acquire the answers he sought.

    In the meantime, Geneva took a seat behind her desk. cing her hands under her chin, she leaned forward, "Everyone, please take a seat; we have some matters to discuss."

    As they each took a seat, Geneva first looked at Robyn, "You first, what did you need to discuss?"

    "Is it okay to discuss these matters in front of the newd?" Robyn questioned. Without hesitation, she gave the okay. Ever since Irauk implored her to give Apollo the diamond offer, she had her eyes on him. When went toe to toe with a Spirit, she was impressed.

    This made his im a cemented spot on her watchlist. And, those on her watchlist were only one type of trainee¡ªthe Children of War.

    "Very well, we have been excavating additional Spiritual Veins and we havee across an issue. Some of them are showing signs of corruption, I think one of those may awaken once again," Robyn said with a solemn expression.

    For a moment, Geneva was silent then she sought confirmation, "Do you mean the birth of a Disaster-Grade Terror?"

    "No," Robyn replied before adding what he meant to say, "It feels even worse, the speed of corruption is faster than we can cleanse. Approximately 50 days ago, it randomly picked up pace, it''s as if Astarat itself is trying to give us a warning. I think we should allow the freshman to enter that ce earlier. If the corruption hastens, the space linked to those veins may be unstable."

    "I''ll authorize it," Geneva said after giving the matter some thought. The appearance of a Disaster-Grade was bad enough, if something worse appeared, it would be a catastrophe.

    Unbeknownst to them, there was a reason Astarat was reacting this way. If one pieced it together, this event only took ce as a certain ident took ce.

    "As for you, Irauk tells me you possess a variant me. May I see what form it is in? And I would like you to release it as violently as possible," Geneva said while looking directly at Apollo.

    At first, he was shocked among other things. ording to her, only she could issue the special pass for dual admission. And, based on what she was asking, it seemed as if she wanted to give him one. While she said the first month it would be impossible, grasping a partial inheritance on his first try changed her mind.

    "But, aren''t you afraid of this ce being damaged?" Apollo asked. Be that as it may, he still rose to his feet to take action.

    In response, she simply snapped her fingers. A burst of abyss ck me spread out in a ring. However, a light on the wall illuminated and then immediately swallowed it. If I''m unable to damage this ce, what makes you think you can?"

    In ordance with her words, Apollo simply smiled. Unlike before, his eyes shimmered with a ravishing crimson before releasing his aura in its full glory.

    "Oh my, a dark me with a beautiful silver color?" Geneva muttered before rising to her feet from her chair. With rhythmic steps, she approached Apollo and held out a finger.

    Although he wanted to warn her not to touch, he was unable to do so as she moved much faster than he did. But, what she did next made Apollo gulp.

 Chapter 218 - Curious Evaluation

    ----

    Even though it didn''t seem like she was trying to do so, Geneva''s stride has an allure to it for some reason. It was like her movements put Apollo in a small trance. However, what baffled him, even more, was the fact she touched one of his mes directly.??

    Afterward, she sucked her finger with a pleased smile. It seemed as if she was tasting the most heavenly delicacy she had evere across. For a while the room was silent, even though everyone else had all witnessed this, it was quite hard to get over.

    That small look of intoxication as she digested the elements within the mes. While doing so, she closed her eyes. When the process was done, she opened them, "Quite the delicious me you''ve conjured. It''s...different, to say the least. Among others, it feels dangerous and it fits you."

    Before Apollo could reply, she licked thest ember off her lip and examined Apollo up and down, "So that''s why you presented that statement. Although the immensity iscking, the me has the ability to destroy at a foundational level. The kind of synergy between darkness and fire is hard to attain."

    "Precisely, I recently came across this fact, so I refrain from using it in its entirety. If I don''t then I wouldn''t be surprised if my me killed someone without me intending to," Apollo answered, his eyes still glued on Geneva. He couldn''t understand why the mes failed to damage her.

    Furthermore, as she did so, oddly, he felt a slight attraction towards her. He didn''t know how it was possible, but he saw faint traces of silver flowing through her body and slowly being devoured. This made Apollo question; if they were alone, would she go further and try to consume more?

    Unfortunately, this was a question he didn''t possess the answer to. His current situation didn''t allow him to make any guesses. Not to mention, Geneva had already returned to her seat and reimed her poised demeanor of a Headmaster.

    "Tch, why is whenever you use your innate ability, your alluring sidees out? It never ceases to amaze me. Also, it made me rehash the days on the battlefield, watching the Abyss Phoenix storming across the field," Irauk chuckled in the corner while picking a reinforced toothpick off Geneva''s desk.

    "That is the past, I have long since abandoned the battlefield. What you saw from me as yourmander is not something to dwell on. On a more important note, Apolloe sit down. Let''s discuss your future here in the Vermillion Night Academy," Geneva answered, evading Irauk''s reminiscing words.

    Obviously, Apollo obliged and took a seat before Geneva who then turned towards Robyn, "Also, Robyn I would like for you to try containing that situation as much as possible. If you can''t find a way to keep it under control, get in contact with the Crux''s and seek their restorative practices. By any means necessary, we must prevent another one of those from being born. The current Paragons aren''t strong enough."

    In response, Robyn nodded with a solemn expression before disappearing from the spot. But, before doing so, he left a message for Apollo, "When you are done here, enter the Resource Hall''s secret area with the same set of hand seals I showed you. I''m sure your memory is strong enough to have stored it if you''ve epted this partial fragment."

    While he thought about the seals andmitted them to memory, Apollo also pondered the path he wished to take in these walls. He didn''t want to learn any skills of the trade such as formation, alchemist, or anything of the sort, however, he was also aware that some methods presented supplemental benefits.

    But, the biggest obstacle for him was finding the proper technique needed toplement his kind of energy. Any technique learned in this world that required him to utilize the Essence here would require him to mimic the energy''s property to the best of his ability by using his Anima.

    However, that was easier said than done. In his current state, it would take countless hours, and if he couldn''t evoke that special state that allowed him to peer into the images hidden under the surface.

    Nevertheless, Geneva interrupted his pensive state by tapping the back of his hand, "Before I present anything, can you infer why I have brought you here already?"

    Initially, Apollo was about to reply with the first thing that came to mind, the Institutes, but then he thought about things on a deeper level. He recalled what Lucas said to him about her viewing him as being on the same level as Lucas and the others.

    Thus, Apollo changed his answer before uttering it, "I''m guessing you want to talk to me about bing a Child of War in the future?"

    In light of his answer, Geneva''s faint smile grew, "Partially correct. I want you to be a Child of War faster than anyone before and to do it through your own efforts. If you can do so, I will give you my star rmendation that has never been used before. But, I must warn you, ites with stringent conditions."

    "Such as?" Apollo inquired, leaning forward with intrigue.

    "Firstly, while you cane under the wing of a Child of War, I''ll be setting your identification card to be unable to receive credits from peers. Only those with Instructor and above authority will be able to grant you credits," Geneva stated.

    Personally, Apollo didn''t feel this stiption too bad. In fact, he never intended to ept credits from others. Based on what he saw by Lance''s actions, everyone was pretty tight-fisted when it came to the matters of credits. Even the second-years sought them and even resulted in extortion to use them.

    "That''s eptable. Although, I feel like you''re trying to force me to form rtionships with your instructors," Apollo responded with a faintly amused smirk.

    "Maybe," Geneva rebutted before continuing, "Secondly, the one who holds the record before you is the current 1st Seat and First Child of War, Xavi. He did so right before he became a third-year. I expect you to beat this. After all, I have yet to see someonebat a Spirit the way you have without suffering losses."

    Again, Apollo nodded. In everything he did, there was always a deadline apanied with it. Thus, it was something he became used to and in fact, looked forward to.

    "Lastly, I want you toplete your inheritance fragment by the end of this year. Before you start going on missions, I would like for you toprehend the S Rank Spiritual Art that is created bybining them all. If you canplete these 3 tasks, I will fulfill any wish you have," Geneva stated.

    This set of demands made Apollo curious. Immediately, his mind returned to those twin weapons that sat in the case inside the Resource Hall. although he knew they weren''t actually there, just the residual presence it gave off was enough to make Apollo covet it.

    He wished to use them and if possible, he wished to make them his own. Besides the asional use of the scythe, daggers of that size were the weapon he was most familiar with. He held a small attachment towards them.

    Since it was on his mind, he voiced it, "Does this hold true even if I wish to have those odd weapons inside the Resource Hall?"

    "Yes," Geneva answered without hesitation. This made even Sapphyr and Irauk gape in shock. Her response came too lightly as if the heirloom of the Vermillion Night Academy was worth nothing.

    However, her exnation made them understand that her mind was always working and looking past what others were currently looking at.

    "Especially those. I can tell, the me you use is something this world may need in the future. The Terrors carry an aura of certain death, however, you carry the aura of destruction. If these two were to collide and fuse, what would you be? What would you be able to aplish? These are the things that I think about. The moment I tasted your me, I knew. I hade across someone that could finally use my ancestor''s legacy as he intended," Geneva stated.

    In response, Apollo nodded. His view of her changed, during the orientation he thought her to be some unreachable existence. Luckily, that didn''t seem to be the case.

    "Now, let''s talk about this admission of yours. I''m sure you''re eager to go train so we''ll make this very short," Geneva added before extending her hand.

 Chapter 219 - Institutes First Attendance

    ----

    As she held out her hand, Geneva requested Apollo''s identification card. To bestow the dual admission pass to him, she needed to tweak a few features inside his card. Not to mention, she also needed to put the restrictions in ce that she talked about earlier. Besides that, she also gave a smallpensation.??

    "As a small gift, I''ll return two-thirds of the Academic Credits you used inside the Tethered Shadow Origin Room. Since you achieved the hidden requirement, I have given back the extra. You''re not the first to do so, it just rarely happens. In fact, there was a time where I gave an exorbitant demand yet the individual still managed to do what you''ve done," Geneva stated.

    At the same time, Apollo''s formerly obsidian card now possessed a blend of crimson and obsidian. As he looked at the card, Apollo raised his eyebrow. Truth be told, the current state of the card was eye-catching. If he was to ever retrieve it, there was no doubt that he would be the main focus.

    "Unlike the Umbra Night Institute, your position in the Vermillion me Institute will be partially underwhelming. When you receive a dual admission, it is usually once some of the graduating ss has chosen to stay behind as instructors. But, right now, there''s ack of them, so you''ll have to make do with the regr ss for now," Geneva revealed while handing Apollo back his card.

    After exchanging more information rted to the Vermillion me Institute, Geneva had Sapphyr lead Apollo out of the building. Unlike the rest of the building, the top of the Administration Hall required a certain cultivation base to maneuver through.

    It was designed this way so wandering students didn''t end up where they weren''t supposed to be. Additionally, the second set of security measures existed that would turn this ce into abyrinth upon invasion.

    Meanwhile, Irauk sat next to Geneva and smiled at her, "So, what do you think Ms. Dark Phoenix. It''s as I said right? Those mes go beyond that of True Beasts. I''ve never seen anything like it. Although they aren''t too strong, it took a substantial amount of energy to suppress its tyrannical nature."

    "Yes, it''s as you say. But, there''s also something odd about it. Even though my battle state arouses emotions from men, the me itself roused that feeling in me. There''s something off about the techniques in the possession of that boy. Watch this," Geneva said while waving her hand.

    A recording of the fight between Apollo and Salem appeared but it was zoomed in on them. While watching the battle, Irauk picked up on numerous small explosions taking ce on Apollo''s knuckles the moment before each collision.

    Furthermore, the smile on his face looked evil yet satisfied, "Those dark tendencies of his seem to be growing. If you pay attention here, you can see that each of his blows is bing more violent than thest. I wonder what malevolent thoughts were passing through his mind," Irauk muttered.

    "Oh, I can help you understand that as well. Listen," Genevamented before moving her finger in a circle. The audio of the fight then entered Irauk''s ears. More specifically, it was the moment Apollo caught the strike of Salem.

    "Interesting, this is the pinnacle of strike with a vengeance. He sought to return all damage dealt to him and more. He would make a perfect weapon for massacre on the battlefield. The only problem is I fear he may be the first to die. Look at how he neglects defense," Irauk stated while pointing out ring inadequacies in Apollo''s fighting style.

    "While that may be true, look closely, you of all people should realize what is happening in that fight. Most of the blow is being turned into force by his body, but it doesn''t appear to be a conscious decision. It must have something to do with that movement technique," Geneva said.

    Once again, the two continued to discuss the matters of Apollo. Due to their simr abilities, they experienced firsthand the possibilities that existed with Apollo''s Hellfire. However, little did they know they both nted seeds of despair. Hellfire was not meant toe in contact with anything besides a Demon.

    ----

    "Once again, the odds y in your favor. Sometimes, I think you are blessed by the gods above. There''s no other exnation that covers how you''re able to get things to work out for you," Sapphyr muttered while ncing in Apollo''s direction.

    In response, Apollo shrugged while clenching his fist. Due to her words, a small bout of pain coursed through his body, "Please refrain from saying that," he responded.

    "Hm? Saying what? That you''re lucky? Is that not the truth? Are you ashamed that things seem to work out for you?" Sapphyr responded with a small smirk.

    "Not that. Actually, never mind," Apollo said in return. As they exited the Administration Hall, Apollo covered his eyes. Due to the dark atmosphere and the fact he wasn''t walking under Geneva''s cloaking ability, the light of the sun interfered with his eyes.

    "When was thest time you slept?" Sapphyr asked all of a sudden.

    "I couldn''t tell you," Apollo shrugged. With his full schedule, sleep was thest of his worries. From going back and forth to Ashiraem to practicing with the Anima Crystals and Robyn, there wasn''t a recent time where he was worried about getting sleep.

    On the other hand, Sapphyr frowned and pulled his cheek, "As you instructor, it is imperative that I monitor you. You haven''t reached the level yet where you can sacrifice sleep by rejuvenating yourself with essence. For now, make you get sufficient sleep!"

    In light of her nagging, Apollo frowned, "Yes, mom."

    "What?! How dare you," Sapphyr scoffed while rolling her eyes. For some odd reason, this boy seemed to get under her skin more than others. Soon enough, they arrived before the living quarters in the outer barracks. "Do as you see fit. There''s still slightly over a full day until we meet inside the Institute."

    "But, I must warn you, based on how mentally resilient you are, there will be a wave of fatigue that will pass over you. That orb doesn''t actually rejuvenate, it just covers up what''s inside. After you leave the room long enough, all the fatigue will hit you at once," Sapphyr added before vanishing.

    With this information, Apollo didn''t dawdle. Even though there was high student traffic, Apollo ignored them all and simply walked to his residence. Once inside, he saw an awkward sight.

    In the bed that he barely used, he saw a small kid the size a 5-year old and ia snuggled up together. To make sure he wasn''t hallucinating, he rubbed his eyes repeatedly, "What the¡­"

    As came close, he leaned over them and caught wind of a familiar scent, "Ouroboros?"

    "Master?" Ouroboros immediately replied, opening his eyes.

    "How did you take on this form?" Apollo asked while touching a clump of Ouroboros'' violet hair. Although his features were childish, his handsome appearance was on par with Apollo''s current features. His curious and partially exhausted silver eyes stared at Apollo.

    "It just felt right. After I absorbed some energy from this world and all the yummies you gave me, this happened! And, guess what. I don''t use as much energy anymore," Ouroboros responded.

    After listening to everything, Apollo nodded. Although he wanted to ask more, a wave of tiredness washed over him. Along with the others, he fell asleep in mere seconds. In fact, he fell into such a deep sleep, he didn''t even notice the shadow that was seeping out of him and enveloping his body.

    Fortunately, like with the Teaching Hall sses, an obnoxious bell tolled that jumped Apollo out of his sleep a dayter. Nevertheless, he was already rejuvenated.

    Had not for the bell, he was sure he would have slept even longer. However, the bell seemed to only affect those who held an academy identification card. Unlike him, ia and Ouroboros were still fast asleep.

    Before leaving, he left resources for the day on his training mat. Then, slipping outside, he moved to gather at the gates of the Institute. It was time to learn the matters pertaining to dark more closely. For example, something about the Temple felt iplete to him.

    On top of engraving the temple, he felt he also needed to do something else with it but couldn''te to a correct assumption.

    Soon enough, he stood before the gates with his respective group.

 Chapter 220 - Expansion And Union

    ----

    While the other groups entered the Umbra Night Institute, Sapphyr stood outside for a little longer. Before entering inside, she contemted what she would teach them today. If she was to seem as professional as possible, then she needed to have everything in order.??

    As mentioned before, unlike the rest of the instructors, the experience she possessed with guiding others wascking. Fortunately, she possessed not just a strong but wise Spirit who was exceptionally skilled in this attribute.

    Since she was stuck in a rut, Xezym called out to her, "My Lady, I can help you with today''s lesson. I suggest you teach them what makes a Spiritual Cultivator stand out from the rest.

    "You mean, I should immediately focus on the Soul Temple?" Sapphyr replied. Due to sound reasoning behind the suggestion, she considered it. As all of her students all possessed rather new Soul Temples, they were impressionable. Typically, one would wait before attempting to do what Xezym was insinuating.

    "Yes, there is no reason to beat around the bush. Introduce them to the horrors of cultivating and bonding with a Spirit. The earlier they get this out of the way, the earlier they limate to it. Not to mention, the institute is the perfect environment. That orb leaks energy into every area of the Institute," Xezym continued.

    Under her continued coercing, Sapphyr finally gave in. With her course of action decided, she called for her group to follow along with her. Once again, she walked them through the steps of entering the Institute, but this time was slightly different.

    Since the Institute was fully essible, every student had to input their own unique code to get inside. Naturally, there were some mistakes, so Sapphyr stood behind and showed them how to maneuver the dial by sensing it with their Soul Temple.

    It was both a form of training to test the level of control the student possessed as well as a reminder of what she showed them in ss. The more they familiarized themselves with the spiritual world, the more they realized a lot of the inner workings were connected.

    Once they were all inside, Sapphyr took them to a vacant teaching room. Although it looked to be a small door, when she opened it, it turned out to be a portal to a spacious area. Simr to the Tethered Shadow Origin Room, it possessed a dark sky, but there were sections on the ground partitioned for everyone.

    "Choose a seat at your whim, they''re all equal and when you do, you''ll notice a change in your surroundings," Sapphyr said while pointing her hand at the floor below.

    Immediately, Apollo took a seat at the back. Although he would spectate what was going on, it was more practical if others didn''t witness what he cultivated.

    "Xezym, you may appear," Sapphyr eximed causing his dark figure to rise from her shadow. When he appeared, some of the students became apprehensive. Due to how ghastly his aura was, some were inherently thrown off by it. But, he soon retracted all of it.

    "It seems some of you are extremely sensitive to danger, that''s good. The keener your sense of danger, the closer you are to contracting your own Spirit. Only once you have developed an absolute Soul Conscience can you do what you must," Xezym said while taking a step forward.

    He then began pacing around everyone. Slowly, he examined their current states by sensing the intensity of their fluctuations. "Close, but no one is ready yet, very well. Tell me, you all have learned how to train the Soul Temple, but have you all learned how to expand it? After all, it must be at a certain degree so that it doesn''t crumble and cause your mind to be torn asunder."

    "Wait, torn asunder? Are you saying that contracting with a Spirit could kill us?" one of the students questioned. The more they thought about it, the more frightened they became. Most of the students present were no older than 15. Hence, of course, they held trepidation towards death.

    However, Xezym wasn''t an individual to sugarcoat information, he kept any warm words to minimal, "Exactly. If you fail to take ample precautions then there is a chance that you may perish. As we have said multiple times before, it isn''t a walk in the park to be a Spiritual Cultivator.

    "We do what we do to reduce the chances of failing to quell the Terrors. But, there will always be those who rush and fail to perform even the most basic of safety precautions. As a result, they suffer catastrophic damage to the mind. Most of which is irreversible," Xezym stated before stopping in the middle of everyone.

    "There are even instances where a deranged mind is formed. That is what happens when a wandering Spirit without a body attempts to take over a human with a weak mind. Before the assimtion process can finish, they go mad. In a way, this is beneficial to us because it alerts us to what is happening. Yet, it is also a terrible thing when you lose a ster talent," Xezym stated.

    "You sound as if you speak from experience," Adeonmented while ncing in Xezym''s direction. He then added, "What will you teach us today? I don''t know about them, but I understand the dangers already. Teach us how to avoid them."

    "You seem just as impatient as someone I know, very well. Today you will learn Expansion and Union," Xezym stated. A momentter, he signaled to Sapphyr.

    While walking forward, she held a clear fist-sized crystal in her hand, "As of right now, all of your Soul Temples should look like this, clear and untouched. But, in truth, this is a partially useless Soul Temple. It doesn''t contain your identity, nor does it hold the ability to support a being like him," Sapphyr said while pointing at Xezym.

    "The first thing you need to do is Expansion," Sapphyr added. As she talked, everyone listened intently. She started to exin how expansion was different from what they learned in the Teaching Hall. It was far more painful. It required them to crack the center of their Soul Temple and fill it with Spiritual Essence to solidify it once again.

    Once that happened, the process needed to bepleted over and over. Additionally, Spiritual Essence needed to be utilized as a carving knife to hollow out the insides and create ample space. Furthermore, those shavings were not to go to waste.

    One was supposed to use those residual pieces to restart the process. The end result was a continuously expanded and refined Soul Temple with minimal wastage. On the other hand, Union was something that benefited the cultivator the most. It was centered around their Soul State Aptitude.

    In truth, the Aptitude judged the core of the cultivator''s soul. It existed in the center of everyone''s mind in the form of a teardrop. Once the Soul Temple was hollow enough, they were to burst the aptitude and allow it to permeate the Soul Temple.

    Based on the affinities one possesses in theirtent potential, the temple would assume a certain color. Sapphyr simted this by pouring her dark spiritual essence into the orb. Slowly, it started to assume a purplish-ck color.

    When it turned color that was unable to be seen through, she raised it for everyone to see, "This is what you should all aim for. Aplete transition of the Soul Temple. It''s a tedious process, but it is best if done here. The saturated dark energy will assist you in performing this."

    "Not to mention, it will benefit you all in the long run. I wish you all to contract with a worthwhile Spirit. A meager Spirit means a meager future. Now begin," Sapphyr instructed.

    Meanwhile, Apollo was confused. He felt as if he had done something simr to this already by refining his Tainted Temple with Hellfire. But, he also knew that something was missing.

    ''Could it have something to do with the Boundless Ira Mantra? Or, does it have something to do with the fact that Fuhrer mentioned all of my intents much coincide. By that, I think he means my stigmata, Tainted Temple, Infernal Nucleus and Diabolic Heart of Wrath must all want the same thing. They must be aligned.

    Silently, Apollo closed his eyes and attempted to continue with the iplete engraving on his soul temple. Unlike the rest, his Tainted Temple was already saturated by Hellfire. He didn''t need to engage in Union like the others.

    Furthermore, he had to partake in an Expansion that was far more painful.

 Chapter 221 - Reemergence In Ashiraem

    ----

    While the others held pained expressions on their face, Apollo continued to contemte how to attune every aspect of his internal state. He had tried to do so once before, however, the slightest disharmony of their functions resulted in immense pain.??

    ''I can get the Diabolic Heart of Wrath and the Tainted Temple to work as one due to the residual sensation of bing an Iraym, but to add the Infernal Nucleus, that means I would have to treat my body as my mind and vice versa. That''s harder than simply stating it sounds,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Several momentster, he exhaled and released his apprehension. First, he started by rotating his Infernal Nucleus. He isted his control over it by utilizing 100 percent of his mental strength.

    From there, he slowly dwindled the amount used until he found the bare minimum to keep it active. Surprisingly, he found that it only required 40 percent of mental strength to uphold it. Then, he split his mental strength into two halves like they were taught inside the Teaching Hall.

    While his Tainted Temple vibrated, numerous tendrils detached from his Diabolic Heart of Wrath. On the first try, ck veins appeared on his neck as he withheld the roar of pain he wanted to emit.

    Silently, Sapphyr and Xezym caught wind of his irregr state and looked in his direction. ''Hmm? ckened veins? Is he experiencing some type of corruption or is he trying to merge his body with darkness itself? If so, he is too far away from that level to do so.''

    Although Xezym formed his own opinions, he was partly correct. Since Demons were inherently beings born in a dark world, they could be deemed as beings who merged with the darkness just like Xezym, Salem and their kind did. Except, their darkness wasn''t as mellow.

    Moreover, the practices of a Demon damaged one''s self far more than the Spirit''s arts did. Nevertheless, when he returned to a better state, Apollo tried to do so once again. This time, the ck veins appeared once again, however, they weren''t as intense.

    From the first experience, he learned what not to do. Additionally, it allowed him to shave another percent of the limit needed to keep his Infernal Nucleus active. While the others gave in and took extensive breaks, Apollo continued until the brink of exhaustion.

    Only when that point came did he take a much-needed break. At that time, Sapphyr approached him, "If you don''t mind me asking, what are you trying to do? Xezym has told me what you''re doing is simr to merging with a dark origin."

    "It''s a family technique, it''s a torturous one so outside help is impossible to beseech. Don''t worry, I''ll aplish it soon enough," Apollo responded while ncing up at Sapphyr from a seated position.

    "I understand that, but you must remember, you can''t perform Union until you have expanded your Soul Temple enough. Once it reaches a suitable size, it won''t be as painful to fill it and let the dark energy permeate the spiritual walls," Sapphyr replied.

    As a result, Apollo''s eyes widened with understanding, "What did you just say?"

    "After your temple reaches a-"

    "No, thest part," Apollo interjected. In response, Sapphyr repeated what she said.

    ''That''s it! That''s where I''ve gone wrong. I''ve been approaching this matter like a human all along, I need to start acting more like a demon. Unlike these humans, my body doesn''t differentiate my energy. In other words, I can automate this process if I do it properly,'' Apollo thought.

    Before taking any action, he first recuperated to his peak state. With the help of his pendant, it was fairly quick whenpared to the rest. This time, he attacked the issue from a different angle. All of his energy coagted and then congregated outside of his Diabolic Heart of Wrath.

    In contrast to his first attempt, he sent all of his energy into his Infernal Nucleus once again. However, he kept fine control of it all. From there, he churned the energy until it felt as if his body would explode.

    Forcefully, he sent the energy to one set of meridians without pause. Afterward, he immediately followed up by sending the same energy through the second set of meridians. At some point, his anima began to emit Hellfire.

    As a result, on both his Infernal Nucleus and his Tainted Temple, the engraving began to deepen. The fine lines that were missing on his Tainted Temple appeared at a sedate pace. On the other hand, he continued this action without focusing on the engraving process.

    Upon reaching the 10th revolution, the pain lessened. On the 25th revolution, his body started to devour the energy, increasing his physical parameters. In fact, even Xezym could sense Apollo''s muscle fibers filling in strength.

    If one looked closer, they''d see his skin starting to turn an odd color. The one that appeared when he morphed into his Iraym form. Fortunately, before that happened, Apollo opened his eyes.

    ''I got it! But, any further progress would have bad aftereffects,'' Apollo thought as his abrupt stop caused the changes to subside. Simr to the others, he switched to breaking down and reinforcing his Tainted Temple for the remainder of the lesson.

    By the time the lesson concluded, his Tainted Temple was at least 30 percentrge. If he continued at this pace, it wouldn''t be long before he could sustain his first demonic summoning. Yet, before that, he wanted to visit Ashiraem once again.

    Until Azridan returned, he was without guidance. Saehtyn only left him with enough information to learn how to travel back and forth between the worlds. On the other hand, he wasn''t selfless enough to give free assistance to some unknown existence.

    The only reason he intervened was due to the scent of Azridan''s residual soul on Apollo''s soul. Any other guidance would need toe from Fuhrer, hence, why he wished to venture back to that world as soon as possible.

    "That is all. You may use the facilities inside here as much as you please now that you''ve been deemed a bonafide Institute student. But, I must warn you, refrain from using thest door in the middle hall for now. If you don''t, I''m sure you''ll run into some characters you''d rather not at this moment," Sapphyr stated before leaving the area.

    Since he had already been to the facilities here, Apollo also took his leave. There wasn''t anything here worthwhile, he returned to his room where privacy was guaranteed. Before engaging in another round of cultivation, he nearly half of the current Crystallized Chaos in his possession for Ouroboros.

    It was clear he intended to enter deep, uninterrupted cultivation by the number of resources he left for them. With everything in ce, Apollo closed his eyes and returned to doing what he did earlier.

    To elerate the process, heid 30 Anima Crystals around him. Should his reserves be depleted, he would use them to instantly refill his tank. Although this was strenuous on his meridians, if he wished to advance faster, he would need to be more ruthless to himself.

    Like this, well over a month passed. When Apollo opened his eyes, he was already in his Iraym Form. The saturation of Pure Demonic Anima in his body and the ambient environment the crystals created a pseudo-state of Ashiraem. This allowed him to enter this form

    And, before it disappeared, Apollo performed the actions needed to enter Ashiraem. Except, this time, he consumed much more resources thanst time. Since there was Temporal Dissonance, he didn''t need to worry abouting back at an odd time.

    After confirming it by entering inside again, Apollo would base his ns on a 10x time flow. Before stepping inside, he whistled to Ouroboros.

    Due to the state of his room, Ouroboros also reverted to his horned-serpent form. Without dy, he imed a ce on Apollo''s shoulder and the two entered the portal to Ashiraem.

    Right before it closed, he turned to ia, "Next time, you''ll apany us as well. If you want more power, you''ll need to abandon this world. I''ll show you something that shall make you question if vengeance is what drives you."

    ----

    ''Zwooooop!''

    Both Apollo and Ouroborosnded inside Ashiraem. At a nce, Apollo could tell the ce he was dropped was random. While he could sense the feeling drawing him to Fuhrer again. It was quite a distance away.

    Nheless, Apollo smiled, "It seems like we have some ying to do." With an excited expression, Apollo kicked off his back foot and performed an explosive dash.

 Chapter 222 - Rematch

    ----

    Not long aftering to Ashiraem, Apollo came in contact with Lesser Ifrits. Compared tost time, he didn''t feel any threat from them in the slightest. Not only was he faster than he previously was, but he was also stronger. Not to mention, he also advanced his control over Hellfire.??

    This time, the fights didn''t start off with him suffering losses. From the initial blow, without utilizing any tactics, Apollo was able to match their blows. Furthermore, even if an additional Lesser Ifrit came in contact with him, he redirected the blow so that it would impact his other opponent.

    By using an Iraym''s Flickering Insight, he was able to hasten his reaction speed. Even after using the explosiveness of their own rendition of Hellfire, Apollo continued to dodge the attacks.

    Last time, Apollo''s strikes took substantial effort to puncture the outer shell of the Lesser Ifrits. However, now each of his strikes were able to prate the exoskeleton of the Lesser Ifrits without fail. Their pained roars sounded as Apollo continued tomit a massacre on the path to Fuhrer''s location.

    At the same time, his experience continued to increase at a visible rate. This was another reason he wished toe back. He found that even if his attributes didn''t move, each level up gave a small upgrade to not just his parameters but his current state of being as well.

    In other words, a shortcut to bing a Greater Demon was to level up as quickly as possible. Since the path of the Monarch was a route of domination, massacres were a situation that should appear at a whim. Hence, why the created made it so that experience could be gained from doing so.

    Additionally, with the increase in authority, Apollo felt he would soon unlock better things to utilize. After all, he couldn''t continue without having a suitable weapon. And, Azridan hinted that once he reached a certain level, a special set of equipment was awaiting him.

    It wasn''t long before Apollo slew enough Lesser Ifrits to pass the next milestone.

    ?System Alert! Congrattions, you have reached Level 102! As a result, all basic stats have been raised by 10 and the racial meter has increased by 1%.?

    Before advancing any closer, Apollo took a breather and nced at his status.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.3

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [17.50%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 14

    Level: 102

    Experience: 1.23%

    Health: 94%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 4,015 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 8 Zul Warrior

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 5 Spirit Apprentice

    Meridians: Saint-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 9,450

    Oz: 350

    Strength: 450.0

    Agility: 380.0

    Intelligence: 350.0

    Vitality: 250.0

    Comprehension: 35.0

    Willpower: 35.0

    [?Traits?]- 5

    ?Pure Demonic Conversion?

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 7

    ?Umbra''s Embrace?

    ?Iplete Sin Armament? 1/3

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 9: Darkness

    Level 7: Fire,Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?] [?Interdimensional Inventory?]

    Stat Points: 0

    ''After Level 100, it seems that leveling up doesn''t grant me the ability to distribute the stat points myself. Nevertheless, an increase of 10 for each of them is more than enough to make up for the removal of this ability,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Once again, he went on the hunt. This time, he allowed Ouroboros to battle alongside him. In addition to increasing the speed in which he culled the Lesser Ifrits, he also established tacit understanding in battle with Ouroboros.

    Since he was still young, most of the matters regardingbat were a grey area for Ouroboros. Until he unlocked more of his ancestral power, he needed to rely on what Apollo introduced him to. Fortunately, Apollo wasn''t someone unskilled in battle.

    After every battle, Apollo sucked the corpse dry of Ira to both recuperate his losses and train his reserves at the same time. At all times, his Diabolic Heart of Wrath needed to be filled with Ira. Should he ever find himself in a perilous situation, he would be prepared.

    "How does it feel to battle and earn your own merits?" Apollo questioned while watching Ouroboros crush a Lesser Ifrit under his increased weight.

    "Amazing Master! It feels amazing! They''re so fragile, I can crush them without sparing too much effort!" Ouroboros replied.

    "Good, now let''s go meet that old man," Apollo responded. For the first time, he utilized the Umbra Phantom Mantle. But, when he did so, he immediately felt woozy. Inside Ashiraem, there were dark particles that sustained the usage of these types of skills.

    However, this mantle caused them to be supercharged. So, upon usage, his body was nearly overloaded. In light of this, Apollo blinked, "I''m d this happened now. Should I have done so duringbat, then without a doubt, I would have fucked myself over."

    The rest of the way, Apollo continued to use the Umbra Phanom Mantle. To anyone else, he looked like an obscure ripple. Not only did the mantle cloak him, it increased his speed to the point that he seemed like nothing other than a ripple.

    Now that he utilized this speed, it didn''t take more than an hour of additional travel to appear before Fuhrer''s humble cave. Unlikest time, there was no dismissal. In fact, Fuhrer even urged him toe inside.

    "Ah, I felt when younded in Ashiraem. Come inside young one, allow me to witness how much you have grown in this short period. The Monarch must possess an unmatched growth ability. If you fail to show me such, how will I ever witness the rise of another Monarch?" Fuhrer stated while moving inside the cave.

    Just a simple movement and the entire cave began rumbling. It was unknown what form he currently took on, but Apollo could feel him once again expending heavy amounts of Anima to reduce his burden on the area around him.

    In truth, he didn''t belong on this Ring. He belonged to the same Niihilistic Ring the Monarch Candidates did. Since they were all extremely strong Noblesse and above existences, the First Monarch paid special attention to reinforce that world with obscene protective measures.

    When they came face to face, Fuhrer inspected Apollo''s body without dy. At a nce, he started to smile. But, when he pried deeper he frowned.

    "Bah, not bad but definitely not good! You have taken the next step and awakened the Second Baleful Step but it isn''t even at initial mastery! Furthermore, you''ve utterly neglected the Annihtions. You have yet to fuse your unique intent and the Demonic Massacre Wave together. I''m not sure how I should feel about you," Fuhrerined while tapping his finger against his head.

    In response, Apollo frowned. To be honest, he was expecting some praise as Fuhrer never told him exactly what to aplish, he simply tasked him with finding a sessor for the Tenebrous Sword. However, even that was a dead end as he didn''t understand what Fuhrer was looking for.

    "Don''t frown, I now know how I need to train you. Wherever you keep vanishing to, that world doesn''t seem fit for anything other than tempering your mindstate. Therefore, I''ll temper your body and mind. Fight me and can only utilize demonic techniques," Fuhrer stated while retrieving the sword at his waist.

    Without pause, Apollo readied himself for battle. In truth, this was a rematch he was looking forward to. Forgetbatting a Spirit, this was a tried and true master standing before him.

    "Take the first move," Fuhrer eximed while taking a retreating step. In that same instant, Apollo made a supersonic move. The Umbra Phantom Mantle covered him but Fuhrer''s eyes gleamed with a ck light.

    "You are fast but slow!"

    BOOM!

    Apollo''s fist met Fuhrer''s sword. The rebound caused Apollo to slide backward. But, that was far from what he was capable of. He thought about the strike that was inspired by Fuhrer. Even though it was too early to use it, he wanted to prime his body so that he could catch Fuhrer off guard when and if the moment presented itself.

    "The triple mirage of the unpracticed mantle. What I want to see is for you to do this," Fuhrer state before using the Umbra Phantom Mantle as well. However, his mantle wasplete, "Full State: Six Phantoms Shifts."

    Immediately Apollo''s eyes widened. First, Fuhrer''s body was surrounded by 6 thin mirages. Sometimes they condensed to one, other times four but what appalled Apollo the most was the fact this technique was enacted on Fuhrer''s weapon as well.

    In short, he couldn''t see the de. As a result, Apollo exhaled. He caused his Ira reserves to seethe as he retreated.

    "Not fast enough," Fuhrer smirked then made his move.

 Chapter 223 - Incomplete Sin Armament

    ----

    By utilizing thepletely mastered form of the Umbra Phantom Mantle, Fuhrer attacked Apollo with a strike that carried six mirages. As Apollo tried to defend against them, he realized numerous searing cuts appeared on his skin.??

    In response, his expression became even moreical, ''Is each one of these shadows empowered by Hellfire? This is insane, not only is he using this technique to make his attached immutable, he''s added a secondyer that makes it even more lethal? Yet, all of this seems to be an effortless action for him.''

    Despite blocking what he thought to be the actual weapon, anotherceration appeared on Apollo''s chest that caused him to suck in a cool breath. If it continued like this, let alone rematch, this could barely count for a teaching session.

    "Lad, is this all you''ve got? Comprehend what you need from me! Unlike thest time, I won''t be withdrawing my strikes. Your body is stronger than it was and should be able to heal on its own. So," Fuhrer smiled menacingly, before adding, "Wee to my torturous training montage."

    Immediately, the six mirages condensed into one lifelike dark sword that mimicked the movement of Fuhrer''s sword. In other words, Apollo now had to dodge simultaneous attacks from two swords that moved faster than he did.

    Furthermore, Fuhrer seemed to have a n in mind. Every attack made Apollo retreat towards the wall and closer towards the wall, "What can you do when all paths of escape are cut off? How will you cope when you MUST deal with what is in front of you?"

    As Fuhrer continually increased the pressure, Apollo continued to be backed into the wall. At this point, he had discarded all thoughts of utilizing that strike currently unnamed strike. On the contrary, his stimted Ira was awakening another ability.

    ?System Alert! Due to your current condition, the first Iplete Sin Armament can be utilized. With the proper requirements fulfilled, there will be no drawbacks to activating it.?

    Upon reading this message, Apollo finally saw a ray of light. With his body as the point of origin, it emitted arge wave of infernal power. A cloud of Ira surrounded Apollo''s body as he disappeared from sight.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer raised his eyebrow in surprise, "Hoh? You can use Armaments? You must truly be the Monarch''s descendants. That''s a long-lost ability that only a select few Daemos were able to activate and send down our lineage. Now show me, what does your armament look like," Fuhrer said.

    At the same time, he shed his sword downward. The wave that hurtled towards him was then cut in half and collided with the wall behind him. Patiently, he waited for the cloud of corporeal Ira to subside. Although it took a while, it happened.

    But, when Apollo''s appearance came into full disy, Fuhrer froze for a moment, ''It couldn''t be. Isn''t that the Tartarean Regalia? How could that appear here? Didn''t he take that with him? Only a few answers can exin the existence of this. Hoh? It also seems to be iplete. His mastery of Ira isn''t enough to fabricate the entire armor.''

    As Apollo appeared, his upper body and horns were encased in a terrible armor seemingly made out of pure magma. The sweltering heat that emanated from it gave Fuhrer a feeling of nostalgia. He recalled being on the battlefield with the First Monarch where they culled countless foes.

    Ultimately, their actions lead to the union of the Nihilistic Rings. Unfortunately, this was something all in the past. With the disappearance of a Monarch, the solidity of the Nihilistic Rings'' bond was in tatters.

    On the other hand, Apollo clenched his fist. While marveling at his own transformation, he remembered bits and pieces of the events that happened during the selection trial. He had invoked this state once before but it was when his body was incapable of wielding it in the slightest.

    Fortunately, someone outside of his knowledge thwarted him from making a potentially asinine move. However, the hatred in his heart was still present. In fact, it had beenid bare by the invocation of this technique. Left with no other choice, Apollo attempted to deal with it as soon as possible. Naturally, he did so through the most basic of means.

    "This seems to be a more even ying field. Now show me, what has that iplete Sin Armament done for yourbat ability?" Fuhrer questioned while taking a single step forward. But, once his leg flexed, his propulsion shattered the ground beneath his feet.

    In an instant, he elerated to nonsensical speeds. However, there was a reason for doing so. As Apollo looked at Fuhrer''s movements in his current state, he felt that while Fuhrer was faster than ever before, he could sense what he was doing to a certain extent.

    With adequate timing, Apollo retracted his right foot. A momentter, Fuhrer''s sword pierced through the ground. He then lifted his head with an emotionless gaze as he used the butt of his sword to send a focused shockwave towards Apollo''s chest.

    Yet, before his attack couldnd, the Ira in Apollo bubbled. He released a bestial roar that caused a shockwave of his own to collide with the force birthed from Fuhrer''s actions.

    After the collision, Fuhrer retreated from the dust cloud with a pleased expression, "Good, the Regalia is honing your Flickering Insight. Let''s take this up to another level," Fuhrer stated. By now, he was starting to enjoy the battle. At first, he still retained a shred of caution towards utilizing the utmost power he could draw in his Lesser Demon state.

    However, the appearance of Apollo''s Iplete Sin Armament changed the ying field. This time, when Fuhrer executed the Umbra Phantom Mantle, it was like the entire cave was nketed by darkness, "Full State Second Form: Absolute Umbra Zone,"

    Subsequently, the entire area fell under Fuhrer''s immediate control. It went without saying, the difficulty of the training skyrocketed for Apollo as he raised his guard to the peak. Even though part of him was excited to see the different variations of the Second Step, what he truly wanted was to overpower Fuhrer at least once.

    It wasn''t a matter of proving that he was better than him, but a matter of pride. As Azridan told him once before, he sensed high levels of Superbia within Apollo''s mind. There was arge chance that it could be his next Sin to master.

    Be that as it may, Apollo closed his eyes and increased the focus he put on his Tainted Temple. Since his eyes were useless in this darkness, he had to rely on the only organ that could see without seeing.

    Once again, the two collided. Except, with each following collision, Apollo''s body was bing bruised and battered. Not to mention, Fuhrer didn''t allow him time to conjure his Annihtion. Thus, he was left attacking with in strikes that were faintly strengthened by small amounts of Demonic Anima.

    "Faster, conjure your energy faster. When you strike, you must always possess the upper hand. Also, don''t look for your opponent. Feel them, train your demonic sense to pick up on the signs of life. Since we are beings of destruction, we are sensitive to such things. Use it to your advantage," Fuhrer instructed between each of his blows.

    Although battering Apollo was quite fun, his true intention was to make Apollo stronger as quickly as possible while making him privy to basic principles. Hence, he made him privy to everything regarding a demon. There wasn''t a topic left untouched.

    Yet, Apollo still felt like he was making no progress. However, that was understandable since Fuhrer increased the intensity of his strikes whenever Apollo presented signs of countering. While a counter was good, what Fuhrer sought didn''t happen yet.

    ''Come on kid, don''t tell me you haven''t awoken it yet. To be able to use an Iplete Sin Armament but not awaken that is baffling. Is there some missing piece I''m overlooking? Now that I think about it, how was this youth born,'' Fuhrer started to question while stabbing his sword into the ground.

    Metallic shadow des pierced the ground and shot towards Apollo. Narrowly, he dodged them until finally, one of the des eluded his attention and pierced Apollo''s right shoulder.

    "Your armament is faulty, such a strike should have never prated your defenses with that regalia active. Tell me, do you truly wish to ovee me?" Fuhrer inquired while looking at Apollo with a partially disappointed expression.

    "I do!" Apollo eximed.

    "Then show me! I want actions, not words," Fuhrer bellowed back. In response, Apollo gritted his teeth. Feelings of frustration well inside him as his eyes flickered with an amethyst light.

 Chapter 224 - Demonic Intent Manifestation

    ----

    ''There it is. It is being awakened. I have to keep pushing him. He seems to be the type who breaks through obstacles while under pressure. Thus, allow me to mold you into the most resilient gem to ever appear,'' Fuhrer thought while witnessing the flickering in Apollo''s eyes.??

    If Azridan were here, he would have realized the state Apollo once fell into was appearing once again. However, at this time, he was a demon unlike before. To put it differently, whereas he would have lost control in the part, this was a vital part of him bing a demon.

    "Are you frustrated? Have youe to realize that words fail to make a difference in the world? All that matters is action. If you think by saying you wish to aplish something that others will move for you, then you are sorely mistaken. You must possess the authority and power to MAKE them move for you," Fuhrer roared while shing downward.

    An expansive wave fired from his sword that left arge fissure in the ground next to Apollo as he barely sidestepped in. In the process, a piece of his hair was cut off. From his point of view, it seemed as if Fuhrer didn''t mind killing him. The lethality of that strike was off the charts.

    As a result, the amethyst light in his eyes grew deeper, ''I must ovee! I must have the power to overwhelm. To be the Monarch is to dominate all and to do that, I must have control of everything.'' Apollo thought to himself.

    While dodging, the purplish light from his body prompted the same color tendrils to seep from Apollo. All it needed was one more small push for the process to bepleted.

    Again, Fuhrer attacked. But this time, he took unhurried steps while retracting the Absolute Umbra Zone. He didn''t cancel it but focused it solely on his body. As a result, Fuhrer looked like an ominous walking shadow.

    "Allow me to open your eyes further, you must understand that the limit of every technique lies within your mind. A closed mind leads to a menial future. Therefore, you must always take the broad picture into ount. Think of many ways to ovee a single problem. Once you''ve done that, strip them all bare and make them rely on your power," Fuhrer stated. He then added, "That is the way of the Monarch."

    In response, Apollo felt as if a shackle on his mind was shattered as he roared to the sky. He released a purplish-ck aura that blended seamlessly with the aura that he currently possessed.

    In light of this, he received two messages.

    ?System Alert! The requirements toplete the engraving process of the Tainted Temple and Infernal Nucleus have all been met. The blockage topletion has been unobstructed. When ready, you make attempt toplete the process.?

    ?System Alert! Alert! Alert! A strong Demonic Intent has been birthed. As a result, the Tainted Temple is absorbing copious amounts of unknown power. When finished, the change will reflect in your status.?

    ''As I thought, this child was born to be the Monarch. This is something I haven''t seen in a long time. A Monarch level Manifestation of Demonic Intent. If I''m not mistaken, this is the Intent of Domination. ording to the First Monarch, it was with this power that he was able to cull all his enemies. I look forward to seeing how thisd wields it,'' Fuhrer internalized while cing the sword back into his sheathe.

    Although he would''ve liked to continue the battle, it wasn''t the right time. Right after he invoked his state, Apollo''s body staggered. Truth be told, he had long spent his Anima Reserves to deal with Fuhrer''s attacks. He was using pure grit to continuebating Fuhrer.

    For this, Fuhrermended him. He understood why he awakening the Intent of Domination. It required one to have an almost nonsensical level of defiance as well as unrelenting nature in their bones. It could be seen from Apollo''s action that he wasn''t one to admit defeat.

    "Just a little more and you would have reached the state required for me to teach you these two Noble Arts. Originally, I was taught them by the First Monarch, so it is only right that I reciprocate the favor and show you how to do so as well," Fuhrer said while resting Apollo''s body against the wall.

    Based on the fluctuations of Apollo''s current state, Fuhrer could tell he had a much longer time than whenpared to his prior visits. As a result, he didn''t interfere with Apollo''s recovery. He allowed Apollo to recover naturally as it was best he digested the Intent of Domination on his own.

    In the meantime, Fuhrer pondered a few things. Firstly, he wondered what Apollo''s connection to the First Monarch could be. ording to what he knew, he didn''t possess any kids. Of course, there was also the off chance that he hid his offsprings from society. After all, to take up that mantle, he hade in contact with many enemies.

    Some of which even existed on his same level. Plus, even the strongest of beings resorted to schemes when victory was uncertain.

    Secondly, he wanted to know why he felt an odd sense of familiarity with Apollo that went beyond Azridan. If he had to put it into words, then he felt like he was destined to follow thisd. Then again, if he did that, he was sure his future would be unknown.

    Of course, to Fuhrer, that was better than wasting away guarding a sacred tool of the Daemos. He too wanted to find a sessor to once again help the Monarch once again bringplete order to the Nihilistic Rings.

    Lastly, Fuhrer was still curious as to how Apollo became a Monarch''s Candidate. Unlike the others, it was safer to say that it seemed forced upon him. After all, one can only attempt to be a candidate after surpassing the initial Noblesse standard,

    Yet, here Apollo was a Lesser Demon who was capable of mimicking the abilities of the first Monarch to a tee. ''If he''s able to control the demons like the First Monarch was as well, then I will ept this feeling and follow him along his journey. But, should he fail to do so, I will ept my fate and waste away guarding this area against them,'' Fuhrer determined.

    Several hourster, Apollo finally woke up. Furthermore, he woke up in his peak state. There were no signs of a previous fight present on his body as he looked around. Additionally, he silently watched as Fuhrer chanted something that caused his aura to constantly jump states.

    Concurrently, his actions caused the sword buried in the stone illuminated with ck lights. Once his duties were done, Fuhrer opened his eyes, "You have finished recovering. Now that you have gone through your manifestations, you can call yourself aplete demon. There isn''t a thing youck now. All you need to do is solidify your foundations."

    "Yeah, I plete. Also, what is that? What''s the purpose of that sword?" Apollo questioned while inspecting the sword closely.

    "Well, it has two purposes. I have been tasked to keep us safe. Compared to the past, we don''t possess the same position as before. To guard us against our enemies, the First Monarch disced us from our original position. The other purpose is to be wielded as a weapon. But, as I said, I must first find a sessor to teach the Tenebrous Sword," Fuhrer answered.

    "I see, but why do you need a sessor? Your vitality seems to be perfectly intact," Apollo inquired. Truthfully speaking, Apollo was correct. Fuhrer could easily live for thousands, if not tens of thousands of years. However, that wasn''t the reason he sought a sessor.

    "You can see this as me looking for a sessor from precautionary measures. If I am to stay here, should I ever perish, I would need someone to fulfill my role. After all, peaceful times are never permanent. You must always expect trouble even when the signs are not present," Fuhrer responded before taking a seat before Apollo.

    He then continued, "Since you have your Intent, why don''t we elevate the difficulty. What do you think of me training you until your Demonic Massacre Wave is perfected? Your Intent is special, unlike others, you can create derivatives of your own power. When you are ready, I will walk you through it."

 Chapter 225 - A Glimpse At A Mystery

    ----

    After Fuhrer let Apollo heal to his peak condition, he took Apollo to the center of the cave and had him release all control over his Demonic Anima. To be honest, the best way to train the Annihtions was to first grasp their underlying intent. However, since Apollo had the system, he was able to execute them by simply providing enough Demonic Anima. ??

    Hence, why he was unable to maximize any of the Annihtions. In Fuhrer''s eyes, this was uneptable. To be the Monarch, one needed a mastery in all. If they possessed a weakness, they do one of two things to correct it.

    First, ceaseless training until that technique became as easy as breathing. As the process was inscribed into one''s being, the matter of it being a weakness would soon vanish. Furthermore, this would also boost the image of the Monarch in the eyes of others.

    On the other hand, he could recruit a subordinate that specializes in the area hecked in. While this seemed to be the easier of the two, it all depended on the capabilities of the people in question. So, there was more room for failure with this option than the former.

    Nevertheless, the tactics of the Monarch were something that could be trained to an absolute threshold. In Azridan''s case, he failed to train himself to this point, thus he experienced an early demise. Fortunately, there was more in store for his fate. Just like him, Apollo would soon undergo the same hellish training.

    As Apollo stood in the center of the cave, Fuhrer circled around him in an unchanging pattern. Compared to before, he felt more like a drill sergeant. When Apollo''s eyes started to follow him, a shadow de ripped past Apollo''s chest leaving argeceration.

    "Eyes forward. This is where you learn discipline. To instill discipline in others, you must learn it first. The way to create variations or derivatives of a singr Intent is to possess the correct mindset. As you are now, that is far from it. Let alone dissecting your Intent, you can''t utilize it at a whim," Fuhrer stated while holding his arms behind his back.

    Unlike before, he used his will to executed finely controlled Demonic Massacre Waves. Not only did Apollo''s mind need to be ustomed to the proper usage of his mind, so did his body.

    In response, Apollo tried to refrain from giving in to his urges. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Trying to change someone''s nature was a monumental task. After all, this meant you needed to strip all of their idiosyncrasies bare and turn them into a nk canvas once again.

    On the bright side, Azridan didn''t train Apollo too heavily in this aspect. Thus, as Fuhrer continued to drill his behavior, Apollo started to catch on at a quickened pace. Once Fuhrer felt it was adequate enough, he once again began to impart knowledge to Apollo.

    "Now, the Intent you have learned is something that sits at the pinnacle of all Demonic Intents¡ªthe Dominance Intent. However, because it is at the pinnacle it possesses a great weakness; the wielder must also be at some sort of a pinnacle," Fuhrer announced.

    At the same time, he released Intent as well. In regards to strength, it was leagues above the one that Apollo utilized. However, when it came to purity or the feeling it exuded, it was slightly inferior to Apollo''s innate disposition.

    "This is my intent, Suppression. Or, it could also be called Superiority. It could be seen as a weakened version of Dominance. Moreover, this was birthed in my time spent with the Monarch. In other words, you could say that my Intent was given to me by him," Fuhrer said with a half-smile.

    "Did you look up to this Monarch?" Apollo questioned all of a sudden. He could by the look in his eyes that Fuhrer was reminiscing about his past. Typically, it was during this time that people would reveal cherished answers.

    "Of course. In fact, I made him a promise, should his legacy ever disappear. I will find the one to reawaken it. With all his enemies, he was bound to one day suffer his demise. This is why, even though I told that boy Azridan that this wasn''t his destiny, I still trained him. Perhaps it is my fault that he has been led to an early grave. I''m more than sure the ones who killed him were the other Monarch Candidates.

    "But, unlike him, they never received my guidance so they couldn''t have been as strong as him. They must have teamed up with one another to bring him to an end. Rememberd, until you are an expert in the absolute phase, never try to aplish everything on your own. A swollen ego only contributes to a fading name," Fuhrer warned in a solemn tone.

    "I will make this promise now, I will not be so childish as to do so. When the timees, if my strength is insufficient, I will find those who are able to be my pirs," Apollo responded. At the same time, he was reminded about the words Nadida told him.

    "Good, because you must always keep this in your mind, even if you don''t seek out any enemies, there will always be many that appear. The road to strength itself is something that garners enemies. Without them, your growth would be iplete," Fuhrer voiced.

    ''Even a demon is speaking about camaraderie, perhaps I should look more into it. There is only so much I can aplish on my own without suitable assistance,'' Apollo internalized while digesting all of Fuhrer''s warnings.

    "Very well, now that I have your attention, let''s move onto the more vital information about Annihtions and how Intent is so closely rted. As I said before, an Intent can be molded by your state of mind," Fuhrer stated before conjuring a tiny Demonic Massacre Wave in his hand.

    It grew by the second until it was soon the size of Apollo''s head, "Take the Demonic Massacre Wave, for example. It is supposed to be an unstoppable technique when used as its peak. It is meant to ughter any and everything. With that being said, can you reveal to me what this Intent should be?"

    "Murderous Intent," Apollo immediately responded. But, Fuhrer shook his head.

    "No, it''s the ughter Intent. This is even stronger than murder. While murder may appear more often; when a ughter happens, the impression it leaves on those who witness it is greater. Hence, the ughter Intent is held to a higher degree. Now, I want you to attempt to mold your intent into one suitable for ughter. Remember, your mind is what drives action." Fuhrer said while tapping his armored finger against Apollo''s forehead.

    As a result, Apollo nodded and first cleared his mind of any thoughts. Then, he thought about the Intent he now possessed, ''The Dominance Intent; it can be broken down into an innumerable amount of paths due to the pinnacle it stands at. Wait, what if I don''t try to break it down but instead covert half and mix the two.''

    Struck with inspiration, Apollo voiced his opinion to Fuhrer. In response, Fuhrer rejected the idea, "That is a path that exists already from your predecessor. However, it isn''t something you want to immediately jump to. Don''t try to run before you learn how to crawl. Familiarize yourself with Intent first."

    Apollo obliged and dropped the idea for now. In exchange, he started to grasp the newborn Intent inside his Tainted Temple. At the same time, images he didn''t understand yed in his mind. But, when he thought about the few stories Fuhrer had revealed, there was a matching scene present.

    ''Is this is a war¡­?'' Apollo thought. In his mind, there was a scene of numerous demonic beings standing behind two invible entities. As for the other side, Apollo couldn''t quite make it out as it was blurred.

    However, he came to an immediate assumption, ''This Intent, I was made to awaken it. It seems as if it is connected to a source. Otherwise, there''s no way I would be able to spectate these scenes.''

    On the other hand, as he watched the scenes, the aura of the being at the vanguard was emitting started to emerge on Apollo''s body. Of its own ord, his Dominance Intent started to strengthen. At this pace, it wouldn''t be long before he could continue with Fuhrer''s training.

    Soon enough, he would even be able to unleash what he wished to!

    This caused Fuhrer''s eyebrows to raise with delight, ''Perhaps this kid has been blessed after all. His other aspect may be slowlying along, but his mastery Intent is moving by leaps and bounds.''

 Chapter 226 - A True Wave

    ----

    As his Intent strengthened, Apollo soon realized a small transparent orb appearing in his mind. The more he watched the image, the more the orb condensed. Soon, small writings could be seen on it, but Apollod didn''t understand what any of this meant. ??

    Be that as it may, what he did understand was that this orb was the manifestation of his Intent. Additionally, it didn''t fuse with any of the other things in his mind. It possessed its own presence and one that was by far the strongest he had ever seen.

    Soon enough, Apollo opened his eyes and nced at Fuhrer, "I have a question. If an orb appears in your mind, what does that mean?"

    "That just means your Intent has reached initial maturity and has formed the Cardinal Sphere. However, to truly be deemed to have reached this stage, the orb must have distinct etchings on it. Furthermore, it should be ck, abyssal ck. Why do you ask?" Fuhrer inquired while narrowing his eyes slightly.

    Right after he asked, he could sense fluctuations that were strengthening by the instanting from Apollo''s mind. ''Don''t tell me this boy has reached this stage in mere hours? It has yet to be a full day yet. Such a speed is unprecedented. In fact, it can only be found in ancient species that rely on Bloodline Transference to decrypt abilities.''

    "Well, because I have already established this. I''m not sure what happened, but it seems this is second nature to me. Unlike Anima or the rest, Intent justes to me without any issues," Apollo answered partially in the dark about what was taking ce as well.

    "By all the things unholy...just what are you? Your set of masteries is odd indeed. It makes me wonder about your past. A demon who is more skilled with Intent than Anima? This is unprecedented. The only instance you hear something about this is when the Lord of Invidia takes over.

    "Every user of Superbia possesses a strong mind due to their unwillingness to ept defeat. As a result, Intent is birth easy. But, as a consequence, they are susceptible to weakness at odd times. As for you, I don''t sense an established Infernal Organ to house your Invidia," Fuhrer responded with an incredulous expression.

    Of course, what neither of them knew was that there was a special bloodline involved. Since it was inactive and didn''t process the proper stimuli to awaken it, it couldn''t be sensed. Still, Apollo''s soul recognized the intent and devoured it without anyplications.

    Only after the image waspletely stripped of residual Intent did Apollo''s growth cease. Nevertheless, that was more than enough for Apollo to reach the baseline needed to proceed forward with Fuhrer''s training.

    "So, what do we do now? I think this Intent should be enough right?" Apollo asked while releasing his Intent at a new level. Silently, Fuhrer judged the intensity of it and when he came to a conclusion, he nodded.

    "Interesting, your Intent has reached the initial Greater Demon standard. Lucky for you, unlike anything else, having an overleveled Intent is beneficial. It''ll supply your Tainted Temple with the energy needed to continuously advance at a stable pace,

    "Alright, let''s move along with the next section then. Show me how fine your control over this Intent is. If we are to feed this into your Annihtions, you need to be able to supply a steady stream of Intent. Too much and your strike could damage you and too little and it will fail to create," Fuhrer instructed while stepping to Apollo''s side.

    He then lifted Apollo''s palm to face upward, "I want you to generate a cluster of Intent in your palm and remove one thread at a time. When you can do that and undo it without fail, I will deem you ready to try this.

    In response, Apollo indeed. Unlike the way the system taught him, this alternate way was to be used in the event that Apollo lost all of his Anima in battle. At the same time, it could also be used in conjunction with the normal way.

    Shortly after, Apollo did what he was told, he summoned a cluster of Dominance Intent in his hand but before it wasplete, he partitioned it into ughter Intent. Since he was going to be working with it anyway, he thought it to be more suitable if he did so from the beginning.

    Upon noticing this, Fuhrer gave a look of praise, "Perceptive. I didn''t need to tell you that it would be quicker for you to do it this way."

    Meanwhile, Apollo responded, not with words but with actions. At first, the cluster proved to be an issue to unravel. To do so to immense amounts of Apollo''s mental strength. However, by the time his mental strength was drained, the cluster was slightly under halfway done.

    Naturally, Fuhrer gave him enough time to recuperate and try so again. This process repeated over and over again. Inside the dark cave, Apollo was unsure of how much time passed. Moreover, since he utilized so many resources toe here, the timer that was presentst time didn''t appear.

    Nevertheless, Apollo had a general idea about how long he had remaining here in Ashiraem based on the feeling on his body.

    After ample tries, Apollo finally started getting the hang of the task. He was soon able to unravel the cluster within 30 seconds and reform the identical form within 3 minutes. However, Fuhrer found this uneptable.

    "If you want to achieve perfection of your initial level, you need to be able toplete this process in under 10 seconds. At my level, there''s no pause. I can do so as if I am breathing; it has be an involuntary action for me. For you, that will take some time," Fuhrer said.

    Once again, Apollo began training to perfect this exercise. The finer his control became with Intent, the better his control across the bed would be. Due to the position of the Intent, it heavily influenced the Tainted Temple.

    From the start of the exercise, two full days passed of endless practice before Apollo was able to consecutively construct and destruct the cluster at will within 10 seconds. In light of this, Fuhrer gave him the okay to begin powering the First Annihtion with the Intent.

    With the first usage, Apollo couldn''t even tell if he made the wave or not. Although it appeared, it had zero presence. Itcked any dangerous vibe at all. If he summoned something like this in battle, it would garner a hrious response.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer was impressed. Until now, he had forgotten about a special path, ''If I teach him the Tenebrous Way, he''ll learn the proper way to recreate this. While it may appear harmless in nature, the obscurity of its existence bolsters its lethality new height. Before one could muster the strength to defend, they would have already died,'' Fuhrer inwardly mused.

    On the other hand, after Apollounched that at the wall, he left a tiny nick in the wall and immediately went to conjure another Demonic Massacre Wave. When he made a mistake in the flow of energy, Fuhrer corrected him and made his restart.

    When his focus faltered, Fuhrer snapped his fingers that used a frequency only perceivable to Apollo. Thus, Apollo tried his darnedest not to ck off in the slight. Up until this moment, Fuhrer was the strictest teacher he had evere across. He could only imagine what Azridan, who was an Archdemon at the time, had to go through.

    Nevertheless, Fuhrer''s style of teaching worked well, exceedingly well in fact. Apollo was able to use the Intent just as well as Demonic Anima now to strike with Demonic Massacre Wave.

    "Nowes the best part, equal parts. Fuel your Demonic Massacre Wave with equal parts of these two energies and fire it. Heed my warning, you must keep your mind call throughout the process. This will make all of your organs go haywire," Fuhrer stated while a ck light shone in his eyes. To correct Apollo''s mistakes, he continuously used an ocr ability to inspect it.

    Surprisingly, even though Fuhrer''s words carried with it a dreadful feeling, Apollo remained calm. In actuality, he had been waiting for this moment. First, he exhaled a strong breath as his aura seethed.

    Everything became still as he used his finger as a de to summon the sharpest Demonic Massacre he had ever done. When he released it, his expression paled but the ensuing aftershock was worth it.

    Upon impact, the cave shook and Fuhrer grinned. Simultaneously, numerous notifications sounded within his ear.

 Chapter 227 - The Cardinal Sphere Empowers

    ----

    ?System Alert! Congrattions, you have unleashed a Perfected Demonic Massacre Wave. As a result, the ability to use it freely has been created. Furthermore, the information possessed on the technique has been updated.???

    ?System Alert! The Demonic Intent category has been added to your status bar. Currently, two renditions of the Demonic Intent have been stored: Dominance Intent and ughter Intent. Both of them can be used freely as long as your Cardinal Sphere has sufficient values.?

    ?System Alert! The Willpower attribute has tripled as a result of the Cardinal Sphere being properly utilized.?

    ?System Alert! Due to the Cardinal Sphere''s benefits, your Comprehension will slowly receive benefits.?

    While looking at all of the notifications, Apollo nked. Until now, he didn''t quite understand the use of the Willpower attribute. Now, it turned out to be directly linked to Intent. ''Interesting, if Willpower is a byproduct of Comprehension, then that means Comprehension strictly deals with the entire state of my Tainted Temple.''

    All of a sudden, Apollo''s body faltered but Fuhrer reached out a hand to brace him, "You have done well. That was a perfected Demonic Massacre Wave. Now, you must remember that feeling. If you do so, then you will be able to consistently unleash such a strike," Fuhrer said while saying faint praise.

    However, Apollo didn''t mention that unlike normal people, Apollo only needed to aplish something once before being to do it consistently. It was an indeed benefit of being the holder of the Demon Monarch System. While he still needed to toll for what he wanted, once he aplished it he was set.

    "Thank you, Fuhrer," Apollo replied. After that strike, he was depleted. Since it was his first strike, he was unable to control how much of his internal energy he expended. Luckily, he was in a safe environment that posed no threat.

    Fuhrer sat him against the wall allowing Apollo to take a breather. Since he was allowed this small period, Apollo took the time to go over the changes in the first technique.

    Skill Name: First Annihtion - Demonic Massacre Wave

    Skill Rank: Noble Art (Fragment)

    Mastery: 4/4 (Perfected)

    Information: The pinnacle of a Demon is to know when it is time to be a bringer of death. By embracing one''s inner savagery, a massacre is to happen. The higher the consumption, the higher the damage. However, repeated use results in each subsequent use increasing in expenditure.

    Minimum Consumption: 1% of Demonic Anima Reserves or .5% of Intent Reserves.

    ?Perfected Values? - If one opts to use the perfected form, each strike deals 4 times the regr damage. However, the consumption continues to double for each subsequent use. To deal with this, increase your state of being.

    Parameters: The parameters of damage is equal to (Zul Count + 10% increase per every multiple of minimum consumption use.)

    Requirements: Lesser Demon, User of Demonic Intent.

    ''So, outside of using the perfected strike, the consumption isn''t that great. At best, I can fire off 100 Demonic Massacre Waves. However, that''s granted I use it at minimum output. In most cases, I won''t be able to. The size of that attack would be trivial,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    "With you having achieved that strike once, when you recuperate, we''ll have a partial spar. Moreover, we''ll onlypete using the First Annihtions. It''s best to solidify your foundation before moving onto anything else. Besides, we also need to keep in mind, what is your purpose foring here?" Fuhrer questioned Apollo.

    As a response, Apollo took a nce at his mission. For the most part, his progress was on the expeditious side.

    Quest Name: Journey to Sovereignty Part Two

    Quest Information: Although your road to power is still arduous, your advancement has marked the progress on your path. However, in order to truly obtain the mantle that awaits you, you must aplish tasks otherwise impossible for typical demons. Through pure grit and unbreakable tenacity, you are to shatter the barrier and take control of your first demon while also performing what only a few can aplish.

    Objectives:

    -Achieve the 4th Level of the Demon Monarch System. (0/1)

    -Open the Tainted Temple and achieve the Spirit Apprentice Realm equivalent. (1/1)

    -Advance further upon Demonic Conduct achieving at least Stage 5. (0/1)

    -Fulfill the qualifications to be a Greater Demon. (0/1)

    -Subdue your first Demonic Spirit. (0/1)

    Rewards:

    -Information on the method to awaken the Second Sin.

    -Fulfillment of the second prerequisite to bing a chosen contender. (0/1)

    -???

    -???

    Time Limit: 3.5 years (Equal to the time left on your Suppression Imprint.)

    [~3 years left.]

    ''In truth, I came here to catch a hint inpleting the first andst objectives, however, it seems to be a rather elusive topic,'' Apollo inwardly thought. Even Azridan wasn''t too sure about the Demonic Spirits. ording to the being that put him in this position, Apollo was to control the demons.

    Fortunately, he was able to gather small hints from Fuhrer''s stories. Little by little, he started to understand why Fuhrer was deemed as a vital piece. Even though he didn''t possess direct information, if hisprehension was up to par, he should be able to infer what needed to be done.

    "If I have to put it in simple terms, I just want strength," Apollo answered truthfully. Other than this matter, he didn''t think about anything else. Grand desires were something that typically eluded him. Unless some grand event happened to set his mind on the correct path, all he sought was to reach a level where he wouldn''t need to submit to anything.

    "Presumably, not a bad answer. If you had said something along the lines of wanting to protect someone, I would have proceeded to knock some sense into you. Before you could think of amassing a following to protect or lead, you need to be able to lead yourself," Fuhrer replied.

    Apollo agreed with him. A number of people sought strength to protect those around them, however, if that was their aim, what would happen if the people they intended to protect perished early? Would they stop seeking power?

    The answer depended on one''s reasoning. Many would default to the dark side, embracing the negative to achieve vengeance. Most cultivators who were rogues were those who were wronged and sought to leave that life behind. As a result, they took a more unorthodox route where they were shunned by society.

    Although they engaged in the same acts the higher-ups did since theycked a powerful backing to hide their deeds, they became the sacrificialmbs; the societal scapegoats to give the people an idea of what not to be.

    As the two continued to converse about their ideals, Apollo''s state recovered quickly. Since Fuhrer gave Apollo a sort of handicap, he went on to guide his mind in the right direction even more, "When we spar, I want to you conjure your weapon while infusing it with the ughter Intent. Even when not using the First Annihtion, make sure to ustom yourself with the process."

    "Okay. Does that mean all Intent can be infused into my weapon?" Apollo questioned while starting to formte ideas. However, Fuhrer doused his interest almost immediately.

    "Not exactly, it depends on the grade of the weapon. Normally, a regr weapon isn''t capable of handling more than Intent Infusion. If you try topound it, the weapon could shatter before even unleashing a strike. As for what''s on your mind, I''ll assess whether or not it''s feasible with your current standing," Fuhrer answered.

    The two of them then rose to their feet simultaneously. At the same time, Fuhrer thought it was time to make his decision known to both sides, "Lad, it has been a long time since I''ve seen the scenery beyond this ce. If I were to infuse half of my Spirit into the Tenebrous Sword, would you wield it until the rightful owner appears?"

    In response, Apollo thought back to his promise to Azridan. Thus, he came to an immediate answer, "No, I won''t. I''ll make sure to get you out of here. As repayment for your training, I will seed in aplishing this promise. Whether it is your body or soul, both of it will be unsealed," Apollo replied.

    In return, Fuhrer smiled as his dark helmet dropped back over his face. At the same time, he retreated until there was a space of 50 meters between them, "I have heard this promise before, but that look in your eyes, it seems reliable. Very well, it is time!"

 Chapter 228 - Verification Acquired In An Instant

    ----

    Once the two were a suitable distance away from each other, Fuhrer made his move. In an instant, he conjured the requirements needed tounch a Demonic Massacre Wave. Inparison, Apollo was in a precarious position. Although he was extremely focused, he was only able to muster slightly over half of the minimum consumption. ??

    Due to the actions of Fuhrer, he had stopped relying on the system too much. As it happened before, he never knew when there would be a time in the future where the system was inactive. Not to mention, something told him that system would be forever.

    To him, it seemed as if the system was just put in ce to prepare him along with Azridan. After he obtained a certain height of power, he wasn''t sure if the system would continue to assist him.

    On the other hand, he wasn''t quite sure how much power this would take. Nevertheless, Apollo didn''t panic. Since he had a promise to stick to the Demonic Massacre Wave, Apollo refrained from using any of the Baleful Steps.

    As he was aware that Apollo wouldn''t be able to keep up with his speed of energy activation, he stifled hisunch of the Wave. While this wouldn''t happen in a real battle, Fuhrer wasn''t preparing him for a real battle. He was merely verifying that Apollo was familiar with all of the basics.

    Any battle experience that he needed to obtain could be obtained by fighting those who could be killed. To the current him, no matter what he did, Fuhrer would be an unconquerable enemy. Not only did he possess every single technique Apollo currently did, but he could also use them much better than Apollo could.

    Finally, Apollo mustered enough resources andunched his own Demonic Massacre Wave. But, even after heunched it, Fuhrer still waited. In his eyes, Apollo''s wave moved as if it was weighed down. It was like trying to move your feet to walk in a deep pool.

    All of a sudden, when it was in the optimal position, Fuhrer executed his own strike. When the two collided, there was no contest. Fuhrer''s strike caused Apollo to crumble despite seeming weaker. Unbeknownst to Apollo, Fuhrer''s aura was alwaysced with a hint of Tenebrosity.

    Thus, he was unable to sense just how tyrannical Fuhrer''s strike was. Of course, there was another reason for the two strikes colliding the way they did, "Care to tell me what I just did to your strike?"

    Before formting an answer, the scene reyed in Apollo''s mind over and over. It wasn''t until the final rey that he realized what Fuhrer did. However, he didn''t understand how to fix the issue, "You took advantage of the weakness in the strike, but I can''t really see it."

    "I did, but it wasn''t the strike that had a weakness, but you. Your control faltered after the wave traveled too far from you. I was testing the distance of your mental integrity, it''s not terrible but it isn''t ideal. Focus. Make it subconscious, that is how you strengthen your mind!" Fuhrer instructed.

    In the meantime, Apollo conjured another Demonic Massacre Wave andunched it by the time Fuhrer finished his sentence. Needless to say, Fuhrer responded in kind by leisurely swinging his sword.

    A Demonic Massacre Wave identical to Apollo''s shed with it. As this happened, Apollo was once again reminded of the difference between them. Even when doing this under Fuhrer''s nose, he still couldn''t best him.

    "Interesting, that was a good idea. Attack while your opponent talks. However, next time, don''t telegraph your movements. Furthermore, you might want to refrain from using a minuscule amount of Anima. Also, add more Intent. When they fuse, they give the technique more propulsion," Fuhrer chuckled before taking a step.

    This time, he didn''t give Apollo time to breathe. Although he said all that, he still found it to be slightly disrespectful. Thus, he intended to give Apollo a small beating lest he continued to think he could get away with such actions. While those tactics could be used with others, he didn''t feel like dealing with them.

    Consequently, Fuhrer brandished his sword three times. In return, three Demonic Massacre Waves hurtled towards Apollo. While Apollo''s reaction seemed slow, in truth, he was building up energy since he fired the attack prior to Fuhrer''s counterattack.

    To try and deal with these strikes, Apollo consumed just over 10% of his Demonic Anima and 5% of his ughter Intent to perform a substantial perfected Demonic Massacre Wave.

    Despite sacrificing all those resources, it still took ample time for his strike to overtake Fuhrer''s. Furthermore, unlike Fuhrer''s which would continue traveling towards his, Apollo''s dispersed. This meant each of Fuhrer''s attacks dealt with a third of Apollo''s.

    "I believe you can do better than this. At this rate, it will take eons for me to deem you as worthy as epting you to be the Monarch. How will you be able to go conquer the Lords and go against the other Monarch Candidates? Even if you possess his Intent, you don''t hold the throne that resides inside his world!" Fuhrer bellowed.

    For some reason, he felt an infernal building in himself. Every time he looked at Apollo''s weakened state, he was reminded of his dear deceased friend. This invoked hurtful feelings that he tried to bury to the best of his abilities. Unfortunately, loss was never an easy thing to deal with.

    When Apollo noticed his agitated state, he became slightly apprehensive. If Fuhrer was to fall into a mindless rage, he was almost certain there was nothing he could do to guarantee his life. In fact, he wasn''t even sure if any failsafe measures existed against such an enemy.

    He was sure it existed in the event that he did something stupid, but even then, he wasn''t sure if there was a limit to the number of times such a thing would activate. What''s more, the system deemed Fuhrer to be a piece, so the question was, would it even be hostile towards him?

    Nheless, Apollo became quiet while once again stimting more internal energy. When Fuhrerunched his attacks this time, there were at least 10 Demonic Massacre Waves hurtling towards Apollo from all angles.

    In response, Apollo gawked. For a moment, his mind went nk. He was now sure that Fuhrer was bing enraged, "Hold on Fuhrer! Stop! Stop!" Apollo yelled while trying his best to deal with the attacks and even the rest.

    Sadly, the difference in their strength was too great. Numerous holes appeared in Apollo''s Tartaren Fiend Regalia after receiving a majority of the iing attacks. Additionally, his right eye started to close as blood from a wound above it seeped inside.

    Again, he started to be angry, however, this felt different. Not just his Infernal Heart of Wrath, everything started to bubble in tandem. Unbeknownst to both of them, a presence inside of Apollo''s soul was being stimted by the rage of Fuhrer.

    "Stop," Apollo voiced again. Yet, his words were once again brushed aside. As he dealt with even more strikes, he finally reached his breaking point. "I said to cease your actions!"

    ''Boom!''

    An invible aura burst from Apollo''s body that caused Fuhrer to freeze. As he froze, he trembled. Not from fear, but from the nostalgia brought about by the presence of this aura.

    "I have told you time and time again, cease your actions against the Monarch to be. Do I need to make you grovel before my feet before you understand my words?" Apollo said while taking rhythmic steps toward Fuhrer.

    Meanwhile, the system continued speaking in Apollo''s ear.

    ?System Alert! The Monarch''s Ability ?Domination Zone? has been temporarily awakened. All beings outside of you will be dominated for 3 seconds. After that, a state of weakness will follow.?

    For those 3 seconds, forget move, Fuhrer wasn''t even able to think. This was inconceivable, this long-lost domain had appeared. Thankfully, the appearance woke Fuhrer from his enraged state. Moreover, it allowed him to understand what his purpose was.

    He existed to assist this boy. It was time he followed him. He had finally discerned his identity. At the time Apollo opened the zone, a sealed memory resurfaced in his mind. It was set to reveal itself only when the true sessor to his old friend reappears.

    "Although I have forgotten your true name, I will follow you. When you remember who you truly are, I will stand before you as your guardian until you find your rightful power," Fuhrer swore and he fell to one knee.

    While he did so, the 3 seconds psed and Apollo''s body became powerless.

 Chapter 229 - Cardinal Daemonic Pact

    ----

    Right as Apollo became weak, Fuhrer dashed to his aide. His whole demeanor did a reversal. Theplete 180 shocked Apollo when he came back to his senses. Fuhrer''s obsidian helmet retracted to reveal a slightly doting expression. He had already determined to follow through with his promise he made to himself as part of Apollo''s identity was revealed.??

    "Forgive my unworthy behavior, my child. I swear to make it up to you," Fuhrer voiced before gently cing Apollo next to the sword buried in stone. As he looked at the injuries he caused in his rage, a pang of embarrassment flooded his mind.

    ''I have sphemed my dear friend''s legacy. Even if it was done unknowingly, it is still an act Imitted nheless. No, an act is unfit, it should be called an atrocity,'' Fuhrer inwardly thought. The turmoil presented by the fact Apollo was able to use that Zone for but a few fleeting moments was great.

    As Apollo''s blurry vision focused, he gazed upon Fuhrer, "I forgive you, but why are you calling me child and looking at me like that?" Apollo acquired while examining Fuhrer up and down.

    "It is just that I have be privy to a bit of information. Sadly, it is not my ce to reveal it to you. When it is time, you will experience everything yourself," Fuhrer responded before falling into a pensive state.

    Meanwhile, Apollo just became further confused by his words. While Fuhrer understood would have no recollection of this matter, he didn''t know Apollo''s memories from right before the incident were temporarily affected as well.

    In short, Apollo was unaware of Fuhrer''s earlier behavior. But, quite frankly, even if he recalled it, he wouldn''t pay it no mind. After all, he knew what it meant to experience unbridled rage. Not to mention, the root cause was closely rted to Apollo.

    Be that as it may, Fuhrer still continued with his behavior. Not out of fear, but out of respect ingrained in him towards the First Monarch. On the other hand, Apollo saw a small window appear before his eyes.

    ?System Alert! There is a being capable of forming a contract close by. The established connection between you two will create a surplus of absolute loyalty.?

    As Apollo heard this, he looked at Fuhrer. At first, he couldn''t believe the prompt the system gave him. ording to Azridan, the instruction left behind by an unknown entity exined that the system''s holder should not attempt to form a contract with a Demon strength that outssed them by boundless margins.

    In this case, that would be someone like Fuhrer. Even in his sealed state, he was at least 100 times stronger than Apollo if he exercised no restraint on his power. For some time, Apollo became silent. He didn''t know whether or not it was appropriate to pose the question on his mind.

    However, as he recalled Fuhrer''s desire to leave this ce whether in body or spirit, he deliberated even further. ''Now that I think about it, he should be rather excited to leave this ce. The only question that remains is whether or not a contract with him will work.''

    Of course, since his mind resided at a higher level, while he couldn''t see the prompt, he could easily read the unrest on Apollo''s mind. "Is there something guing your mind? While we aren''t extremely close, if there is a chance I can provide rification, pose the question," Fuhrer offered.

    In return, Apollo finally gave in. But, he didn''t ask in a straightforward manner. Instead, he prodded to see how Fuhrer felt about certain things, "If I told you I already found a way to allow you to see the varying scenery of other ces, how would you feel? Give your honest answer."

    In the beginning, Fuhrer was sure Apollo was ying with him and just attempting to make small talk. However, when he looked into his eyes and saw theck of faltering that should apany a joke, he realized Apollo truly intended to receive a serious answer!

    Of course, that didn''t mean Fuhrer immediately believed Apollo was capable of doing such a thing, ''No way, how could he possibly achieve something that not even an initial Daemos, let alone a Lesser Demon could aplish. However, if he is truly rted to him, then he should be able to perform miracles if the proper events align themselves. Let me hear what he has to say,'' Fuhrer mused.

    Then, he voiced his feelings on the matter, "If that was truly the case, I would be happy to apany you on your journey to power. However, it''s moreplicated than you know for me to leave this ce. As I have told you, I have sacrificed myself to seal the opening in the void. I am the key to the shroud that covers us demons."

    "I understand, but it doesn''t hurt to try, does it? What else do we have to lose? If we fail, we just find another way to get you out of this ce. If we seed then more power to us," Apollo answered.

    After some thought, Fuhrer agreed as well. Thus, Apollo proceeded forth. When he moved closer to Fuhrer, the prompt from earlier appeared once again. This time, he didn''t leave it alone.

    Due to his actions, another set of prompts appeared.

    ?System Alert! The Demon in question resides at a levelpletely beyond you. If you form a contract with them, there is a chance of them overpowering your mind. Despite the danger, do you still wish to continue? [Y/N]??

    Before answering, Apollo looked at Fuhrer. As he thought about how long this Demon had been sealed here, he didn''t hesitate any longer. Without further dy, he selected Yes. However, something he didn''t expect happened.

    Initially, he thought it failed due to theck of any change. But then, the system generated further information.

    ?System Alert! Due to the fact that you are trying to form a contract with a piece, the parameters of the contract have been changed. Additionally, since it is thergest piece, a normal contract can''t be given. Do you wish to form a Cardinal Daemonic Pact? [Y/N]? ?

    Now, Apollo was stumped. Let alone this new pact, Apollo was barely familiar with a normal contract. Hence, he was stumped. Luckily, it wasn''t the case for long. Coupled with another prompt, Fuhrer looked at Apollo with an obscure gaze.

    ''Why can he enact a Daemonic Pact? That is a pact between two Daemos. Something is amiss. The Monarch must have left him a path to retrace his initial steps. However, his path also seems to be veering slightly whenpared to his. Maybe he intends for him to truly seed him,'' Fuhrer thought.

    "If you wish to form a Daemonic Pact with me, I will dly form it. I will just need to sever my ties with my old friend," Fuhrer voiced without much apprehension. In his eyes, whether Apollo or his old friend, they both held the same significance.

    On the other hand, Apollo raised his hand, "Wait. Don''t do that." First, he epted yes. Then, he waited.

    ?System Alert! The conditions of the Cardinal Daemonic Pact are being determined. E R R O R! There is the presence of a pact on this being already.?

    ?O V E R R I D E!! The terms of the Cardinal Daemonic Pact have been deemed to be identical to the prior one. As a result, the pacts will now be merged into one with you taking ce as the new primary holder.?

    Afterward, a painful process took ce and Fuhrer and Apollo interchanged a piece of their Souls. Additionally, Fuhrer was surprised. Usually, the pact would ask what they would like to use as the grounds for the pact.

    In the past, Fuhrer made his by utilizing his spine. It symbolized his willingness to leave his back to his sworn brother. At the same time, he viewed the Monarch as his backbone. If there was ever a time he couldn''t trust him, then there was not a chance of him trusting another person.

    Moreover, the spine held significance to him as it was an important piece inprehending the Sin of Superbia.

    Once the pain was over, a change took ce to Apollo''s status as well as mind. More importantly, numerous rewards awaiting him as he cleared two objectives at once!

    Contrarily, Fuhrer looked down at himself and felt no difference other than the presence in his mind. For now, they didn''t understand what they should do to learn the effects of what they did. The effects were still being generated by the system since this was a first!

 Chapter 230 - Oceanic Rewards Appear

    ----

    There was no immediate change in the matters concerning Fuhrer, however, Apollo saw things from a very different perspective. As the holder of the system, he was privy to things that the affected people wouldn''t be. Thus, he was immediately presented with numerous messages. First and foremost, he was alerted that he had fulfilled two criteria simultaneously. At the same time, he was even more appalled by the implications that came along just by forming a pact with Fuhrer.??

    In short, they were pleasant!

    ?System Alert! Due to the fact that you have made a pact with a being of utmost loyalty, the creator of the system is shocked by both you and Fuhrer''s actions. As a result, through the interchanging of small internal fragments, your level has been increased significantly.?

    ?Congrattions! You have reached Level 110. A small benchmark has been achieved. All current abilities will achieve a small boon. Subsequently, due to the unchanging loyalty of Fuhrer, even more, requirements have been fulfilled.?

    ?System Alert! The first objective - Achieve the 4th Level of the Demon Monarch System. (1/1) has beenpleted.?

    ?System Alert! Thest objective - Subdue your first Demonic Spirit. (1/1)?

    At first, Apollo this matter would take the longest. Unlike the rest of his quest, when he clicked on thest objective, it gave him further information so that he wouldn''t be required to move in the dark. As a result, he became privy to the fact that subdue meant that his subject needed to possess absolute loyalty towards him.

    In other words, even if he contracted with a Demon, if he failed to overpower their will and make them sumb to him, this objective would still be deemed iplete. After all, the Monarch was one who needs to be irrevocable, there was no chance of betraying the one who was tried and true.

    Fortunately, Apollo came in contact with the piece Fuhrer. All of his worries seemed to vanish. Not only did Fuhrer allow him toplete this task seamlessly, but other more worthwhile benefits also appeared. In light of the fact that Fuhrer''s origin was in truth a Daemos, absorbing a fragment of Fuhrer lead to other matters.

    ?System Alert! Racial Evolution meter has increased to 50%. A foreign aura is subtly melding your damaged vitality. When the aura is exhausted, a substantial amount of Vitality should be returned. Furthermore, all stats have increased by 20% due to the fact you have reached a small threshold.?

    When Apollo looked through the logs and realized that most of the experience came from the pactpletion, he became pensive. ''Outside of killing andpleting tasks, it seems subduing subordinates also grants experience. And, inparison, it is much greater. Even though Fuhrer is a piece, the base experience this act presented eclipses anything I''ve ever seen.

    One had to remember, back when Apollo was attempting to move up to Level 100, it took over 1 million experience to so. One could only imagine what it would take for every level that followed. Since the system had switched to a percentage, Apollo was unable to formte an exact guess.

    Nevertheless, it didn''t matter. He had seeded in a task that presented a slew of benefits. Not to mention, he was still far from done as he looked through it.

    ?System Alert! Since you have achieved the 4th Level of the Demon Monarch System, your authority over the information that resides inside has increased. The two tabs Inheritance Tab and Monthly Draw have been added.?

    Before moving further, Apollo paused and took his time to inspect the information thoroughly. First, he went through the Inheritance Tab. When he did so, he was shocked to find that there were two tabs at the top. One was marked Azridan''s Sessor, the other Descendant. But, the Descendant category was dull and no matter how much he pried into it, he was unable to get it to open.

    After some time, the prompt finally showed before his eyes.

    ?System Alert! Your current authority over the system is too low. If you wish to learn more about this inheritance, then you must achieve at least the 7th Level of the Demon Monarch System. Once you havepleted that task, you will have already touched upon the sole technique of the First Monarch that gave him his name.?

    It wasn''t long after this prompt that Apollo pushed the matters to the back of his mind. In return, he went back to looking over the newly awakened tabs. To summarize what he found, the Inheritance Tab of Azridan''s Sessor acted like more of a shop. It allowed him to "purchase" multiple things at the expense of a newly generated currency of the system.

    As for the currency, it was known as Demonic Achievement Points or DAP for short. Additionally, this currency was not only used for the Inheritance Tab but the Monthly Draw as well. Unlike the rest of the tabs, the Lucky Draw manifested before Apollo when he chose it.

    To proceed with it, he needed to spin a wheel consisting of numerous nk slots. Since it was a mystery, he wouldn''t know what he was to obtain until it came out. However, one thing was for certain, all of the draws came from Azridan''s inheritance pool until Apollo could utilize the other tab.

    As for what was inside the Inheritance Tab, it included but was not limited to numerous Hellish Weapons. Each of them possessed a design that caught Apollo''s eyes. However, when he saw the price tag that came along with them, he was stumped. The highest weapon inside the tab cost well over 600,000 DAP.

    Not to mention, when Apollo hovered over the DAP symbol, it gave him in-depth details on how to receive them. To be frank, it was limited to three actions. Firstly, he could receive a decent number with every small increase in power. Generally, small improvements garnered anywhere from 1 to 10 DAP whereasrge improvements began from 100.

    Additionally, the number would increase as the difficulty to increase heightened as well. At a nce, Apollo found this fair. At least the system wasn''t some fiend that didn''t dish out adequate rpense for difficult tasks.

    Secondly, he could acquire them from deepening his Demonic Conduct. The more demon-like he became meant the more achievements he couldplete. Lastly, there was the option of achieving more within the Lucky Draw.

    On the other hand, besides weapons, there was a collection of techniques of varying levels. One thing that surprised Apollo, however, was theck of Noble Arts. But then, he thought back to how Azridan had already taught him two. Perhaps these were the only ones in his possession. In addition to that, there was guidance on the utilization of certain abilities and even items out of weapons.

    Unfortunately, everything required points awarded bypleting certain tasks and milestones. After skimming through the catalog and finding a few items to work towards, Apollo looked towards Fuhrer as he closed thest of the notifications save for one.

    ?System Alert! Since you have both achieved absolute loyalty with an outside Demon and have also achieved the 4th Level of the Demon Monarch System which initiates theplete extent of the Summoning Tab, another option has presented itself.?

    When Apollo read this message, he realized an item in his possession began to vibrate. ''The Household Creation Medallion? Although Azridan exined bits and pieces, I''m not all too sure what the significance of a household is.

    ?System Alert! Would you like to form a Basic Household with your current Demonic Follower, Erus Fuhrer? [Y/N]??

    While the decision was his to make, Apollo felt his knowledge was far toocking to make an appropriate decision. Thus, he turned to Fuhrer and his ancient wisdom for conference.

    "Fuhrer, I need you to help me. Would you advise me to create a Household right now?" Apollo questioned.

    "That depends, how familiar are you with Household, and do you know the stiptions behind them and what they implicate?" Fuhrer questioned while looking at Apollo. The fact he could talk about Households already had baffled Fuhrer. Typically, Households were for beings of the Archdemon standard or greater.

    "No, I don''t," Apollo responded.

    In return, Fuhrer shook his head, "Then, let me inform you about everything. Once you form a Household, you would be effectively giving your position away to all other Households. The Higher Council will be privy to your existence and they will even announce it throughout the Nihilistic Rings. Is that something you''re prepared for?"

    After deliberating for a moment, Apollo shook his head. It wasn''t smart to make such a big move right now, "Would my identity as Azridan''s sessor be exposed as well?"

    "Correct! Furthermore, until you have at least 10 Demons by your side, I would never consider forming a Household. While I don''t know how much the practices have changed with time, the Demons of ones to go to war with others if there is no order. And, as you can see, theck of a Monarch has once again caused disorder," Fuhrer answered with a solemn expression.

    As Apollo took this in, he formted his answer.

 Chapter 231 - Introduction To The Monarchs Tenebrosity

    ----

    "Then I shall decline the option to do so for now. In the meantime, what do we do?" Apollo questioned while pondering the next step forward. Although he possessed a pact with Fuhrer, there was no way for him to use the ability of the system just yet. Thus, Fuhrer rubbed his chin for a moment.??

    "Well, if you''re asking for my advice, you should be ustomed to the newfound power you have achieved. And, you should do so as soon as possible. The quicker it is done, the faster you can continue to grow. Not to mention, even I am unaware of just how my power has affected you.

    Be that as it may, while the other prompts subsided, one more appeared in their ce. Furthermore, this information was directly rted to something Fuhrer had mentioned to him not too long ago.

    ?System Alert! Since you have rejoined with one of the Monarch''s hidden pieces, a piece of you has been awakened. In 60 seconds, the ability to learn the ?Monarch''s Absolute Tenebrosity? will activate. At that time, the restrictions of a typical Lesser Demon will no longer gue you. However, the abilities you acquire thereafter will be weakened until you reach the proper baseline.?

    When Apollo read this, he wasn''t sure how to react. While it sounded like it was good that he could escape the limitations of a Lesser Demon. It felt as if something was forcing him to acquire strength far too fast. More importantly, from what he understood, acquiring too much demonic power too soon wasn''t a good thing.

    If the vessel wasn''t strong enough to support the sudden increase of power, detrimental effects would ur. Hence, why Azridan always urged Apollo to train his body before anything else. A fragile vessel containing immense power was a recipe for disaster. Should that power ever overwhelm the vessel, it would potentially spell the end for that individual.

    "Fuhrer, are you familiar with the Monarch''s Absolute Tenebrosity?" Apollo asked Fuhrer while looking at the disappearing window before his eyes. In return, Fuhrer was once again shocked by the information that shouldn''t appear at this very moment.

    "I''m very familiar with it. After all, what do you think the Tenebrous Way is? It''s the path the Monarch introduced to both of us, he pioneered this practice. It appears it already time for me to brief you in the ways of the Tenebrous. However, before you can do so, there is a Noble Art that you must learn. If you don''t, the Tenebrous particles will rip your vessel asunder," Fuhrer said.

    Once again, he presented the aura of the Tenebrous Way to Apollo. At the same time, he began to impart vital information, "Alright. Fundamentally, our Tenebrosity is the same. Its purpose is to be used to overlook and always be present. However, the uniqueness lies in the way one is to utilize it.

    "For me, I have weaponized it. But, I can also revert to the typical usage and use this to encase myself in undetectable darkness. Of course, I could also go a step further and veil a world or a ring. This is what the First Monarch did, that was how he was able to disce all of the rings simultaneously. However, as you should know, the power required to do so is immeasurable," Fuhrer informed.

    As a result, Apollo became interested. Based on what Fuhrer was insinuating, the technique seemed to be a technique that the Baleful Steps were derived from. Moreover, it seems this Absolute Tenebrosity wasn''t just limited to usage on himself.

    "But, something seems to be missing. You said that it would require a Noble Art to use right? What''s the basis of that Noble Art?" Apollo questioned while stretching his body to stand up.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer showed him a faint smile, "Have you ever thought about never losing out in battle?"

    "What do you mean by that? Never losing out? Do you mean to never lose in a battle?" Apollo questioned as he failed to understand just what Fuhrer was insinuating.

    "Hmm, allow me to change the question because that isn''t quite right. I think it is more fit to ask it like this, have you ever wanted to learn a way to sustain yourself while still in battle?" Fuhrer asked once again but differently.

    This time, Apollo froze. ''Is he trying to say something about never depleting my Anima Reserves while in battle? But¡­ isn''t that impossible?'' Apollo thought silently. At first, this seemed like a fairy tale. However, when Apollo started to piece things together, he soon realized the story may not be as far-fetched as it seems.

    From the image in his head that taught him Intent, he recalled there was a presence around him that seemed to be always absorbing his surroundings for his own usage. As he thought about this, Apollo then became sure the use of this Noble Art or even a higher level technique was utilized to do so. Furthermore, Apollo also came to learn something.

    "I have a question, have you mastered this technique?" Apollo asked all of a sudden.

    "Hoh? Good question, I haven''t. It is impossible for me to do so. In truth, theplete art is for those who travel the path of Gluttony. Only the former half could be learned as it isn''t autonomous. It requires your Will to overpower your surroundings and draw the resources towards you. But, when you move, the difficulty of doing so increases exponentially. Additionally, every world''s will is of varying strength," Fuhrer answered.

    Apollo nodded as he took in the information. Based on what he had learned, he could infer that all Noble Arts required the sustenance of a Sin. Beyond that, each of them could only be mastered once one acquired the correct Sin. Of course, as Fuhrer said earlier, Noble Art could still be learned without the rted Sin, the essence of the technique would just be impossible to grasp.

    Then again, there were also naturalized Noble Arts. These were techniques that didn''t require anything outside of obscene amounts of Anima and Intent. At first, The Nine Annihtion Technique seemed to be like this, however, when Apollo started to use them more, he realized they used abstract variations of Ira.

    Every technique seemed to be named after something that could take ce amid mindless rage. When one lost all reasoning, there was a chance they couldmit a massacre. On the other hand, if something or someone were to make you angry enough, you would want to separate yourself from it. Ergo, severance.

    "I see. I have another question, would learning this technique influence the next sin that I awaken?" Apollo questioned while looking at Fuhrer.

    "It''s a possibility but if you''re truly who I think you are, once you realize your power, I''m sure you''ll be able to aplish a Complete Sin Awakening. If you aren''t aware of what that is, it is when all 7 Sins are liberated at the same time. It has only happened twice in history, you''ll have to make it happen again," Fuhrer answered.

    In return, Apollo nodded. Then, he was curious, "Two? If the First Monarch was the first, who was the second?"

    In response to this, Fuhrer smiled without an answer. However, the look in his eyes told Apollo that he woulde to know the answerter on. As of right now, it wasn''t of utmost importance. Nevertheless, as they breezed past this matter, Fuhrer prepped Apollo.

    "What I want you to do is learn how to wrap your vessel in your will. Before you can use this Noble Art, you''ll need to learn how to cocoon and protect yourself in Will. As you do so, your body will soon became to subconsciously emit your will without you intending to do this. Once it reaches the height of this ability, you will have touched upon the Noble Art.

    Apollo then started to follow Fuhrer''s directions without hesitation. Unfortunately, as time passed, his enthusiasm dwindled. Let alone wrap himself in his Will, he could even get it to mold into a shape. While it appeared strong enough, it seemed his Tainted Temple wasn''t strong to make this happen. Or, so he thought.

    "You''re rushing. You must remember, the best progress is made when you take the time to digest the instructions given. I didn''t say you need to grasp this all in one go. First, you must im dominance over your bare will. It may seem simple on the surface, but in truth, it means you will need to go to war with yourself," Fuhrer announced while looking at Apollo''s expression grow frustrated.

    After exhaling his vexation with the issue at hand. His mind then focused on the issue at hand. Slowly but surely, the will seeped out of Apollo. At the same time, a ckish-blue aura activated as well. Fragments of the Monarch''s Absolute Tenebrosity appeared on Apollo that tempered his mind.

    As Fuhrer said earlier, before Apollo could aplish anything great, his vessel needed to be strong. To summarize, the state of a demon just indicated how much strength their vessel could contain. In other words, Fuhrer wished for Apollo to break out of the Lesser Demon standard as soon as possible.

    Unlike Apollo, he wasn''t aware that Apollo could shatter some of his current limitations. Thus, when the Tenebrosity appeared without the absorption ability, Fuhrer was pleasantly surprised.

 Chapter 232 - Confrontation With The World

    ----

    "It seems that the Monarch''s Absolute Tenebrosity is posing to be difficult for you isn''t it? Furthermore, it appears your time in Ashiraem is exhausting quickly. Before, it didn''t seem like it, but now that I look at you closely, it seems that your connection is waning," Fuhrer stated while watching Apollo fail to grasp the Tenebrosity any further.??

    On the other hand, Apollo also felt the same thing Fuhrer was speaking about. He could feel his connection with Ashiraem slipping away. Before he tried to learn this technique, his connection was vibrant. Now, that couldn''t be said. Not only was it bing harder to grasp this technique.

    The residual Ira in the atmosphere was bing harder to sense as well. With each passing hour, the feat grew in difficulty. However, even if he was to be ejected at this very moment, Apollo was happy with what he gained from this visit. On top of reaching Level 110, he alsopleted two of his grand objectives. Additionally, he was now connected to one of the strongest demons in history.

    If he had to sum up this trip, there was only one word, eventful. Nevertheless, Apollo still continued to try and get as much done as possible. However, when his progress in the technique stagnated, Apollo frowned. Fortunately, Fuhrer understood what Apollo was facing at the moment and chuckled.

    "Although you have grasped part of it, it seems that you''ll be unable to continue any further than this," Fuhrer stated before approaching Apollo. As he raised finger to Apollo''s forehead, a ck light shimmered on it.

    "This technique exists to serve as an empowering bnce. In truth, you don''t possess it. Anima feeds Sin, so that can''t be counted as two different powers. They are one and the same. In other words, the technique you''re using right now is the make Sin interact with each other and bind. However, since Ira is your sole Sin at the moment, you''re unable to bring at the true ability of this technique.

    "When you return to your world, make it your mission to find a way to stimte another sin. If you need to, I suggest youmit demonic atrocities. The purer the Anima you create, the faster you will turn into a Greater Demon. However, in your pursuit of power, don''t let your other technique suffer in the process," Fuhrer stated.

    Thus, from that point on, Apollo ceased training in the tenebrous technique and started to settle down with simpler matters. First, he started to train his Anima reserves ceaselessly. When his internal system became too sensitive from the increased influx of energy, Apollo took a break.

    Then, Apollo switched to training his Baleful Steps and Annihtions in the meantime. Each of his techniques began to slowly increase in mastery. Soon enough, the ambient particles were unaffected by the activation of his Umbra Phantom Mantle. Furthermore, he was able to sustain the mantle longer than he could initially.

    Unfortunately, the strain on his body was still very great. To ovee that, he''d need to possess the vessel required to counter the strenuous flow of energy. Fortunately, the stringent requirements of his advancements were slowly dwindling. Meanwhile, Fuhrer crossed his arms silently.

    ''His body should be at least 60% of the way to bing a Greater Demon, however, his mind seems to be in an obscure state. While demonic, it isn''t demonic enough. It seems he hasn''t corrupted nor has hemitted a massacre. Both of these are tworge practices of a Demon. I won''t urge him to do so, as he also needs his own reason to perform these actions,'' Fuhrer mused while ncing at Apollo''s staggering steps.

    "That''s enough. No more training, if you continue to do so, you''ll overload your body. In the meantime, let me disclose to you some important matters. For example, I suggest you take a breather and start to dissect your techniques. Find the perfectbination for yourself. After all, every demon isn''t one and the same," Fuhrer stated before unsheathing his sword.

    While holding the hilt, he raised it between them. "In my case, you see that my two powers are Superbia and Ira. However, I also want you to understand that my leading Sin is Ira. My Superbia only exacerbates my Ira. Something you must understand is that all Sin can possess a rtionship. However, the strongestbinationes from the vtile rejection of opposites," Fuhrer disclosed while the two colored energies twisted around his de.

    Silently, Apollo listened to the lesson as he once again witnessed Fuhrer''s disy. Numerous thoughts circted through his mind as he watched. Firstly, a question came to mind.

    "Can any and every Sin blend together?" Apollo questioned.

    "It''s possible, however, you must also know that there is a possibility of Sin Corruption. If the resulting power is stronger than either your mind or body can handle, then the Sin itself may take over. I''m not sure what your Trial of Rage was like, but I''m sure you at least had a small run-in with Ira, correct?" Fuhrer asked.

    In response, Apollo nodded. In fact, a run-in would be an understatement in Apollo''s case. Not only did Ira almost take overpletely, most of its rampant energy nearly destroyed Apollo''s internal system. Just thinking about it made Apollo frown due to his weakness.

    Since his mind was more mature than it used to be, he realized that most of this was due to the weakness in his mind. Luckily, the Comprehension and Willpower stats also seemed to double as mind fortification. If these stats continued to increase at the same pace, then sometime in the future, he would approach the prerequisites needed to easily push aside the temptations of the sins.

    "Yes, I have. I''m aware of the consciousness that the Sin all possess. I''m guessing from this point on, it will only get harder, right? ording to Azridan, the power the Sin can utilize is atpletely different levels during our future trials, right?

    "Correct, but for you, it may be worse!" Fuhrer immediately responded. While his words perplexed Apollo, he then exined exactly what he meant, "Do you recall the Complete Sin Awakening I mentioned?"

    "Yeah," Apollo answered but his mind started to connect the dots as he froze, "I...will have to deal with all the Sin simultaneously, won''t I?"

    "It is a definite possibility. This is especially so if you do, in fact, stimte that awakening. But, don''t fret. We Daemos have a few special abilities, when the timees, I''ll at least be able to guide you in the ways of Superbia and Ira," Fuhrer answered.

    In response, Apollo nodded. Due to the time they spent together, Apollo had already started to foster a sense of deep trust with Fuhrer. While most of it came from this eerily familiar aura, Apollo''s current mind also found Fuhrer nothing but trustworthy.

    All of a sudden, Apollo felt a ripple leave his body. Not far away from him, the small-scale doorway presented itself. It appeared his time hade to an end here. But, before he left, something odd happened.

    Fuhrer''s vibrant eyes dulled and so did Apollo. A small chain of events took Apollo as they soon regained consciousness momentster. However, when they did so, they both understood that something was amiss with their mind.

    As a result, Apollo immediately checked his status.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.4

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [57.15%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 14

    Level: 110

    Experience: 10.00%

    Health: 94%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 5,650 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 9 Zul Warrior

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 7 Spirit Apprentice

    Meridians: Saint-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 15,000

    Oz: 520

    Strength: 600.0

    Agility: 500.0

    Intelligence: 520.0

    Vitality: 400.0

    Comprehension: 52.0

    Willpower: 52.0

    [?Traits?]- 5

    ?Pure Demonic Conversion?

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 7

    ?Umbra''s Embrace?

    ?Iplete Sin Armament? 1/3

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 9: Darkness

    Level 7: Fire, Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?]

    [Daemonic Avatar] Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master.

    [Greater Demon] [Requires 5,000 units of Demonic Anima to summon.]

    ------------

    [?Interdimensional Inventory?][?Inheritance?] [?Lucky Draw?]

    Stat Points: 0

    Immediately, Apollo''s eyes widened. This summoning tab had Fuhrer''s name in it! Furthermore, there was a connection between them now along with a requirement to summon him. As long as he possessed enough Demonic Anima, he would be able to summon him.

    But, the consumption of his resources was also rather high. But, that was to be expected. After all, Fuhrer''s parameters went far beyond Apollo. After this happened, the gate once again sucked Apollo inside.

    At first, things went normally, but when Apollonded inside Astarat, something was wrong. To put it in simple terms, it felt as if numerous eyes were watching him. He frowned as he looked around failing to sense anything.

    Then, he realized something and looked up.

    "So that''s what it is," Apollo frowned while gazing up. Now that his mind was stronger due to his earlier actions, he could sense a few things others couldn''t. For example, there was a grand will bearing down on him at the moment!

 Chapter 233 - Clash Against Astarats Will

    ----

    Now that his Willpower was over 50 as well as his Comprehension, Apollo could faintly sense the minutely active wills apparent on Astarat. Moreover, he could sense one overarching aura in particr. As he looked at it, he frowned. This was because its power seemed to be coagting towards him, and it was getting faster by the instant. ??

    If his guess was correct, then the world was able to sense a change in him. Furthermore, it could be possible that the stronger he became, the faster the world itself would notice him. If this was the truth, then he needed to acquire strength much faster than he previously believed.

    ording to the words of his Instructors, the world itself enacted a sort of restriction on everything outside of human powers. In his case, he was a Demon. He wasn''t human, so there was arge chance of him experiencing that same treatment. However, unlike the rest, there was something different with Apollo.

    He wasn''t like the Spirits who came here willingly to learn about other ces and refine their powers through odd means. No, he wasn''t a human who was traversing the path of his fate.

    At the same time, Ouroboros lifted his head and hissed, "Master, a nasty animal seems to be looking at us. I want to eat them, let me swallow them whole! They are stupid to move against us with hostility."

    In response, Apollo turned towards him with a hint of surprise in his eyes. After absorbing copious amounts of Crystallized Chaos, it seemed that even Ouroboros'' behavior started to change. While it wasn''t drastic, Apollo could sense a tyrannic will to threaten to swallow being birthed in Ouroboros'' mind.

    Although it was strong, Apollo ced his hand on Ouroboros'' head and advised against making a move, "Our Wills might be growing, but our physical strength is inadequate. This isn''t our ce to go against. Instead, we''ll have another fight this battle for us," Apollo stated.

    Shortly after, nearly all of the Pure Demonic Anima in his body began to seethe as he stimted it. A set of information appeared in his mind that prompted him to perform a demonic chant. Behind his body, a dark portal opened up slowly. Fractures in space appeared around the thread-like opening of the portal.

    From inside, one heavily armored foot stepped outside. However, when it did so, Apollo could immediately spot a difference. ''So that''s why this is called a Daemonic Avatar at the moment.'' On top of the ring differences, the system presented a set of information as well that further cemented Apollo''s beliefs.

    ?System Alert! As of right now, you possess a Level 4 Authority. If you increase the Demon Monarch System''s authority to at least Level 8, you will be able to summon this demonpletely. As of right now, only a Daemonic Avatar can be summoned. Besides the innate feeling, the Avatar possesses all forms ofbat the original does. However, an Avatar holds an ability the original doesn''t.?

    ''Interesting,'' Apollo thought to himself. If he had to put the sensation into words, then it felt as if this Fuhrer was rather incorporeal. Despite the nearly identical feeling, Apollo could immediately tell something was wrong. The issue was the weapon at his side.

    At this moment, the system was incapable of conjuring a copy of that weapon. After all, like the weapon on Apollo''s hands, the secondary sword Fuhrer wielded was known as Byrnhildr, another Forsaken Weapon. Every weapon of that level possessed an illustrious history that contained mind-boggling secrets.

    Once Fuhrer appeared, he silently nced around. Almost instantly, his face filled with disgust, "So this is why your progress is slow! It''s just as I assumed, this is a world meant to simply temper your mindstate. In the past, it was inadequate, but now, it is much more fitting of a true Demon."

    When Apollo heard the end of Fuhrer''s words, Apollo''s ears perked up. The way Fuhrer worded his sentence, it seemed as if he possessed a history with Apollo. Yet, Apollo wasn''t aware of this in the slightest.

    As he saw the look on his face, Fuhrer nodded towards Apollo, "When you remember your true name, that is when you remember everything. In the meantime, since we are here, we have much to aplish. First and foremost, I will deal with this insignificant being who is currently invading your privacy," Fuhrer announced before cing his hand on the sword at his waist.

    An instantter, a monstrous will appeared from Fuhrer. However, Apollo soon widened his eye. Fuhrer''s actions were causing a bigmotion! Not only was he ceaselessly devouring the Essence within a 10km radius, but Apollo was also starting to feel faint.

    ?System Alert! The ambient Natural and Spiritual Essence is being devoured faster than it can be supplied. As a result, there is nothing for your body to draw energy from as you keep the link with Fuhrer active. It advised that you begin to absorb refined Anima sources.?

    Once the prompt appeared, the information surrounding Fuhrer updated as well. At a nce, the consumption rate was determined. Apparently, there wasn''t a singr consumption rate. It was based on the actions that Fuhrermitted. For example, if he was idle, the consumption fell to a bare minimum.

    [Daemonic Avatar]

    Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master.

    State: [Greater Demon]

    Summoning Requirements:

    [Gateway] - 5,000 units of Pure Demonic Anima.

    Consumption:

    [Idle]: 100 units of Pure Demonic Anima and 50 units of Oz.

    [Active]: 500 units of Pure Demonic Anima and 150 units of Oz.

    ???: ???

    On the other hand, themotion Fuhrer was causing was soon garnered the attention of multiple people. In fact, the ones to sense it immediately were the higher-ups who possessed Spirits of their own. During every summoning, Astarat''s will intervened to determine how much of a restriction needed to be ced on a Spirit.

    But, there were also certain instances where overbearing Spirits resisted and attacked the will itself. This led to a sh of wills. However, some spirits who weren''t very skilled in the ways of will usually lost out against an entire. Even though they originated from an upper world, what they went against was a world, not an individual.

    Not to mention, Astarat was an anomaly. Unlike other lower worlds, it possessed numerous protectors and even an Empyrean Guardian, the Empyrean Dragon.

    "I will be back," Fuhrer stated before disappearing from the room. Subsequently, Apollo sat down and began devouring Anima Crystal after Anima Crystal. Until now, he wasn''t entirely sure what Oz was. But now he knew that it was the measurement of the energy residing within the Temple.

    Since he had no skills or techniques that required the usage of this resource, he left it alone. But, as long as Fuhrer was active, his mind felt like it was waning. This was especially true now that Fuhrer was venturing to who knows where. Nevertheless, this was something he needed to learn about regardless.

    If he was to summon ample Demons, then he needed to know the ins and outs of all the requirements.

    Meanwhile, as Apollo kept the link intact, Fuhrer arrived high above in the sky standing before what seemed to be nothing. However, with an imposing stance, he bellowed, "Show yourself."

    At first, there was ack of response. But then, there was a small ripple that many wouldn''t be able to perceive. The silhouette of a woman appeared with verdant green hair and vibrant eyes. Furthermore, her mature shape was enough to enrapture anyone who saw her caramel skin.

    "Are you the foreign being that has appeared on me?" the woman asked.

    In response, Fuhrer grunted, "Don''t act as if you''re an actual person. I have conquered many worlds, I know what the will of the world is. You merely take on the most pleasing form so that all those you meet will submit. Unfortunately, you havee in contact with an ancient one. Either refrain from restricting my liege or I will kill you," Fuhrer threatened with a domineering attitude.

    Of course, the woman didn''t take kindly to his attitude nor did she believe him. After all, there were great implications that came with destroying a world''s will. Additionally, she was adamant in her standing, "It doesn''t matter how you threaten me. You will ept my restriction. Whether it be through force or your own ords, if you wish to stay in my, Astaraya''s world, then you will submit."

    "Hoh? Then make me. I''d like to witness the grandeur of the one who makes such grand ims," Fuhrer chided while unsheathing his aura. At the same time, his aura grew terrible.

    "Y-you¡­ you''re a Demon!" Astaraya screeched while looking at his aura.

    "Correct, all Wills should be privy to every species due to the Verse Link. Now tell me, do I need to strike you down or will you oblige?" Fuhrer asked while taking a single step forward. But, that step caused Astarat''s surface to shake.

    "You jest! If you kill a world''s will, then it''ll be subject to destruction shortly after!" Astaraya eximed.

    "Hoh? I''m more than aware. But, we both know there are temporary fixes, if strong enough. In my case, I''ll simply sacrifice a portion of my Will to uphold the matters you began. My patience is running thin, make your decision," Fuhrer stated.

    Soon, the atmosphere grew stale and quiet. If he didn''t receive his answer soon, it was evident that Fuhrer would strike from his posture. Not only was his aura pushed to its peak, but it also seemed like he was prepared to attack with a strike he had yet to show Apollo.

 Chapter 234 - Garnering Attention From All Corners

    ----

    "This is preposterous! How can you be so hostile towards a world''s will? It doesn''t matter if you aren''t an inhabitant of this ce. Any foul y and there is a chance that the ce they all live in will be eradicated. Is that something that sits right with you?" Astraya shrieked while looking at the destructive change in Fuhrer''s aura.??

    She could tell at a nce that he didn''t mind following through with his threat. Furthermore, she wasn''t exactly sure of his strength. The more he appeared, his body rejected her origin scan to determine his level. Thus, she retired to reasoning with him.

    Unfortunately, she underestimated the ruthlessness of a demon who had seen ample mes of war and countless sights of death. He was inured to the thought of witnessing even more. This was especially true when it came to the fact that it was a race he had zero attachment towards.

    "Do you believe the eradication of this means anything to me? In fact, I wee this, maybe if that were to happen, I could take my liege from this dreary," Fuhrer said. Afterward, he raised the tip of his sword to Astaraya''s nose causing a short aura to prick.

    "Now, make your decision. Will you hinder my liege or will you ept my demands," Fuhrer questioned with an unmoving aura epassing the both of them. Due to his actions, the atmosphere of all of Astraya underwent a change.

    Not just the environment of the Vermillion Night Academy, even Pangea Ind was affected by the ripple of true destruction that Fuhrer emitted, "While my liege may be unable to perform certain actions, your restrictions can''t exist on me. At best, you''re at my level, at worst, even in my current state I am stronger than you."

    At first, Astraya wanted to give in but then she presented a radiant smile. "That may be true, but as you know, the Will of a Lower isn''t the true line of defense. Thank you for arriving at the perfect time, Ragna!"

    From behind Astraya, a middle-aged man donned in golden armors with ck etching in the form of scales appeared. As he walked between the two, his eyes remained locked on Fuhrer. Quietly, he inspected Fuhrer''s strength to discern whether or not a battle could take ce.

    But, under Astraya''s reassurance, he simply nodded, "If you can truly contain the aftershock of our battle, then I don''t mind dealing with the issue that has risen before you. However, as a cost, you''ll have to supply me with adequate source energy of Astarat. Although it may damage the, it is nothing inparison to what this individual seeks," Ragna said before holding his hand out before him.

    Slowly, a ck greatsword with a golden line and insignia flowing through it manifested in front of his hand. Compared to Fuhrer''s sword, it was at least twice as big. However, what everyone didn''t know was that Brynhildr''s image changed based upon the strengths of its wielder.

    Since Fuhrer was skilled in matters rting to longswords, that was the image it took on. In the meantime, Fuhrer scoffed, "Repugnant. Youe to the immediate defense of this repulsive false image of a woman. The destruction of this world doesn''t implicate you in the slightest. It is just a sense of superiority that incites you to move."

    In response, Ragna chuckled. "It may not implicate me, but my master has given me strict orders. At the sign of the prophecying true, I am to intervene to quell the matter from arising. To me, it seems as if you''re the bridge that allows this to happen. Hence, I must deal with you both efficiently and ordingly."

    After saying this, Ragna made his move. With a flick of his shoulder, an explosive sh hurtled toward Fuhrer that caused his gaze to sharpen. Before responding, he looked back at the position of Apollo. He sent him a mental message to exhaust as many Anima Crystals as his body could withstand.

    In the meantime, he finally made his move. With a violent step, he kicked the air causing numerous dark voids in space. Unlike when he trained Apollo, he wasn''t holding back. A portion of his true strength was being revealed. If he sought to overwhelm the guardian of the world, he had to utilize techniques that would increase the strain on Apollo''s body.

    Once again, the limitation of his subordinates was a direct reflection of the Monarch. This was why the Monarch was supposed to be an individual whose power was boundless. All of his subjects were to draw power from him in dire times and vice versa.

    Sadly, in his current state, Apollo was severelycking. This was no way he could sustain that type of mutual bond. Thankfully, the Daemonic Avatar of Fuhrer also possessed its own power source. The only issue with utilizing it was that took extremely pure quantities of Demonic Anima to refill.

    Still, Fuhrer decided it wasn''t the time to dwell on such matters. As long as he could thwart this issue from the first sh, then it was worth it. He would simply have to find a way for Apollo to obtain even more Anima Crystals.

    As their two weapons collided, both Ragna and Fuhrer were forced back a few steps. Simultaneously, they shook off the aftereffect of their collision before once again storm in for another set of strikes. This time, neither of them retreated from the blows as their sword struck together faster than could be perceived.

    "If you didn''t move at the whim of this insignificant world, you would make a worthwhile subordinate. It is truly a shame for such strength to be wasted," Fuhrer chortled before encasing his sword in the aura of a Demonic Massacre Wave.

    Unlike when he fought Apollo, he never released it. On the contrary, he let it infuse into the copy of Brynhildr and empower each of his strikes. Slowly, he started to push back Ragna with each subsequent strike.

    Then, a change took ce. Two horns appeared on Ragna''s forehead as hisbat ability bolstered to new heights. Immediately, he retaliated with a powerful attempting to knock away Fuhrer. However, before he could so, Fuhrer finally released a perfected Demonic Massacre Wave.

    The two attacks neutralized each other as Fuhrer gazed silently at Ragna while the smoke clear. Simr to Ragna, two dark horns started to protrude from Fuhrer''s forehead. Unlike Apollo, Fuhrer had no qualms with exposing his demonic form.

    But, then again, their presence couldn''t be sensed as Astaraya was currently concealing this battle to the best of her ability. Be that as it may, after each collision, her skin paled a shade further. It was clear that she was approaching her limit.

    In truth, she didn''t expect these two to possess such monstrous fight ability. If she left them alone to fight to their heart''s content, then she was sure the integrity of Astarat would be at risk.

    This thought was further exacerbated when she witnessed Fuhrer start to utilize Nether Severance. Any area that the strike touched seemed to turn into a void. As a result, a small portion of the ripple of their battle escaped from Astaraya''s grasp.

    Her eyes widened as she tried to reim it before itpletely eluded her. Unfortunately, the collision of their aurae was too vtile for her. It traveled much quicker than she could influence, ''These two...this isn''t going anywhere!''

    To quell Fuhrer''s strike, Ragna executed a golden sh to seem to even cripple the heavens above. Slowly but surely, the void that Fuhrer''s strike created returned to normal. Be that as it may, the damage was already done.

    The destructiveness present in Fuhrer''s aura and the omnipotence inside Ragna''s ran amok on the surface of Astarat.

    ----

    Inside the Catastrophe Line,

    A male with a dignified appearance withdrew his spear from the body of a dark green towering being as he raised his head, "Isn''t this the aura of the Guardian? Who is he fighting against to make him utilize this much strength? There must be an unruly Spirit who has decided against the restriction.

    "Hoh? Wait a minute, there''s another aura of equal magnitude but it feels deadly. This certainly isn''t the strength a Heroic Spirit should have. Is it a Legendary Spirit? But what youth has the potential to attract a Legendary Spirit to this ne?" the man questioned.

    While he talked to himself, simr scenes took ce all over Astarat. In fact, a gorgeousdy appeared before the man without any prior signs, "Suren, did you feel that?"

    "I did. Those auras appear to be stronger than even my Spirit," Suren muttered before ncing in the distance at a colossal figure ying those same beings with ease. The spear it held shimmered with valiance as it slew them and prey upon their essence.

    "It seems Ascalon is bing even stronger," the woman uttered before ncing at the origin of the ripple.

    Suren agreed as he soon looked at the same spot, "Tell me, Valeria, who do you think is strong enough to attract this kind of spirit? Or rather, whose mind can handle a burden like that?"

    Despite ample deliberation, neither of them coulde to an answer. As of right now, these two from the Dongguang and Crux were unaware of the implications surrounding this fight.

 Chapter 235 - The Unraveling Of The Omen Begins

    ----

    Inside the Administration Hall of the Vermillion Night Academy, ??

    "Headmaster, headmaster!" Robyn eximed while bursting through the doors of Geneva''s personal quarters. Under normal circumstances, the old man would have already been reprimanded. However, when she recalled that obscure that passed through the area just moments before, she allowed him to continue with his actions. After all, there was an extremelyrge chance that his behavior had something to do with it.

    "What is it, Robyn?" Geneva questioned while lifting her head. Despite the sensation behind that ripple, Geneva didn''t pay much attention to it. Due to the minuscule intensity, she chalked it up to being the byproduct of some minor sh between the world and a spirit.

    Typically, this was an event that no one got involved with. If they did, there was a chance that they would face a bacsh in addition to an even worse restriction on their Spirit. Hence, this was a gamble no one was willing to take. Be that as it may, the information Robyn disclosed next made Geneva frown.

    "This situation is devolving and it is doing so far too fast! I''m not sure what the cause due to myck of investigation, but I am sure it was more important to alert you of my findings!" Robyn eximed. He then performed hand gestures before poking the air and gliding his fingers outwards.

    Due to his actions, a screen made from essence appeared before Geneva. It then ryed to her the events that took ce inside the spiritual mines connected to Astarat''s Spiritual Veins. During the time that Astarat''s will was active, the area of the Spiritual Veins was always unstable.

    This was due to the absence of Astaraya''s control over them. Without her in ce, the integrity of the veins continued to falter. This was another reason that she seldom appeared and only did so when there was an appearance of a new Spirit. Especially one that possessed monstrous potential and/or strength.

    "The decay you warned me of...it has hastened," Geneva voiced as she watched the images on the screen in real-time. Compared to before when he posed the issue in the presence of Apollo, the situation became exponentially worse. At first, it was no more than a meager 0.5% that experienced corruption.

    However, the current situation showed that the corruption value had skyrocketed to as much as 4%. Another thing to note was that the previous corruption was over the course of more than one month, whereas the current value was achieved in less time.

    As Geneva became privy to this information, her expression became grim, "If the corruption continues at this pace...without a doubt, we''re en route for a catastrophe. This may even call for an emergency council. Besides me, I''m sure the other headmasters are aware of the situation as well."

    "I believe so as well. Furthermore, the increased speed makes me conclude that something worse than a Disaster-Grade Terror will be born. Perhaps, we may even catch sight of something that brings the end of us all as we know it," Robyn responded with an even grimmer tone. His current outlook on the situation was bleak.

    On the other hand, Geneva thought differently, "No, something must be causing this. If it were the terror''s that we should be worried about, we would have received reports of increased activity at the Catastrophe Line ages ago. Theck of a warning means that the situation there is still manageable," she said.

    Regardless of how dire Robyn felt the matter was, Geneva was confident in her intuition. The Terror''s couldn''t be the only source of this anomaly, something much stronger, much more terrible had to be the root cause of this incident.

    Thus, she leaned forward on her hands and pondered the situation, ''What is differentpared to all of the other years? Unlike the rest, there is a potential Supreme Child. At the same time, a Supreme Child hasn''t been seen since the first invasion of the Terrors. Moreover, this Supreme Child is odd. ording to the information I''ve gathered, a record of the techniques he uses can''t be found on this nt. Like Irauk, his origins are questionable.''

    ''Then again, his family is also his alibi. They have sworn that he was born by two humans of this world, then why do I feel this unsettling feeling? Even if I wish to investigate him, where would I begin and what would I investigate?'' Geneva thought silently while looking in the direction of the ripple''s origin.

    As she watched, her eyes widened. An even stronger ripple was hurtling right towards her. This time, she had to actively defend the academy by utilizing some of her aura that hadn''t been touched in numerous years. By the time the ripple passed her position, her countenance had already paled.

    "There...is something wrong. These ripples, I''ve felt this feeling before. Don''t tell that boy...did he seed in summoning a Spirit? What type of Spirit is this?" Geneva muttered while using the desk to brace herself.

    Conversely, Robyn''s jaw dropped. "That''s the SOURCE! THIS IS IT! I know where the corruption ising from, this energy carries the same signature as the corruption, it is just many times worse! Now that we know the issue, we need to deal with it with haste!"

    Unfortunately, his enthusiasm died down. Another ripple bombarded them and this time, it was up to Robyn to do something. Without hesitation, he activated a portion of the Academy''s defensive formation.

    To resist the aftershock of Ragna and Fuhrer''s fight, nearly 10% of the formation reserves were depleted.

    Left with no other choice, Geneva left her position, "Although it is ill-advised, I have to go witness what is happening. If anything is to happen, I''ll allow you to invoke your Vice-Headmaster position, Robyn. In the meantime, cate any discord that may arise from the continuous raucous caused by the fluctuations."

    Robyn agreed to her instruction while watching 2 dark violet wings of feathery mes appear on her back. With one me, she shot out the window behind her at lightning-quick speeds.

    ----

    At the same time, on the Catastrophe Line,

    Both Suren and Valerie''s eyes widened as they watched an odd scene unfold before their very eyes. Until now, there was never a point where they found countless Terrors roaring in unison. The soundwave from their roars melded as one as they seemed to be focused on one thing¡ªthe ripples that apanied Fuhrer and Ragna''s battle.

    Unlike the rest who resisted the ripple, the Terrors weed it. The ripple attuned with their roars as they absorbed the residual energy it carried. However, some absorbed far too much and exploded on the spot. Luckily, they were beings that possessed intelligence as well.

    When they felt they had reached their limit, one by one they ceased their roars. But, the benefits that came from their actions were already solidified. Nearly all of the Terrors present at the Catastrophe Line received a boon to their strength.

    It was so much so that Suren witnessed as his spear-wielding Spirit, Ascalon, stated to disy difficulty coping with the situation. It had to be known, as of right now, his Spirit was a bonafide Heroic Spirit. Typically, he didn''t have an issue battling against a hundred opponents at once.

    Yet, just the 10 Terrors he was currently dealing with seemed to be enough to now fight him to a standstill where neither side experienced an upper-hand.

    "Something is amiss, why are the Terror growing stronger out of nowhere. Furthermore, their deathly aura is solidifying," Valerie muttered with a small frown. She raised her staff and chanted a spiritual piece that caused two light rays to fall upon both Suren and Ascalon.

    As a result, their following attacks grew stronger. Being as she was the strongest support to ever be birthed from the Crux until Odessa, her supportive abilities were top-notch. For a set period of time, she was able to ceaselessly bolster one''s battle power. On the flip side, her power caused a great burden on the person she focused on.

    This was especially true if their Body Cultivation wasn''t up to par. However, being the Golden Child of the Dongguang, doubt in Suren''s cultivation was something that didn''t exist. In fact, his potential was so great that for one period in time, the people thought him to be a Paragon hidden by the Dongguang.

    Although it was never disproved, the fact that he didn''t use any of his time to familiarize himself with other powers, they stopped pursuing the matter. A Paragon who didn''t form ties to exploit their power was useless in their eyes.

    "Something is amiss, and we need to understand the intricacies of the issue," Valerie stated while standing next to Suren with her hand on his back.

 Chapter 236 - Wolf Hidden Amongst Sheep

    ----

    With Valerie''s help, they once again started to ughter the Terror. But, they also kept in mind the fact that they needed to alert the others about this situation. If there was an existence on this that could now empower them, then that was a matter they needed to treat with the utmost importance.??

    Furthermore, it would call for a time of unity. Amongst the three Supreme Families, the Dongguang was the most detached from the rest. Since they pride themselves on individual strength, they always sought to aplish any endeavor they participated in by themselves.

    On the other hand, he possessed a very good rtionship with the other Supreme Families unlike the rest of his family. Due to Zarel''s actions, he understood the importance of foresight. His family was blind to solely rely on themselves. There woulde a time where their individual strength would prove insufficient.

    Soon enough, the Terrors in their area had all fallen. As a result, Suren recalled Ascalon. Although he was interested in matters pertaining to these obscene ripples, the origin he perceived was too far to travel to. The only way to get to Pangea Ind was through transportation circles and flying.

    But, he had yet to reach the level of flight and the current area was void of transportation circles. Not to mention, there was none located nearby in case the Terror''s invasion ever exacerbated to new heights where control was something impossible to achieve.

    ----

    Meanwhile, the battle between Ragna and Fuhrer reached its peak. Both of them looked at each other with small smirks. This was the first time Fuhrer since he confined himself to the cave that he experienced a worthwhile battle. Unfortunately, he couldn''t enjoy it any longer.

    In addition to the fact that he knew his actions were garnering far too much attention, Apollo''s body was finding it difficult to deal with the constant expenditure of Fuhrer''s actions. Thus, Fuhrer immediately did something.

    "Sin Shroud: Wrath''s nket!" Fuhrer uttered. The entire area was then encapsted, allowing none of the other ripples to bypass his sealing. However, he was far from done as he took matters a step further.

    "It isn''t the time to y games with you any longer. While the fact that your strength surpasses this world ismendable, I have more important matters to attend to. Since you don''t want to conform to my ideals, I will force you to do so. A Daemos is unquestioned in their demands," Fuhrer uttered.

    Afterward, the atmosphere around him began to bubble. At the same time, he took on hisplete demonic form adorned in obsidian armor that leaked death. But, there was also a difference about him, an unshakeable pride appeared in his eyes.

    "Mastered Superbia: Juggernaut''s Pressure!"

    Boom!

    A torrential pressure poured from Fuhrer''s body that rendered both Astraya and Ragna immobile. All they could do was marvel at the grand posture Fuhrer took as he walked towards them. At first, he thought about simply killing them but then he assessed the situation rationally.

    ''That boy was put here for a reason. If I intervene too much, it''ll hinder his purpose. Very well, I''ll simply punish them for their disrespect,'' Fuhrer inwardly thought while lifting his sword.

    First, his pressure split in half, then with two shes, each half of the pressure assaulted Astraya and Ragna respectively. When he withdrew the pressure, each of them bore a haggard appearance.

    "This is your punishment for intervening. Now, make yourself sparse before I change my mind," Fuhrer voiced before sheathing his de at his hip. Despite his words hinting at him letting them go, Astraya still held a troubled expression.

    Before she could speak, Ragna grabbed her arm and shook his head, "He is stronger than me, he is an opponent I can''t handle. What is to happen will happen. It is not our fault, the omen is already underway. The master foretold this inevitable event."

    In response, Astraya nodded and cut her losses. Along with Ragna, she disappeared. But, the moment they disappeared, Fuhrer retracted his pressure, ''Any longer and thatd would have fainted. I''m sure the bacsh of me activating a mastered Sin should have presented a sudden shock. Fortunately, I can do this.''

    Fuhrer spread out his hand and absorbed all remnant auras from the world. This rang true even for the fragments of his aura in the carcasses of the in Terrors. Whatever energy that wasn''t pulverized, she used the reverse function to channel adequate energy back to Apollo through their connection.

    "Hooo, that should be enough. Also, I should move," Fuhrer muttered before vanishing from the area. Not long after he left, Geneva arrived. As she looked around, she frowned. The area had been wiped clean of all signs of battle. It was like an expert in cleaning up had taken care of the situation.

    "Forget tracking, I can''t even tell how many people were involved in the sh. Whoever or whatever hase to this world, it is an understatement to call it an issue," Geneva sighed before turning around to head back towards the campus grounds.

    To get here, she had to go through special channels and arrive at an independent space residing just outside of the guarded space of the Vermillion Night Academy. Now that her efforts turned out to be useless, it wouldn''t be a lie to say that she wasn''t worried.

    With all these anomalies taking ce, the future was starting to look as if it was going to be full of events. Whether it be good or bad, that all depended on how they deal with the situations that arise.

    Several momentster, Fuhrer arrived before the seated Apollo. Since he returned arge portion of the utilized energy, Apollo''s state wasn''t as bad as he expected. The moment he arrived before him, Apollo opened his eyes.

    "Did you just go against the world? I could sense the turmoil of the atmosphere," Apollo asked while looking at Fuhrer.

    In return, Fuhrer''s eyebrow rose, ''Hoh? Thisd''s will is growing stronger without pause. To sense the turmoil from that distance, it''d require aplete elementary grasp.''

    On the other hand, Fuhrer nodded, "Indeed. The restriction that exists on others does afflict us. However, this is something that I want to warn you of. If you don''t move cautiously, this fact will be exposed. Furthermore, always keep enough Anima within your body to have my Daemonic Avatar active."

    "I''m guessing the world will attempt to target in retaliation for your actions?"

    "Correct and based on their current levels, you''ll be incapable of handling. Thus, until you can do so, I''ll thwart anything they intend to throw at you. However, if I estimate it within your capabilities, I will refrain from intervening," Fuhrer answered.

    Apollo nodded and continued to sacrifice his Anima Crystals. Be that as it may, a knock was soon heard on his door. Concurrently, Fuhrer smirked, he noticed this aura. "Tread carefully, she is rather strong. But, she won''t be able to sense me."

    Before he could answer, the door opened and Geneva walked inside, "I''m not sure how strong your mind is so you may not have felt it, but there was amotion involving the entire and a foreign presence."

    Despite the fact that she was telling him this, Geneva was in fact looking for a change in expression. Any sign that would give her solid proof that he was involved in this incident. Unfortunately, she was messing with a freak.

    Apollo feigned surprised, "What type of incident? Is this rted to the noise outside in the barracks?"

    "Ah, yes yes it is," Geneva nodded before continuing, "You may continue with your actions." As she left, she inhaled. A familiar scent and taste made her freeze before resuming. While she walked away, there was a pleasant smile on her face, ''There may not be any proof, but his me is definitely growing stronger.''

    When Fuhrer returned the energy to him, his body subconsciously emitted some Hellfire to expunge the excess he couldn''t absorb immediately. But, what she didn''t know was that as she spoke to Apollo, Fuhrer examined her closely.

    Fuhrer appeared once the door closed with a hint of interest in his eyes, "Tell med, are you interested in women? If so, thatdy would make a fine specimen. When you''re strong enough, you should im her."

    Once again, Apollo choked. Azridan had posed this same question. This made Apollo question, what was it with demons and wanting to conquer. All Apollo could do as he and Fuhrer hid under the unsuspecting eyes of the human. The wolves took on the guise of sheep to avoid any watchful eyes.

 Chapter 237 - Discord Sown By Fuhrers Tyranny

    ----

    Despite his earlier actions to retract all signs of battle, certain events were already underway due to Fuhrer''s monstrous ability. The environment of the Vermillion Night Academy was turned upside down as everything was thrown into an uproar.??

    Due to his abrupt absorption of nearly every morsel of energy inside the Outer Barracks area, the other students'' cultivation, as well as other endeavors, were promptly interrupted. This caused the atmosphere of the outer area to be unsteady.

    Of course, every living quarter wasn''t the same. Not to mention, therge defensive formation of the Academy caused all living quarters to be soundproof as to not interrupt their cultivation. Unfortunately, that part of the formation was insufficient.

    It wasn''t the noise that riled everyone up, it was theck of resources that typically existed in abundance. Once they became used to a way of life, when it was taken away without warning, it was like introducing a domesticated dog to the wild.

    Their wits couldn''t survive. To these youths, every moment of cultivation lost was equivalent to beating their seemingly fragile future with a hammer.

    Be that as it may, the youths weren''t the only ones in dismay. Furthermore, living inside those didn''t allow them to be privy to this information. With security protocols activated, the exit and entrance of the facility required high clearance.

    Hence, why Geneva immediately visited Apollo in addition to her curiosity. She was almost certain that if he was the person behind this incident and found out that most areas were in lockdown, he might have destroyed the door, or at the very least, his enigmatic Spirit would have.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer squinted while looking at the leaving Geneva. He could tell there was an anomaly in the area. However, when he looked further, he chuckled, "Youngd, you''re about to have your hands full. This entire area is in disorder. When this anomaly is lifted, I''m sure your peers are gonna have many questions."

    "Hmm, how much of an effect did your powers have on the area?" Apollo questioned while ncing back at Ouroboros and rubbing his head.

    Based on the rumbling of his body, Apollo could tell that he was about to morph back into a sort of human form. The only difference was the fact that some of his features didn''t match a human. For example, his tongue was a lot longer than the typical human. Additionally, his elliptical pupils also gave away the fact that he wasn''t a human.

    In his current state, he wasn''t capable of changing his features. However they weren''t much of an issue for Apollo as Ourobrous was almost always under his supervision. On the other hand, he was much more interested in the fact that there was some sort of discord in the atmosphere.

    "Long story short, I should have woken up every single individual in the area. Compared to Ashiraem, or any of the other Nihilistic Rings, the energy saturation levels of this ce are exceedingly thin. If we wish to unleash our power once you arrive at my level, we have to make the ambient energy submit as well. Just your power alone will be insufficient against some enemies," Fuhrer answered.

    In response, Apollo nodded. Truthfully speaking, he guessed this back when he fought with Fuhrer in Ashiraem. Before each of his strikes, there was a small reaction in the atmosphere. Although it didn''t televise how he would attack, it did alert Apollo that Fuhrer was about tounch a retaliation.

    Be that as it may, the divide in strength was something insurmountable at the moment, thus, Apollo''s remained on the losing end. Nevertheless, since he had dealt with this matter, he wasn''t too worried about it now. All he needed to do was have Fuhrer continue to train him in the ways of the Monarch''s Tenebriosity and unlock different Sin paths.

    Once all that was said and done, his own unquestionable power would be created. After thinking about this, Apollo approached the door and tried to open it. However, to his surprise, he found out that he couldn''t. Naturally, his first thought was to use force.

    He started to collect the energy needed tounch a Demonic Massacre Wave, however, Fuhrer stropped him, "There is no need. The restrictions surrounding this door are weakening by the moment. Once it is down, we''ll exit. In the meantime, just wait and continue to gather your energy. In the event of a disturbance, you''ll need to fend for yourself.

    "Based on what I have sensed in the area, there isn''t a single enemy that requires me to intervene. While some may pose a great challenge, it still isn''t to the extent that warrants my movement," Fuhrer stated before withdrawing his hand from Apollo''s shoulder.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s mused silently, ''Enemy? I''m not very sure that I''ll find those. Even though there may be hostile individuals, it shouldn''t be towards me. They''d just be incensed by the fact their corruption was interrupted. As for the person responsible, they shouldn''t be able to find out it is me.''

    Apollo then turned back toward Fuhrer, "You may sense malice but this ce has rules. Not to mention, I don''t think there is a single person in this area capable of withstanding the punishment that follows the act of breaking them. Scratch that, there may just be enough to be counted on hand," he said after some thought.

    ----

    Meanwhile, as two conversed, Geneva reappeared back in the Administrator Hall''s penthouse office. Uponnding, there was a slight frown on her face, ''It''s definitely him, but I have no proof. But, there''s another issue, I don''t want to deal with him. His me may be the secret to dealing with this¡­''

    While the room was empty, she lifted her shirt. A gruesome scar with faint ck veins stretched out from her ribs. Unbeknownst to many, the reason she gave up her illustrious reputation on the battlefield was due to this injury. In the past, there was an upper-echelon Terror on the verge of evolving into a Disaster-Grade. If that were to happen, this injury would have been the least of her worries.

    At the cost of part of her legion, the Terror was defeating. Sadly, not before suffering a wound that caused her cultivation to plummet to what it was now. This was another reason she found it difficult to deal with Fuhrer''s aftershocks. While utilizing small techniques was no issue,batting those violent waves only exacerbated the injury.

    As she fell back against the seat, Geneva winced and gently applied a serum acquired from the distilled blood of Valerie. Even then, the corruption of a near Disaster-Grade being was just too great to counteract. At least, that was until she came in contact with Hellfire.

    Just the wisp she devoured seemed to momentarily halt the progression of the wound. The only issue now was that the Hellfire was far too weak. As of right now, what she needed was either arge amount of it or for Apollo to grow in strength so that his Hellfire would reciprocate.

    Shortly after she arrived back, the hallway outside of her door filled with mor. Before anyone entered, she retrieved her shirt and took up her poised manner. One by one, people burst through the door, there was Robyn, Sapphyr, Corvin, and many other unfamiliar faces.

    However, all of them spoke about a single incident. In light of this, Robyn took the lead, "Headmaster, I need to warn you, most of the facilities of the Academy failed for a short period of time. I''m unsure if any of the areas were damaged by those ripples, we''ll have to runprehensive diagnostics."

    "Oh, I can tell you right now, there has definitely been damage. The Outer Barracks went into lockdown mode! Moreover, the entire area was devoid of energy. I tried to reverse it, but everything is happening autonomously as the energy levels continue to return to their usual proportions," Corvin eximed in response.

    Silently, Geneva listened to the information being shouted around the room until she exhaled. "I''m aware of all of this already. What you all need to know is that I fear the being that fought against the world''s will is moving unrestricted. Unless you have reached the Spirit Emperor Realm, you wouldn''t have been able to read the fluctuations properly."

    Although she wanted to continue, Robyn butted in, "That''s right! I just recalled something. Thest and strongest ripple of them all carried zero traces of Astrarat''s source signature. That means the destruction was brought about by that singr existence. My god, how strong could it be? Could it be a strong Heroic Spirit? Only something nearing that level should be able to go against her."

    "No, it wasn''t Astraya who was fighting. Think deeper, what being do you know that has might like that? Astraya is more of a defensive entity, she wouldn''t attack."

    "That''s right! Ragna! How could I forget? But wait, that''s a Guardian that came to this world around the same time Spirits did, no? Furthermore, he shouldn''t reside here anymore," Robyn muttered.

    "That''s why I fear this new Spirit isn''t something on the Heroic, but something possesses Legendary abilities. You know the implications of that type of being," Geneva stated. At the same time, she snapped her fingers. That small action caused all of the formations to override.

 Chapter 238 - Outer Barrack Hierarchy

    ----

    Due to Geneva''s actions, all of the restrictions on the academy lifted at once. While they continued their meeting inside the Administration Hall, the situation outside became filled with disorder. Not only did the Outer Barracks make a move to find the culprit immediately, but even a small part of the Inner Barracks also mobilized.??

    Since the two were so close in location, it was hard for Fuhrer''s actions to not slightly affect them as well. Even if he acted while keeping this in mind, it was something inevitable. The resources required to fuel him were so immense that he couldn''t do anything to circumvent it in this weak world. Of course, there was also the fact that he had no intention of avoiding conflict.

    The faster Apollo upgraded his Demonic Conduct, the faster he would fulfill the prerequisites required to advance towards the Greater Demon state. As of right now, each of his Demonic Conducts was barely scratching the surface. Furthermore, if he wished to reach the level of Fuhrer''s true power, then the parameters needed to attain that were even more out of sight.

    Nevertheless, as his door flung open, Apollo took a step outside. The mor in the streets reflected in his eyes as he watched numerous cultivators argue with each other. Some of them even seemed to have fallen into a depraved state. As mentioned before, there was a chance of suffering from spiritual deviation if the action of cultivating the mind was interrupted.

    Needless to say, Fuhrer''s actions did just that. In fact, Typhir burst through his door like a raging bull as he looked around with reddened eyes, "Who did it?! Who is responsible for this shit? I am having a splitting headache because of you bastard! When I find you, I will skin you alive and roast it with my scorching winds!"

    Meanwhile, while ncing at Typhir, Fuhrer rubbed his chin in thought, ''Interesting, this boy seems like quite the boorish fool. And that greatsword behind his back; I wonder how skilled he is with it.'' As he continued to look at Typhir, his senses were still focused on Apollo.

    After he took a step outside, some of the Essence that returned seemed to automatically flow towards him. While he continued to exhale and inhale, some people caught wind of the fact he seemed to be the only one who didn''t possess any feelings towards the situation that took ce. When the majority of the people present realized who he was, his actions stirred some suspicions.

    In the background, Lance inched closer as he caught wind of murmurs centered around Apollo, ''Hoh? Could this situation truly have something to do with that kid? It should be impossible. Just because he managed to obtain a partial fragment of the inheritance doesn''t mean he is capable of depleting an entire area of Essence. If he is the cause, then there is a piece missing, what did he use to do?''

    On the other hand, Apollo opened a single eye and he felt the numerous gazes fall upon him. ''Interesting, do they suspect me? I wonder where they get this assumption from. Despite it being correct, there shouldn''t be any evidence to support this im.''

    As Apollo thought about this, he nced around and examined the bodynguage of everyone. Based on what he saw, he could tell they didn''t know what happened. What they were looking for is a scapegoat to push their aggression on. Unfortunately, if that was what they were looking for, then they were in for a rude awakening.

    While there may be rules in ce, if it came to defense, Apollo was never one to pull his punches. The crowd came together while moving towards Apollo''s general direction. In response, Apollo crossed his arms and awaited their arrival.

    Sure enough, they came toe-to-toe with Apollo. But, before anything happened, the ocean of students split apart to show three individuals. One possessed a tall frame with rough features and dark orange hair. He stood on the left side, whereas a female possessing a roguish attitude and midnight blue stood on the right.

    In the middle, there was a mismatched appearance. While the other two seemed extremely rough, the male in the middle was the personification of the word gentle. His soft features and light yellow hair flowed towards his shoulder. When the others looked at him, there was a tinge of respect in their eyes.

    "ording to my knowledge, your name is Apollo Kaiser, correct? You''re one of the new freshmen who exhibit high ability," the male in the middle spoke. At the same time, he sped his hands behind his back and walked towards Apollo.

    "Correct," Apollo answered in a simplistic manner. From the uniform the male wore, Apollo could tell that he was a second year. Furthermore, theck of an emblem for the student body program told Apollo that there was something amiss. If he wasn''t inside that circle, where did his reputatione from?

    "Good, then I would like to know why you haven''t paid us a visit? It is proper manners for underssmen to introduce themselves to the upperssmen. Could it be that youck the simplest of manners?" the man questioned.

    In response, Apollo''s expression becameical. Once again, he found himself in a situation where the other who waspletely unknown, demanded his respect. Not only was this outside of his behavior, based on the fluctuation of this man, but he could also tell that gentle smile hid vile behavior.

    When it came to such behavior, Apollo felt his own temper was enough. Thus, he simply shrugged. "This is simply a pitstop on my journey, I could care less about any of your feelings and this notion of respect you possess."

    The orange-haired male widened his eyes. Without a moment''s hesitation, he pounced toward Apollo. A metallic ax with numerous, webbed, fire-red veins flowing inside appeared within his hands as he mmed it towards Apollo.

    Before he reacted, Apollo recalled the fact that Geneva said something along the lines of no fighting allowed outside of the designated areas. Yet, an upperssman was attacking without a moment''s notice. Not to mention, Apollo could have sworn he sensed an additional fluctuation when that male attacked.

    After some thought, Apollo threw caution to the wind. With his bare hands, he executed a perfected Demonic Massacre Wave right at the middle of the iing ax. When the two strikes met, the orange-haired individual raised an eyebrow in surprise. He didn''t expect Apollo''s strike to pack such a punch.

    But, with a battle cry, the individual increased the strength behind his attack. At first, the blonde man smiled, but then he frowned and eximed, "Reiner, retreat for a moment."

    Immediately, the orange-haired male, Reiner nodded and retreated back towards the individual''s side, "Grayson, why didn''t you allow me to press on with my attack?" Reiner questioned.

    "This kid specializes in darkness, Selene, go have a few exchanges with him. Show him it isn''t nice to y with shadows in the presence of a more skilled upperssman," Grayson stated towards the dark-haired girl next to him.

    "Okay," she answered before moving like a specter. Earlier when Reiner increased the force of his blow, Apollo chuckled and executed his Partial Shade Silhouette to get behind him. For a moment, he thought about piercing his back with an attack but then Grayson almost immediately recalled the individual.

    Unbeknownst to Apollo, the girl at Grayson''s side possessed special eyes. They were known as the Eyes of the Night Empress. When it came to Dark Elements, she was extremely sensitives towards them. Even if the skill existedpletely outside of her level, she could still discern blur.

    Thus, Grayson felt she was the best option to teach Apollo respect. Not to mention, both Selene and Reiner were ranked 1st and 2nd in rankings of the Outer Barracks. In just a few weeks'' time, they would be promoted to the 2nd year. However, since they joined Grayson''s factions, one''s who operated like serpents, they were feared in this ring.

    At Apollo''s side, he felt a breeze of wind and stared straight in that direction. His Tainted Temple vibrated as he took a step back, a small silver streak passed by his eyes as he stuck his arm out. With precise timing, he grabbed Selene''s wrist and attempted the m her into the ground.

    However, before she hit the ground, she performed a reversal. She wrapped around his arm and wink before tightening her arm and legs around Apollo''s arm. The more she tightened her grip, the more she tried to snap his arm. But, contrary to her expectations, Apollo''s arm didn''t snap in the slightest.

    If he could tank Lesser Ifrit blows in his Iraym form that didn''t bolster his defense by much, there was no chance of a seemingly frail girl like Selene breaking his arm. On the other hand, Apollo gripped his shirt and summoned a de of Hellfire around his other hand.

    "Now tell me, is following someone''s orders worth your life?" Apollo asked. Unlike his typical actions of immediate ughter, for once, he showed a faint sign ofpassion. At least, that''s what it appeared to be to the others.

 Chapter 239 - Fools Are Known To Covet Beauty

    ----

    While awaiting his answer, Apollo''s attention switched over to Reiner and Grayson. Contrary to his expectations, neither of them made a move. When he saw this, Apollo chuckled. Additionally, for the first time, he used the ability of Spiritual Cultivators, telepathic conversation.??

    "You see? They don''t even respond when your life is in imminent danger. Is this truly the type of people you''re willing to act for without a moment''s hesitation?" Apollo prodded by trying to instigate Selene''s seemingly nonexistent emotions. Unfortunately, her response was something that baffled him.

    "I was born as a tool, therefore, this type of behavior is something that I''m used to. I never expected them toe to my aid. When I joined them, the only thing I was promised was resources and that was enough. This is the way it works, you take what you can get and ept what is given," Selene replied with cold emotionless eyes. At the same time, a concealed dagger slid down her left sleeve into her palm.

    "Besides, I''m not as weak as you believe me to be," Selene added before shing her arm outward. In response, Apollo dropped her and retreated. Unlike the rest of her strikes, this specific one seemed odd. It was almost as if the strike was a venomous snake. Thus, Apollo narrowed his eyes.

    Sure enough, he found faint silver tendrils inside the darkness that appeared to drip obscene toxins. At first, Apollo was baffled. His body had already developed a certain resistance to toxins, yet his body still reacted by instinct. This meant the poison was either of unknown strength or something about it was abnormal.

    While examining the aura around the dagger closely, Apollo also took note of the fact that the spectating crowd seemed to be growing denser. Nevertheless, the most important threat to him at the moment was Selene. ording to Fuhrer, there wasn''t any significant danger in the area, yet this happened.

    In response, Fuhrer appeared in the shadows of Apollo''s, "Youngd, why do you act so frightened against a normal strike?"

    "Normal?" Apollo questioned in return. As he looked at the weapon, he couldn''t see anything "normal" about it. But then, when Fuhrer continued, he finally understood what happened.

    "Yes, normal. That meager amount of toxins is enough to warrant your apprehension? Hmph, there are infant beings more poisonous than this wench before your eyes. In this world, the things I''ve found that you should fear could probably be counted on one hand," Fuhrer replied.

    However, as he chatted with Fuhrer, Selene appeared for another strike. As her body was sheathed in a shadowy me, she seemed to phase in and out of appearance. Furthermore, due to the specific pattern she was moving in, the tiny silver tendrils formed a cage-like creation around Apollo.

    Then, when she formed a hand seal, the cage started to constrict around Apollo. Meanwhile, through the talk with Fuhrer, Apollo came to realize something. He understood why his body reacted like that. Unlike typical poison that targeted the body, Selene''s variant poison created by her body consisted of pieces of her bloodline as well as spiritual essence.

    When the two melded together, the creation was capable of directly attacking the mind. It would cause the body to slowly lose function. Soon, any of her enemies would find themselves at a disadvantage with theck of mental mobility and the debilitated reaction speed. Hence, the reason she was the undisputed first rank of the Outer Barracks.

    Until now, there had yet to be an individual who could resist her ability. Regrettably for her, Apollo had read into her moves and prepared for it. Silently, he submerged his Tainted Temple in Hellfire and allowed the silver cage to touch his body. The small sizzling noise that resulted from this action didn''t bother him in the slightest.

    Furthermore, when her spiritual essence entered Apollo''s mind, it was nearly incinerated in an instant. Of course, this was something she wasn''t privy to. Anyone who tried to sense inside of Apollo''s body, outside of Fuhrer, would find it to be a monumental task. Due to the jumbled internals of a demon, no one in Astarat would understand the way his energy flowed or even where he drew strength from.

    ''Interesting, the tendrils try to attach to the temple and slow the signal that is emitted towards the rest of the brain. If it is sessful, that would without a doubt greatly impact a cultivator''s perception,'' Apollo thought before making his move.

    At a nce, Selene thought his abrupt increase in pace was due to him understanding that her special ability allowed her to whittle down her opponent without expenditure, thus she moved on the defensive. Her following actions all consisted of evading Apollo''s strikes by utilizing her specter-like stepping technique.

    But, when she realized his movement wasn''t be affected at all, Selene felt something was amiss. ''There''s no way his natural reaction is this high. His Soul Temple should be bolstering his reaction speed and allowing him to keep up with me.'' Upon thinking this, Selene suddenly felt a chill.

    When he looked up, she witnessed Apollo smiling at her. Out of nowhere, his body just up and disappeared. Almost an instantter, she felt the world spinning as Apollo reappeared and grabbed her wrist before smashing her face in the ground.

    "I think I found out the true meaning behind your words earlier. It isn''t that you see yourself as a tool, both you and your party are confident that the academy will enforce their rules, correct?" Apollo whispered in her ear while digging a finger into her ribs.

    Despite wanting to scream because of the searing pain of the Hellfire on his finger, she couldn''t. Apollo gripped her thought rendering her vocal cords null. As he tightened his grip, Selene''s eyes widened.

    On the other hand, Reiner frowned, "How is this wet behind the earsd overpowering Selene? Even though strength isn''t her forte, her special ability should have affected him long enough. There''s no way that hisbat ability is still this high."

    "Something is wrong. Furthermore, where are the instructors, or at the very least the disciplinarymittee?" Grayson responded while ncing around. Even up until this very moment, not a single soul from either governing body could be found. Unbeknownst to them, the higher-ups were still trying to iron out the particrs of how they should move forward.

    Meanwhile, as they talked amongst themselves, Apollo took his actions a step further, "While the rules might save you in normal circumstances, let me engrave in your mind the fact that you should never seek to bother something like me."

    Afterward, Apollo retracted his finger but picked her up by the throat. Repeatedly, he smashed her face into the ground until it became a bruised mess. Numerous gasps of horror were heard as he did so. Even the nearly emotionless Selene trembled after each repeated m against the ground.

    The moment he began his actions of retaliation, two more neers appeared. However, when they witnessed Apollo''s actions, they looked at each other. Based on what they knew, while Apollo may be the cause of the situation, they were almost certain he didn''t go out of his way to provoke anyone.

    "What did they do to him to cause him to retaliate like this? Not to mention, who the heck are these people?" Nadida mumbled while looking at the two standing with crossed arms before Apollo and his victim.

    "Upperssmen," Odessa replied with a tiny frown. As she looked at Grayson, she felt she saw him somewhere before. For now, she couldn''t put her hand on it, but she was sure he wasn''t goodpany. Thus, she made an immediate move.

    "Apollo, stop!" Odessa eximed while appearing before him. For a small moment, she looked down at the trembling girl in Apollo''s hand, but somehow, she didn''t feel any remorse for her. In her eyes, it was her fault for confronting this madman. Even Odessa regretted some of the times she almost agitated thisd.

    Hidden deep within him, there was a darkness that sought to destroy everything. Should it ever be awakened, she wouldn''t want to stand on the opposing side.

    "Hoh? Maybe this is indeed far enough," Apollo responded before releasing Selene from his grasp. While she wasn''t bleeding, there were numerous bruises and possibly fractures on her face.

    Be that as it may, both Grayson and Reiner looked at Nadida and Odessa silently. If they were topare their beauty with Selene, these two were leagues above. In fact, the moment they appeared, these two harbored thoughts of making them their own.

    Although Odessa was known, Nadida''s reputation wasn''t as illustrious. Hence, without a powerful background, there were sure to be people who would covet her beauty to no end.

    "Ahem, you two neers, my name is Grayson Matthews. It would be my pleasure to beseech you two beauties. What do you think about joining my side?" Grayson offered, paying almost no attention to his wounded follower on the floor.

    As a result, Apollo spared her another meaningful nce as well as sending her a message, ''Now look at that, you see how fickle your leader is? The moment someone with more appealing features appears, he flocks to them. In other words, your existence is insignificant. I am learning myself, never follow someone who sees you as disposable.''

    Silently, she continued to look at Apollo. Despite Grayson''s introduction, neither Nadida nor Odessa paid him any mind. Instead, they approached Apollo and examined him. Naturally, this act incensed Grayson as it was a form of trampling his pride.

    Slowly, his expression twisted. But, when Apollo saw this, he chuckled in response, "I guess the saying is sound after all. It seems fools are truly known to covet beauty."

 Chapter 240 - A Clash Of Egos

    ----

    In response to Apollo''s words, Grayson became further incensed. In front of all of the new freshmen, he was being made out to be a fool. Even under normal circumstances, this was a matter that was uneptable to him. Thus, a throbbing vein appeared on the side of his forehead as Grayson clenched his fist.??

    "What did you just say to me?" Grayson muttered through clenched teeth while ring daggers at Apollo who, of course, didn''t pay this development one mind.

    "I said, it is a known fact that fools are known to covet beauty. Could it be all the shit you''ve instigated has rotten your brain? If so, I suggest you pay more attention to cultivating and recuperating your mind instead of focusing on acquiring mindless followers to serve you," Apollo retorted.

    His remark caused a growing chuckle and murmurs to fill the atmosphere as he stood at leisure. Once again, Grayson felt like his pride was being attacked. By now, he felt there was only one way to settle their differences. The aura surrounding him suddenly turned extremely sharp and dangerous, aplete opposite of his feigned gentle aura.

    "You have a very reckless mouth, however, I know just the treatment to teach someone like you," Grayson muttered while holding his hand forward. The ring on his finger shed as a silver rapier appeared in his grasp. "I will cull that disrespectful attitude you possess, in fact, I will sever your vile tongue."

    But, Apollo didn''t pay this much attention. All this did was make Reiner at Grayson''s side seethe as well. However, something else took ce. Since he was already heated by the fact his cultivation was disturbed, Typhir entered the mix as well.

    "Hoh? Since we''re all being disrespectful, let me engage in the most disrespectful, I want to smash some heads! Not to mention, you there," Typhir bellowed, pointing his greatsword at Reiner, "Your eyes need to be gouged out. That is not the way you look at ady!"

    Meanwhile, as the situation grew out of hand, Fuhrer inside of Apollo''s shadow chuckled, "Whaticalds. For something as small as the appearance of beautiful women, they go insane. However, this brute seems to have some loyalty to him. If you look closely, most of his attention is focused on you. I believe he sees you as a friend, myd."

    Due to Fuhrer''s words, Apollo looked in his direction and examined Typhir''s posture, it was true. Most of his attention fell on Apollo and Grayson. Based on the aura Grayson was exhibiting, something told him that Apollo may not be able to handle the situation.

    However, when Odessa looked at Grayson, she frowned. She finally remembered where she had seen this person before. It was at the gathering of the Supreme Families. It was during an event that they held; the purpose was to find orphan children with extreme potential. And, Grayson was one of those kids.

    He was adopted by the Braum and trained in the ways of the rapier. Furthermore, he showed elerated talent in it as well as an obscure personality. It was unknown what he experienced beforeing to the Braum Family, but when he got angry, it was as if he became another person, a sick twisted individual.

    "Apollo, watch yourself. This youth is a snake, I think it''s better you withdraw yourself from this battle. Thest time I heard about his progress, he was already well within the Zul Knight Realm. Moreover, he had contracted a Spirit. Keep in mind, this was two years ago. While the progress may slow, I''m sure he has made some worthwhile advancement," Odessa warned with a whisper.

    Upon receiving this information, Apollo raised an eyebrow. ''The Braum Family? Hoh, that''s Sapphyr''s family. This is interesting, they utilized resources to train someone like him yet couldn''t spare some towards one of their born children. It''s truly a sad situation for her.

    As he shocked his head, Grayson misinterpreted the action. In his eyes, he thought Apollo was once again belittling. Thus, without any further hesitation, he dashed toward. However, time suddenly slowed for Apollo, or rather his cognition was sped up to ungodly levels. During this period, Fuhrer talked to him.

    "Don''t worry about the increased perception, I simply want to ask you a question. Have you ever trained in the sword before?" Fuhrer asked while appearing next to Apollo.

    "I haven''t, but I have witnessed enough people utilize it to have a sense of understanding, why do you ask?" Apollo answered.

    "Well, would you like to utterly destroy this youngd''s ego? Typically, these are the type of individuals who take a devastating blow when you use the same means they utilize, in order to destroy them. So, what is your answer?" Fuhrer inquired before cing his hand on Apollo''s back.

    Needless to say, the question was very enticing to him. The sound of the sentence was like music to his ears. Hence, he verily agreed, "Of course, but how exactly do I go about doing that?"

    "It''s quite simple, in fact. I''ll just let you use this copy of Brynhildr. As a Monarch, anything you touch should be utilized to the height of its capabilities. While this may be an insurmountable task for you at the moment, you will very well aplish it in the future," Fuhrer said. Afterward, a stream of energy flowed into Apollo''s back.

    In real-time, numerous ck sparks flickered around Apollo''s palm. Subsequently, a slender obsidian de appeared in his hand. Due to Brynhildr''s innate abilities, the weapon felt perfect in his grasp. Despite never training in the sword, Apollo felt as if he could sever the world.

    A momentter, Reiner made his move after Grayson moved. Immediately, Typhir reacted as well. He performed a wide-arc sh towards Reiner. As a result, Reiner conjured his ax and knocked away Typhir''s strike. When the two weapons collided, Typhir''s eyes widened.

    ''How the hell did he handle this strike? Don''t tell me his body''s strength surpasses mine already? But I sensed his fluctuations earlier, they haven''t even entered the Zul Knight Realm yet. His growth is obscene,'' Typhir thought to himself.

    He then used the force generated from the collision to spin around and execute a hastened horizontal sh. However, Reiner defended with ease by holding the ax by his side. The moment after the sword struck his ax, Reiner retaliated with a forceful swing,unching Typhir far away.

    When hended, Typhir activated his Heavenly Bronze Body without a moment''s hesitation. Before doing so, his hand throbbed uncontrobly. On the other hand, when Reiner saw him activate this technique, he nodded, "So youe from the Estrada Family. This piddling technique is inferior."

    Boom!

    Reiner''s body dripped magma as all his orifices ejected sweltering mes, "My Magma Diety Body is much stronger than your Heavenly Bronze Physique." Once he activated this technique, not only did his explosive strength increase, so did his speed. Every strike thatnding on Typhir caused a piece of his bronze physique to shatter.

    Simr to Reiner''s technique, Typhir''s technique possessed levels and with his current utilization, it was merely at the second level. Meanwhile, Reiner could already utilize his technique at the fourth level. The disparity between the two wasrger than he previously thought.

    It was now that Typhir understood why they were all warned to discard the preconceived notion of background in this ce. You never know when an unknown person possesses extremely rare talents. Thus, it was always best to tread carefully, especially against those existing at the top of the rankings. After all, they were there for a reason.

    Nevertheless, like Apollo, Typhir wasn''t one to give up. He staggered back to his knees whereas Apollo finally shed with Grayson. When their two slender des met, at first, there was no reaction. But, shortly after, Apollo''s feet began to be pushed back.

    "Hmm, it appears thisd is stronger than he seems. He utilized an unusual form of force," Fuhrer stated while leaning close towards Grayson. Walking circles around him, he sought to understand what this power he had never seen before was.

    "That energy is Gravity Maniption," Apollo uttered. He had read about this recently, it was the prime form of the Earth Element.

    "I have never heard of this thing, but I think you can ovee it. Explode with Ira," Fuhrer responded with an amused smile.

    Apollo obliged and released some Ira. Instantly, he stopped being pushed back but he also couldn''t get Grayson to move an inch. As of right now, their power was at a standstill. But, when Apollo continued to allow the amount of utilized Ira to increase, his aura took on a demonic form.

    Every sh he executed could be said to be on par with a minimum consumption Demonic Massacre Wave. However, when Grayson retaliated, a dark wind collided with Apollo''s attack. Be that as it may, this battle was growing in intensity.

    With each swing of the sword in his grasp, Apollo started to understand it further. As a result, traces of his Dominance Intent started to peek through. Moreover, when it did, it made Grayson squint, ''His strike seems to be changing fundamentally, what is happening right now?

 Chapter 241 - Heinous Act (I)

    ----

    As Apollo''s strike picked up in intensity and became far more lethal, Grayson''s expression darkened. Behind him, ripples in space started to take ce. Naturally, this was a sign that he was drawing upon his Spirit. However, utilizing Spirit''s on academy grounds outside of designated battle was a punishable offense. Yet, it seemed as if this matter didn''t bother Grayson in the slightest.??

    A portal, nearly twice asrge as Grayson opened to reveal a figure in slender silver armor. With two sharp rapiers as its side, the Spirit looked at Apollo with a hostile gaze. In return, Fuhrer chuckled.

    ''Lad, let me take over. This opponent is in the process of evolving. I know their origins, these beings that these people summon, they''re linked to the other and upper worlds. Much like the Nihilistic Rings, beings from there possessed strengthened existences,'' Fuhrer stated.

    Without receiving Apollo''s answer, Fuhrer''s body appeared from seemingly nowhere. In return, Grayson''s Spirit gripped both his swords without hesitation. Since most of Fuhrer''s battle power was hidden, the Spirit was unable to sense just how dangerous he was. After all, this was a being who went up against the world and its guardian and prevailed.

    Nevertheless, Fuhrer made his move and release a portion of his aura. However, he made sure to conceal any bit of aura that was simr to the one used against Ragna. For now, he simply utilized Demonic Anima with master expertise.

    "Desolim, make sure to teach this individual about respect," Grayson stated while performing a hand seal. Once a Spirit reached a certain level, it required arge amount of Spiritual Essence to summon. Thus, many cultivators who didn''t possess substantial Soul Temples would need to absorb Spiritual Essence asionally. If not, there was a chance they''d suffer from soul weakness.

    While holding out his hand, the copy of Brynhildr in Apollo''s hand transferred back to Fuhrer. Compared to when Apollo used it, the current Brynhildr seemed to be alive. Since this body was a Daemonic Avatar, there were traces amounts of his Daemonic Powers left inside. Hence, he could invoke the dormant abilities of Brynhildr.

    "With my sword of the Abyssal Demon Winds, everything shall becerated by the dark winds," Fuhrer muttered before swinging his sword. The winds birthed by his swing roared as they hurtled towards Desolim.

    A silver glint passed through his eyes before moving at a nonsensical speed. If one looked closely, they''d realize Desolim''s body turned into a nearly silver flowing stream. In the time it took for the winds to reach him, Desolim had already brandished his swords 7 times to deflect the iing attack.

    Unfortunately, despite deflecting the winds, they changed trajectory and traveled back towards him. As a result, Desolim performed evasive maneuvers while flicking his wrist numerous times.

    As that took ce, Fuhrer appeared right beside him with a dark smile, "You are fast but weak, but what can be faster than the darkness when it is ever-present? As long as there is light, the darkness travels just as fast and conceals much better."

    Bang!

    Fuhrer executed another powerful swing, that upon contact with Desolim''s abrupt X-guard sent him flying across the area of battle. The moment hended, Fuhrer was on him once again. However, his means ofbat was changing. After a single sh, he stepped forward, disappeared, and then reappeared at another angle with a peculiar sh.

    When everyone looked at him, it looked like Grayson''s Spirit was fighting a teleporting phantom. Soon enough, he became overwhelmed by the sheer number of iing attacks. Sometimes, even before hisnd strikended, Fuhrer would move and perform another one seamlessly.

    "You wield two swords, yet don''t understand the sword. You can be far more lethal with a singr sword. The burden of two swords is too great for your minuscule ability. Nheless, as you are my opponent, it is time I utterly destroy you," Fuhrer voiced before lifting his sword above his head.

    As it shined with a ck aura devoid of any light. Desolim''s aura spiked. He relinquished any thoughts of holding back. Based on his experiences in this fight so far, Fuhrer was just toying him. Compared to the prior attacks, this next strike felt...lethal.

    "I don''t know what type of Spirit you are, but your techniques don''t seem to originate from the Umbrenith Worlds. So, you aren''t a Spirit of Darkness. But, I will ovee you," Desolim responded. Not long after his remark, two silver wings budded from his back.

    Once they fully opened, Desolim moved at a speed that defiedmon sense. Yet, when he moved, inside his increased perception of time, Fuhrer''s eyes followed him. No matter what angle he intended to take, it felt like Fuhrer was predicting them all.

    Thus, he started to grow even faster. Conversely, the faster he moved, the more the feeling of dread overwhelmed him until an unsettling voice entered his ears, "So tell me, is your little showcase of agility done? If so, it is my turn."

    ck mes appeared under Fuhrer''s feet as he moved to leave scorching imprints in the ground. At this point, none of the spectators could understand what was happening. In their eyes, there were simply ck and silver streaks.

    Be that as it may, a momentter, both Fuhrer and Desolim ceased movement. Before everyone, Fuhrer stood holding Desolim by the throat. Numerouscerations filled his body while stuck in Fuhrer''s grasp. First, he wanted to crush Desolim''s throat and kill him but then he thought about it.

    The more pain he afflicted Desolim, the worse Grayson''s expression became. Hence, he came up with a better idea. This was the perfect situation to capitalize on Apollo''s Demonic Conduct. Since he weakened Desolim''s defenses, Apollo should be able to easily prate his armor and deal damage.

    "Youngd, you deal with this situation," Fuhrer said through their telepathic link while dropping Desolim. Without pause, Brynhildr reappeared in Apollo''s hand as he waltzed over to the writhing Grayson. As he did so, he grabbed Desolim by the ankle and dragged him over.

    "There is what your actions get you, you never know what to expect. You didn''t expect me to have a Spirit of my own already, did you? Well, you should''ve. If you knew who I was, you should have also heard of my potential. People speak of not offending youths with ster backgrounds, but you miss an important fact,

    For a moment, Apollo paused then squatted down before Grayson, he then continued by whispering in his air, "There is nothing more dangerous than a cornered wolf. When survival is the only notion on one''s mind, an individual can astonish even themself. Tell me, have you ever lived the life of a cornered wolf?"

    Grayson first tried to answer, but a blood-curdling scream sounded behind them that caused Apollo to turn around. At that very moment, Reiner''s near molten ax impaled Typhir''s torso. Inside Reiner''s wrath-filled eyes were both surprised and then a trace of fear.

    "You fool! Why did you run after me!" Reiner eximed. When Apollo dragged Desolim towards Grayson, Reiner had already rendered Typhir incapacitated. However, through will alone, he rose to his feet again and charged at Reiner who sought to rush towards those two.

    While Reiner didn''t understand why he would do this, Typhir did. For the first time, he found an individual who didn''t fear repercussion and voiced all of his grievances. This was the type of individual he wanted to befriend. After all, schemes were never Typhir''s forte. Even though some situations called for them, at the end of the day, it was might that would solve longsting issues.

    With the appearance of the first casualty on the battlegrounds, most of the students looked around and murmured to each other. Without dy, over half of the spectating people disappeared. There was no doubt in their mind that when the upper personnel appeared, there would be punishment dished out.

    Meanwhile, Apollo frowned. In this situation, he was reminded of when Aaron lost his arm. Surprisingly enough, however, he didn''t lose his wits. Instead, he conjured an extensive amount of Ira and flowed it through his body. His Diabolic Heart of Wrath started to pump incessantly.

    Arge amount of ck wisp danced from Brynhildr as he raised it above his head. When he brought it down, even air itself threatened to be split in half with this grand cleave, "Second Annihtion: Nether Severance."

    As the destructive aura billowed towards Grayson and Desolim, Reiner became frightened, "While he may not be my swornrade, I feel it is only right that I enact vengeance for him. If not for me, he wouldn''t have joined in this scuffle," Apollo said while watching the strike almost consume them.

    However, before the strike couldnd, an armored titan of a Spirit mmed down before Grayson and imnted his bulwark in the ground. When the Nether Severance collided with his towering shield, it was resisted until all signs of it dispersed.

    Just as the veryst wisp of the strike''s energy disappeared, the Spirit stood up. Compared to the other Spirits, it was twice as big. Furthermore, when it talked, the entire atmosphere shook under its grandeur.

    "My Lord Rezar has tasked I, Rakesh, to quell this fight. This is especially true for you, Mr. Braum, you should be focused on improving your cultivation. Or, do you not wish to be a Child of War. As for you, neer, you are a Seat on our disciplinarymittee, you should lead by example. Now, let this be over before I take matters into my own hand.

    Sadly, when Rakesh looked over to Typhir, he frowned. ''This situation has just grown hectic¡­''

 Chapter 242 - Heinous Act (II)

    ----

    As Rakesh looked at Typhir''s injuries, he moved closer. He waved his hand and picked up Typhir''s body that twitched in agony while moving his stomach. At a nce, Rakesh was hoping that the worst-case scenario didn''t arise. If so, it would truly be a headache for him.??

    "Young boy, I need you to move your hand so I can examine the severity of your wound," Rakesh said. However, Typhir was in so much pain he didn''tply. It felt as if his lower inside were being bombarded by explosions. At the same time, he felt as if his body was losing copious amounts of strength by the moment.

    Since Typhir was in no position toply, Rakesh moved his hand aside with his finger. The terrifying wound on his stomach was apparent to all as Rakesh''s frown deepened, ''It is as I fear, the wound is very deep and has touched his internal organs. If it were simply the outer shell, there would be no issue. Sadly, even his Dantian has been damaged.''

    Left with no other choice, Rakesh closed his eyes and ryed the message to Rezar who was still inside the room. Not long after, he responded and notified Rakesh that they would be there to assess the situation shortly. Upon gaining confirmation, Rakesh ced him back on the floor.

    On the other hand, Apollo narrowed his eyes as he looked at the wound on Typhir''s torso, ''That individual didn''t hold his blow in the slightest. Even if he ims to be in danger, that''s excessive means. Based on Typhir''s defenses, he was in no state to guard another strike.''

    Silently, Apollo nced at Odessa and sent a signal with his eyes. However, Odessa looked back at him and shook his head. It was academy protocol to not intervene in these types of situations until the matters were assessed. In the meantime, Apollo unsummoned Brynhildr.

    Simrly, Fuhrer returned to his shadow. Compared to the Tainted Temple, he preferred to keep the avatar in an idle state while still outside. Even if he failed to sense iing danger, Fuhrer would surely be able to.

    "Lad, that boy is dying. I can see his essence draining by the moment. A ruthless strike hasnded on his body. If that wound isn''t healed, he''ll continue to lose strength. Soon enough, he''ll regress to a lower level. From there, his end would be nigh unstoppable," Fuhrermented while ncing in Typhir''s direction.

    When he heard this, Apollo clicked his tongue. For the first time, he felt a shred of guilt for what happened. It was never his intention to have Typhir damaged so severely. In fact, he didn''t intend for anyone to join at all. In truth, he wanted to understand just what strength allowed these youths to think he would allow them to trample over him. But, Typhir''s reaction was an anomaly.

    Nevertheless, like Rezar said, their silhouettes soon came into appearance. However, it wasn''t just him, Rezar was apanied by a few others. There was Geneva, Robyn, Sylvester, and even Sapphyr. It was evident that they were briefed on the situation due to Geneva''s current dark expression.

    As soon as theynded, Geneva nced around before bellowing an order, "All parties unaffiliated with the issue have 10 seconds to clear out before I start distributing punishments!"

    In little to no time at all, the area cleared. There wasn''t a single soul present that wanted to experience the punishments administered by the Headmaster herself. Meanwhile, as she looked at Apollo, she sighed and shook her head.

    "I should have known this would involve you as well. In this past semester alone, I have left my quarters more times than in the past 5 years. Tell me, how is it that you always get into trouble. Furthermore, you!" Geneva turned around and pointed at Grayson.

    "I''m more than sure you have something to do with this. Does your behavior not improve? Let me guess, you''re the one who gave the order to do this to this young boy?" Geneva questioned. Slowly, her crimson hair started to rise with dark mes shooting off the tips.

    When enraged, her body exuded the past signs of her previous reputation. Be that as it may, if one looked closely, they''d also realize her countenance paling. Of course, this wasn''t immediately apparent to these young individuals.

    "Tell me, who started this issue," Geneva stated but then added, "And I don''t want to hear the answer from either of you. Odessa, Nadida, have any of you witnessed the situation firsthand?"

    In response, they both indeed. While they weren''t there as soon as it started. When Apollo started to retaliate against Reiner, they could see it from far away. It was only when he thrashed Selene that they had made it to the site of the issue. The two then started to reveal the events that they witnessed.

    When she heard everything, she frowned, "So it was Reiner who inflicted the devastating strike. Tell me, why did you be so heavy-handed with your fellow ssmate?" Geneva interrogated.

    "Actually, I never intended to be heavy-handed. After I showed him his ce, I backed off. When I saw Grayson suffering a loss to this person here, I thought it was imperative I intervene, so I did. It is his unfortunate fault that strike hit me. I was preparing it tounch towards those two but he disrupted me," Reiner answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

    Upon hearing this, Geneva almost felt like pulling her hair out. When Nadida and Odessa indeed verified the Typhir had sprung from the floor, she found it hard to discern the party of me. Not to mention, there was another issue.

    Both Typhir and Reiner possessed nearly equal talents with Reiner possessing a marginally better one. If Typhir experienced such a dire injury, losing another talented individual would be detrimental to the academy as a whole. Hence, she was conflicted on how to judge the verdict.

    In light of this, Sylvester stepped forward and offered his input, "I see the issue is quite simple. Here''s how we solve it. We''ll take the injuredd to the Spiritual Infirmary and the one who inflicted the injury is to me. Based on what we have heard, the issue was instigated by your upperssmen."

    "Indeed, that is true. It may be an unwritten rite to ''scare'' your underssmen into ce, but that doesn''t warrant extreme means. Thus, you all are in the wrong. This situation should be dealt with ordingly. Headmaster, what do you deem as a fit punishment?" Rezar questioned.

    In response, Geneva was silent for a moment while pondering. Before she made a im, there was a more important issue, "For now, we''ll ignore that matter. We''ll get him to the Spiritual Infirmary to assess the extent of his injuries. Based on what we find, we''ll judge the punishment from there."

    Without dy, Rezar had Rakesh picked up Typhir as they transported him towards the Infirmary. Since the matters were far from done, Apollo as well as the rest were brought along too.

    Along the way, Geneva sighed to herself, ''I should have adjourned the meeting and monitored the state of the barrack. Despite this being a unique situation, there was bound to be sound issues regarding the countless interrupted cultivation.''

    Several momentster, everyone arrived at the infirmary. It was soon determined that not only was Typhir''s Dantian damaged, but even his Natural Root had also been hit. In other words, there was a chance that his overall talent in the future would be affected.

    Once this information was disclosed, Geneva had another annoying matter on her hands. How would she ry this information to Typhir''s parents and how would this matter boil over. Typhir wasn''t just a Glory, but also the only child of the current Matriarch of the Estrada Family. Such devastating news would definitely result in catastrophic changes.

    After all, the children were sent here to learn Spiritual Arts and refine their Spirit Cultivation, not have their potential damaged. Nevertheless, Geneva determined the verdict.

    "All of the academic credits and half of everything Grayson Braum and Reiner Hardt would receive for the next 6 months will be given to your underssmen, Typhir Estrada and Apollo Kaiser," Geneva stated, "This is non-negotiable, now dismiss yourself. You''re lucky the punishment isn''t heavier."

    Silently, Reiner helped Grayson''s weakened body to exit the premises. As they did so, the two discussed matters between themselves. The punishment they received was less severe than they thought. A student suffering a dire injury was something that hadn''t happened for quite some time.

    On the other hand, when Apollo heard this, he nced in the direction of the two leaving.

 Chapter 243 - Under The Veil Of Night

    ----

    ''That''s it? That''s all the punishment that has been administered? There''s a chance Typhir will never recover again and all we do is get a substitute of their academic credits?" Although displeased, Apollo kept hisments to himself. After all, even if he voiced his opinion, it wouldn''t do anything to change the situation. He was too closely involved in it.??

    As a result, he stood the side quietly and feigned eptance. On the other hand, Odessa spoke. While Typhir may be rather annoying in her eyes, she was sure that he was a good individual. This verdict was quite unfair to her,

    "Miss Headmaster, I don''t think the punishment matches the crime. There is a chance that Typhir might lose some of his potential; shouldn''t this ount for something? Injuries to the Dantian and Natural Root rarely heal to their initial state," Odessamented while cing her hand above Typhir''s torso.

    As she tried to use her family''s special arts, she found that her attainments were toocking to make a change. This was another reason why she didn''t want to make a move earlier. If she made an attempt before the other and failed beautifully, there was a chance of her reputation as a Paragon being affected.

    Unlike regr people, a Paragon was supposed to be capable of mystifying acts. Unfortunately, Odessa was nowhere near a full-grown Paragon. The abilities she possessed were infantile at best. Compared to her aunt, her capability to support was not worth mentioning.

    Meanwhile, even her aunt Valerie wasn''t capable of regenerating potential. Unlike the rest of the body, the Natural Root was too much of an intricate and enigmatic existence. The slightest mishap and there was a chance of rendering the entire thing useless. To put it differently, the subject would end up a cripple.

    "It might not seem to fit the bill, but you must all remember something extremely important, this is just the first stop on your journey. It would go against my position as the Headmaster to perform detrimental actions towards the potential of the World Remation Task Force.

    "The interest of an individual doesn''t supersede that of the entire world. It might be a difficult decision to call, but this is a stiption of taking a position at the forefront; you''ll always be met with difficult decisions," Geneva answered.

    She then silently turned towards Typhir and shook her head, "However, we''ll do everything in our ability to nurse him back to the best condition possible. But, you all need to focus on advancing your cultivation. Apollo, you stay behind for a bit."

    While Odessa and Nadida left, Apollo remained in the same spot. He continued to shift his gaze between Geneva, Robyn, and the others. At a nce, he was sure he was about to experience some me, however, rather than me, Geneva was much more interested in something else.

    "Can you call out you Spirit? ording to both Nadida, Odessa as well as the rest, you have sessfully contracted a Spirit, care to show us?" Geneva asked while extending her hand towards a clear spot.

    "Hoh? This looker wants me to appear? I''m sure she suspects you. The timing of my appearance and the raucous in the area is too coincidental. Unless someonees forward that they have formed a contract as well, I''m sure the heat will be shifted towards you," Fuhrermented while peering at Geneva.

    "I know," Apollo answered before switching to Geneva, "I can summon him, but I won''t guarantee that he will appear. Additionally, I''m not sure what you''re expecting but he isn''t some grand Spirit.''

    He muttered under his breath, "He''s a demon."

    "That doesn''t matter, we''d just like to verify the strength of your Spirit as well as its elements. If you fulfill the qualifications, then I''d like to allow you to sit in for the Vermillion mes Institute seeded seminar," Geneva answered. Despite the harrowing events, Geneva''s main focus was to cultivate the supreme talents of the academy.

    All of sudden, Apollo''s shadow burst, and Fuhrer appeared from within. Different from earlier, he was in his smaller form. However, small was still an understatement, while standing behind Apollo, he was the size of two of him.

    ''That''s one dark Spirit,'' Geneva inwardly thought while taking a step forward. But, the moment she did so, Fuhrer put his hand on his de. The atmosphere grew tense as fuhrer smirked under his helmet. On the surface, it may seem he was hostile, but he was well aware of her injury. In fact, that''s all he saw as he looked at her.

    "Ahem, I bear no malicious intent. I would just like sense your elements," Geneva stated. Simr to Apollo, a dark ck shadowy me burst from Geneva. As her Spirit appeared, the room was left stunned. Her Spirit was the humanoid form of a Dark Phoenix.

    Long cascading amethyst hair and sharp eyes on a stunningly gorgeous figure appeared before everyone, "Embreia, can you tell me if this Spirit has a high affinity for Fire?"

    As Embreia looked at Fuhrer, she blinked then showed an alluring smile before inhaling deeply. About 3 secondster, she showed an expression of horror, "T-this¡­ I can''t tell. I sense a me but it''s dreadful. At the very least, the potential of this being''s me is on par with mine but that is just an estimate, don''t take my word for it."

    Fuhrer turned towards and winked. When Embria inhaled, he red an obscenely pure Hellfire. Anyone outside of demonkind who came in contact with a me of that purity would fear it. At the level Fuhrer disyed, it burned through both foreign sin and physical matter.

    "Very well, I''ll get this matter sorted. You may return to your previous actions," Geneva stated before recalling Embreia. As Apollo left, Geneva was almost certain, ''He is undoubtedly linked to that decrepit feeling early. For now, I''ll keep this matter to myself, it isn''t in the best interest of Apollo if I disclose this matter. Plus, I don''t know how strong that Spirit is. It must use some unknown method of practice."

    ----

    Several momentster, Apollo arrived at his residence. The moment he entered, Fuhrer conjured a dark chair and took a seat, "I can tell you''re unhappy with your current situation. You feel that this development is unfair, correct?"

    "Yes, but I know Ick the power to change anything. Thus, I must get power. It''s time; I need you to familiarize me with the Second Annihtion and Umbra Phantom Mantle. I don''t want to stop training until both of those techniques are beaten into my very existence," Apollo replied.

    "Very well, but this area won''t suffice. Follow me," Fuhrer stated before snapping his finger. In mere moments, the two entered what seemed like a dark void, but it was in fact just an independent space created by the Fuhrer''s utilization of Demonic Anima.

    "ce some Anima Crystals around. When you reach the point of exhaustion, use the to refill yourself. Once your body has reached the brink of being broken, that is when it is time to truly learn. Anything learned at the point of near-death is somethingprehended almost perfectly," Fuhrer stated.

    Instantly, Apolloplied. After nting the crystals, the two began to train in two techniques. Just as Fuhrer mentioned, when Apollo struggled to go on, Fuhrer pushed him and Apollo began to understand his techniques on a deeper level. For example, he understood the purpose behind the second annihtion was to split everything apart. Once split, everything would head toward death.

    It was simr to the Demonic Massacre Wave except this one existed to cut all ties. For Apollo, he wasn''t sure how long he had been attempting to learn these techniques properly, but one this was for sure. As a result, his familiarity with Monarch''s Tenebrosity and his Dominance Intent increased.

    In the middle of training, Fuhrer stopped him. "You have advanced fairly well. How about we engage in some entertaining activities?"

    Naturally, Apollo agreed with him. But, when he looked at the message he received from the system, hepletely forgot to explore the new features further.

    ?System Alert! Due to your actions, you have received a total of 50 Demonic Achievement Points. Furthermore, the first Lucky Draw will be avable in 3 days. At that time, you''ll possess the chance to obtain vital material to assist your journey.?

    As Fuhrer exined his desires, Apollo disappeared under the veil of night. Due to the special effects of the Umbra Phantom Mantle, when used at night, it bolstered the effects nearly three times over. As he moved, there wasn''t a single person in the Outer Barracks who could sense him.

 Chapter 244 - Inciting Demonic Deeds

    ----

    When Apollo left, before doing anything, he visited Typhir. Unlike before, he had finally regained consciousness from the pain. Additionally, there were also signs of color returning to his face. However, when Apollo dropped his mantle, Typhir was surprised to see him standing right next to him.??

    "Apollo, what brings you here? I haven''t seen you at all in the past 3 weeks. Then again, I guess there''s not much to be talked about here is there," Typhir said with a pained smile. While it was a lie to say that he didn''t hold some small regrets from his mindless reaction, a part of him felt consoled that Apollo paid him a visit.

    "No, that''s incorrect, there are definitely some things to talk about. For example, your healing, how exactly is it going?" Apollo questioned while looking at Typhir''s bandaged torso. Theck of blood or fluids told him that Typhir''s regeneration rate should still be rather high.

    "My body is recovering but," Typhir paused and frowned while trying to clench a fist, "My power doesn''t stop losing power. I don''t know how I''ll face my family in this state. Not only will I be scolded, but I''m also sure my mother''s temper will explode," Typhir sighed.

    Meanwhile, Apollo pondered for a moment before posing a question, "What if I find a solution to this issue. I''vee to find that nothing in this world is absolute. For something to be so, it would require a power that, quite frankly, no one in this world possesses.

    In response, Typhir''s jaw dropped, "You said what?!"

    "I know, my words sound weird but allow me to exin, I have read some texts, and based on what I''ve seen, a lot of issues that gue man aren''t as drastic as they seem. So, what do you say if I can turn your tragedy into a blessing?" Apollo continued.

    "If that was truly possible, then I''d say hell yeah. But, you just said so yourself, no one in this world possesses the power to correct this matter, no?" Typhir countered. In response, Apollo simply smiled.

    "Don''t worry. You have proved your loyalty through your actions, from this moment forward, I will see you as one of my own. And, when ites to my own, I''ll make sure they''re properly situated," Apollo said before his body started to dissipate in the night.

    As he watched this, Typhir muttered to himself, ''That guy is really weird, but for some odd reason, I believe him. There''s a weird charisma to him that I can''t put my finger on.''

    When they reached outside, Apollo paused. While standing atop the building of theSpiritual Infirmary, he took a gander into the horizon at different angles. Before he made his next action, he looked below and saw both Odessa and Nadida approaching the infirmary.

    ''Now that I think about it, aren''t these two hanging around each other more often? I could have sworn those two hand countless differences upon their first meeting. Whatever, that matter is their business,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Soon, he pushed the matter to the back of his mind and focused on another task, "Fuhrer, can you use your perception to search the entire academy grounds?"

    "I can, but tell me what you''re looking for specifically. The more specific you are, the faster I can point things out for you," Fuhrer responded while appearing next to Apollo.

    "Tell me the position of Grayson and Reiner. Then, I want you to tell me and monitor the positions of the disciplinarymittee as well as Geneva and the upper personnel. I don''t want anyone getting in the way of what I''m about to do. Additionally, if there is any additional surveince, alert me of that as well," Apollo answered.

    Subconsciously, Fuhrer smiled, ''Beginning to sound like a true leader. It seems that the experience has opened his eyes to always hold a grasp of therger picture. If he did so before, this situation could have been avoided. Nevertheless, this incident was still in his best interest and easy on me as I didn''t have to orchestrate anything.''

    A few momentster, Fuhrer finished his thorough scan of the area. He found that the upper personnel wasn''t doing anything out of the ordinary. Moreover, they were confined to their typical areas. With this information, Apollo further cemented his course of action.

    "I found those two individuals but something is amiss. The area seems far too light, there isn''t even a single overseer. Hold on," Fuhrer said before honing in on some conversations taking ce. As he listened, he became privy as to why the area seemed so lifeless.

    "It appears that not only is your target in a foul mood due to extra restrictions ced on him, since ample time has psed, everyone feels the immensity of the situation has died down. As a result, the increased security has returned to its prior condition," Fuhrer said.

    Apollo took this as his signal to move. Stealthily, he moved towards Reiner''s position first. While his target should have been Grayson, after assessing the likelihood of everything going as he pleased, he realized the chances of getting them both were very slim. Thus, Apollo settled for the individual that vengeance should be unleashed upon.

    Several momentster, Apollo appeared at the side of Reiner''s residence. Much like his, there were wards upon wardsyered into a secured defense system. Fortunately, this is where Fuhrer came in. He extended a finger full of Hellfire and burned a small section of the security measurerge enough to fit Apollo in shadow form.

    They entered through a minuscule hole and appeared behind Reiner silently. Despite theck of academics, his residence in the special area was already paid for the month. In other words, his cultivation wasn''t targeted that much. Even now, he engaged in cultivation.

    ''Since no one else has dealt with you ordingly, I shall take these matters into my own hands,'' Apollo determined while exhaling. At the same time, a dangerous light filled Apollo''s eyes.

    Upon noticing this, Fuhrer chuckled and agreed with this behavior. He incited such dastardly thoughts, ''Indeed, that''s how one is to behave. When others prove to be unreliable, take matters into your own hand. More often than not, you''ll only be able to rely on your own judgment. To lead is both a great burden and blessing at the same time.''

    All of a sudden, a sweltering heat filled the atmosphere, but to Apollo, it feltfortable. Suddenly, Apollo spoke, "A series of unfortunate events is about to befall you, but don''t worry it is no one but your own fault. If you wish to me someone, then me the administration for making your punishment too light."

    Reiner was startled and jumped to his feet, "How did you get in here? It should be impossible to bypass the security measures. No, more importantly, what do you intend to do?"

    Almost immediately, Reiner went to retrieve his ax. It was only now that Apollo realized this weapon was in fact a Spirit! However, Apollo didn''te here to fight, he came to torture and exact revenge. Thus, he pointed towards Reiner.

    "Fuhrer, suppress him," Apollo ordered. Fuhrerplied and conjured a small suppressive field. It wasn''t like gravity where one''s body felt heavy, Reiner was robbed of the ability to move altogether, this included his essence as well.

    "Since you''re unable to see your mistakes, then I should bear witness to your end," Apollo stated in an almost emotionless manner. When he got near to Reiner, he popped out his eyeballs but left the nerves intact.

    "Fuhrer, sustain his vision and make sure he maintains consciousness," Apollo stated. During his training, he learned how to control his Demonic Anima better. As a result, he sacrificed a small portion of his Demonic Anima to undergo his Iraym transformation.

    When he saw Apollo''s form, Reiner wanted to scream in terror. But, with all movements sealed he could bear witness to what came next. The gauntlets around Apollo''s hands shimmered with Hellfire as he carved Reiner''s body.

    "This is a me you''ll never contest," Apollo said as he recreated Typhir''s wound on Reiner''s body. The only difference was the fact Reiner was missing much more flesh. By the time Apollo was done, there wasn''t an inch of Reiner''s body that wasn''t mutted.

    To make matters worse, the entire time, Reiner possessed front row seats as he experienced torture in two different ways. Numerous notifications sounded as Apollo stared into Reiner''s eyes.

    "Enjoy your end," Apollo chuckled with a smile before impaling both of Reiner''s ears and melting both his brain and Soul Temple with Hellfire. Finally, he absorbed all the residual energy in his Soul Temple before leaving.

 Chapter 245 - Ghastly Rumors Arise

    ----

    Before evacuating the premises, Apollo turned towards Fuhrer and had him perform another service, "Make sure to erase all traces of evidence that links us to this murder. Since they are so big on evidence, if there isn''t any, there won''t be an issue," Apollo stated while moving aside to allow Fuhrer to act.??

    While standing above Reiner''s corpse, Fuhrer held out his hand and absorbed the traces of demonic power left on Reiner''s body. Although it was something foreign to this world, Apollo was sure that his power had been exposed before. Thus, there was arge chance of this matter being linked to him should it be discovered.

    In a few short moments, Reiner''s residence was void of any sign of their presence. Once this wasplete, both Apollo and Fuhrer left. However, before leaving entirely, Apollo turned back and had a funny thought. He recalled the events that took ce inside Geneva''s headquarters.

    After weighing the benefits of casting this bait, Apollo proceeded forward with it. Three wisps of Hellfire appeared on his index finger. He then pointed at obscure corners of the room that would make for inconspicuous hiding spots. After leaving behind these small baits, he then followed behind Fuhrer.

    "Hoh? Why did you ask me to retract the aura if you were going to ce a new set?" Fuhrer questioned while looking at Apollo with an intrigued gaze.

    "The first set was mixed with your aura. If it shows that I used a Spirit for nefarious acts, I''m sure my bait will be rendered null. However, if only my aura is present, I''m sure they''ll understand that this was an act of vengeance," Apollo responded.

    "I see, but I must be missing the difference here. Whether I am involved or not, doesn''t the fact still remain that you have killed that boy?" Fuhrer added while rubbing his chin. No matter how he looked at it, the situation was the same. Luckily, from the way the initial incident was handled, Apollo learned the way to navigate punishment.

    "In a typical situation that would be true, however, there are a few facts that can''t be overlooked at the moment. Firstly, weeks have gone by. The fact that I have waited this long meant I must have been diligently training myself," Apollo answered.

    "Noted," Fuhrer replied.

    Apollo then went on to continue exining his take on the situation, "Secondly, if it is found that I aplished this matter on my own, it would highlight the fact my own talent and potential triumphs Reiner''s by many levels. As Geneva said, the interest of an individual doesn''t supersede the world''s security.

    "Lastly, with Reiner dead, they can''t afford to lose another talent. Thus, even if I''m to me for this, there isn''t much that can happen. One, there is no victim to rpense, and two, this ce is only seen as a means of resource in my eyes," Apollo stated with a yful smirk.

    If this was the way the world operated, he would take advantage of it by any means necessary. This was especially true when it came to dealing with those deemed to be an enemy. In light of this, Apollo started to think about Lazaro and how he would deal with him. He was sure that the next time he saw him, he would be on par with a Scion or at the very least, much stronger.

    "What a conniving outlook. If those fools were to know the reactions their actions have garnered, I''m sure they''ll reflect upon their choices. Nevertheless, continue traveling down this path of ruthlessness, when you meet the council, your backbone must not falter," Fuhrer stated.

    "The Council? This is the second time I''ve heard you mention them, what or even who are they?" Apollo questioned while tapping his foot against the next rooftop. In response, Fuhrer thought for a moment. Once he found a way to disclose the information in a way that wouldn''t mystify Apollo, he revealed it.

    "As you know, there are 7 Lords. In a sense, you can say all positions of order were birthed from the Monarch''s actions and desires. In addition to the Lords, he created a council that existed alongside their Lords. As a collective, they hold power equal to or slightly greater than the lords. However, their location is also only for the Lords and Monarch''s Candidates.

    "Until the real Monarch is born, their existence won''te into appearance again. Only when you appear will the rightful actions of the Lordsmence. As of right now, I''m sure the status of the Nihilistic Rings is shattered," Fuhrer revealed as both he and Apollo dropped before his residence.

    "I see," Apollo answered with a nod. However, his mind was focused on another matter. He was sure of it due to the confirmation given by the system.

    ?System Alert! Clues about the other hidden pieces have been discovered. The total number of hidden pieces is being calcted.?

    Meanwhile, Apollo looked in Fuhrer''s direction, "I have a question, how many demons are there on the Council?"

    "There are 66 of them and the weakest has reached the peak of the Archdemon state. I''ll leave it up to you to learn just how strong that is. Oh, they alsoe in many different forms, some of them have obscure powers meant solely for governing," Fuhrer answered.

    However, not long after Apollo asked this question, the system revealed the information previously undergoing calction.

    ?System Alert! The total number of hidden pieces determined by the system has been verified. All ounted for hidden pieces number: 73. As of right now, there are 72 more pieces to im. Power be to Monarch, sovereign of all Demons.?

    As he dismissed the notification, he reentered his residence. After checking on Ouroboros and ia, he sat down beside them and nced at the mirror. As he looked at himself, Apollo saw his image morph for a quick second. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn''t hallucinating. But, once again, when he looked into the mirror, an image simr to him shed.

    It barely made any movements, however, it pointed towards Apollo''s heart then forward then at him. As that happened, the phrase, "Always be confident in your actions, for your decisions will pave the way and resist theing of an end," entered his mind.

    While he didn''t understand it, he realized something from the image. There were uncertainties in his future. Slowly, he started to realize a thirst for power awakened inside him. It wasn''t birthed by his desire to protect, but his desire to stand above.

    Albeit slow, he wasing across his own purpose. Once this spectacle passed, Apollo closed his eyes and silently cultivated his Demonic Anima which in turn, slowly purified the Ira residing in his Diabolic Heart of Wrath.

    ----

    Weeks passed and Apollo rarely left the room, however, the moment he did, he realized there was something amiss. Almost as if he was instructed to do so, Apollo opened the door to reveal a distraught Odessa and Nadida. At first, Apollo thought it was due to the actions he performed, but when their eyes looked in the direction of the Spiritual Infirmary, Apollo knew there was more.

    "What is it?" Apollo questioned.

    "Well, first, I want you to tell me, did you kill Reiner?" Odessa questioned with a dismayed appearance. Surprisingly, Apollo didn''t deny it in the slightest, he simply shrugged. When they saw this, the two were certain he was the culprit. He was always so nonchnt about death, they started to realize it was almost like death was Apollo''s friend.

    "Well, you should know, both he and Grayson were confined to their rooms following the incident. But this morning, the other members of their circle visited them to discuss certain matters and Grayson ordered them to fetch Reiner, it was then that a harrowing sight was found. As we speak, I''m sure the administrators are being alerted!" Nadida blurted.

    Contrary to what they expected, Apollo asked a question, "Why did you look in the direction of the Spiritual Infirmary earlier?"

    "W-what? Well, wait, does this not unsettle you?" Nadida stammered.

    "Not one bit, there''s no proof that I did anything, I am innocent," Apollo answered before continuing, "Now exin."

    "Well, Typhir''s condition has suddenly worsened. It seems there was hidden damage done by Reiner''s attack. Typhir''s Natural Root isn''t just damaged, it''s being incinerated. It''s like Typhir''s body is boiling from the inside out," Odessa chimed in, disclosing the situation.

    Without hesitation, Apollo sprang out the door, however, at the gates of the Outer Barracks'' living quarters, he was stopped in his tracks.

 Chapter 246 - The Shadows Enshroud The Culprit

    ----

    Several moments before Apollo left his residence, the matters pertaining to Reiner were unveiled. The first one to get the message was Geneva, and within mere moments, she appeared before Reiner''s door. When she entered, the messy sight of his body immediately entered his eyes. Unlike a normal person, when a cultivator died, their body decayed much slower due to the presence of Natural Essence inside their body.??

    Thus, Reiner''s body barely decayed despite Apollo absorbing a significant amount of the residual energy in his mind. Unlike Sin, Apollo didn''t possess the current ability to draw energy directly out of a person''s body. Nevertheless, it was still a disturbing sight to behold.

    Due to Apollo''s painful procedure, Reiner died with a horrified look on his face. The contorted presence of terror on his face stared into the pits. ''This is terrible¡­ the amounts of pain he had to be under before death is unimaginable.''

    As Geneva approached the body, she bent down and touched his forehead. Upon realizing the fact that both his brain and Soul Temple were melted together, Geneva felt a cold shiver down her spine. ''Such ghastly means, to be capable of this, one would need to be born without a heart orpassion.''

    After she assessed the body, Geneva stood up and nced around the room. As of right now, she was sure this matter was linked to the incident involving Typhir. However, from what she saw, he and Apollo didn''t possess such a deep rtionship. Hence, she believed she was missing something at first.

    But, when she remembered hisck of response during her verdict, something clicked in her mind, ''No, it''s not that he didn''t mind at all, it was because his mind was already made up at the time. However, is it worth it to disclose this matter to everyone? Should I just leave the culprit in the shadows?''

    While thinking to herself, Geneva noticed an odd glint in different corners of the room. When she approached them and revealed what they were, her eyes widened. Before now, she thought she didn''t have any proof, but the appearance of these mes was a direct link to Apollo! Within the entire academy, he was the only one capable of utilizing these mes.

    The problem was, however, why did he leave them here? In the fight with what the Spirit was, the battlefield was wiped clean. Then, it hit Geneva, ''Could it be that he has dealt with Reiner himself? It''s usible, at his level, he wouldck the ability to vanquish his presence.''

    However, she soon altered her thoughts as she realized the cement of the body and the cement of the mes. ''No, something is still amiss. If there was a struggle, then Reiner''s aura would exist near the mes, his aura is missing. That means either there was no struggle whatsoever, or these mes were ced after the deed was done, or perhaps even both.''

    As she touched one of the mes, Geneva''s eyebrow rose. Every piece of Hellfire seemed to carry a small embedded message. When pieced together, it spelled out a single phrase, "Let the actions done in the shadows stay in the shadows and you shall be rewarded, you need me, you just don''t know it yet."

    When she read this message, Geneva felt an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach. Somehow, she felt as if he had unknowingly walked into the grasp of a devil. Unfortunately, whether or not she epted the message, her fate was sealed. Left with no other choice, she consumed the mes and left the room purged of any signs of evidence.

    Shortly after she did so, Rezar, Sylvester, and the higher-ups of the student council appeared. Since such a dreadful urrence took ce, all of the disciplinary powers were called to action. Be that as it may, Geneva was stumped when they all appeared. Based on the message she received, it was absolutely in her worst interest to let the culprit be revealed.

    As a result, she released a deep sigh and announced to the others, "As of right now, there is no evidence linking anyone to this crime. Not only did the nearby students not hear or see anything, but there are also no aurae present here. However, we will make it our duty to find the person behind this matter."

    However, immediately after she said this, Minerva stepped forward, "There is no need, the culprit is the bringer of death. He will bring us all to the precipe of death and then it will be up to him to decide her fate."

    When the others heard this, they frowned and looked at Minerva. Once again, she was speaking in a cryptic matter as they didn''t understand a single word of her. But, when they thought about it more, something clicked inside of everyone''s minds except Geneva.

    Unlike her, the rest were present went Apollo became a Seat. At that time, Minerva had said something to him along the lines of her present words. Thus, all four of them came to the conclusion.

    "You''re saying Apollo is the killer? How do you know?" Sylvester questioned while pushing up his ss with his index finger. In response, Minerva became silent and her eyes twitched uncontrobly. Then, she smiled at Sylvester,

    "I don''t but the prophecy knows, the prophecy knows all and it can never be wrong. My Oracle Mind is linked to the prophecy and my Eyes of the Six Fates allow me to understand the fate threads of the prophecy. At this scene, there is a ck thread. Until now, I have only seen a select few individuals with ck threads, however, I have never seen one so big," Minerva revealed.

    "The prophecy again is it¡­ very well. However, until we verify your findings, that will be pending. Before we approach a verdict, we''ll need to test Apollo. In my eyes, I don''t think he is strong enough to fight Reiner in his peak state, not to mention, a Reiner who has been cultivating for days on end," Rezar chimed in.

    But, Sylvester was quick to retort, "Don''t forget, he possesses a Spirit as well and one of unknown strength no less. You don''t know if he utilized his Spirit tomit this crime."

    "That idea can be dismissed. There is no anomaly in space nor is there any traces of spiritual essence being disturbing. In other words, there is no origin point of a Spirit being summoned. Furthermore, when Apollo''s Spirit first appeared before us, there is still a lingered darkness within the Headmaster''s office," Rezar responded, denouncing Sylvester''s ims.

    "True," Sylvester nodded in agreement. For a moment, the room fell quiet. With Apollo''s clearly thought-out actions, he left them in a bind. As of right now, everything for them was pure baseless spection. To change that, they would either need direct proof or for Apollo to admit.

    Sadly, the proof they needed was already within Geneva. Bymitting those actions, she already presented her stance on the matter. Thus, to get everyone to return to their prior actions, she voiced their course of action.

    "For now, we''ll leave this matter alone. In the meantime, I''ll seek to gather proof. But, we''ll make this clear right now, even if it is found to be Apollo''s we have to judge while keeping in mind that not just us, some of the Supreme Families have received word of him. I believe they look forward to seeing him in action inside the World Remation Task Force."

    Everyone in the room nodded in understanding. Truth be told, there wasn''t a single person in the room that was closely rted to Reiner, hence, his death wasn''t a great burden. Not to mention, unlike Typhir, he didn''t hail from a notable family. He was simply a talent, and more of those existing at his degree would always show up again.

    In light of this understanding, everyone dispersed. Only Geneva was left ncing in a certain distance. ''I will take this chance to maintain order but I still need to prepare a facade.''

    Unbeknownst to her, Minerva nced back in the direction of the residence and peered at the ck thread linking Geneva to a source in the distance. ''It seems the wheels of fate have already begun spinning. Will our headmaster be corrupted or will she prevail?''

    She then turned around and kept her findings to herself. After all, the thread at the moment was minuscule at best. It wasn''t worth mentioning, however, should she continue down her current path, Minerva was unsure of her fate. It didn''t seem to exist within her Eyes of Six Fates.

    Meanwhile, back in front of Apollo''s residence, he was annoyed by the person standing before him.

 Chapter 247 - Music To My Ears

    ----

    "It was you, wasn''t it! You are the one who killed Reiner," Grayson bellowed with a scowl on his face as he pointed at Apollo. Unlike the rest of his followers, Reiner was closer to an actual sibling to him. Hence, why Reiner acted without hesitation to ensure his safety.??

    Apollo looked at him and almost brushed him aside, but Grayson ced his hand on his chest, "You''re not leaving here without answers. Tell me, it was you who mutted his body like that, wasn''t it? What kind of demented thoughts exist in that sick, twisted mind of yours. You think that injury is equal to Reiner''s life?"

    As Grayson continued, Apollo merely nced down at his hand, "While your follower''s end is unfortunate, it doesn''t matter to me nor does it involve me. Additionally, who said it is up to you or me to determine what is equal or not? What if cultivation was someone''s life, ending their path of ascension is synonymous with ending their life, is it not?

    "So, tell me, how can you ascertain what is equal or not? This is just your subjective viewpoint. Now, take your hand off of me unless you don''t want it anymore," Apollo answered with a dangerous re while cing his hand on Grayson''s wrist.

    Before matters escted to an uncontroble level, Odessa intervened and pushed the two apart, "Enough! One major incident on the campus is more than enough. Besides, there is no proof linking Apollo to this, so until there is some, don''t throw around false assumptions!"

    Grayson clicked his tongue in annoyance, "There might not be any proof, but I know he is the culprit. Mark my words, I will make sure the truthes to light." After his snarl, Grayson withdrew his arm and exited from the premises.

    Meanwhile, Apollo simply continued to walk towards the Spiritual Infirmary. From the corner of his eye, he watched as Grayson disappeared and smirked, ''Fool, continue to mark yourself for death. Touch me again and I promise your end will be even more painful than your little friend''s.''

    "It''s like there is an issue surrounding you every day, just once. Once is all I ask for; don''t get into trouble and allow me to have some peace!" Odessa screeched while pulling Apollo''s ear.

    When he saw this, Fuhrer chuckled, ''Youngd, it seems you have a nice one on your hands. She isn''t scared to inflict damage upon you, you may just have met your match.''

    In response, Apollo just blinked while staring at Odessa, "Why are you doing this?"

    "Because you aggravate me! I also had other news to tell you but you are just far too aggravating!" Odessa continued toin.

    "Fine, I yield. I admit to my wrongdoings. Now tell me, what is this good news you speak of?" Apollo questioned while looking in her direction.

    "Well, as I said before, I would have to get in contact with my aunt to find out whether or not she would be able to help him. I got my answer recently, when I told her that I managed to secure your partnership, she praised me. She also agreed to take a look at your cousin''s injury," Odessa revealed.

    Upon hearing this, Apollo smiled, "That is good news indeed. I''ll ry the message to him when I see him. Speaking of which, have either of you seen Aaron recently? He''s been awfully quiet. Both Nadida and Odessa shook their heads.

    ''Hmm, it isn''t like him to be so quiet. I''ll have to check up on him,'' Apollo thought to himself. It wasn''t long before Apollo and the rest appeared in front of the Spiritual Infirmary. When they reached inside, they saw that Typhir''s state had deteriorated even further.

    All of his veins seemed to be filled with magma that was currently searing his skin. The only reason he wasn''t screaming in pain was due to the staff on hand healing his body. After all, injuries inflicted by Spirits were hard for humans to heal especially the type that Typhir suffered.

    Throughout the whole experience, Apollo and the rest waited by Typhir''s side. When the nurse stabilized his condition for the day, they left. Soon it was just the four, but when Typhir woke up, Apollo asked for just him and Typhir to remain inside.

    "Have you thought about what I said? Your current state is one full of pain isn''t it?" Apollo questioned while pulling up a seat to Typhir''s bedside.

    "I have, but how would you even make that happen? I don''t understand this part. Can you really correct this pain?" Typhir asked in return.

    In response, Apollo didn''t say a word, he simply let his actions speak for him. Fuhrer appeared by Apollo''s side and retracted his helmet. He bent over and examined Typhir''s body closely, "It''s a definite possibility. His physique is up to par, the question remains, is your Sin up to par? Can you sustain the process long enough?"

    "I''ll just have to try," Apollo remarked while exhaling.

    "I will let you know now, this had never been aplished by a demon in a Lesser State. At the very least, I have only seen a peak Greater Demon do so. However, because I am under a pact with you, I can''t initiate the change," Fuhrer revealed.

    Apollo nodded as he took in the information but it didn''t hinder him from moving forward. But, Fuhrer then revealed a piece of information that shocked both Typhir and Apollo.

    "He will have to die first. If he is dead, there is a higher chance of you turning him. This is the easiest bypass I can think of to cement the chance of his demonizing," Fuhrer said.

    However, what Fuhrer didn''t know was that because Apollo gained a 4th level authority, the Demon Monarch System was capable of better assisting him. As a result, when Apollo thought of demonizing Typhir, a prompt appeared before his eyes.

    ?System Alert! Due to your thoughts of acquiring your first controlled demon, the Demon Monarch System is judging their parameters.?

    As they waited, Apollo quietly stared at Typhir. Although the nurse tried to subdue the pain, Apollo could see signs of the injury bing aggravated once again. Fortunately, the general judgment of the system didn''t take long.

    ''Ding!''

    ?System Alert! Your candidate syncs well with the Sin of Ira, furthermore, their body also shows signs of Superbia. As a result, a Demon Knight possessing dual Sin paths will be born. However, due to your Lesser Demon state, your creation won''t and can''t exceed your own power.?

    Upon reading this information, Apollo smiled, "This is music to my ears, I don''t need to worry about finding the means to reverse your death. I now wee you to demonhood."

    Apollo extended his hand and ced it on top of Typhir''s forehead. At that moment, the final prompt to start the change appeared before his very eyes.

    ?System Alert! The process of Demonization is ready to begin. Do you wish to start the process? [Y/N]? W A R N I N G: Your Diabolic Heart of Wrath will serve as the source for your creation. As a result, your internal Ira may be depleted.?

    Naturally, Apollo didn''t mind this. His Ira being depleted was simply a temporary situation. He could easily absorb Fragments of Sins to remedy it. Not to mention, there was also the Lucky Draw and the fact he could also visit Ashiraem which was submerged in Ira.

    Without dy, Apollo epted and Typhir''s eyes widened in pain. Simr to Apollo, slits appeared on his wrist followed by two demonic symbols. However, if they looked closer, Apollo would realize that there were only 2 markings inside the symbol.

    Regr demons didn''t possess these markings. These markings held significance to the system as it was able to determine the extremity of a demon''s potential and judge their paths without fail. Soon enough, once all of the blood was drained from Typhir, he fell unconscious, as his organs changed, new blood was produced as sustained his body.

    "Hoh?" Fuhrer chuckled before sniffing, "I like him, this creation of yours. He is perfect. On your next visit, bring him into Ashiraem, his body should be equipped enough to withstand it. Furthermore, there is a high chance he is an Iraym."

    "Even if you didn''t say this, I intended to so. After all, I''m one step closer to making that Household you talked about," Apollo said.

    "Indeed, but there''s still one issue, how will you exin the fact that he has recovered from this despair-ridden situation?" Fuhrer asked.

    In response, Apollo smiled. He had already thought this through. All of a sudden, his countenance turned deathly pale and he muttered, "I have it all handled."

 Chapter 248 - The Headmaster Beseeches

    ----

    As Typhir''s process of demonization continued, Apollo feigned a state of Soul Weakness. If anyone asked the reason behind Typhir''s abrupt recovery, he would simply use his current state as an excuse. If that didn''t suffice, he even possessed the alternative, which was to disclose to Geneva that his Spirit possessed a type of one-off ability, where it could sacrifice a portion of his Soul to reinvigorate the individual of his choosing.??

    However, he also thought up of a bacsh and the like to go with it. Such a technique could only be used once a beyond. Beyond that and it would begin to affect his lifespan. All of the bases of questioning had been covered by him. Whether it was Geneva or the others, he possessed the means to quell their interrogation.

    Now that he possessed a viable alibi to clear the suspicion around Typhir''s recovery, Apollo remained by his bedside. In the meantime, he closed his eyes and started to absorb the ambient essence to recuperate. In addition to this, Apollo also started to silently chant the mantra of his stigmata.

    As the remaining Ira seethe in his body, it started to propagate. One portion split in half and this process continued at a slow pace. During that period, Fuhrer never returned to his shadow. On the contrary, he continued to look at Typhir and his current state, ''Fascinating, how exactly did he warrant this? If I''m not mistaken this transformation shouldn''t be possible. I expected him to be a demi-demon, however, it seems to me he will be a full-blown Lesser Demon.''

    Fuhrer continued to marvel at the changes Typhir was undergoing. The more he witnessed, the surer he became, ''It''s him. I have yet to see someone born with nearly identical parameters, it''s uncanny. If he practices efficiently, there is no doubt this boy can reach the Noblesse stage. If he can show even more merit, perhaps my search for a sessor wille to an end.''

    Meanwhile, Apollo didn''t pay attention to Fuhrer''s antics. He was focused on recuperating at the moment. After all, something told him he would need a substantial amount of energy within his body soon enough. If not, he was sure his ns would fall through.

    Suddenly, a series of knocks were heard on the door. Apollo slowly opened his eyes and looked towards the door. At the same time, Fuhrer performed the same actions, however, a sharp glint shed through his eyes as he peered past the door. When he saw who it was, Fuhrer ryed the information to Apollo.

    "I believe it''s either for you or this boyying in the bed, either way, the girls have returned," Fuhrer revealed while turning back towards Typhir. On the other hand, Apollo announced for them toe in. Since he asked for the room, in truth, both Nadida and Odessa never left, they just simply took a seat outside. However, they grew restless as a few hours since then had already passed.

    Thus, without dy, the two opened the door and entered inside before closing it behind them. Almost immediately, Apollo''s deathly pale appearance entered their view causing them both to gasp, "Oh my goodness, Apollo! What happened?"

    In response, Apollo pointed towards Typhir, "I simply helped him. Now, his state is much better than what it was. I just need to recover and this issue will pass," Apollo said before attempting to close his eyes again.

    Unfortunately, he was in the presence of an overly emotional girl. Nadida ran up and clutched with jubnce apparent in her eyes, "I knew it! You have a heart, you''re not just some madman looking to kill everyone, there is stillpassion inside you. But...this state you''re in, you don''t look very good. What exactly did you do?"

    Before Apollo could answer, Odessa narrowed her eyes and inspected him down to the finest detail, "All of his symptoms are rted to a weakness in the soul. Tell me, does that current state have something to do with utilizing your Spirit? And, is your Spirit currently hurt?"

    When Apollo heard this questioning, his eyebrow jumped. However, it was not because he was surprised by her in-depth questioning, it was because of how easy it was to dupe her into believing this was truly the case. Naturally, Apollo yed along as this was closely rted to the excuse he conjured.

    When he revealed that it was the truth, Odessa surprisingly didn''t question any further. On the contrary, she seemed to be a bit worried. Finally, she opened her mouth and voiced what was guing her mind, "Please tell me you didn''t affect your potential by doing this. I''ve warned you before that the matters pertaining to the safety of Spirit is very sensitive."

    "No, my potential is just fine. My body is simply exhausted of vitality. As long as I absorb enough essence, I''m sure to make a full recovery," Apollo responded with a small smile. Be that as it may, a part of Odessa still didn''t believe him. Thus, she moved forward and raised her hand while performing a small chant.

    The Lineage Spirit she possessed was invoked as she assessed Apollo''s current state. Upon finding out that his Soul was in fact untouched, Odessa breathed a sigh of relief. Furthermore, since she only activated the Spirit to check Apollo''s condition, the bacsh wasn''t too great. There was just a slight throbbing sensation present in her mind.

    At that time, Typhir''s eyes suddenly opened. Like Apollo''s they underwent a change as the previously amber color was mixed with purple as well now. Since this was all new to him, when he sat up, a burst of energy emitted from his body.

    Due to his awakening, Apollo received a collection of notifications detailing a few restrictions as well as unknown abilities.

    ?System Alert! Your Demonic Acolyte has been born, please name them to grant them ownership of their abilities.?

    Without much thought, Apollo simply gave him the same exact name, ''Typhir.'' All of a sudden, his eyes illuminated with power before calming down.

    ?System Alert! The creation of your Demonic Acolyte isplete. You must not, a Demonic Servant and Acolyte are different. Servants can be summoned but Acolytes are seemingly a part of you. There is arger connection present than with a servant.?

    ?System Alert! Typhir, your Demon Knight possessed dual-paths, his fate is interlocked with a piece as is yours. All steps that a taken are predetermined.?

    As the notification resounded, Apollo watched as Typhir clutched his head, "So it was really true, I didn''t think you were actually capable of it. But, why do I also feel so different? It''s almost as if anyone who threatens you will have to fall before my sword," Typhir uttered.

    He then was about to continue, but what he wanted to say appeared in Apollo''s mind. Thus, he raised his hand and uttered, "Silence." Without fail, Typhir shut his mouth. When Apollo saw this, he was quite shocked.

    ''Don''t be confused, this is an ability granted by the Monarch''s Dominance Intent. Since he was birthed from your Sin, you have control over him as long as your power retains sovereignty over your acolytes,'' Fuhrer revealed.

    Concurrently, another message appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

    ?System Alert! W A R N I N G: Due to your current state, there is a restriction you need to be aware of, there is a restriction on your current creation limit. In light of your current state of demonhood as well as your Sin Mastery and number of activated Sins, the number of acolytes you create at the moment can''t surpass 4.?

    Upon hearing this, Apollo rubbed his chin. Truthfully speaking, he didn''t think about turning more people, but now that this information appeared, this opened a new route for him to explore. Still, the system also indicated another need to know.

    ?System Alert! Based on the Sin used as the base for demonization, their core being will be affected by that Sin. As a result, there is a chance of you creating an entirely new being. Nevertheless, their loyalty towards you is still absolute, except for some rare cases.?

    On top of the notifications, Apollo felt his pocket vibrate. As he looked at it, he realized the Headmaster was beckoning for him. It appears she needed him to appear before her in her office.

    Thus, once he made sure Typhir''s state was stable, he prepared to leave, "Wait until your body ispletely under your control and then you can move. Furthermore, consider that issue dealt with. In the meantime, just focus on growing stronger," Apollo said before disappearing under the embrace of the night skies.

 Chapter 249 - Averting Suspicion, Presenting Desires

    ----

    Several moments after his beckon, Apollo arrived before the Administration Hall. Even as he stood before the grand building, there wasn''t a shred of nervousness present on Apollo''s face. If all of his actions unfolded as he expected them to, then there was a certain amount of leverage on his side. Furthermore, he also possessed a shocking piece of information that he had yet to disclose. ??

    ''Let the gamesmence,'' Apollo thought before pressing his hands against the door. Before moving upstairs, he waited a short period for someone to fetch him. Once he arrived before Geneva''s door, he entered the portal without hesitation. Immediately, as he entered, he caught wind of Geneva''s stern yet appealing features.

    "Hello Miss Headmaster," Apollo chuckled before taking a seat in front of her desk. When she heard the yfulness in her voice, Geneva was both taken aback by hisck of fear and disgruntled by the fact he seemed to be taking her lightly.

    "Drop the facade, we both know you''re a headache in the making. I beckoned you here for multiple reasons; first, this is just for peace of mind. So go on and tell me, how did you kill Reiner? He should be far stronger than you are when he is in his peak state, so tell me, was it your Spirit, who also went against the world?" Geneva questioned.

    Despite her probing questioning, Apollo showed ack of expression. His poker face was spectacr, Geneva couldn''t find the slightest sign of him being the culprit, although her gut feeling told her it was the truth.

    "Hm? Is that information significant? That doesn''t matter, he''s dead so let the dead stay that way," Apollo answered. From her aura, he could tell that there was only curiosity and no hostility present. However, Apollo didn''t see any benefits arising from his admitting to doing so. Thus, he didn''t.

    "That may be true, but this isn''t for the reasons you think. I just want to understand how much your strength has grown in this short period of time. So tell me, are you capable of killing Reiner," Geneva once again pressed the matter, but this time, it seemed she possessed an ulterior motive.

    "First, tell me why you''re asking? What your intentions behind acquiring this information," Apollo inquired. At this point, Apollo was sure the message hidden within his Hellfire was well received. While she may not understand exactly what he meant, he was sure the Headmaster''s intellect wasn''tcking. She should be more than capable of realizing a hidden meaning within his words.

    "Well, if I''m being honest, death is a normal urrence, I won''t press the matters. Instead, if you showcase enough talent to fill both your and Reiner''s shoes, I''ll allow you to assume his spot inside the Vermillion mes Institute. So tell me, are you capable or not?" Geneva answered in return.

    In response, Apollo smiled, ''As I thought, she is a sly one indeed. Through the allure of rewards, she''s trying to get me to confess. I think I''m starting to like this woman. She''d make a decent addition with that cunning tongue,'' Apollo mused silently while ncing at Geneva''s tapping finger. It seemed she was bing restless.

    "Very well, I am more than capable," Apollo sinctly answered. The moment he gave this answer, Geneva''s expression lightened, but there is still one matter that bothered her, "Why was there ack of signs of struggle at the scene of the incident?"

    "The answer is quite simple, it''s because there was no struggle, to begin with. From the beginning, Reiner was suppressed and I dealt with him as I pleased. Since he was a little heavy-handed, so was I. I might have just gone to the extremes, but nevertheless, I''ll never allow a weed to grow and interfere with my growth," Apollo answered in a nonchnt manner.

    "I see," Geneva nodded and then fell silent. A short momentter, she looked around and held out her hand. By utilizing the special permission granted to her by her headmaster position, Geneva sent a mass message to her subordinates. When they received it, they stopped pressing the matters surrounding the death of Reiner.

    "For appearances'' sake, I have instructed the other that I have you in my custody, but nearly all of them have agreed to handle the situation exactly how Grayson''s incident.

    In response, Apollo shook his head, "That won''t suffice. I''d like to keep their academic credits. After all, there''s no one to receive it. The victim is dead so there is no one it can go to. Thus, I would like to continue receiving their garnished credits. I''m sure we can make this happen, right Miss Headmaster?"

    Once again, Geneva was taken aback, thisd was too gluttonous. Not only did not seem gratified by the fact Geneva hinted that he would avoid punishment, but he also wanted to keep the benefits presented from before. It took some time, but Geneva ultimately nodded and agreed to it.

    Unlike the rest, due to their deal, Apollo didn''t possess any other source of credits outside of his own actions. Hence, when the opportunity presented itself, Apollo needed to take advantage of all possible benefits.

    "Now, I have a set of questions of my own. Why did you devour my me with that impatience before and what was that look of intoxication? Is there something you aren''t disclosing? If I remember properly, Irauk called you the Dark Phoenix," Apollo questioned.

    He leaned forward and rested his chin on his wrist. This was something that always gued his mind. The Headmaster''s identity appeared to be not simple at all. Furthermore, she was also rted to Sapphyr.

    "What do you mean and what are you insinuating with that tone?" Geneva narrowed her eyes. Subconsciously, she clutched the torso of her crimson robes behind the desk. While this action escaped Apollo''s eyes, it didn''t escape Fuhrer''s.

    ''Hoh? She''s hiding one nasty secret as I told you before. Now I''m even more sure of it, there''s something amiss with her body,'' Fuhrer revealed.

    On the other hand, Apollo shrugged and chuckled in a lighthearted manner, "Nothing much, I just want to know what secret you''re hiding in your body and why did it cause you to leave the battlefield. Based on what I''ve seen from you, your demeanor isn''t one who willingly leaves the battlefield."

    He then continued, "Could it be that you were injured?"

    Suddenly, Geneva''s eyes widened, "Where did you get this information?! You''re far too young to be privy to any of those ssified events nor do you possess the connections to pry this information out of the limited people who know."

    "The source is you, do you recall the message I left in your little gift?" Apollo chuckled further. He then conjured a wisp of Hellfire and glided his finger across Geneva''s desk.

    As she looked down at his finger, Geneva focused on it. A ringing entered her ears as her surroundings became blurred. The only thing present in her sight was the Hellfire. The more she looked at it, the more her desire to have it grew. In fact, her wound on her torso started to throb.

    When he noticed this, Apollopounded on her momentary weakness, "It''s enticing, isn''t it? You would love to devour this once again, wouldn''t you? If you do, all you need to do is answer my question; what secret are you hiding?"

    Slowly, Geneva obliged. She grabbed the corner of her robes and lifted her robes until her terrifying wound was on disy. "This is why I have left; it is a wound that I received from a Terror. Now that I''ve upheld my side of the bargain, uphold yours," she said in an almost snarling manner.

    In return, Apollo became even more whimsical, "Hold your horse, first, tell me how you got this wound, I''m interested. If you do, I''ll let you devour all of this," Apollo voiced before turning his hand over. As he conjured arge cluster of Hellfire, Geneva''s eyes shimmered, she desired to consume it.

    With her willpower nearly depleted under the enticement of the Hellfire, Geneva went on to reveal the source of her injury. As Apollo gained this information, he also felt something was amiss. When she mentioned a near Disaster-Grade Terror, there was an odd fluctuation in her voice. At first, he thought it was just due to her innate fear, but then he processed the information further.

    Nevertheless, Apollo presented her the Hellfire and witnessed the faint shade of ecstasy that appeared in her eyes.

 Chapter 250 - The Corruption Of Hellfire Entices

    ----

    Compared to the wisp of Hellfire she first consumed upon testing Apollo, the cluster of mes that resided before her very eyes were on apletely different level. Before, it wasn''t capable of enrapturing her mind, but now, her desire to have it was overflowing. Even if Apollo didn''t allow her, in her current state, there was a chance she would im it by any means necessary.??

    As she stared at the mes, her lips quivered. Her eyes pleaded for the me and the flickering beauty tantalized her. The tititing me danced in her eyes until finally, Apollo extended his hand. However, as he did so, he also posed a question, "What does this me do for you that makes you so attached to it?"

    "It healed me before," Geneva muttered in an almost docile tone. At the same time, she finally gave in and consumed the entirety of the mes. After thest wisp flowed past her ruby lips, sheid back in the chair and traced her neck with an expression of ecstasy, "This feels...amazing!"

    Meanwhile, Apollo marveled at this scene silently. He was surprised by her honesty and disy of almost unmatched seduction. This was all new to him, a side of a woman he had never seen before. Moreover, he didn''t know that Hellfire carried such an addictive personality. However, Fuhrer added more information to what he inferred.

    "She is dooming herself," Fuhrer stated before examining Geneva''s wound heal before his eyes, "I have some harrowing news for you, well actually for her, that Hellfire isn''t exactly what it seems. The reason she is so addicted to it is that she is sumbing to the first phase of corruption," Fuhrer revealed.

    "Corruption, you say?" Apollo muttered while ncing at Geneva''s figure. For now, she didn''t change into her enrapturing form that resembled a phoenix''s fiery appeal.

    "Indeed, I said corruption. After all, hellfire isn''t meant to be absorbed by beings other than Demons of Wrath. Furthermore, it definitely is not meant to meld with her essence. Thus, this process will happen even faster in her case. While her wound may be healing, she is dooming herself," Fuhrer nodded along with Apollo.

    Upon hearing this, the way Apollo looked at Geneva changed. While she was still in her trance-like state, Apollo moved closer and conjured yet another cluster of Hellfire, "Miss Headmaster, if I said this was no good for you would you still ept it?"

    Mindlessly, Geneva immediately answered, "Yes, because I want it. Nothinges close to the pain I have felt for the past 15 years. If it means I can avoid feeling the pain, I don''t mind suffering the consequences."

    Silently, Apollo nodded and presented it to her. As she consumed this cluster as well, Apollo eyed her as prey, "Very well, the consequences of your actions is as such, you will be mine," Apollo chuckled before taking another seat.

    "Hoh? Lad, you are hastening her corruption on purpose. Could it be you intend to turn her? But I must say, it''ll take quite some effort, she''s much stronger than you are," Fuhrer voiced as he nced at Apollo''s amused expression.

    "That might be true for right now, but if I monitor the amount of hellfire I allow her to consume and cause her reasoning to face at the proper pace, her willpower will be whittled away. In exchange for the thing she desires, I''ll acquire her loyalty. After all, there isn''t another person on this world capable of what I''m doing," Apollo answered after giving the matter some thought.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer nodded and agreed with his action, ''Acquiring another pawn through the use of schemes and intricate nning. That shows his capability to develop adequate ns is up to par. Not to mention, this is just an auxiliary talent. Unlike those who only focus on schemes, his mind is also focused on improving his strength. Truly a fine specimen you have created, perhaps he will in fact seed you,'' Fuhrer silently mused while into the distance.

    On the other hand, when the ecstasy brought about by the Hellfire subsided, Geneva gazed into Apollo''s direction with hazy eyes, "Can I have more?"

    "Hoh? More you say? In exchange, for every cluster I give you, you have to award me 1,000 Academic Credits, what do you say?" Apollo asked, testing the waters of her current corruption. After some deliberation, she finally came to a decision.

    "That can be arranged, however, it can''t becking. The me needs to be just as strong as the previous two," Geneva replied while ncing down at her wound. Compared to its initial state, it had undergone visible healing. At this current rate, as long as he ingested the Hellfire regrly, she was sure she''d recoverpletely soon enough.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer appeared before Geneva and removed his helmet. Furthermore, his armor also receded as well. In exchange, reddish-purple skin appeared before Geneva. Moreover, his aura of death and ughter was still unable to be concealed. Or rather, he didn''t attempt to conceal it in the slightest.

    "You have already fallen victim, thus it is safe to disclose this to you, you have absorbed too much of my liege''s me. In the future, your fate is to be his possession. There is no room for negotiation nor is there any room for rejection, do you understand?" Fuhrer questioned before presenting an imperious aura.

    When she looked at it, Geneva recoiled out of instinct. But, no matter how she tried to avoid it, Fuhrer''s pressure bared down on her. After all, when on mastered Superbia, their pride became tangible to the point it could even be utilized as an attack.

    Left with no other choice, Geneva gave in. She nodded her head after looking Fuhrer in the eyes, "So this is why the world failed to suppress you, your presence is too strong. What type of Spirit are you?"

    "We are Demons! And we will bring about the end to begin our rightful uprising," Fuhrer stated before pointing his finger at her, "Furthermore, you will join our cause and our ranks. As for your position, that will depend on your potential. In the meantime," Fuhrer paused as his eyes shined with a ravishing ck light.

    "You will continue your actions as if nothing ever took ce, do you understand?" Fuhrermanded in a tone that didn''t allow for disobedience. Again, Geneva obliged.

    However, Apollo was curious. If she was already being corrupted, what was the reason for Fuhrer applying additional force? "What was all that about Fuhrer?"

    "That was needed, think of it as a precaution. Remember, she is only in the first phase of corruption, which means her state of mind isn''t absolute. There''s a chance that her mind may regain rity at odd moments. Thus, you should just think of this act as a means of reinforcement," Fuhrer responded.

    As he heard this, Apollo understood the logic behind his actions. Suddenly, Apollo was met by intrigue. He wondered if it was possible to change Geneva at this very moment. While her cultivation was unknown, based on both Azridan and Fuhrer''sints, the cultivation realms of this world couldn''t be that hard to deal with.

    Hence, Apollo held out his palm and once again thought about changing the person in question in a Demon. However, when he read the prompt, he understood this was currently beyond him.

    ?System Alert! The individual of interest is unable to be changed into a demonic acolyte. Based on their current dwindling parameters, if they are changed, they will exist at a strong Greater Demon level. Since you are still a Lesser Demon, and your authority is too low, this unable to happen.?

    Nevertheless, what Apollo didn''t know what that every time the system scanned someone he took interest in, they would feel his desire. Thus, when Geneva felt it, a slight blush entered her cheeks, "For you to desire me that way, you''re too young. Maybe a few years down the line but as of right now, the answer is no."

    Of course, Apollo didn''t really understand what she meant so Apollo shrugged his shoulder. But, what he did know was that there were a few obscure Sins present in Geneva. Compared to Typhir, Apollo was sure she would be harder to control.

    Be that as it may, Apollo conjured a final cluster of Hellfire. Unlike, thest two times, when she absorbed this bunch, her body immediately morphed. Unbeknownst to him, he had provided her enough energy to reactivate her special bloodline.

    "Hoh? I just remembered something, you are still in a dormant state. Your soul hasn''t released that yet. I need to know, have you experienced any weird urrencestely?" Fuhrer abruptly asked. Immediately, Apollo was reminded of the event in the mirror.

 Chapter 251 - Behold, The Dark Phoenixs Enthralling Appearance

    ----

    As Geneva transformed, Fuhrer''s thoughts were spurred. First of all, Geneva''s true appearance was quite shocking. If she was deemed a beauty before, then now that her true prowess was temporarily unlocked, she was more of a fiery and unrivaled beauty. However, that wasn''t what stumped Fuhrer. It was a matter pertaining to Apollo.??

    Upon ncing at Apollo, he recalled that most of Apollo''s abilities should still be dormant. However, now that he was growing stronger, signs of his identity should be appearing. Hence, he was interested to know whether or not this was true. While he didn''t understand the ns the First Monarch left in ce for his sessors, there was one thing he understood, his old friend wasn''t one to move without thinking multiple steps in advance.

    "Has anything odd been happening to youtely? If so, I''d like you to exin them to me," Fuhrer said while crossing his arms. Before determining his course of action, Fuhrer needed extra information as to where Apollo currently resided on awakening himself.

    "I recall one odd urrence, however, why do you ask?" Apollo questioned. As always, Apollo''s curiosity prohibited him from moving without information. Of course, Fuhrer wasn''t an enemy, so there wasn''t anything to hide. However, Apollo never mentioned the system because it still seemed his ability to do so was blocked.

    Anytime he thought to ask Fuhrer if he was aware of the Demon Monarch System, the words wouldn''t form. In fact, his mouth wouldn''t even open to utter those words. Thus, he gave up on trying to pry any information surrounding the system from anyone else.

    Outside of the current warden, Azridan, Apollo was sure that he was forbidden from discussing the matters with anyone else.

    "Well, take a look at this woman. What do you notice about her that is odd?" Fuhrer questioned. At first, he was going to answer, but then he thought it was more rewarding to have Apolloe across the discovery on his own. Once he did so, he would reveal why he asked his question.

    For a few moments, Apollo was silent as he examined Geneva. In exchange, when she felt his focused gaze, Geneva''s expression underwent a slight change. Firstly, she swayed her hips and leaned her hands on her waist, "Is there something in this direction that you like? Why are you looking at me like that?"

    Apollo''s eyebrows rose as he was taken aback by her abrupt change in behavior. It was like whatever was repressed inside was bubbling out of her. Unlike her usual poised self, she seemed morebative and almost vain. There was a faint sign of haughtiness appearing from her actions. Nevertheless, Apollo didn''t pay this any mind, he had more important matters to find out about.

    "I''m not sure if it is correct, but I''m guessing you''re talking about these obscure fluctuationsing from her body. I don''t think it has anything to do with her wound, so it must be linked with her. Could it be a bloodline?" Apollo asked in an unsure tone.

    In response, Fuhrer smirked and nodded, "That''s part of it but let''s address that matter for now since you have found it. That woman indeed possesses what is known as a bloodline. Compared to us demons, however, the one she possesses to have a weird origin. Her ancestor must not be from her species."

    Silently, Apollo looked at Geneva and nodded. When she heard their conversation, she joined the conversation, "It''s true. One of my ancestors is a Spirit Beast which took up human form. However, I am also the only one to awaken this bloodline within thest millennia, it is my pride."

    Upon hearing this, Apollo nodded. He then recalled ia. ording to her, there were differing levels of bloodlines. As far as he knew, ia possessed a Royal Illusion Fox bloodline. Thus, he started to be curious about Geneva''s bloodline.

    "If it is your pride, what level has it reached?" Apollo asked with a small smile. That simple action seemed to irritate Geneva as she scoffed lightly. In her eyes, she thought he was almost mocking her bloodline. But, then she remembered how unusual this youth was and how she couldn''t judge him by normal standards.

    "It''s an Ancient Bloodline. If I didn''t possess my bloodline, I wouldn''t have survived all these years. After all, a phoenix isuded for its vitality. When ites to lifeforce, they possess one of the most tenacious ones," Geneva answered while sticking out her chest slightly.

    This action amused Apollo but he didn''t react to it much. However, he did have another question, "Is that the next bloodline after Royal? If so, how does itpare?"

    "How much do you know about bloodlines?" Geneva asked. From his questions, she could tell his knowledge of the matter was superficial at best.

    "Spotty, except for a few bits, it is all a foreign topic for me. However, it seems like you want to educate me, so please do," Apollo chucked in response.

    After some time, Geneva agreed and started to impart some information, "Firstly, I need you to understand that Royal Bloodlines are near the bottom of the chasm as far as bloodlines go. From the weakest to strongest, there are Normal Bloodlines which means an expert or beast has reached a level that allows their techniques and abilities to be branded into their life essence. Typically, branch families of Great Families possess this.

    "Next, there are the Royal Bloodlines. This means an expert residing at the Spirit Lord Realm. Only a Spiritual Cultivator can perform the technique required to engrave their life essence. Following this, we have Imperial Bloodlines, this means the progenitor of the bloodline reached the Spirit Emperor Realm. By then, they''re quite a force to be reckoned with," Geneva stated before taking a pause to verify that Apollo was following.

    Once he nodded, she proceeded to go even deeper, "Beyond Imperial, there is Sovereign Bloodlines. However, there''s a catch, Imperial Bloodlines are arge watershed. Even Spirt Sages and Spirit Saints are only capable of leaving this level. In order to leave behind a Sovereign Bloodline, it requires a Spirit Sovereign. You must know, as of right now, there isn''t a single one alive. Or at least, to the known public this is the case."

    When he heard this, Apollo rubbed his chin. Until now, he wasn''t sure what the strongest expert in this world was, but ording to Geneva there seemed to be ack thereof, "Then I''m guessing Spirit Sovereign is thatst obtainable level?"

    "No, there is also a Spirit Ancestor. Throughout history, there have only been 4 such experts. And, whenever they are born, it means there is imminent danger iing. Throughout the thralls of history, there was a catastrophe that apanied their appearance," Geneva stated before adding even more information.

    "My Ancient Bloodlinees from the next set of bloodlines. In truth, it is a bloodline left behind by Ancestor level experts, but it also gains its grandeur from the ability to be passed down without losing potency."

    "I see," Apollo nodded in understanding.

    Suddenly, Geneva''s state started to falter. The temporary resurgence of power was fading away fast through the hole still present inside the wound. As that happened, Fuhrer took a step forward, "When I asked you earlier, it was due to one single thing. I need to verify whether or not you possess the Monarch''s Primordial Bloodline."

    "I''m not sure, but I have been seeing glimpses of unknown events and what seemed to be the future," Apollo answered. This started to appear around the time the system increased to Level 4. Of course, this was something he couldn''t disclose.

    As a result, Fuhrer nodded. All of a sudden, he thrust his hand towards Geneva. Before she could react, his hand passed through her and clutched something incorporeal. "While you may not be able to turn her, you can still make use of her. Unlike the others, her state is beneficial to you. As I recall, your body should suffer from debilitated vitality, correct?"

    "That''s right," Apollo confessed.

    "Exactly, so absorb some of hers. If her bloodline is as strong as she says, it should assuage some of the issues present in your body. Furthermore, it won''t hurt her as your Hellfire is still active within her. Whatever you borrow will be supplemented by the Hellfire," Fuhrer revealed.

    Without sparing much thought, Apollo nodded. With no hesitation at all, Fuhrer retracted his arms and withdrew arge portion of inner energy. When the happened, Geneva''s formpletely reverted.

 Chapter 252 - Hellfire Devours Foreign Sin

    ----

    Once Apollo gave his okay, Fuhrer took it upon himself to im an abundance of the energy before it disappeared. In addition to her vitality, it seemed he extracted other powers as well. However, just as Fuhrer said, the Hellfire present in her body sustained her. Due to her odd physique, fire was her sustenance. If it was anyone else, this wouldn''t be the case.??

    Unlikest time where her countenance paled, there were no signs of weakness present. The only irregrity was the unsatisfied frown on her face. However, Fuhrer told Apollo not to give in to herints. Since he had already given her three clusters of Hellfire, her body held more than enough for the time being.

    Any further actions would just be supporting her indulgence. Furthermore, Apollo''s Hellfire was growing thin. One must remember, most of his Ira was utilized to demonize Typhir. The piddling amount he recovered wasn''t worth mentioning when taken into ount how much volume his Diabolic Heart of Wrath could hold.

    Nevertheless, when Apollo looked at the cluster of energy, he became skeptical. There were presences inside the cluster that he was unable to identify. While it looked to be Sin, it wasn''t anything he was familiar with.

    Upon noticing his expression, Fuhrer chuckled, "You know, the Phoenix has another name, especially our world. If a Dark Phoenix is born, it is known as a bird of pride. I''m sure you can glean what I''m trying to say."

    "You mean to say that her essence is wreathed in Superbia?"

    "Not quite, while anyone outside of Demons can indulge in sin, only us Demons draw on the proper source. For any other existence, they create an impure Sin. Nevertheless, we Demons exist to refine those impurities and propagate Sin," Fuhrer answered.

    "In addition to Superbia, her specific actions have made her susceptible to many forms of sin. As far as I can tell, she may have an affinity with up to 4 Sins. If she were to enter the Nihilistic Rings, I''m sure there''s a chance she can at least be an Archdemon," Fuhrer added after sparing the essence in his hand a cursory nce.

    As of right now, the two spoke through their mental connection. While Fuhrer had revealed his identity as a Demon, there weren''t many implications behind it. Since he was a Spirit, the cultivators there were a plethora of worlds to attune with. Hence, the options of a Spirit were immense. However, if Apollo''s identity as a Demon was exposed, there was no doubt he would be targeted.

    In the meantime, Fuhrer stored the energy inside his body until Apollo was done. With the amount of energy he drew, if he let Apollo absorb it, he was almost certain Apollo would enter his Iraym Form. Once that happened, either he would have to kill Geneva or at the very least, subdue her mind.

    On the other hand, Apollo held out his hand, "As per our agreement, Miss Headmaster." Within his hand was his dual-colored identification card. When she saw him perform this action, Geneva clicked her tongue. Since she had given her word, she couldn''t renege on the deal.

    Thus, she took the card and embedded it with 3,000 Academic Credits. At first, Apollo was surprised. At most, he was expecting 2,000 Academic Credits. After all, the first cluster was a part of another deal. Nevertheless, this made him change his opinion of her slightly.

    ''When you be my possession, I''ll make sure to treat you well. I won''t ill-treat your generous behavior,'' Apollo inwardly thought as he received identification card. On the other hand, the moment he received it, Geneva''s attitude gradually regained its former poise.

    "This concludes our matters. You may see yourself out," Geneva stated before swirling her chair around and staring out the window. As she did so, a silver ember rotated in her eyes before dying out. Little did she know that there was an adverse effect to Fuhrer robbing her of her vitality.

    Since Apollo possessed simr thoughts, he rose to his feet and bid his adieu. There was no need to dawdle now that everything was settled. However, once he left, Apollo took a moment to gather his thoughts.

    There were multiple things he could do. There was the option to go train with Robyn and hone his control. There was also the alternative to reenter the Tethered Shadow Origin Room and deepen his resonance with darkness. Lastly, there was also the option to return to his residence and move forward with his evolutionary progress.

    Silently, he weighed the benefits against the time needed toplete each option. Between the three options, the lengthiest proved to be the evolutionary process. Unlike the rest, it required more than oneponent toplete. Soon enough, Apollo made his choice.

    As of right now, neither Robyn''s control nor the appeal of the Tethered Shadow Origin Room eclipsed what Fuhrer could teach him. Not to mention, the more he realized it, the more it became clear that the Monarch''s Tenebrosity operated under the same principles as what Robyn sought to teach him.

    However, it alsocked the principles of the Nihilistic Rings, thus Apollo ruled that his further guidance would be obsolete. As a result, he opted to return to his residence. Naturally, it didn''t take long for him to reach there. But, when he did, Typhir was oddly enough waiting before his residence.

    Once he noticed Apollo approaching him, Typhir turned towards him. Based on his expression, it was clear there seemed to be an issue, he was tense and almost panicking. However, it was understandable, he had just recovered from a near-fatal wound.

    "Why are you so tense?" Apollo asked. At the same time, he opened his door and allowed Typhir inside before closing it. Above all, privacy came first.

    The moment he entered, he nearly screamed that top of his lungs. Luckily, the residences were all fortified by soundproofing formations, "Something is terribly wrong! Absolutely wrong! No, it''s all wrong!"

    "What do you mean? Calm down. I can''t understand the problem if all you do is shout!" Apollo rebutted. After he spared Typhir a menacing re, he toned it down and revealed theplete issue.

    "Well, you see, I can''t use any of my abilities! And when I sense my internals, they''re all a mess. Simply put, I can''t understand shit! You healed me, so can you tell me what the issue is?" Typhir panicked but not as loud as before.

    "Oh, that''s an easy fix. You aren''t human anymore so you can''t do this as you did when you were a human. From this moment forward, you''re what is known as a demon. If you still down understand, think of yourself as an invader of this world," Apollo replied almost too nonchntly.

    In response, Typhir''s jaw dropped. To find out he wasn''t human anymore was extremely shocking information, "N-not human? What does that mean? What will happen to me?"

    "Nothing, I''ll just make you stronger than you ever were or could be. You are now a race that is far stronger than humans. Furthermore, you are my loyal subordinate, correct?" Apollo inquired. At the same time, a tinge of his monarch bearing exuded from his body which caused Typhir to be docile.

    "That is undeniably true. I am your loyal subordinate. I will be both your sword and shield in the darkness," Typhir replied with a ck gleam in his eyes. From his purplish eyes, an obscure aura leaked.

    Upon seeing this aura, Fuhrer''s eyes widened. "Fascinating! I like that look in his eyes." From Fuhrer''s perspective, Typhir seemed like a trained soldier. The loyalty he possessed seemed almost fabricated. While Fuhrer thought this to be due to Apollo''s ability, that wasn''t all true.

    In order to guarantee the holder of the system could reach the height of their power, the system granted these abilities of absolute loyalty. On the battlefield, there was nothing worse than betrayal. Leaving your back open to be attacked was a foolish mistake.

    "Since you are here, you will experience the same training. Your foundations need to be up to par for my ns. As for you my liege, you need to absorb this," Fuhrer stated while presenting Geneva''s essence.

    However, before doing so, Fuhrer also revealed the fact that his Hellfire should be able to devour it, "Until now, you have only absorbed the essence of those weaker or just as strong as you. You need to experience the sensation of absorbing the essence of someone stronger than you."

    As Apollo held the energy, Fuhrer once again opened another dark space, except this time, Typhir was amongst them as well.

 Chapter 253 - Hastened Advancements (I)

    ----

    Once they entered the dark space Fuhrer created, Typhir''s eyes widened. This was the first time he heard of someone''s Spirit creating an entirely new set of space. Thus, he nced between Fuhrer and Apollo with an incredulous expression.??

    In response, Apollo chuckled at his behavior, "As I told you before, we''re demons now. You muste to understand that the power you can obtain is beyond your imagination. To put it in perspective, this guy is only utilizing the power of a second-level demon. There are many levels beyond his current one which are capable of doing far more astonishing feats."

    Typhir gulped and nodded, "I see. I guess there is no other choice than to ept your words as the truth." While looking around, Typhir watched as Fuhrer manipted the area and created things from seemingly nowhere. In an instant, not only was there a designated training area for both Typhir and Apollo, but there was also a small area for Fuhrer to idle.

    "Before Imence in any further training, Apollo, you need to continue with what you were doing previously. However, Typhir you shalle here, I need to check something. Once I ascertain whether or not it is correct then we can move forward," Fuhrer voiced before beckoning Typhir.

    At the same time, he conjured the essence he took from Geneva and pushed it towards Apollo. After it floated for a while, Apollo reached out his hand and grasped it. Upon initial contact, the energy felt warm.

    However, when he touched the energy he froze. For a moment, he had an experience. Unlike Fuhrer who simply encased the energy in his own and held it, Apollo touched Geneva''s bare Essence. As a result, his mind became submerged in a scene that both shocked and intrigued him.

    An expansive battlefield, torn asunder by cataclysmic battle and obscene aftershocks entered Apollo''s view. He then saw an innumerable amount of terrifying beings shing against humans. Be that as it may, it seemed like humans were overpowering the beings.

    Unfortunately, that wasn''t the case for long. In the middle of the battlefield, a shocking scene took ce wherein one of the terrifying beings began to devour its surrounding brethren. Slowly, the momentum it possessed intensified.

    The more it devoured, the stronger it became and as a result, the humans began to experience a ughter. However, one valiant woman with an upright posture zed a path of infernal destruction as she mowed down the Terrors. Soon enough, she arrived before the one devouring its own kind.

    It was then the two became embroiled in a heated battle, one in which the aftershocks shook the battlefield and rendered nearly all allies on both sides immobile. The thunderous impacts of the shes reverberated in Apollo''s ears as he continued to spectate the memory. It was all going good until the Terror was pushed to desperate straits.

    Once it realized that its end was imminent, it started to neglect defense, even taking lethal attacks to inflict damage upon Geneva. In fact, it smiled with a cunning gleam in its eyes, "Mutual destruction is still destruction achieved. If I''m to perish, something ising with me," the Terror uttered before unleashing a wave of decrepit energy.

    Everything within a radius of 300 meters began to decay and slowly span into the distance. In response, Geneva unleashed a torrential me that soon formed enormous dark wings. Faster than anyone could track, the two dashed in and collided numerous times. With each collision, their aurae grew until it reached a peak. Then, they dashed towards each other for the final sh.

    Although it seemed like Geneva possessed the upper-hand, a slip in concentration could change everything. While it didn''t happen, the near Disaster-Grade Terror was too cunning. It diverted some of its power tounch a second attack while Geneva''s first attack overwhelmed the first sh. Even though its end was near, the Terror smiled while its body deteriorated.

    On the other hand, Geneva clutched her torso and gasped for breath. If one looked closely, they''d see small bits of essence being devoured in the wound. When the Terrorunched itsst attack, it vested all of the essence that was in the process of upgrading. As a result, the attack reached a standard that was capable of damaging Geneva at her core.

    Once this event took ce, the image faded.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer asked, "What did you see?"

    Before answering, Apollo gave him a strange look but then he realized that Fuhrer should be extremely familiar with the process of absorbing essence. "Ah, I saw the image of how Headmaster Geneva received her egregious wound."

    "I see. I had a feeling it would be the case. After all, when we take someone''s essence, based on what is guing their soul at the moment, we''ll receive a small piece of information surrounding that matter; it''s all determined by what affects them most," Fuhrer answered.

    In Geneva''s case, Apollo saw this scene due to the fact his Hellfire provided such a relief towards the wound. The ecstasy she felt from the mes "purifying" the wound left arge impression on her mental state. Thus, Apollo in a sense experienced firsthand what she went through.

    "Now, since it took you over 10 hours toplete that experience, I think it''s time you proceed with your training," Fuhrer voiced, causing Apollo''s eyes to widen in shock. At most, he thought he was stationary for 30 minutes. However, ording to Fuhrer, he was stuck in that state for much longer than he assumed.

    Nevertheless, he didn''t dwell on the matter. After all, experiencing Geneva''sst strike also left an impression on him as well. Until now, the only manifestations he made with his Hellfire were weapons, but what if he could train to cause it to take other shapes? The practicality of the technique would skyrocket. Not to mention, there was also the fact that it would be a utility technique to assist other techniques in his arsenal.

    Silently, Apollo started to train in the Monarch''s Tenebrosity while also focusing on cultivating his Ira in the process. While that happened, Fuhrer monitored Typhir''s actions. As he watched Typhir''s movements, Fuhrer''s frown deepened and soon turned into a scowl.

    "No no no! Wrong! All wrong! Terrible, in fact! Just what have you been doing?" Fuhrer snarled with an incredulous expression.

    In return, Typhir blinked, "I''m just training in my former sword technique. Is that wrong?"

    "Completely! What you''re doing is just garbage! How can you expect to surmount anything with a child''s ything for a technique? The imbecile who created this technique should be tortured until their mind no longer spouts asinine thoughts," Fuhrer spat.

    ''M-my ancestor,'' Typhir silently thought while receiving Fuhrer''s lengthy criticism.

    Fuhrer then approached Typhir and imed the sword in Typhir''s grasp, "Since you don''t know the essence of this, there is no need for you to utilize it right now. First, retrain your basics. A true swordsman knows that no matter the sword used, the sword alwayses down to the 8 foundational movements."

    One by one, Fuhrer began to articte the foundation of a swordsman''s eight foundational strikes. Before allowing him to use the sword, he had him perform thousands upon thousands of repetitions of just the movements alone.

    "Until you can perform them mindless and use them as a means of both attacking and defending, I won''t supply you with a weapon to wield. Based on your talent, I''ll determine exactly how much I want to teach. However, it isn''t just talent I seek, a swordsman must know diligence. Hence, even when I am not present, I expect you to move under the impression that I am," Fuhrer announced.

    With almost no hesitation at all, Typhir agreed. This was because when he guided Typhir, he demonstrated each of the strikes. And, the knowledge he saw within each of the strikes were perfection, it left Typhir mystified.

    Inside the dark space, the trio engaged in each of their respective practices. Apollo would absorb some of Geneva''s essence until his body was saturated and couldn''t continue and then switched to practicing his other techniques. As for Typhir, he executed countless strikes while chasing Fuhrer''s attainments.

    The minutes turned into hours and hours into days, yet neither Apollo nor Typhir grew sick of the training. After all, each of their advancements was bing noticeable. In addition to their strength, the repeated actions presented discipline. A certain order wasing to light as these two kept up with their actions. In fact, Fuhrer nodded with praise looking at them.

    Meanwhile, as Apollo opened his eyes, he was alerted of a notification that was pushed to the back of his mind for the moment.

    ?System Alert! The first round of the Lucky Draw is avable. When ready, simply give the mentalmand to begin the randomizer.?

 Chapter 254 - Hastened Advancements (II)

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    The moment the notification appeared, Apollo ceased all of his actions. For some time, he was left speechless. Since the only thing on his mind at the moment was training, the matters pertaining to the Lucky Draw had truly escaped his thoughts. However, with the appearance of this notification, it would be a lie to say he wasn''t ecstatic.??

    After all, if what heprehended from the small information the system provided before was true, then the Lucky Draw was a way to potentially earn items inside the Inheritance Tab without possessing the adequate Demonic Achievement Points for it. If that was the case, then that meant there was also a chance he could acquire the most expensive and even strongest items within the shop.

    Although everything in the shop was in a sense his, the faster he gained ess to it, the faster he could solve any issue that may arise. Beyond that, he could even circumvent any potential issues that were liable toe forth. Nevertheless, as Apollo continued to gaze at the notification, his reasoning began to douse his excitement.

    ''Let''s be honest, what''s the chance of actually acquiring one of those items? I''m sure there are conditions set in ce to prohibit me from seizing items like that. Furthermore, there''s probably a set percentage on each item that determines the chance of obtaining such items. In other words,pared to the less notable items, the rates will be abysmal,'' Apollo inwardly thought.

    Soon enough after his reasoningpletely extinguished his excitement, Apollo dismissed the notification. While looking at Fuhrer and Typhir continuing their training, he gave the mentalmand. Between hismand and the Lucky Draw beginning, there was no pause. The sound of a wheel churning at rapid speeds sounded in Apollo''s head.

    At the same time, there was a mechanical voice. Since Azridan''s disappearance, the system''s voice always seemed to be a mechanical version of his own. Almost as if it was trying to emte him.

    ?System Alert! The Lucky Draw is underway. Your rewards will be determined momentarily. Please wait.?

    In the meantime, Apollo closed his eyes and practiced with his Infernal Ira Stigmata. Unlike the rest of his techniques, it had been a while since he gave this technique attention. Although it was connected to his Diabolic Heart of Wrath, his irregr stigmata made it so that he didn''t need to train it often. However, now that his body was advancing, it was slowly approaching a level that required more from his stigmata.

    If he wished to fabricate aplete Sin Armament, it would require his stigmata as well as Corrupt Organ to reach a certain standard. As of right now, his stigmata was just a fraction away from doing so. The only thing he needed to do was fix its foundation. One must remember, when he created it, it was far too strong for him. As a result, his foundation took some substantial damage.

    This resulted in his vitality dropping to an unimpressive level. But, with his current actions of absorbing foreign vitality, this issue was being addressed. Thus, it was approaching a time wherein Apollo needed to start correcting his stigmata before it poses any issues in the future.

    In 30 seconds, right before the Lucky Draw''s notification sounded, he managed to correct 0.5% of his foundation. Due to the way he created it, going from broad toplex, the first few phases of correction would be easy. Unfortunately, the same couldn''t be said about theter stages.

    ?System Alert! The Lucky Draw has concluded! Congrattions, your Lucky Draw was one with great purpose. You have received Candidates'' Package x1. To observe its contents, please open the package.?

    At first, Apollo was curious. ''Candidates'' Packages? I don''t remember this being present. Perhaps I overlooked it, that is a possibility; after all, all I did was a quick skim but that isn''t the important part. What I need to know is whether or not this package inherently lists me as a Candidate,'' Apollo silently mused.

    Once his curiosity got the best of him, Apollo opened the package with little to no hesitation. In response, he wore a confused expression.

    ?System Alert! Congrattions, you have opened the (Basic) Version. You have received Neb Shard x1, Inheritance Voucher (Single) & Demonic Enchantment Scroll x1.?

    Out of all the items he received from doing so, none of them were the slightest bit familiar. However, one, in particr, caught his eye.

    ''Neb Shard? While the others can be saved for ater time, I could have sworn I''ve heard someone mention something surrounding a neb before. It is truly a shame that I can''t seem to recall the exact information,'' Apollo thought while ruminating over his past conversations.

    Even after deliberating for a short while, he was still in the dark. Since he couldn''t get answers this way, he switched tactics. He withdrew the Neb Shard from his interdimensional inventory. At a nce, the sensation the shard gave was omnipotent.

    Unlike the Anima Crystals and Tainted Shards, the Neb Shard was more than a single color. Firstly, it was predominantly ck, however, it possessed numerous shades of grey. Secondly, there were what seemed to be specks of light within. Be that as it may, it was like the darkness was trying to swallow everything inside.

    When Apollo nced inside, it was like he was staring into a boundless void that was without contest. No matter how much the other portions tried, the void of darkness seemed to be the overarching power in the equation.

    At that moment, the systempletely generated the information on the item.

    Item Name: Neb Shard

    Item Ranking: Daemonic

    Information: Darkness is birth from the neb that devours. In the presence of light, darkness will never. For without darkness, there can be no light. As a result, this is the condensed form of a Neb Fragment. Inside is the information to guide those who seek the path of darkness over the light.

    As Apollo read the information, he fell into thought, ''So this is used to practice dark techniques. Surprisingly, it mentions nothing about demonic techniques. Hence, I can assume that this is based on a principle that not all demons can attain. But...is that it? There must be more information.''

    On the other hand, the moment Apollo retrieved the Neb Shard, Fuhrer''s body tensed. Instinctively, he turned towards the direction of the aura he sensed. When he did so, his eyes widened in shock. Soon after, as he stared at the shard, his current expression was reced with one full of jubnce.

    "Lad, where did you get that shard?!" Fuhrer questioned almost immediately. He couldn''t believe his eyes while he gazed upon it. It had been countless years since he had seen such an item. In fact, he believed it to be a forgotten resource due to the fact the Monarch was nowhere to be found.

    "It''s a part of my inheritance. I''ve gained more authority recently, so there are more essible items now than there were before. Why do you ask?" Apollo questioned. When he noticed the odd light in Fuhrer''s eyes, Apollo immediately realized that he had found his source of more essential information.

    "Well first and foremost, that item in your hand can only be called a blessing. While it won''t catapult you to new heights on your path of evolution, it has a much more practical influence. In fact, it might be worth more than simply assisting you to evolve," Fuhrer blurted before rubbing his chin in delight.

    "Unlike most of the other shards, this item can''t be used without Intent. After all, it is a condensation of a fragment from the Tenebrous Path. In other words, it is the best, if not only item, capable of guiding you in the Monarch''s Tenebrosity. Unlike the rest, the Monarch''s Tenebrous Presence dominates, it doesn''t hide. Therefore, practicing the middle stages may be quite difficult. But, if you have this item to assist you, it''ll teach you the way to let the darkness dominate," Fuhrer revealed.

    The moment he heard this, Apollo''s eyes brightened. ording to Fuhrer''s words, this shard was meant to assist him. It was now why he understood why it was called a Candidate''s package. The items inside were perhaps linked to techniques only the Monarch''s sessors should possess. This made him look forward to the descendant portion of the tab.

    "However, you must also not let it swallow you either. As with any endeavor, if you aren''t careful and there is apse in focus, you may find yourself in danger. As of right now, all you need to remember is this; that shard will be the birth of your own uniqueness. Use your intent and interact with it. Don''t fight it, attune with it," Fuhrer instructed before silently watching Apollo''s next actions.

 Chapter 255 - Fuhrers Mirror Appearance

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    After Fuhrer ryed the information rted to the Neb Shard to Apollo, he quietly took a step back and proceeded to watch what Apollo did with this information. Before doing anything, Apollo silently examined the energy inside the shard. Since he wasn''t all too familiar with it, he took the time to allow his body to attune with any of the aura leaking from the shard.??

    When his body found the shard to befortable, he then moved forward with his actions. Unlike the other crystal in which he crushed to extract the aura in the quickest manner possible, this wasn''t something he could do with the Neb Shard. First and foremost, it was far too durable. Even when he applied all of his strength, he couldn''t crack the item in the slightest.

    Of course, this was to be understood. After all, it was a condensation of one of the strongest powers from the Nihilistic Rings. If Apollo''s meager strength could damage it right now, then it wouldn''t be a practice worthy of learning.

    ''I guess my doubts were unwarranted, this item should be rather expensive inside the Inheritance Tab. However, how many of these are there? While the energy inside is immense, something tells me it is far from enough to both temper my intent continuously and allow my Tenebrosity to reach the level of blending Sins,'' Apollo thought silently.

    Since there was no way to verify his questions at the moment, Apollo didn''t dwell on the matter for too long. As of right now, he wasn''t sure whether the Neb Shard came from the Azridan''s possession or the untouchable descendant tab. All he knew is that the Lucky Draw never specified as such.

    Once he settled his thoughts, Apollo first stimted his Dominance Intent before sending it inside the Neb Shard. At first, there was little to no reaction, however, Fuhrer sent a message exining that this is to be expected. Since his Intent wascking intensity, he would have to make up with volume.

    Continuously, Apollo channeled the intent he mustered inside the Neb Shard. Yet, even when Apollo started to feel faint signs of weakness, there were zero indications of the Neb Shard reacting in the slightest. Upon noticing this, Fuhrer fell silent while he pondered any possible issues.

    ''Could it be that his intent is too weak to invoke the Tenebrous Path? If he has its guidance, there should be no issue even if he is to face simultaneous trials of Sin. After all, the First Monarch used this technique to draw the Primal Sources under his grasp. Maybe there is another reason why it isn''t reacting,'' Fuhrer thought before shifting behind Apollo''s back.

    "Continue your actions," Fuhrer instructed before raising his hands to APollo''s back. Silently, he searched through Apollo''s flowing Intent to find any inadequacy and sure enough, he found the issue, "Lad, when you use your intent, try to remember the imperious aura you felt upon awakening it. The Tenebrous is to control Sin. It doesn''t bnce, it assumesmand. Hence, you mustmand this shard but don''t fight its retaliation."

    Apollo took in the instructions and nodded slightly. He then recounted the sensation that flowed through his body when he awakened the Domination Zone for a brief moment. He thenmanded the Neb Shard which finally garnered a reaction.

    However, almost as if it was testing the authenticity of his strength, it appeared like it wanted to reject him. When this happened, Apollo kept calm. He didn''t go against this as per Fuhrer''s instruction. On the contrary, he opened up his Intent and allowed the retaliation to flow through him.

    Once his mind felt as if it was fully saturated and could hold no more, his Intent mmed together and trapped the energy that was pulled from the shard. At the same time, Apollo''s eyes opened. The moment he retracted his Intent, the energy inside the Shard became motionless.

    "It seems you have a knack for this practice. It is known as seizing from one''s path. You must have a mind strong enough to withstand the pain of seizing things from any path. As for the Tenebrous Path, it requires your Intent to be worthy. But, as I showed you, for those who can''t go against it, for the time being, the Monarch developed another way of practice. Now, digest that energy as I retire to guiding that otherd," Fuhrer voiced before looking in Typhir''s direction.

    Up until now, Typhir had been repeating the motions of the eight foundational strikes with minimal pauses. In addition to the fact that Fuhrer forbade him from utilizing any of his inner energy, he also had to withstand the aching pains from Fuhrer manipting the air around his arms.

    After every 1,000 swings, Fuhrer increased the Suppression Intent that acted upon Typhir''s arms. At this point, after 3 continuous days, the suppression on his arms was so great that it required nearly all of his efforts to execute a single motion. Be that as it may, there wasn''t a shred of wanting to give up in his eyes. Before they started, Fuhrer put him through the same experience as he did Apollo.

    However, for Typhir it was slightly different. While Apollo grew up weaker than everyone, Typhir was partially blessed. Thus, Fuhrer had to delve deep into Typhir''s desires to understand which course of taunting would work the best. Once he realized there was a deeply embedded desire to ovee an individual named Lazaro, he preyed on this fact.

    Naturally, Fuhrer''s first course of action was to have Typhir understand how overwhelmingly weak he was. Before executing the strikes, they underwent a small spar. During this time, while Fuhrer was weaponless, he lent Typhir Brynhildr. As a result, it took on the optimal form for Typhir, a greatsword with a sharpened edge.

    In a matter of seconds, Fuhrer not only disarmed Typhir of the weapon, but he also left him nearly unconscious. Once he regained his wits, Fuhrer then had him begin his actions.

    By now, however, something that shocked Fuhrer took ce. ''Is this Void of Conscience state? Interesting, his talent in the sword must be high for him to fall into this state while training in basic movements. Furthermore, hisprehension should be rather high as well.''

    Each of Typhir''s strikes became increasingly refined as his action shifted from mechanical to thoughtless. Unbeknownst to Fuhrer, inside of Typhir''s mind, the scenes of the earlier strikes repeated ceaselessly. In other words, he was mirroring what was reying in his mind. Moreover, the more he thought about it, the clearer the scene of the strikes yed back in his mind.

    Since the system had created him, the system also presented small benefits that a normal demon wouldn''t possess. For instance, hisprehension wasn''t stagnant. Due to the fact he was bonded to Apollo through the Tainted Temple, he also shared the ability to continuously increase hisprehension and the matters included. Thus, his potential as a demon was also something that wasn''t etched in stone.

    Soon enough, the fundamentals of Typhir''s strikes surprised even Fuhrer. The only thing that itcked was the years of experience rued in battle. This meant itcked the sensation of endless variations felt inside Fuhrer''s strikes. However, that was understandable. Whereas Fuhrer only showed him a single strike, Fuhrer''s attacks were honed in ceaseless battle wherein enemies encased him on all sides.

    In this scenario, it was imperative he learned how to attack with an absolute defense. ''Good, excellent progress indeed. You truly have the makings of the sword''s sessor. Very well, when you''ve utterly mastered the basics, we''ll continue. The basics can only be considered mastered when they also seem as if they are touching upon their own techniques,'' Fuhrer inwardly thought.

    Meanwhile, at the same time, Apollo was also continuing with his own actions. Due to the presence of the energy for the Neb Shard, he felt as if there was a void within both his Infernal Nucleus as well as Tainted Temple. More importantly, he could also feel a faint yet formless connection with his Diabolic Heart of Wrath. Although it wasn''t confirmed, Apollo was sure it had something to do with the fact that the Tenebrous Path was to rule over the Sins.

    All of a sudden, Apollo was hit with a thought as Geneva''s energy inside his hand thrummed. ''If this is making a small void inside me, what if I use it to devour her essence and make the process faster? Compared to her energy, the one inside the Neb is at a much higher degree.''

    As he peeked over to Fuhrer and Typhir, he decided to experiment on his own thoughts.

 Chapter 256 - Vermilion Flames Falling Subservient (I)

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    While Typhir and Fuhrer continued their own actions, Apollo took matters into his own hands. As of right now, the Neb Shard supplied him with enough energy to saturate his body seamlessly. However, since inspiration dawned upon him, he waspelled to act upon it without much further thought.??

    The Neb Shard increased the presence of the Monarch''s Tenebrosity inside his body. This in turn trained his Intent as an auxiliary effect. Inside both his Tainted Temple and Infernal Nucleus, the feeling of a void continued to grow stronger. Furthermore, when he tried to send his consciousness inside, blurred images shed in his mind that he didn''t understand.

    In order for him to do so, it required a stronger intent to keep his mind together. Nevertheless, Apollo moved forward with his intention. He began to funnel the remaining energies of Geneva''s mes of vitality inside the newly created voids in his corrupted organs. The more he funneled inside, the more an unfamiliar coursed through his body.

    At the same time, the Infernal Ira Stigmata on his body started to illuminate. Slowly, it stretched across his entire body before it finallypleted. Other than the times where he lost himself to Ira, this was one of the only times the stigmata was ever in itsplete form. However, what surprised Apollo was the fact that his Cardinal Sphere began rotating the moment his Stigmatapleted.

    It released an energy that allowed him to retain his reasoning. Upon noticing this, Apollo rubbed his chin, ''Without theplementaryponent, a demon''s power is one easy to run amok. That means, the stigmata is regted by the Cardinal Sphere and the Infernal Nucleus and Tainted Temple work in tandem as well.''

    Meanwhile, the moment he exhausted Geneva''s mes of vitality, he could sense the immediate benefits in the next instant. Not only did the pain felt when he used his Ira Stigmata lessen, but he could also sense theyer of his physique under it healing to a certain degree.

    Concurrently, the system also alerted him of all this. ''The effects of absorbing high-grade me energy are very beneficial. However, the people who can fulfill all the criteria are probably low in number. If I wish to find more, it''ll require a strong perception. But, I can''t rely on Fuhrer for everything; I have to be able to perform some of his feats as well. After all, most of his power is sealed. Everything he does is something I''ll soon be able to aplish,'' Apollo thought to himself.''

    Nevertheless, as he kept the progress under control, his senses stopped focusing on the outward and only paid attention to his internals. In this state of monitoring the changes, time psed quickly.

    ----

    A little over 2 weekster, Apollo opened his eyes as the markings on his body receded. Slowly, he lifted both of his arms. In one hand, there was a silver me flickering with diabolic intent whereas in the other there was a scarlet me that was beginning to turn ck of its own ord.

    ''So this is her source of me. I must say, it is beautiful, to say the least. I think I understand why her appearance changes so much upon utilizing this me. Its tantalizing qualities are top-notch,'' Apollo mused silently while ncing between the two clumps of fire. In addition to this, like his darkness affinity, his fire affinity would soon near the limit of the elementary division.

    To advance, it would require him to understand the principles of each element. However, once he did that, he would be touching upon the prime forms. Once that took ce, his lethality on the battlefield would skyrocket to apletely different level. Furthermore, his potential would be even more coveted.

    After all, the number of youths who enter the prime realm of the elements is few and far between. Thus, anyone capable of performing this feat was one who deserved to be cultivated with the utmost resources. Of course. it wouldn''t be so tant as to arouse public discord from the favorable treatment.

    Meanwhile, another change took ce inside the independent space. Fuhrer had finally given Typhir the okay to practice with a physical sword. While he stillcked versatility, each of his strikes carried with it the ability to not only attack but defend and evade as well. In other words, Fuhrer was training him to deal with any unfavorable instances.

    "Your progress ismendable. Not to mention, yourck ofints is ever more praise-worthy. However, from this point onward, should youin, I won''t hold it against you," Fuhrer voiced before unsheathing Brynhildr, "Until you leave, I will be your opponent but that isn''t all."

    Suddenly, Fuhrer''s body split from one into two. Afterward, two turned into 4 and so on and so forth. By the end of it, he had split himself into 256 copies. As he watched this happen, Typhir''s jaw nearly fell apart. In response, Fuhrer chuckled.

    "In the beginning, I will only attack you once. Since you won''t be experiencing massbat any time soon, I''ll take it upon myself to simte the most basic of situations you need to learn how to ovee," Fuhrer said before raising his sword in Typhir''s direction.

    On the other hand, Apollo turned towards them and took a seat before watching the events unravel before his eyes. Of course, that wasn''t all that he did. A few moments after he examined Geneva''s mes, his Hellfire suddenly became unruly. Of its own ord, it jumped from his left palm to his right one.

    With no hesitation at all, it started to devour Geneva''s source me. By the end of the process, the only remaining me was the Hellfire. Although there was a greater amount of Geneva''s mes, the two were not to bepared. Hellfire existed as a me to burn nearly everything. Thus, when it came to the two, Hellfire won. However, there was a small change. At the edge of the Hellfire, there were faint flickers of ck energy.

    Nevertheless, Apollo paid more attention to Typhir and Fuhrer than this matter. Any changes that took ce within his me would be felt by his body and dealt with ordingly.

    Soon enough, Fuhrer made his move. In this training, Fuhrer took the initiative as defense was the easiest route to train in. Based on your opponent''s move, you would then understand how to react. Once these movements were burned into the thought process, it became an instinctive response.

    As a result of Fuhrer''s advance, Tyhir gripped the hilt of his sword and performed a withdrawing step. As Fuhrer watched this take ce, his eye nced to the side for an instant. Yet, in that mere instant, he saw a few moments into the future and read Typhir''s reaction.

    In ce of one strike, Fuhrer performed two. On top of his initial in sh, Fuhrer also slid his hand to the side and performed a follow-up horizontal sh. This made his one strike turn into a cross sh with little to no openings. However, because this was training, he purposely allowed an opening to appear.

    If he wished to teach Typhir properly, arge sequence of opening would need to be instilled within Typhir''s reaction pattern. Typhir spotted the opening in a reasonable amount of time and broke through it. An instantter, however, Fuhrer closed the distance with a light tap of his foot. He moved closer like a phantom before unleashing another strike upon Typhir.

    Unlike the prior two, this one was a pierce. Due to the change in the strike''s fundamentals, Typhir responded in kind. He pierced his sword forward and glided it against Fuhrer''s de. In light of his movement, Fuhrer praised him inwardly.

    Be that as it may, Fuhrer still raised the difficulty of the training marginally after every few collisions. By the time Typhir had been introduced to nearly all of the possible opening points, the difficulty was at a level wherein Fuhrer allowed for little to no breather. In less than 5 minutes, Typhir exhaustedly fell to his knees.

    "H-how can your stamina be so great? Do you not get tired?" Typhir eximed through prominent gasps.

    "Minimal exertion, you must learn your opponent''s flow and manipte your exertion to utilize the least energy possible to retaliate. Of course, you also need to learn how to monitor your own consumption as a whole. Once that happens, your ability to fight in prolonged battles will always assist you," Fuhrer replied while lowering his de and looking into a corner of the independent space.

    "Someone is here on the outside," Fuhrer announced before looking beyond to reveal who.

 Chapter 257 - Vermilion Flames Falling Subservient (II)

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    While Fuhrer began the process of breaking down the independent space, his eyes narrowed. ''Oh, it seems they''re growing impatient. I can see signs of them wanting to enter, however, it isn''t ideal I disclose my ability to manipte this space.'' As Fuhrer thought this, he hastened the whole process. Soon enough, they reappeared in Apollo''s residence. ??

    Be that as it may, at almost the same instant, his door opened. A momentter and the neer would have witnessed theming from apletely different space. Of course, it wasn''t as bad as being caughting through the portal from Ashiraem. Nevertheless, upon noticing her, Apollo''s eyebrows raised.

    "Oh? Headmaster? What''s the issue?" Apollo questioned.

    In response, Geneva nced over him, "It''s the Vermilion me Institute. The next ss is about tomence, thus I''vee to fetch you. As per our agreement, you''re to fulfill both yours and Reiner''s positions," she revealed. However, before Apollo could respond, she looked over at Typhir.

    Not only were there some changes to his body, but she also noticed that his torso waspletely healed. Any other person this would be a miracle, but in this case, she frowned. Albeit almost indistinct, she could sense it, ''Typhir''s aura is nearly identical to the soul fluctuations that Apollo emits. What did he do¡­''

    As her thoughts traveled, Geneva crossed her arms and gave Apollo a certain prying look, "Care to exin?"

    Although her words failed to introduce exactly what she was inquiring about, Apollo had a feeling what it was. Before she said that, she looked over at Typhir for a longer period than one would usually do. Hence, there was only one conclusion, she was inspecting and examining how thoroughly Typhir was healed.

    Moreover, because she was subject to Apollo''s aura, she was more than familiar with his unique fluctuation. Before answering, he smiled and feigned ignorance, "Oh whatsoever do you mean Miss Headmaster?"

    "Don''t patronize me, tell me this instant, did you sacrifice part of your core energy to heal Typhir? Don''t attempt to lie, I can feel that his core essence is starting to transform into something simr to yours. If you can''t exin this, then I''ll have to treat it as you reneging on your promise," Geneva uttered while taking up a stern expression.

    "Deal," Apollo corrected.

    "Excuse me?" Geneva frowned in response. Instead of an answer, Apollo chose to nitpick at her words.

    "Well, it was a deal, not a promise; I don''t make promises. However, I can tell you with utmost certainty, what I did to help Typhir didn''t affect my ability in the slightest. However, if it did, I''m sure there are secret medicines made to ensure the highest of talent are to survive perilous conditions, right?" Apollo chuckled with a cunning sneer.

    As a result, Geneva fell silent. It was true that certain medicines were kept for the utmost of talents. When she ryed Typhir''s condition through the board who regtes all of the Academies proceedings, she was instructed not to utilize Divine-Grade items like that. At the least, someone of Aran''s importance would need to get hurt to mobilize items like that.

    "Theck of an answer can be seen as an admission of guilt. Nevertheless, in the process of your blunder, I have simply gained a follower," Apollo then smiled to himself and mumbled in a nearly inaudible voice, "And perhaps plenty more to follow." When he made his move to heal Typhir, Apollo had already thought well into the future. Although he hadn''t met them, he was sure they should possess adequate qualities.

    At the very least, he would acquire one more follower of Typhir''s potential.

    On the other hand, from Apollo''s words, Geneva starts to piece matters together, ''Perhaps this body is one who operates solely on loyalty. While it may seem all his decisions are rational, at the root of his decision, it is emotion. As long as one shows a strong connection with him, there should be a chance of garnering a rtionship with him. However, this raises another issue, just what has to be lost in order to achieve that rtionship?'' Geneva questioned to herself.

    Despite the suspicions surrounding the entire situation, Geneva didn''t press the matters. After all, Typhir having been healed was like an added benefit to her. Thus, when it boiled down to what mattered, this meant he still possessed one youth skilled in mes.

    Afterward, Geneva raised her hand and pressed it on Typhir''s chest. Since he was a Lesser Demon like Apollo, she couldn''t sort out his internals too well. However, there was one thing she discerned with certainty, ''His body is thrumming with vitality. It eclipses what he had before. It may even almost rival the state he enters when he invokes his family''s heritage technique.''

    Once she determined his internals was void of any hidden injuries, she made a spur-of-the-moment decision, "You can join in alongside Apollo. You two will fill the vacancies in the seeded ss."

    For any other student, this would be a great honor, however, Apollo and Typhir were under the guidance of Fuhrer. They had great doubt that anything learned inside would triumph over what Fuhrer could teach them. Yet, they were surprised by Fuhrer''s direction.

    ''Enter. When I scanned this area, I found two sources that are extremely beneficial to you two. Can you guess what those sources are?'' Fuhrer questioned.

    ''The two Institutes,'' Apollo replied without sparing the matter any thought.

    ''Correct, each construct seems to house an area beneficial to your practices as well as physique. Furthermore, there may even be a chance to corrupt these sources in the future. But, based on the energies I see, it''ll take quite some time to do so,'' Fuhrer answered with a nod.

    On top of that, one must not forget that both Apollo and Typhir received an abundance of Academic Credits due to the incident with Grayson and Reiner. Due to this, they both possessed Academic Credit values at least ten times greater than what typical freshmen would have. Once all of this wasbined together, they both agreed to Odessa''s instruction without much hesitation.

    Before leaving the area, Geneva paused and gazed at the sleeping Ouroboros on Apollo''s mattress. ia wasn''t worth mentioning, but looking at Ouroboros made her bloodline bubble. Furthermore, the more the bubbling happened. In light of this, Ouroboros'' amethyst eyes opened and stared straight at her.

    As his eyes narrowed, he experienced the events Apollo had. Since they were linked through the soul, there was a passage into each of their minds established to assist both of them. This mental link was convenient when separated over long distances.

    "Is something wrong?" Apollo asked, drawing Geneva''s attention away from Ouroboros. When that happened, she shook her head and denied it.

    However, Apollo was sure something was amiss. Hence, he questioned Ouroboros instead, "Did something just happen between you two? I was sure I saw her trembling."

    "Ah, Master! Thatdy seems delicious! You need to conquer her. Whatever is inside her, I want to have it. Can I have it, Master?" Ouroboros pleaded while jumping onto Apollo''s shoulder.

    While looking her up and down, Apollo reached the conclusion that only two things could seem delicious to Ouroboros. One, there was the fact she was rted to mes. Since the only Sin he absorbed was Ira, thus far, his body was filled with bits of Hellfire. Thus, Ouroboros had be ustomed to consuming mes.

    Two, there was her bloodline. ording to Azridan, the true name of Ouroboros'' species is one that devours. In other words, Apollo was fairly certain Ouroboros just wanted to devour her as a whole.

    "It''ll happen in due time. But, you might not be able to have her. If her worth is more without being devoured, then I''ll have to find you another to fill the craving. In the meantime, here," Apollo retrieved 3 Inferior Crystallized Chaos and tossed them at Ouroboros'' mouth.

    At the same time, Apollo followed in tow with Geneva and Typhir, "Oh, can we enter the origin room rted to mes. I''m sure the information disclosed in the ss isn''t important, right?"

    Upon hearing Apollo''s question, Geneva pondered the matter. She weighed whether or not she should allow it. After all, Apollo wasn''t wrong, they would simply do exactly what was learned with darkness, just utilizing mes this time.

    After giving it ample thought, Geneva allowed it, "You may enter the origin room right away, however, don''t cause a raucous. There has been enough mayhem on the college grounds already."

    In response, Apollo simply shrugged, "I don''t cause trouble, it finds me. If no one confronts me, there will be nothing for me to react to."

    When she heard this all Geneva could do was shake her head in defeat. ''Not even a simple okay? And so the regret thickens.''

 Chapter 258 - Vermilion Flames Falling Subservient (III)

    ----

    Several momentster, Geneva and the other two approached the amber-stoned building that threatened to pierce the sky. Except for its color and different insignia, it was an exact replica of the Umbra Night Institute. Even the sequence to enter was the same. It was just inside the code, Geneva used her override code to apply the dual admission modifier.??

    "If you have visited the other institute, then you would know that the room you seek is located at the end of the middle path. Typhir, travel along with Apollo. Even though you have been here before, there are more people here than thest time. In fact, most of your seniors should be present," Geneva instructed while making odd gestures.

    Shortly after, a door appeared before her. After disclosing some more instruction, she entered the door and vanished along with it. As per her instruction, Apollo and Typhir traveled together. Before they reached the door, Apollo turned towards him.

    "Which one is appearing first?" Apollo asked.

    At first, Typhir''s expression was odd. But, then when he felt what Apollo was questioning him about, Typhir shook his head, "I honestly can''t tell. If I''m being truthful, neither of them seem to be budding yet but I''m sure Lord Fuhrer knows what to do next," he answered.

    In response, Apollo nodded. However, he was also interested in something else. ''Lord Fuhrer? Is that something he thought of himself or was the position of the Lords derived from Fuhrer''s initial purpose? Interesting. One thing remains true, Fuhrer indeed possesses the qualifications to be called Lord. I wonder why he is introduced as a Demon Knight though.''

    After pushing the matters to the back of his mind, Apollo pressed his hand forward. A thin veil receded to showcase an expansive room door. As he looked up, he read a signbeled "Vermilion Cinders Origin Room." When he read this, he was sure there was something more to the rooms than just learning these inheritances.

    ''Could it be a process of session? ording to Geneva''s family history, their first ancestor possessed both of the powers invested in these buildings. Therefore, if one can aplish the same feat, it could be seen as seeding the first ancestor. In fact, I wonder how much of the inheritances Geneva has absorbed herself,'' Apollo thought while rubbing his chin contemtively.

    Since there was no way to determine this as of right now, the two simply entered the room. Once inside, Apollo instantly spotted differences whenpared to the scene that took ce within the Tethered Shadows Origin Room. Unlike that room, this one was sparsely filled with people.

    Furthermore, due to his continually sharpening senses, Apollo could faintly see that certain areas possessed a higher concentration of infernal fluctuations. Inparison to all the areas currently filled, the intensity Apollo felt was at least 3 times stronger than the other areas. Not to mention, this was in retrospect of the next weakest tier of fluctuations.

    ''Compared to the other room, I want to say not even 10% of the capacity here is filled. However, that is understandable. The environments simply cannot bepared. The dark room just felt like a void whereas the heat here continues to rise. If it wasn''t for me having visited Ashiraem, then I''m sure I''d be experiencing some initial difort,'' Apollo determined.

    At a nce, he chose suitable spots for both him and Typhir. With almost no hesitation at all, both of them took a seat and began to absorb the ambient energy of the red orb in the middle. At odd intervals, Apollo noticed that the orb in the middle emitted a nearly white me. When it did so, it was just pure destructive heat. Sometimes, it would even disrupt the other youth''s concentration.

    When that happened, they took an adequate break rather than trying to confront the orb once again. Upon noticing this small instance, Apollo muttered to himself, ''While the darkness epasses and swallows, mes incite destruction. Hence, when the me wave touched them, it destroyed all semnce of concentration.''

    Unlike the rest, Apollo did not confront the wave. Before doing anything, he smiled and thought about nothing. The trick to oveing the wave was tock concentration in the first ce. Moreover, the way to sense the information inside the orb was a bit different from the process used to find it inside the dark orb.

    Due to the intricacies of the orb, the inside of the orb was a ghastly ce. The rampant fluctuations of the heat deteriorated the consciousness at a rapid pace. Naturally, this was why not many individuals challenged this orb unless they felt they were ready to do so. It would simply be wasting Academic Credits to receive an injury with no benefits.

    Nevertheless, as Demons, and ones with Ira as their foundation no less, the heat was something that didn''t strike the slightest bit of fear in their minds. Both Apollo and Typhir projected their consciousness into the orb with much hesitation. Whereas the other orb housed shadowy doors, this orb possessed volcanic pools of varying sizes and temperatures.

    At first, Apollo thought to repeat the same thing he did with his previous attempt in the Umbra Night Institute, but then he recalled vital information. His Tainted Temple has been bathed in Hellfire already! In other words, it possessed resistance towards heat, to begin with.

    As a result, Apollopletely disregarded the smallest of volcanic pools. Quietly, he took his time to sense the difference in the next tier. He was searching for the partial inheritance in one attempt. The quicker he did so, not only would he save on his Academic Credit expense, he would expedite the speed at which he could return to extracting the energy from the Neb Shard.

    In line with his intent to rush, both his Cardinal Sphere and Tainted Temple worked in tandem. Even the faintest ripples of intent were being preyed on by Apollo''s mind. Soon enough, he caught a trace of what he was looking for. While the intent was foreign, he could feel the desire for destruction emanating from this specific pool.

    Although he wanted to enter immediately, he refrained from doing so. Not only him, Typhir needed guidance as well. And, if he yed his cards right, he could use this chance to familiarize Typhir with Intent. However, since Typhir''s consciousness was already within the scarlet orb, Apollo ced his hand on his back and transmitted a message through their link.

    Albeit slowly, he guided Typhir towards the correct volcanic pool before ensuring that his consciousness entered. Of course, before he allowed that, he disclosed the fact he was there strictly to sense the foreign ripples inside. As they became clearer, he should try to grasp his own path from what he saw.

    When it came to leading, after overlooking his unsightly tendencies, it was as if Apollo was born to do so. His explicit instructions were clear enough to guide even those who possessed zero background knowledge.

    It wasn''t long after that wherein Apollo entered the same volcanic himself. However, since it wasn''t an instanced environment, everyone''s mind entered an independent copy. When Apollo entered the pool, he was immediately transported to an area where two magma titans engaged in battle.

    Each of their collision resulted in a ripple of mes that was traveled into the distance. While that happened, anywhere the mes touched was incinerated into pure nothingness. The heat was so great even the ashes burned asunder. It was as if everything in the world was turning to ash.

    On the other hand, in Apollo''s eyes, heprehended something totally different, "It appears if the mes are cleansing anything that is unneeded from this world. This type of technique doesn''t seem to be meant for attacking but rather for destroying in the purest sense. It''s not the collision that is to be focused on, it''s the resulting wave.''

    Immediately, he was reminded of the Demonic Massacre Wave, ''The intent here isn''t to ughter,'' Apollo murmured while raising his hand. As he did so, his spiritual form conjured a Hellfire that bore the original white color. Underneath the ckening tips, there was a budding thin red color. When it all blended together, it seemed like the edges of the dark vermillion mes were falling victim to the Hellfire.

    The next move he made was to draw in the surrounding essence. Then, he slowly clenched his hand. As the variegated cluster of fire grewpact, the flickering ends melded together. The moment it all touched, it exploded. All of the essence in a small radius was burnt to nothing.

    The moment this happened, a few notifications appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

 Chapter 259 - Revelation Of A Shocking Change

    ----

    With the Hellfire showing new qualities, not only did it get amplified in power, it seemed to unlock a new ability as well. The moment this happened, Apollo''s expression brightened. ''Interesting, two birds with one stone. This is what I like to call a favorable situation,'' Apollo thought as he looked at the notifications before him.??

    ?System Alert! Due to the path of your Hellfire, you have unlocked a new ability ?Purification?. For more information, please look at your technique menu. This falls under the skill ?Hellfire Maniption?. Furthermore, your me affinity as per this world''s standard has reached the peak of the elementary level.?

    Without further adieu, since he was interested in this information, Apollo sifted through the information on his panel until finally what he sought appeared.

    Skill Name: Hellfire Maniption

    Skill Rank: Near Greater

    Information: As a Demon, especially as one who is fueled by Ira, the most vital ability one is to possess is the power to interact with Hellfire. Depending on the current attainments, there are different abilities possessed by this technique. Beyond basic maniption, it is possible to touch upon unimaginable paths.

    ?Creation? - By using the ability of thought, this allows you to create a me copy of any items within your recollection. However, the more intricate the internal flow of the weapon, the more Hellfire is consumed to fuel both the creation and sustaining phase. Furthermore, if items possessing intent are fabricated, then the consumption increases even further.

    ?Purification? - Any energy this firees in contact with can be cleansed. Whether it is unknown or Sin, all this foreign to your unique body can be cleansed. However, this doesn''t work on people or items beyond the skill rank. This rings true for sealed beings as well. Just because their power is sealed, that doesn''t mean their physique has returned to a weakened form as well. At the base of things, they still possess the residual effects of the higher state.

    As Apollo looked at this, he wondered if this could be used in tandem with the Pure Demonic Conversion ability. If that was true, this was another workaround to resupply himself in a quicker fashion. If the Hellfire purified the essence into nk energy, it would just take a bit of his demonic aura to transform it into Demonic Anima.

    If the process was faster than normal, then he would have effectively found a workaround to reduce recovery time until he finally crossed the threshold into the Greater Realm. Until then, it was up to his hopes and dreams. Nevertheless, this wasn''t what truly excited Apollo, it was the second message.

    ?System Alert! Congrattions, another derived form of the Dominance Intent has been learned. You have learned the branch of Demonic Intent¡ªDestructive Intent. Simr to the others, when this is in use, the vtility as well lethality of your attacks experience an increase.?

    On the other hand, when Fuhrer sensed the new strain of Intent on Apollo, he grinned, "Hoh? You''ve secured the intent needed to empower the Fourth Annihtion, however, if I wish to teach you the third, perhaps I should find a way to introduce you to Avaritia and perhaps G. Any of them shall suffice. Out of all the Annihtions, this is the one that touches upon their true nature aside from thest 2."

    Nevertheless, the more Apollo attempted to use this intent, the more he felt it was iplete. The destruction he caused was nowhere near the level depicted in the scene embedded within the volcanic pool. Even after instilling more of his Hellfire into the strike, he failed to recreate the destruction.

    ''For now, we''ll leave this iplete. It shouldn''t be the intent that iscking but rather the me itself. I should attempt to raise it to theplete Greater level. My current stigmata should be able to contain the aftershock of doing so,'' Apollo estimated as he retracted his consciousness from the orb. When he looked over to Typhir, he realized he was still stuck within the orb.

    Compared to hisprehension, Typhir''s was a notch below. Nevertheless, through their connection, Apollo was able to sense that Typhir was advancing without much hitches in his progress. It wouldn''t be long before he came across his own intent. When that happened, Apollo''s arsenal would expand. After all, the more his followers learned meant the more methods at his disposal.

    Once he made sure Typhir was set, Apollo left him a set of directions. Afterward, he left and exited the origin room. However, the moment he left, an unfamiliar woman appeared before him, "Are you Apollo Kaiser?"

    Unbeknownst to Apollo, this woman had asked every unfamiliar individual who left this ce this question. By now, the number of times she asked this question numbered in the tens. Nevertheless, before he answered, Apollo examined her up and down.

    First and foremost, from her attire, Apollo could tell she was an instructor and not a student, however, he still didn''t understand who this what. Thus, he evaded for some time, "Who is asking?"

    "Pyrexia, Instructor of the 101st group of the seeded division. Now, are you Apollo Kaiser?"

    "Correct, I am," Apollo revealed once he verified her identity. In response to his confirmation, Pyrexia stepped forward and scanned him with her eyes.

    "Although I won''t say the Headmaster''s judgment is subpar, it is up to mean to determine whether or not my students are truly worthy of their position. I would like you to stay still while my Heavenly me Eyes detects your general condition," Pyrexiamanded in an authoritative tone.

    In the meantime, Apollo took a chance to examine her closely. Typically, one''s features would suggest the user''s strength. For example, those with fire affinities typically possessed varying shades of red hair. However, Pyrexia''s hair was hazelnut, but when Apollo looked into her eyes, he understood why. Her eyes resembled the color of rubies as they shimmered with a zing light.

    Soon after, a pleasant smile appeared across her lips, "Very well, you more than deserve this position. But, be careful. Your me is cynical, there maye a day where it consumes even you," Pyrexia voiced before departing the area.

    As she left, Apollo looked at her retreating back. For most, they would pay attention to her words, but in his case, this was information he was already privy to. Both Fuhrer and Azridan told him that Hellfire wasn''t a docile existence. When it came time, just like the other matters he has ovee, he would do some to the mes as well.

    For now, he also bid his adieu. While he did so, he also checked his panel for any small changes.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.4

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [61.51%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 14

    Level: 110

    Experience: 10.00%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 6,062 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 9 Zul Warrior

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 7 Spirit Apprentice

    Meridians: Saint-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 15,625

    Oz: 520

    Strength: 625.0

    Agility: 550.0

    Intelligence: 570.0

    Vitality: 505.0

    Comprehension: 55.0

    Willpower: 55.0

    [?Traits?]- 5

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 7

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 9: Darkness, Fire

    Level 7: Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?]

    [Daemonic Avatar] Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master.

    [Greater Demon] [Requires 5,000 units of Demonic Anima to summon.]

    [Demonic Acolyte] Typhir Estrada (Demon Knight)

    [Lesser Demon {Non-Summon}] Added benefits to you.

    ------------

    [?Interdimensional Inventory?][?Inheritance?] [?Lucky Draw?]

    Stat Points: 0

    Once he made sure everything was up to par, Apollo headed back towards his residence. As of right now, there wasn''t much action going on inside the academy grounds. By now, all the murmurs surrounding the death of Reiner have faded. Moreover, Grayson had beenpletely inactive. It was unknown just what he was nning, but none of this scared nor phased Apollo.

    His pace towards the living quarters was leisure, however, his expression soon grew tense. The more he felt it out, the more he was sure, ''There is an odd sensation in the atmosphere right now? What is this? It doesn''t quite feel like murderous intent but it feels just as if not more dangerous,'' Apollo inwardly thought.

    Cautiously, Apollo peered around his surroundings but found nothing out of ce. In fact, he started to realize that the sensation was originating from in the distance. ''Wherever this energy ising from, it''s forceful.''

    Then it happened, a small raucous was kicked up in the distance as a beam of white light shot into the sky threatening to pierce it. When it met the dome protecting the academy from entering Astarat''s rightful space, it took some time to dissipate.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s eyes squinted. He could feel something traveling in his direction at rapid speeds.

 Chapter 260 - A Concealed Weapon

    ----

    While the strange aura zoomed towards Apollo, his posture tensed. At any given moment, he was ready for confrontation. Whenever an unfamiliar person approached him, the first reaction was to make sure he was in a prime state to counterattack. With the way others moved in this society, not everyone could be trusted. Not to mention, Apollo was sure there were a few people who wished to see his demise.??

    Nevertheless, as he continued to look towards the distance, he could finally make out a dashing figure. Be that as it may, it was still extremely difficult to discern whether or not this person was a foe or not. Although their aura didn''t seem hostile, Apollo was sure his senses were correct. Whatever was approaching him gave off a dangerous vibe.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer appeared behind him with a small chortle, "Interesting, what a momentous presence, however, they are still weak."

    When Apollo heard this, his eyebrow raised, "What do you mean weak?"

    "Well, in respect to what I can aplish, they are still weak. If I had to make aparison then...I guess they''d be somewhere around your level," Fuhrer responded with a small shrug of his shoulders. In the grand scheme of things, Apollo knew Fuhrer was right, thus, he didn''t try to rebut that.

    On the contrary, he stood silently until the person appeared before his eyes. However, when Apollo saw who it was, his eyes widened. Truthfully, he couldn''t believe what he was witnessing, "Aaron?"

    The neer nodded and nced over at Apollo, "Yes."

    Such a simple answer, yet Apollo frowned when he heard it. Based on Aaron''s prior attitude, he was extremely talkative. It was outside of his character to utter a single word as an answer. As a result, Apollo started to examine him closely. In addition to therge change in his appearance, his demeanor also seemed altered.

    Up until now, Aaron''s appearance was one of a typical frame. Yet, now not only was his body extremely lean, but his features were also on the wild side. His untamed hair flowed down his back and reached near his waist. It was only now that Apollo realized it had been over 3 months since he saw his cousin. On top of his outward appearance, Apollo sensed the faint aura of a concealed weapon emanating from Aaron.

    "That boy has learned an Intent, however, it doesn''t originate from this world. In fact, it is stronger than what can be learned in this world. I don''t know what he has put himself through, but the only energy flowing through him is Intent right now. Even his essence has been morphed. Whether or not this is beneficial, I can''t say. But I will say this, that boy is a walking weapon," Fuhrer muttered while paying close attention to Aaron.

    The moment Fuhrer mentioned this, Apollo looked atAaron''s damaged shoulder. By now, it had healed quite well but what Apollo saw was an intangible aura. ''It''s like the arm is there but not. Just what has he learned?''

    "Apollo, how strong have you be?" Aaron asked while approaching Apollo. At the same time, he tilted his head to the side and monitored Apollo''s body. Slowly, his left eye underwent a change and turned silverish.

    "I don''t know how to answer that exactly. Cultivation-wise, I should be equal to a Peak Zul Warrior. However, my body is much stronger than what is known. How about you, how strong have you be?" Apollo responded with a small bit of skepticism.

    ording to Fuhrer''s words, since he only had an obscure intent flowing through him, his cultivation base was hard to determine.

    Aaron then smiled before raising his hand, "My cultivation base has gone untouched. I''ve learned that the ways of this world are obsolete. To obtain the ultimate power, the power of self, your must rely upon your beliefs. Thus, I only wield intent.It would do you well to abandon the practice of this lowly world."

    Once again, Apollo was sure that Aaron''s mental state had undergone a change. This talk about lowly worlds and so forth, Apollo was almost certain that this came from the influence of a Spirit. After all, only a Spirit and other high races were capable of possessing knowledge about the higher worlds and so on.

    Additionally, there was also the talk about the ways of the world. Naturally, this didn''t apply to Apollo. He didn''t even cultivate the way this world did, however, this also raised questions in Apollo''s mind. ''Is Aaron still a human or has something strange happened to him?''

    "What about your arm, will you heal it?" Apollo asked. Most of his actions inside the academy were made in order to secure a way for Aaron''s arm to be healed. But now, Apollo sensed a sort of aloof pride within Aaron. Hence, he wasn''t sure if he would ept that.

    "No, there is no reason to. I have only stumbled upon my inheritance due to the fact I have lost it. Only when a great loss is experienced can onee across a grand fortune. And I have found mine," Aaron answered.

    Since he expected this answer Apollo didn''t press the matter too much. On the contrary, he was far more interested in what happened to him, "Come inside. I want to have a talk with you."

    After a short pause, Aaron nodded, "Very well."

    As soon as the two entered the residence, Aaron took off the upper uniform. At a nce, Apollo thought his body was scar-ridden but when he paid more attention he realized this wasn''t the case. In fact, the scars looked more like markings at this point.

    "What is that pattern?" Apollo inquired while attempting to sense the flow of the pattern.

    "So you can sense that isn''t scars huh? They are Marks of the Sky. As for the origin, well that is something I can''t disclose. Everyone must keep their own secrets, even you," Aaron answered. At the same time, he spared Apollo a meaningful nce almost as if he was insinuating something.

    Suddenly, Aaron''s next sentence caused Apollo to be taken aback, "Summon your Spirit and have them create an independent space."

    When he heard this, Apollo''s eyes narrowed, "How did you learn about that?"

    "From my Spirit. While he isn''t capable of doing such things, his perception is the strongest I have ever seen. Every time you open one of those spaces, I am notified. There is also some passageway that he doesn''t quite understand but I have no answers," Aaron answered truthfully. There was no need to fabricate lies. After all, there was something off with Aaron now, it was as if hecked fear.

    On the other hand, Apollo''s expression became solemn when he heard this. ''Fuhrer, his Spirit can sense you, what does that mean?''

    ''It''s quite simple, thisd''s Spirit must excel in perception. Furthermore, it must be exceptionally strong. This may be the reason he hasn''t summoned it. I''m sure those markings are linked to the Spirit and are tempering his body to withstand his Spirit''s strength,'' Fuhrer answered.

    In the same instance, he also made his presence known, "You wish to enter an independent space, is it? For what reason?"

    "To spar, why else? A fight isn''t allowed on academy grounds, but your space exists outside of it. Hence, I and Apollo can have a spar in there," Aaron answered. Moreover, he also raised his hand causing a majority of the intent in his body to pool towards his hand.

    A silver spear with emerald gems and gold engravings appeared in his hand before lowering it to his side. Simr to Reiner, this weapon was part of his Spirit''s given abilities. However, when Apollo felt the ripplesing off the spear, a cold sweat flowed down his back.

    ''Hoh? This spear seems to possess some rather nasty qualities,'' Fuhrer thought with a small chuckle before adding, ''I guess he is now rted to a higher entity. The only question is how much of their power can his body assimte with. It seems that Spirit is looking for a vessel.''

    "Since you wish it, then let''s open it!" Fuhrer eximed before erecting another independent space.

    Without dy, Aaron took a stance. Furthermore, his left eye turnedpletely grey even losing its pupil. When this happened, the emeralds embedded on the spear shimmered with power.

    As he raised his spear towards Apollo''s direction, he gave a light smile "Now, let''s see if what my Spirit insinuated is true. Prepare yourself, Apollo!"

    Contrarily, Apollo''s mind moved rapidly, ''Just what information has he learned? It can''t be rted to my identity can it?''

 Chapter 261 - One Pierce To Sunder Six Ribs

    ----

    "Before you fight him, take Brynhildr. That weapon in his possession is...well, let''s just say you should be careful," Fuhrer said to Apollo. Silently, Apollo agreed but then he thought about another thing. ording to Fuhrer, Brynhildr could change shapes based on the wielder''s strength. ??

    As far as Apollo''s strength went, his experience with any type of sword was almost nil. Although this was only a spar, Apollo still didn''t want to experience a loss. As a result, he voiced the matter on his mind, "Can Brynhildr take on shapes outside of swords?"

    "Unfortunately, no. It is limited strictly to sword transformations. However, there may be another weapon you can use," Fuhrer answered after sparing this some thought.

    Apollo raised an eyebrow with intrigue, "Which is?"

    "Your Sin Armament. Have you realized? You''ve unleashed all of the Sin Armaments except for thest one. Don''t you think it is time you conjured it?" Fuhrer answered without dy.

    While that was the truth, for Apollo, conjuring thest of the Sin Armament linked to Ira was easier said than done. The other two came naturally as information pertaining to them appeared. However, for thest of the Sin Armament, there was ack of information. The shape nor the name was present in his mind. Hence, Apollo thought it simply wasn''t his time yet.

    "Incorrect, thest armament must be sought. It isn''t like the others which appeared of their own ord. I think there is more behind conjuring theplete Sin Armament. Maybe once I elevate my stigmata," Apollo replied.

    Afterward, Fuhrer nodded. It briefly slipped his mind, ''Perhaps his armament will be unique,'' he thought before standing to the side and awaiting Apollo and Aaron''s first sh.

    "I move in 3 seconds," Aaron uttered while the aura around him zed. A small circle appeared on the ground around his feet. The power behind the circle caused a deep indentation on the ground. Exactly 3 secondster, Aaron dashed forward.

    With a gust of wind, Aaron thrust his spear forward. At first, it seemed like it wasn''t aimed at anything in particr but then it snaked towards Apollo''s heart. In response, Apollo had to act fast and lean out of the way.

    Be that as it may, it was as if the spear wasn''t made out of metal in the slightest. It bent at an odd angle and chased its initial target. At the same time, Aaron muttered under his breath, "Extend and Pierce."

    All of a sudden, the momentum of the spear bolstered. It took even more effort for Apollo to dodge the continuous pierces. However, Aaron on the other hand had already returned to a standing position. The strike that followed him was simply the manifestation of his intent.

    As he went against it, Apollo was starting to understand why Fuhrer had urged him to learn intent. In truth, it was far stronger than the essence of this world. Furthermore, it could even be used alongside it. Left with no other choice, Apollo retrieved Brynhildr from Fuhrer and stabbed it at the tip of the iing intent.

    Arge shattering sound could be heard, as Apollo heaved to catch his breath. Dealing with the intent expended a great deal of energy. Not to mention, the continuous dodging he performed ate away at his stamina as well.

    "Not bad, but you don''t possess that feeling I used to look up to. It appears I am catching up to you," Aaron uttered.

    Once he heard this, Apollo frowned slightly. ''This pride of his¡­''

    To control his own emotions Apollo exhaled, "Usually, I wouldn''t reveal any of this unless I intended to kill my opponent, but it seems with you, confronting you in this form just won''t work.

    Suddenly, arge amount of Hellfire flickered around Apollo. Simr to Aaron, his aura interacted with the environment. Unlike the rest, Apollo had already seemed his demonic form. While Azridan may have tampered with the memories, Apollo had a feeling that the appearance of that Spirit had changed things.

    Without further deliberation, Apollo took on his Iraym form. However, he was far from done. He also activated the Tartarean Fiend Regalia coupled with the Infernal Arms of Damnation. Simultaneously, 2 of 3 the Iplete Sin Armaments were utilized.

    "You may possess your own set of pride, but it is another thing for me to allow you to trample on mine. While I still love you, I must put you in your ce," Apollo proimed before making a move. Everything in his arsenal was being utilized.

    Yet, Aaron''s expression remained cid as if this didn''t change anything for me, "I know you are no longer human, but the power I possess doesn''te from a human either." After he responded, Aaron mmed the bottom of his spear on the ground.

    This caused the Marks of the Sky on his body to interact with one another. When the marks connected to one another, a flexible yet sturdy armor covered Aaron''s limbs, "Omnipotent Spear and the Skypiercer''s Regalia,e."

    When he heard this Fuhrer''s eyes narrowed, ''Why has that entity chosen a vessel? They almost never do so. Something is amiss¡­''

    Slowly, this became a battle of two small titans. Their numerous shes caused Fuhrer great joy. Meanwhile, the more they shed, the more Apollo felt he was losing out. However, what he didn''t know was that Aaron was in fact gathering energy from the sky. Small crackles of thunder appeared at the site of each of their shes.

    On the other hand, Apollo''s Hellfire created a scene of destruction. When the lightning and fire met, neither sought to give any headway. Thus, there was arge mix of these two elements in the air.

    As Aaron drew his foot back, he struck his spear towards Apollo''s leg. At the same time, Apollounched a Demonic Massacre Wave at him. But, Apollo was shocked to find that Aaron had taken what he showed him even further. Before the trial, Apollo did his best to have Aaron understand that the one who fears death in battle the least would emerge the victor.

    "Fight harder! This isn''t enough, I haven''t put myself through hell to fall short now. I''m sure you are hiding even stronger strikes. This can''t be the extent of your power," Aaron bellowed with a swelled pride. Until now, everyone else had been surpassing him in strength.

    So much so, it got to the point wherein his existence felt small. It was at that time hemitted himself to learn how to subdue the Intent hidden within him. During that time, he walked the fine line of death numerous times. Hismendable spirit gained the attention of a spirit whose level was unable to be judged. What he possessed now was simply a minuscule portion of it.

    Meanwhile, Aaron''s words stimted something inside Apollo as crimson and ck sparks appeared around his hand. The moment the sparks appeared, Fuhrer grinned, ''Yes, uses his taunts as fuel for your Will. You must understand you are a creature who feeds on emotion. In an extremely emotional state, you will always be at your strongest.''

    Arge disturbance was kicked up while Apollo''s aura became chaotic. As he roared to the sky, a tiny fracture in space opened up. Unbeknownst to him, an item on the other side was reacting to him. Deep within the Nihilistic Rings, a scythe vibrated before breaking out of a seal. Shortly after, it dematerialized.

    As Apollo held his hand out, a deadly scythe materialized before him. Concurrently, other information flooded his mind as well.

    ?System Alert! All of the Sin Armaments rted to Ira have been gathered. Since they have all been gathered, the Tartarean Fiend Set can be wielded.?

    Apollo''s entire body underwent a change. The sweltering heat from his armor was entuated by the ck, crimson and silver scythe current in his hand. Be that as it may, Aaron was already in the process of gathering himself for a strike.

    A sonic boom apanied his thrust as he aimed at a weak point in Apollo''s transformation, "Sky Sundering Pierce: Absolute Puncture!"

    Before Apollo could respond properly, Aaron''s spear imed over six ribs. As his eyes widened, Apollo gripped the weapon and ripped it from his body.

    Although a gruesome hole was left, Apollo didn''t fret over it. He inhaled and exhaled. "Since you have had your turn, it is mine. Second Annihtion: Nether Severance!"

    A single downward swing of his scythe was all Apollo performed, but Aaron''s expression became solemn as a result. This strike carried with it an aura of death. Since each of them possessed a foreign source of power, Apollo wasn''t worried about killing Aaron.

 Chapter 262 - The End Draws Near

    ----

    As the despair-inducing energy of the Nether Severance hurtled towards Aaron, his eyes narrowed with a slightly solemn expression. However, he soon rxed as he received a message from his abnormal Spirit. In response to Apollo''s attack, he thrust his spear forward.??

    When the two strikes collided, both sides were blown into the distance. Be that as it may, when the distortion caused by the impact subsided, Aaron''s silver armor possessed quite a few cracks. Although his state wasn''t terrible, he relinquished his armor and weapon before gazing upon Apollo.

    "It seems I am still not your match when you go all out, but I am making ample progress. I don''t aim to be your rival, I just seek to be as strong as you," Aaron stated with a resolute demeanor.

    In response to his statement, Apollo released his demonic form as well, "I admire your dream, however, the weight of my destiny doesn''t allow for this to happen. Based on what I have to aplish, there is no way I can allow someone to im to be my equal. Nevertheless, you are getting stronger. You have found the path to your power, now continue to walk it."

    After some time in silence, Aaron agreed and asked Fuhrer to allow him to leave. Once he opened a spatial fracture and allowed Aaron to step through, he turned towards Apollo, "You can stop feigning your condition now."

    Almost immediately after he said this, Apollo''s countenance paled. Although he didn''t suffer any extensive injuries outside of the pierced torso, the short moment wherein he formed the entire Sin Armament was a strenuous instant. This made Apollo believe it wasn''t made for a Lesser Demon to wield aplete Sin Armament.

    "It would seem that woman''s vitality has helped you immensely," Fuhrer said while scanning over the closing wound on Apollo''s torso. In addition to tendrils of Hellfire searing wound close, there was the aura of the pendant that assisted the progress as well. But, when Fuhrer gazed upon the pendant, he grew interested.

    "Youngin, who gave you that pendant?" Fuhrer questioned before raising his palm. When he touched Apollo''s pendant, his eyes turned abyss ck. At the same time, a pleased expression appeared on Fuhrer''s face.

    "I received this from my father," Apollo answered without hesitation.

    "Indeed you did," Fuhrer chuckled before releasing the pendant. Since this was the first time Apollo was injured in his presence, this was the first time the pendant''s abilities were showcased.

    Although Apollo didn''t understand why Fuhrer''s reaction was so odd, he was sure that this pendant would be important in the future.

    "All praise be to the Monarch," Fuhrer said before bowing his head. Shortly after, he looked to Apollo and thought about something before voicing his opinion, "What shall you do for the time being? It has been quite some time since you have visited Ashiraem. Do you wish to return now?"

    "Not yet, I can''t," Apollo responded while looking at the cooldown on the ability. There were still a few more days until he could utilize it once again.

    "Why not? Is your body not in the ideal state to travel there once more? If not, I can open it for you. If I''m the medium, it should reduce the burden on your physique and Ira," Fuhrermented.

    At first, this sounded good to Apollo but then when he thought about it, he still refrained from entering it right now. As for his reasoning, there were a few. Firstly, he was sure that the Demon Monarch System was a tool that was established for him to follow. If he did anything to bypass any restrictions ced on him, he would have to stay wary of any consequences. The risk at the moment wasn''t worth the reward to him.

    Secondly, on this next trip, he wished to bring Typhir along and as of right now, he was still within the origin room. Not to mention, he still needed to give Typhir the much-needed time to limate to his current body. If he didn''t do so then he would be vulnerable to the enemies within Ashiraem. After all, this next visit to Ashiraem would be different as opposed to the prior two.

    "Let''s hold off on entering there. In the meantime, I''ll continue to hone what I need to," Apollo answered. A few momentster, he retrieved the Neb Shard and sat before it. Silently, he continued toprehend the fragments of the Tenebrous Path.

    To pass time, Fuhrer exhaled and then took up a sword form. Diligently, he went through countless slowed versions of his sword arts. Since this was simply a Daemonic Avatar, he needed to make sure his Will stay attuned with the avatar properly at all times. The easiest to make sure this happened was to avoid using the idle state of the avatar.

    While it cost Apollo far more Demonic Anima this way, it also trained his mind to handle the continuous strain of this happening. In the long run, this would turn out to be very beneficial to Apollo. Especially so when he arrived at the prerequisites needed for the Noble Art Fuhrer wanted to impart to him.

    ----

    While waiting for Typhir to return, numerous days passed. During this time, both Apollo and Fuhrer remained active. Apollo, learning the Tenebrous Path, even getting it to interact with his Baleful Steps on a basic level, and Fuhrer, swinging his sword in a path that looked almost as if it presented an omnipotent defense.

    Slowly, Fuhrer opened his eyes and released a tempestuous breath. The heightened aura around him calmed at the feeling of a demonic sword vanished, "He is here," Fuhrer announced before slicing his hand downward. Another spatial fracture opened up, only this one was made to allow Typhir to enter.

    Once Typhir entered, it closed. Almost immediately, Apollo could sense the difference in him. For one, Apollo could sense the stigmata under his skin that was forming. While it wasn''t of the same grade as Apollo, it wasn''t too far off. This made Apollo wonder, ''Will all my acolytes created from me have rather strong stigmata as well? If so, then an army of my own creations will be the best course of action for me to take.''

    All of a sudden, Typhir bellowed and flexed his body. A rush of infernal burst from him before he returned to a rxed state, "That feels so much better. I have been restraining that since I started myprehension in the origin room, and that only made the feeling even more constraining."

    "What do you mean?" Apollo asked. Truthfully speaking, other than the heated atmosphere, he didn''t see much else of a difference in Typhir.

    Naturally, Fuhrer was more privy to the things that just happened though, "The formation of his Infernal Nucleus and Tainted Temple isplete. Furthermore, they have skipped the stage. Either this is linked to the fact his body was already partially developed, or your Ira has had a positive effect on him."

    Whichever it was, all Apollo knew was that the stronger Typhir became before entering Ashiraem would make their matters easier. Since he had yet toe in contact with Ahsiraem''s harsh environment, Apollo preferred Tyhpir''s starting experience to be better than his own. This would allow the two to save precious time.

    "I see. Any advancement is a small fortune," Apollo answered.

    But, Typhir seemed to remember something as he snapped his fingers, "Oh, right! On my way back from the institute, there was an announcement being made. The Headmaster said there is an assembly happening in a few minutes. I''m sure you didn''t receive any notification while inside this ce."

    "Assembly? What for?" Apollo questioned while stowing the Neb Shard away.

    "I''m not so sure, she didn''t give any information about it. The only way to know is to attend it, I guess. Also, I saw Odessa, she was asking about you. How long have you been in this space?" Typhir asked while rubbing his chin. At the same time, he also looked towards Fuhrer.

    "Lord Fuhrer, can you continue to train me in the correct way of the sword?"

    "I intended to do so, there is no need for you to ask. It is my duty to make sure that my liege''s followers are up to par. However, first, you two should go find out what that assembly is about. In the meantime, I''ll remain here. Since there is no great danger, let me take it upon myself to reduce the strain. After all, you''re in for hell once you return," Fuhrer responded with a small chuckle.

 Chapter 263 - Announcement Of A Grand Task

    ----

    Several moments after Typhir appeared, both he and Apollo left the independent space. The moment they opened the door to the residence, a stream of eager people could be seen traveling towards the auditorium wherein most of the announcements were made. However, what Apollo noticed was the fact that the crowd only consisted of the freshmen who were leaving the Outer Barracks in waves.??

    ''So the information pertains to freshman only? I''m guessing Geneva has some very important information in store for us. As a matter of fact, I believe Robyn hinted that the end of the year was when freshmen became more active. If I''m not mistaken, the purpose of this should be to discern whether or not theirbat ability warrants them taking distant missions,'' Apollo thought to himself while following along with the stream.

    All of a sudden, an arm wrapped around his causing Apollo to turn his head, "Hey! Why have you been neglecting me so much? Aren''t I a person too? It''s impolite to note and check on your friends. Even Typhir has stopped bothering me, what''s going on?" Nadida whined while pulling down on Apollo''s arm.

    In response, Apollo gave a wry smile. Her timing was quite impable. Either she was waiting for him to leave his room, or her senses were strong enough to know when he had left his residence. Regardless, both of these matters alerted Apollo of how diligent Nadida was when she set her mind on something.

    "I''ve been busy. If I don''t train, how will I grow stronger? And, that strength takes precedence over all else. As for Typhir, well, you know his previous situation. I only recently healed him as you know and now he has invested himself into training as well," Apollo answered.

    Slowly, a deeper pout formed on Nadida''s lips, "How strong have you two be? I can''t sense it," Nadida then paused as if she couldn''t believe her next set of words to be the truth, "Have you both broken in the Zul Knight Realm or¡­ even a Spirit Warrior?"

    For a moment, Apollo was silent and enter his thoughts, ''Well truthfully speaking, we don''t use that standard for our strength. But, luckily the system gives a general estimation of where our internal state resides. It seems that evolution meter may be directly linked to estimated cultivation level.''

    The more hepared his advancements in the evolution process and his internal energy reserves, the more he felt this was the truth. If this was the case, then certain percentages lined up with another realm of Astarat''s cultivation. To verify this thought, all he needed to do was make sure his evolution meter advanced with haste.

    While cultivating his Ira was a fast way, there was an even quicker one. One that he hadn''t performed in a short while. Back when he aplished feats coinciding with his state of Demonic Conduct, he received Demonic Essence Pellets as a reward. However, now that he could make Pure Demonic Anima, the system recalibrated for this ability.

    Now, the items received for aplishing even more feats would be even more notable. Furthermore, there was also another change affiliated with Demonic Conduct. Unfortunately, for him to be privy to that, he would need to reenter the Nihilistic Rings.

    Nevertheless, Apollo shook his head and denied her im, "Neither. We''ve just beenprehending things. Also, since you''re here, let''s attend the assembly together."

    "Ermm." All of a sudden, Nadida started to squirm. Well, you see, Odessa kind of already knows what this is about and she has been in a bad mood because of it. I won''t say anything, but you''ll soon know why. So, if you see her, refrain from asking questions!"

    In light of this revtion, Apollo''s eyebrow rose with intrigue, ''Hoh? Has their rtionship deepened to such a level? Even though their identities are so far apart, they''re able to get along. I guess the demeanor of a so-called Paragon isn''t as aloof as one would believe. Or, perhaps Nadida has also proved her worth.''

    "Has Odessa approached you to join one of her legions in the future?" Apollo questioned. Since this question was so abrupt, it left Nadida stunned for quite some time. But, when she pieced together the fact that Odessa spent a substantial amount of time with Apollo, she then realized he should have been approached.

    "Indeed, she has. But, I never gave an answer. For me to be someone''srade, it''s not all about what they can offer in terms of material. I have to know that my life is secure. To leave my back to someone''s reactions is to vest my trust in them. That isn''t something that should be readily given away," Nadida answered. At the same time, there was an oddly serious look in her eyes.

    When Apollo saw this, he praised her inwardly, ''Lighthearted trust that is easily given is the recipe for an early demise. It''s a good thing she is mature enough to understand this. She has been using this time to determine if Odessa is one who is trustworthy enough to utilize your life as a means of gambit. After all, every battle one enters is a potential gamble with their life.''

    While the three continued to talk amongst themselves, they arrived before the auditorium in seemingly no time at all. Moreover, Apollo also became privy to the fact that Nadida was slowly leaning towards epting Odessa''s offer. Truthfully, Apollo didn''t reject the idea. Based on what she showed, her heart was indeed pure. It just seemed her initial attitude was influenced by therge weight on her shoulders from her family''s expectations.

    "Ahem!" A resounding voice permeated the surroundings and prated everyone''s eardrums. Those who weren''t familiar with the person stiffened up quickly. But, those simr to Apollo who had met this individual before simply looked at him quietly.

    "As you all can infer, this assembly pertains to you all freshman and how your future in this ce will unfold. As a result, the entire staff is here. We''ll also enter a specialized period where you''ll all be allowed to request our guidance once a week," Rezar announced.

    Shortly after he took the stand, the rest of the administrators appeared. Naturally, they were spearheaded by Geneva, the Headmaster. As she appeared, there was an odd look in her eyes as she scanned the crowd. Soon enough, she found Apollo''s figured and red daggers before returning to normal.

    Since Fuhrer wasn''t here, Apollo wasn''t sure what this stare meant. However, one thing remained true, there was a trace of cold sweat flowing down his back, ''Could her corruption have momentarilypsed as Fuhrer suggested? Perhaps I should steer clear of her for the moment.''

    On the other hand, Geneva opened her mouth while raising her hand, "Adding upon what Rezar just said, this period will onlyst for the next 3 months. After all, that is all that is left in the current schedule. Yourst month will be spent inside a special area. This will test all the qualities you must possess to gain ess to the missions of a second year."

    Slowly, murmurs bruited about as the youths talked amongst themselves. There was excitement in their eyes when they thought about being taught by true experts. Ones who have been to the Catastrophe Line, forming the barrier into the Endless Death Domain.

    "Hold on, please refrain from the excess noise until we''re done! Although this might sound fun, it won''t be. These special administrators are much more strict than a typical instructor. They possess far more stringent requirements deeming a basic to have been mastered. Therefore, give this matter adequate thought and choose wisely," Geneva warned.

    As a result, the noise dwindled to a barely discernible whisper. Once that happened, Geneva took a step back and allowed Sylvester to take the stand, "As the Vice Master of the Disciplinary Committee, it is my duty to help prepare you all, thus I will provide some information as far as what we are looking for goes.

    "Unlike the selection, what you''ll be experiencing is solo. However, there is a catch, those who possess a Spirit possess an upper hand. After all, a Spirit can be counted as a teammate. When going up against a singr opponent, you''ll possess the advantage in numbers. Beyond that, there is a restriction; all those who wish to take part in this expedition will have to reach the Zul Knight Realm. Your current cultivations just won''t cut it," Sylvester added.

    Once everyone heard this, they frowned. The difference between a fresh Zul Knight and peak Zul Warrior wasrge at all. Besides the increased reserves, the change in strength wasn''t too noticeable. In other words, they wanted the youth to reach at least the middle stages! The excitement soon turned to frowns, meanwhile, a pleased smile appeared upon Apollo''s lips.

 Chapter 264 - Road To A Greater Path

    ----

    Once again, Geneva switched ces with Sylvester, "Now, since you understand that you''ll all be going on an expedition wherein you are to rely upon yourselves for survival, there is more information that needs to be disclosed. For example, the location and conditions of said expedition. Before I answer, does anyone have a clue where you might be headed?"??

    Before anyone could answer, a silence pervaded. While some of them knew the answer due to their family members experiencing this once before, answering at this very moment would essentially paint a target on their back. Not only would everyone flock to them for potential information, but they may also even resort to even more drastic matters.

    After all, information on anything was far more important than any other factor. Satisfactory information meant that ns could be made in advance. Once that happened, variables could be ounted for based on the flow of events that took ce.

    Since no one answered, Geneva smiled. "I guess we''re all shy. Very well, you''ll all be entering the mysterious Central District of Pangea Ind. Outside of this area, not much else is known about it as both the Guardian of the world and the establishedws don''t allow anyone or thing to enter."

    Upon hearing this, Apollo''s expression grew interested. ''The Central District is it? Perhaps there are some secrets hidden there. The only reason I can see entry being forbidden is when it pertains to secrets. This makes me want to enter there even more. Not to mention, if not much is known, then that means surveince of the ce is sparse.''

    While Apollo continued to think about this, Geneva continued to disclose information rted to their uing expedition. In addition to the restriction, there were certain safety measures put in ce. After all, while this area was a valuable ce, it didn''t warrant the death of these students.

    "When you enter, there will be two markings on your body. One, you simply need to shatter it with essence to be drawn out of the sub realm immediately. This is the safest and most practical way to ensure your life is preserved. However, be warned, certain areas, especially the peaks in the area will disrupt the signal. This is where your own judgmentes into y," Geneva revealed.

    The situation between each participant would be different. What Geneva didn''t disclose is the temptation of the items inside. Even if she did, this was something they''d have to experience firsthand to understand. Her warning just wouldn''t suffice. Such knowledge was gained from past transgressions.

    "Furthermore, you also have to be reminded that this doesn''t just include you all. All of the other academies will assemble to enter as well. In other words, this is a joined effort. Thus, you should pay even more attention to survival. Should there be an abundance ofpetition for a single area, then I advise you to retreat. While this may be meant for a sole individual, people are treacherous," Geneva cautioned.

    Fortunately, those who were aware of the treacherous ways of human greed and malice paid close attention to Geneva''s words. In their eyes, nothing was worth more than their own life.

    On the other hand, Apollo chuckled. At first, he wanted to open his mouth, however, he refrained from doing so. For this certain event, he felt it was better to move in silence and make sure that no one was all the wiser to his intentions. Hence, he closed his eyes and remained standing amongst the crowd.

    "Lastly, the second marking you will bear is the most important. It''s a special marking that the sub realm of the Central District administers itself. Depending on the final state of the marking, the ranking of your next year will be determined. Some of you may enter the Elite ss and some of you may enter the Pantheon ss. It is all determined by your own actions; that is all," Geneva announced.

    A momentter, she bid her departure. Simultaneously, she also sent Apollo a message that made him weary. ''I have appeared on numerous people''s radar? Interesting, and from the way she worded it, I don''t think it pertains to this academy. I guess this journey beyond will be...eventful,'' Apollo inwardly thought with a small chuckle.

    The moment the assembly ended, Apollo didn''t dawdle. He gazed in Typhir''s direction and gave a signal before moving under the cloak of his shadow. Slowly, the two made their way away from the auditorium. When they reconvened, not just Typhir even Apollo felt a shred of excitement.

    "Is what you said true?" Typhir questioned. In truth, there were two parts to his inquiry. On their way over, Apollo revealed two pieces of information to Typhir. The first piece of information was rted to the fact they would be crossing over to another world shortly. However, before doing so, Typhir was to finish establishing his stigmata. Once that happened, he would be able to circte Ira without any interruption.

    Not to mention, Apollo wasn''t sure if there were any aftereffects of entering Ashairem without aplete stigmata. Frankly speaking, he also didn''t want to take the risk. In this case, caution took precedence over rushing.

    As for the other piece of information, Apollo insinuated that there would soon be an opportunity to crush his source of wrath and indignance. While Apollo didn''t mention a name, Typhir was certain Apollo was aware of his inner feelings. After bing his acolyte, there was an established link that seemed to allow Apollo into his mind but not the opposite.

    ----

    As a spatial fracture opened for them to enter, Apollo brought Ouroboros along. Once their training was done, there would be no pause from the moment ofpletion and departure.

    While Typhir was guided in the ways of an Ira Stigmata, Apollo retrieved the Demonic Enchantment Scroll from his possession. As he glimpsed through, Apollo became pleasantly surprised. This scroll wasn''t what he thought it was, in fact, it was a technique!

    One that required a strong Intent, Demonic Anima and the utilization of Hellfire. So long as his Hellfire was strong enough, he would be able to engrave his own Demonic Runes on both items inanimate and animate alike.

    ''An enchantment technique. I think this is simr to the formations that Corvin excels in. However, it is fundamentally different. This will eliminate theck of a weapon as long as I increase my proficiency and obtain the right material within the Nihilistic Rings,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Rather than continue practicing his other techniques, he read through the scroll over and over until the contents were embedded in his mind. When he looked through it, he was sure this was a basic technique at best, however, even the most basic of technique became unable to be questioned when brought to its peak. Just, the effort required to do so was unimaginable.

    First things first, the scroll required Apollo to consciously manipte the heat his Hellfire exuded. After all, its inherent heat was too tyrannic for some material. This is where his control came into y. Before attempting it with any material, it was smarter to gain theoretical practice first.

    As the Hellfire danced in his palm, Apollo spared all his attention to modifying its temperature. He practiced with this by using a Spirit Shard. He aimed to control the temperature to a point wherein the shard wouldn''t melt. Of course, this wasn''t easy.

    On the first attempt, the shard blew up within an instant. In addition to the temperature, the Demonic Anima thatprised the Hellfire destabilized the shard. In this practice, he also aimed to control the destructive properties of his energy. In a sense, he was attempting to nullify. This meant changing his energy''s properties at the base function.

    Upon noticing this, Fuhrer''s turned in his direction, "Lad, you aren''t a Daemos. If you wish to alter your energy signature, it''ll be rather difficult. If you do that, then you''ll essentially unlock the ability to shapeshift. Of course, there are requirements for doing such a thing."

    "Not quite, I am just attempting to learn Demonic Enchanting, but I don''t want to waste my important resources. These are the least useful out of everything, thus, I don''t mind its sacrifice. If it''s for my greater path, then it is worth it," Apollo answered.

    All he did was give a simple nod. Other than that, Fuhrer didn''t add his input. Until now, there were a few feats that Apollo aplished that defied the order he knew. Another shock was something he was bound to see.

    More importantly, Typhir''s stigmata was nearingpletion. When he was done overseeing that, it was time to catapult them back into the realm of the demons.

 Chapter 265 - Emerging In Ashiraem

    ----

    "Not bad, you have finished it in record time," Fuhrer nodded with a tinge of praise as he looked at the searing markings flowing through Typhir''s body. Naturally, this was thepletion of his Ira Stigmata. Unlike Apollo''s stigmata, which covered arge portion of his upper body when stimted, Typhir''s markings covered his arms only. While there was a stark difference between them, by no means was the stigmata Typhir created weak.??

    In fact, the moment hepleted it, both he and Apollo went for a quick spar. Since it was only used to determine how strong Typhir had be, there was no use of techniques involved. Without many indications of his following actions, Apollo threw a punch towards Typhir.

    When he sensed it, Typhir immediately retreated with a couple of backflips, "What was that for?" Typhir eximed with a puzzled expression. On the other hand, Fuhrer simply chuckled. Different from Typhir, Apollo had actually experienced most of Fuhrer''s ways ofbat. As a result, he adopted some of his mannerisms.

    For example, theck of allowing a breather. Uponpletion, Apollo instantly pressed Typhir. "Don''t whine. What use is strength if you can''t utilize it properly? That stigmata on your body is both a blessing and a curse; take it from me. You must have met with Ira, so you understand just how tedious this will be," Apollo answered.

    As he agreed, Typhir merely nodded along. Once he passed his trial of rage, the sensation flowing through his body was one of the most gruesome pains he had ever felt. Moreover, it was still going on till this very moment. However, since he didn''t possess the auto-correction feature of the system, Apollo took the next matters upon himself.

    "Good. Also, your internals should be in a highly impressionable state. Thus, let''s continue sparring to hammer some of the inconsistencies out of you without dy," Apollo continued before dashing forward. The explosive dash caused the ground to splinter as he moved forward using a mixture of Strength and Agility.

    When he arrived before Typhir, the air around his fist seemed to warp slightly as it pierced through it. Suddenly, a dangerous vibe hit Typhir''s Tainted Temple. By pure instinct, he took a step back and twisted his body to avoid the blow. In response, he whipped out his right leg while flipping the air to create a small opening.

    Unfortunately, his agility wasn''t up to par with Apollo''s. Before the strike couldnd, Apollo grabbed his ankle and pulled him in. With his position secured and any route of evasion sealed, Apollo hammered Typhir''s chest with a blow that caused him to shoot into the distance like a rocket in flight.

    Furthermore, like earlier, Apollo didn''t give him the chance to recover. He followed after him closely and balled his fist together before mming it downward. The impact came after a pin drop silence as Typhir''s body was left impaled into the ground. From start to finish, he wasn''t able tond a single blow on Apollo.

    Be that as it may, Apollo still stood over him, shaking the throbbing sensation off from his hand, ''While his Agility hasn''t improved that much, I can tell his Strength, Vitality, and Endurance should have undergone a qualitative improvement. I wouldn''t be surprised if his Strength was on par with mine,'' Apollo inwardly thought while awaiting the disappearance of the dust cloud.

    All of a sudden, Typhir sprang from the crater his body created and appeared before Apollo. This time, however, the markings on his body were much more solid as a few streams of ck blood flowed from his lips. Although he was in a world of pain, he grinned.

    "Again, this much isn''t enough to break me. Get stronger, my lord!" Typhir bellowed before taking a wide stance. He then utilized both of his legs to elerate and cause a small sonic boom. When Apollo saw this, he was slightly surprised, ''Did he just get faster? Perhaps his stats haven''tpletely solidified yet.''

    Nevertheless, Apollo responded in kind and dashed towards Typhir. For the moment, their momentum seemed to be the same. Yet, upon each collision, Typhir lost by a small degree. But even then, Apollo''s eyebrow twitched after each impact. He was almost certain this was true.

    ''His skin is hardening!'' Apollo eximed as he saw small amounts of a ck metallic gleam on Typhir''s knuckles. When he looked at his own, Apollo saw numerous bruises and some signs of fresh blood.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer nodded, ''My liege is more of an all-rounder. There isn''t an area ofbat that he particrly excels at over the rest and there is also the fact his body seems to be advancing evenly. On the other hand, this boy''s body was more so built to be durable. When ites to physical exchanges, if he can capitalize on his future prospects, I don''t see him losing to anyone. Especially with the strongest offensive dualbination.''

    As the two continued to spar, the metallic gleam of Typhir''s body continued to spread. By the 500th exchange, the gleam had already spread over the entirety of both of his arms. However, after that, it didn''t seem to spread any further. This was when Apollo realized this should have something to do with his stigmata.

    ''It must have entuated some hidden talent within his body. I guess the Hellfire has tempered his bronze body into some type of demon metal. I can''t wait to see how he handles himself in that sub-realm. Perhaps I''ll leave most of thebat up to him,'' Apollo internalized while mulling over a few ideas.

    Shortly after, Typhir raised his hand before falling to one knee and coughing up a clump of viscous blood, "No more my Lord, my body can''t take anymore. You win. I don''t know how you''re still brimming with energy."

    Before answering, Apollo grasped his hand and pulled him up. At the same time, he cracked his own neck, releasing the tension his body collected from all the blows he had to match, "You''ve grown strong. You just need to limate to your own stamina. Once that happens, and you learn how to limit your physical exertion, you''lle to find out that I''m currently not that much stronger than you."

    Of course, this was only when taking physical bodies into ount. Since Typhir was his acolyte, the system gave him a small internal upgrade. After all, the purpose of the system was to prepare the Monarch and his subordinates. Any intellectual demon would rush to join his side. What others didn''t know is that arge secret resided within the origin of this tool.

    Since the spar was over and the purpose of it had been aplished, Fuhrer made his move, "I think it is time that we set out for which we intended to do. Don''t you think so?"

    After asking this, Fuhrer drew his sword and sliced downward. While he created a spatial fracture, this one was fundamentally different. The others seemed as if it led to a void, but this fracture retained an infernal aura to it. It went without saying, Fuhrer has just opened the doorway to Ashiraem.

    However, unlike the time Apollo went berserk, not only was this channel controlled, it was private. In other words, it was linked directly to the coordinates of Fuhrer''s real body. While Apollo was ready to depart at any time, Apollo wasn''t so sure about Typhir. This would be his first time crossing over to this world.

    "Are you prepared? I will warn you, what you''re about to step into is a ce that some would call a nightmare. In fact, I don''t think a human would be able to survive here. Fortunately, we have both experienced our first evolution," Apollo stated while approaching the gateway.

    For some time, Typhir was silent. Although he was quite the courageous fellow, it would be a lie to say he wasn''t apprehensive. On top of being a new atmosphere, there was a looming sense of despair present.

    Nevertheless, after he calmed down and exhaled, he finally assented, "I''m ready, my Lord. After y-"

    Before Typhir could finish, Apollo grabbed his wrist and flung Typhir through the gateway. However, when Apollo entered, Fuhrer''s avatar disintegrated into motes of dark energy that flowed back into his mind.

    ''Ah, so when I return to the proper world, I can''t leave the avatar here? Interesting. I''ll also need to test whether or not summoning Fuhrer''s avatar is possible. Since he is still bound, it might be possible,'' Apollo thought. As he crossed over, he extended his arm and allowed Ouroboros to slither up.

    Once again, he had ventured back into the gathering of the Nihilistic Rings.

 Chapter 266 - Birth Under Way

    ----

    While Apollo took the opportunity to return to the Nihilistic Rings, somethingpletely untowards the world of Astarat was urring. For starters, after the Terrors tasted the euphoria of absorbing Fuhrer''s energy, their activity skyrocketed. Much like the humans, they also followed a chain ofmand.??

    While the humans had most of the world of Astarat, the Terrors had the Endless Death Domain. When inside the domain, they were like fish in water. The copious amounts of death energy pervading the atmosphere allowed them to both sustain themselves as well as precipitate their evolutions.

    As of right now, the Legions of the World Remation Task Force who took shelter within the Catastrophe Line had their work cut out for them. In addition to the increased activity, there were signs of the Terror''s higher-ups starting to move as well. While it was unclear to them just what the Terrors were interested in, it was certain that they intended to grasp something.

    ----

    Deep inside the stronghold of the Terrors within the Endless Death Domain,

    "Lord Az''kayzak, the signature of that ghastly energy¡­ we have been unable to locate it. And all attempts to advance and rile up the underlings have been thwarted by the actions of the humans!" a Terror in a bowed position reported. Unlike the Terrors on the battlefield, his skin was much green. Additionally, they possessed tribal markings.

    Naturally, this symbolized the hierarchy in the Terror''s society. The darker one''s skin and the more defined their markings, the higher their status. Yet, this Terror still bowed before the one seated on the throne.

    An obsidian crown leaking an ominous aura sat upon this particr Terror''s head. In his eyes was an immense intelligence as well as cunning as he listened to the report of his underling. Suddenly, he raised his hand and cut the report short.

    "At ease, Brukti. Rise and tell me about the proceedings of the n. Has the leakage been found and has anyone found a way to harness it?" Az''kayzak questioned while leaning on his hand. If one looked closely, they would see an almost bored expression on his face.

    "No, we haven''t made any progress. As you know, that ind is the stronghold of the human race. If we wish to infiltrate it, we''ll need stronger forces. Furthermore, your body hasn''t been properly restored. We can''t allow you to move either. Hence, I suggest we continue to bide our time and wait for the defense of that ce to weaken. It is only a matter of time, nothing willst forever," Bruktimented.

    As his words carried sound logic along with it, Az''kayzak relented. "I suggest you are correct. However, the birth of another one of my kind excites me. Furthermore, if they are of the sameposition, there would be nothing in my way to prohibit me from regaining my body. In this era, I will be unstoppable!" He grinned at the end of his words.

    As he thought about this and became excited, he gripped the edge of his armrest. Numerous cracks spread from his fingers to the top of his throne. When Brukti saw this, a cold sweat flowed down his back. ''Not good, the Lord is getting far too excited. I need to have him calm down before his aura can be sensed!''

    "My Lord, your actions! They are counterintuitive to our ns. If you allow your presence to be known, then we''ll suffer even greater obstacles," Brukti voiced, pleading for Az''kayzak to cease his actions.

    After he regained his wits, he agreed. "Don''t mind my momentary blunder. However, you should know this isn''t the era of the past. Even the world itself is suffering from our presence. Before, it could limit us more thoroughly. But, as our strength augments, its strength whittles away."

    "I-I am not sure, but I believe you, my ancient lord. Unlike you, my birth didn''te until after that glorious era. The treacherous humans were in power by the time I had awakened to my illustrious power," Brukti responded with his head still bowed. Be that as it may, it was still clear he possessed a sense of pride for his kind; his words brimmed with dignity.

    "You may not have been alive to witness it, but within our source resides all of our experiences. As long as you reach the cusp of entering the Disastrous Realm, your link to the source will be established. With your foundations and the fact you have received my guidance, this should be the least of your achievements. I expect you to be a Dark Catastrophe. That way, another King will be born," Az''kayzak said before rising to his feet.

    He then took slow steps towards the dark window of his quarters. To a normal person, it looked like stone, but with theposition of a Terror''s body, they could see through things possessing the aura of death. This is why no matter what, the World Remation Task Force never defended their wounded.

    If they did, there was a chance of being swarmed. A woundedrade was akin to a beacon of death on their battlefield. "Brukti, it is imperative you put more pressure on the humans. It is time we directly intervene with darkening."

    When he heard this, Brukti''s expression became excited, "Does this mean I have permission to act my Lord?"

    "Indeed it does. As the Terror closest to reaching the Disastrous Realm, I''d be foolish not to utilize you as a tool of destruction. However, start small and umte the strength of ughter. Once you have umted enough of it, return here. We will perform the rite," Az''kayzak revealed.

    Without a shred of hesitation, Brukti agreed and disappeared. In his ce, Az''kayzak smiled to himself, "All of your strong backings have fallen victim to the gue of time. It''s unfortunate you don''t possess the ability of us foreign beings. Now, withhold the magnificence of death!"

    ----

    Momentster on the Catastrophe Line,

    Suren''s expression fell as he realized the augmented activity of the low-level Terrors. While they weren''t strong, the annoyance came in their numbers. Their ability to propagate was simply mind-boggling. As fast as he culled them was as fast as a new one appeared.

    It didn''t take long for annoyance to well up inside him. As a result, he brandished his spear and slid his foot back, "Very well. Since you show up nonstop, try to withstand this never-ending ughter." Suren exhaled as the atmosphere around his spear started to whirl.

    A whirlwind was kicked up as crackles of electricity appeared soon active. The hyperactive state of his energy caused the environment to be a victim. Once it became potent enough, Suren stomped his foot.

    Along with the whirlwind, his body became nearly indiscernible. Upon contact, a sonorous screech that disoriented all of the terrors within a cone shape of 500 meters appeared. "Whirlwind Strike: Pierce of the Silent Night!"

    Immediately after, the silence of a dead night appeared. One by one, the Terrors afflicted by his strike started to fall. By the end of it, all of the enemies before him remained lifeless on the ground. Of course, he wasn''t without his own issues.

    His body was nearly powerless as that strike ate up arge quantity of his Spiritual Essence. Luckily, his Spirit, Ascalon appeared and ced his hand on his back. He funneled a small amount of Spiritual Essence into Suren so that he wouldn''t fall into a prolonged state of weakness.

    "Is that the new strike you have been trying to perfect? It seems you still haven''t fixed the consumption issue," Ascalon inquired before removing his hand. In response, Suren nodded.

    "It''s harder than it seems to create your own strike as well as fine-tune the inadequacies," Suren voiced through bated breaths. It took some time, but he finally regained his proper ability after returning to the outpost of the World Remation Task Force.

    The moment he arrived, he was greeted by a few other figures that he didn''t typically see gathered together.

    "Is something the matter?" Suren questioned while gazing upon the others.

    "Arge one, indeed. I''m sure you have realized it. Not only had the numbers of the Terrors increased, but so have their activity and their willingness to perish. There is something off about all this. Where are their ordersing from? Their actions are bing more refined with each encounter," Siriusmented.

    Not just him, Solomon, as well as Gabriel, agreed. There was a look of weariness on their faces as they nced at each other.

    Little did they know, a nightmare had been giving the okay to unleash hell.

 Chapter 267 - Odd Signs Occuring

    ----

    While things started to change on the Catastrophe Line, such events took ce in other ces as well. Much like the Terrors experienced an increase in activity, the Spiritual Veins of Astarat were quaking. Slowly but surely, the negative effects of corruption started to present themselves.??

    "Lady Geneva, the corruption is leading to the destabilization of our output. While it is manageable as of right now, the condition in the future is currently unforeseeable to me. I suggest we take ample measures to counteract any issues that may arise," Robyn suggested while stroking his haggard beard.

    "Destabilization? In what aspect? Are the mines crumbling as a result?" Geneva questioned while raising her head from the other reports on the desk. However, before she did so, she paused for a moment. She didn''t understand why, but she felt woozy for a moment. She needed a moment to recollect herself.

    While he noticed this, Robyn didn''t pay this much attention. After all, he was one of the select few who was privy to her injury. As a result, he thought this was rted to the fact her seque from her injury reappeared once again. Little did he know, that truly wasn''t the case. For a short time, her mind was in a fog! It took the entirety of her willpower to rouse her from that state.

    Nevertheless, he still answered while recalling the exact statements made by those who man the veins and mines, "No, the mines'' structures are stable. It''s the output of the mines that aren''t. Hence, I advise us to start limiting the resources we utilize. It isn''t the time to support needless splurging. What do you say we assess the students and based on their physique, we set a limit to the number of resources they can acquire."

    Truthfully speaking, it was a sound suggestion. Not only would it limit their expenses, but it would also make sure the students continued to grow at the height of their potential. In the best-case scenario, it wouldn''t be subject to adverse ramifications.

    The more she thought about it, the more Geneva becamepelled to allow it to happen. However, the bacsh from those who received resources in an abundance wouldn''t be that great.

    Thus, she also needed a way to cate them. In her current state, usage of force wasn''t something she wanted to do. ''I can''t aggravate this injury until I find out why my body has been responding in a way I''m not used to,'' Geneva thought to herself.

    "Based on their calctions, how long do we have until the core foundations of this ce are affected? Don''t give the higher limits, give the lower limits. We must always prepare for the worst above all," Geneva answered before making the decision.

    "At the very least, the Spiritual Veins willst approximately two more years with this elerated pace. Moreover, I have even more harrowing news. The corruption experienced arge jump recently. It seems there is more than one force contributing to the corruption. Based on the signs, I think there are at least 5 contributing factors," Robyn responded in kind.

    As soon as she heard this, Geneva''s expression darkened. Albeit hard to understand, an image shed in her mind of an aged figure that struck fear into the depths of her heart. A cold sweat emerged on her back as he touched the area of her wound. Silently, she muttered to herself, "Demons¡­"

    However, it appeared Robyn was far from done talking, "But, there is a semnce of good news. Right now, the corruption is only on the outer shell of the veins. It isn''t strong enough to prate it yet. Unlike the outside, the core of the veins boasts incredibly high defenses. To corrupt them, it would take far more effort. Hence, why I say we have 2 years at the very least."

    Geneva both took in this information as well as nodded, however, her mind was stuck elsewhere. The image of the aloof boy floated in her mind, ''While you have never stepped foot in the veins, the gue of this world is due to your actions. Just what are you... you demons? What...did I get myself into?''

    Due to theck of answer, Robyn tried to get her attention by sending a small ripple of essence past her ear. When that happened, she awoke from her stupor, "Ah, yes. Very well. Put the measure in ce. Since you operate the Resource Hall, it is up to your discretion to ce a limit. If that is all, you may go."

    "Oh, but it isn''t. Earlier, I sensed something. Something very deadly. In fact, it may even rival the aura that is stuck in your wound," Robyn voiced in a grim tone.

    Geneva trembled as soon as the words left Robyn''s lip. A look of horror entered her eyes and she looked at him. Her quavering voice bounced off the walls as she asked a question she truly didn''t want the answer to, "Where did you sense it¡­"

    "That''s the thing, I don''t know. It felt as if it was all over. If I had to be honest, I think the aura came from a Terror that can''t be ssified as a Disaster-Grade. As they are now, a Grandmaster should be able to handle one of those. But, beyond...it would require an expert we don''t currently possess. Their aura of death...it is overwhelming," Robyn answered.

    The fact he couldn''t locate anything unsettled Geneva even further. ''It''s the omen. We''re looking forward to unprecedented times.''

    "Nevermind your earlier suggestion, we''re entering a period of elerated advancement. All those who show promise will have the origin room open to them all year round. Furthermore, allow them to enter the enhancement rooms at least once a month. As for the academic credits, everyone will receive one waiver while I alter the requirements to obtain them," Geneva stated. There was an unusual calm in her voice as she made this call.

    Despite wanting to advise against it, he did no such thing. If they couldn''t stop the issue, it was best they prepared the most talented to be both battle-ready and battle-hardened. Contrary to his thoughts, Robyn conceded. "I don''t know if it is the best call, but it is the most practical. The life of a hermit will only prolong the inevitable."

    Robyn then rose to his feet before departing from the area. The moment he left, however, Geneva nced to her side, "Come out, I know you''re there. The fact he didn''t sense you means your power is stabilizing, isn''t it? The Dragon Exalt, Irauk."

    Slowly, Irauk''s appearance came from within the embrace of golden mes. "The Dark Phoenix, now why have you spoken of that old moniker? Just as you have left behind the glory, I have recast myself and adopted a new identity. Nevertheless, our origins are linked so I guess I can''t me you."

    "Why have you appeared? There must be something on your mind," Geneva questioned with a stoic expression. For some reason, in his presence, she always seemed slightly ufortable.

    "Still forcefully resisting the call of our bloodlines? However, I havee across something that disturbs me. Thatd I picked up, I happened to ingest his mes, yet my body can''t digest it. At first, it appeared to be so, but¡­ I still sense a trace of the aura within my mes."

    All of a sudden, Geneva''s eyes widened, "You did what?! Please tell me you didn''t ingest a dark grey-looking me¡­"

    "I did but that isn''t truly correct. The me I ingested was more of a whitish silver," Irauk answered with a small chuckle. At the same time, he scratched his head. Based on her reaction, he could tell something was wrong.

    "Silvery white?" Geneva blinked. From what she remembered, Apollo''s me was a dark silver. However, what she didn''t know was that Irauk had devoured an even worse me. One must remember, he absorbed the me from when Apollo was being controlled. That me was the pinnacle of Hellfire. In other words, its qualities could not bepared to what Geneva ingested.

    To put it differently, Irauk had stepped into a pit of despair unknowingly. In the future, there would only be two choices remaining for him. Whether or not he made the right one, that was up to him.

    Geneva sighed and shook her head, "It would seem out fates are once again tied by the same thread. Very well, have a seat. There are some things we need to discuss."

    From her tone, Irauk ceased his yful attitude and took a seat. Although she didn''t understand the fine details, slowly, bits and pieces of the conversation with Apollo wasing back to her.

 Chapter 268 - A New Feature

    ----

    Since Fuhrer was the one to open the portal, the other side was linked to the position of his body. When Apollo, Typhir, and Ouroboros stepped through they stood before Fuhrer''s motionless body. ??

    Slowly, he opened his eyes to view them with a subtle nod, "I don''t know how you did it, but the projection of my will is seamless. Through normal means, that wouldn''t be aplishable. Nevertheless, since you have made good on your promise, you have my unblemished trust from this moment on."

    In response, Apollo nodded. The usefulness of the system was not to be doubted. Even he didn''t know what else the system had in store for him. However, one thing did remain true, whatever it was, he looked forward to unearthing it. Up until this very movement, apart from the pain, there wasn''t much he disliked about the system.

    Meanwhile, the moment they arrived Typhir clutched his chest while falling to his knees. The increased pressure from Ashiraem disgruntled Typhir to the point of distorting his equilibrium. Not to mention, the distortion of ne traveling also tampered with his senses.

    Like a fountain, the contents of his stomach ejecting from his stomach, "I hate it! I HATE IT! Dear god... A-Ablehghgh!"

    In the middle of his gasping and exmations, not only his but even Apollo''s body started to convulse. Naturally, this was a drawback from being made from Apollo''s essence. The restrictions that fell upon him gued the others as well.

    Moreover, there was an inverse rtionship. In other words, if his followers did something to warrant punishment, Apollo would be affected as well but not the other way around. Any punishment he garnered would mostly likely cripple his followers in the long run.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer found their convulsions to be hrious. Being as his spirit had escaped the boundaries of the mundane, he wasn''t a typical demon. The mention of any holy deities didn''t invoke punishment upon him. As a Daemos, he was a being that stood just under these deities. As a result, he possessed the ability to resist.

    "Tsk tsk, young one. It seems you have learned your first lesson. Unless you step into the realm of the Daemos, I suggest you refrain from mentioning the rulers of the other race. It''ll just excite punishment," Fuhrer said before extending his hand forward.

    A subtle power covered both Typhir and Apollo as the punishment was quelled by Fuhrer''s energy. Once this happened, they both heaved a sigh of relief. Even though Typhir looked at Apollo with a tinge of guilt, Apollo simply chuckled.

    "Truth be told, I did the same exact thing so there''s nothing to be ashamed about. What''s more important is for us to elevate our current standing. I think it''d be better for us to stay here. Fuhrer, how long can we stay here?" Apollo questioned while turning towards Fuhrer.

    In response, Fuhrer shrugged, "That much is up to you. If you can step into the Greater State, then there is a chance of extending your stay here. You''ll be able to sacrifice a substantial amount of Sin to continue staying here. If you don''t I can keep you here for...approximately 7 days. As you know, that''d be slightly over 2 months in the other world."

    Silently, Apollo made calctions. ''7 days should be more than enough. On average, it took about 1 day to increase a single level. However, that is under the assumption that I continue to fight Lesser Ifrits. At the very least, we should seek out opponents that stand at the peak of our level.''

    "That should be more than enough. By the time we return, we should have umted enough experience. However, there is no need to dawdle. I think we shou-..."

    All of a sudden, Apollo stopped mid-sentence as he narrowed his eyes. It wasn''t an enemy that caught his attention but rather the appearance of a notification in the corner of his eye. Hisst time here, the system has just increased his authority to Level 4.

    Unfortunately, at that time, there wasn''t enough time for the other additions that came with it to function properly. Fortunately, this was apletely difference visit. Thus, the system''s sealed features immediately granted Apollo ess. Not to mention, this specific feature made Apollo jubnt.

    ?System Alert! The "Dark Scanner" feature has awakened. In short, the use of this feature is to assist you in locating the hidden pieces. There are two functions to the scanner.?

    When Apollo read this, he immediately opened the tab to understand more about it.

    ?Dark Scanner?

    ?Active? Pulse - This scans the current world and the immediate linked world for the presence of any hidden pieces. If used when in proximity to a piece, the exact location will be revealed. However, the piece will also be privy to your existence but not your aura. Thus, tread carefully.

    ?Passive? Dark Path - This enables a thread that points you in the correct general direction. Unlike the active version, this function doesn''t possess an innate cooldown. Furthermore, depending on how close a piece is, the color of the thread will change color. The darker the white line bes, the closer the piece.

    After closing the menu, the tread mentioned in the information appeared. After the thread appeared, it vibrated before shifting and pointing towards the area that Saehtyn barred him from. In other words, there was another piece located somewhere near the area that possessed Greater Demons and Archdemons alike.

    Typically, such an environment would cause one to be stagnant with fear. But, this wasn''t the case for Apollo. In fact, he saw this as a ster opportunity. If the next piece was stronger or just as strong as Fuhrer''s current condition, then he would secure yet another strong assistant.

    The only issue was the warning that came along with the feature. ''Tread carefully for the other side will be privy to my existence. If they are as hostile as Fuhrer was in the beginning, then there may be a rough journey ahead. Additionally, I''m not even sure if I can summon Fuhrer''s avatar here. I''ll have to experiment on that once we gain some distance from him,'' Apollo inwardly thought.

    With the appearance of this feature, Apollo was almost impatient to set out towards his initialnding ce. However, suddenly the singr thread split into five paths. At first, Apollo didn''t understand what this meant, but then the next notification rified it.

    ?System Alert! The general position of the 5 closest hidden pieces has been determined. 2 resides with Ashiraem whereas the other 3 reside within the next linked ring. It is advised to follow the thinnest thread.?

    As Apollo read through the information, he first focused on thest sentence. Now that he took a long look to examine the threads, he noticed they all varied in thickness. One was fine like hair while the thickest one resembled the width of Apollo''s finger.

    When he looked at that thread, he felt a sense of dread, ''I''m almost certain that this thread belongs to an Archdemon, or even worse, a Noblesse. This option is immediately thrown out the window. In Fuhrer''s state, he said he isn''t their opponent. Then, the thinnest thread it is.''

    Now that he came to a conclusion as to how he would move forward, he nced in Typhir''s direction. "Are you ready to set out?"

    "I guess so," Typhir mumbled in response. Compared to the moment theynded, his state was much more stable. The only issue is he felt his insides bubbling. While he didn''t disclose this to Apollo, Apollo was already aware of his.

    Naturally, this was because of Fuhrer. He alerted Apollo that Typhir was about to go through his initial demonizing.

    "Well, hurry up and transform," Apollo chuckled.

    Typhir then looked at him with an odd expression. ''Transform? What does he mean?'' While perplexed, Apollo didn''t continue with any more words. The atmosphere seethed before he took on his Iraym Form.

    Even though he didn''t understand why for now, Typhir''s body resonated with him and responded in kind. He started to demonize. As this took ce, something dawned upon Apollo.

    "Fuhrer, I have a question. Is it possible to venture to other worlds?"

    The moment he heard this, Fuhrer opened his eyes and grinned. His eyes told the tale of what Apollo wanted to know. "Could it be that you wish to venture to another Ring already?"

    "It''s a thought, for now," Apollo nodded. Outside of his curiosity, this question was spurred by the fact both of the notifications mentioned "linked rings."

    "Ah, then I guess I should exin to you exactly how that process works," Fuhrer voiced while rubbing his chin. Since the Typhir''s change would take quite some time, Fuhrer beckoned Apollo over.

 Chapter 269 - Link To Another Piece

    ----

    In the corner of the deste cave, Fuhrer picked up a misceneous twig. Not only was he imparting knowledge, but he was also cautioning Apollo in his endeavors. "Alright young one, to quell your curiosity, I''ll answer you frankly; it is absolutely possible to transverse between the rings," Fuhrer revealed while tapping the stick in his hand on the ground.??

    The hardened ground started to soften to the point that a small fraction of the stick sunk into the ground. Once this happened, Fuhrer nodded to himself. The ground was now in a prime condition to add an illustration to his exnation.

    "Good, but how do I gain ess to it? Is it like the doorway to the enter the rings in the first ce?" Apollo questioned while taking a short seat next to Fuhrer.

    "Nope. That isn''t the case at all. It is always easiest to reside within the first world chosen for a Demon at birth. To transverse to another world requires the individual to possess adequate talent," Fuhrer revealed. At the same time, he drew the figure of a person on the ground before them.

    Right after, he drew the shape of a circle around the person, "This symbolizes a person within the Ring designated to be the best for their growth. As you can see, it is just but a simple person. There are no shackles or such things. There is only the presence of the demon''s body.

    "Now this," Fuhrer said before drawing the image of the Infernal Nucleus and Tainted Temple within the figure, "These are the two structures of power. Each of them would be saturated with the aura of the initial Ring''s Sin. Are you following?" Fuhrer asked while ncing in Apollo''s direction.

    After a moment of silence, Apollo nodded, "I understand. Are you trying to say the demon''s body would be used to this Ring? In other words, the environment of the other Rings aren''t identical to Ashiraem?"

    "Correct, there is a stark difference. Every world outside of the 2 anomaly Rings possesses a singr Sin. The presence of other Sins isn''t allowed. Can you guess why?" Fuhrer smirked. This was a small test. Fuhrer had already presented him with hints in the past. The answer only required him to ruminate over what Fuhrer had introduced him to.

    Thus, to find the answer, Apollo pondered this matter for quite some time. ''Other Sins aren''t allowed in the different Rings? To me, this seems like categorization. But, it definitely goes deeper than that. Fuhrer wouldn''t just ask me a question centered around that,'' Apollo surmised.

    Apart from this realization, he continued to wrack his brain to determine just what could be the cause. Then, it dawned upon him. Fuhrer possessed two Sins, but neither of them could be melded together without a medium to act as a catalyst. Hence, there should be a deeper reason as to why this is so.

    Although unsure, Apollo voiced hisprehension, "I think this has something to do with the source of Sins. If I''m not mistaken, the rtionship between the sources shouldn''t be the slightest bit friendly."

    A proud smile appeared on Fuhrer''s face as he nodded, "That''s correct. The issues stem from the fact that the primal sources of Sin don''t get along with one another. This is all due to the desire to reign as the strongest Sin. Except, each Sin has its strengths and weaknesses. Thus far, none of them has shown the prospect of the apex Sin."

    "So how does this rte to talent?" Apollo questioned after failing to link the topics together.

    "It''s quite the self-exnatory matter, all you do is need to possess an affinity for the Sin of the Ring you wish to enter. Of course, it isn''t as simple as I say it is. The level of affinity must surpass the Lesser State. After all, Lesser Demons are seen as nothing more than cannon fodder."

    Fuhrer then drew six other rings surrounding the image of the being at various points. Afterward, he drew multiple connecting lines back and forth in an almost haphazard manner.

    "The destination you end up in isn''t set in stone. It''s all determined by the saturation of your potential and your thoughts at the time. In other words, you don''t need to possess a Sin to enter a specific Ring, you just need to possess the potential to practice it. Thus, you can end up anywhere you wish within the 7 initial Rings. As for thest two, entry is only granted if you''re chosen.

    "However, I would refrain from entering until you''re strong enough. The weakest beings in those worlds reside at the level of a Noblesse," Fuhrer warned. A glimmer entered his eyes as he peered into the distance and monitored the movements of certain individuals.

    ''They don''t seem to be privy to his identity or his existence yet. Unfortunately, that will soon change. If they have approached Phase 3 of the inheritance, I''m sure they would have witnessed a glimpse of history. If they feel the aura of the Domination Intent, the background will be linked together and maybe even coveted. May you grow with haste,'' Fuhrer thought as he wordlessly gazed upon Apollo.

    Upon noticing the look in his eye, Apollo adopted a strange expression, "What''s the matter? Did I do something wrong?"

    "Not in the slightest, I am just thinking about some matters. It''s not worth mentioning right now. So tell me, what do you intend to do?" Fuhrer responded while avoiding the topic. For now, it was best he didn''t increase the pressure Apollo was under. There was enough on his te as is.

    "Ah, okay. Hmm, well, for now, I wish to venture there," Apollo said while pointing towards Saehtyn''s castle. As he looked there Fuhrer assessed his decision.

    "It isn''t a terrible choice, but I''ll let you know now, there are three civilizations in that direction. In addition to the Lord''s city, there are two others. And, each of them is governed by a Noblesse appointed by the Lord. Luckily for you, any of these three choices possess a portal altar," Fuhrer revealed.

    After informing Apollo of this, he turned his head. The sounds of cracks could be heard as the dark crystalline cocoon surrounding Typhir began the process of shattering. Compared to Apollo''s, the momentum was much smaller despite beingrger in size.

    Nevertheless, the cocoon soonpletely shattered and revealed Typhir''s current physique. Different from Apollo, his size towered above. While Apollo was approximately 2 meters tall, Typhir was 3 meters tall. Furthermore, he had noticeably more spurs jutting out from his joints.

    In awe, he looked down at his hands and clenched them. The crackling from his joints traveled for a surprising distance before disappearing. Immediately after, he brandished the greatsword given to him by Fuhrer and executed a downward sh.

    A gust of wind bombarded the ground and left a tiny fissure when he paused his strike right above it. Although underwhelming, the wind pressure from his strike burrowed into the ground.

    In light of this disy, Fuhrer approved of this strength for his current level, "As I thought, he''s a titan-type. Most of his future prospects will revolve around the physical. Thebination of Wrath and Pride indeed suits you. Now, it''s time you venture along. Don''t forget your serpent as well."

    Apollo nodded and signaled towards Typhir before exiting the cave. In his mind, he issued amand to the system. As a result, another prompt appeared before his eyes.

    ?System Alert! The target has been determined. Honing in on the position of the intended target. Processplete! Intended target: Furcas.?

    "Furcas?" Apollo muttered while examining the screen with a confused expression. While the name was a nice addition, he didn''t know much about the demons. This was especially true for the hidden pieces.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer''s expression shifted when he heard this name. The name brought back wily memories as he recalled this particr individual, ''You''ll have quite the experience cut out for you if this is the next member of the Lost Council you are locating. However, it is also in your best interest that you find them.''

    Of course, Apollo wasn''t privy to this little conversation taking ce in Fuhrer''s mind. ording to his beliefs, it was better for Apollo to experience everything firsthand rather than be spoon-fed.

    Thus, the first journey of Apollo and his iplete household began from this moment. Unbeknownst to him, the rising path would soon present itself. His uniqueness was bound to appear once he realized how to take advantage of the benefits the system had given him.

    ----

    Shortly after they left, Apollo looked at Typhir with a solemn expression, "Prepare yourself. Beyond this point will be danger lurking in all corners. We must stick together. For this, I''ll teach you the technique."

    The darkness started to swallow Apollo''s body before he blitzed forward.

 Chapter 270 - Understanding The Proper Route

    ----

    "Dodge to the side!" Apollo bellowed beforeshing out his arm horizontally. Without a pause in his movement, Typhir moved the side as he allowed Apollo to cleave a Lesser Ifrit in half with a swing of his Hellfire Creation. While he wished to conjure the Sin Armament, he knew it wasn''t a viable option for now. The consumption was far too much for him to sustain.??

    Thus, he used his strengthened Hellfire to do its bidding. The scythe he conjured now was a lot more solid inparison to what he could do before. Unfortunately, despite their kill, it wasn''t the time to rest in the slightest. Since they were approaching the area of the barrier, the Lesser Ifrits were growing stronger.

    Additionally, the purity of their Ira was also climbing as well. Slowly, Apollo started to realize that they seemed to possess a resistance to his Hellfire. At first, it took but a single swing to do away with them, but now, it took both him and Typhir working as a team to defeat a single opponent.

    Fortunately, the more Typhir battled, the more he became ustomed to his body. It wouldn''t be long before he could activate his stigmata to bolster his strength. After all, the Pure Demonic Anima in his body was adequate enough to support the flow of Ira.

    "These things¡­ they are bing troublesome. How do you suppose we advance? Do you think we bit off more than we could chew?" Typhir questioned while heaving a breath of relief. Yet and still, he immediately entered a battle-ready state. A collection of Lesser Ifrits stormed towards them.

    "No, just think of it as a training experience. The harder the tempering, the better the results that follow. For now, continue to follow my lead until you establish your own momentum," Apollo responded before dashing forward. As he moved forward, he also utilized his Partial Shade Silhouette to hasten his reactions.

    When Typhir saw this, he also took the time to try and learn the activation process of the Baleful Steps. Since he was Apollo''s follower, Apollo held no qualms against teaching him powerful techniques. As long as Typhir grew stronger, it was beneficial to him. Regrettably, a Noble Art, no matter how simplistic the teaching process, wasn''t an easy thing to learn.

    As Typhir tried to execute the First Step, only a small flicker of shadowy embers appeared. Naturally, Apollo didn''t dissuade him from learning. After all, even the smallestprehension of a Noble Art was a boon to one''sbat ability. That apanied with the fact he possessed a greatsword would turn him into a lethal weapon.

    The one shoring of a greatsword user was theirck of agility. Should this issue be corrected, that user would be a force to be reckoned with! Granted, the strength required to assist one in aplishing this feat was by no means small. Strength wasn''t as simple as increasing the power one could exert on a strike.

    It also pertained to the tensile strength of the muscles and how much power one could propel themself with. This was why speed types also focused on achieving some type of notable strength.

    Unlike before, when Typhir swung his greatsword now, the most he could do was send one of the Lesser Ifrit hurtling backward. However, with his personality, his assault was far from over. With a crazed gleam in his eyes, Typhir started to bombard the Lesser Ifrit before him with ceaseless strikes.

    Naturally, this caused enraged roars to sound as the Ifrit both defended and met Typhir''s strikes with attacks on its own. On the other hand, Apollo moved like a murderous demon; both silent and deadly. Each time he passed an Ifrit, a new cut would appear on their body.

    While Typhir dealt with one enemy, Apollo caused three to be annoyed with him. Although his strikes weren''t exactly strong, they continued to whittle away at their bodies as well as stamina.

    As a result, they made an odd move. All of the Ifrit''s fists were covered in me before mming it into the ground. This caused numerous craters spewing magma to form as they connected together and limited the area both Typhir and Apollo could act in. The moment this happened, Apollo frowned.

    ''Their actions are bing more intelligent. While they still can''t speak, their actions have worked in their favor. It would seem the decreased intelligence is merely in respect to the higher life forms of demons,'' Apollo thought while gazing at the miniature magma geysers.

    Despite their appearance, Apollo remained calmed. Based on what he felt, it didn''t match the temperature of his initial Infernal Ira Stigmata. In other words, if he wished it, he couldst quite some time within the mes of the magma. The only question was how long until it would start to affect him?

    ''It''s times like that I wouldn''t mind possessing more than one Sin even if it is painful to achieve. An expansive arsenal is key to deal with a myriad of issues that may arise,'' Apollo thought quietly. A momentter, he dodged to the side.

    A powerful smash appeared right before Apollo''s face that didn''t faze him in the slightest. In response, he threw a powerful punch wreathed in Demonic Anima that shattered part of a Lesser Ifrit''s arm.

    The pained roar that followed caused Apollo to smirk. A sadistic tendency welled up within him whichpelled him to bully the opponent. At first, he wanted to monitor his expenditure but now that wasn''t the case.

    He brandished the scythe, spinning it around his body as he fired Perfected Demonic Massacre Waves one after another. The first wave severed an arm from the Ifrit. The next did the same to its other arm and thest bisected the body.

    In exchange, Apollo''s experience meter underwent a noticeable increase. Not only did his kill contribute to his experience, so did Typhir''s. In fact, Apollo received a hundred percent of the value. Since Typhir didn''t hold the system, he gained benefits in another way.

    Through the link to Apollo, when Apollo grew, so did Typhir. Granted, the stiption was that Apollo needed to be in close proximity to his follower that was engaged inbat. Otherwise, only Apollo would reap the benefits.

    As this dawned upon Apollo, he smiled. He was sure that he had just understood the proper route of the Monarch. It was to gain strength from his subordinates and be the ruler of them without contest. Once this became clear, something within Apollo started to resonate with not just the world but Typhir as well.

    Another hidden benefit appeared as both Apollo''s and Typhir''s aura underwent a change. A fragment of Apollo''s intent was transferred to Typhir to empower his ownprehension of intent.

    Suddenly, the aura around Tpyhir caused the ground to crumble. At a nce, Apollo could tell this wasn''t Dominance nor was it Suppression. However, in his eyes, the feeling felt on par with Fuhrer''s own.

    In a trance, Apollo murmured, "Destruction."

    ?System Alert! Your Demonic Acolyte Typhir has started toprehend the Destruction Intent due to your actions. Additionally, it is of the highest grade.?

    Once his greatsword was coated in this energy, each of Typhir''s strikes caused the Ifrit who received his blow to crack. The outer shell shattered soon after and exposed the magma body that resided underneath. Apart from the destruction of the outer shell, there was another anomaly happening.

    The Ifrit seemed to fall into a mindless rage as if its mind was destroyed along with any shred of reasoning. This sight made Apollo even prouder.

    ''It seems his intent is dual powered. Not only does it attack the physical, but it also has a direct effect on the mental stability of the foe. I wonder, how would it look if I learned this intent as well. Furthermore, do one of the Annihtions require this?''

    After ample deliberation, Apollo found this to be usible. As time passed, a path of dead bodiesid in wake of Apollo and Typhir''s advance. Meanwhile, Ouroboros was still fast asleep while wrapped around Apollo''s shoulders throughout all of this taking ce.

    In addition to leveling up to Lv.115, he also approached the line that Saehtyn warned him not to pass over. However, if he wished to meet Furcas, this was an inevitable choice. Thus, after a lengthy exhale, Apollo took that step. Whatever would happen afterward, he would simply have to deal with it.

    What he didn''t understand was just how appetizing his irregr Stigmata was to the other demons.

 Chapter 271 - Initiating The Predetermined Trek

    ----

    After crossing over the threshold, Apollo didn''t feel any different from before. Whatever Saehtyn was warning him about, it didn''t seem like it was alerted yet. Or, at the very least, they had yet to sense his presence. Due to the Monarch''s Tenebrosity, his presence was bing harder to sense the more his attainments increased.??

    In light of this, Apollo and Typhir continued to move without pause. Their safest bet was to constantly change their positioning. After all, they needed to do their best to survive for 7 days here. ounting for the journey they had traveled thus far, there was still well over 6 and a half days left before the connection here became strained.

    As the towering castle in the distance became closer, the grandeur was even more apparent. At a nce, one would think it was just big. However, that was arge understatement. The proper term to call it would be colossal. Apollo was sure that not even 7 days here would be enough to scour the entire inside of it.

    Furthermore, the chances of getting lost were extremely high. Nevertheless, Apollo was still eager to enter. He needed to firste in contact with Furcas and then locate the Link Portals to attempt a journey to another hidden piece.

    "Are we heading to that extremelyrge castle?" Typhir questioned while rolling his shoulder to alleviate the aches. Now that the initial pleasure of his Destruction Intent subsided, he was left with an aching body.

    "Not quite, for now, we''ll avoid that general area. The chances of a bad situation taking ce is even higher there," Apollo responded while gazing into the distance.

    ----

    Meanwhile, inside Saehtyn''s Castle,

    "Hoh? That little boy has returned and it seems he had already worked up the confidence to pass through the barrier. I''m not sure if I should call this foolishness or bravado. After all, there is a fine line between both sides," Saehtyn muttered to himself while gazing out one of the enormous windows surrounding him.

    While lost in thought, he crossed his arms behind his back with a faint smile. Despite his warning, he trulymended one who tested adversity. After all, his position was gained through the mes of destruction. The Lord of Wrath, Ira''s Befriender, these aren''t titles that simply came easy.

    It required arge number of shocking feats to earn these titles. Just the time Lord of Wrath meant the Ira he contained was almost boundless. When it came to direct confrontation, those who met his mes and weapons found themselves in a precarious situation in record time.

    Of course, there were still those who could rival him, if not subdue his strength altogether. It''s just the people capable of doing so are few and far between.

    "I''ve been bored these days anyway. After my meeting with a few of the Lords over the shifting powers and change in the world''s frequency, there isn''t much to do. Continuously governing these lesser fools is bing too tedious for me. Perhaps I should adjudicate my position," Saehtyn muttered to himself.

    As he tapped his finger on his chin, an echo could be heard. Despite the soft tapping, the state of his body was so strong it innatelybated the atmosphere around. After some time, Saehtyn made the decision to make a move. Typically, he wouldn''t do so but he was curious as to how much thisd had advanced.

    Since the matters within the castle were quiet, it was the perfect opportunity to slip away. Before anyone was the wiser, he vanished through a scorching portal as he honed in on Apollo''s exact positioning.

    ----

    Within a few moments, Saehtyn walked through the portal right before Apollo and Typhir. When he appeared, Typhir was frozen solid whereas Apollo was more surprised to see this being again. He was almost certain that the upper echelon of any power usually didn''t move personally.

    "Hmm, I guess your advancements aren''t terrible. At least your me has entered the Greater standard. Your vitality is also repairing, but not fast enough. Hm, what haspelled you to enter this ce?" Saehtyn inquired as his body shrunk to a sizeparable to Typhir.

    "I have to find someone. I think I should be able to protect myself well enough to enter now," Apollo answered truthfully. While he didn''t reveal the individual just yet, the fact that he was searching for someone surprised Saehtyn as a whole.

    "Oh really? Just what individual could you be seeking? Aren''t you new here? How have youe to possess information surrounding individuals that reside within Ashiraem?" Saehtyn asked with great interest. If he was taken to meet someone, then perhaps he met an unknown power that imparted this assignment.

    On the other hand, Apollo was conflicted. Revealing the presence of the system waspletely out of the equation. However, Saehtyn was also strong enough that he would see through Apollo''s fabrications.

    Thus, Apollo came to a decision after he revisited their past meeting, "Master Azridan has tasked me to do so. He has left me a set of instructions. I''m looking for someone named Furcas. I don''t understand their importance, but this is what I must do," Apollo said. While doing so, he tried to keep his internal fluctuations as stoic as possible.

    In return, Saethyn was quiet for quite some time. It was unknown just what he was doing, but the longer he remained quiet, the more Apollo felt he was under a great deal of pressure. Fortunately, a fit ofughter escaped Saehrtyn''s mouth.

    Soon enough, heughed hysterically, "Why are you looking for the castle''s fool? Among all of my unofficials, he is the weirdest. That old man is simply unable to be understood. I suggest you refrain from meeting him. Nothing good wille from doing so. Any questions you have, I may have the answers myself."

    Although it sounded enticing, Apollo was left in a rut. He truly didn''t possess any questions. He was simply following the instructions of the locator. Plus, if the system said Furcas was a vital piece it was the truth. However, Apollo was skeptical, he wasn''t sure if the Furcas he sought and the one Saehtyn knew was one and the same.

    Nevertheless, Apollo took a moment to really determine whether or not there was anything he could use Saehtyn for. Once he took the time, he realized there was indeed a practical use for him.

    "You said Furcas was an old man? How old exactly?" Apollo asked.

    "Hmm, I''m not sure. But from what I can tell, he should be an ancient demon. At least in body, he should be. As for his mind, he is quite a worrisome individual. His capricious behavior can only be called odd. I could try to exin, but it wouldn''t do him justice. You''d have to experience it firsthand," Saehtyn responded with a small smirk.

    Before Apollo could ask another question, Saehtyn revealed his own, "Would you like to enter the castle? However, you will be restricted to the lower levels. The environment of that ce is sort of special. It''d be dangerous to venture too high within. Fortunately, that character doesn''t move outside of the first 6 levels. All of which are still within a Lesser Demon''s ability."

    Without hesitation, Apollo agreed. However, before they left, Saehtyn also turned toward Typhir, "Is this your creation? He carries a fragment of your source signature. Interesting, A Lesser Demon creating another and the difference in strength isn''t that great."

    Apollo spared Typhir a nce before nodding in response. "It seems to be one of my talents so to speak."

    "Very well,e along. I hope you meet who you seek and obtain the answers you need, if any," Saehtyn said before opening a portal. Before allowing them to enter, he coated them in his aura before releasing them inside.

    Contrary to what they thought, Saehtyn didn''t enter after them. He conjured a new portal and entered that one. Due to their states, he opened a portal directly to the entrance of the castle''s 1st floor. As for him, he returned to hisir.

    Uponnding, both Apollo and Typhir remained shocked by what they saw. Just a single floor''s ceiling was already tens of timesrger than they were. Inside here, they felt akin to ants. But, when he recalled Saehtyn''s true size, he found this to be eptable.

    "We have found the path, now we need to walk it. It seems that things are working in our favor," Apollo mumbled. With this bypass, it saved precious time that they truly didn''t possess.

    Meanwhile, another system notification appeared.

 Chapter 272 - Furcas, Wiseman Of Corruption

    ----

    ?System Alert! The distance between you and Furcas has shortened a great deal. It is advised to use the Pulse to locate the exact positioning of the individual. However, keep in mind, their position is liable to change if the approach is incorrect.???

    As he looked at this Apollo noticed the thread was darkening before his very eyes. However, it wasn''t dark enough yet. This meant there was still a decent distance between them. Thus, Apollo held off on using the Pulse. Thest thing he wanted to do was engage in a manhunt to locate this guy after he went on the run.

    If his personality was as bad as Saehtyn described, then Apollo was sure that he was an individual prone to doing so. It would save him precious time if he was much closer before doing so. Not to mention, there was also Typhir who probably couldn''t keep up should they resort to a high-speed chase.

    Be that as it may, Apollo stopped before the entrance to the castle. It was only now that he noticed arge crowd before the gates. At the same time, there was a raucous building up that attracted Apollo''s attention.

    "Fool! Let me in this instant!" A demon with ash-like skin bellowed to the two towering demon guards that patrolled the area as well as supervised the door inside. However, entry wasn''t granted to any who wished it.

    Since the inside of the castle could be seen as a holynd for Ira absorption, entry also costed a hefty price.

    "If you wish to enter, supply us with an adequate amount of Obsidianite. If you don''t have it, then you may also use other types of material we demons utilize. Free entry is out of the question," one of the guards answered in a severe tone.

    "Why should I have to pay to enter? You should wee our presence! We are what make this Ring strong! Without our presence, this would be a deste area," the same voice continued to argue.

    However, it was clear that the guards were bing impatient as their grip on their dark halberds tightened, "Hmph, a lowly demon who has just evolved to be a Greater Demon. You are here because of yourcking ability, not because we covet you. You are merely stuck here because you can''t resonate with another Ring."

    When the crowd heard this, a burst of boisterousughter bruited about that caused the demon in question to feel a wave of embarrassment. Slowly, his reasoning was being whittled away by the building rage in his mind.

    "I won''t tolerate this disrespect! Let me in or bare the consequences," the demon bellowed before unsheathing a damaged-looking shortsword. Despite the signs of damage, the edge was still sharp enough to slice through the floor like butter.

    "Hoh? Consequences, he says? We would like to know just what consequences you can cause us to feel. Failure to pay is a crime and we will be the adjudicators for your crime. Our sentence, your death," the guards spoke in unison. Faster than the other side could react, the two demons made a move.

    They dashed towards the demon and each shed down. The resulting collision made the demon who received the blow slide backward. Furthermore, anyone nearby moved back so that they wouldn''t be involved nor implicated by this matter.

    Be that as it may, Apollo caught wind of some murmurs that were circting. Based on what he heard, this was quite themon urrence. In fact, if such an event didn''t happen at least once a day, they would find it weird. It was a regr happenstance for a demon who had exhausted all their resources to be vexed with their current standing.

    ''Hmm, they''d rather test their existences than find a way to scrounge the entrance fee? I''m not sure what this Obsidianite is, but there are some resources that can be found simply if you seek them,'' Apollo thought.

    On his way over, there were numerous times where he found Tainted Shards embedded in stones as well as some Anima Crystals. While their purity wasn''tparable to what Fuhrer supplied him with, they were still resources nheless. After all, they didn''t say anything about purity. They simply asked for a fee.

    Under the assault of the guards, the demon who tried tobat them didn''tst long. This was especially true when they revealed their peak Greater Demon power. When they worked together, even an Archdemon might face some losses. Thus, an initial Greater Demon just didn''t suffice as their opponent.

    After dealing with this demon and collecting its belongings, they acted as if nothing happened and beckoned for the next person who sought to enter the castle.

    When Typhir saw this, he whispered into Apollo''s ear, "If we just met the lord of this castle, why did we get dropped off on the first floor? Couldn''t he had just taken us inside himself?"

    Although Typhir''s question was sound. In truth, Apollo understood why Saehtyn did so. If he did what Typhir was insinuating, it would be akin to painting a target on their backs when he just advised them toy low. Hence, he didn''t want to perform counterintuitive actions.

    "That wouldn''t be in our best interest for him to do so. Take a look at the behavior of these demons. Although one may think there is order, they can get unruly at any time. What if those favorable actions were to rile up a crowd that we can''tbat? Furthermore, what if the lord is toozy to intervene? Or, what if despite intervening, the participants don''t refrain from their actions?" Apollo rebutted.

    Under the continuous eye-opening questions, Typhir nodded in understanding, "Ah, so it is best for us to just follow the actions of others. Very well, but um, what exactly is the fee? I don''t recall hearing an exact number."

    "That is unknown. Perhaps there is a reason no number is given. What if they are giving small tests to see just how much one wishes to enter this pce? Then, the more generous the offer, the more likely they are to gain entry. Of course, there''s also the chance of the guards bing yful," Apollo stated while moving closer to the gate.

    As he thought, the things everyone offered weren''t one and the same. Some gained entry with what they presented and others didn''t. When it was their turn, Apollo did something that shocked everyone.

    "I don''t possess any Obsidianite, but will Fragments of Sin suffice?" Apollo asked the guards.

    For a while, they didn''t answer yet looked at Apollo with an incredulous expression. Behind him, resoundingughter from the crowd could be heard.

    "Hahaha! Look at this fool! Why would you offer the sole resource that we visit this ce for? That would make your visit redundant!" a booming voice revealed that made Apollo surprised. He was taken aback that these demons had to visit this ce to get something he acquired so easily.

    This further cemented Apollo''s decision to refrain from revealing Ouroboros. If a Fragment of Sin was something that was unique to this castle, then Ouroboros was simply a goldmine. Moreover, the Fragment of Sin obtained in the castle was tailored to Ira whereas the other Ouroboros created was propertyless. It was a nk Sin augmentor.

    "It will suffice, but since it is not advised to let such a precious resource go. Two will suffice, one for each of your entry," the guards said after recovering their wits. Naturally, Apollo felt this was fair and retrieved two of them.

    Afterward, the gates opened and Apollo and Typhir entered.

    Compared to the outside, the setting inside was much morefortable. The level of Ira present was tailored to the needs of Lesser Demon. The moment he entered, the thread leading to Furcas continued to darken without pause.

    At the same time, the shape also changed. It snaked around to different corners of theyout. At first, it seemed like it was useless, but when Apollo approached the first point, he soon learned it was like a maze. Each small entrance led to a specific area that made Apollo nearly want to destroy things.

    "What the FUCK! Are we going in circles? What is going on here?" Typhir bellowed before punching a wall. Rather than causing damage, however, Typhir sucked in a sharp breath. The hardness of the walls was nonsensical.

    It was then Apollo to stop holding off on using the Pulse. As he did so, he was utterly shocked by what he saw.

    ?System Alert! Location of Furcas, Wiseman of Corruption has been found.?

 Chapter 273 - Taking Pride In Both Greed & Gluttony (I)

    ----

    The moment this window appeared from the system, Apollo watched the minute changes that took ce due to him using the Pulse. At first, he thought the thread would simply undergo a change, but that wasn''t the case at all. In fact, Apollo was utterly shocked by the effect the system had on him.??

    It was now that he understood faintly why the system warned that his position and standing would be revealed upon using this ability. Not only did the pulse ability rob him of the ability to sense, but it also honed in on Furcas'' sole position. However, when it did so, Furcas also turned in his general direction with a peculiar expression.

    In Apollo''s eyes, he could see through walls and any other factors that prohibited him from peering further. But, he also couldn''t see the numerous demons passing. Nevertheless, it was worth it when he realized Furcas''s position wasn''t too far at all.

    A grey path illuminated that showed Apollo the sequences of doors he needed to ess in order to arrive before Furcas. Once the effect of the pulse subsided, Apollo turned to Typhir with a serious expression, "We need to move now. Follow me as closely as possible. If you fall behind, I''ll leave my aura for you to follow."

    "Got it," Typhir nodded without hesitation. A momentter, the two started to zoom through doors without a moment''s hesitation. In addition to the path beingmitted to his memory already, the thread from before seemed to mimic what he saw during the pulse. In other words, once the active ability was used, they both worked in tandem for a singr long.

    With the speed Apollo was traveling, it didn''t take long for the distance between him and Typhir to start expanding. Be that as it may, neither of them held any worry for this matter. While he ran, Apollo conjured some Hellfire on his finger and grazed against the floor.

    At a nce, he was surprised. In any other situation, this Hellfire would leave a deep indent in the ground it was pressed upon. Yet, as he continued his actions, the most Apollo''s Hellfire could do was leave an extremely faint trail. Fortunately, it was enough for Typhir to still sense.

    Of course, it required some strain on his Tainted Temple to do so, but it still sufficed nheless. All of a sudden, Apollo sensed something and started utilizing the Umbra Phantom Mantle to move even faster.

    While he used the pulse, he caught on to a glimpse of Furcas'' aura. Within that small window of time, he was able to glean Furcas'' intentions of wanting to move. But, it also seemed as if movement techniques weren''t his specialty. Or, at the very least, it didn''t seem like he intended to move with extremely high efforts.

    As the warping noise around him picked up, Apollo paid less and less attention to the stares he was receiving from other Demons. Naturally, these stares were spurred on by two things they found delicious. First, was the aura that his mantle dripped into the surroundings.

    Unlike Astarat, here in the Nihilistic Rings, Demons were more sensitive to the aura of higher arts. When they were used before them, some would covet, some would marvel and others would even go as far as to envy. Hence, there was a reason that the ring which houses the Sin of Invidia boasts an unspoken rule of not using your best technique before stronger spectators.

    On the other hand, the Demons were also captivated by his stigmata. The more he used his techniques, the more his body was stimted. As a result, his Stigmata began to pulsate. Unbeknownst to Apollo, his strong desire to meet Furcas was fueling his actions right now.

    Soon enough, he came to a stop. After leaving thest portal, he was left standing before a dark tavern. At the same time, the thread turned abyss ck while it vibrated with great vigor. When Apollo noticed this, he understood he had arrived at the right ce.

    However, instead of entering, Apollo waited outside. The longer he waited, the more the thread reacted. As such, Apollo closed his eyes and tried to the best of his ability to sense the reason why. Several momentster, he grasped his answer. To his surprise, he could sense movementing towards him.

    Furthermore, this was from both directions. In less than a few minutes, the portal behind him thrummed before it ejected Typhir. When he exited, he was heaving, "T-too fast. Too much running. How far did we go? What floor are we on now?"

    "Heh, Typhir this is still the 1st floor. If you''reining already, how would we ever arrive at the peak of the castle? The countless floors are sure to be just as, if not more boundless than this one. You should admire the fact there are even portals to shorten the distance," Apollo chuckled in return.

    In response, Typhir groaned with a bit of discontent in his eyes, "They might be arge help, but the distance to each portal node is vast! We still have to travel a substantial distance on foot."

    "True, but be on guard. The person we havee to see is arriving. Although I''m not sure how true Saehtyn''s words are, we can think of them as holding some truth. After all, there is no reason for someone of his stature to lie," Apollo voiced while crossing his arms.

    "Mmn," Typhir nodded while taking the same posture.

    A short momentter, a strikingly thin figure exited the dark tavern doors while stroking his extremely long yet dashing white beard that flowed to his knees. Within his murky eyes were also signs of flickering wisdom. As he stared at Apollo and Typhir, he gave a wily smile that disoriented the two.

    "It would seem that you have approached the second beacon on your journey. But, the question is why have you done so? Is destiny something that one must follow? Why not go against the grain and engage in what you truly desire. Destiny doesn''t pertain to you," Furcas, the old demon chuckled before pulling out a long pipe from his tattered clothing.

    Shortly after, he continued, "The signs arise, the embers turn into mes and the nketing darkness reveals all. Those without the power will lose themselves to a greater cause."

    He then flicked his overgrown nails and threw an ember of Hellfire into the pipe before taking a deep inhale. When he released it, the pungent smoke formed a symbol, "Ah, the words of the wise. Many may hear it and some may see it, but only a few shall understand."

    Silently, Apollo and Typhir looked at each other in confusion. If not for the system, Apollo would have thought someone was ying a trick on him.

    "Uhm...Apollo, what''s wrong with this guy, and what the hell is he saying? Also, why is he smoking a pipe?" Typhir whispered to Apollo. Naturally, Apollo didn''t have the answer so he simply shrugged. However, as the short few sentences repeated in his mind, he was almost sure that Furcas was delivering a cryptic message.

    Be that as it may, before he could understand the message, he needed to understand something greater, ''Just what is Furcas'' purpose. He''s called the Wiseman of Corruption, but what does that symbolize? He''s obviously important if the system suggested his position first. Think Apollo,'' he continued to mull over the matter.

    As he saw this, Furcas chuckled, "A clogged machine can''t function properly just as a battered mind isn''t useful to grandiose thinking. You, who dwelled in the past, have yet to liberate their mind and look towards the future."

    "Who?" Apollo asked in return.

    Before answering, Furcas gave a meaningful smile, "Why both of you fools of course. Your energies are disced, therefore, neither of you truly look at the present."

    In light of these words, both Apollo and Typhir squinted. A stranger was calling them a fool and also questioning their ability to think. Nevertheless, while listening to his words, Apollo was starting to grasp just what Saehtyn was speaking about.

    ''This old thing is skilled in infuriating people. I''m willing to bet this is how he gained his nickname. Wise quips to attack one''s reasoning. However, he still remains a piece I must acquire. Thus, unlike the rest, this isn''t something I can back away from,'' Apollo surmised internally.

    "So, tell me Wiseman of Corruption, is your mind unclogged? As an ancient demon, do you never think back to the times of the First Monarch? It is a shame your grandeur was never the same," Apollo retorted.

    Apparently, these words touched a nerve as the murky look in Furcas'' eyes disappearedpletely and were reced with a dark expression, "Utter foolishness again and see how I tear your mind asunder," He said as faint runes lit up across his pipe.

 Chapter 274 - Taking Pride In Both Greed & Gluttony (II)

    ----

    Due to Furcas'' ridiculous reaction, Apollo was slightly taken aback. He didn''t expect this old demon to have such a strong reaction to his words. It was apparent that there was a noteworthy attachment to the First Monarch''s name. Just the slightest bit of ndering resulted in such a reaction.??

    "Do not believe that it is beneath me to assault your mind into nihility," Furcas continued while taking a step forward. At the same time, a pitchfork with the texture of an old wooden staff appeared in his hands. It was clear that he meant his words as an obscure aura circted his body.

    On the other hand, Apollo squinted as he took note of this. Just looking at the aura caused his Tainted Temple to tremble. ''Just what is it with these old demons that they seem stronger than they should be. There''s no way he''s a simple Greater Demon. I''m approaching the peak of my level, the difference shouldn''t be sorge,'' Apollo thought silently.

    Concurrently, he also conjured his own weapon, a scythe made of Hellfire. Of course, Typhir couldn''t just sit aside and allow all this to happen. With his towering physique, Typhir prepared himself for battle next to Apollo.

    "It may not be beneath you, but it is in my intentions to subdue and im you as my follower. Whether you believe this to be the truth or not, you will apany me in my journey to the peak," Apollo forcefully replied. Without pause, he stimted arge amount of Anima.

    In response, Furcas chuckled and stroked his beard, "Hoh, monumental words from an otherwise small fellow. I have seen your path, but I can''t determine what it means. It is a shame the Dark Neb tries to devour my mind when I pry deeper. Be that as it may, you don''t hold the qualifications to sphemy the First Monarch''s name."

    While it wasn''t Apollo intention to so call, sphemy the Monarch''s name. It was indeed his intention to rile up this old demon. If he could get him to abandon his reason, it should lead up to himmitting mistakes. Which, in turn, would trante to leveling the ying field a great deal.

    Furthermore, something else dawned upon Apollo. ''Wiseman. I believe this prying business is linked to this title. However, the corruption issue, perhaps it is just because he is a demon. But, this is all mere spection at this point. Until I experience his power firsthand, there isn''t much for me toment on.''

    Suddenly, Apollo''s eyes widened as he crossed his arms abruptly. Shortly after, he found himself flying through the air. When hended, his body mmed into one of the supporting pirs of the tavern.

    "As I thought, you''re a mere Lesser Demon. A great destiny doesn''t equate to great power. A wise person would never bite off more than they can chew, nor would they act solely upon their heart. Your future will be limited if you do not learn to control yourself. Granted, that''s if I allow you to live," Furcas voiced with a ridiculing smirk.

    As he said this, he also inhaled his pipe. While that happened, there was a sh in his eyes as strange symbols moved around within. All of a sudden, he tilted his body to the side preemptively. For now, there was no sign as to why he did so. But, it all became clear a momentter.

    Typhir''srge de cleaved downwards toward Furcas from a blind spot. Or, at least that was what Typhir thought it to be. When his strike missed, Typhir was baffled. It wasn''t due to the fact he missed, but because he saw Furcas move as he moved. Yet, even though he thought to change the trajectory of his sh, his body just wouldn''t listen.

    ''What''s going on? Is he in control of my body or something?'' Typhir thought to himself as he withdrew his de from within the ground. He then dashed forward without much hesitation and started to execute strikes as per Fuhrer''s teachings. Although theycked some appeal, they more or less got the job done, the eight foundational strikes covered a number of Furcas'' escapes routes.

    Due to this, Typhir thought he had regained control of the momentum but that truly wasn''t the case. Once again, the symbols in Furcas'' eyes shifted and he moved his feet back and leaned towards Typhir. When their eyes were almost touching, the swing of a scythe passed above both of their heads.

    Despite utilizing his Umbra Phantom Mantle and moving in a soundless manner, Furcas'' technique was still able to detect and predict the pattern Apollo''s attack would follow. Of course, Apollo wasn''t privy to this information just yet. In fact, he thought it was just rted to the superior senses of an ancient demon such as this one.

    However, another thing started to bother Apollo. From the beginning, Furcas'' aura didn''t seem present in its entirety. He continued to release a stronger aura as more and more symbols appeared within his pupils. If his power continued to swell in this manner, then Apollo realized something that made him frown.

    ''This may be a peak Greater Demon or even...an Archdemon who concealed their power,'' Apollo thought. It was a sound assumption seeing as that earlier strike hadunched his with such vigor despite defending against it. This meant Furcas'' strength was higher than his own, and it wasn''t by a small margin either. Fortunately, he wasn''t alone. He had Typhir on his side. This already provided a great deal of relief. A second assaulter alleviated some of the pressure he was dealing with.

    Be that as it may, neither of them could find an opening to take advantage nor could they deal any damage to him. To Furcas, this whole ordeal wasical. Little did they know, he had never lost a battle to a demon within his own power range. It wasn''t due to overwhelming strength but because of another advantage.

    "He who possesses the knowledge and the know-how will always win the confrontation. In the face of unknown strength, it is ideal to take advantage of what is known," Furcas said while sporting a wily grin.

    All of a sudden, he took advantage of one of Typhir''s strikes. When he executed a straight pierce, Furcas used his pitchfork to grab a hold of it and toss him into Apollo. As a result, the two were sent flying into the distance until they recovered their footing.

    With heavy breaths, the two looked at each other. As of right now, they weren''t sure how to deal with him. But, one thing remained true, even them working together was proving to be useless.

    "It''s...it''s like he can see our movements in advance or something. In a way, it''s like fighting against Master but worse. When we spar with him, it''s like he guides our strikes to his, but this guy, it''s theplete opposite. It''s like the path of our attacks areid bare before we are privy to the fact," Typhir stated through bated breaths.

    Apollo nodded in return. The more he experienced it, the more he gained insight into the matter. Halfway through, he stopped attacking aimlessly. From then on, each of them held a purpose. By slowing down his actions, he gave his Tainted Temple enough time to sense something that didn''t add up.

    Every time Furcas made a move, it was only once they did so. In other words, he neverunched an attack of his own. It was all counterattacks. Moreover, they used little to no force. Thus, while they were reaching exhaustion, Furcas was unfazed and still taking his pleasing hits from his pipes.

    "It''s a shame, and you had the gall to sphemy the almighty? Asinine, you can''t even touch a hair on my head. You should be ashamed of your current achievements. If I had to measure them up against something, then it''d be useless dogshit. Where are your techniques?" Furcas said with a sharp glint in his eyes.

    When he heard this, it wasn''t Apollo but rather Typhir who became incensed. Due to the fact he was Apollo''s acolyte, inherently, he didn''t take kindly to insults aimed towards his lord. As a result, Typhir raised his sword toward Furcas with a calm aura.

    "I''d suggest you watch your mouth. Your current position is just temporary. We will crush you," Typhir spat as a crimson-gold sheen zed in his eyes. Because of this, Apollo''s system let off a string of notifications.

 Chapter 275 - Taking Pride In Both Greed & Gluttony (III)

    ----

    ?System Alert! Your Demonic Acolyte Typhir has unlocked a piece of his prideful demeanor within the wrath produced by disparagingments made towards you. As a result, their second path is awakening as well.???

    Although Apollo was privy to the fact that Typhir possessed a talent for both the Sin of Ira and Superbia, he didn''t expect the signs of the second sin awakening to appear so soon. Granted, he also didn''t take into ount the influence the system had on his position as an acolyte.

    Unlike Apollo who followed a grander path, the route to Typhir awakenings seemed much simpler. Be that as it may, it also appeared that his potential wasn''t affected in the slightest.

    After this demeanor awakened, small bits of Destruction Intent seeped from his de into the surroundings. But, when it appeared, Furcas simply grinned.

    "A strong Demonic Intent you possess, but it still isn''t strong enough to counteract me," Furcas said with a nonchnt attitude. Naturally, since Typhir''s pride was swelling to new heights, he didn''t take kindly to this instigation.

    Before making a move, Typhir made a deep inhale and then took an explosive step. In a short few moments, he appeared before Furcas. Unlike before where he used wide swings, now he tried to limit his movements to lessen the number of openings that could be seen.

    Toplement this, he also changed the way he retrieved and unleashed his sword. To shorten the time between strikes, he switched his grip cement numerous times. Despite all of this, Furcas still appeared to be one step ahead of him.

    On the other hand, Apollo didn''t join the fray just yet. He took the time gained through Typhir''s attempts to understand more about Furcas'' ability.

    ''It seems that what he is doing is simr to what I would call Foresight. He must be looking into the future to see the events that would take ce. But the problem is how do we deal with this. Also, to determine the future is something easier said than done,'' Apollo mused silently.

    When Furcas dodged the next few strikes, Apollo watched as the number of symbols within his eyes increased. And, when that happened, it seemed like the speed at which he could read Typhir''s movements became faster, despite Typhir''s attacks happening more frequently.

    ''The number of symbols in his eyes seems to increase his cognition by a fold. Right now there are 4, so he is responding four times faster than in the beginning,'' Apollo surmised while continuing to inspect the situation at hand.

    The problem was, Apollo wasn''t sure when he would hit his peak or even the limit of that peak. Thus, Apollo determined it was time to stop dying the inevitable.

    ''This person truly isn''t someone we are equipped to deal with. It''ll take much more than us to quell him.'' After he came to terms with this understanding, Apollo held his hand out and called out.

    "Come forth, Fuhrer," Apollo bellowed. A dark portal opened behind him but to his surprise, nothing stepped through after waiting for some time. In fact, the portal closed without his doing shortly after his demonic reserves depleted by arge margin.

    Surprisingly, Apollo was shocked by the message that appeared in his mind. The reason he couldn''t summon Fuhrer wasn''t because of the system, but because of Fuhrer himself.

    ?System Alert! Your Demonic Follower has declined the summoning request. As a result, only half of the usual Anima Reserves have been utilized. Due to him having declined this call, the ability to summon him will be temporarily restricted until they are ready to be summoned.?

    As for the meaning of this, there were two reasons he didn''t appear yet.

    Firstly, since Furcas was a piece, he was something Apollo needed to aplish on his own. Each of the pieces was put in ce for him to learn something. If Fuhrer joined the mix and dealt with the issue without Apollo realizing the purpose, it was a redundant experience.

    Secondly, the seal around the Tenebrous Sword seemed to be weakening. When he split half of his soul and became Apollo''s follower, the seal on the sword was affected in the process. Truthfully speaking, this was something he was aware of. But, based on Apollo''s true identity, he was willing to proceed with this gambit.

    Now there was a race, would Apollo reach his glory, or would the seal release first and put the entirety of the Nihilistic Rings in danger. Of course, Fuhrer didn''t reveal this just yet. With Apollo''s current power, this would merely affect his progress. It was best he focused on the smaller goal before a catastrophic issue was presented to him.

    ''If Fuhrer isn''t epting a call to summon, then that means he wants me to deal with this issue myself. Furthermore, this means he should be privy to just what I''m facing. In other words, this is just a small trial. If he is a piece, then I need to treat him as one,'' Apollo determined.

    The look in his eye changed as he relinquished the scythe in his hands. In exchange, he used the Infernal Arms of Damnation before rushing into the battle. At the same time, he took on the aura of amander and started to issue orders to Typhir.

    "Exchange power for speed. Hone your movements and move quicker. You must remember before you were a demon, you were someone with an affinity for both fire and wind. Thus, you need to be explosive like the mes you were born in and swift like the wind that pierces," Apollo bellowed.

    As for him, his arms were wreathed in Hellfire. Since he couldn''t find a way to deactivate Furcas'' ability, he thought to do the second most practical option. Find the prerequisite needed to overload it. After all, with all this passage of time, there was no way the power he retained, rivaled his former self.

    "I understand!" Typhir answered without hesitation. At the hilt of his sword, small orbs of Hellfire appeared in an agitated state. Right before he struck, the orbs exploded and propelled the strike even faster.

    Upon noticing this, Furcas'' eyes narrowed. He could glean their intent from their actions. Thus, he mmed the pitchfork on the floor and generated a ring of mes before shing outward. Tentacles branched off from the ring and shot towards Apollo and Typhir.

    However, with his focused state, Apollo dodged the tentacles seamlessly while closing the distance. At the same time, for a short time, under heavy strain, he activated the next level of the Umbra Phantom Mantle; the Dual Night Mirages.

    Two afterimages formed on Apollo''s back that mimicked his movements and looked like shadow beings of himself. But, Apollo understood he could uphold this state long.

    ''The number of variations before your eyes is bound to overload this foresight of yours. I refuse to believe that you can predict all these anomalies at once,'' Apollo thought silently.

    But, just as he feared, Furcas'' elerated and dealt with their attacks. In fact, he bent his strikes in a way that dealt with both of their advances simultaneously.

    "A worthwhile strategy, but again, just two ants interfering with a grand scheme. What can you change? Corruption awaits your path, and control eludes you," Furcas announced before once again mming his pitchfork against the ground. This time, however, he repeated the action three times. Numerous spiraling me spears fired toward them and the power behind the spears was many times above his previous strike.

    Due to all this, the frustration within Apollo welled up, ''Fuhrer won''t administer aid, this foolish demon is hellbent on sending me spiraling into a rage and worst of all, I''m powerless to change any of this right now,'' Apollo frowned.

    The internal struggles presented by Furcas'' words were greater than he let on. As he frantically shed his arms to deal with the spears, small nicks appeared on Apollo''s cheek. While the damage didn''t bother him, he was already falling victim to his emotions.

    When Furcas noticed the signs, he chuckled as he was very amused by the situation, "As I said, youck control. Nameless fellow, just what can you do?"

    In response to the question, Apollo''s chest heaved. The thought of invoking the Sin Armament crossed his mind as his reasoning took a continuous beating. Fortunately, he still retained his wit. But, that didn''t mean he was still in control.

    His intent started to leak from his body without his notice. In light of this, his desires were sparked, "I can dominate all!"

    ''BOOM!''

 Chapter 276 - Another Acquired Through Dominance

    ----

    ?System Alert! The Demonic Intent ?Domination Intent? has advanced to Level 2. For a short period of time, a weakened form of the Domination Zone will be utilized. As for the name, it will be called the Domination Domain. Until your Anima exhausts itself, this ability will not cancel.???

    When he saw this notification, Apollo was filled with glee. This frustrating situation had instantly be a blessing in disguise. The constant instigation was something that he required. In the presence of constant incitement, it was imperative he learned how to retain a sound mind. After all, the worst decisions were made when one lost their reasoning.

    Not to mention, it wasn''t in the demeanor of a ruler to fall victim to the quips of a lesser position. Thus, this was also another teaching experience as far as learning the difference in standings went. Of course, this would take some time for Apollo to digest.

    For right now., there was something else on his mind. For example, the fact that despite this change, Furcas'' reaction didn''t change that much. While others would find this odd, Apollo started to grin. He wasn''t disheartened by theck of fear Furcas disyed, but rather he was excited by this fact.

    ''The stronger you are, the stronger my support system bes. There is no reason to be disheartened. After all, all of you will be my subordinates and you will stand under me,'' Apollo silently determined. In his eyes, there was no chance of them disobeying his desires.

    As a result, he raised his hand while gazing upon Furcas, "Submit!" Apollo bellowed before activating the Domination Domain solely on Furcas'' position. Simr to Fuhrer''s ability of Suppression, the area around Furcas became heavy. Yet, all he did in return was take another hit of his pipe.

    "The child''s closed eyes will open one by one. When his vision is restored, the pieces of the puzzles will have formed the inevitable scene before his eyes. Tell me, are you capable of withstanding what is toe? One canprehend the patterns in more than one way. There is always more than one path," Furcas projected while shing his pitchfork to the side.

    In response to Apollo''s domain, Furcas summoned a field of pure Anima. However, within the darkness were numerous eyes filled with exuberant energy.

    "Do you believe I have been using the extent of my powers? An Ancient Demon is not something to be underestimated. When one reaches this level, you''lle to realize the state we possess is a falsity. Never ept what a piece shows you as the truth. On your journey, you must always question," Furcas added.

    Apollo''s eyes narrowed in return. While he didn''t see it, he could sense it. There were numerous faint changes in Furcas'' aura. Compared to before, he was like an unshackled beast that possessed the eyes of an ancient hawk. Nevertheless, Apollo wasn''t in the position to back down.

    "Trust me, I possess my fair share of questions, but that is beside the point. The important matter now is whether or not you''ll submit," Apollo retorted while clenching his fist. The Infernal Arms of Damnation continued to thrum with heavy power as he prepared to make his move.

    Without a single order, Typhir also appeared next to him, brandishing his Destruction Intent at maximum capacity.

    "That all depends on your capabilities. Make me submit, prove to me that you possess the needed ability to overwhelm my eyes," Furcas eximed. Unlike before, he didn''t wait for Apollo to make the first move. He charged forward and took the lead. His momentum far surpassed what Apollo expected as he dodged to the side.

    Be that as it may, by the time Apollonded from his evasive maneuver, Furcas'' hand was already en route towards his chest. Since it was too close, he closed his arms and guarded his chest. Compared to before, Apollo was left in a better state as he skidded across the floor.

    Of course, this was due to the fact that Infernal Arms of Damnation absorbed arge portion of the impart. Yet, while this was true, trickles of blood still seeped from Apollo''s lips. His body was still damaged from the earlier blows and the healing speed of the pendant didn''t appear to be sufficient.

    Apollo wiped his lips before narrowing his gaze even further. A cold gleam entered his eyes as the color of the Umbra Phantom Mantle deepened. ''I was born powerless, but I am still walking my journey. There will be countless stronger than me, however, I will never give in nor will I be trampled upon. Before that happens, everything around me will fall victim to the neb!''

    Suddenly, three colors that typically didn''t appear on Apollo appeared while he dashed toward Furcas.

    Inside the cave, Fuhrer could sense exactly what was taking ce. Despite rejecting the call to summon, they still possess their mental connection. He could feel the additional presence in Apollo''s Tainted Temple. But, they were terribly iplete and seemed as if they''d disappear at any moment.

    ''Superbia, Avaritia, and G; what a terriblebination. Those who have fallen victim to this mix are stupendous in number. On the other hand, if the power is harnessed properly, one will draw strength from the immutable devouring neb,'' Fuhrer thought, leaving a lingering impression in Apollo''s mind.

    Deep within his eyes was an excitement to see the predictionse to light.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s attack pattern took on a drastic change as he continued to pick up momentum. Compared to when he trained, the energy he contained was being refined at a nonsensical rate. The presence of quadra-Sin energy was not to be underestimated.

    ''I can feel it, this is what it means to dominate,'' Apollo thought. He then added a mental order for Typhir, ''Match my momentum as best as you can. With his age, his weakness should be endurance. There is no way he can match the vigor of our youthfulness,'' Apollo revealed.

    Naturally, Typhir realized this after some time as well. Although Furcas''s energy was exuberant, there were some instances where the fluctuations were weaker than what it should be. Not to mention, being attacked by two high ranked intents were bound to create damage on his body.

    This is what they were aiming for. Not long after he made this matter known, a crack appeared in the domain of eyes that surrounded Furcas.

    ''Even as we fight at this very moment, he is growing. The Master has indeed left behind a legacy to fulfill his abandoned role. The only question is, what is thatpse I can''t seem to sense. The disappearance of the Monarch; I''ve never been able to unravel this mystery,'' Furcas inwardly mused.

    During the battle, Furcas nced upwards and gave a faint nod. At a nce, Apollo thought there was someone in the vicinity that he had failed to sense. If so, then the odds that were just in his favor would once again be flipped upside down. Fortunately, it didn''t seem to be the case.

    Upon theirst collision, Furcas retreated and lifted his hand, "My old bones have had enough, there is no reason for me to continue to antagonize the future Monarch. I will very well follow you with my aching body. You must simply make sure that I have the proper nutrition. Otherwise, I will waste away at any moment," he shamelessly stated.

    Both Typhir and Apollo were dumbfounded. In fact, thepse in understanding caused all of their techniques to deactivate. Now that both of them lost the fuel of their emotions, their bodies were flooded by a powerless sensation.

    In light of his words, a notification window appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

    ?System Alert! Another piece is willing to follow you. Since they aren''t a being who has initiated a pact, they will be a simple Demonic Follow. It is up to your discretion to tweak their positions in the future.?

    Inside both of their minds, a contract made from the fabrics of one''s soul appeared. While Furcas signed it without much thought due to what he knew, Apollo was stuck on a single sentence within this contract.

    "The most overlooked piece; the Wiseman looks beyond the known and pries into the enigma. Could it be that his value was never realized? Then what is it?" Apollo mumbled to himself. Once he epted the contract, he couldn''t withhold his curiosity any longer.

    "Where do the boundaries of your powery?" Apollo inquired while ncing at Furcas. At the same time, he also opened the panel rted to Furcas.

 Chapter 277 - Coordinates To Be Divined

    ----

    "The boundaries of my powers, you say? First of all, what do you believe my abilities to be? You have already called out my moniker, Wiseman of Corruption, however, do you understand what that entails?" Furcas answered with a question in return. Moreover, his expression was more serious than it would typically be. ??

    Once again, Apollo didn''t know how to initially answer. He called out this name due to the fact that the system made him privy to it. However, now, he couldn''t just push all the responsibility upon the system. It was now a proven fact, even the pieces weren''t aware of the presence of the system.

    As of right now, he was starting to get the feeling that only the monarch was privy to the existence of this tool. After all, all of their information was recorded inside and even the warden, Azridan, was someone who attempted to be the Monarch as well.

    "I thought your ability was foresight. Can''t you see the immediate probabilities?" Apollo answered after giving the matter some thought. In truth, this assumption wasn''t incorrect, however, it also didn''t touch all the bases of Furcas'' power.

    "You''re not wrong, but allow me to let you in on some interesting information. A Wiseman is one whose mind has traveled beyond. In other words, we are privy to matter others wouldn''t be. Of course, thises at a cost as well. Others may perceive us as mad, but it is truly just the countless possibilities at work. In short, you''ll develop multiple personalities," Furcas answered but then grinned.

    "On top of increased senses, my true ability goes beyond foresight, it is cursed divination," Furcas announced while pointing upwards. Once Apollo heard this, he started to connect the dots. That earlier motion had nothing to do with another entity being nearby, Furcas was just using his technique!

    "You mean to say that you can sense and read possibilities based on the alignments of the stars?" Apollo questioned.

    "Correct, but it is limited to the matters connected to us Demons. Hence, why I am a Wiseman of Corruption. I can only use my ability on the dark stars. The fate of being outside of our ordinance can''t be perceived by me," Furcas admitted. He then took another hit of his pipe before adding another piece of information.

    "Of course, this was someone much more skilled in this than I was. In fact, it was he who gave me this ability by showing me the way. His guidance will remain unmatched, now it is my turn to teach you how to further increase the sensitivity of your senses," Furcas revealed before raising his index to the connecting point of Apollo''s eyebrows.

    "This needs refining. You must be able to stretch your perception. There wille a time when the entirety of the Nihilistic Rings will need to be sensed by you. The amount of soul strength required to do so is immense. After all, these string of worlds are by no means tiny," Furcas furthermented.

    In response, Apollo nodded. He also thought back to Furcas'' utilization of Hellfire, "What was that technique you used? The one where you formed a ring of mes."

    "The prerequisite to my divination, the Ring of the Abyssal mes. A higher medium of Hellfire. It isn''t something you need to learn, since you have the Domination Intent, your Hellfire will do your bidding. In the future, you simply need to warp its current properties," Furcas responded.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s eyes took a gander at the notification that had been looming in his field of vision. ''Just like Fuhrer, it seems I can affect him as well. It also seems that he is a Demon Knight as well. I''m starting to think this isn''t a state of power, but rather some type of ranking. If that''s the case, then what is beyond these few?''

    ?System Alert! A piece of the Lost Council has been retrieved. You have been rewarded 2,000 Demonic Achievement Points and +5 Levels. Furthermore, the piece found has also given the hidden reward: Unbound Eyes.?

    When Apollo read thest piece of information, he became curious. However, when he tried to open the information pertaining to it, another prompt appeared that made him frown.

    ?System Alert! The Sinpatible with this partial awakening has not been found. As a result, information surrounding this change will be withheld. Once the Sins have been awakened, the Unbound Eyes will present their purpose.?

    Since it wouldn''t do him any good to dwell over this matter, Apollo pushed this incident to the back of his mind. As of right now, there was something more important to him.

    "You said you can divine right? Then is it possible for you to locate the other pieces of the Lost Council?" Apollo asked after closing the window before him.

    Naturally, Furcas grinned with great pride apparent in his eyes. "Of course! However, I will also warn you, I can''t find the position of the Kings with my current abilities. To find them...I''ll have to surpass my old condition. Unfortunately, with what''s left of me, that''s easier said than done. My potential has been exhausted."

    Towards the end, the pride in his eyes dwindled. Since he wasn''t geared towardsbat, the amount of attention he received was less than the others. Only in times of war was his ability utilized to the fullest. Thus, instead of practicing on himself, most of Furcas'' time in the past was spent on honing his ability to read the signs.

    When Apollo heard the despondency in Furcas'' voice, he understood what it was centered around, ''In the past, he must have been powerless as I was. Perhaps he is more rtable than I thought. Additionally, now that he is my follower, his fate isn''t as bleak as he seems.''

    In the corner of his eye, Apollo looked at another message that appeared.

    ?System Alert! Your Demonic Follower; Furcas, Wiseman of Corruption possesses an otherwise exhausted potential. However, based on your efforts, you can change that. If you reinvigorate their source, their future will be just as vibrant as yours. But, their limit will not beparable to yours, holder of the system.?

    ?System Alert! Due to the presence of Furcas'' energy, Comprehension +20 has been rewarded. Furthermore, other benefits will appear as you continue to hone the mind.?

    In light of this information, Apollo fell into a pensive state, ''Could it be that he is unable to sense a change in his fate? Now that the system has be part of his fate, he should be able to feel the changes. Unless...he can''t even sense the system influence?''

    As he rubbed his chin in thought and looked at Furcas, he felt this was the truth. It appeared the system was something that couldn''t be sensed at all. ''I wonder if I''ll ever meet the creator, or if they even exist anymore.''

    Not long after, Apollo''s thoughts traveled elsewhere, "If you can divine their position, can you tell me where the next one''s position is?"

    What the system didn''t make him aware of was the fact that using the active part of the locator also caused the passive form to go into an inactive state as well. In other words, as of right now, he couldn''t sense the next path.

    Luckily, Furcas'' earlier words seemed to hint that he was in fact the true locator.

    "I can¡­ but I will warn you now, the closest one is located in Suprenis, the Ring of Superbia. If you venture there, I suggest you remain on guard. The demons there are well... let''s just say they are unconventional," Furcas said with a wry smile.

    "Unconventional? I find that hard to believe, I mean aren''t you all demons?" Apollo answered with an odd expression. In his eyes, there couldn''t be much difference between the actions of demons. However, he couldn''t be more wrong.

    Furcas chuckled, "Do you think all Sins are one and the same? Just like the Sin are unique, so are the demons birthed from their presence. A demon of pride could be seen as one of, if not the strongest strain. Not to mention, the Link to that world is one the harshest to experience. It may even warp your mind if you aren''t careful. Before we depart, I suggest you strengthen your mind."

    "Why now?"

    "Because it was too easy to rile up your emotions. While emotions empower us, they should never be evident to our enemies. A cid surface yet seething demeanor is the ideal situation for a demon," Furcas said.

    Apollo then relented. It was true, it was still too easy to tamper with his mental state.

 Chapter 278 - An Army Awaiting Commands

    ----

    At the top of Saehtyn''s Castle,??

    Saehtyn leaned against the armrest of his throne while ying with a cluster of Hellfire. While his gaze seemed to be focused on the fire in his palm, his mind was truly elsewhere, ''Is what the other Lords said true? Have there truly been signs of a new Monarch arising? But why have I not sensed any of the signs? Could it be that my senses are dulling, or am I not a part of the future?''

    Typically, when a demon of his stature failed to sense the uing events, it meant their existence didn''t hold a ce within them. If this was the case, Saehtyn wasn''t sure how he felt about this. Unlike the rest of the Lords, he possessed an unwavering ideology. Irzanach was incapable of swaying him to his side. As for the others, there were signs of them giving in.

    ''Izranach can''t possibly be the next Monarch. He''s far weaker than Azridan in his prime. Could it be the standard to fulfill the preposition has dwindled? If so, it seems that a perilous future is within my sights. If only there was someone tobat that serpent,'' Saehtyn thought inwardly.

    While ruminating, the image of a littled entered his mind. However, he dismissed his existence shortly after. ''Just because he is Azridan''s sessor doesn''t mean anything. After all, even Azridan failed to take thest step. It wasn''t in his destiny. Based on the legends, he was missing quite a few prerequisites to im it. Anything he received from the inheritance would have been forcefully imnted.''

    Suddenly, Saehtyn''s eyes widened. "This is Furcas'' obscure aura but what is this other presence? While small, the momentum is ungodly! It''s like being in the presence of a Dark Lord whose power has been impacted several times."

    However, just as Saehtyn was about to track the source of the energy, it dissipated. As quickly as it appeared is as quickly as it left without any existing signs. Upon noticing this, Saehtyn''s expression became troubled.

    ''It couldn''t be that littled, right? No way, he wasn''t born here. There is no way he possessed the aura of such a pure demon. If I had to say, it goes beyond that of a royal-blooded demon. However, it also feels like there is no bloodline power backing them. This means their power is premature. Once their bloodline awakens...they''ll be a true monster,'' Saehtyn estimated.

    Then, he started to think about other matters. ''Could the fact I was unable to sense anything be due to the fact that this individual is so close? Their presence must be having an effect on the ability to discern. If so, then his fate is something that we shouldn''t pry into. There are bound to be some terrible implications apanying those types of actions.''

    Unlike the demeanor he presented to the masses, he wasn''t as hot-headed as he let on. In fact, Saehtyn was one of the most calcting demons there were. Due to his hard past, he had developed the habit of weighing the consequences of all actions. If he made the wrong move, there were many times where his death would have been imminent.

    "To suffer a loss doesn''t mean you are weak, it means you will live to triumph another day. It''s a shame that those who possess a deep-rooted pride will have to experience something worse than death to learn this," Saehtyn muttered to himself. At the same time, he recalled a few scenes he witnessed during his life.

    It was back then he vowed to never be a tool to someone else''s scheme nor would he be embroiled in the struggles of others. When used as a tool, the first to suffer would be the one who is being controlled.

    All of a sudden, Saehtyn''s eyes narrowed before two overwhelming axes that exuded a heat that almost melted the pirs surrounding him. "Come out, I''m aware that you are nearby. A serpent such as you will have trouble cloaking their disgusting nature."

    From within the void, a white demon appeared. Two dark daggers appeared in his hand as the obsidian spurs on his body glimmered with bright runic marks, "Saehtyn, you young fool. I havee once again to inquire about your decision. Will you join my side? Or, will you perish in the future? Once we sh, most of the Demon Race will be implicated.

    Before answering, Saehtyn frowned, "This ''we'' you speak of, it doesn''t seem to be me and you. Just who are you referring to?"

    Regrettably, he didn''t receive an answer.

    "Irzanach, you loach! Answer me. What are you up to? Are you willing to forsake the Demon Race for meaningless power?" Saehtyn bellowed. His extreme energy caused the castle itself to tremble.

    "Hoh? Is this the Evesting Fury you have received from Ira? You don''t need to be angry yet you can always resonate with all surrounding Ira. However, once you leave this ce, you''ll be the weakest Lord. I''ll make sure of it," Irzanach grinned. A few momentster, his body started to turn incorporeal.

    Be that as it may, he still left a message in the process, "Well of course. Condemning the Demon Race means nothing to me. As I chase power, I am willing to sacrifice any and everything. My daughter has already fallen; I hold no qualms against doing anything it takes," Irzanach chuckled before his presencepletely vanished.

    In return, Saehtyn relinquished his weapon. But, a fire burned in his eyes as he stared into the distance, ''He is up to some terrible deeds. Let''s just hope it doesn''t doom us all. He already growing stronger at a pace that boggles me. The only reason he didn''t attack is that he will still suffer losses.''

    As he sat back on his throne, Saehtyn closed his eyes. The dormant state he entered allowed his presence to be both omnipresent but elusive.

    ----

    Meanwhile, back in the deepest area of the first floor, Furcas finally finished setting up everything he needed to perform his divination ceremony. Apollo''s jaw dropped when he saw how much Crystallized Chaos and other materials it took to just establish the foundation of the circle.

    "Don''t be surprised, I have to pierce the neb and only chaos can do that. It''s just a shame that these are inferior materials. If we could enter the Monarch''s humble abode within his private Ring, we would have ess to material that''d make our life easy. Nevertheless, that is an impossibility at this very moment," Furcas said after heaving a prolonged sigh.

    "It''s fine, if you don''t have enough, I have some materials as well," Apollo responded.

    "I know already," Furcas nodded, before smirking, "How else would you havee here? You who were born here yet in another world, it takes a great deal of effort for you to return home."

    "Born here? What do you mean? I wasn''t born in this world," Apollo responded. Furcas'' words confused him. He was certain he wasn''t born within the world of demons. Even in his other life, he started out as a human.

    Sadly, Furcas knew it wasn''t his ce to say anything, "Recover yourself and you will learn the truth. In the meantime, start your endeavors. In exchange, I will begin mine as well."

    Once he gotfortable, Apollo thought to himself quietly, ''I shouldn''t just train my mind, I can also feel that my stigmata is close to a breakthrough. When it isplete, it should return arge chunk of vitality. Moreover, I''ll be that much closer to entering the Greater State.''

    "Indeed, you must remember that there is an army that awaits yourmand. The Lost Council is merely the tip of an iceberg. You must think beyond them. For example, think to yourself, just what did the Lost Council control in the past. The council of today is not one and the same," Furcas revealed to Apollo.

    For some time, Apollo was shocked. Based on Furcas'' words, then there was something beyond his imagination waiting for him. To be precise, the hidden pieces were only the tip of the iceberg. He also needed to take into ount the other powers these Lost Council held jurisdiction over.

    ''Could it be that my followers will consist entirely of ancient demons? No, that''s not correct. I also have to remember that I create my own direct followers. The only thing everyone will have inmon is their unquestionable loyalty to me. Granted, this all banks on my own strength,'' Apollo realized.

    After several moments, Apollo released an extended turbid breath. Concurrently, he also began taking advantage of the increased Ira levels within the castle. With ease, arge stream of Ira flowed towards him.

 Chapter 279 - Higher Internal Mastery Attained

    ----

    When the Ira entered his body, Apollo was mystified. This was a sensation he had never felt before. Since the castle was in the center of the Ring, it acted as a beacon for the purest Ira to gather. ??

    In fact, the volume stupefied him as a searing pain birthed from his stigmata flowed through his body. At this rate, he wouldn''t need to use any Fragments of Sin at all. It was now that he understood why Ira-based Fragments of Sin could be easily found here. The concentration was truly mind-boggling!

    On the other hand, Furcas fell into a trance-like state as he spoke in an ancient demon tongue. At first, Apollo didn''t understand a single syble, but the constant chanting reverberated against something deep within his being.

    Unbeknownst to him, he started to chant anotherbination of ancient demon tongues. A small orb partly obsidian, partly amethyst appeared on his forehead. For now, it was too small to present any use, but that would soon change.

    While he chanted, Apollo''s consciousness inverted and delved deeper into thetent powers within him. To him, the stigmata appeared as one source of power directly connected to his Infernal Nucleus, whereas the Cardinal Sphere and Tainted Temple existed as two separate entities.

    For now, it required too much focus to delve into the recently leveled up Cardinal Sphere, thus, it was more practical for him to spare his attention towards the other two. First, he started with the Infernal Ira Stigmata. Since it was in a state that surpassed the Lesser State from the moment he awakened it, it should require the least amount of time to cement it within the Greater State.

    When he increased the strength of his Hefllire, the stigmata had already begun responding to it. It just slowed down due to the neglect. Fortunately, it wasn''t an ability that was best when struck while the iron was hot. It didn''t matter when because the progress would always be the same unless he entered the sensitive state.

    Some of the iplete lines started to merge together and form new runic markings that allowed the strength to flow better. In fact, while he continued to perceive what was happening, he started to realize that the flow was a mirror of his veins. It merely formed another cirction system.

    As this became apparent, another thought entered his mind, ''Will the other stigmata adopt the same thing? Will I have 8 cirction systems? If so, part of me feels this is redundant while another part feels this is quite the wonder. Of course, until this is proven, I''m not sure where any of the other stigmata will appear.''

    Nevertheless, simr to his first transformation, the Hellfire his body emitted started to take the shape of a cocoon. His Demonic Anima then assisted the process and hardened the cocoon into a diamond-like material. Be that as it may, the interior of the cocoon was hotter thanva.

    Apollo''s eyes mmed opened and widened as the skin on his body melted away to reveal the underlying muscle. The first tempered the sticity and strength of his muscles, burning away the weakness and impurities. Needless to say, this was an excruciating process.

    But, when the numerous system messages appeared before his eyes, he did his best to resist the torturous experience.

    ?System Alert! The racial meter has increased by 1%. Additionally, the other stats are being affected in the process. Strength +1%, Agility +1% & Agility +1%.?

    This message appeared every time the pain became almost unbearable. This meant it required him to touch upon his limit multiple times to receive this benefit. Hence, why it was worth it in his eyes. It was only when one touched upon their true limits that they experienced the most worthwhile growth.

    Since Apollo was a firm believer of this ideology, he stood by it. He was an advocate for trials by fire. Only in the worst-case scenario would he be able to gain control of his constantly overflowing emotions. He believed it was time he started to mature faster.

    After all, it wouldn''t be long before he would have to face beings that would present nothing outside of despair. In their presence, his will would have to retain its solidity. If not, he would be aughingstock when he announced his intentions to take upon the Monarch mantle.

    As he thought about this, Apollo felt this was uneptable. While he didn''t mind failing, being seen as a joke by others was something he couldn''t stand. As Saehtyn mentioned earlier, those who possessed deep-rooted pride would have to experience trauma like no other before they could learn how to process everything properly.

    Sometimes, it was best to set one''s pride aside. Lest they provoke a cmity upon themselves. In fact, it had slipped his mind, but he had seen it once before. Typhir''s injury was truly caused by his own pride. If he didn''t want to prove himself, he wouldn''t have suffered that strike from Reiner.

    In turn, he wouldn''t have be a demon either. But, when stripped bare, his pride was truly a blessing. However, whether or not it was one for himself or another was an enigma till even this very moment.

    Halfway through the experience, Apollo became ustomed enough to split his attention in two. The other half of his spirit then focused on heightening the state of his Tainted Temple. The miniature version of stigmata engraved on it deepened in both color and inscription.

    By the time he felt faint, both sides reached the cusp of breaking through. With just one more step, he would make arge leap in his progress. However, it was also bing increasingly difficult to retain his consciousness. Even the inside of his mind became blurred and constantly fading.

    Be that as it may, Apollo clenched his teeth and even tore his lips to shreds trying to stay awake. ''Come on, just a little more. Don''t give in...you can do it,'' Apollo repeated in his mind, doing his best to psyche himself up.

    At this point, he was running on fumes as his internal energy was exhausted. Every ounce of it was within his stigmata. Furthermore, it wouldn''t be released until fullypleted. Hence, Apollo''s only choice was to resist all temptations of giving in. No matter how alluring the thought, he couldn''t allow it to happen.

    After all, the cusp was an extremely sensitive state. Unlike before, there was now a possibility it would continue to degrade back to its prior form if his attainments didn''t solidify.

    Be that as it may, the pain reached a peak. Apollo bellowed and the pitch was simr to that of a dying predator''sst death throes. He was desperate! His nails dug into his palm as both his stigmata and Tainted Temple cracked all over.

    Underneath, there was a vibrant light that was at least 3 times brighter than their prior dull forms. In exchange, a weight felt like it was lifted off his shoulders. Yet, before he could bask in the glory of this sensation, his consciousness slipped away. He had exhausted every morsel of willpower he possessed. So, he needed to recover.

    He fell into aa-like state that allowed his body to begin the recovery process. Almost simultaneously, Furcas opened his eyes and blinked, "It had to be him? He''s a rather difficult opponent to convince. This youth has quite the path cut out for him. Inparison to me, he should retain much more of his abilities. He may even be an Archdemon now."

    He then lifted his hand and drew a symbol in the sky. For now, it wouldn''t be useful, but it allowed him to record those who were located nearby. One by one, he drew symbols. Soon enough, it reached the count of 6.

    ''To think there are 6 of them who hid in the world of Suprenis. Right under the nose of the current Lord, Lucifer. They are fortunate that he is one who likes to deflect responsibility. Otherwise, it would have been potentially fatal to stay there too long. Even adopting foreign identities wouldn''t be enough,'' Furcas determined.

    Until Apollo awakened, he continued to search for the positions of the others. But, every time he located one demon, the intensity of his circle dwindled, ''These inferior materials can''t locate those beyond the state of a middle-rank Archdemon. Just one location would exhaust nearly half of the circle''s potency.''

    Half a dayter, Apollo''s eye opened abruptly and a burst of pressure emanated from him.

    ''He''s close,'' Furcas thought after sparing a short nce.

 Chapter 280 - The Umbra Phantom Mantle Shifts

    ----

    "That''s quite the formidable pressure you''re emitting there. I guess it''s safe to say you have seeded in elevating yourself to another level. Except for your demeanor, everything else can beparable to a Greater Demon," Furcasmented while examining the notable increase in Apollo''s power.??

    On the other hand, Apollo marveled at his body''s current strength as he opened and clenched his fists, ''Amazing, so this is the power granted by a stable Ira Stigmata. The energy flowing through me is at least twice as vibrant as before. Furthermore, my Demonic Anima holds a trace of Ira without me invoking my stigmata''s power,'' Apollo inwardly eximed.

    This newfound power ted Apollo. Along with the increase in power, came an addition to his ego. Certain opponents didn''t even enter his eyes anymore. For example, he wasn''t even interested inbating Lesser Ifrits, he wanted to attempt battle with something far greater.

    "I''m at the cusp of the evolution requirements," Apollo responded. Not only did he realize that his path contained many variations, but he also became aware of the fact that he could bypass his Demonic Conduct. Moreover, he could also substitute the individual paths with the true Monarch''s path.

    When he imed Furcas as his follower, there was another piece of information that slipped past his attention until now.

    ?System Alert! As each of the pieces is obtained and you absorb a fragment remaining inside them, the Monarch''s presence is being restored. As a result, based on the pieces you obtain, your state will elevate.?

    Naturally, the state mentioned pertained to his body. In other words, his current power. However, this also meant that different pieces rewarded a different amount of benefits. Since Furcas was amongst the lower end, he was only able to bypass two stages within the Demonic Conduct.

    As long as he confronted the pieces, the system would judge his current state as having been tempered. After all, the presence of the pieces was much more important than the ughtering of meager humans. Since the Demons were a warring race, a massacre amongst their own kind wasn''t an abnormality. In fact, it was a normal event that took ce quite often.

    If he could kill his own kind, then there was no doubt that he held no qualms over killing a human. Not to mention, Apollo felt a small yet perceivable change in himself now that the power he received from Furcas settled down.

    On top of his increased senses, his personality felt altered albeit not majorly. Nevertheless, even the slightest change could have a monumental effect on the future. A p of a single butterfly''s wings at the right ce, at the right time, could give rise to colossal storms at a predetermined ce.

    "It''s true, but you can do even more before you be a Greater Demon. You should look at this period as your foundational phase. You should take the time toy a foundation as sturdy as it could possibly be before seeking to advance. If you do so, I read from your fate that you could be unmatched within your own realm of strength," Furcas revealed.

    When he heard this, it sounded enticing to his ears. At the same time, something also crossed his mind, "With your ability, you should also be rather difficult to ovee. I wish for you to teach me that ability. Just the foresight will suffice, I don''t seek to learn divination," Apollo requested.

    For a moment, Furcas rubbed his chin and thought this request over, ''In truth, if he awakens his own abilities, the ability of foresight would be pointless. As for divination, a leader should be able to read the signs. Even if he doesn''t want to, his bloodline will coax him to master this ability.''

    After ample deliberation, Furcas made his decision, "Very well, but I want to know, how much do you know about the First Monarch? Do you know the great deed he performed disappearing?"

    "Great deed? I have never heard of such a thing," Apollo answered truthfully. Even though Fuhrer had told him some stories, it wasn''t to the extent that allowed him to instantly recall the events surrounding him.

    "When fate spelled doom, he sacrificed a portion of his power to forcefully alter it. These Rings aren''t in their rightful position. If it returns there, we''ll be within the range of our mortal enemies. Luckily, the Monarch''s right hand epted the curse and allowed his power to be sapped," Furcas said.

    The moment he heard this, Apollo understood what the great deed meant, "I know about this. Fuhrer has told me of this, just not in great detail. Tell me, who is our mortal enemy?"

    "No, not an enemy, but enemies. There are quite a few, just the Titans alone led us to despair. As for the others, let''s just say we require a strong army to even think about returning to our rightful home. To cross the neb would be dangerous for us right now. The constion indicates that they have all grown stronger and not stagnated," Furcas answered with a grim expression.

    "Titans? What abilities could they possibly have to counteract you all?" Apollo questioned.

    "Hmph, you think the stature of a demon isrge? The highest-ranking Titan is probably asrge as a Ring itself. That type of enemy, unless you are overwhelmingly strong, it would be nonsensical to enter a conflict," Furcas answered with a trace of amusement in his voice.

    When Apollo heard this, there was a look of horror stered across his face. He truly couldn''t wrap his mind around an opponent the size of a. It was too mystifying to think about. To his current self, it sounded like a fairy tale. Even if he had seen some crazy things, this all sounded like an exaggeration to him.

    "Nheless, let''s stop digressing. To learn foresight, you must open the eye of your temple. Once that is done, a rudimentary form of it will appear. There are no directions to opening it; once you have liberated your mind and learn to look beyond, you will know when the eye is open," Furcas exined.

    ''Open the eye. Sounds awfully simr to the sealed ability the system mentioned. This may just be a dumbed-down form. Now that I think about it, Furcas did say this was an ability learned from the Monarch. Maybe my own foresight will be different and I don''t need to learn this,'' Apollo assumed.

    Aftering to this conclusion, he told Furcas he didn''t need to focus on this as of right now. When the time came, this ability would awaken of its own ord. For now, he retrieved the Neb Shard in his possession. There was only a small portion of power remaining inside for him to absorb.

    "Once I finish absorbing the essence of this, we can begin to make our move," Apollo announced before falling silent. As he absorbed the embedded energies, the Umbra Phantom Mantle appeared by itself. It was stimted by a certain fragment within the Tenebrous Path.

    The second fleeting shadow he managed to awaken earlier solidified continuously. It wasn''t until it matched the first image that the color of the Neb Shardpletely dulled. With this, the first transformation of the Umbra Phantom Mantle concluded.

    It was only but a matter of time before he reached the same proficiency as Fuhrer and then unlocked the Third Baleful Step. When that happened, the true emperor of darkness would arise once again.

    Additionally, the moment he absorbed the rest of the shard, another notification appeared before his eyes.

    ?System Alert! The first level of the Monarch''s Tenebrosity has been achieved. All techniques rted to the darkness will be strengthened. Moreover, a seal has been removed.?

    All of a sudden, a scene shed by Apollo''s eyes wherein a man wearing a dark hood was seen standing with an imposing posture. This seemed to be a first-person point of view as the scene was from the eyes of the beholder.

    The person''s face shifted and revealed the bottom of their face covered with a small smile that soon turned into a pained from, "It pains me that our time may be cut short together. But, to help you in the future, I will stop you from remembering our past for now. Remember, should your body perish, it doesn''t matter. Being born an inherent Daemos, you aren''t bound to the physical. When you remember this, it means the first step has already been taken."

    When he came to, Apollo was left stunned, ''What was that?''

    Yet another question arose in his mind.

 Chapter 281 - Drawning Near The Link

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.4??

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [97.15%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 15

    Level: 120

    Experience: 32.00%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 9,666 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 2 Zul Knight

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 9 Spirit Apprentice

    Meridians: Saint-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 22,500

    Oz: 945

    Strength: 750.0

    Agility: 695.0

    Intelligence: 630.0

    Vitality: 620.0

    Comprehension: 83.0

    Willpower: 63.0

    [?Traits?]- 5

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 7

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 9: Darkness, Fire

    Level 7: Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?]

    [Daemonic Avatar] Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master.

    [Greater Demon] [Requires 5,000 units of Demonic Anima to summon.]

    [Demonic Acolyte] Typhir Estrada (Demon Knight)

    [Lesser Demon {Non-Summon}] Added benefits to you.

    [Demonic Follower] Furcas (Demon Knight) - Wiseman of Corruption

    [Greater Demon] [Requires 3,000 units of Demonic Anima to summon.]

    ------------

    [?Interdimensional Inventory?][?Inheritance?] [?Lucky Draw?]

    Stat Points: 0

    ''Suchrge jumps! Furthermore, the coefficient of everything seems to have changed. No wonder my body is so filled with power. There isn''t that much more until Iplete this second evolution. I''ll also be able to obtain more answers as I grasp more of these ancient demons,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    All of a sudden, Apollo also got the urge to check on the progress of his current progress.

    ----

    Quest Name: Journey to Sovereignty Part Two

    Quest Information: Although your road to power is still arduous, your advancement has marked the progress on your path. However, in order to truly obtain the mantle that awaits you, you must aplish tasks otherwise impossible for typical demons. Through pure grit and unbreakable tenacity, you are to shatter the barrier and take control of your first demon while also performing what only a few can aplish.

    Objectives:

    -Achieve the 4th Level of the Demon Monarch System. (1/1) [COMPLETE!]

    -Open the Tainted Temple and achieve the Spirit Apprentice Realm equivalent. (1/1) [COMPLETE!]

    -Advance further upon Demonic Conduct achieving at least Stage 5. (0/1)

    -Fulfill the qualifications to be a Greater Demon. (0/1)

    -Subdue your first Demonic Spirit. (1/1) [COMPLETE!]

    Rewards:

    -Information on the method to awaken the Second Sin.

    -Fulfillment of the second prerequisite to bing a chosen contender. (0/1)

    -???

    -???

    Time Limit: 3.5 years (Equal to the time left on your Suppression Imprint.)

    [psed Time: ~8 months.]

    ''There are just thest two tasks remaining, however, I''m sure thest quest will fulfill itself once the issue with the Demonic Conduct is resolved. After all, all of the prerequisites to be a Greater Demon would have been aplished,'' Apollo thought.

    Afterward, he closed everything and got Typhir as well as Furcas, "I think it''s about time we make our way towards the portals. For now, there isn''t much left for us to do here. Before we affiliate ourselves with current demons, it''s best we locate the ancient demons first," Apollo announced.

    Needless to say, they both agreed to his suggestion. The inside of this castle housed some strong figures. The longer they stayed here, the more dangerous it would be. Now that Apollo''s stigmata had crossed over the Greater State threshold, there were bound to be demons who could sense him despite the mastered first level of the Monarch''s Tenebrosity.

    Without hesitation, they started to move. While they weren''t aware of the direction, Furcas was. And, on their venture to said portals, his expression changed countless times. At some point, he shifted positions with Apollo.

    "It would be best if I lead you all. From here on out, our movements need to be as careful as possible," Furcas warned. Albeit quick, Furcas'' new steps followed a cautious pattern.

    Before moving, he would nce upwards. When he shook his head, he stood in ce or moved minutely, when he nodded, he maderge strides and crossed great distances. As Apollo took notice of this, he started to understand the usefulness of divination. If the Demon didn''t possess a strong cloaking ability, their movements would always be depicted by the dark stars.

    Due to the changing momentum, their journey extended longer than they would have liked. Furthermore, they came to a difficult impasse shortly after, "An unmoving constetion. No matter the actions we take, we''ll end uping into contact. Very well, I will warn you right now, there is an extremely strong presence before our destination."

    "What does that mean? Should we cease our actions?" Apollo answered with a deep frown. One thing he disliked was when his ns were thwarted. Fortunately, it seemed Furcas had no intention of stopping.

    "If it was before, I would have suggested it. But, in truth, you can be called a pseudo-Greater Demon. You should be able to better handle yourself. It would seem the guards to the portal are active. This usually isn''t the case, but I guess the rtionship between Rings may be deteriorating," Furcas muttered while moving his hands about in the air.

    As he pieces bits of different signs together, he arrived at an answer that unsettled him. ''The improper candidates are making such dastardly moves? To pin the Lords against each other, they''re simply seeking to make great strife. Who in their right mind would want the discord of the Demon Race to devolve into a worse situation? Madness,'' Furcas inwardly groaned.

    "What is it?" Apollo questioned upon catching wind of Furcas'' change in expression. Since this was something he would have to deal with in the future, Furcas didn''t hide the issue from Apollo.

    "Rather infuriating issues will arise in the future. It will be up to you to correct them. Do not allow the discord that is being sown to fester. Your falsepetition is making matters worse," Furcas answered.

    Although Furcas didn''t give an explicit answer, Apollo understood what he was talking about. After all, Fuhrer didn''t just leave in him the dark about the existences known as the Monarch''s Candidates.

    In addition to pondering over this matter, Apollo waspelled to ask another question, "Azridan, are you familiar with this name?"

    "Of course. For a short while, he shared a destiny that intertwined with the Monarch''s overarching fate. It''s a shame his ember died out. If not, he would have made a fine specimen to spearhead the Lost Council. Of course, he could have never been the monarch. They''re all just false beings," Furcas answered.

    After receiving this answer, Apollo was even more interested. Thus, he answered another question, "Is resurrection possible? Also, if one''s star dies out what does that symbolize?"

    "It symbolizes a dead fate. Maybe another fate rose for them, but it would take countless years for that fate to take the ce of the prior one. As for resurrection, that is an ability of the Daemos and higher beings. But, the dead can''t be for too long or it will be useless," Furcas answered after recalling the strict rules to these practices.

    "I see. Then, can you check if there is a new star for him? It has been countless years, perhaps there is a new one," Apollo requested.

    "I doubt it, but I will try nheless. Just don''t get your hopes up," Furcas answered. First, he recalled the aura of Azridan and then searched for it through the neb. As he did so, his expression became one of shock. To his surprise, he indeed found Azridan''s star but there was an issue.

    ''I can sense inside it, it''s that same feeling from before. The reason the Monarch disappeared. Perhaps their fate is more linked than I thought. It is just a shame that I can sense even deeper. Nevertheless, I have an answer for him.''

    Furcas turned back towards Apollo and nodded, "He indeed has a fate. It seems his presence hasn''t disappeared. But, I can''t give any more answers than this, I don''t have them."

    "That''s fine, as long as it is there, I am content," Apollo answered. Truthfully speaking, the long absence of Azridan made him rather nervous. But, as long as his soul wasn''t gone, he wouldn''t panic.

    On the other hand, Furcas turned around abruptly and raised his guard. The moment they entered another corridor, a heavy aura pressed down on them. While Apollo didn''t know what it belonged to, Furcas was all too familiar with this.

    "It seems our luck is very bad. This is the pressure of an Archdemon. Prepare yourself, they be rather unruly," Furcas said while also retrieving his pipe.

 Chapter 282 - The Presence Of An Archdemon

    ----

    "You might as well enter, I can sense all of your presences. The longer you stay idle there, the harsher I will make my pressure. None of you will be able to sneak past my perception," a loud voice bellowed. Despite the distance, the voice sounded as if it was within Apollo and Typhir''s ears.??

    On the other hand, Furcas spat on the ground and chuckled at this disy, "Such false grandeur. I can see in the stars that you''re nothing but a newly born Archdemon. Does this aplishment make you feel grand?"

    "Well, that goes without saying. Less than 50% of the Demon Race possess the ability to crossover the threshold and hone their bodies to enter the Archdemon Realm. For example, you. You are but an extreme peak Greater Demon. While strong, you still pale inparison to me," the voice said.

    "Yet another demon who believes themselves to be high and mighty. Little do they know their fate is within my eyes. Tsk tsk, what a shame. Should we deal with this problem before us?" Furcas questioned while ncing over his shoulders as Typhir and Apollo.

    Naturally, they were both ready forbat. While Apollo wanted to test his current strength, Typhir was just generally interested in fighting. Not to mention, the feeling of learning while inbat was unsurpassed. The only way to hone the basic technique he was taught was by umting experience during fights.

    While Typhir drew his greatsword, Apollo conjured a scythe made of hellfire. When he saw how realistic it ended up looking, he was utterly shocked, ''Is this what my Hellfire is currently capable of? It''s no different than a real weapon. In fact, it should be much stronger than that Dark Cutter,'' Apollo estimated.

    All of sudden, a demon holding an immense halberd appeared before their eyes. It was simr to Typhir in height, but his physique looked as if it contained countless times more power. At a nce, Apollo could tell that he didn''t wish to receive a hit from it.

    Even in his current Iraym Form, it wasn''t smart to receive a blow from this particr demon. Compared to a sword or scythe, a halberd was many times heavier. While attack speed waspromised in the process, this was only true if one''s strength didn''t allow the weapon to be wielded effortlessly.

    And, Apollo could tell it wouldn''t be the case with this demon. Be that as it may, Apollo is shocked by the suggestion of the demon.

    "You''re all simply puny. It wouldn''t be any fun to get into conflict with you all. If you present adequate resources, I will allow you to ess the Link Portals. If not, I''ll have to take matters into my own hands. Only an Archdemon can freely use this portal and none of you have reached such a state," the guardian demon said with an unmoving tone.

    "Resources, you say? Very well, If this can be resolved withoutbat then so be it. What resources do you require exactly?" Apollo inquired.

    Without dy, the guardian answered, "Fragments of Sin, this is non-negotiable. If you don''t have them, ess will be denied. As for the amount, it will be 3 per person. This is also not under discussion. Also, since you are a single party, an additional piece needs to be included. Thus, we can say 10 will suffice."

    At first, Furcas wanted to intervene and say this was highway robbery, but Apollo raised his hand and stopped him from doing so. When the guardian saw this, he was surprised Apollo held the authority to stop the older demon.

    ''This youth must have a good background or has presented this old demon some empty benefits. I''m willing to bet he said something cheap like being able to help him enter the Archdemon State despite his decrepit age,'' the guardian inwardly chuckled.

    "10 Fragments of Sin, this is eptable," Apollo replied without much thought. He waved his hand and retrieved exactly 10 pieces before presenting it towards the guardian, "I''m sure this guarantees our entry now, doesn''t it?"

    "Perhaps so," the guardian nodded in return. Upon receiving the items, he inspected them while in thought, ''It seems I wasn''t wrong. He muste from quite the background.''

    Suddenly, while sensing the Fragments of Sins, his eyes widened, ''It couldn''t be!'' He turned back towards Apollo and the other departing figures before vanishing on the spot.

    "Halt!" The guardian bellowed before appearing before them, barring them from entry once again. Of course, when Apollo saw this, he frowned. He had paid the fee, yet he was being stopped once again. Furthermore, he didn''t like the look within the guardian''s eyes.

    "Where did you acquire this item?" the guardian asked Apollo.

    Without much dy, Apollo responded with aggravation apparent in his tone, "From this ce, where else? If that is all, step aside so we may continue on our journey."

    Based on the guardian''s expression, Apollo was positive they didn''t believe him. It was only now that he recalled the words of the guards of the front door.

    "That''s a tant lie. Such an item doesn''t exist here. This Fragment of Sin isn''t contaminated by Ira, it is pure! This means it is universal and can be utilized by anyone! So tell me, where is the gold mine located? Let me make this exceptionally clear, you don''t possess the strength needed to keep this all to yourself," the demon stated before ring a portion of his aura.

    The atmosphere grew heavy upon him doing so. Yet, despite that Apollo didn''t budge. Since it was acquired from the system, there wasn''t another option he could me. Thus, his only other choice was to once again repeat his words. Even if they weren''t the truth, unless one scoured the entirety of Ashiraem, they couldn''t necessarily prove this to be false.

    Nevertheless, it was clear the guardian wasn''t going to ept this answer.

    "Very well, I will simply have to check your belongings for more. If you won''t share the location, I''ll just have to make all your possessions mine," the guardian said with a cold and greedy look in his eyes.

    ''Avaritia and Ira, two lovely Sins. A lovelybination to make one less sensitive to reason,'' Furcas thought before taking a deep inhale of his pipe, ''We will just have to solve this issue.''

    "Prepare for battle!" Furcas bellowed as the domain of eyes opened up around him. Immediately after, the symbols in his eyes appeared. Unlike the previous fight with Apollo, he utilized as much of his aura as he could from the start.

    "Very interesting indeed. Your momentum is stronger than one would think. But, it is still weak nheless," the guardianughed before releasing a torrential aura that shed with Furcas'' domain. From the initial collision, Furcas was instantly put at a disadvantage.

    However, Apollo and Typhir didn''t dawdle in the slightest. Both of their Intents appeared at the same time as they dashed towards the Archdemon. Even though Saehtyn''s warnings were fresh in his mind, now wasn''t the time to worry about them. This Archdemon was much stronger than the power Furcas could currently exhibit.

    On the other hand, when the guardian saw their Intents, he gave a praising nod, "Not bad at all, two high-level Intents for piddling beings. If you had simply listened to my requests, we wouldn''t be in this mess. Sadly, it''s toote for all that. When you all perish, I will im your belongings and suck the Ira out of your bodies."

    In response to their two shes, the Archdemon raised his hand and created a solidified wall of Hellfire that repelled their strikes. Furthermore, striking against the wall made their wrists and arms vibrate.

    ''How sturdy!'' Apollo marveled with widened eyes. The strength of the Hellfire he was up against went beyond his. Yet, the guardians'' eyes narrowed when he gleaned something from his wall.

    ''He was able to leave a nick in my Infernal Rampart with a single sh? What type of intent is that on his weapon? If he was any stronger, it would be dangerous,'' the guardian estimated. Simultaneously, he kept Furcas subdued as he realized closebat seemed to be his weakness due to his feeble body.

    Meanwhile, Apollo was cursing this demon in his mind, ''Just like humans, demons can''t be trusted. Never again will I go along with their suggestions. All that matters is the ability to subdue them, and that I shall. Whether it is a struggle or not, it will be aplished!''

    Once again, Apollo rushed in but this time, his scythe was coating in the aura of a Perfected Demonic Massacre Wave. The moment he sensed it, the guardian turned his attention towards Apollo.

 Chapter 283 - Struggle To Access The Link

    ----

    ''Is this youth using some type of technique? What level is it at? It uses rather pure energy. It shouldn''t be of a low standard. Good, it would seem this youth has quite the arsenal of useful possessions. Simply a grand catch,'' the guardian determined. However, he also remained wary of the aura of the strike.??

    To bepletely sure, he reinforced his Infernal Rampart with another round of Hellfire. The previous crack recovered and left no sign of it and the rampart hardened in the process.

    Be that as it may, Apollo didn''t just fire a single wave. Despite the increasing consumption, Apollo fired a torrent of Perfected Demonic Massacre Wave at the rampart. Every single impact caused the rampart to suffer arge gash that only grew deeper.

    The moment it appeared, Apollo focused all of his strikes on that single point. At the same time, he even began activating his Infernal Ira Stigmata causing his physique to thrum with momentous power.

    ''Hoh? His power suddenly jumped to around the middle level of the Greater Demon State. For such an increase, a high-ranked Demonic Art is needed. He is just full of wonders,'' the guardian thought with the greed growing in his eyes.

    Meanwhile, Furcas'' eyes had already increased to 4 symbols. Yet, despite that, he still couldn''t get the upper hand on this demon''s speed. Before he could make a proactive movement, the guardian had already begun to execute his strike. The disparity in their speeds was apparent.

    In fact, if Apollo had to make a rough guess. ording to the system''s stats, Furcas should be somewhere around 1,300 Agility whereas this opponent was in the range of 1,500 or greater. Moreover, this didn''t just trante to a mere 20% increase in speed. One must remember, the coefficient of the system''s parameters was still affected by the current physiques'' capabilities.

    After the 10th consecutive strike, the Infernal Rampart exploded into a dark cloud that Apollo rushed into without much hesitation. Typhir also followed closely behind to provide support in his confrontation. From within the cloud, the two burst out and shed their weapons forward.

    This time, the guardian acted differently. He didn''t summon another rampart but used a movement to show just what he thought of their actions. He used his foot to kick away their de before flicking the air aimed towards their chest.

    When the airpressed enough, it was like they were hit with cannons. Each of them, Typhir and Apollo flew back like helpless rag dolls before they could regain their footing. At first, they were slightly appalled by thebat ability of an Archdemon.

    This wasn''t from an actual strike, but the indirect results of a strike. ''To weaponize air with force, how much strength does that take? The immense pressure; if my stigmata didn''t upgrade, I would have suffered a few cracked bones,'' Apollo surmised while shaking off the blow.

    Before making another move, he spat the pooling blood in his mouth onto the ground. On the other hand, Typhir groaned and looked at the indent on his chest. "Fucking annoyance, if I could crush you, I would," he spat out of anger.

    "This isn''t enough. It looks like I''ll have to take this a step further," Apollo muttered before exhaling heavily. As he did so, the aura surrounding his scythe changed. It became exceedingly sharp as if it was threatening to cut to any and everything in its path.

    Naturally, this was the telltale sign of the Second Annihtion. While it wasn''t perfected like the first one, its base form was many times stronger than the one that preceded it.

    "Hahahaha! Although the aura seems to have changed, at the base, it still carries the same foundation. It goes without saying that this is a part of the same technique. A technique consisting of multiple parts, without a doubt, it is definitely a high-ranked Demonic Art. My interest in you has officially peaked. Come!" the guardian eximed before executing a heavy sh on Furcas that pushed him into the distance.

    Before he could recover, the guardian dashed towards Apollo with a speed that made him look like a blur. However, if it was one thing Apollo was confident in, it was his speed. A momentter, he activated the Umbra Phantom Mantle. Moreover, he did so in the second state.

    The increased consumption wasn''t something that gued his mind at the moment. Since he possessed nearly 10,000 units of Demonic Anima within him, it would take some time before it was all exhausted. Not to mention, Apollo didn''t hold back in the slightest.

    All of his offensive skills blended into one. The empowerment from his Stigmata, the Domination Intent, and the Nether Severance''s aura. All of this melded together to produce an increased momentum that even the guardian became wary of.

    ''This is the first time since I, Zarkath, have be an Archdemon that a demon below my level has made me feel apprehension. While it isn''t overly strong, he should definitely possess the ability to damage my body. I''d rather not have to heal so¡­''

    Abruptly, Zarkath started to elerate further. He intended to immobilize Apollo before he couldunch his strike. However, little did he know the gathering window of this skill became shorter as Apollo continued to familiarize himself with it.

    In less than 2 seconds, Apollo was already in the process of releasing it. In his eyes, Zarkath had simply closed the distance between them. The closer he got, the smaller the window to dodge this strike became.

    Nevertheless, Zarkath continued with his actions. The de of his halberd was then coated in a forceful aura before performing a sh of his own. Despite the fact that this strike was a lower technique, the difference in strength made up for it.

    While he was pushed back some, Zarkath still managed to alter the path of the Nether Severance while suffering minimal damage from its rabid aura.

    ''This move is sharper than I thought. It seems he has poured arge portion of his strength into it,'' Zarkath thought. But, before he could advance, Typhir appeared in a crouched position. He then performed an explosive upward sh aimed at Zarkath''s right eye.

    Sadly, he underestimated Zarkath''s reaction speed. He tilted his head back and narrowly dodged the strike as Typhir''s eye breezed past his eye. Moreover, in one fluid motion, Zarkath backflipped and kicked Typhir''s jaw whichunched him into the air.

    Afterward, he tapped his foot and performed a spin beforeshing out his leg at Typhir''s torso. An explosive noise resounded as his body impacted the ground and left a small crater.

    Meanwhile, in Apollo''s view, he could see that Typhir''s health meter had fallen to the 50% range. With just a few hits, this demon managed to reduce him to a helpless state.

    Upon noticing this, Apollo''s expression fell, ''The disparity between our demonic forms are greater than I thought. This is just a fresh Archdemon yet he is strong enough to counteract ourbined efforts. If only I had a more expansive arsenal, I could contribute even further. All I need to do is create an opening for Furcas to take advantage of. As for summoning Fuhrer, my reserves have fallen below the needed amount and I don''t feel like risking it the consumption of it for no reaction.''

    "You might as well cease your struggles and allow me to gain a hold of your possessions. This is the only way to cate my Greed," Zarkath said while also cracking his neck in the process.

    But, the moment Apollo heard hisst phrase, he was reminded of the words Fuhrer revealed to him, ''My soul shows signs of Pride, Greed, and Gluttony. This means I should be sensitive to Superbia, Avaritia, and G. That may just be it!''

    "Compared to your greed, everyone knows gluttony is far more enticing. While greed is just a desire, gluttony is an action," Apollo quipped in response.

    In light of his answer, Zarkath''s eyes narrowed, "Are you trying to downy my potential? Useless tactics."

    "It isn''t. I have realized something. If I wish to deal with you, I have to stoop to your level. I need to be greedy and gluttonous as well!" Apollo eximed as the immediate area around him seemed to invert.

    ?System Alert! The Annihtions are reacting to your mindset. The next path is bing apparent as it resonates with your soul.?

    ''Yes, this is it! I need to learn more about the Annihtions! Come to me,'' Apollo thought with the desire of greed apparent in his eyes.

 Chapter 284 - The Power Of Devouring

    ----

    In light of this revtion, Apollo''s aura underwent a change. A sensation that threatened to swallow everything in its path seeped from his body as his gaze remained fixated on Zarkath''s body. However, the moment Zarkath sensed this change, all of his attention was extricated from Furcas and Typhir.??

    Compared to those two, his senses told him that Apollo was without a doubt, the most dangerous one of the bunch. While Furcas may be stronger than him physically, the feeling that Apollo gave was far more nefarious than Furcas could muster.

    ''Could it be another attack from this same technique? However, this feeling¡­ it''s so strong that it even overpowers the temptation of greed. When something like this happens, it is usually a sign that one should assess how to move forward. I''m almost certain there will be an injury on the way if I don''t handle him immediately,'' Zarkath determined to himself.

    Once he realized his next course of action, Zarkath didn''t linger for another moment. He rushed towards Apollo with no remorse for the environment. His heavy steps cracked the surface of the ground as he maximized his power.

    However, his advance wasn''t as easy as he thought. Again, both Typhir and Furcas appeared in his path. Even though both of them were suffering from injuries, they still acted. Typhir did so out of loyalty and also the sensation that apanied his contract with Apollo.

    As for Furcas, his actions were more so spurred on by the fact that he could see within the dark star alignments that Apollo''s next actions would be rather helpful. Thus, it was engraved within his star''s purpose to hold Zarkath back until he reached the prime state to unleash his technique.

    On the other hand, Zarkath''s expression darkened, "Trivial attempts, truly so! I suggest you all move out of my way lest you provoke my true wrath. If you think an Archdemon is to be taken lightly, then continue with your pointless actions and see how I respond," he bellowed.

    Naturally, neither of them backed off. In fact, Furcas smirked. Based on what he saw, this demon''s control wasn''t that good. In his eyes, it was a surprise that he was able to be an Archdemon. After all, entering that state required a difficult trial. Once it was ovee, it symbolized the ability to retain proper control over one''s self. Yet, his response didn''t follow this logic.

    ''Could it be that the dreadful aura from that boy''s body is causing him to react instinctively? Even though we train to hone our instincts, sometimes, when grave danger appears, our autonomous response overpowers over ceaseless training,'' Furcas thought.

    Meanwhile, Typhir entered a state of extreme focus. He could tell by the way his power was circting internally, his internals should have suffered a bit of damage. In other words, he was nowhere near his peak state. Be that as it may, he didn''t feel a sense of fear. ording to what his body felt, death wasn''t something to feel trepidation for.

    While he didn''t understand why this was so, he didn''t question it. The indisputable feeling within him allowed him to retain a seemingly calm demeanor in the face of danger that didn''t arise from Apollo''s actions.

    "Furcas, tell me his movements as quick as you can," Typhir bellowed before exhaling a mist of viscous breath. Both his Intent and Demonic Anima seethed. At the same time, he finally tried using Ira actively instead of letting it flow through his body. Once it reached its peak, Typhir coaxed all of the energy to form a tripleyered enchantment on his broadsword.

    When he saw this, Zarkath became quite surprised, ''The control needed to hold the shape of that technique isrger than he should possess. It seems this party is filled with anomalies. One exhibits a control that increases the longer this battle extends and another possesses an aura that is simply terrible. Very well.''

    In response, Zarkath stomped his foot. A cage of 8 Infernal Ramparts appeared around both him and the others. However, the only one outside of the cage was Apollo. The best way to deal with them would be to separate them and defend himself so that the threat Apollo could pose was minimized as much as possible.

    Furthermore, Zarkath didn''t stop his actions there. He doubled up the ramparts by reinforcing them with anotheryer of ramparts. Then, he connected the tops to form apletely enclosed space. Even though there were minuscule gaps in the formation, the infernal aura it leaked caused those gaps to be bridged.

    Now that he was sure he didn''t need to worry about Apollo''s actions, he unleashed hell upon the duo of Furcas and Typhir. However, he was also surprised when most of the explosive strength behind his blows was dealt with. It wasn''t because Typhir was just as strong as him, but because Typhir''s intent was so highly graded.

    ''Is this the effect of having an Intent that allows one to ovee a small difference in strength? But, beyond that, he is also destroying arge portion of the force behind my strikes. While a fraction of it is passing through his actions, he issting far longer than I would have liked. In fact, his stalling is too good.''

    Zarkath''s eyes narrowed upon this realization. Unlike before, Furcas wasn''t physically involved. He stood against one of the ramparts while holding a hand seal. His lips moved slightly as he chanted information directly towards Typhir.

    Since he couldn''t see what was happening, Typhir had to rely on Furcas'' continually increasing cognition. Thus, he left his actions up to his innate reaction speed. Typhir took his thought process immediately out of the equation in this extremely focused state.

    At the same time, the stigmata on his body started to form magma-like veins on his body that seemed to entuate his Destruction Intent. Different from Apollo, whose body followed the route of Dominance, Typhir''s body followed the route of Destruction. As a result, he was more resistant to energies that apanied destruction.

    If one looked closely, it would seem like Purgatory''s Blood was flowing through him but that truly wasn''t the case. It was merely the result of his Intent and Anima undergoing a rudimentary merging. Of course, it was nowhere as strong as a demon with his sameposition yet a higher physique.

    Nevertheless, it was an enormous feat to retain thisbination for the amount of time he did. But, there was also an issue that presented itself. The longer he held this state, the more the pain he felt in his Infernal Nucleus augment.

    Because of this, he looked towards Apollo''s position in hopes of him being close to rejoining the battle. If not, he wasn''t sure how much longer he wouldst. While Apollo possessed innate healing abilities, Typhir''s was weakened due to his type of intent.

    This was the drawback of some powers. They came with drawbacks of equivalent power.

    Moreover, Furcas'' body was also starting to tremble. As of right now, there were 6 symbols spinning within his eyes. Additionally, they merged to form a sort of star formation inside them. Unfortunately, this also seemed to be his current limit as traces of ck blood appeared on the side of his eyes.

    ''It has been countless years since I have used this technique for this long. Unlike the past, it seems the Malevolent Six Star Formation is my eyes'' current limit. Luckily, an Archdemon doesn''t surpass this threshold of cognition,'' Furcas thought.

    ----

    On the other hand, Apollo''s closed eyes finally opened. However, his eyes weren''t the only ones to open as well. On his shoulder, Ouroboros''s body convulsed. The horn on his head grew further, growing to half the side of his head.

    "Master, you can devour now?" Ouroboros muttered while looking into Apollo''s eyes. As he did so, he also noticed the small gem-like crystal embedded in Apollo''s forehead. When he looked at it, it gave him an odd feeling.

    "No, I can''t but this strike can," Apollo replied as he held out his hand. Unlike the other two strikes preceding this one, the third strike came with its own creation. A de made of pure nefarious energy appeared around his hand and continued to grow the more he supplied it with Demonic Anima.

    Soon enough, his countenance paled. But, then Ouroboros made his move. He opened his maw and breath a stream of energy on the de that caused it to augment exponent. In response, Apollo''s eyes widened with shock.

    ''That''s right, his ability is to devour. In other words, Ouroboros'' first sins must be Avaritia and G,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    He then turned his attention towards the rampart not too far into the distance.

 Chapter 285 - A Fate Called Demise

    ----

    Moments before Apollo unleashed the strike,??

    Zarkath turned towards the source of dread he was feeling. Compared to before, it had amplified many times over. In fact, it had grown to a point that made his strikes even more ludicrous. Typhir''s battered body mmed against a rampart causing it to shatter. Yet, even after that impact, he continued to bounce and skid against the ground.

    With a swing of his halberd, Zarkath sent a burst of dark energy towards Furcas who guarded himself by using his pitchfork. Despite doing so, his body still felt the aftershock of the strike and dropped to his knees. Be that as it may, Furcas remained with a grin on his face.

    ''It is toote, his preparations are alreadyplete. Furthermore, his partner has assisted him in making the move even more terrible,'' Furcas thought while staying in ce. He didn''t react outside of this defensive posture.

    Therefore, Zarkath knew something was amiss. When Furcas didn''t follow up with any further action despite the signs of a stable aura, it raised gs in his mind.

    Thus, he squinted and prepared himself, ''He''s definitely up to something. Else, he would have continued to assist.''

    All of a sudden, he made a step in retreat, "Two auras now? What is this second one?"

    Unfortunately, it was toote to run now. Apollo appeared in the opening in the rampart structure in which Zarkath smashed Typhir through.

    "Ouroboros, impart some energy to Typhir," Apollo instructed while holding the power of the Third Annihtion in his hand. Needless to say, Ouroboros obliged.

    As Zarkathid his eyes upon Ouroboros, he didn''t understand what he was looking at. He squinted while trying to determine what this beast was, ''This beast feels like a royal demon, but I have never heard of a lineage that presents this sensation. Is my information surrounding the numerous types of demons thiscking?''

    Of course, it wasn''t that his knowledge wascking. It was simply that the infant form of Ouroboros'' species looked nothing like the mature form. If he saw that form, he would understand just what existed before his eyes. In fact, there was also a chance he would flee without a second chance. Sadly, this course of action was viable for the current situation.

    "You said your name was Zarkath, correct?" Apollo asked.

    "Indeed, but what brings it upon you to ask this question?" Zarkath responded with another question while tightening his grip on his halberd. Veins filled with Hellfire flowed towards the tip as his eyes fell upon Apollo''s left hand.

    Even though it seemed invisible, he was sure that his senses weren''t betraying him. There was something within Apollo''s hand that made him feel deep fear. However, on another note, he also found this to be uneptable. An Archdemon feeling fear towards a Lesser Demon was unprecedented!

    Be that as it may, the gem on Apollo''s forehead pulsated before the Domination Intent leaked from Apollo''s body until it once again formed the Domination Domain, "It''s quite simple, I would like to at least provide you with the respect of knowing your name before you perish."

    "Hoh, those words; the implications behind them are quite heavy. Are you certain you can live up to those ims? The day a Lesser Demon ys an Archdemon is the day I''ll fall to my knees and plead to the useless fallen Monarch," Zarkath chuckled.

    But, he made a mistake. Not just Apollo, even Furcas'' eyes narrowed. At the same time, another presence disliked the words they just heard.

    "The fallen Monarch, heh. May you also appear in the valley of the fallen," Apollo chuckled before releasing a burst of strong energy. Slowly, the Umbra Phantom Mantle crept up his body. Despite his nearly empty reserves, he needed to make sure his speed was fast enough to be on par with Zarkath.

    After all, what good was a powerful strike if it couldn''t touch the enemy. Not to mention, ording to the information that flowed within his mind, he wasn''t exactly sure just how high the parameters of the Third Annihtion were.

    All of a sudden, Apollo made his move. A small sonic burst lingered at the origin of pursuit. Zarkath responded in kind and braced the halberd on his arm before dashing forward. At this moment, everything on the battlefield was within Apollo''s purview. It was unbeknownst to him, but a smile appeared on his face.

    The feeling of lingering on the edge of death excited him more than he knew. It gave him a sense of aplishment when the thrill of oveing the strong was evident. When he thrust his hand forward, Zarkath did so as well.

    There was a silence for some time before outrageous winds billowed from the contact point of their collision. But, a momentter, something strange took ce. The winds that were spilling outward reversed and flowed back as if time was being reversed but that was incorrect.

    In truth, Apollo''s hand created a vortex that then started to devour everything around it. This rang true for Zarkath''s strike as well. The moment he became privy to this, Zarkathyered his aura in bursts in an attempt to overwhelm the attack.

    Regrettably, as much as he released was just as much as Apollo''s strike devoured.

    "Your actions appear to be futile! Don''t you know, these strikes were made to annihte. Anything that seeks to confront me shall be dealt with in the same way. Thus, you shall be devoured," Apollo revealed with a dark grin. Shortly after, he muttered, "Third Annihtion: Devouring Neb Strike."

    In a matter of seconds, all of the remaining Anima was sucked drying but it was used as a trigger. The small point of devouring copsed and then exploded outward across a vast radius. As a result, Furcas had to grab Typhir''s body and retreat.

    In wake of this attack, pure destruction followed. An obstructive cloud of dirt was kicked up that prohibited Furcas from seeing the oue. He then looked to the sky to determine whether or not everything went as n. It was short, but for a while, Furcas frowned.

    ''Oh no¡­''

    ''Fwooosh!''

    From within the cloud, a damaged figure burst out. Albeit weak, his aura was still apparent.

    "Preposterous! What type of technique could a meager Lesser Demon like you have to create all this destruction?" Zarkath bellowed. Afterward, his chest heaved as he feel to one knee. There wasn''t an inch of his body that didn''t possess a wound. Clearly, defending against the strike was only possible due to his attainments as an Archdemon.

    If he was a mere Greater Demon, he would have already perished.

    On the other hand, Apollo''s body swayed as the dust cleared to disy his powerless body. That single confrontation left him in such a defenseless state. Luckily, Zarkath wasn''t in a good situation either. On the surface it seemed like he was the winner, but one thing was overlooked. There was still Ouroboros as well Furcas.

    Should they team up, the oue of Zarkath was unknown! While Apollo''s possessions were attractive, they weren''t more attractive than his own life. Thus, Zarkath raised his hands in defeat.

    "I suggest we let bygones be bygones. It isn''t worth my life to take this any further. You may enter the Link Portal if you wish," Zarkath said before taking another step back to symbolize his genuine intentions.

    For a moment, Furcas yed along but he realized something in Zarkath''s star that he did make known, "Very well. This has escted far enough. As you say, any further would be a deathwish."

    With Typhir in one hand, Furcas arrived next to Apollo. Aside from the injuries to his outsides, there were no injuries internally. The pendant, while unable to replenish his energy, still healed his body.

    Suddenly, Furcas smirked. A portal opened right before Apollo and from inside, a tall demon dressed in dark armor walked through. His eyes were cold as he looked upon Zarkath.

    "You intend to retreat? Unfortunately for you, that isn''t an option. When you mentioned the fallen Monarch, your fate was sealed. Now, travel to the Netherworld and rot in the pits of the abyss," Fuhrer said before drawing BRynhildr. Since his reserves were nearly tapped out, Zarkath was unable to put up much of a fight.

    In fact, as he swung his sword, Fuhrer executed an effortless Devouring Neb Strike. But, his sh seemed different. It was like it was made from his ownprehension. It didn''t possess the faint aura of the Sin, instead, it was as if he molded the strike from his own Tenebrous Way.

    A look of horror appeared on his face as half of his body was shed in half. However, before he could execute him, an order resounded throughout the air.

    "Halt!"

 Chapter 286 - Inevitable Submission

    ----

    As the words entered Fuhrer''s ear, he ceased his actions. However, his cold gaze still remained on Zarkath''s extremely damaged body. The only reason he stopped his actions was out of respect for the one who stopped him. Unlike the rest, Fuhrer wasn''t controlled by absolute loyalty, but he possessed it from his previous upbringing.??

    "Is there a reason for us to spare him? He is already a half step into the doors of the Netherworld," Fuhrer uttered without turning back. A normal Devouring Neb Strike would have devoured everything whole, however, Fuhrer wanted Zarkath to suffer and understand the foolishness of his ways before he perished.

    Hence, he tweaked his strike slightly. Unlike the one Apollo hit Zarkath with, this particr strike was still corroding his soul strength as they spoke.

    Nevertheless, Apollo walked forward with uneven steps that grew more stable the closer he approached them, "Spare him? Those aren''t the correct words to use. However, I have a much better use for him. Simply killing him wouldn''t suffice."

    In light of his words, Fuhrer''s curiosity was sparked, "You have my attention, continue. What use can he pose to you?" He then waved his hand and lifted Zarkath up with the use of his pressure. When he saw this, Zarkath became slightly appalled. Even he, an Archdemon, was incapable of doing so when at peak strength.

    ''Isn''t this ability the strength of a Noblesse? But, why does his body only emanate the fluctuations of a Greater Demon? Not to mention, the sensation in that strike earlier¡­ that''s something that can only be achieved once you havemitted atrocious massacres,'' Zarkath thought.

    At the same time, the light in his eyes was waning as he remained in Fuhrer''s grasp. If he didn''t heal soon, death would no doubt be his lord and savior.

    As for Apollo, there was a reason he stopped Fuhrer''s actions. While in his near lifeless state, the system was still active. As a result, it sent him a prompt that roused him to action.

    ?System Alert! A damaged Demon in the area can be converted into your follower. However, their soul strength also seems to be beyond yours. If you can manage to damage it far enough, there is a chance of gaining a servant.?

    ''A servant. It seems there is another category outside of Acolyte, Followers; Servants. Perhaps this is why the system onlybeled the category as Servants. Interesting, I wonder what the difference is. Furthermore¡­'' Apollo looked towards Fuhrer for a moment.

    "Fuhrer, how did you appear here? I didn''t have the remaining Anima to summon you. And when you appeared, there wasn''t a single change in the minuscule amount of Demonic Anima I had left," Apollo asked.

    In light of this questioning, Fuhrer nced over at Apollo. "I used my own. Since we''re so close, I can also use my natural body as a medium for you. Furthermore, it seems like I can perform a few more abilities as if some sort of shackle has been alleviated from my body," Fuhrer answered.

    Apollo fell into a pensive state when he heard this, ''Perhaps the system is truly liable to change in the presence of the Nihilistic Rings. I wonder what would happen when I be a Greater Demon and even achieve Level 5 of the system. For now, that is in the future, so while I may look forward to it, it shouldn''t be my main focus for the moment.''

    After some time, Apollo nodded. "Very well, I will make this short; I seek to obtain this demon as my own. However, I will need your help in order to so. Are you willing?"

    "That is a silly question, there is nothing I am not willing to do. Even if the Nihilistic Rings are affected as a result, I will make sure you fulfill the things you have been born to do. It is in your purpose to achieve answers," Fuhrer answered.

    After a pause, he peered into Zarkath''s trembling eyes with a tinge of amusement, "Tell me, what exactly do you need me to do?"

    "Destroy his spirit further, but don''t allow him to die. Even if you damage his potential, that is alright as well. After all, he will merely be a disposable pawn," Apollo while looking at Zarkath with emotionless eyes.

    The moment he heard this, Zarkath''s lifeless eyes widened. If what he heard was correct, there was something amiss, "Wait, wait wait! What do you intend to do? I have never heard of a demon wanting to take control of another. Why don''t you just absorb some of my Ira? I believe this is a fair deal!"

    "While it may be fair, it isn''t what I desire. And, I am one who acts upon their desires. Proceed, Fuhrer," Apollo uttered. Although the idea of absorbing that Ira sounded enticing, Apollo wasn''t that foolish. There wasn''t a single demon who was willing to give up their innate Ira. Each demon possessed a unique strand that engraved its essence across all of the Sin Energy they possessed.

    In other words, absorbing a Sin base higher than yours was known as suicide. If the demon was strong enough, they could even imnt their consciousness into that strand. It would then be a battlefield of the mind, which was an extremely dangerous manner of battle.

    Therefore, Apollo immediately dispelled this idea. After all, once he made Zarkath his own, this could happen at any given moment. The absolute loyalty wouldn''t allow for him to harbor any thoughts of retaliation, unlike now, where he could possess vile intentions.

    "Even if you didn''t ask, I would have already done so," Fuhrer responded. A ck glimmer shed in his eyes as he raised his hand, Zarkath''s body elevating as a result. In light of his actions, Zarkath''s expression grew terrified.

    "No, no! Please, don''t do it. I swear upon the ungodly masters, I won''t evere in contact with you again. I''ll steer clear!" Zarkath screeched. Unfortunately, there wasn''t the slightest ripple in Fuhrer''s expression.

    "If you were privy to my past, then you would know that begging and pleading does nothing to change your fate before me. Now, your corporeal body shall perish," Fuhrer announced while slowly closing his opened hand.

    Screams of agony echoed from Zarkath''s mouth as his body contorted in odd angles. One by one, the bones in his body snapped and broke before even grinding to dust. It wasn''t long until it formed the shape of a lumpy ball. However, in Apollo''s eyes, it all looked the same.

    He could see a faint aura that continued to grow thinner surrounding Zarkath''s body. Until it was weak enough, he didn''t make his move. After all, the divide between an Archdemon and a Lesser Demon is veryrge. Thus, he needed to make sure they were as weak as possible. Furthermore, the more broken the soul, the better it was for him.

    Soon enough, Fuhrer''s hand started to open again, "This should be far enough. His soul is tattered now. Let alone Archdemon, even an initial Greater Demon at its peak state would be able to dismantle his soul. Use the practice of the Monarch on him."

    Naturally, Apollo obliged. He approached the aura and held out his hand. Before his eyes, a notification appeared.

    ?System Alert! A Fractured Soul that fulfills the criteria has been found. Would you like to create a Demonic Servant? This type of subordinate will have to rely solely upon your decisions to advance.?

    ''Create,'' Apollo thought silently. A burst of energy then billowed from his hand. At first, there seemed to be some rejection. But, as Apollo''s eyes narrowed and the vibe around his shifted to one of pure dominance, the resistance faded.

    As a result, the aura flowed into the gem in his forehead and situated in his mind.

    ?System Alert! Congrattions, the vessel of the soul has been recreated! Name the Servant to give him the ability to materialize.?

    "Zarkath," Apollo uttered.

    An instantter, from within the gem, a body slightly smaller than what he possessed appeared. But, the difference now was that he was kneeling before Apollo with his head down, "My Lord, I, your humble servant Zarkath, has been graced by your presence."

    "Rise," Apollo said with an indifferent attitude. Since he first coveted Apollo''s belongings,pared to the rest, there wasn''t any current warmth towards Zarkath. Nevertheless, the system destroyed his sense of self, thus Zarkath didn''t feel any anger towards this treatment.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer was once again amazed, ''Truly the ability of the Monarch. Whether it is through might or charisma, all shall follow.''

    All of a sudden, Fuhrer''s eyebrows pressed together.

 Chapter 287 - The Ring Submerged In Pride

    ----

    "I believe we need to move. Furthermore, it would be best if we do so right now," Fuhrer warned while a certain fluctuation kept appearing in his eyes. Meanwhile, since he appeared, Furcas'' eyes had never left his figure.??

    "It seems you have grown so much weaker Fuhrer. Granted, this isn''t even your real body, but a mere will projection if you must. Nevertheless, it is stillmendable that you have retained so much strength without damaging your core vitality," Furcas uttered.

    "And you, you whimsical fool, it seems your behavior hasn''t changed in the slightest. I''ve seen it all. Your methods of teaching are still as unorthodox as ever. You could have openly told thisd that you were left with the objective of teaching him how to look beyond what he has felt," Fuhrer replied.

    At the same time, he approached the Link Portal. Unlike a typical demon, Fuhrer essed it in apletely different manner. He extended his arms and ripped opened the portal forcefully. Simultaneously, he also released absurd amounts of Superbia to stabilize the ripped open portal.

    "No questions, everyone needs to enter now," Fuhrermanded. From his tone, it was clear that he wouldn''t take no as an answer. As a result, everyone rushed into the portal without a moment''s hesitation.

    On the other hand, before Fuhrer entered the portal, he looked into the distance, "We may have caused some trouble for you, but the position can always be refilled. As for right now, it isn''t the time for us to meet." After he said this, Fuhrer pped his hands together and sealed the Link Portal shut, erasing the presence of his Sin signature in the process.

    Meanwhile, not even a few momentster, Saehtyn appeared with ming wings pping behind his back. There was a look of intrigue, surprise, and even disappointment on his face, "I moved with the fastest speed possible, yet I didn''t manage to meet that party."

    As he released his wings, he dropped to the floor before the Link Portal. For some time, he extended his hand to sense the channel used. Sadly, no matter how much he pried, he couldn''t find any active channels.

    "This can''t be right, the Lords have special authority with the Link Portals, we aren''t limited by Sin, but why can''t I pinpoint the world they are entering? It seems there is someone amongst them extremely skilled in cloaking. This goes beyond themon knowledge of the demons," Saehtyn determined.

    On the contrary to leaving, he looked at the mangled remains of Zarkath''s new body, "To deal with an Archdemon...would require another Archdemon. Yet, there is only the aura of numerous Greater Demons and some Lesser ones. Even if numbers were on their side, this body has no soul left in it. Could someone who has trained in the methods of G arrived in this world?"

    As he examined the body, the more he felt it to be true. It seemed as if the entirety of the soul had been ripped away from the body. ording to his memory, this ability belonged only to those who followed the path of pure gluttony. Of course, he wasn''t aware of the fact that he couldn''t be more wrong.

    Only after some time did Saehtyn make up his mind to vacate the area. Since there were no answers present, it didn''t make sense to continue idling here. After all, he could do so in thefort of his throne.

    Once again, he opened his wings and shot off into the distance, flying straight up. His ascent was faster than anything a demon had everid eyes on, yet he was still too slow to appear before all of them.

    ----

    Meanwhile, on the other side of the Link Portal.

    Apollo andpany were ejected from within the turbulent space of the portal. Instantly, they were bombarded by an aura that both Apollo and Typhir were unfamiliar with, whereas Furcas just outright scoffed at it.

    "Tch, we''re back in this dubious ce. I hate being here, that putrid stench of those imbeciles. How can they even take pride in such a useless Sin?" Furcas spat while his frown continued to deepen. The abundance of Superbia in the air unsettled him as there was nothing for him to absorb.

    Fortunately, Apollo was prepared thanks to Fuhrer, "Take these, I know you won''t be able to recuperate you Ira here." Apollo said while handing Furcas five Fragments of Sin. When heid eyes upon them, he nced in Fuhrer''s direction.

    "You have given the boy these treasures already?" Furcas questioned.

    In response, Fuhrer nodded but then stopped. "Yes. Wait, no that''s incorrect. If you''re talking about those treasures, I''ve never had possession of them. I have no knowledge of their whereabouts. As for those, well he truly needs them."

    "Does the world hees from not have a source of adequate Sin?" Furcas inquired. This was another matter he could never determine. When he tried to divine Apollo''s initial location, it always came up as enshrouded.

    "Forget Sin, it doesn''t even possess Anima. He has to rely upon his special conversion ability. It''s a blessing that he isn''t the typical demon, or he wouldn''t possess it," Fuhrer said.

    "I see. Truly a shame. A waste of such an amazing talent," Furcas sighed. However, he didn''tment anything as this was all within the n of the fallen one. For now, they all bided their time and awaited the moment Apollo''s growth reached the needed threshold.

    ''The day it all returns will soon be upon us,'' Fuhrer thought with an expectant expression. He couldn''t wait for the time wherein the glory of the Demons was reimed. As of right now, the actions of the Demons betrayed their true natures.

    ''Trulyughable that us creatures of utter destruction have to go into hiding. However, it is understandable. When you acquire as many enemies as we have, this situation should have been expected. Especially, when we are one of the major races,'' Fuhrer sighed while recounting numerous past events.

    A short whileter, Apollo''s voice alerted everyone, "I have a question, that castle, does everyone Ring have one?" Apollo asked while pointing up towards the peak of the obscenelyrge castle in the distance. Unlike the obsidian one in Ashiraem, the one here was ash-grey. Furthermore, it seemed like it was emitting a rather smoky atmosphere.

    "More or less, it could be seen that way. After all, the castles were to serve as a beacon. However, now, it has be a ce where the Lords reside. If I''m not mistaken, the current Lord should be named Lucifer or something along those lines," Furcas answered before Fuhrer could.

    Unlike him, Furcas possessed far more information since he wasn''t sealed within a cave for countless years.

    "Lucifer, you say. The Lord of Pride, I wonder what type of being he is inparison to Saehtyn," Apollo muttered while in thought. But, before he could fall any deeper, Furcas added his input.

    "I wouldn''t suggest you aim to meet at the Lords. All of them possess a unique personality bestowed by their Noble Minds. You can see it as supreme intellect. You should be especially aware of Lucifer. ording to the rumors, he is a quirk and an obscene trickster.

    Upon hearing this im, Fuhrer''s eyebrow rose. "Interesting; YOU calling someone a quirk? They must be absolutely terrible. Nevertheless, we came here with a purpose, what is it? Who is it that we have to locate?"

    "Well, based on my divinations and what I have drawn, there are quite a few choices. However, the closest one is undoubtedly Vc. But, that demonic little child, you know how much of a handful he was," Furcas muttered with a touch of frustration in his voice.

    "That was the past, I''m sure the passage of time should have matured him. If not, we''ll just have to deal with him the same way we used to. Due to the restriction, most of us can''t go beyond a certain level or we''ll shatter the bnce. Only when he allows it can that change," Fuhrer answered.

    "Very well, then it is settled, we''ll aim for Vc," Apollo announced. After a couple of extra minutes, the locator became active again. Moreover, this time, the locator even indicated how far the target was¡ª785 km.

    ''Thankfully the Linked Portals all seem to reside within the walls of the castles. And, every portal area is devoid of a crowd. Not to mention,'' Apollo nced at the indicator in the corner. Time was running out fast; there were only approximately 2 and a half days remaining.

    Whether or not he could im another piece was an uncertainty at this point. Nevertheless, he still wished to push his luck. ''Let us explore the gates of Suprenis.''

 Chapter 288 - Two Sides Of The Same Coin

    ----

    As Apollo and the rest followed the directions of his Locator, Apollo noticed something off about the surrounding demons. Half of them wore derisive sneers while the other half presented an indifferent attitude. Upon noticing this, he nced in Furcas'' direction.??

    "Is there something amiss here?" Apollo asked. At the same time, he prepared for battle at any moment based on the looks he was receiving. Not only had he received arge boon to his strength, but he was also enthused to test it out. In his eyes, another Demon would suffice.

    However, there was also the matter of whether or not a Demon from this Ring would even reward him any experience. After all, as far as he knew, he didn''t possess anything to contain the Sin known as Superbia.

    "That''s just the bearing of the Demons who reside here. They''re two sides of the same coin. Their pride either makes them extremely confrontational and hostile to neers, especially those who don''t emit the same signature. Meanwhile, the other type is the non-confrontational one. It isn''t because they are weak, but rather because their pride is greater than the former," Furcas replied after huffing on his pipe.

    "I see, so thetter looks down upon us so greatly that we don''t even enter their eyes," Apollo nodded while replying with a meaningful expression. After a short pause, he continued, "Interesting enough. It should make our journey rather easy then."

    When everyone heard this, they were surprised. Based on his previous actions, they expected him to feel some type of disrespect from this way of thinking. Yet, his response was the exact opposite. It appeared he knew how to separate what mattered away from what didn''t.

    As of now, finding and obtaining Vc would present the most benefits. Anything besides that would simply be additional strife at this point. Not to mention, he also took into ount the fact that both Fuhrer and Furcas admitted to Vc being a known hassle.

    All of a sudden, Fuhrer''s eye narrowed. A momentter, his ears twitched, ''Hoh? Quite the audacious fellows they are,'' he thought to himself. Instinctively, his hand crept to the hilt of his de as a small smile appeared on his face.

    "It appears we have somepany. We are being followed. And, I''m not mistaken, they''re all Greater Demons. Prepare yourself for battle," Fuhrer announced before performing an abrupt turn. Heshed out his sword, creating a powerful wave of dark energy that billowed forth.

    Although it didn''t seem to be aimed at anything, a ripple of energy took ce before a collective of over 10 Demons dispersed from a single point.

    One of them wore a frown, "A distasteful loach from another Ring has extremely sharp senses. It seems our ambush has failed."

    Another one of the demons joined in and nodded along, "True, maybe we should have tailed them from farther away. Even though we cloaked ourselves with the help of the atmosphere, they still found us."

    "No, someone amongst them must be familiar with this Sin. If not, they wouldn''t retain the ability to differentiate between us and the Sin''s own fluctuations. That knight-looking fellow should be the most dangerous of the bunch. As for the rest, their threat is minimal."

    Once another Demon uttered these words, it was clear he was the leader of this small faction as he performed hand signals to give directions. Without another word, half of the 10 Demons split off and headed directly towards Fuhrer. As for the other five, they split up even further.

    One demon dashed towards Apollo while three dashed towards and thest one was keen on doing away with Typhir. As a result, Apollo''s expression fell. Truth be told, none of the three had returned to their peak states. Thus, entering a battle right now would only leave them in a precarious position.

    Unfortunately, they weren''t in a position to run away. They had to prepare themselves for battle as best as possible. This time, Apollo didn''t conjure any type of Hellfire weaponry. Instead, he focused all of his attention on the sealed ded knuckles around his hands.

    ''Come on, you''ve awakened once before do it again,'' Apollo thought. At the same time, he leaned back dodging the sh of the demon''s arm. Now that he took a closer look, he realized this demon''s arms were extremely long and its body overly thin. To him, it looked like he was facing a dark skeleton.

    While leaning back, Apollo performed a backflip apanied by a kick aimed at the demon''s elbow. However, the demon reacted quickly and grabbed his ankle. With a dark grin, he tossed Apollo aside causing him to m into arge b of stone.

    Be that as it may, Apollo popped out of the debris without pause. There was a tinge of cold fury in his eyes as he looked at the demon. Concurrently, the appearance of the ws around his hands slowly revealed them. It then dawned upon Apollo that it wasn''t his desire to awaken the weapon that made it activate, it was the desire to destroy.

    ''These must be weapons of destruction. If I can train my mind far enough to where destruction can take ce at a mere thought, this weapon wouldn''t need to fall dormant again,'' Apollo thought.

    All of a sudden, Apollo''s eyes widened. The demon disappeared before his eyes, but it wasn''t due to cloaking. The demon moved so fast that he caused the ground to tremble. While he couldn''t see the strike, Apollo was able to dodge albeit ipletely.

    A portion of Apollo''s shoulder was ripped to shreds as the ws of the opponent grazed it. As he sucked in sharply, Apollo nced at the battle taking ce on Fuhrer''s end. Unlike his fight, the strongest five immediately confronted Fuhrer.

    Yet, what Apollo saw seemed more like a dance than a battle. Despite all 5 of them attacking at once, Fuhrer used their limbs as tforms and often sprang off of them before weaving through the next strike. Until now, he was simply toying with them.

    "As I said, slippery as a loach. You aren''t moving fast enough to overwhelm us, yet we can''t seem to touch you. Is this a mere game to you? You''re ying with your life!" the demon leader bellowed. Arge amount of dark energy then collected in his palm. There was also a small portion of golden energy inside.

    But, Fuhrer still didn''t react in the slightest, "You have walked into your own demise. It''s truly a shame. A demon of the lesser orientation always seems to fall victim to their own temptation. When will we learn to separate our desires from the grasp of the sources?" Fuhrer sighed. He then dropped his sword vertically.

    Arge fissure spanning hundreds of meters appeared behind the demon. Furthermore, the collection of energy in his palm was split in half. When this happened he was left stunned.

    "What did you just do? Where did my control over my energy disappear to?" the demon leader muttered in shock.

    "It has been a while since I''ve used this sword. Since you''ve presented yourself, you might as well be my test subject," Fuhrer said. All of a sudden, the de of his weapon disappeared and was reced by a seemingly invisible de. "Let''s y a game. Let''s see how sharp your senses are; try to dodge this."

    Without dy, Fuhrer swung his arm slowly. In fact, it looked like his arm was barely moving, but a sense of danger continued to grow in the demon''s mind. Even if he tried to create space between them, the sensation became more drastic.

    "What mind games are you getting at?" The demon spat. But, he didn''t receive an answer. In return, the other 4 demons started to feel the same sensation. A momentter, all of them started to move around haphazardly.

    "Not bad, you all are dodging them. But, what happens if I pick up the pace?" Fuhrer chuckled. He then stopped moving altogether. However, all of the demons'' pupils constricted to the size of needles. They couldn''t believe what was happening right now.

    Smallcerations started to appear on their bodies. This remained true even if they thought they had escaped the scope of the dangerous feeling.

    "Tenebrous Sword: Phantom Millenia," Fuhrer uttered before turning his back away from all of them. In the matter of that small time frame, their bodies were diced up into numerous tiny pieces.

    He then turned his attention to the difficult battle everyone else was facing. ''My grasp of the sword hasn''t fallen, but my realm of influence has. I intended to kill everyst one but only those around me were affected,'' Fuhrer thought.

    Of course, this didn''t matter all that much. Therefore, he simply brandished his sword and provided aid to the others.

 Chapter 289 - The Presence Of Unknown Eyes

    ----

    "What?! All five of them have been dealt with? That''s impossible, even our leader intervened in this confrontation," one of the demons currently thrashing Apollo and the others eximed. Furthermore, he felt a dangerous aura creeping up on his back. That was the whole reason he noticed everything unfold.??

    When one of the other demons heard this, they looked in the direction of the other five and saw Fuhrer''s body standing amongst the fallen demons with innumerable cuts across their bodies. Fuhrer then turned his head and met gazes with them.

    A pulse of fear emanating from the depths of his being thrummed within the demon''s soul. However, despite the presence of this fear, he didn''t possess any intentions of retreating. One thing about the Sin of Superbia is that it possessed arge influence on the rted demons. Thus, their demeanors didn''t allow for them to retreat in the face of fear, nor did they wee the feeling.

    This was especially true for those who couldn''t ovee the presence of the source. Typically, that happened around the peak Greater Demon. After all, it was a prerequisite to evolving into an Archdemon.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer''s body disappeared at a frighteningly quick speed. Space rippled as he moved and pierced forward. A ck blur appeared before said demon in the form of Fuhrer. His sword was stretched out horizontally, and it wasn''t until the world turned sideways that the demon noticed that his head had been lobbed off.

    Faster than he could realize, he had been killed. Fuhrer thrust the dark blood off of his sword, before gazing into the direction of the others. Up until now, the fight Apollo and the others put up only served to buy Fuhrer the needed time to deal with everyone.

    ''My party may be somewhat strong, but their endurance iscking. Moreover, their healing process is far too lengthy. Perhaps those twods will NEED to survive an early awakening of that Noble Art,'' Fuhrer thought to himself. All the while, he raised his sword yet again, adorned with its invisible de.

    The atmosphere seemed toe to a halt as Fuhrer exhaled and lowered his stance, shifting his weight to his back foot. A secondter, he propelled forward at an absurd speed, surrounding himself in darkness in the meantime. When he thrust his sword forward and came to a halt, he sheathed his sword at his waist.

    The atmosphere experienced a shrill cry before a small aerial fissure opened and closed an instantter. But, in that small window, a deathly and decrepit aura leaked out. Once he stood up, the remaining four demons dropped simultaneously. As a result, and the others heaved a sigh of relief.

    However, Typhir looked at Fuhrer with eyes gleaming with fervor, "Master! Just what was that technique and when will you teach me how to use it?" He eximed, unable to control his excitement as this thought continued to float around his mind.

    "It is but a simple technique. My second created technique, a rendition of the Nether Severance, but a bit different. It is known as the Tenebrous Sword: Phantasmal Rend. Unfortunately, it is a shame I can''t open a fracture directly linked to the Netherworld anymore. Perhaps when I recover my strength," Fuhrer answered.

    At the same time, he began checking on the condition of the others. When he found that they only suffered minor external wounds, Fuhrer didn''t make too much of a fuss. On the other hand, he also recalled that Apollo''s remaining time here was bing increasingly limited. Thus, he cordoned off a tiny piece of his Vitality and imparted it unto Apollo.

    "When ites to Vc, I believe it will just be me and you. I can''t allow the others to get involved. As I get further from my original body, the connection to my vitality weakens. In other words, I can''t heal these other guys. Also, don''t needlessly waste those Fragment of Sins just yet," Fuhrer added after assessing the situation.

    "I''ll do as you say," Apollo nodded in agreement. From the moment they stepped in this ce, he could feel a slight rejection from the Ira within his Diabolic Heart of Wrath. Hence, it wasn''t ideal for him to use it just yet. After all, he wasn''t sure just how it would react to this Ring''sposition.

    Fortunately, he possessed other means ofbat ability. For example, his Intent and pure Demonic Anima. As long as these two resources weren''t exhausted, he would be just fine. Granted, this was only true if they didn''t run into an opponent whose strength surpassed what they could currently handle.

    Suddenly, Apollo peered over in Fuhrer''s direction, "This has been bothering me for quite some time, but what''s the strongest enemy you can face without suffering any losses?"

    Due to the question, Fuhrer was surprised for quite some time. After a few moments, he made a general estimation, "Perhaps an Archdemon in their peak state, but that''s only if they don''t originate from G, Avaritia, or Acedia. If so, then I suggest you retreat without intentions of battling."

    "Hoh? Why is that?" Apollo asked in return. ording to what he knew, either Superbia should be amongst the current two strongest Sin. If that was the case, he couldn''t understand why he should retreat in the presence of those other 3.

    "Well, it''s quite simple actually. Didn''t you experience the temporary effects of two of those powers? G is a power of pure devouring, in other words, an Archdemon would possess the ability to essentially ''devour'' what youunch at them if it doesn''t surpass their capacity. Avaritia, well let''s just say if it is paid with Invidia, you''re in for a treat. As for the third, Acedia; they are even more tricky. You''lle to realize what I mean," Fuhrer answered.

    "Mm, I guess I understand," Apollo relented, not delving deeper into his curiosity. After all, there were still remnants of the earlier sensation residing within his mind. As he paid attention to it, he pinpointed minute unique qualities within the energies.

    ''I can understand why Fuhrer regards them as so dangerous. Not to mention, I also have to remember, Fuhrer said thebination of Superbia and Ira was only the strongest offensive pair. Hmm?!'' Apollo stopped mid-thought and looked around.

    He was sure of it, he could faintly sense a pair of unfamiliar eyes looking at him. In fact, it went beyond just looking. It felt as if someone was attempting to pry into information pertaining to him. However, theyer of Monarch''s Tenebrosity within his body prevented the attempt to peek.

    ''Who or what is that?'' Apollo thought while narrowing his eyes, "Fuhrer, can you sense the area?"

    "Why?" Fuhrer questioned in return, before adding, "Is something wrong? Do you have a feeling?"

    Apollo''s expression turned odd when he heard this question, ''Can he not sense it? A person who even Fuhrer can''t seem to sense? That...isn''t good.''

    "I think we should move from our current position. I get the feeling that we have fallen under someone''s surveince. And, apparently, you aren''t able to sense them. In fact, I''m not either, but I can tell something is amiss as the obscureyer in my body is reacting," Apollo revealed.

    The moment he heard this, Fuhrer''s expression darkened, ''Someone I can''t sense? Have my senses fallen so low? This is uneptable. If ites to it, I will have to sacrifice a portion of the security of the Nihilistic Rings.''

    All of a sudden, Furcas shouted excitedly, "I have found the heathen! I have located his exact positioning! Fuhrer, can you still use that transportation ability?"

    "Not quite, the space is too stable for me to rupture it. It''ll have to be a frequently torn space like the Link Portal. However, I can try to disce it," Fuhrer said after weighing his abilities.

    In response, Furcas grumbled and fidgeted about, "I don''t know, his position keeps changing but it stays within a general area. But, I must warn you, I''m not sure how long it will stay that way."

    Although his activity was unknown, his personality wasn''t. Both Furcas and Fuhrer knew Vc was a restless being. If his movement became sporadic, more often than not, he was itching to get into trouble.

    "Then we move now," Fuhrer announced. He expanded his form and grabbed everyone into his palm before zooming off as per Furcas'' directions. However, before they left, Apollo nced at the dead bodies. Truth be told, outside of the experience he also thought to turn them into servants.

    However, he refrained from doing so. Something told him not to do so. For now, the experience gained would have to suffice. Surprisingly, the 6 opponents only managed to raise his Level as much as acquiring Furcas did.

 Chapter 290 - Prideresh, Area Of Chaos

    ----

    Silently, Apollo browsed through his current status page while also moving forward with the rest of his followers. ??

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.4

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [97.15%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 15

    Level: 125

    Experience: 0.00%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 10,100 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 3 Zul Knight

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 1 Spirit Warrior

    Meridians: Saint-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 25,500

    Oz: 1,000

    Strength: 850.0

    Agility: 795.0

    Intelligence: 750.0

    Vitality: 670.0

    Comprehension: 96.0

    Willpower: 75.0

    [?Traits?]- 5

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 7

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 9: Darkness, Fire

    Level 7: Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?]

    [Daemonic Avatar] Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master.

    [Greater Demon] [Requires 5,000 units of Demonic Anima to summon.]

    [Demonic Acolyte] Typhir Estrada (Demon Knight)

    [Lesser Demon {Non-Summon}] Added benefits to you.

    [Demonic Follower] Furcas (Demon Knight) - Wiseman of Corruption

    [Greater Demon] [Requires 3,000 units of Demonic Anima to summon.]

    [Demonic Servant] Zarkath (???)

    [?Weakened? Greater Demon] [Requires 0 resources to summon.]

    ------------

    [?Interdimensional Inventory?][?Inheritance?] [?Lucky Draw?]

    Stat Points: 0

    At first, he thought it was rather underwhelming that all of those demons only amounted to a mere 5 levels, but then as he thought about it, it made sense.

    ''The higher my level, the more experience it will take. Furthermore, obtaining these pieces could be seen as aplishing special side tasks. Thus, it should also reward a set amount of bonus experience that isn''t mentioned. As long as I continue to bring them under my control, then this should be something for me to worry about,'' Apollo thought.

    Then, he looked further down and noticed something that immediately caught his eye. Unlike the rest of his followers, Zarkath seemed to be some type of anomaly. ''Not only does heck a demonic standing, but it also doesn''t require any resources to summon him? While he may be in an extremely weakened state, that doesn''t exin why this is so.''

    Apollo held up his hand and summoned for him since he was ovee with curiosity, "Zarkath, appear." A small portal appeared before Apollo from which Zarkath exited. As he did, Apollo was shocked to find out it was truly as the system disyed.

    Not a single shred of Demonic Anima or his mental strength was utilized to summon him. Yet, he could still feel the link to him and tell that his power was somewhere along the lines of Furcas, if not a tad bit greater. However, the reason for his shackle was undoubtedly due to his nearly shattered mind.

    "You have called for me My Lord?" Zarkath uttered while taking a knee before Apollo. There was a faint lifelessness in his eyes but APollo didn''t pay it any mind. Because of his actions, this was the result.

    "Nothing, I was merely curious about something. But, since you''re here already, stay and act as my bodyguard. With the number of injuries I''ve sustained, I''ll need to heal them," Apollo announced.

    Zarkath nodded in response and took up a guarded position in front of Apollo. Meanwhile, Fuhrer continued to hold them in his grasp as his gaze fell upon what seemed to be a civilization in the distance. ''Hmm? This is a first, it seems to be some type of crude civilization within these castle walls. Could the Lord''s reign be so loose over this Ring?''

    Until he was sure about his assumptions, Fuhrer didn''t voice it. They would need to enter a smaller radius for him to sense the actions taking ce in that civilization. As of right now, the distance from the walls was too great and he was moving further and further away from his source. Unlike Astarat, the Nihilistic Rings each possessed a special spatial barrier that caused his link to diminish.

    After all, the power of the First Monarch was not to be trifled with. Even in his peak state, Fuhrer was unable to contest any seals the First Monarch put in ce.

    While they were moving at rapid speeds, Apollo opened his eyes all of a sudden, "Fuhrer, can you speed up faster than this?" However, Apollo didn''t use his voice as the violent winds from their current speed would just absorb it.

    Thus, he used his mental link.

    "It''s possible, but the turbulence will cause you all to lose footing and may even interrupt any ns you have to recuperate. Are you nervous about your dwindling time remaining?" Fuhrer questioned in return.

    Needless to say, Apollo admitted this to be true. He was indeed nervous that he wouldn''t have enough time.

    "Very well, to appease your worries, I will move even faster," Fuhrer relented. A momentter, a loud shockwave that nearly shattered their eardrums resounded as Fuhrer crossed the distance of 100 meters in the blink of an eye. With each step, it was as if he was performing miniature teleportations.

    Fortunately, to deal with the aftershock, Apollo had Zarkath conjure arge number of Infernal Rampart. At first, they shook due to their lower solidity, but they withstood the impacts nheless. With this problem solved, Apollo returned to recuperating.

    ----

    In the state of recovery, time passed faster than Apollo perceived. He only opened his eyes when he realized they were no longer in motion. At the same time, he had Zarkath dissolve the Infernal Ramparts.

    "Is...this some type of civilization?" Apollo muttered when he noticed this additional set of walls within the castle''s perimeter.

    "Correct, I believe this is something another demon has created. It doesn''t seem to have been erected since the beginning of this castle. In fact, whenpared to the standards of this ce the structure seems to be very crude," Fuhrermented.

    Nevertheless, since they were brought here, they couldn''t shy away from advancing. As a result, Fuhrer took the lead as he ventured past the initial gates. However, the moment he did so, he unsheathed part of his sword.

    A torrent of dark gold energy assaulted his body before being sliced in half by his aura, "What a rude bunch of inhabitants we have here. Is this the hospitality to present to your guests? Shall I make a mess of this ce as a result?!" Fuhrer bellowed with a trace of cold fury in his eyes.

    In response to his words and aura, a collection of demons materialized before him, "That is a very strong aura of Superbia you possess. Who are you and what brings you to our home?" One of the demons questioned in return.

    In light of this questioning, Fuhrer bolstered his aura even further. When it came to demons born of Superbia, the only way to confront them was to establish your superiority. Only an adequate amount of bullheadedness could counter their initial gusto.

    "My identity is none of your concerning. The real concerning matter is you heathens and theck of order this establishment possesses. It''s as if you''re primal demons back in the barbaric times," Fuhrer chortled. As he looked around, the demons here seems to wear crude clothing, and even their weaponscked refinement.

    If he had to guess, this bunch of demons must have experienced some type of rulinging in and taking a control of the ce.

    Almost as if his words were some type of cue, a rhythmic thumping could be heard from behind a grand set of stone gates. In response, Fuhrer''s eyebrows rose when he sensed the power of the being behind it.

    ''An odd power this one possesses. It''s hard to tell, they must be some type of abomination,'' Fuhrer mused whilepletely sheathing his sword.

    ''BOOM!''

    The silhouette of arge figure bust through the gate, shattering the stone to pieces. Naturally, this caused a cloud of rock dust to fill the surrounding. But, a grand ax was wave as it split apart the dust with ease.

    "That tone of yours. Are you prancing through here as if you''re our ruler? How about I smash you to bits until you learn that there is indeed order in this ce? As for outsiders, there is no reason for us to be courteous," the new demon spat.

    When he noticed this prideful demeanor, Fuhrer struggled to hold in his chuckle. The days wherein a youthful demon chortled with him were behind him. Thus, he cracked his neck, "If you aren''t the ruler here, then who might you be?"

    "I am Jorgun! The Vice-Leader of our Prideresh settlement. Also known as the area of chaos. Now,e and learn your ce!" Jorgun bellowed before releasing a pressure that made Fuhrer''s eye gleam with excitement.

 Chapter 291 - Jorgun The Anomaly

    ----

    In light of the pressure that Jorgun exuded, Fuhrer merely shrugged his shoulder and sent back a wave of pressure that shed against it. Before making another move, he nced in another direction with a small grin, "I see you, but do you see me?"??

    On the other hand, Jorgun found this to be disrespectful. When one averted their attention in battle, it meant one of two thing. Either they wereplete amatuers who didn''t under the direness of battle, or they found their opponent to be insufferenly weak. As such, it didn''t warrant theirplete attention.

    In Jorgun''s eyes, the former was impossible to be true. The pressure Fuhrer released was extremely battle hardened. Although it wasn''t immensely strong, it waspact and rivaled his own energy''s brute force. Hence, Jorgun immediately found this action to be one of disrespect.

    "You take me for a fool? Very well, I will show you the error of your actions!" After he yelled in a fury, Jorgun''s leg swelled with power before executing a mad dash. It was simr to a rampaging bull as his body continued to pick up momentum.

    In fact, Fuhrer became surprised by the sheer force he could generate, ''If I let him continue, it seems like his power must be umtion. Truly an ability that isn''t found often.''

    Rather than take the brunt of the force on, Fuhrer shifted his body to the side and retracted his left arm before ifting his right one. His right shoulder knocked Jorgun''s weapon weilding wrist up at an angle whereas his left arm guided the weapon to the ground. To finish his sequence of moves, he kneed Jorgun in the torso and mmed him into the ground.

    The other demons eyes widened as they witnesses this scene. In truth, when it came to Jogrun''s stature, he could be seen as a behemoth. Thus, to lift his body with a single blow was something noe of these demons'' could do. Yet, this slender demon was able to do so, and effortlessly at that!

    Unfortunately, the strike didn''t even seem to faze Jorgun as he rebounded an instantter. "What thrumming vitality you have. A blow to your Infernal Nucleus didn''t even shock your internals. I wonder, beyond ution, what are your other innate abilities?"

    "I admit you are strong but you speak too much! Less talking and more fighting," Jorgun roared. Be that as it may, this time, he didn''t just haphazardly rush towards Fuhrer. He learned from his prior arttmept that it would just be fruitless. Fuhrer''s reaqction speed was too fast and if he umted too much force, his momentum would be unstoppable.

    In this situation, having that happen would present immense repercussions. The only reason he didn''t sustain any injury earlier was due to his oddbination of demon blood within him. Not only was he part Behemoth, but he was also part Gargoyle. In other words,pared to other demons, he was the definition of an imprable fortress.

    This time, he swung his ax in an arc that seemed to twist before approaching Fuhrer. When he saw that, Fuhrer withdrew his de and brandished it with a horizontal sh. As the two blow met, a sonorous screech pierced through everyone''s ears.

    "Hoh? An ax forged from Purified Obsidianite. No wonder it carries such hard qualities despitecking refinement. I guess you are adequately equipped. Sadly, it''s a shame that your bodycks proper training. You must have been taught by an imbecile," Fuhrer chuckled.

    All of a sudden, he performed a spin faster than anyone could react and thenshed out his leg. A crack was heard as Jorgun flew into the distance. A strong kick had been delivered to his jaw when his defenses were at their lowest.

    "Although you tried to hide it, I can sense the small faltering in your defense. I guess your umtion attainments are garbage as well; since it seems your unable to retain that force for long," Fuhrermented.

    Of course, one wouldn''t take kindly to such derisive remarks. Especially, when it was a being who was saturated by the environment of Suprenis all their life.

    "Shut your damned mouth! Don''t you belittle me! My circumstances are not for you to judge!" Jorgun seethed as his body started to emit a metallic stone luster. At the same time, Fuhrer was almost sure he could see it.

    ''He is like typhir, this fool has a Destruction Intent!'' Fuhrer thought as his eyes narrowed. Whenever this type of intent appeared, especially on a demon who had already evolved into a Greater Demon, they were not to be taken lightly.

    Hence, Fuhrer''s sword was encased in a dark aura soon after. It was different from the aura used against the collection of foolish demons. While that one turned invisible, this one was extremely dark, almost pitch ck, save for some bits of purplish energy.

    Meanwhile, the gleam of Jorgun''s body stretched onto his weapon. This property is the sole reason why Obsidianite is so highly sought after. It was a pristine conductor of energies and it also presented the least amount of emission. In other words, most of the power it conducted was retained with high uracy.

    Once again, Jorgun moved forward like a stampeding bull, but now, he seemed many times more focused. His breathing was tempestuous yet controlling. At a controlled rhythm, he released and restarted his umtion. When he arrived before Fuhrer he started to il his arms.

    Due to his prior actions, each strike reached a unique yet identical threshold. The winds that followed his strikes were simr to a hurricane forming. Some of the demons even had to cover their eyes to defend themselves from the winds as the sharp air sliced opened their skin.

    Meanwhile, as Apollo guarded his eyes, he also noticed something. The system was producing information! Since Fuhrer was the one in battle and they were under an equal pact, the system treated Fuhrer''s feats as his own.

    ?System! Anomaly detected. The position of the piece is nearby and an existence retains a fragment of their presence.?

    ''Anomaly? The system must be mentioning this demon, Jorgun I believe his name was. If that''s the case, he must be closely rted to Vc,'' Apollo surmised while dismissing the notification.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer met each of Jorgun''s strikes with a simr sh. Although the weight was great, Fuhrer shifted his feet and splintered the ground by channeling a portion of the force into the ground.

    ''Pure brute strength. Furthermore, it seems as if he is in a berserk state. Every one of his strikes is steadily rising in weight as well as speed. Very well, allow me to respond in kind,'' Fuhrer inwardly thought before a dark glint circled within his eyes.

    His otherwise thin body bulked up as the luster of his armor increased. "Tenebrous Practice: Darkness Amplification!"

    ''Bang!''

    Fuhrer''s next strike caused Jorgun to stumble back a few steps with an extremely shocked expression. However, shockingly enough, Fuhrer didn''t follow up with another strike. On the contrary, he looked towards Apollo.

    "Heal up as quick as possible. After all, it would appear that this fight will soon end. Do your best to recover everything to the peak state as I continue to keep this individual at bay," Fuhrer said telepathically.

    In response, Apollo nodded. While his Demonic Anima had recovered, for the most part, his Ira was pretty much depleted. Therefore, Apollo immediately started by consuming Fragments of Sin one by one.

    As that took ce, Fuhrer''s expression became deadly, "Young demon, allow me to teach you respect for your elders. I hope that body of yours is durable enough. If not, just count this as your mistake. Next time, choose wisely."

    "Tch," Jorgun clicked his tongue in return. While Fuhrer''s words seemed to be straightforward, they truly possessed more than one meaning. Everything grew quiet before a disturbance was kicked up.

    Fuhrer''s chaotic aura brimmed with tremendous strength as he dashed forward and shed his sword downwards. Compared to Jorgun''s rush, Fuhrer''s dash was on par with his max speed.

    Luckily, Jorgun was able to take a step in retreat but there remained a trace of horror etched into his soul. Fuhrer''s sword has impaled the ground and caused a deep fissure. If thatnded on his body, he would have undoubtedly received from damage.

    Due to the presence of that strike serving as a rude awakening, he now knew this was noughing matter. After exhaling, he harnessed all of his power to the best of his ability, "I, Jorgun, have respect for you. However, I will never admit defeat! So,e!"

    "I never asked you to admit anything. In the face of insurmountable power, what you don''t admit will just be revealed as inevitable," Fuhrer said before raising his sword high above his head.

 Chapter 292 - Effortless Disposal (I)

    ----

    When Fuhrer''s sword rose above his head, Jorgun''s expression became extremely serious. The sensation that pulsated from Fuhrer''s sword felt like it would cause imminent death. If he wasn''t careful, even his durable physique wouldn''t allow him to stay alive. ??

    Nevertheless, this heightened power also caused him to feel an excitement that invigorated his entire being. His Destruction Intent flooded his ax as he waved it around his body. Since it appeared that Fuhrer required some time to channel the power needed toplete the strike, he took it upon himself to interrupt it.

    Albeit strong, his strikes seemed to meet some type of force field that diminished arge amount of its force beforeing into contact with Fuhrer''s body. When he saw Jorgun became agitated by this, Fuhrer smirked, "Certain applications are beyond your knowledge. In a fight, brute force isn''t all that matters."

    "It might not be all that matters, but it ys arge role!" Jorgun retorted in a snapping manner. Afterward, his next strike became much more overbearing. A small cracking sound could be heard as a veil-like barrier experience some damage.

    Yet, even with the presence of this crack, Fuhrer''s expression didn''t change in the slightest. In fact, he let the barrier continued to be bombarded by energy as he nced up at his sword. The specks of purple were vanishing, only to be reced by shining motes of silver.

    Under the continuous pounding of his ax, the barrier finally shattered. Without a moment''s hesitation, Jorgun dashed in and executed a cleave that seemed to want to bisect Fuhrer''s body. Even if it didn''t manage to kill Fuhrer, at least it would interrupt his actions.

    s, the reality of things was a terrible eye-opener. Fuhrer tapped his foot andnded on the ax''s de midswing and performed yet another jump to gain some distance from Jorgun. When he saw this, Jorgun was dumbfounded. The timing needed tond in the middle of someone''s strike was insane! Much less, use the strike to rebound without causing any recoil whatsoever.

    The longer he fought Fuhrer, the more Jorgun''s confidence was damaged. This type of enemy was something he had never face before. It was as if they possessed a counter for every one of his moves and they didn''t seem all that much stronger than him!

    Jorgun grunted as a way to show his displeasure, ''He might be faster than me, but he isn''t that much stronger than me. I must defeat him!''

    After making his decision, Jorgun stretched his arm behind himself beforeunching his ax with immense strength. If one looked closely, they would realize the de coated in Destruction Intent spun simr to a disk as it made a circle of ferocious forces.

    At the same time, Jorgun propelled himself forward in the same path the weapon took. By the usage of his umtion ability, he was able to stay within proximity.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer smiled when he saw this application, ''Hoh? The wild usage of his Intent has caused it to cover a wider area. While it might seem to be confined to the spinning ax, in truth, it is leaking.''

    The moment the strike arrived before him, Fuhrer shed his sword downward. Unlike before where he knocked it away, the momentum behind this particr strike caused his body to slide back continuously. Concurrently, the ax continued to grind against his sword without losing the tiniest shred of momentum.

    As he experienced, a few scenarios ran through Fuhrer''s mind, ''If he was more skilled in theplement of this technique, it would be far more deadly. Sadly, it''s a shame that isn''t the case. Perhaps...I believe it''s time I stop toying around with him.''

    All of a sudden, Jorgun appeared right before Fuhrer, "HAHAHAHA! It is my win! Arrrggghh!!" Jorgun balled his fist together and attempted to deliver a meteoric smash to Fuhrer''s body. But, at thest moment, Fuhrer''s eye resembled that of a heartless assassin.

    Before anything else, Fuhrer struck his free hand at Jorgun''s throat. Although his hand in the form of a sword didn''t pierce through Jorgun''s skin, the strike was diforting. Within the small opening he created, Fuhrer slipped away from the revolving ax and kicked it towards the spectating demons from the settlement.

    Subsequently, he spun and kneed Jorgun in the exact spot from earlier while tilting his body to the side. This resulted in Jorgun''s smash decimating the floor whereas his feet left the ground due to Fuhrer''s merciless attack. Unfortunately, the ordeal was far from over with.

    Fuhrer delivered three more spinning kicks without ever touching the ground. Yet, each following strike seemed to sound even worse than the prior one. Finally, he ended his assault with a heel drop that caused arge crater.

    From within the cloud of dust, Fuhrer walked away from the fight. However, after ten steps, he performed an abrupt turn and shed his sword. A beam of silver and pitch-ck energy opened up a chasm that nearly swallowed Jorgun''s body.

    In the eyes of the rest, this was a marvel. Even apollo was surprised by how deep the fissure of this strike was. As a result, he muttered to himself, ''An effortless disposal. I can only imagine what he was capable of in his prime. Even the feats Azridan boasted about was probably nothing before this legendary figure.''

    "When you be my opponent, always be prepared to face death. For some, that means the embrace of permanent nullification. As I said earlier, next time choose wisely. Else, you may unknowingly walk directly to your demise," Fuhrer voiced while sheathing his de.

    As the dust cleared, it revealed Jorgun''s seemingly unconscious body except there was a harrowing gash on his chest. Compared to the surface, his body seemed to be at least 3 times harder. But, this was something was aware of after trading blows with his body.

    "Heh, Vice-Leader, you''re sullying our honor! This can''t be all you''re capable of. If so, why don''t you let Tirasha take up your position? I''m sure she''ll handle this old fellow much better," one of the demons, simr to Jorgun in presence appeared.

    In light of these words, Jorgun''s finger twitched before his eyes mmed open. "You dare? I have not admitted defeat. Mention that hateful woman again and watch how I rip out your tongue Rakphir!" He bellowed causing the surrounding pirs to rattle.

    Upon feeling this type of energy, Fuhrer paused and turned towards him. An intrigued expression filled his face as he noticed something strange about Jorgun. ''Berserker? Have those words stimted the berserk nature of his Behemoth blood? Interesting, must I y such a young talent?''

    Compared to before, Jorgun''s current power was releasing in undting waves that continued to grow stronger. Based on his estimations, Fuhrer was sure his berserk state would end with his power surpassing that of a peak Greater Demon.

    "Heh, you don''t scare me. Just like me, you are a Vice-Leader," Rakphir sneered before crossing his arms. Despite his words, Jorgun didn''t pay attention to him. On the contrary, all of his attention was directed towards Fuhrer.

    "Again! I will pummel you into the ground! It seems brethren have lost confidence in me! I will rectify this," Jorgun eximed. Without any further hesitation, Jorgun stormed forward and arrived before Fuhrer in an instant.

    Unlike before, he stopped using his umtion altogether. He utilized simple destructive strength to press Fuhrer. With his unrelenting assault, he managed to make Fuhrer take a few steps back, however, he truly doomed himself.

    "You havemitted a grave mistake," Fuhrer said. The rocks on the ground vibrated as his aura spiked. With a sh of dark light, he unsheathed his sword. A faint scratch appeared on Jorgun''s torso.

    Once again, his defense seemed to have increased, but Fuhrer didn''t see this as an issue. As they continued to sh, Fuhrer''s retreat gradually stopped.

    The moment the next strike came, Fuhrer merely shed his sword. The wind created from it bombarded Jorgun''s fist. Immediately after, Fuhrer followed up by continuouslyunching Demonic Massacre Wave.

    Numerous cuts appeared on Jorgun''s body which made him enraged. On the other hand, Fuhrer remained extremely calm. He then switched to executing Nether Severances. The gashes created from these strikes were far deeper than thest.

    In fact, trickles of blood seeped from the wounds. "You have brought this upon yourself." Fuhrer raised his sword. The atmosphere around him turned ghastly once again as he used the Tenebrous Sword Phantom Millennia. But, it was different whenpared to before.

    Each of the phantoms carried with it a trace of the Nether Severance''s energy. In other words, Fuhrer had merged techniques!

    Despair filled Jorgun''s mind as he felt the iing attack.

    ------------------------------------------------------

    Announcement for June 1st and moving forward. (Won''t affect chapter cost.)

    First of all, I want to thank all of those who stuck around during my hard times, throughout the sporadic release schedule. You don''t know how much your actions helped me. But, let''s got to the announcement.

    As the release has stabilized, two things will be happening. I will be going full-time, devoting my time to writing. In other words, this will be my sole source of ie.

    On the other hand, this also means the chapter output will increase. From June 1st (EST Zone), you can expect 2 chapters per day, but we also need to recover and tackle the new Win-Win that ising out.

    We are in this together as this is my only means of ie now. Side note, since I am shifting to full-time writing, another story will be published soon. If you join the discord, you can read the chapters in advance up to ~Ch.15.

    Discord: https://discord.gg/EX63KcUWjG

 Chapter 293 - Effortless Disposal (II)

    ----

    As the merged technique billowed towards Jorgun, his first instinct was to raise his guard. However, the characteristics of the attacks enabled it to bypass his defense. In front of the overbearing attack, Jorgun''s defense became like paper. Innumerablecerations appeared on his skin as the shes continued to burrow deeper.??

    Furthermore, because of the nature of the Tenebrous Sword techniques, it was hard to sense, to begin with. The fact Jorgun even thought to raise his defenses was due to the berserk state heightening his instincts. Without it, the attack would unfold much faster than he could respond.

    Be that as it may, he was still on the losing end. In a mere second, his roars of pain increased to a terrifying level as he fell to one knee. Secondster, the phantasmal shes skewer his arms to the bone. It was an odd sight to see such a colossal demon with bony arms.

    However, that was far from Fuhrer''s intention. A maleficient gleam shed in his eyes as the paths of the sh fell under his control. Most of the sh then focused on his torso, ripping it to shred. The mutted skin held all of his organs on disy. Once this sight appeared, Fuhrer raised his hand.

    The residual sh merged with the intent of impacting his chest. When Apollo saw this, he understood his ruthlessness inparison was mere child''s y. The amount of tortuous Fuhrer was administering was ungodly. Even the bones on Jorgun''s chest possessed deep gashes.

    One had to know, injuries inflicted to the bones were many times more painful than those simply received on the exterior. At some point, the pain reached a level wherein Jorgun''s reasoning and own pride crumbled.

    "I beg of you! Stop the torture! I have learned from my mistakes. My actions were utterly disrespectful! I...I admit my defeat!" Jorgun gurgled as blood begun spewing from his mouth. Despite his pleading, Fuhrer''s expression didn''t flinch in the slightest.

    When one arrived at his point, the wrath he could contain was something that would disintegrate the mind of a mere Greater Demon in an instant. Furthermore, Fuhrer didn''t take kindly to disrespect. Even if the assant was talented, it didn''t change a thing. After all, in his eyes, Apollo''s potential would be able to rectify all.

    Anyone else was simply additional pawns in a grand battle. The main show belonged to Apollo and him alone.

    "Pointless. This will be your end. Like all other beings, someone will just arise to take your ce," Fuhrer responded. He then lifted his hand above his hand and gathered the residual energy of his strike into a final attack.

    "Now, perish," he uttered before flicking his wrist.

    In light of this attack, Jorgun closed his eyes. While he understood there was nothing he could do to survive this. He still couldn''t openly ept death. If it was his fate to perish, he would rather stare into the darkness than look into those cold, deadly pupils.

    All of a sudden, a gust was felt by everyone as another neer appeared. "Jorgun!" They bellowed before standing before the iing phantasmal strike. They raised their hands and confronted the attack head-on.

    While it turned into a struggle, the neer managed to subdue the strike. Granted, their palms were mutted in the process. Not to mention, the only reason that they were able to do so was due to the strike being solelyposed of residual amounts of energy.

    As he heard the voice, Jorgun''s fear-filled eyes opened to the back view of a cloaked figure. "Leader! Be careful, that man is extremely dangerous. It''s like staring into the gates of death themselves. Although he doesn''t seem too strong, his utilization of every resource...it''s too perfect!" Jorgun eximed. However, his actions agitated his injuries as he spurted a mouthful of blood afterward.

    "I''m aware, this demon is some kind of special case," the neer answers while dropping their cloaks. A middle-aged face with dark blue simr to the night sky appeared. However, his golden pupils were rather odd as he gazed upon Fuhrer then at Furcas.

    "Why have you alle into my settlement and caused a raucous? Do my name and reputation mean nothing?" their leader questioned while looking down at his hands. Despite his question, he didn''t receive a single answer.

    In fact, Apollo opened his eyes. Due to the extended duration of the battle, he was able to recover to his peak state. Truth be told he had never been filled with such power before, it was euphoric. But, something else was even more appetizing.

    ?System Alert! A nearby weakened demon fulfills the criteria to be turned into a Demonic Servant. Due to your strengthened mind, it rivals that of a Greater Demon.?

    ''Naturally, the system must be talking about this Jorgun fellow,'' Apollo thought silently. A momentter, he issued an order to Fuhrer. When he received it, Fuhrer gave a faint nod.

    He paid no attention as he disappeared and arrived behind the neer, grabbing Jorgun by the head. Under the pressure of his grip, Jorgun''s horns nearly crack. On the other hand, this speed astounded the neer.

    Before they could turn around, Fuhrer had already throw Jorgun to Apollo''s feet. Meanwhile, Fuhrer responded to their retaliation with an elbow, "Still the same old individual, I see. Such hasty reactions without assessing your chances."

    When they heard this, the neer''s golden eyes narrowed, "You speak as if you know me; who are you?"

    "Heh, perhaps the passage of time has eroded your mind. After all, you were a mere pipsqueak back then. Nevertheless, witness as my liege takes control of your subordinate all while remaining powerless to do anything," Fuhrer said in a domineering tone.

    Afterward, a nket of pressure bore down on him. Yet, the neer seemed partly unaffected, "I, Vc the Terrible, have yet to meet somewhere here who spout ims like you do. While your pressure is great, my own isn''t toocking as well."

    A simr pressure then appeared from Vc''s body as it shed against the one bearing down on him. Be that as it may, Fuhrer merely smiled. In his eyes, this person was still as gullible as they were before. It then turned into a contest of aura.

    Meanwhile, Apollo knelt before Jorgun''s powerless body and looked into his eyes. As he did so, the system created another prompt.

    ?System Alert! Do you wish to turn this demon into your servant? [Y/N]??

    Needless to say, Apollo immediately said yes. As a result, a piercing pain burrowed into Jorgun''s mind that made him release a blood-curdling shriek. Sadly, the system was something demons like himself simply couldn''t go against.

    He tried to fight it but it made the process worse. At times, Vc would attempt to dash towards him, but when he did so, the pressure bearing down on him would increase due to his shift in focus. Thus, he was effectively trapped by falling victim to Fuhrer''s ploy.

    ''It isn''t my fight, however, this demon is an anomaly. His well-being doesn''t fall under the jurisdiction of my strict orders. Quite frankly, I couldn''t care less what happens to him,'' Fuhrer thought as he continued to thwart Vc''s attempts.

    As his mind was battered countless times over, on the brink of disintegration, Jorgun shrieked, "Submit! I''ll submit to you! So, please; put an end to the pain! You torturous fiends, your cruelty knows no bounds!"

    The moment he uttered these words, arge portion of his mind repaired but taken over. It went without saying, he lost a portion of his own free will. A dull light simr to Zarkath''s predicament appeared within his pupil. Due to this, Apollo smiled.

    ?System Alert! You have acquired a Greater Demon Servant. Please name them to receive your rewards.?

    "Jorgun," Apollo muttered. Since he was toozy and it was much more convenient, he decided that as long as he was aware of their names beforehand, he would allow them to keep it.

    As a reward, he managed to increase his level by 1. In truth, Apollo found this to be odd. ''It seems the creation of follower, servant and the like rewards far more experience than the act of killing of them. Interesting.'' Apollo thought.

    Meanwhile, Vc''s pupils constricted to the size of needles when he witnessed Jorgun bow his head with loyalty to someone else. At the same time, Fuhrer finally relinquished his pressure over him.

    "sphemous! The gall; you dare to steal my subordinate before my very eyes?! I don''t know what putrid means you have used, but I will end you. All of you! You are dead!" Vc shouted in fury.

    Although he was submerged in rage, a small chuckle was heard, "Uh oh, the wee little baby is throwing a tantrum again," Furcas cackled while puffing on his pipe.

 Chapter 294 - Pride Sparks Wrath

    ----

    As soon as the teasing entered his ear, Vc became incensed! It had been countless years since anyone belittled or provoked him to such an extent. As a result, he was immediately reminded of the days that he had forgotten. ''Damnable demons. Is it my fate to constantly receive this type of teasing,'' Vc scoffed while looking at Apollo with a piercing gaze. ??

    Of course, with his demeanor, Apollo didn''t shy away from this contest. He returned that exact gaze to Vc, "Is there an issue? If so, I believe it''s within our destiny to sh," Apollo said nonchntly. Due to his attitude, Vc reassessed the power Apollo emanated.

    ''My eyes don''t fool me; this twerp is indeed only a Lesser Demon! It''s baffling to see him hold such immense confidence. It almost borders on the edge of idiocy. Not to mention, THIS IDIOT STOLE MY SUBORDINATE!'' Vc internally seethed.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer transmitted another message to Apollo, "Be on guard. I can''t help you in the slightest. Unless you admit defeat, I am forbidden froming between you two. As you know, the control of the pieces is your destiny and yours alone."

    "I understand. Does that mean I can''t request hints as to his weaknesses?" Apollo questioned. Although Fuhrer said he couldn''t administer help, information could be seen as something vital.

    s, his fate wasn''t so easy. Fuhrer shook his head, "That is up to your senses. You need to be able to pinpoint such things at a moment''s notice by experiencing your opponent''s behavior," Fuhrer answered.

    Upon hearing this response, Apollo nodded. He stepped forward while cracking his neck. Furthermore, he clenched his fist causing the gauntlet covering his hand to emit sparks.

    "Tch, that fearless look in your eyes; I don''t know whether tomend you or call you foolish. With numbers, it may be possible, however, by your lonesome, it is impossible to defeat a Greater Demon," Vc voiced with a cold gaze. His frosty gaze caused an icy blue fire to appear around his body.

    Despite this disy of power, Apollo merely shrugged it aside, "Until we sh, such an oue isn''t set in stone. Also, for someone angry over losing their subordinate, you''re rather talkative."

    Due to Apollo''s mockingments, a thick vein appeared on Vc''s temple as he tried his darnedest to contain his fury. However, Apollo tipped the scalepletely with his next set of words, "Ah, you must be one of those. The type who is all bark and no bite. In other words, a toothless dog."

    At the end of his words, Apollo added a sneer.

    "DAMMNNN YOUUU!!!!" Vc bellowed uncontrobly. Finally, he unleashed his power without restraints. Two dark yet ravishing wings possessing vibrant ck feathers unfurled behind his back. Furthermore, a spear appeared in his hand as he took the skies with obscene speed.

    As Apollo noticed this, his expression changed instantly, ''Wait a minute, this isn''t the slightest bit fair. This fool can fly?!'' Unfortunately, Apollo didn''t have the luxury of marveling at the sight before his eyes.

    After ascending, Vc''s body changed direction and sped directly towards Apollo. The look in his eyes could only be described by a single sentence; this demon was out for blood.

    All of a sudden, Vc elerated once again. An alert rang in Apollo''s mind repeatedly as he tried to react as soon as possible. Sadly, Vc''s speed outssed him on another level. Additionally, he was airborne and his wings allowed him to change his trajectory on a whim.

    As Vc whizzed past Apollo, a cut opened on his cheek which produced a searing pain. Soundlessly, Vc stood behind Apollo, "I will make you experience hell. For you to add insult to injury despite yourcking strength isughable."

    Although Apollo wanted to retort, Vc didn''t allow him to. With a swift swipe, he used the opposite end of his spear to knock Apollo away. As he flew, he mmed into arge stone and shattered it to pieces.

    "Ugh¡­" Apollo groaned, shaking his head to get rid of the grogginess resulting from the aftershock of the strike. While he did so, Fuhrer and the rest merely spectated the fight. In their eyes, it was going to be one-sided.

    "Do you believe we have brought him here too early? Although Vc is one of the weakest due to his minuscule age, he is still aparatively strong fighter. Also, it seems he has forgotten who we are," Fuhrer muttered to Furcas. Once he allowed the two to fight, he returned to his earlier position.

    For a while, Furcas was silent. He tilted his head upward and muttered some undecipherable words. Only after he finished did he reveal his answer, "The destiny following this boy is his own. We are just assisting hands. Whether or not we are early orte is determined by him."

    "I see," Fuhrer nodded, before adding, "Just say that you can''t tell. No reason to be mysterious."

    "Tch...can''t you just let me seem wise for once? Damn, I really hate you old bastards with your mental acuity," Furcas scoffed.

    On the other hand, Vc didn''t allow Apollo any time to recover his senses. He arrived before him and shed his spear downward. Luckily, Apollo was able to raise a guard, albeit partially useless. The strikended on the gauntlets and caused Apollo''s body to sink into the ground.

    Immediately after, Vc unleashed a terriblebination of pummeling shes. By the time he backed off, Apollo''s body was nowhere to be seen. Arge hole was left in ce of where he onceid.

    "Weak! Truly weak! The only reason you stole my subordinate is due to the hateful old demon. Once I am done with you, I will teach him a lesson as well," Vc eximed. A momentter, he took to the skies once again.

    However,pared to before, his ascent was slow. Different from before, he was generating energy as he pped his wings. An orb of icy blue mes appeared before him as he lined himself up directly above the pit that held Apollo''s body.

    When Fuhrer and Furcas saw this, both their eyes narrowed. Only one thought ran through their minds, ''If we don''t help him, will he survive this blow?'' The strike Vc was preparing to perform was one that was truly destructive. Not to mention, it seemed as if he was using an extremelyrge amount of energy!

    It wasn''t long before the sphere of mes grew to the size of Vc''s torso. Right before he released it, his expression changed momentarily. He was sure of it, he could feel a faint rumbling that spread from the ground into the air.

    ''This fluctuation, it''s odd,'' Vc thought. Nevertheless, he didn''t take any chances and merely fired the ball of mes directly into the pit. The moment it made contact with the ground, arge explosion ensued. A burst of scorching winds spread into the distance.

    And, Vc watched this scene with a proud smirk, "If you live after that, you''ll learn to control your silly mouth and refrain from offending those you can''t contend agains-..." Out of nowhere, Vc suddenly stopped talking.

    His eyes widened as he watched an oddity take ce. The rumbling from before reappeared and stronger than ever before. Additionally, another dumbfounding event took ce, the scorching winds reversed and we sucked into the pit!

    As they witnessed this, all of the demons under Apollo''s control gazed at the crater. But, Fuhrer noticed something as he recalled a presence, ''That energy is being greedily devoured. This is no longer a one against one fight, the numbers have increased!''

    From within the crater, a small figure escaped and floated in the air before Vc. Their little eyes were filled with unbridled rage as they gazed at Vc, "Bad! Bad! BAD!! Horrible!"

    The voice was small, but its presence wasn''t. It made Vc tilt his head, ''A snake? An infant at that?'' Rather than spare it any more attention, Vc extended his hand and flicked it. A wave of energy rushed toward Ouroboros'' body but the expected result didn''t happen.

    Ouroboros opened his maw and absorb everyst bit of the energy. "You, you! You have hurt Master! I will swallow you."

    Finally, Apollo managed to climb out of the pit, but most of his body was singed. As he looked up, he realized Ouroboros'' body growingrger andrger, ''Boros, why have youe out?''

    "To help Master. You are hurt badly, this is no good!" Ouroboros answered. After a few seconds, his body finished growing. Instead of confronting Vc, he returned to Apollo''s side and opened his maw.

 Chapter 295 - Numerous Awakenings

    ----

    After opening his maw, Ouroboros breathed a burst of white breath on Apollo that rapidly healed the burnt skin on his body. Although he used arge portion of Demonic Anima to form a reinforced protectiveyer around his skin, it was shattered in a mere instant!??

    The only reason he didn''t sustain further damage was due to Ouroboros awakening when he was on the brink of death. In his rage, he absorbed the energy to stop Apollo from suffering any more damage. Of course, this wasn''t the only thing that took ce.

    When he felt the condition of Apollo, Ouroboros'' mind fell into a chaotic state. The abundance of surplus Ira he constantly absorbed from Apollo was running rampant as it connected to Apollo''s source. Usually, it wouldn''t affect Ouroboros like this. However, due to Apollo''s state, Ouroboros was already enraged.

    It was merely the perfect situation for the dormant Ira to cling to his emotions.

    On the other hand, since he was connected to Ouroboros, Apollo could feel his desires, "You wish to fight alongside me?"

    "Yes, Master! We need to teach that bad, bad person a lesson. If we work together, we might be able to conquer that dummy!" Ouroboros responded without hesitation. The childish agitation in his voice continued to grow as he looked at Vc.

    While Apollo didn''t believe it to be true, an additional participant in the fight would give the time needed to activate some of his more draining techniques. Of course, Vc wasn''t a rookie, and the appearance of Ouroboros put him on high alert.

    As he looked at the nces they shared, he could immediately tell what their intentions were, "Just because you brought an ally into the fight, it doesn''t change a thing. In fact, it makes things more exciting as I can get even more violent!"

    After he said this, Vc rushed forward without giving them the time needed to formte a proper n. His lightning-quick movements allowed him to close the distance between them in little to no time. As soon as he arrived before them, he brandished his spear.

    Since Apollo was prepared to retaliate, Ouroboros took it upon himself to act. He opened his mouth and fired a beam of dark energy. Moreover, the beams seemed to be rather odd. It caused some of the space to copse and fracture.

    This shocked Vc, however, it wasn''t something he was unfamiliar with. He struck his spear and deflected the beam. "Hoh? You can draw upon the void? That is some high-level dark energy you have. I wonder, what type of serpent are you? There aren''t many who can aplish this at such a young age."

    Vc took interest in Ouroboros and he continuously deflected the beams. Although it seemed to be useless, it wasn''t. Ourorboros'' actions served a purpose; it gave Apollo the time needed to trigger auxiliary techniques. First, he used the Infernal Arms of Damnation. Then, he activated the Tartarean Fiend Regalia. Lastly, performed thest major feat of igniting his Ira.

    In his current state, he didn''t want to risk activating theplete Sin Armament. Thus, he simply activated the fragments. As the iplete armaments bolstered his abilities, Apollo rushed in to assist Ouroboros.

    While Ouroboros continued to fire the beams of darkness, Apollo took a more physical approach. Due to the special properties of the gauntlets, despite activating the Infernal Arms of Damnation, it retained its shape. It just looked more menacingpared to its previous state.

    The strikes that followed were terrible as Apollo attacked with the intent of ripping Vc to shreds. Sadly, his attacks continued to meet emptiness. Vc dodged his strikes effortlessly, all while deflecting Ouroboros'' dark beams as well.

    Since his Agility was insufficient in its current state, he started to hasten his movements with the Umbra Phantom Mantle. Finally, one of his strikes was fast enough to warrant Vc''s defense instead of evasion.

    "Hoh? I know this technique! It''s a Noble Art. What is a Lesser Demon doing with a Noble Art? Truly a beggar holding treasure. You must want to invite tragedy upon yourself," Vc stated before stabbing his spear forward. A spiral of icy blue mes followed as it burrowed through Apollo''s defenses.

    Fortunately, the Infernal Arms of Damnation were durable. Only a small portion of his forearms appeared as if it was put through a metallic grinder. Nevertheless, it wasn''t the time for Apollo toin. He had a task and if he wished to aplish it, it would require an immense amount of concentration.

    In line with his mindset, Apollo''s Tainted Temple became increasingly active. This allowed Apollo to read Vc''s movement more clearly. While it wasn''t perfect, it alleviated some of the difficulty nheless.

    Because he used so many techniques at once, Apollo paid close attention to his current Anima Reserves. After reaching over 10,000 units of Anima, his reserves felt boundless, but Apollo knew this was far from true. If a mere Lesser Demon could contain this much energy, the higher counterparts were undoubtedly much more frightening.

    "Master, don''t worry. I can assist you with your consumption issues!" Ouroboros said before opening his maw once again. This time, he absorbed arge amount of energy in the air and sted a dense ck energy beam towards Apollo. His reserves which had fallen under half of his maximum capacity gradually started to replenish.

    Due to this, Apollo''s action became increasingly wild. He used several techniques in tandem with each other. He unleashed Perfected Demonic Massacre Waves in a torrent from nearly all angles.

    This caused Vc to retaliate with shes that grew faster by the moment. Nevertheless, the sheer number of strikes allowed some of Apollo''s attacks to pass through Vc''s active defense. One of the Perfected Demonic Massacre Waves bashed against his chest causing him to take a step back.

    An incredulous expression appeared on his face, "A Lesser Demon has damaged me?" As if this was something that couldn''t be epted, Vc looked at Apollo with undisclosed disgust.

    "I guess it is time I stop toying around with you," Vc said. A momentter, a shattering noise came from his body as his wings closed. Numerous cracks spread across them before the luster changed to a ckened gold.

    When they saw this, Fuhrer and Furcas clenched their fists. He was using a power unique to the demons bestowed strength by the First Monarch!

    ''Fuck, I didn''t think he had reached the mastery to do this. It would seem the passage of time confounds all,'' Fuhrer inwardly cursed. Before their eyes, Vc was transforming! His priorly bare body grew ayer of rocky, metallic armor. A dark gold infernal liquid flowed through the crevices of the armor as Vc''s eyes glimmered with a golden light.

    "How long it has been since I''ve used my Awakened Form," Vc uttered. All of a sudden, he vanished. Apollo''s eye couldn''t even track his movement. No, even his Tainted Temple didn''t pick up on Vc''s presence.

    In the next moments, Apollo felt like a boulder came crashing down on his chest. Despite activating the Dominance Intent, it seemed to not affect Vc''s movements. Apollo bounced around like a rag doll and he coughed up numerous mouthfuls of blood.

    Arge fist-sized indent was left on his chest as he struggled to rise to his feet. ''W-what the fuck is that strength?'' Apollo thought. If this was Vc''s true strength, then he was powerless in this fight.

    Vc''s current power was even worse than Fuhrer''s raw power. To put it differently, continuing was pointless. However, when Ouroboros felt Apollo''s thoughts, he became indignant, "MASTER! Don''t tell me you''re thinking of giving up. We still haven''t taught this bad demon a lesson!"

    "Sometimes, there are just fight you aren''t meant to win. I believe this is one of those. The moment he transformed, he became an insurmountable opponent," Apollo responded while coughing another mouthful of blood.

    The smartest choice would be to cut his losses and return to fight another day after acquiring more strength.

    Unfortunately, Ouroboros didn''t ept this answer, "No! Absolutely not. I won''t listen. I will make sure you win!"

    While Ouroboros threw a fit, Vc approached them with leisurely steps. His gait was one of absolute victory. There was no rush as in his eyes, Apollo was far from being an opponent.

    Once he arrived within 50 meters, Vc tapped his foot and arrived before Apollo in the blink of an eye. He then used his free hand to punch Apollo straight into the ground. An immense crater formed as Apollo was knocked unconscious.

    When he saw this, Ouroboros'' horn shone with pure silver light. Without hesitation, he rushed at Apollo and entered the gem on his forehead. Apollo''s body shook in response.

 Chapter 296 - Dual Assimilation!

    ----

    The moment Apollo''s body shook in response to Ouroboros'' entry, Fuhrer''s eyes narrowed. ''Are my eyes fooling me? I see odd energies fluctuating from Apollo''s body,'' Fuhrer thought silently. As Apollo''s body continued to tremble, Fuhrer entertained the thought of retreating.??

    Based on the fluctuations Apollo''s body was releasing, Fuhrer wasn''t sure what the oue would be. Not to mention, Apollo''s consciousness wasn''t present. Vc''s strike had done him in!

    Meanwhile, as Vc felt this change, he approached the crater without hesitation. However, Fuhrer appeared and stepped in his path, "Have you forgotten who we are? Also, why have you used this form? You are fighting a Lesser Demon."

    "I don''t have to answer to you," Vc spat before brushing past Fuhrer in an attempt topletely deal with Apollo. Unfortunately for him, he was underestimating Fuhrer far too much.

    Fuhrer reached behind himself and grasp Vc''s shoulder. His vice grip caused Vc to stop in ce. This confused him as the increase in strength from his transformation should''ve catapulted him beyond a typical Greater Demon. Yet, this demon was capable of impeding his advancement. Naturally, this angered Vc.

    After a short pause, he turned around. At first, he wanted to voice his displeasure, but when he realized the demon had retracted their helmet, he refrained from doing so. Staring at the cascading white hair and defined neck, Vc felt a tinge of nostalgia.

    Then, it hit him. Just moments before, this demon''s first question was have you forgotten who we are? Although it took some time, he muttered, "Lord Fuhrer?"

    In response, Fuhrer turned towards him with an imperious gaze, "Correct, now tell me, have you forgotten who we are?"

    "I have not! However, times have changed and things aren''t the same," Vc answered. He then paused for a short moment before answering, "I have grown into my own power and the Monarch hasn''t reappeared. So, I don''t think who we were matters too much."

    "Hoh? Your own power? Then why are you using what has been bestowed upon you? Furthermore, who we were will never be irrelevant you immature child. Has the passage of time done nothing for yourprehension?"

    "Tch, that. That right there! Since the beginning, you all have belittled me and antagonized me for being the youngest. However, I''m not the same demon I was back then," Vc retorted before stepping eye to eye with Fuhrer.

    As he experienced this, Fuhrer''s eyebrow rose with intrigue, "Hmm? It seems the years have increased your courage. I guess you think you and I stand at the same level now?" Fuhrer said with a dark glint in his eyes. From his point of view, the fight between him and Apollo should be over. Hence, if he put Vc in his ce now, he wouldn''t be going against the strict orders left behind for him.

    "I believe so. After all, Lord Fuhrer you were a Daemos. Yet, for some reason, you don''t feel any stronger than a notable Greater Demon. It seems the disappearance of the Lord Monarch has done disastrous things to your strength," Vc rebutted.

    A faint chuckle escaped Fuhrer''s lips, "If you were any other demon, your tongue would no longer exist to utter such foolish words. Fortunately, you are one of us, so I can''t kill you. However¡­"

    ''BOOM!''

    A torrential tide of pressure came crashing down upon Vc that made his eyes widen. Compared to before, the pressure Fuhrer was emitting now was at least ten times greater than before. Unbeknownst to Vc, Fuhrer''s true body was tapping into his Daemos Soul.

    No matter what level a demon was, if they were below the level of a Daemos, they would feel pressure from this type of power.

    "Speak nonsense again and I will allow you to relive your past. Do you understand me?" Fuhrer pressured. Incrementally, he continued to increase the pressure acting upon Vc until he finally produced an answer.

    "I understand Lord Fuhrer! However, whoever that demon was, he must go. I won''t allow him to belittle me as well. If I allow him to do so, then my reputation before my underlings will be torn to shred," Vc eximed.

    "I will have to refuse. I can''t allow you to¡­" All of a sudden, Fuhrer''s attention was stimted. At first, he was merely going to collect Apollo''s body and have him return when he acquired more strength. But, it appeared he didn''t need to do so. A strange urrence was taking ce.

    "Never mind, it isn''t my ce. It would seem your fight hasn''t concluded," Fuhrermented before taking a step back. Vc turned his attention towards the crater that contained Apollo''s battered body in light of his words.

    A hand was seen sticking out as it grasped the edge of the ground. Secondster, Apollo hoisted himself up. However, if one looked closely, they would notice a few things amiss with his body. First of all, the amethyst gem embedded in his forehead was now half silver and half amethyst.

    Secondly, his eyes weren''t what they usually were. If it had to bepared, it was almost identical to Ouroboros'' except they were as ck as the abyss with silver elliptical pupils.

    Lastly, an armor of glistening midnight blue scales was starting to cover his entire body.

    "Is he...transforming? No, that''s not quite correct. That serpent! That serpent has caused something to happen. Just what is the species of that serpent?" Vc muttered before holding his hand out by his side. For some odd reason, he felt uneasy.

    "U-ughh," Apollo groaned as he stretched his body. His fleeting consciousness was restored due to Ouroboros'' earlier actions. When he entered the gem on Apollo''s forehead, he released a strong surge of energy to rejuvenate Apollo''s mind.

    Afterward, he also made Apollo aware of a special ability of his race¡ªInner Assimtion. This ability could only be used on the individual they have bonded souls with. By utilizing all of their Inner Chaos, Ouroboros'' species could merge with their master and open up a new realm of power.

    Of course, this came with a drawback. It was strenuous on both sides. The fusion resulted in an immense increase in power.

    When the transformation was done, the gleam of the scales faded and was reced by a thin barrier. Moreover, it didn''t seem to be intentional. The barrier seemed to be an innate ability.

    "Round Two, that earlier fight doesn''t count. My partner is mad at you and I won''t hear the end of it unless I prevail. So, now it is your turn to experience defeat," Apollo said. Before even waiting for Vc''s reply, Apollo dashed forward at a speed that made Vc raise his guard.

    ''Extreme boost in physical capabilities. This type of transformation should be highly ranked. It could even be on par with my own transformation''s capabilities,'' Vc thought right as he raised his spear to block Apollo''s w.

    Although his feet sunk into the ground, Vc wasn''t surprised. He had already estimated that Apollo''s current strength should have escaped any limitations a Lesser Demon should be confined to.

    ''Judging by this weight, I want to say his raw strength has swelled to the same sensation as Lord Fuhrer''s. Be that as it may, hecks utilization; it is just brute force,'' Vc thought. He then raised his foot and kicked Apollo''s torso before retreating.

    With a p of his wings, he rose in the sky. But, when he looked at the previous position of Apollo, he was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, he felt a faint threat. Vc looked to the side and saw a small fracture opening.

    A fist appeared from inside which prompted Vc to respond in kind, "I forgot, this serpent seemed to possess void abilities. It could open spatial fractures. Luckily, you''re slow," Vc voiced before grabbing Apollo''s wrist and throwing him towards the ground.

    Right before hended, Apollo recovered midair andnded on his feet. In truth, he was still adjusting to thisrge increase in power. Simply using the power efficiently after receiving was a monumental task. It took familiarity to do so.

    However, there was another thing Apollo realized in the corner of his eyes. From the moment he awakened from his unconsciousness, there was a pending notification that didn''t produce any information.

    But, just now, that changed. A line appeared before Apollo''s eyes as he roared to the skies, deluging the area with more than one type of Sin.

    ?System Alert! Foreign G has been detected. Interacting with the traces of G found within your soul. Superbia and Avaritia were detected as well. G overload; Ira heightened. Effect: Body capacity temporarily augmented!?

    This roar caused Vc to reminisce over something, a nk look appearing on his face.

 Chapter 297 - Destructive Collision

    ----

    It had dawned upon Vc, up until now, he had never truly questioned the identity of the person he was facing. But now, due to his actions, he found himself bing curious as to just who he was. On the other hand, while he nked, Fuhrer was focused on another matter. ??

    "He''s on the verge of awakening multiple Sins. However, I hope that doesn''t happen," Fuhrer muttered after watching the second battle between Apollo and Vc take ce. This time around, Apollo was holding his ground much better. And, it seemed as if the power he currently disyed wasn''t the end of it.

    "Don''t worry. It isn''t his time. This much I can tell. When awakens to his Sins, the worlds themselves will shake. It will be the rebirth of the Monarch. How can itck presence?" Furcas answered while stepping next to Fuhrer.

    Fuhrer nodded. After all, he was aware of the implications of Apollo''s true awakening. Once that happened, everything that was veiled will reveal itself, even the terrible things that they continually tried to evade.

    Meanwhile, Vc exhaled when Apollo roared. There was no longer any contempt in Vc''s opinion. He could feel it, two of the Sins rolling off of Apollo''s body made him a worth adversary, ''What pure Ira and G, we''ll have to take this a step further.

    As Vc grasped his spear, it blossomed with two extra des under the spearhead, "I will now show you why I am called Vc the Terrible," Vc uttered. An instantter, he too, released a ridiculous amount of Sin Power.

    When Fuhrer witnessed this he merely shook his head, ''This will be one destructive sh.'' He then nced around at the people Vc called his underlings, "This isn''t a fight for you all to experience. If you value your lives, I suggest you vacate the premises. As you can see, their Sin volume and purity is something that will desecrate you all."

    Naturally, some of the Demons didn''t feel this to be true. They were all proud of their current strength and chose to maintain their current position. Since it was their decision, Fuhrer didn''t offer any further suggestions.

    "Very well, it is your own decision. I will neither protect you nor attempt to help you in the future," Fuhrer stated with an indifferent attitude. He stabbed his sword into the ground and created a barrier around him, Furcas, and the others before returning all of his attention towards the scuffle.

    Meanwhile, in addition to the ridiculous Superbia Vc possessed, a wicked intent mixed into his weapon. He gazed upon Apollo with a vicious expression before making his move, "Let''s go!"

    After he bellowed, Apollo moved as well. Since his body was augmented, the Infernal Arms of Damnation looked like two ws of death. In fact, when he shed towards Vc, his ws ripped open space.

    Nevertheless, Vc remained unfazed as his weapon shined with dark grey and golden light. The spatial fracture was destroyed which allowed the w and weapon to meet. When they did, not only did the ground get blown to smithereens, several demons spectating were damaged by the collisions aftershock.

    "Good, good, good! Excellent! You have strength, now tell me; who are you?" Vc eximed as the excitement from the battle coursed through his bones."

    "I am your Master," Apollo replied in a confident tone. His entire demeanor changed as he felt ovee by power. In the face of Vc, he didn''t feel the slightest bit of fear. Hence, his words dripped with arrogance.

    "Hoh? My master, you say? My master has been missing for many years. And you, youck the qualifications," Vc responded before thrusting his spear forward. Six sharp beams enclosed on Apollo''s position at rapid speed.

    Due to their speed, Apollo blocked by crossing his arms. Contrary to what he expected, the beams didn''t cause too much damage. In fact, except for small nicks, there weren''t many other signs of damage.

    ''Strong defense...wait, no. That isn''t what happened,'' Vc inwardly thought while watching Apollo. As Apollo dropped his arms, he licked his lips as if he had just tasted a delicacy.

    "Mm~ Your power is quite appetizing. It tastes...familiar," Apollomented. On the other hand, Vc scoffed. If it was one thing he hated, it was going against those gluttonous demons.

    "Tch...you swallowed a portion of my Sin. To make matters worse, you can use a trace of it, so you can contain even more," Vc grumbled. A typical demon of G could only devour the base energy. However, a demon who also possesses the Sin it was devouring could swallow even more.

    In other words, a demon of G was anyone''s worse nightmare and if it possessed more than one Sin, it would be very tricky to deal with.

    No further words came from Apollo''s mouth as he moved towards Vc andunched a flurry of strikes at him. As Fuhrer mentioned earlier, the battle became extremely destructive. Not a single inch of space was spared from destruction. In terms of appearance, their bodies looked much better than their surroundings. However, things became even worse.

    Apollo raised his hand and shed it downward while exhausting arge amount of Sin Energy. An empowered Devouring Neb Strike appeared right next to Vc''s ribcage. Due to its properties, it blew a hole in his side.

    However, with the heightened abilities of his second transformation, he healed rapidly. Apollo was sure this would be an annoyance. After all, the vitality of someone at his level should be exuberant.

    Inversely, the consumption of the Devouring Neb Strike wasrge. And, his current supply of G was limited. Once it was exhausted, there was no replenishing. Unlike the rest, this wasn''t his rightful power. It came from Ouroboros. Not to mention, they weren''t in the proper ring, nor did the Fragment of Sin have a source totch onto.

    "Tch. You''re such an annoyance," Vc bellowed before stabbing forward numerous times, "Piercing Prides!" Many dark lights passed through Apollo''s body that made Apollo''s eyes widen. The speed of the strikes was astounding! However, something was amiss.

    There were no signs of his body being pierced. As he touched his chest, Apollo felt sluggish for a moment, ''This isn''t a physical attack¡­ it must be tampering with my senses.'' Apollo surmised.

    He swayed to the side before stimting every bit of energy within him. In his eyes, the fight had dragged on for long enough and when it came to endurance, he knew it was his shoring. As a result, he wouldn''t let be a war of attrition.

    Of course, Vc noticed his intentions but he also wanted this to end as soon as possible. However, different from Apollo, he didn''t channel all of his energy. He grinned as his wings ignited in an icy blue me.

    Waves of infernal energy billowed towards Apollo but he didn''t mind it. He was pondering whether or not he should take the additional risk. Right before he decided to do so, Ouroboros'' voice resounded in his head.

    "Master, wait. Don''t forget. You can also use Chaos. Our enemy isn''t a being who can withstand Chaos. I suggest you use it to fight as well. I will open my reserves to you. But uh...I don''t know how you should use it exactly," Ouroboros revealed.

    Upon receiving this information, Apollo recalled the aftereffects of Chaos, ''When I first came in contact with it, it made everything unpredictable. It also made things hard to differentiate. Maybe if I unleash the Mantle and reinforce it with Chaos, it''ll produce the desired effect,'' Apollo thought.

    The more he deliberated this thought process, the more reasonable it sounded. Thus, when Ouroboros gave him ess to it, Apollo immediately got to work. He released the thick mist of the Umbra Phantom Mantle but it soon took on an obscure tint.

    Oftentimes it would be ck, while other times it would be white, silver, and even translucent. As Vc witnessed this, he noticed the inconsistencies didn''t follow a pattern. To an untrained eye, this would seem like an amateur mistake, but to him, he had seen this once before.

    ''Weaponized Chaos...this demon has bigger balls than I do. To y with Chaos is akin to ying with a cataclysmic weapon!'' Left with no other choice, Vc made a premature move. Three copies of his spear created from icy blue mes followed behind him as he moved at a speed akin to teleporting.

    It went without saying, he wanted to end it before Apollo could finish preparing what he would unleash. But, little did he know, Chaos was even more unpredictable than he presumed!

    As all four of his weapons stabbed forward, they phased through Apollo''s body. None of the figures he struck was the actual Apollo!

    "WHAT?!" Vc eyes widened as he realized the unfavorable position he put himself in.

 Chapter 298 - Nigh Impossible To Crush

    ----

    The moment Vc''s attack phased through Apollo''s body, he knew something was wrong. Due to the type of attack he used, he was immediately put in an unfavorable position. Furthermore, Vc couldn''t retreat because the phantasm he attacked almost instantly started to solidify around his weapon.??

    Naturally, this was due to the assisting properties of Chaos Energy. Everything that it touched became unpredictable. Hence, there was no easy way for Vc to discern what would happen next.

    While he was shocked by this development, Apollo appeared at his side with a ruthless gleam in his eyes. Both of his hands were pressed together as apressed attack materialized in his hands. Based on the fluctuations, it seemed to be a variation of the Devouring Neb Strike.

    However, the was also another purpose of this attack.

    "Master, I can sense it. Attack his head! That''s where a majority of his power happens to be flowing through. If we disrupt it, I''m sure we''ll be able to win this battle. Then we can deal with the very bad guy!" Ouroboros eximed within Apollo''s mind.

    Apollo then focused on Vc''s head before making a move. He split his hands apart which caused the orb to disperse into clouds of aura that covered his hands. Fortunately, this didn''t cause Apollo to feel any difort. After all, it was Apollo''s first time dealing with this type of attack.

    Without hesitation, pped his palms against Vc''s ear. This caused his eyes to widened as he felt different types of energies bombard his mind. First of which was a strong stream of G. Not only was it extremely pure, but it even seemed to bypass the guards his Superbia erected.

    The energy continued to dissolve it by devouring its basic structures. This was why G was so dangerous, while it didn''t seem violent, it was a truly malicious Sin. It was just covered by other factors that would disgust people.

    "Get off of MEEE!!!" Vc bellowed, roaring to the sky as he tried to throw Apollo off his body. Unfortunately, G was apanied by an extremely strong suction ability. In other words, no matter how much he tried to toss Apollo aside, he couldn''t do so.

    And, when he tried tounch a devastating blow at Apollo''s body, arge portion of the force was diverted by the midnight blue scales covering his body. Additionally, every time he received a strike, the scale seemed to shimmer, almost as if it was absorbing and storing it.

    "Dammn! Offf...offf...OFFFF!!!" Vc screeched. His eyes turned blood red as he felt his mind be increasingly chaotic. If he didn''t get Apollo off him soon, this whole spectacle would shift into a grand embarrassment. No matter who Apollo was, he couldn''t allow this to be so.

    As a result, he was pushed to desperate straits. All of the Superbia in his mind bubbled. Dark golden runes lit up on Vc''s body as his aura started to surpass that of a Great Demon. He was entering the realm of Archdemons! However, it wasn''t through natural means.

    Unique to every piece was a seal hidden deep inside them. It was put in ce to keep their strength at a low level to refrain from drawing attention. However, should they enter precarious situations, then they all possessed the ability to shatter a portion of it.

    Only under the permission of the Monarch could theplete seal be abolished. Nevertheless, that small portion proved sufficient to raise all of their power to another level. But, the aftereffects would be just as terrible as the benefits were euphoric.

    Meanwhile, as Apollo realized the spike in Vc''s aura, he knew it would be dangerous. Thus, he immediately released his Domination Intent. It became a race against time, could he damage Vc''s mind fast enough before he reached the level of quelling his attempts, or would he perish trying?

    Although it was an important question, Apollo didn''t want to squander the opportunity Ouroboros had given him. Furthermore, as a piece, Apollo felt an innate sense of superiority over Vc. Therefore, if he failed to bring him under his grasp, he would feel like a failure.

    ''No. Break, break, break!'' Apollo roared in his mind as he looked at Vc''s head with a crazed intent. The Domination Intent rampaged, bolstering the corruption by arge margin, however, Vc''s wasn''t someone with meager tenacity. He held on despite the immense pain he felt.

    All of a sudden, his wings inverted and each of them stabbed into Apollo''s back. Unlike before, this strike broke through the defenses of the scales and pierced his back. Apollo gasped as the pain caused him to momentarily falter.

    Be that as it may, the struggle was far from over. Through pure grit, Apollo continued his actions, finally bringing Vc to one knee. Despite the streams of blood flowing from his back, Apollo felt his excitement thrum as Vc failed to stand erect.

    "Yes, crumble beneath me! You are my follower, you can''t defy my orders. So, kneel and BREAK!" Apollo roared before smashing Vc''s head into the ground. In the eyes of others, it seemed as if Apollo was beginning to lose his reasoning.

    One of Vc''s wings went limp as Apollo picked up his head and smashed it once again. Afterward, he didn''t pause in the slightest before starting to pummel Vc''s head. Just as he was knocked unconscious earlier, he wished to do that same to Vc.

    Without a tinge of mercy, he switched between brutal elbows and fierce stabs until the top of Vc''s head was a mess. Finally, he grabbed his arm and flipped him over his shoulder. As Vc''s body mmed into the ground and made the whole area tremble, Apollo continued to heave.

    Yet, as he stared at Vc he realized he was still giving him a murderous gaze, "How aren''t you unconscious yet? After all this, you can still retain rity of your mind?" Apollo muttered in slight shock.

    On the other hand, Vc spat to the side, "I...will not lose. If so, we will have a pyrrhic victory. You...are unworthy to be my master." Even though Apollo had driven him to the edge of defeat, he still didn''t believe Apollo to be strong. For one, this was his personal strength. He was currently fused with another entity.

    In his eyes, until Apollo beat him with his own power, he would never believe him to be worthy. This was just Vc''s personality. He was as headstrong and stubborn as theye. This was arge contributing factor to his terrible days as an infant demon.

    "I will make you realize your words are incorrect," Apollo responded before standing over him. At the same time, he also nced in the corner of his eyes and noticed his dangerously low reserves. Every single power he used was near the point of exhaustion, but he didn''t care. To him, aplishing this task was greater than overwhelming exhaustion.

    One after another, Apollo reinforced his strikes with every type of energy he possessed until it was sapped dry. Even then, Apollo didn''t use any big moves. Heunched simple punches, but aimed them all at a single point¡ªVc''s bloodied face!

    After the first punch, there was no effect. Vc still gazed at him with the same resolute gaze. He was adamant in not admitting his allegiance. Thus, Apollo continued without any further thought.

    The second punch, the same result.

    The third punch, the same result.

    The tenth punch, the hate within Vc''s eyes grew.

    After the twenty-fifth punch, Vc''s eye could barely remain open as most of the bones in his face had be disfigured. Yet, through his slitted eyes, he still showed his towering defiance.

    As this took ce, Fuhrer chuckled. He was truly amused by what he was watching, ''It seems this fool hasn''t changed in the slightest. Nevertheless, this type of treatment is truly the only ''words'' that get through to him. The question is, does thisd have enough energy to push him to his breaking point?''

    In light of his curiosity, Fuhrer watched attentively. He could tell with ease that Apollo was bing tired. After 50 blows, each of his punches grew both slower and lighter.

    However, Vc still muttered in a half-unconscious state, "I...will not..give in."

    "Damn! You will!" Apollo roared in return. He locked his hands together and mmed them down causing both him and Vc to burrow deeper into the ground. It was clear he sought to crush Vc as he continued to do so.

    Even when his own consciousness barely holding together, Apollo just continued. When it came to stubbornness, it seemed Vc had met his match.

    "I..." Vc muttered before his whole body convulsed. Arge change happened as Apollo frozepletely.

 Chapter 299 - A True Appearance

    ----

    When Apollo froze, he noticed that Vc''s body was barely emitting any aura whatsoever. Thus, he thought he had killed the demon while remainingpletely unaware of this matter. Fortunately, that wasn''t the case. He could still see Vc''s torso moving as he breathed.??

    However, what he came across next shocked him. Not only did Vc''s second awakening disperse on its own, but Vc''s body also lookedpletely different. Within his shock, Apollo muttered, "A child?"

    It appeared that even after countless years, Vc''s true form hadn''t aged in the slightest. Naturally, there was a cause behind it. It was a secret that Vc never disclosed to anyone, but there were a few who were already privy to it.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer''s voice resounded, "Ah, so he truly reveals himself. Since this form has appeared, we''ll rule this as your win. In this state, that boy has no power. Any further action and you will truly send him into the Netherworld."

    A momentter, Fuhrer appeared between the two warring demons and continued to speak, "In this state, you should be able to take advantage of his powerlessness. However, I will warn you, he isn''t like the rest. Even though contracts can bind him, there is something irregr about his mind that allows him to act out as he wishes."

    After a pause, Fuhrer then revealed another piece of information, "Only when the Monarch intervened was he able to be controlled. What I''m trying to say is, you should think very hard as to whether or not you wish to establish a contract with him. Once you form a contract with him, I suggest you prepare yourself for a headache."

    Silently, Apollo examined the demon boy Vc up and down. No matter how much he looked at him, he didn''t believe this small boy possessed the ability to go against the power of his system. ording to Fuhrer, this boy wasn''t a Daemos, thus he shouldn''t have the qualifications to form an equal contract.

    As a result, this piqued Apollo''s interest, ''Could it be that there are different types of variables out there that will pose different difficulties for the system? Does that also mean that isn''t omnipotent? Could there be other beings who surpass the scope of the system?'' As these questions circted Apollo''s mind, he turned towards Fuhrer.

    "Even though you say this, I feel a weird attachment to him. Perhaps he isn''t as far gone as you all believe. Maybe he just needs someone just up his alley. I have decided, I will form a contract with him. If these matters you mention arise in the future, I will just handle them ordingly. After all, I''m sure the differences between our abilities have been established; I will just dominate him," Apollo said as imperious pressure emanated from his body.

    When he saw this, Fuhrer nodded with a faint smirk, ''I''m sure of it, his Intent is budding further. As long as he can obtain more Neb Shards and reactivate his presence, there will be no further worries,'' Fuhrer thought to himself.

    "Do as you must," Fuhrer then responded before taking a step back. When Apollo made up his mind, it wasn''t his ce to try to change it unless the choice would bring about his demise. At that point, Fuhrer was bound to intervene without hesitation.

    Subsequently, as Apollo gazed upon the motionless Vc, the notification appeared within his eye.

    ?System Alert! Do you wish to turn the piece, Vc the Terrible, into your Demonic Follower? W A R N I N G: This specific follower possesses the ability to go against your orders if it surrounds a matter of great interest or desire. [Y/N]??

    Before answering, Apollo narrowed his eyes. His main focus was the warning, ''Great interest? That''s pretty vague. Is it one-sided? Does it only pertain to Vc or are my interests part of the equation as well? Not to mention, this would be my first follower who isn''t absolutely loyal. A foreign experience could be quite exciting,'' Apollo pondered silently.

    He also revisited another important matter, ''I also can''t forget that my authority with the system is quite low still. There are still a lot of features that may be unexplored as well as some things that are liable to change.''

    After given the matter ample thought, Apollo decided to move forward in his actions. Any further questions would just raise more doubt. Truthfully, he would rather experience it than constantly think about it. That way, he would possess firsthand knowledge. Not to mention, the unknown attributed to his excitement.

    ''Yes,'' Apollo answered mentally. Simr to the others, a link between them was formed. However, inparison to the others, the link formed with Vc seemed to have a weakness within. Even without thinking about it, Apollo knew this was the birth of the prior warning.

    Fortunately, it wasn''t anywhere near the point ofpromising the linkpletely or damaging Apollo. It just felt like it required more reinforcement to bepleted. As he gazed at it, Apollo was hit with an idea.

    Since he had recovered a trace of it, Apollo used thest morsel of his Domination Intent. He touched the weakness in the link but then all of a sudden, Vc''s eyes widened as he awoke in a fit of bloody screams, "O! AHHHHH!! Aghhhh!!"

    As they looked at him, both Furcas and Fuhrer scoffed and shook their head derisively. They remembered vividly that this little demon boy was quite the overexaggerating character. In the past, there was even a time when he started to scream before anyone even touched him.

    His response was that he was practicing his reaction so that when it did happen, it would be utterly perfect. Even though that was his response, whenever someone attempted to retaliate against him, he would utter ear-piercing shrieks.

    "Shut the fuck up!" Apollo roared, kicking him away. Unlike the rest, he knew that Vc was doing something ridiculous. The earlier shrieks didn''t just sound in Apollo''s mind, but they also reverberated in his mind. It appeared Vc was skilled in manipting the link he was under.

    "Tch, that''s what you get. Who said you can fucking contract me? This is against my will. Therefore, any chance I get, I will wreak havoc upon you!" Vc sneered in return, baring his fangs.

    All Fuhrer could do in response was sigh, "See, I told you he was a handful; now look what you''ve gotten yourself into! If you wish to terrorize him, ahem...I mean train him, I suggest you continue to hone your Intent. While his mind is irregr, there is nothing in the Nihilistic Rings that can go against Domination."

    At first, Apollo was going to respond, but then he noticed something amiss with Fuhrer''s earlier words, "Inside? Does that mean there are powers outside of the Nihilistic Rings that are even stronger than the pinnacle of us Demons?"

    ''Err...just why is he so perceptive? This is information I don''t wish to reveal right now,'' Fuhrer internalized with a frown. But, since he was asked a question, he answered nheless, "It could be seen that way. Just remember that there is always an equal. Don''t becent...ever."

    In response, Apollo nodded. He also took a look at the notification that appeared after acquiring Vc.

    ?System Alert! Congrattions on acquiring the piece, Vc the Terrible. Due to you absorbing the trickiest piece, a bonus reward has been given. You have been rewarded 3,000 Demonic Achievement Points and a Refinement Shards.?

    ?System Alert! The absorption process has begun. When done, the other portion will be rewarded.?

    On the other hand, while he was absorbed in the notification, he also realized that Ouroboros has reappeared from the gem in his forehead in its tiny form.

    "Master, we won, we won! But...I have a favor to ask!" Ouroboros pleased.

    Since this victory was thanks to Ouroboros, Apollo didn''t mind indulging him, "What is it? Do you want extra crystals?"

    Surprisingly, Ouroboros shook his head. Compared to what he was sensing, the crystals didn''t present any appeal, "No, that isn''t what I want. Master...can we go over there? Ouroboros pointed his tail in a direction that led away from this castle.

    Typically, moving further from the core of a Ring meant fewer opportunities, yet Ouroboros wanted to do just that. Meanwhile, as he shifted his gaze to that direction, Apollo couldn''t sense a single thing.

    Thus, he was at a loss until Fuhrer chimed in, "Well, seeing as your time here is negligible at this point, you might as well see what the young serpent wishes to unveil."

 Chapter 300 - Presenting Preemptive Bait

    ----

    "I guess it wouldn''t hurt to explore Ouroboros'' curiosity," Apollo answered after taking Fuhrer''s suggestion into ount. Until now, Ouroboros never asked for much. Thus, allowing him toe first for once didn''t bother Apollo. In fact, Apollo had a feeling that whatever Ouroboros was seeking would benefit the entire team.??

    "Exactly how far do you want to go?" Apollo questioned while holding out his palm. A momentter, Ouroborosnded in his palm before sparing him an odd look.

    "I don''t know...but I guess far? I just know that I need to go in that direction. I can feel it. My bloodline is calling out to it. So I must go," Ouroboros expressed. Since he was so ardent about going, Apollo discerned that it was of great importance.

    As a result, he unsummoned both Zarkath and Jorgun, only leaving Fuhrer, Furcas, Typhir, and Vc in his presence.

    "Lord Apollo, I think havee across something. I like this ce, my mind feels free!" Typhir eximed while marveling at his hands. Unlike Ashiraem, Suprenis felt much morefortable. Naturally, this meant his affinity with Superbia was even stronger than his Ira.

    Upon noticing this, Fuhrer grinned, ''Uncanny, my exact make-up. It seems that Superbia will be his main Sin whilst Ira will act as his auxiliary. However, it won''t be a weakness because both of them are adequately strong. Especially after I impart all of my knowledge unto him.''

    "That''s good. Continue to hone yourself. Also, if you can, try toe in contact with your second Sin. I''m sure you should be arriving at your personal threshold soon," Apollo answered. Then he shifted his gaze towards Fuhrer, "Can you take us to where Ouroboros wishes to go? If it''s you, it should be possible to arrive with time to spare."

    "Very well," Fuhrer agreed before taking on his gargantuan form again. But, before they could leave, the surrounding demons who remained after dealing with the aftershocks of Apollo and Vc''s battle stepped forth, barring their exit.

    "Vc, what is that appearance? How can we let a child be our lord? From this point on, you are no longer our lord. In your stead, I, Tirasha, will be the new leader," a demonic woman with a slender figure concealingpact muscles appeared before them.

    In light of these words, Vc scoffed angrily before staring with deep malice. However, his stare wasn''t directed at Tirasha, but at Apollo instead. "Youu!! This is all your damn fault! Do you see what you did? They don''t even respect me anymore!"

    The more he listened, the more Apollo wanted to chuckle. Initially, he wanted to tell him off, however, he came up with a much better idea, "Tirasha, is it? A nice name you have indeed." Apollo nodded. Unbeknownst to him, under the thin veil she wore, a tinge of blush appeared.

    What Apollo didn''t know what that she had witnessed the entire battle. During the fight, Apollo''s Intent had caught her eye. It was extremely strong and she knew this was so because her mind started to tremble upon looking at it. Thus, receiving apliment from Apollo was akin to receiving praise from a future powerhouse.

    "Thank you," Tirasha replied with an oddly polite gesture. As she bowed her head, some of the others were confused. As far as they knew, she was the toughest fighter in this settlement! The fact she could possess this demeanor was mind-boggling.

    "Don''t mention it, now I have a proposition. It seems this guy doesn''t like the fact you want to take over. I, on the other hand, possess no such qualms. So, how about you two fight?" Apollo suggested.

    In a normal situation, Tirasha would immediately reject, but deep down she possessed some repressed malice towards Vc. After all, this settlement was initially her, but he came in andmandeered it as his own after beating her. From that moment on, her presence was sparse as she trained devilishly to increase her strength.

    "If this is truly your intentions, then I ept. I also promise to make it as quick as possible. From your actions, I can see that you intend to leave," Tirasha responded after unsheathing twin swords. A silver gleam rose from her feet upwards, that spiraled around her body.

    When Vc saw this, his eyes widened. "WAIT! WAIITTTTTTT! I can''t fight her, don''t do this to me. It''s all your fault. I can''t fight anyone," Vc bawled while clinging to Apollo''s leg. Sadly, Apollo merely shrugged.

    "Not my problem. It''s your fault for mouthing off, now go solve your issues," Apollo chuckled before throwing Vc directly at Tirasha. While in flight, he sobbed miserably. It was to the point that even the other demons started to feel sorry for him.

    Regrettably, Tirasha wasn''t as soft-hearted as the rest. With her fierce nature, she dashed towards the airborne Vc like a pouncing cheetah. Her toned legs exerted monstrous power as zoomed within a meter in mere moments.

    "Noo...nooo. Beauty, wait! I know of your appearance behind the veil and I know why you hide your face! Don''t beat me or I''ll reveal your secrets!" Vc screeched while mming his eyes shut. Only when he didn''t feel any impact for a prolonged time did he slowly open his eyes.

    Tirasha glowered at him with a menacing stance, "What did you say?"

    Before answering, Vc first gathered himself, rposing a facade, "Great Beauty, I am aware of your secret. While I don''t know where you hail from, I''m sure you hide your face for a significant reason."

    "Where did you acquire this information?" Tirasha asked, her hands tightening around her twin swords. Her aura also became sharper as she gazed upon Vc. It was at this moment, he realized he may have disclosed too much information.

    "From nowhere, it is simply the gift of my wisdom! After monitoring your actions, it is the only viable reason for youing here yet remaining anonymous but also garnering strength," Vc answered.

    Meanwhile, Apollo and the others were surprised by this revtion. It seemed being a nuisance wasn''t the only specialty Vc possessed. He also appeared to be quite talented in the ways of prying information out of others.

    ''Is what he says true?'' Apollo questioned mentally.

    ''It might be; now that I inspect her more closely, she may even be linked to the Royal Demons. If you can, establish a rtionship with her. Also, it seems she doesn''t favor Vc, throw him under the bus even further by offering a deal,'' Fuhrer suggested while yful wink.

    ''Oh, that doesn''t indeed sound fun,'' Apollo nodded in admittance before adding, ''Are the Royal Demons important?''

    ''Very, it is actually another faction of us Demons. They exist alongside the current Council,'' Furcas chimed in, entering the conversation. After receiving this information, Apollo''s mind started to formte ns to hasten his goals.

    "Ahem," Apollo cleared his throat, gaining Tirasha''s attention, "Tirasha, would you like to hear me out for a moment?"

    Due to his seemingly normal approach, Tirasha showed the etiquette of a Royal Demon and obliged, "I don''t mind. What do you need to discuss?"

    "Well, seeing as we have made a mess of this settlement, which I presume you established; how about I present some rpense? Furthermore, you can also beat that little fellow as much as you''d like," Apollo offered.

    Quietly, Tirasha pondered whether or not this was in her best interest. First, she tried to test Apollo by sensing for any deceiving auras. However, to her surprise, all she found was genuine intentions. Demons weren''t the trusting kind, only once their instincts verified everything was legitimate did they move.

    "What rpen-..." Before Tirasha could finish, Apollo flung his arm causing a few items to fly towards her. As she caught them, she opened her hand and marveled at them.

    "Leader Tirasha, what are they?! Tell us!" the nosy demons behind her immediately starting to plead for her to reveal what it was.

    Unfortunately, such a thing didn''t have, "Shut your mouths! Do you have requirements to boss me around?" Almost immediately, the rancor ceased.

    On the other hand, she looked at Apollo trying to study him, "Why would you give me these types of items? They are much more precious than this settlement could ever be," Tirasha uttered.

    In response, Apollo merely smiled, "Take it as an investment. I am sure to pass through here again. And, when I need your assistance, perhaps those wille in handy."

    Tirasha nodded as a result. She then kicked Vc back towards Apollo causing him to scream horribly, "This is inhumane! I am a person; treat me like one!"

    Sadly, Apollo didn''t pay attention to him nor did he await even more shameless exmations, "Fuhrer, you may go."

    Without dy, Fuhrer sprang towards the distance in pursuit of Ouroboros'' interests.

 Chapter 301 - A Chaotic Pool

    ----

    As Apollo and his followers sped into the distance, Tirasha continued to peer at her hands. This was the first time she had seen someone treat such precious items like air. At first, she wanted to believe this decision was due to his ignorance but when she remembered the older demons within his entourage, she dismissed this belief.??

    ''There''s no way those old demons aren''t aware of the value of these items. That only leaves one possibility; such items don''t mean much to them. But then, why would that be true? If I''m not mistaken, none of them should be Archdemons. This should still retain value amongst them,'' Tirasha muttered, continuing to fail at drawing a proper conclusion.

    Little did she know, the scale of the items in her possession was a mere fraction of what Apollo owned. As for what he had given her, it was simply the Fragment of Sins he had offered to Zarkath in the beginning apanied by 5 Anima Crystals.

    The reason he did so was that his mind was already looking at the future. Apollo was the type who moved for long-term benefits, especially when it came to the Nihilistic Rings. Until his presence in this ce was permanent, it was more beneficial toy a sturdy foundation first.

    Meanwhile, Tirasha had already affirmed herself, ''I will do it without fail. I will finally be an Archdemon. This should be more than enough to catapult me into the threshold. If I seed, I can seek an audience with Lord Lucifer and im the small rewards he has set aside for newly born Archdemons.''

    With her mind made up, Tirasha whistled and gathered the rest of her demons, "Salvage what is still in usable condition and then start rebuilding. Utilize the excess material we stored for this exact reason and get it done!" She ordered in a forceful tone.

    Naturally, everyone obliged, even the mischievous Rakphir. Since Jorgun was gone, he had essentially be the number two. This meant there was no need for him to butt heads with anyone at the moment. As for bing the leader, he was aware that when it came to strength, he was even weaker than Jorgun who ranked 2nd.

    In other words, going up against Tirasha was simply foolish. Not to mention, he was almost certain that she didn''t withhold any of her power when fighting. Even if he was her underling, he would be seriously beaten. The recovery period just wasn''t worth it.

    After administering her orders, Tirasha disappeared, leaving a trail of faint silver embers.

    ----

    Shortly after that happened, Fuhrer and the others continued to advance away from their previous position. Soon enough, they had left the confines of the castle walls but none of them were surprised by this fact. They expected as such when Ouroboros judged that he couldn''t tell how far they needed to go.

    "Ouroboros, is this the correct direction?" Apollo questioned while examining the direction Fuhrer was currently traveling in. Except for Ouroboros, none of the other demons could tell what he was in search of. Hence, he became the personal guide on this small tangential journey.

    "Uhh, yes Master! This is the correct way. I can feel it growing stronger, we are enclosing on the destination quickly!" Ouroboros responded. In light of this, Apollo nodded.

    Soon enough, Ouroboros'' small voice sounded as he looked at the surroundings. "Wait! Stop, stop, stop! We''re here," Ouroboros eximed. Immediately, Fuhrer came to a sliding halt. Before Ouroboros could, he scanned the area for any obscurities.

    However, to his surprise, Fuhrer didn''t sense anything. "Are you sure this is the destination? Even I can''t find anything out of the ordinary."

    Despite Fuhrer''s skepticism, Ouroboros remained adamant in his standing, "This is it! This is the ce!"

    For a while, silence filled the area but it was soon broken by Apollo''sment, "What if we aren''t looking for something out of the ordinary? What if the area we''re looking for is hidden by the ordinary? Is that a possibility?"

    Fuhrer''s eyes widened as he recalled an urrence with an abysmal chance of happening. Yet, when he recalled the properties of Ouroboros'' species, it was definitely a possibility, "Yes, I can''t dismiss that idea. If that''s the case, our advancement will depend on that little serpent in your possession."

    Without hesitation, Apollo opened his palms, "Ouroboros, go search for what is calling out to you. In the meantime, we''ll continue to sense your general position and follow you closely."

    Excitedly, Ourorobos bobbed his head before doing something extremely odd. He burrowed straight into the ground. This was a first for Apollo; he wasn''t aware that Ouroboros could do this.

    On the flip side, Apollo frowned. The hole Ouroboros created was far too small to fit anyone here. Fortunately, it wasn''t an issue. In addition to Apollo instructing him to return to his true size, Fuhrer also assisted in widening the hole.

    A spiral appeared at the tip of Fuhrer''s sword that then drilled into the ground. Contrary to what Apollo expected, there were no haphazardly flying rocks as a result of Fuhrer''s actions. They were simply obliterated by the spiraling aura.

    The walls retained a glossy sheen after being assaulted by Fuhrer''s aura. The group then continued an uninterrupted journey as they continued to burrow deeper. As the heat picked up, Fuhrer started to notice an odd aura appearing more frequently.

    ''It would seem that the probability has truly been met. It''s surprising, to say the least. But, this event may turn out to be beneficial,'' Fuhrer inwardly thought. After several additional minutes, a change took ce.

    Fuhrer''s aura stopped contacting rock and reached a cavity in the ground. As he noticed this fact, Fuhrer stopped his actions, "I believe we have reached the ce in question."

    "Careful, something feels off about this. The alignment is being disturbed by this ce, I can''t sense a thing. Everything seems to be in utter chaos," Furcas warned while the light in his eyes dimmed. Since his abilities were useless, there was no reason to waste precious energy.

    "You''ve guessed correctly, it is indeed in chaos. It is because we havee across an area touched by Chaos," Fuhrer revealed before forcing his palm forward. A shattering noise sounded before he gave a nod, "It''s now safe to enter, the barrier has been dealt with."

    "Barrier? Why didn''t I see one? I can see a lot of things!" Vc eximed with a dumbfounded depression.

    "Hmph, if you could notice Chaos without being a Daemos, then it wouldn''t possess the qualifications to be called Chaos. Nevertheless, let''s move. The longer we dawdle, the more we waste precious time," Fuhrermanded in a slightly brusque tone.

    Naturally, since no one wished to face his wrath, they obliged. All of them dropped down from the hole they stood in. Surprisingly, as they fell, their speeds varied. Sometimes it was fast to the point it became nonsensical, other times it seemed as if they were suspended in ce.

    Be that as it may, one thing remained true, save for Fuhrer who crossed his arm nonchntly, no one else could deal with the severe and rapid changes. Thankfully, Fuhrer has enough amusement for one day. He waved his hand and everyone descended in one piece.

    Meanwhile, Ouroboros hovered above a pool with an unsettling liquid inside. Despite the odd aura, Ouroboros circled it happily, "I found it! I found it! This is terrific. Master, can I enter?!"

    Initially, Apollo wanted to give the okay, however, this was a matter he wasn''t experienced in. Thus, he relinquished the role to Fuhrer, "I''ll let you discern whether or not is it safe for Boros to enter."

    "Hmm," Fuhrer approached the pool of liquid and bent before it. He dipped his finger inside before closing his eyes. Only after a few moments did he finally give an answer, "Based on his constitution, it is safe for him. In fact, this is basically a blessed ce for him."

    Based on Fuhrer''s bodynguage, it was clear he wasn''t done exining. But, Ouroboros was impatient. Without dy, he dove directly into the pool below.

    As that happened, Fuhrer continued, "There is something off. Such a voluminous pool like this shouldn''t appear. We should definitely look around for signs of its origin. Once we have located it, it will also be your turn to train. If you remember, you have stepped into an area you desperately need right now."

    "I need it? Do you mean because of the time discement? The skewered time flow is definitely beneficial," Apollo agreed. He then looked up and around together with the rest.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer pped his hands and then zeroed in on something unnatural.

 Chapter 302 - The Cusps Embrace

    ----

    "Hmm? Is that¡­" Silently, Fuhrer approached an inconspicious corner of the room, intent on revealing a mystery that baffled him. As he did so, he could tell his assumptions were correct. This ce was indeed an anomaly. In addition to being unexined, it also seemed to be artificially created. ??

    However, artificial in this sense didn''t rte to being fake. The energy pouring into this subterranean cavern was very much authentic. Moreover, it was not only extremely pure but potent as well. It was artificial because it appeared that someone had imnted this pool here of their own ord. As for their identity, there was no sign of it.

    ''To conceal their identity to this degree where even I can''t discern their origin, that takes great skill. At the very least, it would have to be a Noblesse extremely skilled in concealment. However, there is also the slim chance that this is the work of a fellow Daemos but...could they have survived?'' Fuhrer thought while cing his hand on a seemingly normal stone.

    To an untrained eye, it would appear to be an ordinary rock, however, when Fuhrer''s eyes shimmered with a glimmering ck light, he gleaned information that more than scratched the surface, ''This crack is substantial, but isn''t the issue. The problem is the ce residing on the other side of it. Why does it present this feeling?''

    "Stand back," Fuhrer warned when he noticed the other moving towards his position. Almost instantly, they all paused. If Fuhrer warned them, then it meant something was amiss and it would take arge amount of effort to ensure their safety.

    "What is it?" Apollo questioned while keeping a safe distance. Be that as it may, his curiosity still couldn''t be contained. He leaned to the side to try and glean even the slightest hint.

    "I hope I''m mistaken, but it would seem that someone has attached this ce to an unguarded area in the neb," Fuhrer uttered. A few momentster, swirling ck energy covered his hand as he punctured the rock. At the same time, his original aura leaked from his body.

    While the others didn''t understand the gravity of the situation, Fuhrer did. After all, he was the one who kept the defense of the Nihilistic Rings intact. If someone was intent on undoing a portion of the barrier, then this was a grave predicament.

    ''Who would be so foolish as to utilize Chaos to disrupt the barrier? Are they trying to wee cmity? Impudent beings! Should I ever learn of your identity, I will personally dismember you and whoever else is rted to this matter! How dare you put my race in harm''s way,'' Fuhrer internalized, animalistic wrath entering his eyes.

    Afterward, Fuhrer started to slowly clench his hand. In response to his actions, the seam from which the chaotic energy flowed began to seal itself. The tears in the fabric of space ovepped one another and started to reinforce themselves.

    Finally, after exhausting a notable portion of his Daemos Soul, Fuhrer sealed it, "While danger may have been avoided, it pains me to reveal that I don''t know how long this crack has been active," Fuhrer announced.

    Furcas'' eyes narrowed when he heard this, "A crack? As in a crack in the Nihilistic Rings'' barriers? The ones erected to protect our race as a whole?"

    "Correct," Fuhrer admitted.

    "Fucking idiots! What fool would tamper with that barrier? Are they weing death? Do they not know of the behemoth we once went up against? Have the annals of our history vanished? If so, we are raising utterly inane youngins," Furcas spat while also spitting on the ground in the process.

    On the other hand, as Apollo listened to their words, he recalled a certain scene that appeared in his mind, ''That grand being who stood in the center of numerous worlds and vanished was undoubtedly the First Monarch. Unfortunately, after that, the information goes dark.''

    "Ahem, Fuhrer, I suggest we don''t dwell on the possibilities. Our best bet is to augment our strength. Tell me, what is the quickest way to help you grow stronger?" Apollo questioned to appease the heated atmosphere.

    While the hostility wasn''t directed at each other, it appeared that energy in this ce wasn''t normal. As they became riled up, so did the energy. Hence, Apollo assumed it was ideal to remain calm lest some unknown events take ce.

    "For you to grow stronger," Fuhrer replied instantly. Apollo frowned in return. Once again, everything seemed to run full circle and fall upon his currently unsteady shoulders.

    "Me? Why does it rely upon me?" Apollo answered. At the same time, he also nced at the pool draining at a visible rate. ''It seems Ouroboros is enjoying himself.''

    Before he answered, Fuhrer snapped to obtain Apollo''s wandering attention, "The answer is quite simple yet overwhelming. The only way for me to regain my strength is to reim the energy I''ve invested within the barrier. The route of advancement for a Daemos is different as opposed to a normal Demon."

    "I see," Apollo nodded in understanding before continuing, "And it all rests upon my shoulders because I must aplish monumental tasks." After saying this, Apollo took a deep breath and assessed what he needed to do.

    Beyond advancing continually to be a Daemos, he also needed to find the location of the Lost Council and takemand of a dormant army. Lastly, he needed to ept theplete mantle of the Monarch hidden with the sealed Ring. In other words, hisst objective was to announce his existence to the world.

    "Nevertheless, it is time for you to enter that pool as well. Now that the potential danger has been alleviated, it is time for you to focus on yourself," Fuhrer urged before snapping his finger, "And you, foolish boy,e here."

    "W-what?! Me? Are you calling me stupid?!" Vc snarled with aical expression. Yet and still, he approached Fuhrer. The moment he stood before him, Fuhrer extended his hand and ced it atop Vc''s head.

    "Hmm, not too bad. You''ve unlocked the Second Transformation, but the third seal hasn''t even been touched. If you focus on this instead of causing havoc, you would grow stronger at a much faster rate. Nevertheless, train your Azure Destruction mes," Fuhrermanded.

    Although he wanted to rebut, Fuhrer gave him a certain look. And from that look, Vc understood Fuhrer didn''t mind teaching him a lesson or two. Thus, he kept his mouth shut for once and reverted to his middle-aged man form.

    Meanwhile, before Apollo started his training, he first paid attention to the bar in the corner of his eye that was nearpletion. ''First, let''s find out what we will get for contracting Vc,'' Apollo thought.

    For a few moments, Apollo stood motionless, merely watching the contents of the bar creep past. Finally, after several minutes, the chime ofpletion rang in his ear.

    As he looked at the information before him, Apollo''s expression brightened. The rewards made the adversity all the more worth it. In fact, Apollo felt it even outssed it by a small margin.

    ?System Alert: Congrattions, you have received +5 Levels, +2 Levels to Demonic Conduct and your current state has increased significantly.?

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.4

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [99.99%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 15

    Level: 130

    Experience: 0.00%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 10,500 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 4 Zul Knight

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 2 Spirit Warrior

    Meridians: Saint-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 27,000

    Oz: 1,050

    Strength: 900.0

    Agility: 835.0

    Intelligence: 800.0

    Vitality: 700.0

    Comprehension: 100.0

    Willpower: 80.0

    [?Traits?]- 5

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 7

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 9: Darkness, Fire

    Level 7: Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?]

    [Daemonic Avatar]

    Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master

    ?Greater Demon? [5,000]

    [Demonic Acolyte]

    Typhir Estrada (Demon Knight) ?

    Lesser Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Follower]

    Furcas (Demon Knight) - Wiseman of Corruption

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    Vc (Demon Knight - The Terrible

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Servant]

    Zarkath (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    Jorgun the Anomaly (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    ------------

    [?Interdimensional Inventory?][?Inheritance?] [?Lucky Draw?]

    Stat Points: 0

    -----

    Apollo was stuck as he ogled the information before his eyes. All that separated him from evolution was a meager 0.01%. To put it differently, he had arrived at the cusp of evolution. The only limiting factor for him now was his Demonic Conduct which also experienced arge increase.

    ''It''s only a matter of time,'' Apollo thought. Due to the notifications, Apollo was reinvigorated. The whole matter rted to the fate of the Nihilistic Rings was pushed to the back of his mind. For now, the only thing that mattered was taking advantage of the distortion in time brought about by this area.

    After taking a stationary position inside the pool, Apollo closed his eyes. But, soon after he started to frown, "Fuhrer...isn''t it sort of impossible to train here? The chaos is interfering with my cirction. I can''t even influence it to move! It keeps stopping."

    Fuhrer grinned while Apolloined, "Why else would I instruct you all to train here? Immerse yourself in the difficulty!"

 Chapter 303 - Dwindling Specks Of Time

    ----

    "You...want me to ovee Chaos? Didn''t you just say that it was an ability of a Daemos? How do you expect me to emte the abilities of a Daemos when I am still a mere Lesser Demon?" Apollo responded with an odd expression. He couldn''t understand just what Fuhrer sought.??

    However, in response, Fuhrer simply chuckled, "Open your mind young one. I said that sensing the presence of Chaos is nearly impossible for your current strength. But, when ites to understanding it at a basic level, that is well within your capabilities. You just need to realize one thing."

    "Yeah, what might that be?" Apollo answered, his interest now piqued.

    "You merely need to realize the order within the chaos. Or, in simpler terms, make your own order within it. Learn to separate the mercurial from the cause. Once you understand this, Chaos will be your ything," Fuhrer answered.

    While Fuhrer made it sound simple, Apollo grimaced. Due to the extended amount of time he spent with Fuhrer, he came to the realization that anything Fuhrer deemed as simple wasn''t as straightforward as he made it sound. After all, he viewed everything from his point of view. Nevertheless, Apollo couldn''tin; all of Fuhrer''s decisions were always in Apollo''s best interest.

    "Very well, I''ll try to. But, I doubt I''ll seed," Apollo muttered. While he had confidence in himself, he also knew how to judge things with sound reasoning. To becent is to wee destruction upon one''s self.

    Surprisingly, Fuhrer shook his head in light of Apollo''s words, "I never expected you to master this ability now, I merely seek for you to master yourself. After all, time is running out," Fuhrer replied.

    Once he heard these words, Apollo fell into deep thought, ''Master myself? I''m almost certain that he is hinting towards hastening the utilization of my own energies. I recall him saying that the fluidity of my actions needs to be like second nature. Furthermore¡­''

    Apollo shifted his attention to his Tainted Temple. With the presence of numerous fragments from each of the pieces, he came to realize that his mind was in disorder. As he tried to circte his mental energies, in addition to the restriction presented by the pool''s environment, he also felt sluggish.

    ''Sinceing in contact with all this foreign energy, I have never tied to grasp control of it. This is an error on my part. If I wish to learn the Demonic Enchantment Technique properly, then it''ll require me to have a fine grasp over my control,'' Apollo inwardly thought.

    Thus, the first thing on his agenda was to correct the jumble of information in his mind to the best of his abilities. At the same time, he also started to explore the traits granted by the imnted fragments. As he did so, he became privy to the framework of some abilities he didn''t know he possessed.

    Additionally, he also discovered the reasoning behind some of his benefits. For example, he came across the reason that Vc increased his Demonic Conduct by 2 levels across the board. Small glimpses of horrendous events yed in his mind.

    Vc was truly a trerror. His moniker, "The Terrible" was earned and justified. The torture he inflicted upon others that defied him was astonishing. It seemed that deep inside his mind was some repressed twisted thoughts, birthed from the mistreatment he suffered as his peer.

    Since he wasn''t strong enough to retaliate against them, he took in out on those just as strong, slightly stronger, or slightly weaker than him. When he engaged in these acts, it made him feel triumphant. Meanwhile, as Apollo witnessed these scenes, he didn''t possess any thoughts towards it.

    When it came to his own actions, he knew that he could perform some dastardly actions in a fit of rage. Hence, he felt a small connection with Vc''s behavior. Not to mention, he also lived most of his early days suffering unending torment. The mental scars left behind by that treatment shaped his actions to this very day.

    On the other hand, beings such as Jorgun and Zarkath were only meant to bolster his attributes alongside the increase in level. Specifically, Jorgun increased the amount of Strength he gained per level as well as the increase to his defenses. Conversely, Zarkath increased his control over Hellfire.

    Since he was extremely skilled in it, Apollo''s mind immediately absorbed bits and pieces of the knowledge and mental strength that the system destroyed. While it may seem that it was destroyed on the surface, in truth, it all situated itself in Apollo''s mind.

    In other words, Apollo was a demonic sponge! ''The route of the Monarch...the power of all of my subordinates bes my strength! To obtain strength faster, I need to hunt faster, I need to level up. I must...create destruction,'' Apollo announced in his mind, his eyes gleaming with a deathly light.

    The moment he made this decree, the gem on his forehead seem to shimmer. Subsequently, his Domination Intent leaked from his body and seeped into the pool below. Slowly, all of the energies within his Tainted Temple seemed to start the process of melding with the walls of his Tainted Temple.

    During the time that this took ce, Fuhrer beckoned for Typhir, "Boy,e here. I have a task for you."

    "Coming!" Typhir eximed, rushing before Fuhrer with haste. After he arrived, he remained alert, "What task do you have?"

    "Spar with me. I think it''s time I start the process of imparting the Tenebrous Sword to you. It will be your inheritance and you shall be my physical sessor," Fuhrer stated before grasping the sword at his waist.

    Upon hearing this information, Typhir grinned. Even though he tried to, he couldn''t contain his excitement, "With pleasure! How will we begin?"

    "The same way I was taught. I will etch the memory of the techniques into your body. To put it differently, you will suffer ungodly amounts of pain, but in the end game, it will be worth it. Do you understand? If you wish to avoid this, speak up now. Once we start, I will now cease the process until you be my incarnation," Fuhrer voiced.

    "I have no intentions of shying away from what we must go through. In fact, I wee the struggle. Not only will it hone my strength, but it''ll also reinforce the character my mother has instilled in me," Typhir responded. He then brandished his stance, his energy causing his hairs to sway in the wind.

    "Perfect. Let us begin," Fuhrer said. Without dy, he activated the First Baleful Step. Different from Apollo''s Partial Shade Silhouette, Fuhrer was able to manipte the portion shrouded in shadows.

    "If you wish to learn my sword, this technique is a prerequisite. You must be the embodiment of darkness before you can be tenebrous," Fuhrer said. A momentter, his presence became undetectable and his movements silent.

    Be that as it may, the whispers of a specter entered Typhir''s ears, "Don''t look, feel. Use the 6th sense to save your life. Your lord has already awakened it, it is time you do so as well. A slow mind begets a slow body, hasten yourself."

    ''Splich!''

    A small cut appeared on Typhir''s thigh but there were no changes in his expression. He merely looked at the nick before looking straight forward while focusing on the sword in his hands.

    ''Feel...feel...feel¡­" Typhir uttered continuously in his mind. Despite his focus, the number of smalls cuts on his body continued to increase. Moreover, the rate at which he rued them was increasing exponentially. Unbeknownst to Ttyphir, while Fuhrer was encased in the darkness, he was using the first strike of his Tenebrous Sword.

    Fortunately, Typhir wasn''t a simple-minded individual, ''I remember this situation. This is the strike he used to kill his foes in an instant. However, since he only seeks to train me, he has scaled down the lethality. Yet, it is still too fast for me to sense. Not to mention, this environment doesn''t help at all.''

    Amid his active thoughts, Typhir finally made a move. He thrust his sword forward but it met air. This didn''t discourage him as he merely switched the trajectory of his strike and struck once again.

    On the other hand, every time Typhir struck, Fuhrer smiled. Albeit faint, there was a shadowy ember at Typhir''s feet everytime he moved. Furthermore, after every few tens of strikes, the coverage of the embers increased.

    While it wasn''t as quick as Apollo who possessed the assistance of the system, Typhir was still picking up on the First Baleful Step nheless.

    As this matter took ce, Apollo''s eyes mmed open. ''I seeded! I digested the fragment of Furcas!'' Compared to before, after refining the fragment from Furcas, Apollo could feel it. His mind was at least 30% clearer and faster than before.

    If he had to ce his finger on it, Apollo was almost certain that this matter was linked to Furcas'' foresight. ''Each of my demons will end up transforming me into my strongest self.''

    Several momentster, Apollo nced downwards only to realize his Intent had created a small barrier around him. Unfortunately, not long after, he could feel his body trembling and it wasn''t due to his own actions.

 Chapter 304 - Hectic Atmosphere

    ----

    "Could it be time already?" Apollo muttered to himself. Based on the trembling of his body, his Diabolic Heart of Wrath was emitting a warning. If he didn''t pay attention to it, he wasn''t sure what the consequences would be. On the other hand, since he had just gotten into the groove of training here, he didn''t wish to interrupt it. Thus, he was left in a rut.??

    ''Do I just let the natural course of things take ce or do I let Fuhrer interfere with this process and buy as much time as possible?'' Apollo inwardly thought. However, what he didn''t know was the fact that Chaos had already extended his stay multiple times over. If one took into ount the disruption of time''s flow, then the time spent here overshadowed the initial time remaining.

    Of course, this was only with respect to the actual value. As for what Apollo perceived, it didn''t seem any different from the natural flow of time. Only someone outside of the effects of Chaos would realize the effects of it with ease. Or, it would require someone''s whose sensitivity to change was immacte.

    Nevertheless, as Apollo fell into a short stupor, Fuhrer nced in his direction. Even without Apollo''s behest, he could sense Apollo''s internal system was in disarray, ''Ah, it would seem our limit has been reached. But, judging by his current expression, he isn''t quite ready to leave yet. Very well, let me make a move in your stead.''

    Before Apollo could request Fuhrer''s assistance from his own judgment, Fuhrer ceased Typhir''s training before raising his hand to the sky. As he did so, an ungodly amount of Suppression Intent appeared and formed a barrier around the entire current space.

    Shortly after, it began to suppress time as well as the other energies here. Be that as it may, this action came at a consequence. Fuhrer''s countenance started to pale ceaselessly with each passing moment. But, in exchange, Apollo''s indecisive expression disappeared.

    With the disappearance of the sensation bearing down on his body, it was pushed to the back of his mind. In the meantime, he focused on something much more important, '' Yes, I can continue!''

    Without a moment''s hesitation, Apollo resumed his practice and continued to grasp control on the next set of fragments. After assumingplete control over Furcas'' portion, Apollo instantly shifted to attempting Vc''s. While it might have been fresher whenpared to Furcas, it synergized with him very well.

    As the contents of the fragment were broken down, Apollo basked in the sensation which resulted from its horrendous vibe. The energy then started to burrow into his core, prating the deep recesses of his Tainted Temple, and evening in contact with his soul.

    At first, this experience was quite odd. After all, Apollo wasn''t used to any matters that pertained to letting his soul beid bare. Yet, as this happened, the defenseless of his soul didn''t feel wrong. In fact, he weed it! This was an experience that would allow him to learn even more about himself and delve deeper.

    Furthermore, it could even be the chance needed toe across even more Demonic Conducts. As far as the Murderous and Torturous Paths went, he was sure that these were just the beginning, there had to be other behaviors that the upper echelon of demons took ce. Thus, he was interested to learn about them.

    Amidst the core energies of Vc melding with him, Apollo''s soul took on an independent form. In short, he looked like an ethereal version of himself within a river filled with dark energies. As he swam around, he came in contact with numerous locked gates.

    And, each of those locks consisted of strange marking and what seemed to be a paper-like material. Upon witnessing this, Apollo was intrigued. ''Is this my soul? Could my soul currently have multiple seals? Wait...is this what Fuhrer was talking about when he mentioned relearning my true identity? Are the secrets of my existence hidden behind these obstructions?''

    The more Apollo thought about it, the more the thoughts became usible. As he sensed it, he could feel a familiar yet overwhelming sensation from the locks. Each of them possessed an aura that was innately simr to his own, just many times stronger. However, if he had to describe them, he felt as if all of them felt iplete.

    For example, he had this odd feeling that even after unlocking all of the seals, everyst truth wouldn''t beid bare. In other words, his soul didn''t carry the entirety of the story. If he wished to obtain that information, then he would also have to venture else.

    Fortunately, the sensation of his soul was enough to enthuse him and make it so that he wanted as much strength as possible. All of a sudden, his eyes mmed open and the marvel before his eyes vanished. In its ce, an overbearing pain wracked his body from the depths of his beings.

    "A-argghh¡­it hurts!" Apollo bellowed, roaring as he was ejected from the chaotic pool he sat within. When he looked around, he noticed that Ouroboros had eaten his fill and left the pool long ago. Now, his eyes were closed as he did his best to digest the copious amounts of energy he absorbed.

    Meanwhile, Typhir was on his knees heaving with an obscene number of cuts. If anyone sought to count the number, it would be an impossibility. It seemed the hell he had been put through while training wasn''t anything to scoff at.

    It wouldn''t be a reach to say the pain he suffered was along the lines of what Apollo was feeling right now. After all, the Tenebrous Sword used fragments of the void to attack. And, from within the void is where Chaos was birthed.

    In other words, those who could utilize the void and those who could weaponize Chaos stood among the same ying field. The only differenceid within the effects each of them could present. While the void could hide, Chaos disrupted. Each of them had its strengths, but at the end of the day, each of them possessed their own share of weaknesses as well.

    On the other hand, an important event took ce. Right before Apollo, a gate opened but it didn''t drag him inside immediately like the other time. This time, it seemed to wait for him to enter as Fuhrer continued to grit his teeth.

    ''It is truly a shame that I have seen the day where a mere portal has overpowered me. Nevertheless, it can''tpletely do away with him. I''d rather him safely reenter than be thrown inside without remorse,'' Fuhrer thought.

    As Apollo rose to his feet, Vc widened his eyes in surprise, "Where does this link to? Are we engaging in the olden practice of culling worlds? Are we going on a journey of conquering? Will there be humans? CAN I KILL THEM!? Damn it! FUCKING ANSWER ME!" Vc screamed in excitement as he bubbled with fervent desire to wreak havoc.

    As Apollo noticed this, he looked upon Vc and held out his hand. Since he had digested some of the energy, Apollo came across a nifty set of abilities derived from the system''s authority, "Absolute Order! Vc, silence!"

    "Mmmph! Mmmph! MMMPHHHH!" In response to Apollo''s actions, Vc eyes widened. No matter how much he tried, he couldn''t get his jaw to unhinge. Moreover, the link between them thrummed with amand bouncing across it.

    Then, without a moment''s hesitation, Apollo threw Vc within the portal. Afterward, he raised his hand and urged the rest to enter, "Go inside. We''ll return to my world and aim toplete my transformation. Then, we''ll hasten our actions and try to make our stay here permanent."

    "Sound n," Furcas uttered in response, entering the portal after the fretting Vc. Immediately after, Apollo picked up Typhir before ncing at Fuhrer, "You may release it," Apollo voiced with a nod before stepping through the portal."

    A moment after Apollo entered, Fuhrer stepped toward the portal but just before it closed, he brandished his sword and split the entire cave in half. The half then turned into quarters and so on, and so forth, until finally, a single strike had decimated the area.

    ''I can''t allow this to be found once again. Since we have exhausted its purpose, it is best I do away with it,'' Fuhrer muttered to himself. All of a sudden, with a sh, the doorway to the portal disappeared.

    ----

    In Apollo''s residence, arge portal opened up. A disheveled Vc was ejected first followed by the others in an orderly manner. Be that as it may, the moment they returned, not just Fuhrer, even Apollo frowned.

    Due to the increased sensitivity of his Tainted Temple, he could sense a few things that warranted his worry. For one, the atmosphere of the academy was thrown into discord. Everything seemed erratic and the hectic appearance of the energies was unsettling.

    Only one question entered his mind, "Just what happened while I was gone?" Then, after a few moments, his attention fell upon the numerous notifications left upon his security system. There was only a select few with the authority to do so.

 Chapter 305 - A Delayed Summons

    ----

    "What''s this?" Apollo muttered as he approached the messages left within his security system. As he browsed through them, he noticed most of them were left behind by Geneva as well as Robyn. While Geneva was more concerned with what he was up to, Robyn was confused as to why he hadn''t shown his face for their training.??

    Naturally, Apollo never disclosed that he would be taking his training matters into his own hands and that Robyn''s assistance was unneeded. If he was to utter such words, themunity would think he was a lunatic. After all, what child would refuse the guidance of someone of his strength?

    Nevertheless, with Fuhrer on his side as well as his unorthodox methods, it wasn''t ideal for him to train with Robyn aunty further. Even if his current technique shielded his internal power, when he failed to use the techniques of this world, it would raise numerous questions.

    Thus, Apollo had made his decision in advance. Shortly after, he disregarded the message left behind by Robyn. In exchange, he paid more attention to the ones by Geneva. The initial message he received from her was rted to the special training period. But, due to hisck of answer, and theck of presence in his residence, Geneva ejected him from the list.

    On top of that, she also mentioned something else, "She wants to see me? Based on the words she used, it seems to be something of dire importance." Aftering to this conclusion, he turned towards Fuhrer and the others, "Fuhrer please watch over them and disallow them from leaving this residence. Until everything is settled, their existence is not to be made public.

    "Understond," Fuhrer nodded. For a moment, he spared Vc a meaningful nce, "This pertains to you the most. You will be confined to this room, even if I have to resort to force."

    In response, Vc''s eye widenedically, "Mmph! M-mm!! Mmfff!!" Since his jaw couldn''t move, all that was heard was muffled noises. In fact, this scene made most of those present chuckle. On the other hand, Apollo felt as if he had been given enough punishment.

    With a snap of his fingers, the order lifted and Vc regained control of his mouth. The moment this happened, he went on a verbal rampage, "DAMN! Do you want to fight me? I won''t have this. Do you think you can throw your weight around all wantonly? I''ll put you in you-mm...mmf!"

    Amid his verbal diarrhea, Apollo merely snapped his fingers once again. Furthermore, since his curiosity was getting the better of him, he gave Fuhrer a signal before disappearing with the usage of the Umbra Phantom Mantle.

    It went without saying, his target was Geneva''s office. He rushed towards it quickly, moving at a speed that made him marvel. ''It must be because of the difference in atmosphere. Even though I''m not in my demon form, I can move much faster than in the Nihilistic Rings.''

    In the spur of the moment, Apollo waspelled to test out his current top speed. He turned into a ck lightning streak in a matter of seconds, zipping through the academy grounds. Less than two minutester, he arrived before the Administration Hall. If it was before, it would have taken at least five minutes to reach this ce.

    In other words, his speed had over doubles in the time he spent within Ashiraem and Suprenis. The effects of gathering hidden pieces as well as his own servants were greater than he estimated. The desire to acquire even more by any means necessary filed his thoughts.

    However, after entering the hall, he pushed this to the back of his mind. As of right now, his main prerogative was to find out why Geneva''s choice of words was so grim. Meanwhile, as he walked through the halls, he was surprised to find that he could sense the faint spatial fluctuations that filled the area.

    On one hand, he thought this had something to do with his Spatial Affinity but when he realized it was still level 3, he dismissed this notion. The next thought that popped into his head was that it was rted to theplete digestion of Furcas'' fragment. It gave him the ability to discern things with increased rity.

    ''This world is definitely weak, now I understand why Fuhrer holds nothing but disgust for it,'' Apollo thought inwardly. Compared to Ashiraem where none of this was possible, Apollo was now aplishing it with ease.

    Soon enough, he arrived before Geneva''s door. Surprisingly, unlike the rest of the building, he wasn''t able to sense the spatial fluctuations that should''ve been emanating from the door.

    ''It seems the strength of the spatial energy is more than a simple notch higher,'' Apollo thought. At the same time, the door before him opened up to reveal Geneva''s beautiful figure. However, unlike her typical aloof behavior, there was a deep frown stered across her face.

    "Tch, now you know how to appear. Do you know how long I have been looking for you? Almost 6 weeks! Why is so hard to get in contact with you? Unlike the rest, you have missed out on vital training from extreme experts!" Geneva nagged the moment she saw him.

    In response, Apollo frowned. It went without saying that experience endless nagging the moment he got back was pretty annoying. However, if he wished to get to the bottom of her worries, he had to deal with it. "I was somewhere of great importance. While it is a shame I have missed out, I believe it was more than worth it."

    "W-worth it?! What kid in their right mind would im this? Some of those experts epted students! That means that they''re experiencing increased cultivation resources. Not to mention, those same students also rank fairly high in the whole of the academic year," Geneva rebutted.

    While fuming, she continued, "What about our deal? Will you allow them to im your limelight!?"

    Under her continuous questioning, Apollo''s frown deepened. It wasn''t long before he had enough. After assessing whether or not he should do so, he finally did it.

    ''Whoosh!''

    A torrential aura billowed from Apollo''s body that far surpassed a Zul Warrior. At the same time, he released another aura from his mind that made Geneva gasp in shock. "W-what?! Impossible! How could you advance so fast and what about the barrier separating the realms?"

    "BArrier?" Apollo responded with a quizzical look. Different from others, Apollo didn''t face such a thing. As soon as his body reached the requirements, the system updated the information. To put it differently, as long as Apollo possessed sufficient stats, then a bottleneck was the least of his worries.

    In light of her questioning, Apollo became curious. Thus, he brought up his new character panel to assess his current stats.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.4

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [99.99%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 15

    Level: 135

    Experience: 0.00%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 12,500 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 5 Zul Knight

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 4 Spirit Warrior

    Meridians: Saint-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 29,400

    Oz: 1,050

    Strength: 980.0

    Agility: 895.0

    Intelligence: 875.0

    Vitality: 770.0

    Comprehension: 107.5

    Willpower: 87.5

    [?Traits?]- 5

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 7

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 9: Darkness, Fire

    Level 7: Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?]

    [Daemonic Avatar]

    Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master

    ?Greater Demon? [5,000]

    [Demonic Acolyte]

    Typhir Estrada (Demon Knight) ?

    Lesser Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Follower]

    Furcas (Demon Knight) - Wiseman of Corruption

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    Vc (Demon Knight - The Terrible

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Servant]

    Zarkath (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    Jorgun the Anomaly (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    ------------

    [?Interdimensional Inventory?][?Inheritance?] [?Lucky Draw?]

    Stat Points: 0

    ''Hmm, a Rank 5 Zul Knight and a Rank 4 Spirit Warrior. It seems that my progression is hastening. If I keep this momentum, then I should be able to be a peak, Zul Knight, before the end of thest trial,'' Apollo estimated.

    "This...this is the aura of at least the middle stages of both a Zul Knight and Spirit Warrior. What did you do...just how did you aplish this?!" Geneva murmured with an incredulous expression. No matter what angle she looked at it from, Apollo wasn''t even a peak Zul Warrior thest time she checked.

    Apollo merely shrugged in response, "Harsh training. As long as you''re willing, anything is possible."

    Subsequently, Geneva coughed and cleared her throat. She then regained her image of a proper headmaster, "If you say so. Then I guess your actions should be praised. Unfortunately, I brought you here for a more serious matter. I know what you are...but I don''t know exactly."

    "Uhm...what?" Apollo answered. Her words were quite odd, did she or didn''t she know?

    "I mean, I know that you''re the cause of the corruption!" Geneva uttered, bing more straightforward.

    Meanwhile, the moment he heard this Apollo was at a loss. ''Is she talking about her corruption? I mean, of course I''m to me but...why is she approaching me about that? In my defense, I did warn her.'' After a slight pause, Apollo nodded, "I know."

    Due to his answer, Geneva''s eyes widened. In her mind, his nonchnt response was misinterpreted.

 Chapter 306 - Awareness Of Many Issues

    ----

    "Are you telling me that you''re aware that you''re the cause of this corruption and you consciously continue whatever actions that are contributing to it?" Geneva eximed with a dumbfounded expression. While she knew Apollo was different, she didn''t expect him to be this ruthless.??

    As a result of her thoughts, she fell deeper into misconceived words, ''Could this be how he acquired power? At the sacrifice of others? What kind of heartlessness and tant disregard for life is required to aplish something like this?'' Geneva questioned internally.

    On the other hand, Apollo''s following answers caused even more misunderstanding, "Precisely, and I''ll continue to do so because I want you. You will end up bing mine. Based on what I see, you''re far from your full potential, this world is holding you back."

    In light of his words, Geneva''s eyes widened. For a moment, she was shocked wordless. She didn''t know how to respond to Apollo''s words. Furthermore, as the beginning of his words continued to float around her mind, a light blush appeared on her face.

    Although she was quite used to others coveting her since her days of youth due to her beguiling appearance, when it came to Apollo, a natural weakness was awakening in her soul. Needless to say, this was the result of ingesting his Hellfire and allowing it to enter the core of her being.

    Thus, even though this thought had never crossed her mind, a small part of her entertained the idea of this. Fortunately, she was able to shake the thought and get back to the more important matters at hand. "So, because you want me, you are willing to damage the in the process?! What kind of insane reasoning is that?"

    Apollo''s expression started to change as he listened to her words, "Damage the? I have done no such thing. Are we not talking about you?" Apollo rubbed his chin in thought, ''Am I missing something here?"

    "Yes, you have! Take a look at this," Geneva eximed in response before swiping her hand aggressively. A screen generated from Natural Essence appeared that then switched focus and revealed numerous images as well as a brief recording of a small change.

    As Apollo watched the recording and examined the images, he noticed something amiss with them, "You think I''m the cause of this? It just seems like the is experiencing the presence of darkness and weakening because of it. After all, I have been told that it is truly weak. If wepare it to where the Spirits originate from, it is not worth mentioning."

    "I-... I mean that isn''t wrong, but you''re missing the point here. Feel the image; tell me this aura isn''t something that you''re quite familiar to," Geneva responded, urging Apollo to spare more attention towards the information.

    When Apollo looked closer, he started to understand just why Geneva was so bothered by the current situation, ''It seems like a mixture of my aura, Fuhrer''s, Typhir''s as well as a faint addition of Demonic Anima. However, even though the will be weakened, what''s the issue?''

    "Mm, I understand what you''re trying to make me aware of, but you haven''t told me. What''s the issue with this corrupting energy? At most, it just seems like it''ll corrupt all of the resources inside those caves. That can''t be all of them, right?"

    At this moment, Geneva was bing exasperated. "At most? No, you misunderstand! These caves are located in the core of Pangea Ind. Moreover, they are directly linked to the defenses of the area. In other words, you''re potentially making everyone vulnerable!"

    After a short pause, Geneva continued with an even more worried tone, "And, we have received reports that this energy is causing the Terrors to be restless. A substantial sh is imminent. As of now, it''s just a matter of whether or not we can prepare you students and turn you into soldiers with the remaining time."

    As soon as Apollo heard this, a gleam shed within his eyes. However, he soon hid his intentions as he feigned worry, "D-do you mean that the Terrors find the aura enjoyable?"

    For some time, Geneva frowned and pondered whether or not it was right to disclose this information to Apollo. But, as she realized he was one of the most promising, if not the most promising individual of his generation, she stopped biting her tongue.

    "Yes. To sum it up, they find the energy appetizing. In fact, there has already been an event wherein they seemed to absorb a type of nefarious foreign energy. Albeit short, they were able to cause a substantial amount of mayhem at the Catastrophe Line," Geneva revealed.

    Within Apollo''s mind, he was already formting theories as to the origin of the Terrors. Be that as it may, he couldn''t verify any of them until he acquired more thorough information, "Tell me, around when did this incident ur? Was it recent?'' Apollo questioned with an intention in mind.

    Before she answered, she first recollected how much time had passed, "If I''m not mistaken, it should have been no more than 3 months ago."

    "If you can recall, can you tell me the source of the energy?" Apollo continued to request. While he had an idea as to the cause of the Terror''s incite, he also didn''t know if he was the direct cause of it. At odd times, the memory of within the Dark Labyrinth would sh within his mind.

    Even though he wasn''t quite familiar with that voice, when it resounded in his mind, he feltpelled to locate that voice. Unfortunately, in the next moment, reality came crashing down and he was deluged by thoughts that denounced his desires.

    "It hasn''t been proven, but it seems to be the result of some type of sh. Truth be told, we had a meeting about this. We''vee to a temporary conclusion that it should be rted to a Spirit that brought an anomaly along with it," Geneva said. At the same time, she also paid close attention to Apollo for any change in expression.

    Outside of the usual look of shock that anyone would give when such information was presented, there weren''t any definite signs that Apollo was rted to the root cause. Nevertheless, after witnessing his mes of obscure nature, Geneva had already drawn her conclusion.

    For the sake of appearances, Apollo nodded, "It must be true. I''m sure there are some people who have awakened to odd Spirits this time around. In fact, I''ve gone up against one of such people," Apollo voiced with a small chuckle. Meanwhile, his inner thought covered a much different topic.

    ''A sh she said. Then it is confirmed, the root cause of the Terror''s increased activity is Fuhrer. When I return, I should acquire more information about this,'' Apollo determined silently.

    Subsequently, Geneva cleared her throat when she noticed he had fallen silent, "Since you have been made aware of this, there is another pressing matter. While I don''t know where you disappeared to, there is barely another 2 weeks before all of you freshmen are to enter the Isted Subrealm."

    "I''ll be prepared," Apollo nodded, giving Geneva confirmation. Yet, despite his confirmation, there still seemed to be something weighing on Geneva''s mind. It just appeared that she didn''t want to voice it. Of course, Apollo still picked up on her reluctance nheless.

    "There''s something else, isn''t there," Apollo smirked while taking a short seat on the side of her desk.

    "There are actually two things. Let''s start with the first. The Umbra Night Institute''s Tethered Shadows Origin Room had been showing an odd reaction. It was almost as if it was beckoning to something. Then, just 3 days ago, it changed. It presented an energy silhouette of a being. Can you guess who?"

    "Me," Apollo replied without pause. Since he was called here, this was the only viable answer.

    "Correct, but that is odd. In the many years of this academy''s establishment, such an event has never happened. Thus, I need you to take a look as to why it is calling upon you. Your entry will be free and based on the information you report back, I''ll reward additional Academic Credits," Geneva stated.

    Apollo merely shrugged, "What''s the other thing?"

    "Your me, may I have some more? If I''m to be a proper Headmaster, I''ll need to recover to my peak state. To do so, I need to deal with this. Will you help me?" Geneva pleaded after great difficulty. While she asked, she also pressed her hand on her torso.

    Yet, before answering, Apollo chuckled, "You''re ying with fire, don''t expect not to be burned. If you think you''ll be a proper Headmaster¡­" Apollo stopped his words short and conjured multiple clusters of Hellfire upon each of his fingers, "I''m afraid that won''t happen.

    Apollo didn''t wait for her response, before pressing his hand against her stomach. A euphoric gasp sounded as Geneva''s body trembled, "That''s right, absorb everyst bit. While you fall, you''ll also reach new heights."

    Now that Apollo had tasted the sensation of siphoning strength, he couldn''t resist the urge to do so. Momentster, he also turned his head in another direction and squinted. After sniffing for a moment, he was sure his senses were correct, "I sense another sample of my Hellfire. It seems someone else will fall to her current state."

    Unbeknownst to the people within this room, tworge changes were taking ce courtesy of Apollo''s actions. Be it indirectly or directly, Apollo was causing the downfall of this as they knew it.

    ----

    A powerful being exited the border of the Endless Death Domain while releasing a frightening aura that far surpassed any Terror currently engaged inbat on the Catastrophe Line.

 Chapter 307 - A Ghastly Beckon

    ----

    While Geneva''s expression continued to be increasingly submerged in ecstasy, Apollo''s attention fell into the distance. Not too far away, he could sense yet another source of his own energy. Since this was the case, this meant one thing.??

    ''Someone else has ingested my mes just as Geneva has. If it wasn''t for the strengthening of my mind, I wouldn''t have realized this piece of information. I wonder just who was curious enough to do that,'' Apollo mused silently.

    Originally, he didn''t pay too much attention to this. But, when he realized that his aura was being concealed, it dawned upon Apollo that the culprit had to be stronger than he was. In fact, as he delved in deeper, he came to realize that ingesting his Hellfire would take a certain standard of a physique.

    Be that as it may, he wasn''t aware of the particrs. Thus far, he hadn''t been able to witness anyone swallow his Hellfire and survive, save for Geneva. The only other times he used his Hellfire in such a way was when he sought to inflict terrible amounts of torture upon someone.

    Afterward, Apollo continued to gaze upon Geneva once he removed his hand. Before moving forward with anything, he allowed her some time to digest the energy and recover to a state suitable for venturing into the academy grounds. However, while he waited, he noticed the signs of corruption in Geneva''s body spreading at an elerated rate.

    ''This...it must be due to the increase of my Infernal Ira Stigmata as well as my increased attainments with Hellfire. Not to mention, this weird variant I possess should also be arge contributing factor to her odd development,'' Apollo surmised.

    It wasn''t long after he discovered this that the blush upon Geneva''s cheeks faded. In ce of the blush, there was a slight pallor for a moment. All of a sudden, a bout of weakness washed over Geneva. ''W-what''s going on? Why do I feel weak? This never happened before.''

    Even Apollo was taken aback. This was a first for him, ergo, he was nonplussed and confused as to why this was happening. But, when he lifted the midsection of her clothing to examine her wound, Apollo discovered the issue. The Hellfire within her wound was currently running amok and bombarded against her skin. To put it simply, the Hellfire was trying to escape her body and return to its source.

    Upon noticing this, Apollo became surprised. Part of him wanted to retrieve the energy that sought to return to him but another inner voice ryed that the temporary gains he could experience weren''t worth it. Even if he could steal a portion of Geneva''s strength, if he could demonize her, he could siphon ample times more.

    Thus, Apollo exhaled and calmed his seething desire. He then focused and held his palm above Geneva''s wound. As he closed his eyes, he could sense the faint connection he still retained with the Hellfire. If he wished for her state to take a turn for the better, Apollo understood what he needed to do next.

    A dark light shed within his eyes as a trace of Domination Intent appeared on his fingertip. At the same time, a look of strain appeared on Apollo''s face as he attempted to control the minute output of this Intent. Compared to letting the power run amok, this was many times harder.

    In order to maintain control, Apollo had to actively monitor the immense intricacies of his Intent''s flow. Additionally, he also needed to keep the stream sustaining the Intent steady. The slightest bit of fluctuation would result in a disruption. Nevertheless, this type of application was extremely beneficial to Apollo.

    It was a direct way to hone his utilization of Intent. While he hadn''t reached the level of wlessly merging his many energies, it would increase his viability in battle. In turn, this would also positively impact his survivability.

    A few moments into his action,rge beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. Maintaining his actions put a monumental mental strain on him. But, finally, he located the source of the connection. Once it was found, Apollo turned his Intent into a de before severing it.

    As a result, Geneva''s body rxed into her chair. Her condition changed for the better as her priorly pale cheeks grew rosier by the moment. Only after her eyes fluttered open did Apollo take a step back.

    Silently, she watched Apollo for a while before muttering, "Your me is different. It doesn''t seek to leave you anymore. When it is away, it bes raucous. Tell me, what type of fire is this?"

    "The me which purifies yet corrupts. Those of unmatching orientation will be purified until their corruption is adequate. You, mydy, have ingested what is known as Hellfire, the Sin''s brethren," Apollo chuckled, an obscure light shing in his eyes.

    Unbeknownst to him, he had muttered a phrase that only a select few Demons were privy to. Although it wasn''t purposely, Apollo had relived a memory embedded deep within his mind.

    "Hellfire," Geneva parroted in a trance. She then dragged her hand across her torso, noticing that the wound had closed up even more than before. Based on the current progress, it wouldn''t be long before she regained her peak strength. Yet, that thought also scared her.

    ''If I recover my strength, will my mind once again be strong enough to repel these revolting urges in my mind? Will I be free if I''m strong enough?'' Geneva questioned internally while gazing at Apollo''s nonchnt demeanor.

    Apollo waited for a brief moment before clearing his throat, "Since you have recovered somewhat, I need you to do something."

    "What?" Geneva questioned after stumbling awake from her stupor.

    "Apany me to the Institute. I''d rather get this out of the way now so I can continue with my personal endeavors," Apollo muttered. Aside from the visit to the Institute courtesy of Geneva''s request, the only other matter he had on his agenda was to continue to perfect his stigmata and body to prime his vessel for the other Sins.

    After all, it was only a matter of time until he awakened the other Sins. If he wasn''t strong enough, then it''d just be a repeat situation. And, that wasn''t something he wanted to happen. Whenever he lost control, there was an eerie sensation that filled his mind.

    Furthermore, Apollo didn''t wish to experience the emotions nor the thoughts of the other Sins. When Ira controlled him, he experienced a never-ending cycle of rage that wanted to submerge his mind forever. If that was just Ira, he didn''t want to think about G or Invidia for that matter.

    ording to Fuhrer''s warnings, these were two very dangerous Sins. G''s main ability was to swallow, if his mind was swallowed, there was arge chance of his consciousness disappearing. As for Invidia, there was a chance for something much worse.

    Meanwhile, after hearing his request, Geneva nodded, "I nned to anyway. The closer I am to you, the faster you can ry the information to me. While the experiences are limited to the mind, I can still sense whatever oddities that are to arise within the Origin Room."

    Upon receiving her answer, Apollo grinned, "Then the means of transport should be left up to you right? Those wings, I would like to see them one more time," Apollo asked.

    Suddenly, Geneva''s expression darkened a bit, "My wings? Why are you interested in them?"

    "I have my reasons," Apollo shrugged, avoiding a definitive answer. This made Geneva wary but no matter how much she questioned, Apollo wouldn''t reveal it. After all, he couldn''t tell her that there were now two additional Demons in the world. This information was sure toe as a shock.

    In fact, there was even a chance that she would immediately call for someone to check on the current condition of Pangea Ind''s vital spiritual cores.

    Since she wouldn''t consent without further information, Apollo relented, "Fine, I can promise that I mean you no harm. I am merely curious about its structure and purposes."

    However, what Apollo didn''t tell her was that he was only interested in her transformation due to Vc''s wings. He wanted to see if it was possible to recreate these things. If he gained wings, he couldn''t imagine how much of a help that would be.

    "Err¡­" While she was still on the fence about it due to the fact that most things rted to Apollo turned out to be a headache, she finally consented after sensing the unusual sincerity in his voice.

    Two magnificent dark wings unfurled from her back with a gust of wind. Due to the fact, her wound was healing faster than she expected, she was able to open her wings again without feeling a wave of pain.

    "Come," Geneva beckoned. As Apollo entered her grasp, his eyes continued to inspect her wings.

    ''Much different but it seems like their cores are the same,'' Apollo surmised. In a matter of seconds, Geneva zipped through the air, arriving before the Institute.

    Compared to his top speed, Geneva seemed to defymon sense. But, Apollo didn''t worry about this as he was focused on something else.

    A specter-like calling entered his ears that put him on edge, ''Is this calling beneficial or is something beckoning me tomit foul y?''

    The reason behind his spection was due to the impression the whisper gave¡ªa gruesome darkness! In fact, the weariness it made him feel prompted Apollo to rethink entering this ce altogether.

    It didn''t take long for Geneva to realize his apprehension. When she confronted him about it, she was at a loss for words due to his response.

 Chapter 308 - Another Unknown Presence

    ----

    "What''s the matter? Why are you looking at the doorway like that?" Geneva questioned, noticing Apollo''s weird actions. This was something that never happened before. Usually, every student who appeared before the Origin Room''s door would be enthused to enter. Yet, a weird situation was taking ce.??

    It appeared Apollo didn''t wish to enter at all. It wasn''t due to fright, but due to theck of awareness, ''This sensation...it doesn''t feel human nor does it feel like Xezym''s.''

    One must remember, Xezym''s species was birthed and resided within Darkness. They were close to the embodiment of darkness. However, unlike the darkness Demons could manipte, theirs wasn''t as despicable.

    It was likeparing acid to water. In certain situations, water could be extremely dangerous, however, acid always carried with it great and immediately apparent dangers.

    "What is locked behind this door? It doesn''t feel like it used to. What has changed?" Apollo muttered after a bout of silence. Despite his attempts to discern the origin of the calling, he failed to do so. The defenses of the Origin Room proved to be sturdier than his mental strength.

    There were nopses in the defensive formations for him to take advantage of. This rose another set of gs in his mind. If he couldn''t look beyond, that meant the thing resonating with him was beyond his scope of power. To put it simply, entering that door would introduce him to unknown dangers.

    Be that as it may, Geneva didn''t sense what he did. Thus, she was at a loss, "Nothing. Except for the disy that took ce not too long ago, there have been no other changes," Geneva answered. Then, she paused as something else dawned upon her, "Why, what have you learned?"

    Typically, Apollo would answer, but he didn''t have one. As a result, he was left at an impasse, "That''s the thing...I don''t know. For safety precautions, enter with me. I don''t know how much of a help you''ll be but we''ll see," Apollo responded after some time.

    Since he requested reassurance, as a Headmaster, Geneva obliged, "Very well, I will do my best. If any signs of danger arise, I''ll try to shield you to the best of my abilities."

    "Yes, shield me to the best of your abilities. I''m sure this existence shouldn''t be able to contend against you...my greatest subordinate," Apollo answered before pressing his hand against the door.

    Meanwhile, Geneva was nonplussed for a moment, "Subordinate? When did I agree to be your subordinate?!"

    Unfortunately, Apollo didn''t answer. He merely smiled as his body entered through the doorway. It was never confirmed whether or not his words were meant for her. But, one thing was clear, whoever he was talking to, it was evident he hadplete faith in them.

    If he didn''t he wouldn''t have used that specific choice of words.

    Momentster, Apollo arrived within the Tethered Shadows Origin Room. To his surprise, disregarding the sphere in the core of the room, it was empty! There wasn''t a single student within the room. It was a stark contrast to the usually filled interior.

    "Why aren''t there any students within this ce?" Apollo asked. At the same time, his gaze remained glued to the pulsating sphere in the core of the room. Now that he was inside, the beckon grew stronger, but the voice vanished.

    ''That''s odd. I would think the voice would be even more clear now that I''m here. Why has the calling stopped abruptly?'' Apollo questioned internally.

    On the other hand, Geneva finally answered his question, "Well, that''s the thing. Just up until 3 days ago, this ce was filled. However, when the orb projected your image, it stopped allowing others to enter with their consciousness, as well as emitting energy."

    "Hm, it sounds to me like it was tired of allowing others to benefit from its power without receiving anything in return," Apollo muttered. While standing before the orb, he recalled that it was said an inheritor hadn''t been found since the day this orb was ced here. Naturally, this meant the orb was always in a subpar state.

    Without an inheritor, it couldn''t disy its true potential. However, now it had found Apollo, someone who had epted its partial inheritance fragment on his first try amidst his first attempt.

    While others had also received it on their first try, it wasn''t while undergoing their first attempt. In fact, it was normal for them to bond with it on their fourth or fifth attempt. Although this still depicted their potential as ster, it meant there was still a weakness in their affinity for darkness. It wasn''t pure enough.

    The orb sought someone that could live and thrive in darkness. Someone that didn''t hold qualms against traveling a path of bleakness. After all, darkness was always present and in opposition to light. When in the presence of darkness, there was nothing else. The darkness is what wees the void.

    "Precisely, we came to the same conclusion as well. The orb must have sensed something and is reacting to it," Geneva agreed. Afterward, she continued with a slightly impatient tone, "Hurry and find out what this is about. It has been long enough."

    Silently, Apollo nced back at her before chuckling. While he didn''t answer, his reaction was more than enough. Geneva frowned at his actions. Sadly, she couldn''t say anything else to him as he was already taking the next step.

    Apollo''s soul began materializing as he closed his eyes. It continued to solidify until finally, it took on a somewhat corporeal. Because it was made of mental energy, it didn''t exactly seem like a body, but more like a phantom.

    Apollo''s soul form then paused over his head and spared Geneva a nce before rushing toward the orb. At first, there was resistance from the orb. However, once it verified that Apollo was in fact the one it awaited, the resistance ceased and Apollo was allowed within the defenses of the orb.

    "I knew it. Something is odd about that boy. It seems that everything is either attracted to him or against him. There is nothing I havee across that is neutral," Geneva muttered to herself. Even among the instructors, some didn''t like his actions, and some apuded them.

    Yet, there wasn''t a single one of them whocked an opinion. This rang true for those who didn''t know him personally as well.

    On the other hand, the moment Apollo entered, he noticed a substantial difference in the inner atmosphere of the orb. At a nce, it was fascinating. There was a spinning ck vortex expanding from the center of the orb.

    However, despite its appearance, itcked a suction ability. It was like the calm before the storm. It seemed as if everything was merely in preparation for something. As for what that something was, Apollo couldn''t tell for the moment.

    Be that as it may, his attention was still invested in the vortex about, "Should I grow closer to it?"

    As he asked himself this question, he lowered his head and examined the numerous gates. Compared to before, they looked different. The one he had entered already was once again resealed, but they were reinforced with a different chain type. As for those he didn''t even think to enter priorly, their chains seemed to be vanishing.

    "Hmm?"

    All of a sudden, something caught Apollo''s eyes.

    Upon closer inspection, Apollo came to realize the fading chain''s energies were congregating at the core of the vortex. Slowly, the momentum of the vortex continued to rise. Yet, despite this, the suction that usually apanied such a thing was still nowhere to be found.

    Then, realization struck Apollo and the crux of the problem dawned upon Apollo, "This vortex isn''t due to it swallowing everything present...these gates are summoning something!"

    After a short pause, Apollo approached one of the gates he had already entered. Without dy, he pressed his hand against the door and attempted to pass through. Sadly, his expectations weren''t met. His soul form failed to enter the gate as the chains restricted him from doing so.

    "You summoned me here, but don''t allow me to enter? What is the purpose?" Apollo grumbled as he approached yet another gate and repeated his prior actions. Unsurprisingly, the same conclusion was met.

    Then, his gaze fell upon the unique gate that awarded him the partial fragment inheritance in the first ce. Different from the others, its gate wasn''t chained up. The door was wide open, but something happened that caused Apollo to marvel.

    Arge amount of energy was being siphoned from the opened gates. Unlike the rest, this specific gate was being used as an exceptional fuel source. Inparison to the rest, the energy it provided was at least 10 timesrger. Subsequently, this caused Apollo to ponder over some possibilities.

    "Could the reason I''ve been summoned have something to do with my origin? No, I don''t think so. If that was the case, this should have happened the moment I came in contact with this room before," Apollo mumbled to himself.

    As he recalled his experiences, he was almost certain his assumption was wrong. Thest time he entered this ce, he was already a full-fledged demon. But, he overlooked onerge difference; he was on the cusp of bing a Greater Demon!

    Moreover, Apollo stumbled when a lofty voice resounded within the atmosphere, "A Demon? This is ironic. After all these years, the one that had presented enough affinity is a Demon? I guess this is just my condemned luck."

 Chapter 309 - An Archaic Spirit

    ----

    Upon hearing this voice, Apollo''s gaze instantly focused on the vortex in the distance. Within the middle, he could sense the descent of some unidentified force. Although it felt iplete, he could distinguish that it contained more power in its partial figure than Apollo did when transformed.??

    ''Why is there a being like this being summoned? I thought this world couldn''t handle something like this,'' Apollo thought to himself with an incredulous expression. As the figure''s body continued to be corporeal, Apollo was nonplussed. However, it wasn''t for the reason one would think.

    If it wasn''t for the fluctuation being identical to Spirits, Apollo would have believed this summoned being was no different than a human. Its appearance was infinitesimally close to one. Furthermore, it was around the same height as Apollo.

    It had to be known, a typical Spirit was around twice the size of a human. This allowed them to retain more significant destructive abilities within their bodies. The smaller their vessel, the smaller the power they could wield was. After all, the Spirits that were summoned to Astarat were just Spiritual Bodies, they weren''t theplete body of the Spirit.

    For theirplete existence to be summoned, the atmosphere of Astaratcked a certain element to facilitate this action. Not to mention, its worldlyws were extremelycking. Had not for the world''s spirit being blessed, even the act of summoning the spiritual bodies of the Spirits would have been a pipe dream.

    Meanwhile, due to the pensive expression on Apollo''s face, the appearing individual was amused, "Little boy, if you continue to disy that type of expression, it''ll lead me to believe you''re mentally deficient. A Higher Demon should be much more acute than you are."

    It went without saying, from the neer''s tone of voice, they were undoubtedly familiar with Demons. It wouldn''t be misced to say that they were acquainted with them.

    On the other hand, Apollo was dumbfounded. Based on the way the Spirit behaved, it verified that it possessed a type of lofty status that other Spirits didn''t. This was discerned from both their speech pattern as well as the nonchnt tone they used.

    Finally, once he regained a portion of his wits, Apollo''s expression normalized, "Pardon me, but who are you, and why have you summoned me?"

    "On the contrary, I didn''t summon you at all. The orb desired to summon you and so it did. In return, it collected enough energy to conjure a portion of my consciousness. As you see, I am not what you think I am. I am no mere Spirit," the being answered.

    "No mere Spirit?" Apollo repeated with an unsure expression. This situated reminded him of his meetings with both Fuhrer and Saehtyn. Each of them revealed that they weren''t normal Demons during their initial encounter. This led Apollo to believe that they were dignified beings.

    They took pride in the fact that they were able to triumph over the masses. This fact was a testament to both their strength as well as potential.

    "Correct, but there is no need to repeat my words; absorb information and digest it. Then, remain quiet and expand your limited mind. Your meager mental capacity means you haven''t even be what your kind calls a Greater Demon," the being chuckled.

    All of a sudden, with a ck sh, they appeared right before Apollo and stared into his amethyst eyes. While the being''s eyes shed with a mix of silver and ck, he then became shocked.

    "Interesting, you aren''t normal at all. By no means are you a mere Lesser Demon... I think I''vee to understand why the orb has called out to both me and you; the one who possesses a split soul," the voice revealed before adding another piece of information, "Additionally, you may refer to me as Destrys."

    The figure dropped his hood to reveal cascading snow-white hair. However, within a few lockets of hair were a couple of strands of shimmering silver color. At the same time, his eyes revolved with three distinct colors; white, ck, and silver. While it was unknown if this was a technique or not, Apollo was mesmerized nheless.

    "Destrys¡­" Apollo mumbled. For a moment, he paused before resuming, "If you aren''t a mere spirit, then what are you? When ites to your kind, I''m not exactly knowledgeable."

    "I''m aware. In fact, I''m privy to a myriad of things that elude your understanding. Nevertheless, since I am here, for the time being, I might as well take advantage of it. Sooner orter, you wille in contact with my domain," Destrys responded.

    Afterward, he rubbed his chin in thought. As he looked at Apollo, he pondered where exactly to start. ''The fate of the domain isn''t rted to him at this point, so there is no reason to present that information. Ah, there''s also those other races. But, his ruler made sure his kind could avoid them for the time being.''

    After ample deliberation, Destrys finally came across a few pieces of information he deemed suitable to reveal, "Well, let''s talk the hierarchy of Spirits. First and foremost, the bottom ring is known as Normies or Normal Spirits. Following this chain, there are the Heroic ones, Legendary ones, Mythical ones, and so on."

    "Wait, I know this information alre-... Mythical?" Apollo questioned with narrowed eyes. As he cross-referenced this information with what was known to the people of Astarat, he realized something, "Are you saying the caliber of the Spirits sent here is amongst the lowest you all can muster?"

    "Precisely. In fact, the ones who travel here have to be approved by the Grand Spirit Council. Typically, anyone above the Legendary threshold cannot be weaponized. They must act in the best interest of our domain," Destrys revealed.

    "Then, does that mean you''re the sole Legendary Spirit to ever walk this ne?" Apollo questioned with an interested gleam in his eyes. ording to the records found within the libraries of anywhere he searched, only one Spirit was able to enter the threshold of the Legendaries.

    However, Destrys snorted derisively at Apollo''sment, "You severely underestimate me if you believe that was me. The moment my standing lowers to such a degree, I might as well obliterate myself. That type of lowly attainment is beneath me."

    "U-uh...then why don''t you rify what you are exactly?" Apollo mumbled. Dealing with the pride of this being proved to be adequately difficult as its ego was enormous.

    "Tch, to put it in simple terms, I am an Archaic Spirit. Hmm, now that I think about it, you will probablye to know it as a Primordial," Destrys muttered, thest of his words akin to a whisper.

    "Primordial," Apollo nodded. The moment he heard this word, it resonated with him as it sounded extremely powerful. He became fascinated with this idea. So much so itpelled him to ask another question, "How does this realm fare against the realms of Demon powers?"

    "I guess it isparable to the level beyond a Daemos. While a Daemos may be strong, it isn''t exactly the strongest. Now, if we''re talking about your olden Monarch then¡­" As Destrys paused, a nostalgic smile appeared on his lips.

    On the other hand, Apollo was once again in awe. As far as he knew, he thought a Daemos was the cusp of a Demon''s ability. Yet, ording to Destrys, there remained a realm of power beyond that.

    As Apollo digested this, another question dawned upon him, "Wait a minute, if you aren''t that Spirit, then how did you and that orb end up here?"

    Before answering, Destrys shook his head, "That''s incorrect. I never ended up here, per se. As a Primordial, my consciousness can be stretched across the cosmic ne. As for this orb, I''ve sent numerous of them hurtling throughout the cosmos. Each of them merely serves as a fragmented beacon."

    "I see, but what is its purpose?" Apollo asked before examining the now silent orb. Compared to before, after it summoned Destrys'' partial consciousness, it seemed to have entered a dormant state.

    "Well, you see, that is where the mystifying revtion appears. Before I answer, may I request that you summon your Daemos partner," Destrys requested.

    At the mention of his request, Apollo''s eyes widened. "How did you know?"

    This was a first. Until now, there had never been a person who could sense that he had contracted with Demons.

    "Albeit a semnce, I smell several stronger scents located within your body. One of them in particr is far too strong. Even though it is masked by weakness, it is just a temporarypse in strength," Destrys uttered.

    Under the current conditions, Apollo could only ept this as truth. If Destrys willed it, even this piddling portion of his soul was enough to eviscerate Apollo.

    A momentter, Apollo exhaled behold uttering a phrase that made Destrys both intrigued and shocked at the same time.

 Chapter 310 - Thinning Of Barriers

    ----

    After settling his rampant thoughts, Apollo initiated the summoning process of Fuhrer. However, since this wasn''t a physical ce, Apollo only called upon his consciousness. Be that as it may, his words caused Destrys'' expression to alter for a moment.??

    "Fuhrer, heed my call," Apollo muttered. While his words were light, in this vacant space, it sounded like a booming echo. However, it wasn''t his actions that interested Destrys, but rather the name that Apollo had uttered.

    ''Is this the same Fuhrer? It can''t be. I haven''t sensed that individual in eons. If it is truly him, then my old ally should appear as well, no?'' Destrys thought inwardly. Ever since the olden sh, the presence of the First Monarch and his subordinates disappeared.

    Hence, the mention of his right-hand man interested Destrys greatly. It might even present some clues as to where that old fellow had disappeared to.

    While Destrys remained excited, Fuhrer answered Apollo''s summons. A wave of dark embers flowed from Apollo''s body, mainly his mind. As they congregated into an ethereal figure, Destrys was even more shocked.

    ''So it is true! It is in fact him,'' Destrys internalized with a faint smile. He then rxed his posture and held his arms behind his back.

    In that same instance, Fuhrerid eyes upon Destrys'' figure. At a nce, Fuhrer found this individual to be quite familiar. Since Apollo was within the confines of the orb, most of his connection to the outside world was severed. As a result, even the information Fuhrer received was choppy at best.

    After all, the orb they were inside was a tool that escaped the boundaries of even Fuhrer''s capabilities. Nevertheless, he still sauntered before Apollo. As his protector, Apollo''s safety was his utmost concern.

    "Who are you," Fuhrer questioned in a in tone. When he lost connection with Apollo, it raised red gs in his mind. If they were separated for too long, Fuhrer would begin to worry as a situation wherein he was unable to haveplete control unsettled him.

    Hence, he possessed an initial unfavorable opinion of the one before him. While it didn''t arrive at the level of holding a hostile attitude, his tone didn''t possess a shred of warmth.

    Upon noticing this, Destrys clicked his tongue with a slightly wronged expression. Although it was unknown if this expression was genuine or merely a guise, his excitement receded and turned back into his original prideful demeanor.

    "Ah, what a shame, the ruthlessness of time has made my image elude your memories. It is painful, woefully so. Be that as it may, I still remember your swordsmanship vividly, Fuhrer," Destrys voiced, a yful gleam shing within his eyes.

    Due to the abrupt announcement of his name, Fuhrer was startled. During this time, Destrys flicked his finger. In an instant, 6pounding shadow shes punctured space and hurtled towards Fuhrer. Compared to any strike Apollo had ever witnessed, this attack made him fear for his life.

    Fortunately, Fuhrer wasn''t an existence to be trifled with. He quickly recovered from his startled state and reacted without hesitation. Due to the power he sensed behind the dark des, Fuhrer''s expression became solemn.

    In his serious state, Fuhrer brandished his sword so fast it seemed as if dark stars were forming. While it appeared to be an effortless action, it truly wasn''t. It wasn''t Fuhrer who felt pain, but Apollo. A sharp, stabbing sensation that was akin to needles piercing ceaselessly washed over his mind.

    ''W-what is this?'' Apollo muttered inwardly. Truthfully speaking, it wasn''t the first time he felt this type of pain, but it was the first time it appeared due to one of Fuhrer''s strikes. This meant that Fuhrer''s current strike exhausted a major portion of his mental strength.

    Meanwhile, despite Fuhrer''s actions, two of the dark des failed to be repelled. They broke through Fuhrer''s defenses and punctured his shoulders. After doing so, they dispersed.

    "Hehe, it seems you''re still weaker than I am. It''s fortunate that I withdrew my power at thest moment or that boy behind you would have suffered drastic damage," Destrysmented.

    Apollo was left nonplussed. He didn''t know what to say! This was the first time he witnessed Fuhrer losing an exchange. This was a testament to Destrys'' original strength. Moreover, this also opened Apollo''s eyes to a vital piece of information.

    ''There may be a collection of being simr to Destrys'' strength. If that is so, I believe I understand why the First Monarch meticulously shielded the Nihilistic Rings. When it came to the ability to defend themselves, the Demons are severelycking,'' Apollo surmised.

    Despite Apollo''s assumption being based solely on the information learned from others, it was the irond truth. If Fuhrer were to recover to a Noblesse''s realm of power, then even the Lords wouldn''t be able to overpower him easily.

    To put it in perspective, the Lords were amongst the highest echelon of the Demon''s strength. If they couldn''t rely upon them, then the defensive abilities of the Demons were piddling at best.

    Nevertheless, when Fuhrer''s expression changed, it was evident he had concluded Destrys'' identity. There was only one existence who had uttered these words to him before, "Destyrs, I presume. You have be quite an old man."

    "Likewise," Destrys returned. As he evaluated Fuhrer''s strength, he nodded and continued, "Where is your master?"

    "Unknown. I''m in just as much an undesired position as you are. No, I think it''s fair to say my current spot is even more perilous," Fuhrer stated with a bitter smile. When he recalled all of the arising issues, he knew how precarious a situation he was put in.

    "Ah, you must be referring to the thinning of the barriers. It was an inevitable thing. Perhaps we will have to reestablish the contents of our ancient contract. Regrettably, you don''t have a ruling figure, so there is no one on your side to cement this edict," Destrys sighed.

    Fuhrer''s eyes narrowed in frustration as he was unable to refute Destrys'' words. It was the truth, without a ruling figure, even the Royal Council couldn''t agree to contracts about the entirety of their race. It wasn''t due to the fact theycked authority, but more so due to the fact, the Demons wouldn''t abide by the verdict.

    "Correct, but tell me. Did you do what I think you do? Did you allow one of these humans to contract one of your fragments?" Fuhrer questioned while gazing directly into Destrys'' eyes.

    Since Destrys was a Primordial, a fragment of his consciousness would at least reside at the Heroic level. But, there was another issue, due to his Primordial identity, his race''s council couldn''t govern his actions. In other words, his position was akin to what the Monarch meant to the Demons.

    If the council was toe across the fact he hadmitted a nonsensical action, such as involving himself with a lesser race, they would undoubtedly set out to destroy Astarat to erase this smudge from the annals of their history.

    "Indeed, I did. I was bored and in need of action. Unfortunately, I can''t reim the orb because it is too far away. While I can still influence it, retracting it is apletely different story. Therefore, I have made up my mind," Destrys nonchntly replied.

    "What is your decision?" Fuhrer asked. Since he was aware of the Spirit Council''s attitude, he needed to verify whether or not Apollo was in danger by staying on Astarat.

    "I will merely contract with another human just as I did many years ago. Sadly, there isn''t a personparable to that man from centuries ago. Furthermore, it is forbidden to contract with a Demon, so your boy is out of the equation."

    "If that''s the case, then you''re out of option," Fuhrer replied.

    "Not necessarily. What if I say I can circumvent the limitations and the key is that boy behind you?" Destrys countered with a faint grin.

    "Hmm," Fuhrer rubbed his chin in thought, entertaining the idea of a proposition with Destrys, "Very well. Go on."

    "Tell me, boy, have youe in contact with anyone who possesses an adequately powerful Dark Spirit? If so, I need you to use your demonic ability and augment the darkness of their mind," Destrys said.

    He then continued, "Of course this won''t be free, I will allow you to peer into the contents of the inheritance once youplete the task. While I can''t allow you to be my contractor, I''m more than willing to have you...stumble across my techniques if you will."

    "A Dark Spirit," Apollo parroted. At the same time, his mind traveled. Subconsciously, he thought of a certain stunning figure. But, before that, he also posed another question, "You said you contracted a human? Then who was that?"

    "Mm, if I''m not mistaken...I believe he was something called a First Headmaster, whatever that may be," Destrys replied with uncertainty.

 Chapter 311 - Intriguing History

    ----

    "Did you just say the First Headmaster?" Apollo repeated with widened eyes. ording to Geneva, the Headmasters were all chosen from her family as the Vermillion Night Academy was their creation. The Vermillion Night Academy was built using the acquired inheritance of her family.??

    While he wasn''t aware of the identity of the First Headmaster, Apollo was certain that they were Geneva''s oldest ancestry. At first, Apollo thought her first ancestor would be a female due to her Dark Phoenix Bloodline, but the truth of the matter turned out to be a different case.

    Based on Destrys'' words, his fragmented power contracted with a male. This led Apollo to believe that there was a chance that the First Headmaster was the one who mated with a True Dark Phoenix. Naturally, this was something that happened quite often. After all, once a Spirit Beast of a distinguished bloodline reached a certain level, there was essentially no difference between them and a human.

    Therefore, incidences wherein two powerhouses of each race mated were actually highly sought-after situations. A human with a bloodline was stronger than a human without one. This was even more true when it pertained to beast bloodlines.

    After all, once a human surpassed a certain threshold, they could turn their own power into a bloodline by isting their gic information with a mix of Essence. It would then be embedded in the depths of their being, primed from session at any given moment.

    "That is what I said, are your ears malfunctioning? Fuhrer, just what is the issue with this boy? He''s always repeating things I''ve just said, I don''t like that. Do something about it," Destrys grumbled while shaking his head in annoyance.

    Sadly, Fuhrer was powerless in this case. He returned a shake of his head as well, "I am sorry to say this, but I am of no help. I am in no position tomand my liege. At best, I am here to guide him. And this, this doesn''t seem like guiding."

    "Liege, you say? Then he must have a connection with him? What is his connection? As far as I know, he didn''t rear any offspring. Even if he attempted to hide their existence, I sensed no signs of his power being recently partitioned," Destrys remarked with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

    As far as he knew, Fuhrer was an extremely prideful being. Aside from the First Monarch who was stronger than him, seldom did he lower his head nor did he seem like the type to follow someone weaker than him. The only usible reason would be a connection to histe master.

    Thus, he made this assumption.

    Regrettably, as this information was sensitive, Fuhrer could only remain tightlipped about it, "I can''t verify anything. All I know is that when I met him, I was inclined to follow him. If you experience his abilities, you''ll understand what I mean."

    "On the contrary, I already have. Have you forgotten? He summoned you here. I don''t think there has ever been a Demon born with the power to summon other Demons. This type of power should be derived from Authority," Destrys answered.

    In response to his answer, Fuhrer could only present a bitter smile, ''He is truly too knowledgeable about us. Save for the First Monarch, I don''t think there is another Demon alive with as much collective knowledge as him.''

    Nevertheless, Fuhrer was intent on standing by his instructions, "Don''t aim your words at me. Talk with him. After all, he is the one who is vital to your ns."

    Immediately after saying this, Fuhrer stepped aside and took a seat. Since this was a materialization of his soul power, Fuhrer needed to absorb ethereal energies to repair it. Luckily, with the appearance of Destrys, these same energies apanied him. After all, a Primordial was a being who stood at the apex of energy maniption.

    All of a sudden, realization dawned upon Fuhrer, ''All of this had to have been within his calctions. He was merely testing the current stability of my soul before introducing a way to reinforce it quickly.''

    Compared to before, the speed of his swings paled inparison to his heyday. When he used to strike, even the movement of the void wouldn''t suffice in matching his attack speed. Yet, now he could barely utilize 1% of that speed. In other words, couldn''t aplish the same feats, they were severely weakened.

    When he noticed this, Destrys struck in such a way that allowed his attacks to nearly sever Fuhrer''s arms from the socket. However, before that happened, the power was tweaked yet again. By stripping Fuhrer''s arms bare and leaving it at a near incapacitated state, it allowed for his even stronger dark energy to repair the inconsistencies.

    ''Even after the Monarch''s disappearance, you still bring sor to the Demons. It''s to be expected of a tried and true ally,'' Fuhrer thought to himself. This was the type of ally the demonscked but, finding a genuine aid like Destrys was a tedious task.

    While these thoughts flowed in his mind, he soon pushed them to the back of his mind. In the meantime, it was Apollo''s turn to present his gnawing questions.

    "Earlier, you said that you and the First Monarch held a contract together. Since then, something has been bothering me for quite some time. Is this world within the so-called domain of Demons and Spirits?" Apollo questioned.

    "It is, it is just in the farthest reaches. Think of it like this, a domainprises many levels. A world like this can only be situated in the furthermore outskirts of that jurisdiction," Destrys answered.

    Upon receiving this answer, Apollo fell silent. This was because he was formting answers pertaining to his overarching purpose in his mind.

    ''If that''s the case, me arriving here couldn''t have been random. Furthermore, Destrys'' orb miraculously ending up on this specific can''t be a coincidence either. It all seems like a part of somerger agenda. After all, both of these existences surpass the confines of this world. Perhaps this was my beacon¡­ then, what are the Terrors'' purpose?''

    All these questions arising in his mind didn''t possess tangible answers at this point, but his gut told him it all revolved around him. If this wasn''t the case, he wouldn''t havee in contact with as many mystical encounters as he did.

    "Ahem, this is all besides the point, let''s get back to the matter at hand. Is it true that you have a possible choice in my mind, yes or no? If not, it is no big deal; the will just face devastation at an earlier point in time," Destrys remarked in a nonchnt tone. It went without saying, he viewed this ce as next to worthless.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s eyes widened uncontrobly. Until now, he thought he was arrogant, but Destrys took this practice to a whole new level. ''No big deal, what the... The lives of billions of people are worthless to him! Then again, it is understandable when you ount for how long he has lived. He must have witnessed countless births of worlds,'' Apollo estimated quietly.

    After a short moment, he finally admitted to what was on his mind. "It''s a possibility that I might have someone in mind to fulfill this role. But, whether or not they truly fit the bill, you''ll have to evaluate that yourself," Apollo revealed.

    "There is no need for all those extra steps, just open your mind to me. You have witnessed their power, right? All I need is to take a gander at it," Destrys said while raising his hand. Usually, opening your mind to someone was a dangerous decision. It left one vulnerable to mental damage if the other side carried hostile intentions.

    Nevertheless, Apollo felt it was beneath Destrys tomit foul y based on the loftiness he exhibited thus far. Therefore, Apollo obliged without much protest. He lowered his head and allowed Destrys'' hand to fall upon it.

    The atmosphere grew silent as Destrys scoured through his mind to locate the information he sought. Once he found it, he started to silently judge both of the candidates'' abilities. At some times, his eyebrows furrowed, at other times they rxed. Overall, it was difficult to perceive what his verdict was.

    Until he voiced it, Apollo could only wait in suspense. In the meantime, he took this opportunity to absorb some morsels of energy that were being emitted from Destrys. To his surprise, just a speck of his aura was extremely pure! It wasparable to using a Neb Shard to train, except it didn''t bolster his knowledge of the Tenebrous Path.

    After all, Destrys'' species wasn''t Demonkind. Nevertheless, he was still extremely skilled with darkness, so there were benefits to Apollo''s actions.

    Finally, Destroys retrieved his hand. "I mean, they aren''t the strongest, but they''ll suffice if you do what I told you to. The Spirit''s potential is still partially untapped, so that''s promising. But, the girl...well, she''s subpar, to say the least. It would''ve been better if you could''ve proposed a more promising individual. Still, she''ll do as well."

    He then continued, "Since you have delivered on your side of the deal. I shall reciprocate as well."

 Chapter 312 - Unlocked Gates

    ----

    Destrys first lifted his arms and caused the entire space to stagnate. The entire area was linked to his action. He could manipte it effortlessly, "Since you have fulfilled your side of the deal, it''s nigh time I did so as well."??

    At first, he was going to move forward with his predetermined ideas, but then something more fitting dawned upon him, "Would you rather I perform my desired actions or do you have any requests? Keep in mind, if your request is toorge, it will most likely inhibit what I have in store."

    For a while, Apollo pondered his options. ''Earlier, he talked about introducing me to the inheritance he left here. But, now he is also allowing me to choose. I wonder what brought about this change,'' Apollo wondered.

    "Um, before I answer this question, do you mind revealing why you allowed this chance?" Apollo questioned. Naturally, if he could obtain more information, it would allow him to make a more sound decision. After all, there had to be a reason Destrys changed his mind.

    "Ah, well, it''s quite simple. I noticed you absorbing some of my energy. Thus, it dawned upon me that you could just absorb my simplified energy instead of receiving the knowledge of my inheritance," Destrys responded.

    Apollo nodded, his assumption was correct. It was due to his actions that Destrys created another option. While both of them were beneficial, they were by no means on par with each other.

    The only thing absorbing the energy would do in this case, was increase his familiarity with the attribute of Darkness and solidify his grasp of it. On the other hand, if he got his hands on Destrys'' simplified inheritance, it would remain relevant far longer.

    As a result, Apollo''s answer was a no-brainer, "I wish to take a gander at your inheritance. The pro and cons of each situation can''t be matched. If I need to grow stronger, I believe I have to means to do so with haste," Apollo answered with confidence.

    "Very well, I like that answer. If you chose thetter, I would have been utterly disappointed in you. Unlike my energy, knowledge can continue to be merged to create infinite variations," Destrys chuckled.

    Afterward, he snapped his fingers and the entire inner structure of the orb reacted as a result. The gates all trembled as if reacting to the order of its master. Even the chains on the higher gates shattered and turned into motes of darkness that flowed into Destrys body.

    In response to his actions, the entrance to every single gate opened and disyed boundless darkness, "Every portion of the inheritance I left here has been made essible. However, I still urge you to exercise caution. After all, there is a reason that these gates were left in this order."

    Apollo was left in awe. The way Destrys manipted the principles of this space, Apollo was mystified. ''Even with the system, I can do no such thing. At the most, I only have absolute control of my Demon. On the other hand, this guy can control an entire space with ease.

    It had to be known that the orb''s inner space wasrge enough to fit 3 Vermillion Night Academies. Moreover,pared to the elements outside, the elementsprising the inner orb''s atmosphere far outssed Astarat.

    There was simply noparison. The more Apollo learned, the more he understood the differences in the solidity of a''s fundamental structures and operating uses. ''I await the day I can leave this. Only then will I be able to achieve true strength. This ce is a limitation,'' Apollo inwardly thought.

    All of a sudden, before choosing a Gate to enter, Apollo thought of something, "Now that you have made the entire inheritance essible, won''t anyone who gains ess here be privy to the information stored inside?"

    Since they had a deal, this was a thought that passed through Apollo''s mind. While he wasn''t really losing out, because he was only tasked with bringing a person here. If everyone else were to gain ess to this information, it dwindled his uniqueness.

    Moreover, it also left a slightly sour taste in his mouth as it felt like he was operating for others and taking a short end of the stick. Due to his personality, it didn''t sit well with him when he was the one who lost out in a deal. Hence, the reason he asked for rification.

    "No," Destrys sinctly replied. At the same time, there was a scornful expression on his face, "Tch, do you think my ability is so limited? What do you think that ripple caused by my snap earlier was?"

    In light of this question, Apollo smiled wryly. He was at a loss because he truly didn''t understand the purpose of that earlier ripple. It seemed Destrys was forgetting the fact that he wasn''t an omnipotent and omniscient being.

    Different from Destrys, Apollo wasn''t aware of world-altering techniques or the like. At most, he was only ustomed to witnessing raw power that was capable of leveling terrains.

    "Tch, I forgot you''re still at a primitive level. Understood, I''ll fill you in on my actions," Destrys said in a mocking tone. "I have already taken this into ount, but don''t get excited, it wasn''t for your well-being, Well, not directly at least. In truth, it was to cover my own ass."

    "How so? Aren''t you some type of unquestionable existence in your domain?" Apollo questioned with an odd expression. In his mind, if he were to arrive at Destrys'' level, he would move without restraints.

    "It doesn''t work that way. In a sense, you can say I''m more worried about the implications rather than being punished. After all, what do you think will happen if every human with a dark affinity were to be running around with my inheritance?" Destrys responded.

    Instantly, Apollo understood the crux of the issue, "If every human were to possess your inheritance, then the Council of your domain would be alerted...but, even if they are, how does that pose a threat?"

    "Ah, it''s no big deal. Just one of two things will happen, they''ll either revoke the contract to allow humans to summon Spiritual Bodies, or they may very well just eradicate this altogether," Destrys remarked with a shrug.

    Once again, Apollo''s jaw dropped. The way Destrys mentioned such disastrous situations with ease was baffling. It just seemed like big insignificance to him. Nevertheless, Apollo still sought an answer.

    "Then, how did you avoid that?" Apollo asked again.

    "I just duplicated this space. In a way, we aren''t in the same area but we are. If a human were to enter the orb, it would look the same as always. But, if you enter it, that''s a different story. Your consciousness would be diverted to this area," Destrys revealed.

    Upon receiving this answer, Apollo''s worried disappeared. As long as no one else benefitted from his sacrifices without his say-so, he was content. The more he familiarized himself with his demonic powers, the more his demeanor changed to fit the bill.

    Greed, envy, all of these emotions were bing prominent in his mind.

    Nevertheless, after receiving his answer, this matter was no longer amongst his thoughts. Now, he was much more focused on delving into the knowledge that had beenid before him.

    Since his mind was stronger than it was before, his first thought was to skip levels. While his eyes weren''t focused on the gates located at the summit, they were still high up nheless. He gazed upon a gate within the third circle.

    But, before he could even move a step, Destrys offered his opinion, "I''d advise against that. Your mind may have reached your Greater Demon level, but those gates are not as weak as you''d think. Small steps, everyone must walk before they can run."

    Although Destrys'' words madeplete sense, Apollo was a knucklehead. He wanted to test his limits.

    Thus, despite Destrys'' warning, he still proceeded forward with his action. He continued to advance closer and closer to the gate of his choosing. However, he also noticed that as he closed the distance, the atmosphere started to change.

    The light air began shifting to a murky mist. Even his sight was being obstructed. Due to his actions, Destrys'' didn''t utter another warning. If his words were just going to be disregarded, then it made no sense to waste his breath.

    In his eyes, it was much more entertaining to watch foolishness.

    By the time Apollo reached the front of the gate, he was already heaving. It felt like he had performed a hike up a neverending mountain! What he didn''t know was that each step was draining his mental strength, and this was why Destrys warned him.

    His mental capacity barely sufficed to enter that circle. Now that he was there, more than half of his spirit had been consumed. Furthermore, there was no time to recover. Left with no other choice, he could only ce his hand upon the door and proceed with his actions.

    Unfortunately, the moment he touched the door, his mental strength was sapped to nothing and he was repulsed into the distance.

    After he was sent flying, Destroys burst into a fit of uncontrobleughter, "I told you fool! Are you willing to listen to me now?"

 Chapter 313 - Nonsensical Requirements

    ----

    "Ahahahaha, how about now? Are you willing to listen to me? If not, you''re more than weed to try that foolishness again," Destrys squeezed through a fit of boisterousughter. He couldn''t help it seeing his warning wasn''t heeded.

    Since he was the one who created this space, he was more than qualified to issue a warning. Yet, Apollo didn''t regard it with sufficient belief.

    "Tsk, tsk. Pride is a terrible thing, I tell you," Destrysmented with a click of his tongue. Truth be told, he was disappointed in Apollo''s actions. It showcased an increased level of pride, to the point it was detrimental. Any logical person would have acted upon Destrys''s warning.

    "Ugh...fine. I will listen to you," Apollo groaned, trying to shake off the after-effects of the rebound. Be that as it may, due to his scarce mental strength, it wasn''t as easy as before.

    "Hmm...should I intervene? Or, should I use this as a way to teach you a lesson. When someone much stronger than you gives a warning, I suggest you take it into ount better," Destrys said.

    In light of his reprimanding words, Apollo could only show a bitter smile. After all, Destrys was correct. It was due to his confidence in his current strength that he thought he was ready to skip straight to the middle levels of the inheritance knowledge.

    Regrettably, the result denounced that idea thoroughly.

    "Nevertheless, it wasn''t as bad as I thought it would be. The fact you were only repulsed mean you''re not ascking as I previously believed. The issue is in your method," Destry revealed a light smirk.

    When Apollo approached the gate, the method he used was rather crude. He usedrge amounts of mental strength whether consciously or unconsciously, tobat the worsening atmosphere. This posed arge exhaust to his reserves.

    As the atmosphere grew increasingly murky, the strain on his mental strength increased in ordance. As a result, his reserves were akin to ake with a drain ditch attached. Once the valve was upon, a torrential stream flowed away from him.

    "My methods were wrong?" Apollo muttered, seemingly confused. Usually, whether he was confronted with an issue, the correct route was to defend himself. Hence, he instinctively reacted to this environment.

    But, ording to Destrys'' words, that mindset was wed. Not everything could be defended against. To deal with unique situations, one needed to be flexible. They needed to be a variable themselves, someone who was able to act interchangeably.

    "There is a difference between being proactive and reactive. And just now, your merely reactive. In this case, that won''t do. If you want your current mental strength to work with you, you must understand how to make it malleable. Only then will a small amount stretch a long way," Destrys said, taking up a ratherposed expression.

    He stretched his hand before Apollo and opened it until his palm faced the sky, "What the control of my own energy." Without pause, Destys utilize a palm-sized amount of mental energy.

    As it appeared, it possessed no presence. For this demonstration, he stripped everything bare and used only the most basic of energies. Gradually, the energy started to change shapes. From a crude-looking ball, its edge was ironed out until it was a smooth sphere.

    Under the influence of Destrys'' will, the energy changed into a cube, then a prism. Finally, it started to divide over and over again, until it was numerous identical yet minuscule copies of the original sphere.

    Be that as it may, the presence of the energy wasn''tpromised. In fact, each of the tiny spheres conserved the presence of Destrys'' initial energy pressure. Suddenly, it ttened into a sheet of paper in his palm.

    "You see, this is the maniption of energy. Every property of your energy should fall under your influence. It is a part of you, so you must always take time out to understand it. Even if you master techniques, it means nothing if you haven''t perfected the energy source. You''ll just be inhibiting the potential of the technique," Destrys informed.

    Afterward, he clenched his hand and allowed the motes of energy to flow into Apollo''s mind. Rapidly, Apollo''s dried-up mind was rejuvenated, simr to a dried-up oasis experiencing a boon of rain.

    "Attempt it again, but this time, remain conscious of your decisions. Don''t react, move proactively," Destrys urged. At the same time, he took a step back with a small grin on his face.

    Although he had imparted some basic knowledge about maniption, it wasn''t as easy as he made it seem. Frankly speaking, people were just vessels of energy. Even the energy they absorbed wasn''t theirs per se.

    As vessels, they were just temporary containers. But, to manipte energy meant to erase the universe''s brand on that stream of energy and form your own. For weak beings, this process would take forever, but for those like Destrys,'' it was akin to an involuntary response.

    Be that as it may, Apollo was intrigued, ''Manipte energy? Mental energy is different from Anim and Sin, I can control those very well. This other type of energy seems to be more universal. In other words, Demons and Spirits probably aren''t the only beings capable of using this.''

    As this dawned upon Apollo, he prepared himself. He operated his mind to its capacity and churned his mental energy. Once his guards were raised, he recalled the sensation the atmosphere gave.

    ''If I can have my energy mimic the ambient density, I should be able to pass through unabated,'' Apollo determined. Before he moved, however, he doubled and triple-checked his mental energy''s state to confirm the validity of his theory, ''It should be possible.''

    Once his energy reached a peak, Apollo dashed forward. The first circle was a breeze, presenting no difficulty at all. Then, the second circle of gates came. Unlike his prior attempt, since his mental state was utilized as a whole, the pressure wasn''t noticeable to him.

    But, he could also tell that from the first to the second circle, the atmosphere''s density about doubled. ''Fortunately, I listened and was prepared this time.'' While he did feel difort, about 10% of his mental capacity was exhausted tobat the increased pressure.

    Nevertheless, within 30 seconds, Apollo cleared the second circle. Now, he arrived before his old nemesis. ''The third circle.''

    Apollo''s eyes narrowed just before taking his first step inside. The two pressures couldn''t bepared. While the second circle only doubled the pressure, the third circle multiplied the pressure from the second circle by 4!

    In other words, the pressure in the third circle was 8 times greater than the first one. Luckily, Apollo wasn''t unprepared. The makeshift barrier of mental energy around him sharpened, piercing through the murky atmosphere.

    Due to this, Apollo didn''t have the luxury of sauntering. He rushed forward, matching the rhythm of his mental energy oscitions with his breathing.

    As Destrys noticed this, he became interested, ''Hoh? Even though he''ll fail again, the method he is using isn''t bad. Only, it''ll require arge reserve than what he has. Moreover, it seems he still hasn''t learned the purpose of the pressure here.''

    Destrys shook his head. Since the purpose of an inheritance site was to assess an individuals'' knowledge, Destrys wouldn''t just reveal all intents and purposes of this area. It was up to the one experiencing the tribtions to make those discoveries.

    The faster it was done, the higher one''sprehension. Granted, sometimes that wasn''t always the case. There were also outside interferences that could disrupt theprehension process. For example, the presence of uncontroble emotions and foreign sway.

    On the other hand, as Apollo reached the gate, he possessed more mental energy remaining thanst time. This discovery made him grin but, in the next moment, he was frowning yet again.

    As he ced his hand against the gate''s entrance, his expression paled. His mental energy was draining in an instant. Even after trying to utilize his Intent, it didn''t have any effect.

    [Mental Energy insufficient.]

    ''BOOM!''

    Once again, Apollo was repulsed. But, as he flew back this time, there was a look of realization upon his face, ''It''s not my energy volume that iscking, I believe it is the purity. The energyprising the gate is many times stronger than mine. But to reach that level...how long would that take?!'' Apollo eximed inwardly.

    This time, just before he hit the ground, he performed an aerial somersault andnded, "Tch, you didn''t tell me it had such a nonsensical requirement," Apollo scoffed.

    "Well, that was up to you to find out," Destrys shrugged. "Besides, it''s not like the second circle possesses any technique to increase mental strength. Have you not noticed it yet?"

    "I have...the benefits reside in the atmosphere. It makes no sense to rush here. I feel as if you were just goading me on," Apollo uttered with a frown.

    "That can be true in a sense. After all, with your pride, only your failure can change your view. Now, go train properly in this area. It''ll be best if you remain here until thatd outside wants to fetch you," Destry suggested.

    After some time, Apollo agreed with Fuhrer''s added insistence. "Fine, but before we do that. Shouldn''t we get the person of interest?"

 Chapter 314 - Creating A Marvel (I)

    ----

    "Should we go fetch the person of interest first?" Apollo questioned. He was almost certain that once he began the process of understanding the knowledge, he would be here for quite some time.

    If that was the case, then it was much more practical for him to fetch Sapphyr before he got too invested. Once that happened, it would be difficult to muster the desire to bring her here without first advancing upon the inheritance knowledge.

    After all, if he needed to familiarize himself with the environment and utilize it to his benefit, then that would take a certain amount of time. During that period, interruption could easily disrupt the sensitive state he would enter as a prerequisite.

    As a result, Destroys felt this was a sound suggestion, "Hm, you''re not wrong. Very well, let''s have you go them." After conceding, he crossed his arms and waited for Apollo to return before moving forward with anything."

    At first, Apollo was simply going to exit through the vast gate behind him, but then recalled Geneva. If he left now, then it wouldn''t be useful. Undoubtedly, she would pester him for information about the odd state the orb was in.

    "Is it possible for you to transport my body along with the conscious to the position of the woman and Spirit?" Apollo inquired. If he could bypass Geneva for now, then it was best.

    "Of course, that is a simple task. I see you want to avoid that woman for now, very well. Here," Destrys waved his arm causing a strange marking to appear on Apollo''s palm. It looked simr to a dagger, but also a tooth. The other difference was that it seemed doubled-sided.

    "This inscription will allow you to teleport to the desired person. It isposed of 2 separate sets of inscriptions. One is for you to travel, and the other for you to return. Remember, it can only transport 3 beings at max. Don''t bring anyone else here, even someone linked towards," Destrys warned.

    As he heard this, Apollo smiled wryly. Truth be told, he thought of bringing both Ouroboros and ia here as both of them utilized dark techniques. There was arge possibility of them advancing further under the guidance of this knowledge.

    Now, however, his desires had been doused by Destrys words, "Am I barred from bringing people herepletely?"

    "No, not at all. However, while that woman is here, she''ll already create interference. Even though this ce is separate from the orb''s true space, you two will share the same space. In other words, the more people you bring to this special area, the less you''ll be able to derive from it," Destrys revealed.

    All of the gates here operated on a shared source. If it was a single person absorbing the energy and engraved knowledge, it wouldn''t pose an issue. However, the addition of a single person would immediately split the avable source volume in half.

    After all, the intended purpose of this special area was only to have Apollo understand everything here. If another person was introduced, then they weren''t ounted for, to begin with, and would throw everything out of tune.

    "I see. So until I reach my limit, I shouldn''t extend this opportunity to anyone else. Got it," Apollo assented. Afterward, he tapped his finger on the inscription on his arms causing his consciousness to disappear from this space.

    Be that as it may, once he disappeared, Destrys chuckled, "Silly boy. You could have just asked me to increase the capacity of the area. Nevertheless, closed mouths don''t get fed. Furthermore, his course of action is unique. He favors deals over debts."

    ----

    Meanwhile, back in the Vermillion Night Academy grounds, Xezym''s appearance grew serious as he felt an unexined surge of dark energy. His hand instinctively reached towards his weapon, "Who has the audacity to break into the residence of my Lady?"

    As the ripple''s fluctuations intensified, so did Xezym''s aura. At first, he was just building it, but now he was on the brink of releasing it.

    All of a sudden, Apollo appeared from within a fracture in space. The moment his foot touched the floor, his eyes widened, "Woah!" A cold, obsidian long sword pressed against his neck as Xezym''s cold eyes remained on his body.

    "Apollo? How did you get in here?" Xezym questioned with narrowed eyes. This residence wasn''t like Apollo''s in the Outer Barracks. The security formations had been strengthened three times over. It was at the standard of all residences within the Core Barracks.

    "I...can''t reveal that right now. I''m sure you know that the formations are outfitted with recording functions. Because of this, I can''t reveal my secrets. However, can you lower your de?" Apollo remarked, pressing his finger against the tip of Xezym''s weapon.

    Although it wasn''t overly sharp, it was still strong enough to sever his outer defenses fueled by Demonic Anima. ''Xezym must have gotten stronger, or the strength he used in our past spars was irrelevant whenpared to his true strength.''

    "Tch, you''re lucky. If you were someone else, your body would no longer have a head tomand it," Xezym replied, lowering his de at the same time. Once he sheathed his weapon, Xezym nced over Apollo repeatedly.

    "A Spirit Warrior now, huh. I see. You''re progressing rather quickly too. If I''m not wrong, you should be somewhere within the middle levels right?" Xezym voiced, more or less measuring Apollo''s current strength.

    "Yeah, something like that. But-

    "What''s all themotion?" A feminine voice echoed, interrupting Apollo''s words.

    From within the doorway behind them, Sapphyr appeared with her head wrapped in a steaming towel. As she looked up, she noticed Apollo''s presence, "Apollo? Xezym, you let him in?"

    "I did not, he let himself in. He just appeared here. If he knocked, I would have told him that you were currently trending to your humanly needs," Xezym replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

    Meanwhile, Apollo stood there silently. As he looked Sapphyr up and down, he subconsciously made aparison between Geneva and Sapphyr, ''Maybe it is unjust the influence of Azridan and Fuhrer, but I am bing more conscious of them.''

    "Ahem, it''s kind of rude to just intrude Apollo. Haven''t I taught you any manners?" Sapphyr sighed, exaggeratedly shaking her head. She also tossed the towel aside as the rest of the water on her evaporated.

    "Mm, that''s beside the point. I came here with a purpose, or more so a proposition. How would you like to obtain more power?" Apollo voiced with an enticing tone. Subconconsiciouly, he used the innate temptation ability of a demon. Especially so with his appearance refining as the days passed.

    Compared to 5 years ago when he first started his change, his appearance now could only be described as enthralling. This was especially true when talking about his eyes. They now resembled crystalline amethyst gems with a dark sensation to them.

    "Power? No. I''ve learned my lesson to stay away from you. I don''t know how you do it, but you perform some illogical feats. I don''t wish to meddle with something I don''t understand," Sapphyr instantly rejected.

    Ever since Apollo absorbed her negative thoughts more than once, she found herself curious about the purpose of his power. Yet, she also found herself bing warier of him. If he could do that while m, any times weaker than her, would he be able to devour her mind who when he became stronger than here?

    These types of thoughts inhibited her from trusting the power Apollo held.

    Of course, Apollo could feel her apprehension. Moreover, it was to be expected. If the roles were reversed, he would do the same thing. Unfortunately, Apollo wasn''t the type to simply give up.

    "Oh? You may say that, but I don''t believe it true. Aren''t you tired of being weak?" Apollo questioned. The tone he used coulde off as rude, but it also carried a tinge of self ridicule.

    Nevertheless, it still made Sapphyr''s frown deepen, "Weak? Where do you get off calling me weak?"

    "Well, against me you might not be. But, what hjappens if we ount for someone stronger? Someone like your sister, Sarai. I believe that was her name right?" Apollo retorted with a light chuckle.

    Due to his disrespectful demeanoer, even Xezym reacted, "We may share a faint rtionship, but watch your words!" One thing Xezym found unepted was contempt towards Sapphyr. After all, he had been in her presence for over a decade.

    "I only speak the truth, isn''t that right, Sapphyr? I know you need power," Apollo insisted, targeting Sapphyr''s weakness.

    Behind Xezym, Sapphyr trembled as her teeth punctured her lip. Apollo''s word were making her react!

 Chapter 315 - Creating A Marvel (II)

    ----

    "Isn''t that right? You know power is what you need. Don''t try and deceive yourself. Your future will only be worse. What happens when you run into your sister again and you''re still in the state of power," Apollo added.

    These words made Sapphyr''s trembles even more apparent. The more he talked, the more Sapphyr felt a surge of emotion. She recalled all of the wrongs she had experienced at the hands of her half-sister as well as her grandfather.

    Her grasp around her clothing grew tighter as the turbulent thoughts continued to impact her mind. Erratic fluctuations started tosh out from her body as a result. Xezym felt it, but he knew when Sapphyr reached such a state, he was powerless to help.

    However, Apollo merely smiled in response, "This reaction alone should be a testament to how much you need strength. Let me help you, or do you still hold attachment to them? Do you view them as family?"

    "Apollo...why prey on someone''s vulnerability? It even seems as if you take pleasure in witnessing this sight," Xezym frowned, expressing his dissatisfaction with Apollo''s actions.

    Regrettably, Apollo didn''t care for outside opinions. As long as he felt his actions were correct, there wasn''t a force alive that could dissuade him from following through with his actions.

    "ept¡­" Sapphyr muttered in an indiscernible fashion.

    As Apollo approached her, he acted as if he didn''t understand her answer, "What was that? I couldn''t quite hear you."

    At first, there was a slight pause, but once Apollo stood before her, it was like a dam broke, her emotions breaking free from their restraints. "I said I ept! Tell me how you''ll give me this power!"

    "No no no, you misunderstand. It isn''t me with the ability to give you power. It is someone much stronger. But before that, we should correct this chaotic mental state of yours," Apollo responded.

    Afterward, he ced his palm against Sapphyr''s forehead, an exuberant suction force appearing from it. Gradually, the crazed emotion seething within Sapphyr''s eyes petered out.

    Once Apollo absorbed everything, her mind returned to a suitable state. "Follow me. Oh, and Xezym, you too. This isn''t just for Sapphyr, you need to be stronger as well."

    Before they could respond, Apollo tapped their bodies before activating thest inscription on his palm. A dark aura engulfed both of them, immediately wresting them away from their current location.

    ----

    Within mere seconds of activating the inscription, a portal opened within the special proximal space Destrys created. From inside the portal, Apollo as well as Xezym and Sapphyr appeared.

    Contrary to what one would expect, Destrys wasn''t the first thing to be noticed. They immediately realized there was an odd being meditating in the center of the clearing. Their helmet was off, showcasing their almost crimson skin, as well as the strong markings flowing from under their eye socket.

    "W-what is that? I have never heard of a Spirit with that type of experience," Sapphyr uttered with a stupefied expression. Subconsciously, shepared the presence Fuhrer innately exuded and the strongest aura Xezym could muster.

    When she did so side by side, she realized that it couldn''t be done. They were in twopletely different leagues. When he gazed upon Fuhrer''s body, it felt like he could cause her imminent death without sparing any effort.

    Meanwhile, in the case of Xezym, Sapphyr was sure she could resist for quite some time. As a result, her estimation didn''t need any further deliberation. Her verdict was that Xezym simply wasn''t his match.

    "Is that your Spirit?" Sapphyr questioned, ncing over in Apollo''s direction. No matter how she looked at it, this existence was far too strong for his mind to contain. But, if it was the truth, then she could see why he was advancing so fast.

    If it was the result of this being, then it wouldn''t hard to believe. After all, Paragons were ssified as paragons due to the Spirits they contracted. Each prior Paragon contractions with a Spirit that taught them powerful Spiritual Arts capable of elevating theirbat levels to nonsensical degrees.

    "Correct, he is mine," Apollo answered, but if one realized, he omitted the word Spirit. It didn''t do Fuhrer just to lie about his existence nor would he reveal his true identity to those outside of his control.

    Unlike Geneva, Sapphyr wasn''t corrupted. So, he didn''t possess the means to influence her at all. If he wished to do so, he would need to either demonize her or find a way to corrupt her with Hellfire''s defiling properties. Unfortunately, Sapphyr didn''t possess an affinity with fire, so thetter choice was impossible to aplish.

    As for the former, if he demonized her, then his deal with Destrys would be considered void. Thus, even though Apollo harbored thoughts of corrupting her, he couldn''t follow through with it unless he possessed a recement.

    "I see," Sapphyr responded. All of a sudden, her heart started to pound as she felt an odd source of emotions. She looked towards Xezym to find him in a daze. Until now, this never happened. So, Sapphyr was unsure how to deal with it.

    The only solution she came up with was to determine the cause of the sudden issue. Any instability in their connection could lead to futureplications if they didn''t deal with it now. With that being said, Sapphyr froze as her vision fell upon the source of Xezym''s reverie.

    A dark being donned in attire simr to Xezym stood before them. However, unlike Xezym, the attire Destrys wore blended with the ambient darkness. It was as if he utilized the world to create his gear.

    "G-great one, the Dark Primordial," Xezym squeezed out, barely able to formte his words. As a show of respect, he bowed his head and dropped to one knee without a second thought, "This lowly one greets you Dark One."

    "Arise," Destrymanded, waving his arm. This conjured a dark current that brought Xezym back to his feet, "You originate from my domain, so you are familiar with my presence. However, this is a mere fragment of my being."

    In response, Xezym nodded like an obedient child. Unlike the Demons, the Spirit was broken down into innumerable fractions. The immense Spirit world was partitioned into domains. And each of those domains held a single Primordial which possessed abilities as the height of their elements.

    However, these elements weren''t restricted to the elements that made up the cosmos. There were even Primordial renowned for the sword, spear, etc. To put it simply, Destrys was merely one of the great ones of the Spirit Race.

    Meanwhile, as she listened to their words, Sapphyr struggled to breathe. Most of the present humans weren''t aware of a presence like Destrys. After all, the strongest that was permitted to walk the surface of Astarat was a Legendary Spirit.

    Moreover, the Headmaster kept Destrys'' fragment secret for the most part. Those who were privy to its existence were no longer alive. Hence, the presence of Destrys was erased from the annals of Astarat''s history.

    "The orb has sent numerous emergency signals. It appears this is in jeopardy of face a great catastrophe. It is because of this that I must inform you that you aren''t enough," Destrys announced.

    He then lifted two of his fingers and pointed towards each of them, "Would you like to absorb my teachings, presence, and perhaps an item?"

    "ept? Of course, I ept! I wouldn''t dare sphemy your gracious offer," Xezym replied immediately. To receive the teaching of a Primordial, even if fragmented, was an immense fortune.

    On the other hand, Sapphyr was still speechless. Even though she wanted to respond, her throat could only spasm. In addition to her baffled mind, her affinity was going haywire. A sign that the area was flooded with pure dark energy.

    "Littledy, breathe. Grab ahold of your mind and formte a concrete answer," Destrys said with an amused chuckle.

    Apollo chuckled along, whispering to her, "He''s not as unapproachable as you think. Just calm down."

    Sapphyr looked at him with a faint nod before exhaling repeatedly. Once she gained control of herself, she was finally able to muster an answer, "Yes, I would like to ept your teaching. I implore you to bestow power upon me."

    Suddenly, Destrys'' expression changed, bing increasingly dark. Both Xezym and Sapphyr could even respond before he ced his hands on his chest. Two foreign gates opened and propulsed them inside.

 Chapter 316 - Indebted To A Demon

    ----

    "Hmm? What was that?" Apollo inquired as both Xezym and Sapphyr disappeared into the gates. Unlike the rest of the gates present, the one they were sent inside felt fundamentally different. If he had to make aparison, then it was simr to being dumped inside a pool and an ocean.

    One possessed fewer dangers as well as less space for movement whereas thetter was boundless but presented countless dangers.

    "That was just a Legacy Gate. It isn''t like the gates here. They are direct records of my own actions. In other words, they''ll experience what I intend to teach them firsthand. If the woman grasps enough, then I will bestow upon her my fragment," Destrys answered.

    "Legacy Gate? Then what do you call these things right here? What is the difference between them?" Apollo asked. At the same time, he started preparing himself to enter the second circle.

    "Well, these are mere Gates. It''s just a device used by the Spirits to record techniques themselves. It''s more a general approach whereas the more detailed Legacy Gates are a tailored approach. It makes those who experience it go through a moreplete indulgence," Destrys replied.

    Afterward, he looked towards the closed Legacy Gates and nodded, "Yes, based on their current attainments, they should be able to absorb some type of power. As for the extent, that is dependent on them. Fortunately, once it is opened, it will remain open to them."

    Destrys then turned toward Apollo with raised eyebrows, "Why are you still here? Can''t you feel the thinning ambient energy? Those Legacy Gates consume far more resources than these other normal Gates. If you dawdle for too long, the benefits will elude you."

    "What?" Apollo eximed in shock. In light of Destrys'' words, he stopped sitting around and dashed towards the second area.

    While doing so, he looked towards the sealed Legacy Gates. He then recorded some information in his mind, ''From this point forward, you''re indebted to a demon and I''lle at ater time to reim those debts.''

    Shortly after, Apollo entered and situated himself within the second circle. Unlike before, he didn''t form a protectiveyer around his Soul Form. ording to Destrys, raising heightened defenses was the incorrect method to deal with the pressure present in the area.

    The purpose of the pressure was to temper the mind. After all, darkness was the element most closely rted to the mind. It influenced dark thoughts, it produced fear, and overall, it was the most enigmatic of all the elements.

    However, before moving forward, Apollo released his restraint over his demonic form, returning to his prior state. Once in his Iraym Form, the amount of mental damage he could resist skyrocketed.

    In fact, the second circle was barely capable of conjuring difort. Be that as it may, he still felt a faint pressure nheless. Until he could withstand itpletely, it wasn''t ideal to move positions.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer opened his eyespletely. In that short period of time, he managed to recover his soul to its former state and beyond. The dissonance between his body and desire was slimmer than before. As long as he held out, it wouldn''t be long before he would be able to reim his peak.

    "Destrys, let''s talk. The thinning of the barriers, how bad is it?" Fuhrer probed.

    "Well, as you see, there is a foreign race on this. I don''t know what they call it here, but I''m sure you''re aware of their true name; the Absorbeyns, a revolting race," Destrys uttered with a look of disgust.

    However, when Fuhrer heard this name, his eyes narrowed, "That abominable race that is slippery as loaches? Sensing their presence is a monumental task since their presence is masked by a disrupting aura."

    "Correct," Destrys admitted.

    "So that''s what the gue of this world is. However, I doubt their strongest beings have been sent here. Also, it appears they are called Terrors here. If their strongestbatants were sent here, then this world would have been no more," Fuhrer surmised, rubbing his chin in thought.

    The more he pieced fragments of information together, the more he understood just why Apollo''s soul was sent to this ce. There was a multitude of reasons and ordeals that could induce an elerated growth. Inparison to a fostered life in the Nihilistic Rings aftering in contact with the Lost Council, it would be much faster.

    ''I see. So Absorbeyns are already present here. I just hope they aren''t able to contact their homeworld. My liege isn''t ready to hide out in the Nihilistic Rings. If he is there too long, that sealed world will call out to him. Once that happens, a sh of the candidates will ur,'' Fuhrer inwardly frowned.

    Based on Apollo''s current strength, a single sh would result in his death. Moreover, as far as Fuhrer''s knowledge of Irzanath''s strength went, it was nonexistent. The only knowledge he possessed was from what Azridan revealed in the past.

    Nevertheless, if it came to be, Fuhrer would just have to act earlier than estimated.

    While their conversation took ce, Apollo finally rose to his feet and advanced toward the third circle. Once inside, he took his time to limate to the more stringent conditions.

    Simr to the prior circle, he raised zero defenses. He allowed his mental energy to bepressed continuously. Each of thepressions caused his mind to operate more efficiently, his Tainted Temple trembling in the process.

    ''Although the difort is overbearing, I''ll have to deal with this much if I wish to advance further,'' Apollo thought to himself, withstanding the torrential pressure. Now that he took the time to feel out everything, he realized the pressure was segmented into different zones.

    The outermost area was only twice as great as the preceding second circle. Inparison, the following zones continued to increase by one increment until they ultimately arrived at four times the second circle.

    Be that as it may, it only took Apollo a few hours to exhaust the benefits of the first zone, moving to the next without hesitation. This process repeated, but each portion took longer and longer to ovee.

    ''I''m not exhausting mental energy, but it''s a terrible sensation. I believe this is worse than mental exhaustion,'' Apollo determined. Just like with mental exhaustion, he was pale. However, the stark contrast was that this paleness was the result of mental fatigue from repeated impacts and not consumption.

    All of a sudden, Destrys''s attention was stimted, "Young boy, entered the second circles'' gate. It should do you well."

    "The second gate?" Apollo muttered. Truth be told, even moving right now was extremely difficult. To summon the strength to enter the gate at this very moment, seemed to be beyond his current capabilities.

    "Yes, enter it now. Don''t wait until you recover from it. Learn to operate through the immense fatigue. Only then will your resilience undergo shocking transformations. You do want to be a Monarch, no?" Destrys urged.

    As he and Fuhrer conversed, Fuhrer finally revealed the existence of Apollo''s Domination Intent. It was this ability alone that allowed the First Monarch to emerge triumphant in their spars.

    Hence, once he found out that Apollo possessed it, he was excited to see the summit he could take it to.

    "U-urgh," Apollo groaned as he tried to rise to his feet. Despite Destrys urging words, he couldn''t neglect the extreme amounts of pain he was feeling. Just the simple act of moving consumed arge portion of his willpower.

    ''How does he expect me to enter that gate?'' Apollo inwardly thought, ncing in the direction of the unique gate amongst the many.

    Even though heined, he still dragged his powerless body in the direction of the gate. Ultimately, he ended up there.

    "I...made it." Even though he felt relieved, he was also thoroughly surprised. This was because, unlike the third gate, the second gate opened without an issue. Moreover, the absorption effect never appeared.

    On the contrary, this gate seemed to resonate with his mental energy instead. In light of this finding, Apollo''s eyebrows furrowed. ''I''ve truly been yed but that is no one''s fault but my own.''

    With a sigh, Apollo entered the gate and found himself surrounded by darkness. However, unlike his first experience, this darkness was fundamentally different. It had a flow and it operated at random.

    There were times when the darkness''s flow converged toward Apollo and times when it shifted away from him. However, one thing remained constant. There were instances in which the flow was unounted for and appeared elsewhere.

    Suddenly, the scenery changed and Apollo found himself in a storm but was mystified by it. This was the first time he witnessed such a massive storm spurred on by dark energies.

    "Wait a minute...is the pattern of this flow identical to the circumstances I was just in?" As Apollo realized this, he started to pay attention to different areas of the storm. When he attempted to extend his perception, he realized it was being continuously severed.

    "This dark energy is sharp! If I''m not mistaken it should be simr to those shes Destrysunched at Fuhrer!" Apollo eximed. This realization caused Apollo to be intent on learning this particr technique.

 Chapter 317 - Void Rend, Refined Mind

    ----

    The darkness continued tocerate Apollo''s soul form, creating bits and pieces of dark particles that warped his soul''s solidity. ''This...this technique. On top of being an offensive ability, it seems as if it also lingers. However, there also seems to be an obscure guide,'' Apollo thought quietly.

    Every time a sh nicked a piece of his Soul Form away, Apollo inched closer to learning the basics of the technique. Unlike a typical method, the best way to absorb this knowledge was by experiencing the effects firsthand.

    As a result, in order to properly learn the hidden technique, Apollo had to experience damage. Luckily, he wasn''t worried about the technique endangering his soul. After all, when Fuhrer''s soul was damaged, Destrys assisted in recovering the wounds that were inflicted.

    "I''m right there," Apollo muttered, clenching his jaw. He could feel it, the line separating him and the next partial fragment was thinning with each passing second. Just one more push and he would break past the threshold.

    In light of this, Apollo closed his eyes and opened his entire soul to the remnants of the energy present. While this was a dangerous move, it had to be done. Unlike the tempering process beforehand, the des were continually draining his mental energy along with umting fatigue.

    If he didn''t take lead, then he would exhaust what little mental energy remained before grasping the technique.

    Thus, he stopped acting conservatively. With his defenseid bare, he absorbed arge bombardment of the ceaselessly conjured des which left his soul in a state simr to tatters. Be that as it may, he didn''t grimace norin. Apollo merely closed his eyes with a cid look on his face.

    Thatst series of strikes was different from the rest. It was almost as if the area could sense that he rendered his defenses null. And, because of that, it overwhelmed him with a fusideposed of torrential dark energy.

    Needless to say, it was enough to saturate his soul beyond what was needed.

    Due to this, Apollo''sprehensions were both quick and profound. It wouldn''t take long for him toplete to process. All he needed was a serene environment to absorb the information.

    Unfortunately, this atmosphere wouldn''t simply wait for that to happen. Since it was a test ofprehension, outside conditions were usually utilized to obstructprehension.

    It was up to the individual to possess enough fortitude to resist that obstruction. Failure simply meant they weren''t ready and sess meant they were adequately skilled.

    All of a sudden, a ripple of darkness appeared around Apollo''s body. It flickered in and out of existence with a faint presence. If his peers tried to sense this, it would be barely discernible. But, it wasn''t due to its weakness. On the contrary, it was due to the fusion Apollo was trying to attempt.

    At first, the ripple was ck, but then it shifted to grey. A momentter, it changed into a see-through amethyst. However, based on the fluctuations from the energy, it wasn''tplete yet.

    It became contrived, twisting and turning until light no longer affected it. Unbeknownst to Apollo, he was melding his Tenebrous attainments with the knowledge gained from this experience.

    On the other hand, the dark storm reached a peak,unching dark des in sporadic intervals. Quickly, they all hurled towards Apollo, intent on disintegrating his soul. The closer they came, the more momentum they picked up, extracting sustenance from the dark storm.

    Not too long after, they arrived before Apollo, but something unexpected took ce. Each of the des aimed towards him stopped in ce after gradually losing speed. At a nce, it would seem like it lost its power source but that wasn''t the case.

    The ripple around Apollo had changed drastically in little no time at all.

    It split into numerous parts which then turned into des that reacted to the iing projectiles. Apollo''s strike immediately lost out upon initial collision, but unlike the iing attacks, Apollo possessed more energy des.

    Slowly, Apollo opened his eyes and witnessed the ordeal unfold. He raised his hand and continued to guide the darkness des. Halfway through their flight path, the shes became invisible. Hence, the reason why the iing des seemed to stop of their own ord.

    "Interesting. I''ll call this technique Void Rend. Multiple des of darkness which possessed increased cloaking abilities. I''m not sure how powerful the stealth capabilities are, but the power of the des is already quite powerful," Apollo muttered in slight shock.

    At first, he didn''t expect the attack to be that strong. In truth, he expected it to be far weaker than the des this storm conjured. After all, he had entered this ce while operating on fumes.

    Nevertheless, he had forgotten about his dormant Tenebrous powers. In addition to masking his power, it also possessed the ability to augment darkness.

    After all, darkness was birthed from the void and the Tenebrous Path was created from the same origins. It was only logical that they could meld as one andplement each other.

    Gradually, the repeated impact of his torrent of Void Rend des pushed back the darkness des until finally, they shattered them.

    Simultaneously, Apollo''s de dispersed as well. Since his mental strength had reached its limits, he didn''t possess the means to keep the technique active.

    With an exhale, he retreated to the gate behind him. If he stayed any longer, the storm would just continue to conjure those des without end. Should that happen, he would just end up in a precarious situation.

    A few moments after he entered the gate, his body was ejected back into the special space.

    When he appeared, Destrys crossed his arms and shook his head for some reason, "You finally exit. I didn''t expect you to take so long to learn a simple technique such as Darkness Rend."

    Due to his current condition, Apollo didn''t immediately respond. On the contrary, he took the time to recover some strength. The repeated actions of reaching his limit left him on the verge of passing out. If that happened, he wasn''t sure what would happen to his body.

    After all, this was just his Soul Form. What''s more, he never allowed his Soul Form to be this weak. Therefore, he didn''t want to learn the penalties of allowing his soul to experience extreme weakness.

    "Tch. If you attempt that on your own, it will take too long," Destrys scoffed, finding Apollo''s actions idiotic. He waved his hand and sent a cloud of dark ethereal energy towards Apollo.

    First, it reappeared the countless small wounds on his body. Then, it reinforced his Soul Form, bringing it back to its peak. However, as Apollo realized how reinvigorated he felt, he thought something was amiss.

    "What is this sensation?" Apollo mumbled in awe, examining his palm from front to back. Compared to before, his Soul Form wasn''t as translucent. There was now a hint of solidity.

    "Obviously, you have experienced refinement. Just training your vessel isn''t enough. If you train your consciousness separately, you''ll increase your progress twofold. Regrettably, ces to train the consciousness are hard toe by. Even this ce will only suffice to a certain level," Destrys revealed.

    Afterward, he examined Apollo thoroughly, "Show me the fruits of yourprehension. Surely you didn''tprehend someckluster version of my technique." Destrys chortled, teasing Apollo.

    What Apollo didn''t know was that the technique everyone learned wasn''t truly the same. While it was all a rendition of Darkness Rend, the weaker one''s energy, the weaker their version of the de would be. This was why Destrys urged Apollo to temper his mental strength.

    If there was a disconnect between darkness affinity and mental strength, it would lead to an abnormal Darkness Rend. In this case, abnormal wouldn''t be beneficial, it would be dangerous. There was a chance of the entire technique going haywire and damaging the conjurer as well.

    Finally, once he recovered to a suitable state, Apollo lifted his hand towards Destrys. A dark de formted slowly before elerating towards him. Gradually, it picked up speed until the vibrations allowed its presence to disperse.

    Destrys'' eyebrow rose in surprise as he snapped his finger. A distinct shattering noise echoed from the space before him, "Not bad, this isn''t a typical Darkness Rend, it''s different. It''s been mixed with a revered practice of your Demons. What do you call it?"

    "Void Rend," Apollo muttered.

    "That''s good, but as it is now, you haven''t taken it to its zenith. When you do so, the true meaning of a rend will befall you," Destrys said whilst clenching his hand. The shattered de pieces back together before twisting to the point it tore space open.

    "A true rend is meant to tear. However, for that to be possible, you must continue to refine yourself. With that being said, it seems something is bing rather unrefined while awaiting your return," Destrys uttered with a delighted chuckle.

 Chapter 318 - Restless Individual

    ----

    "Someone is getting restless? Do you mean the individual waiting outside these doors for me?" Apollo questioned, ncing behind himself. While the ability to look outside this special world was blocked, he could more or less tell what Destrys meant. After all, there was only one person who had apanied him here.

    "Correct. Based on their mental fluctuation, it would seem they''re growing rather impatient," Destroys chuckled in response. Whenever he witnessed someone growing agitated, feelings of delight welled inside him.

    As Apollo witnessed this, a thought arose in his mind, ''Is it me, or is this giddy attitude simr to Azridan''s response when I used to cause trouble in his presence.'' Whenparing one another, there were indeed simrities in their behavior, but there was also some stark contrast.

    Unlike Destrys who was delighted to see people agitated and flustered, Azridan was more so interested in Apollo causing mayhem and exacting revenge. After all, the way he was killed cause unresolved malice to fester inside him. As a result, in some situations, his judgment could only be seen as wed.

    "I see. It wouldn''t hurt to stay here longer. I''ll just deal with the confusion when I leave this ce," Apollo responded, attempting to take a seat and properly digest what heprehended. Unfortunately for him, it seemed his desire wouldn''t be fulfilled as Destrys presented a dark smile.

    ----

    Outside of the orb within the Tethered Shadow Origin Room, Geneva continued to grow impatient as he looked at Apollo''s lifeless body in a lotus position. The longer Apollo stayed inside, the more she fidgeted about.

    "How long will you stay in there? It''s been days! I''ve never seen anyone''s consciousnessst this long in there," Geneva groaned, tapping her heel against the ground.

    Typically, a person wouldn''t stay longer than 24 hours at a time within the orb''s space. This was because the umted fatigue could impact cognizance after a prolonged period of time. Not to mention, admittance usually exhausted Academic Credits.

    Yet, in Apollo''s case, he didn''t have such worries. The unique situation brought about by the changes in the orb allowed him to enter this ce free of charge. This was another reason he intended to take advantage of this freebie.

    Sadly, Destrys was a whimsical individual. Not too long after Geneva''sints reached a new height, Apollo''s eyes opened. However, before moving, he allowed his body time to adapt to the resurgence of his consciousness. After all, a prolonged separation produced dyed responses.

    Despite his intentions, the fluctuations that apanied his return didn''t elude Geneva''s sharp senses. She was aware of the moment he returned. Hence, the rhythmic clicking of heels approaching entered Apollo''s ears.

    "Apollo¡­~" Geneva lulled, ring at Apollo from behind. Not only did her impatience reach a peak, but she was also peeved about another thing that happened while they were here.

    In response to her call, Apollo turned around slowly, "Yes?"

    Unsurprisingly, there was a frown on Apollo''s face. Due to Destrys'' actions, he was disgruntled. Despite his pleads to stay longer, he still rejected him from the space.

    More importantly, the reason behind his expulsion was rted to Geneva. Thus, Apollo''s arge part of Apollo''s consternation was directed towards Geneva.

    "Just what are you frowning for? I should be the one unhappy! Do you know how long I''ve been here? 11 days! I had to delegate so many tasks within these couple of days to ensure your safety," Geneva barked, ring at Apollo.

    When Apollo heard 10 days, his eyes widened, ''Ten days? I was in there for that long? It felt like no more than that 1 or 2 days at most. It seemsprehension is a whole other monster. No wonder Destrys criticized me for taking too long,'' Apollo marveled silently.

    The time flow within that space followed the same rules as Astarat. The reason Apollo became unaware of the passage of time was due to how deeply theprehension engrossed him.

    In that state, let alone noticing the time, even one''s thoughts became hard to locate.

    "I didn''t realize I was gone for that long," Apollo responded with a wry smile. At most, he wanted to be absent for 3 days. This was because of Vc''s tendency to misbehave coupled with the fact he had drawn Fuhrer''s consciousness to this ce.

    Without Fuhrer present, there was a chance Vc would escape the confines of the residence. Needless to say, that was an ordeal with a single conclusion¡ªmind-boggling mayhem.

    Should that happen, Apollo was sure he would have a headache on his hands. Luckily, since Geneva failed to mention any abnormal urrences taking ce, he pushed this worry to the back of his mind.

    On the other hand, judging by Geneva''s current expression, she was far from done. "That''s not all. You need to exin yourself! Where did you disappear to 8 days ago? One day you were sitting before me and the next, poof! You''re gone," Geneva scolded with a re.

    ''8 days ago? Ah, she must be talking about when I fetched Sapphyr. That''s right. Since I used the inscription, she wouldn''t have sensed Sapphyr. Unlike me, she was drawn to the created space entirely. Not to mention, the Legacy Gate seemed to swallow her body as well,'' Apollo recalled.

    Apollo then shrugged nonchntly, brushing aside Geneva''s fervent questioning, "I just needed to fetch someone. No big deal."

    "What? Who? Ever since it called out to you, there hasn''t been a single person who''s been able to enter," Geneva eximed with an animated expression. If Apollo was able to bring someone inside, then perhaps the restriction on the usage had been lifted.

    Sadly, Apollo''s next words dampened her excitement, "Sapphyr, but I don''t suggest you reveal this information. When she returns, she may longer be the same. Also, this is all I know so I''m in the dark about any further questions."

    "Then, does that mean entry is still restricted? You haven''t resolved the issue?" Geneva inquired with a growing frown.

    As he saw her expression, Apollo could only shake his head, "I''m not sure. You can always experiment. Reopen the doors and see if anyone can enter."

    Now that Apollo had met Destrys, the orb should have fulfilled its task. What''s more, since it had Sapphyr absorbing the inheritance in the special space. It should possess enough energy to return to its prior operation.

    "I guess that''s right. Anyway, you need to return and prepare for the excursion into the sub-realm. I expect you to act upon your side of the deal," Geneva voiced, giving Apollo a meaningful look.

    Afterward, Geneva took Apollo and exited the Origin Room. However, right before they left, Apollo nced back through the closing door and witnessed the orb''s reinvigorated luminance. A small smile crept upon his lips as this happened.

    ''That wily old fox, he knows he won''t be able to sustain the proximal space for long. If he wishes for that to happen, then it''ll require arge energy source. And, what better of a source than to use to those who use you,'' Apollo internalized.

    ----

    A few moments after leaving the Night Institute, Apollo nced in the direction of the Outer Barracks. For now, his utmost concern was policing Vc. If that headache got on the loose, his intention of keeping his demonic identity under wraps would be foiled.

    Activating the Umbra Phantom Mantle, he disappeared from where he stood and advanced forward.

    Once again, as she witnessed this, Geneva was stupefied by this technique, ''No matter how I look at it, theplexity of this technique rivals the practices found inside that orb. Although he denies it, he must possess some type of connection with the Spirit Race,'' Geneva assumed, drawing conclusions based on what he felt.

    All of a sudden, she grasped her head as a short bout of powerlessness washed over her, "U-urgh..."

    Right before she stumbled, an aged hand caught her side.

    "Headmaster Geneva, your condition seems to be worsening and guing you more often these days," Robyn uttered, examining her closely. Since he was aware of her gruesome wound, he always kept a close eye on her when in public.

    "I''m fine," Geneva said weakly, in a voice akin to a whisper. An enrapturing gleam shed in her eyes before subsiding as he looked in his direction. As proof of her im, she regained control over herself.

    Be that as it may, Robyn felt as if she was merely putting up a facade, "Are you sure? The frequency of your seque seems to be on par with the initial time period."

    "I''m sure," Geneva affirmed, standing straight.

    Since she refused to admit anything, Robyn decided not to press the matter. Instead, he turned his attention towards the Resource Hall, "If you need me, you know where to find me."

    A breeze apanied his exit as his presence was no more.

    Meanwhile, Geneva was left frowning. "This is all your fault. I''ll pay you back for this. I finally understand what you were saying in the room."

    Amidst her grumbling, Geneva ced her hand on her torso.

    ----

    Meanwhile, inside the Outer Barracks,

    Apollo ced his hand on the door of his residence but he stopped suddenly. His eyes narrowed before turning around abruptly.

    A white-haired beauty stood behind him with a disgruntled expression, staring daggers at him. Based on her expression, could tell something was up, "What happened Odessa?"

    "Tch¡­" The click of her tongue echoed. "That''s all you have to say. When''s thest time you checked in with me? You say you''re on my side but you don''t act like it. How can I trust you?"

    As she unloaded her troubles, her displeased expression deepened. In fact, it bordered on the edge of her exploding. However, to Apollo, this all just seemed sudden.

 Chapter 319 - Rumors Of An Inheritance Holder

    ----

    "Why the sudden questioning? If I give you my word, then you shouldn''t doubt it," Apollo responded, looking at Odessa with a displeased expression. Although she wasn''t wrong because Apollo''s presence around the academy had been sparse, he wasn''t prancing around.

    In the time that he was gone, he was undergoing rapid and extensive changes. First and foremost, he collected a significant amount of pieces on this trip back to the Nihilistic Rings. Consequently, this also allowed him to experience extremely quick gains.

    If he didn''t seek out Furcas and Vc, there was zero chance of him reaching his current level in such a short time frame. First, to elevate beyond the Spirit Apprentice threshold required a substantial amount of energies to strengthen the mind.

    Absorbing this energy by itself, which was the natural route of advancement, was much longer than extracting the purified energy from a simr being''s core. Thus, when it came to the benefits of disappearing from Astarat and staying within it, there was no deliberation needed, it was simply a brainless decision.

    "Sudden questioning? It''s not sudden. It''s been months since we had a conference and Nadida told me she had seen you. What am I, air?" Geneva grumbled with a frown, a tinge of hurt appearing in her eyes.

    At first, Apollo was speechless but then he recalled the rtionship festering between Nadida and Odessa, ''I should have known. Nadida has a tendency to bber and it would seem Odessa is the jealous type.''

    "In my defense, I didn''t approach Nadida, she came to me. If you did the same, it would have resulted in the same oue," Apollo shrugged. Now that he was strong enough to match a bonafide Spirit Warrior, he felt there was no reason to act reserved before Odessa.

    "That''s not the point," Odessa''s frown deepened, clutching the side of her shirt.

    "Then?" Apollo inquired. If she didn''t open her mouth, how was he to know the issue guing her mind?

    "Tch, it''s Alistair. He''ll be in the sub-realm as well! And, now that my aunt is aware of your presence, she won''t tolerate it if you deflect to his side. So, I have been under a lot of pressure to make sure you stay by my side. But, with you missing, that was impossible!" Odessa blurted, catching Apollo off-guard.

    However, deep down he felt relief, ''Dodged a bullet there. For a moment, I thought it was something dumb like silly infatuation,'' Apollo mused. At the same time, as this thought crossed his mind, he also zed over Odessa''s body with a cursory nce.

    Yet, due to his refined senses, he noticed more than he let on, ''As she advances, it seems her vessel is bing more refined as well. It''s just a shame she isn''t a demon. I feel no carnal attraction to her, or maybe there''s a more meaningful answer behind this?''

    In the presence of Tirasha, the Royal Demon, Apollo felt a small stir within him. This meant that unless it was a Demon, he wouldn''t feel any urges. For now, he wasn''t sure why this was the case.

    ording to Azridan, he had mingled with various women of different races. Nevertheless, perhaps it was due to theck of Luxuria circting in his system.

    One must remember, as far as demonhood went, he was still in his childish stages. Only once he reached the Greater Demon level would he be introduced to a whole different world of temptations.

    "There is no need to hold such worries. My word is bond, for without word what is man?" Apollo responded with a small chuckle. Afterward, he attempted to enter his residence, but Odessa''s hand stopped him in ce once again.

    There was an odd look on her face as Apollo turned back. It looked like a mix of bashfulness as well curiosity, "Why...are you so weird?"

    In response to her question, Apollo raised his eyebrow. Truth be told, he wasn''t sure in what context she was speaking. After all, there were a lot of things he partook in that normal humans wouldn''t. Hence, there was a selection of choices to choose to verify his "weirdness."

    "In what way do you mean?" Apollo questioned, slightly intrigued by Odessa''s remark. Such behavior was out of the ordinary for Odessa. Typically, she was more confident and straightforward. However, this situation was different.

    Not only was there was a small stutter in her voice, but her eyes also avoided contact at all cost. Something extremely odd for her. On the other hand, since Apollo was unfamiliar with this type of behavior, he couldn''t reallyment on it.

    "I mean...e-err, you know weird. You''re not like the other individuals. I have so many suitors chasing me, pleading to get my attention, yet whenever you''re in my presence, it''s as if you can''t wait to leave. Do I..ck charisma?" Odessa muttered. Towards the end, her voice lost even more confidence, falling to a whisper.

    As a Paragon, she was used to being pampered for most of her childhood. But different from those who were fortunate enough to gain the same abilities, she didn''t allow it to swell her ego. Hence, why Apollo decided to side with her.

    If her ego was unbearable, then once they sh it would be a terrible sight. With Apollo''s ruthless behavior, one could only imagine the mess he would create as a result of his actions. Especially so, when going up against Paragon.

    Each one of them was treated as a golden existence. After all, at the height of their abilities, they possessed the strength needed tobat Disasters. While one hadn''t been born for quite some time, the future was an unpredictable matter in some cases.

    There were too many coincidences, probabilities, and potentialities to ount for. A reason why each of the Paragons was treated as a contingency for another. No efforts were spared in raising them.

    Furthermore, it was also the reason they were given control ofplete Legions. They served as their extensive protection, in addition to being sacrifices in the event of imminent danger.

    The logic of a legion''s emergency training was that by sacrificing their numbers, they would allow time for their Paragon to retreat. A practice that dated back to the beginning of their history.

    "Lack charisma? That''s wrong. The fact you were able to convince me to join your side should be seen as a testament to your charisma. My behavior merely stems from my own goals," Apollo answered.

    Simultaneously, he ced his hand on hers. This made her jump, but during Apollo''s next actions, Odessa calmed herself, "May I go now? There''s only a few days before the excursion into the sub-realm." Apollo voiced, removing Odessa''s hand.

    Mention of the sub-realm made Odessa''s eyes widen as she recalled another reason she appeared here, "Wait, there something even more important than this matter between us. I remember hearing rumors that the dark origin room being restricted. I don''t have an affinity with darkness, so I can''t tell if this is true."

    "It is," Apollo interjected, confirming her curiosities.

    "I see, so then the rumors must be true then. I have been hearing talk about the orb projecting a figure before expelling everyone from the room. I wasn''t aware that it possessed its own sentience," Odessamented, mystified by the abilities of the dark orb.

    Fortunately, Apollo was a lot more informed than she was, "It can''t truly be counted as sentience. It can''t talk or the like; I think it''s more along the lines of being programmed with directions," Apollo corrected.

    Upon hearing this, Odessa''s expression shifted greatly, "Wait, you mean that orb is the creation of someone?"

    "That goes without saying," Apollo nodded. "How else would it record inheritances? Since you''ve never entered, you probably don''t know but there''s a main inheritance inside. It isn''t limited to simple Spirits, there an epassing practice."

    Once Apollo confirmed this information, Odessa grimaced. At first, she thought she could discard what she heard, but now that Apollo ensured that it was all the truth, she was left with no other choice.

    "There''s...a rumor going around about you," Odessa whispered. She then looked around, checking for any foreign presence. "Our peers, as well as upperssmen, have been talking about it being linked to you."

    For a while, there was silence, but when Odessa looked up at examined Apollo''s expression, she was nonplussed. His carefree expression seemed as if this matter didn''t bother him in the slightest.

    "Are you not perturbed? What I''m trying to say is that they''re targeting you as the cause of their interrupted progression. What will you do if they be hostile?!" Odessa eximed, worried for Apollo in his stead.

    "They can''t be hostile with something they can''t touch," Apollo chuckled. At the same time, his mind was focused on something else, ''If you all be hostile, you''ll fulfill my requirements without me having to lift a finger. In this case, I wee you to act foolishly.''

    Due to his confidence, Odessa couldn''t find a way to refute his words. Additionally, Apollo created a fewpses in his Tenebrous Barrier, which allowed small fluctuations to seep from within. Because of this, Odessa could sense he was strong, terribly so.

    ''I just hope they aren''t foolish enough to confront this madman. I suggest they roll with the punches; at least it will guarantee their life,'' Odessa hoped. Finally, she retracted her hand and nodded to Apollo, "I won''t keep you any longer."

    Quietly, she watched Apollo''s back as he entered his residence. Once he was gone, and the securities soundproofing the inside activated, Odessa muttered something to herself.

    "He''s different...and that why I think I chase his attention above all else. Sorry Nadida, I don''t think anyone else will be able to enter my sights after being exposed to his indescribable charisma."

    She then nced towards the area that both she and Nadida resided in. Her eyes narrowed as she sensed a number of presences.

 Chapter 320 - Many Demand Knowledge

    ----

    The moment Apollo entered his residence, he was swarmed by the madman Vc. He brandished his spear and stabbed it straight towards Apollo, making him narrow his eyes.

    ''Tch, this fool.'' Apollo inwardly thought, his expression turning unamused.

    Before Vc''s strike couldnd on his body, Apollo held up his hand with a tiny grin, "Ah, truly a fool. Fuhrer is right when he says that you are one to never learn." Immediately after clicking his tongue in disappointment, Apollo continued, "Absolute Order: Halt!"

    In an instant, Vc''s expression contorted, "Argghhh! Release me, you uncultured swine. How dare you be a pussy?! Take one of my strikes, don''t wimp out. I am ashamed of you. My Lord is scared to receive my attack? HAH! Laughable," Vc snorted and chortled, trying to rile up Apollo as quickly as possible.

    Unfortunately, his actions were inadequate. In actuality, all they did was make Apollo chuckle at his behavior. Additionally, he looked towards Fuhrer and gave him a signal. This prompted him to reveal an eerie grin. One that caused Vc''s spine to tremble.

    "W-what are you nning? You scheming heathens, don''t you dare. Release me, RELEASE ME!" Vc shrieked. At the same time, he began thrashing about in an attempt to break free of the Absolute Order''s restraints. Unfortunately, as an ability created from the system, achieving this was easier said than done.

    "Hoh? Calm down, all you need to do is receive my strike. Is that not what you just said to the Lord?" Fuhrer rebutted, mocking Vc''s earlier words. Consequently, he ced his hand on his sword hilt and shifted the weapon ever so slightly, allowing a thin stream of tenebrous aura to leak out.

    Upon feeling that aura, Vc''s body stiffened, and all his attempts at breaking free ceased. Be that as it may, his mouth was still traveling at a mile a minute. "Shameful! No, you are shameless. This is tant bullying. Y-you..! Okay, okay! I''m sorry!"

    As Fuhrer revealed arger portion of his de, the aura surrounding Vc sharpened into minuscule des that presented cut after cut. As a result, Vc soon found it infuriating to deal with as well as cumtively hurtful.

    "Hmph, that''s what I thought. Practice your own words before ndering that Lord. A mere tease and you''re already ready to crumble. Tsk tsk, it''s indeed best that I put those chains around you earlier before leaving," Fuhrermented, shaking his head at Vc.

    In return, Vc could only shoot res, but when Fuhrer threatened him with his palm on his sheath, Vc was left to relent. Unless he wanted another collection of small wounds, then it wasn''t ideal for him to continue talking.

    On the other hand, Apollo didn''t pay much mind to this matter. Now that he was back, his utmost priority was to try and understand his current power, and figure out a way to maximize his output, while minimizing his energy consumption. Usually, aplishing this was aborious task.

    It required one to have supetive control over the flow of their energies. Hence, why Destrys urged Apollo to continue refining his mind under the staggering pressure of the orb. Continued usage of that type of control would put an immense strain on the mind, draining mental energy at astonishing rates.

    However, if one perfected their mental energy, that would allow for a different situation. By refining mental energy, it opened the window to taking care of the issue with ease. First and foremost, since they went hand in hand, even if control wasn''t trained exclusively, it''d still experience an increase as a result of the refinement.

    In light of this, Apollo sat down in a corner of his room and started meditating. While meditating, hepartmentalized his thoughts. This allowed his focus to be utilized much more efficiently. Rather than wasting arge portion by inspecting the inside one by one, sectioning the focus and using it simultaneously yielded increased results.

    Although the consumption was increased and each portion was hit with a smaller amount of focus, it still allowed Apollo to get an initial grasp of how things worked. It was simr to the intricacies of a car''s engine. His thoughts were akin to numerous pistons firing with the same intention¡ªelerating as quickly as possible.

    As a result, this allowed Apollo to circumvent a good amount of waste. While some wastage was inevitable, a reduction was beneficial nheless. Meanwhile, as Fuhrer noticed his actions, he spared Vc a meaningful nce.

    Afterward, Vc shut his mouth and didn''t act up for the remainder of the day. During this time, since there was nothing conflicting with Apollo''s actions, he made great strides. In fact, his understanding of the Dark Element had advanced and teetered on the edge of breaking through a binding threshold.

    Unfortunately, a dayter, Apollo was wrested awake from his contemtive state. The security system going haywire caught his attention. As he craned his neck towards the supportive device by the door, a message shed continuously.

    [Warning: The security measures in ce have identified numerous foreign individuals. Caution, the number is increasing gradually.]

    After reading this message, Apollo didn''t even need to question the situation. He was already aware of the reason behind this small gathering. In response, he turned towards Fuhrer. "How long has it been since I sat down?"

    "Approximately one day," Fuhrer sinctly replied. In addition to that, there seemed to be a displeased expression on his face as he looked at the supporting device. If it weren''t for Apollo''s sake, he would have already chopped the annoying box in half, or at the very least, used his energy to disintegrate the thing.

    "I see. All it took was a day for them to be restless. Very well, all you are doing is acting in my favor," Apollo chuckled. Without hesitation, he walked towards the door. This situation didn''t strike the slightest morsel of fear into his body.

    Conversely, he weed this situation. If they increased his Demonic Conduct, and the system deemed him ready, then all of the limitations holding him back from advancing vanish. Granted, even if that happened, there was still a small issue he wished to settle before evolving further.

    Once the door flung open, the mass of students was surprising at first, but Apollo quickly normalized to the situation. Quickly, he performed a headcount¡­ "Mm, about 50 individuals and each of them is from the Outer Barracks."

    A momentter, Apollo lifted his head and looked in another direction. After doing so, his expression changed, ''No, that''s wrong. There''s far more than 50. They are just barred from entering. That means there are also upperssmen who are intrigued by the rumors. No, it may even be safe to say they are the source.''

    Unlike freshman, upperssmen of the Vermillion Night Academy had been subject to contact with the Origin Rooms for quite some time. Thus, when it came to iming, or at least obtaining hints of the inheritance in those rooms, they were extremely interested.

    Hence, the easier way to act was by sending vessels. It was public knowledge that some talented freshmen joined thepany of upperssmen. Not only did they offer additional resources for doing so, but they also imparted their own knowledge on some matters.

    In some cases, peer guidance could be extremely useful. After all, the instructors of the Academy didn''t spoon-feed anyone. They left arge portion of their matters up to the student''sprehension. Because of this, joining a faction could also be seen asprehending priorities and convenience.

    Nevertheless, Apollo pushed this to the back of his mind. To be their target, it would require him to leave the confines of the Outer Barracks. As of right now, that wasn''t on his agenda.

    Not only was it inefficient, but it would also require too much effort to make them hostile. Unlike freshmen, the consequences of an upperssman interfering with the happenings of freshmen were severely punishable.

    If it were a simple mediation, then the administration weed that. But, if they used force and weren''t impartial, then the victim would receive a substantial portion of the reacting upperssmen''s Academic Credits.

    "So, why have youe here?" Apollo questioned with a light chuckle. His attitude towards the gathering of students made them all frown. Based on his nonchnt attitude, it was as if he was treating them like air.

    "You know why. We have heard the rumors, now we''re here to check whether it is true or not!" One of the neers eximed. Due to their actions, Apollo was intrigued. His eyes shed with an obscure light before gazing upon all of them.

    ''All of them possess a Dark Affinity,'' Apollo mused silently. Hisck of response riled up the individuals further. After all, all the freshmen were on a schedule. There was only a matter of days before they had to embark on their excursion.

    "Don''t bite your tongue, reveal it to us now. Are the rumors true or not? Are you the reason that we were kicked out of the Tethered Shadow Origin Room? I''ll have you know, this inhibited our progress greatly! If we were free toprehend more, we''d be much better off!" Another one eximed. This time, his aura was much sturdier than thest.

    As he took notice of this, Apollo smirked, ''So that''s why they are infuriated. The orb interfered with their progress.''

    Right after a short pause, Apollo voiced a sentence that made them seethe with indignation. "Unfortunately, this isn''t my dilemma, it is yours. You should take that up with the administrators. I have no say in this matter, but if that answer doesn''t suffice, I''m more than willing to use another tactic."

 Chapter 321 - An Example Within The Masses

    ----

    "Absolutely selfish. We all know you''re lying, just admit. Your current attitude confirms that you''re hiding something. This is all your fault, so you need to rectify it!" Another person in the crowd voiced their own gripes with Apollo''s attitude. As a collective, their momentum was strong.

    It was enough to convince themselves that they possessed enough sway to influence Apollo''s decision. Unfortunately, they weren''t aware of Apollo''s hedonistic tendencies. If one had to refer to a term for Apollo, an ouw was the only befitting description.

    In response to the repeated ims, Apollo chuckled. ''Since you all are so convinced that I''m the issue behind it, then let''s y along.'' After his small thought, Apollo took up ax stance before ncing around the surrounding area.

    "Whatever I gained within the Origin Room is my own belongings. There is no rule stating that I must disclose myprehensions to you all. In fact, that is an asinine belief. Why would I help you all?" Apollo sneered, presenting a derisive expression to all.

    In the back, a few familiar faces appeared and frowned at the current development. Amongst themselves, they chattered. "Nadida, what is Apollo doing? He can''t be thinking to egg all of them on and remain safe and sound?"

    Gradually, Nadida''s frown deepened as she recalled an event that happened surrounding Apollo, "He might very well do so. He even did this to the Glories before, these unknown people aren''t worth anything to him."

    All of a sudden, another figure appeared, "Correct. I''ve witnessed it all. If there is one thing that Apollo is, it is careless. In this case, I don''t know if we should fear for the other students'' safety or if we should interfere," Odessamented, looking at the current situation.

    Unlike the rest, she was more shaken up. This was because she had warned Apollo just a day prior. She did so that he would refrain from taking action. After all, if he took action, it wasn''t him that would suffer, but the Academy.

    ''Dammit Apollo, I revealed this to you so you don''t jeopardize the strength of our team. While you were gone, it was brought to our attention, that while it is an individual event, in truth, the strength of the entire team is taken into ount,'' Odessa inwardly thought. Towards the end, she sighed, preparing to intervene.

    However, before she could do so, Nadida extended her arm and stopped her, "Don''t. Let him settle his own issues. If youe in the middle, there is a chance of you getting hurt. I don''t know what it is, but it feels like Apollo keeps changing."

    For a moment, Odessa stopped in ce. In truth, she felt the same way. She felt Apollo''s tendencies and his reactions to trivial situations were bing too extreme. Nevertheless, she also knew that with his personality, her words were powerless to change anything.

    Due to this, Odessa refrained from moving. She stood side by side with Nadida and the others and witnessed Apollo''s following actions.

    On the other hand, Apollo noticed their entry but didn''t pay any mind. This was because most of the students presented started to exude hostile auras. Most of them released auras of a Zul Knight whilst some of them emitted mental fluctuations.

    As this happened, Apollo raised his eyebrow, "Hoh? For those of your emitting mental fluctuations, use of a Spirit is prohibited."

    "Bah! On what authority? You can''t do shit to us," A familiar voice sounded within the crowd. They split apart revealing Grayson with a cold expression. Compared to before, his aura was much darker as well as solidified.

    With his arrival, Apollo''s attitude changed. After all, he was the cause of Typhir prior dreadful injury. In fact, Apollo nearly lost control the moment he appeared, but he recalled Fuhrer''s training. As a leader, his disposition was of the utmost importance.

    Thus, he took a breather and quelled the seething emotions within himself, ''Although I am a creature of emotion, my purpose is to evolve beyond that. If I wish to do so, it all starts now.''

    Once Apollo calmed himself, he looked toward Grayson, "On the authority of my Seat in the disciplinarymittee. If you fail to adhere to the rules, then I have no qualms about punishing you all. It all depends on your own actions. Should you go down that route, I will apany you," Apollo responded with a lighthearted smile.

    Although his words didn''t sound like a threat, it was one through and through. After all, if he was to apany them down that road, it meant he would summon his own "Spirit". Until now, there wasn''t a single soul in the Academy except for Geneva and Sapphyr who had witnessed his "Spirit".

    As a result, he was free to choose from a selection of his acquired Demons. If that was to happen, all hell would break loose, literally. Apollo had half a mind to let Vc run amok but forbid him from entering his demonic form.

    Compared to the rest, Vc''s demonic form was more eye-catching than the rest. In addition to his illusion dark-gold armor, he also possessed wings akin to crystalline metal. If such an appearance was to be made public, an uproar wouldmence.

    After all, only Heroic Spirits and beyond would exude the feeling Vc could. Conversely, revealing Fuhrer would be overkill. Even though he could control his power perfectly, he gave off an archaic sensation.

    Again, only Legendary Spirits could give off archaic sensations. Their lifespan eclipsed their lower counterparts. Even existing for 100,000 years wasn''t a far-fetched im.

    "Tch, you act as if your threat means something. You''re not the only one who has been focused on training and honing their current skills," Grayson retorted. At the same time, his aura red. Those around him were appalled to find that he was approaching the higher limits of a Zul Knight.

    "What?! Grayson has already broken past the middle threshold of a Zul Knight? That would mean he''s entered theter stages!" One of the participants eximed. Naturally, they were one of his followers riding his coattail.

    Usually, followers would kiss up to the leader and butter up their ego. Unfortunately, they were unaware that they were indirectly hurting themselves. When they allowed their leader to possess a swelled ego, it meant they would offend those who were unknowingly out of their league.

    Nevertheless, Apollo merely raised his hand in response. A collection of dark des materialized before his palm, "Is that your stance?" He questioned. From his tone, it was evident he couldn''t careless about Grayson''s response.

    Grayson''s eyes narrowed, zeroing in on the des that were being formed, ''Dark energy? He''s learned how to disregard the chaotic elemental order within Natural Essence? Commendable, but it still pales inparison to Spiritual Essence.''

    "Of course!" Grayson eximed. As soon as he did so, a portal opened before him, revealing a portal. "Desolim,e forth!"

    Once again, a figure donned in silver armor with ck embellishments as well as two refined rapiers appeared. Without pause, his attention all pooled towards Apollo. As the only person to everbat him, he was an opponent that was always on his mind.

    "Ah, it is you again! Ahahaha, fight me," Desolim cackled, dashing towards Apollo.

    But, before he could reach him, Apollo made his own move. He released the festering des of the Void Rend technique. In an instant, they lost their presence, turning invisible. For a while, they traveled unabated, however, not for long.

    As a Dark Spirit, Desolim was sensitive to fluctuations of dark energy. Thus, he brandishing his rapier rapidly and deflected the iing des of energy. Without a loss of momentum, he turned into a spinning storm.

    His dual rapiercerated the space before Apollo, but he dodged them effortlessly. His increased cognitive abilities allowed him to follow the trajectory of Desolim''s shes. At the same time, he reserved enough energy to even talk, "Very well, it seems I didn''t crush you enough before."

    A crazed gleam passed through his eyes. Not only did he think about summoning one of his demons, but another terrifying thought also passed through his mind. Unlike before, this wasn''t a simple match, the surrounding students presented their intentions of intervening.

    Numerous portals began opening, revealing a variety of odd beings. As a result, Apollo gave a ruthless order.

    From within his residence doorway, a figure that others hadn''t seen for quite some time appeared.

    "If you join, I''ll take that you forfeiting your life. It''s been a while since I battled with any of you," Typhir barked, a greatsword dripping a malevolent aura perched on his shoulder.

    Although his voice was low, it was akin to explosions resounding within everyone''s ear. Due to Fuhrer''s training, his body was akin to a peak Zul Knight. Although his mental abilities werecking, his physical capabilities made up for it.

    On the other hand, an odd urrence took ce.

    ''BOOM!''

    A resounding explosive noise echoed as Apollo was seen walking through a cloud of dust. In an exchange between him and Desolim, he hade out on top! He stretched his neck and looked at Desolim buried into a boulder.

    "Is that all you''ve got? My strong suit is my body, not my energy." Apollo said with a smirk.

 Chapter 322 - Pummeling Desolim (I)

    Compared to before, Apollo hadpletely overpowered Desolim and it left everyone surrounding this incident baffled. ording to their knowledge, there was absolutely no way a mere human could ever think tobat a Spirit of the same realm. Much less one who has already reached the peak and only required their vessel''s advancement to reach the next stage.

    As a result, most of the involved parties thought Apollo had resorted to trickery. To overpower a Spirit in an exchange of attacks was utterly impossible. However, as they pieced things together, they seemed to reach the wrong conclusion.

    "That''s it! He''s using the power of the inheritance gained at the expense of our expulsion! He''s merely pping us in the face! How dare he? I can''t believe him," one of Grayson''s underling''s shrieked.

    In response, heated murmurs appeared. Most of them agreed with this spection as the aura Apollo was currently exuding was impossible to refute. It wasposed of pure dark energies and slight bits of mental energy. From what they learned inside the Origin Room, the orb only taught two practices¡ªdark energy and mental energy utilization.

    With Apollo weaponizing both of them, it already confirmed all of their suspicions.

    "So it was the truth! Someone said they witnessed you and the Headmaster exiting from the Umbra Night Institute! Exin yourself? There is no way our for you now, you have dug your own grave," another participant chortled, exhibiting a triumphant expression.

    Unfortunately for them, they couldn''t be more incorrect. Apollo hadn''t dug his own grave. In fact, it was them who had sewn their own fates shut. "Hahaha. Do any of you believe you amount to something?"

    Apollo chuckled in amusement. At the same time, he withdrew a badge from his inventory and ced it on the ground before his feet. It was a tinum color with both crimson and obsidian embellishment filling its surface.

    On the other hand, when they saw the color of the badge and the design, there were a few who narrowed their eyes, "Don''t tell me you''re going to be a pussy and call the instructors. As a disciplinary officer, shouldn''t you be able to handle any unforeseen circumstances?"

    A few derisive voices were heard at the same time, but Apollo only smiled in return. They were sorely mistaken, he wasn''t using themunication aspect of the badge. No, he was using something that would make this experience far more convenient.

    "Vc, appear. Typhir, assault," Apollo mentally ordered. With the order given, despite his misbehavior, Vc moved in an instant. When it came to causing mayhem, it superseded his tendency to defy.

    "FINALLY! I can stretch my body. No more chains!!" Vc bellowed with an invigorated disy of excitement. Meanwhile, Typhir simply brandished his greatsword from his shoulder.

    If one was topare his sword style now, to what it was before, then there was noparison to be made. It was like an inexperienced toddler being pinned against a trained practitioner of the sword. Typhir forewent any excess movements and kept his muscles controlled and aligned as he moved.

    The scars of Fuhrer''s torturous training were engraved in the fibers of his being.

    Simultaneously, Apollo activated the badge. A barrier erected around everyone, confining them within a 50 by 50-meter space. When they saw this, a look of apprehension appeared on everyone''s face.

    Without hesitation, every single Spirit Cultivator present summoned their Spirits. Over 50 Spirits appeared but it still wasn''t capable of making Apollo''s prior expression change. Of course, there was a reason why.

    ''Fuhrer, you have permission to do it. Everyone, act.'' Apollo issued another order. Without dy, everyone made their move. Typhir''s cold gaze fell on a few people. Specifically, those who were present when Grayson and Reiner first caused trouble.

    "It''s time for payback. Since you were present, you''re aplices just as you are now," Typhir said with an undisclosed murderous intent. A ckened crimson aura coated his de as a sensation of destruction undted from his weapon. It went without saying that he intended to plow through them.

    ''Fwoosh!''

    Typhir elerated instantly, with his sword drawn back behind his body. Once in their proximity, Typhir expected a horizontal arc sh. Most of the defendants'' Spirits guarded the strike for them, but they were shocked to find that they all took steps back.

    With the power of the sh disturbed into various opponents, it only made sense for the blow to be sub-par, but that wasn''t the case. Due to the amplification of his Destruction Intent, Typhir''s normal strikes rivaled the techniques of his peers.

    Appalled expressions appeared on his foes'' countenances. At this moment, they didn''t feel like they were in battle with a ssmate, it felt as if they were at war with a full-blown monster!

    Typhir stretched his weapon forward with a callous expression, "Come. Compared to them, you''re incrediblycking."

    This time, Typhir didn''t give them a chance to respond. A sudden burst of dark hazy energy appeared at his feet and propulsed him forward faster than before. Albeit an iplete version, it was clear he had made some advancements in the Partial Shade Silhouette.

    His next strike tore through the frontier of enemies. Even the Spirit had to take time to stabilize their condition. This prompted them to stop holding back. It didn''t matter if this was the academy grounds or not. Every strike their opponent dealt was ruthless and disregarded the rules of non-lethal force.

    A nket of spiritual essence congealed into a palpable screen. With the Spirit all releasing their energy, the tides were undergoing a change. A different gleam flowed through their eyes.

    Consequently, Typhir smirked. This disy of power still paled inparison to an angered Fuhrer. Everything he had seen thus far failed to enter his eyes. His eyes changed, but his body didn''t. The Demonic Anima in his body churned, awakening the markings of his stigmata.

    On the other hand, Apollo went through simr experiences. Since he didn''t intend on revealing his demonic form, he operated his evolved stigmata at its peak. The power boost it produced was much greater than before. Apollo''s previously average frame swelled into a muscr contrast.

    His energy shed with Desolim''s now unrelenting aura as he stood his ground, "Make your move."

    "Tch, where does this pridee from? Just because you won in that initial exchange, doesn''t mean a thing. That was the result of my carelessness," Desolim retorted with a solemn expression.

    "Whatever you say. Stop trying to hide your weakness. This is the result of my actions; we don''t train the same, so we don''t yield the same results. It''s safe to say, I''ve already surpassed you," Apollo voiced with a condescending sneer on his face.

    It went without saying, his expression infuriated Desolim. His grip on his rapiers tightened as his reasoning was stretched taut. The thought of a lesser being overpowering his strikes disgusted him. There could never be such a grand disparagement between their strengths.

    "Arrggghh!!" Desolim roared and dashed towards Apollo, brandishing his rapiers at lightning speed. At the tips of his rapiers, a dark reinforcement cascaded the des.

    As he noticed this, Apollo conjured two short swords made of Hellfire and retaliated against the barrage of strikes. When each side''s strikes met each other, sparks flew and embers of Hellfire deluged the surrounding space.

    Unbeknownst to Desolim, he was cing himself in a precarious position. Although it cost Apollo bits of mental energy to sustain, he kept his Hellfire suspended in the atmosphere. This caused interference in the energy Desolim called upon.

    However, since Apollo wasn''t skilled with this technique, it wasn''t an instant change. It took time to umte enough Hellfire that would ultimately affect Desolim.

    Fortunately, Desolim''s resistance wasn''t high. He seemed to be a Spirit who was more oriented towards speed-based offense. In other words, his defensive capabilities werecking. After a few minutes of exchanges, he noticed the enfeebling qualities of his surroundings.

    "Y-yoouu!! These are your mes," Desolim eximed. Sadly, with the suddenpse in attention, Apollo lifted his foot and kicked Desolim into the same boulder. This time, the force of the collision caused the boulder to shatter.

    Slowly, Apollo approached Desolim appearing from within the rubble with madness in his eyes. "Distasteful! I will not lose to a human. Last time, your Spirit was the one to defeat me, but that is eptable. But, I won''t allow you to defeat me!"

    As he roared, a cyclone of energy birthed from Desolim. This ordeal made Grayson''s expression pale. His Soul Temple was beginning to feel the aftereffects of Desolim manipting too much energy. It surpassed the normal capacity of Grayson''s mind.

    Naturally, Apollo took notice of this. In fact, he was banking on it. After all, there were two situations that arose when the summoner''s energy was insufficient to support their Spirit''s intents.

    A dark smile appeared on Apollo''s lips as he stood there like a dark deity wreathed in ck and silver mes. "Yes, be my example. Continue your foolish actions."

    Once Desolim prepared his means, two copies of his rapiers appeared along with two shadow asura. Then, another set of arms and rapiers appeared. "Now, you''ll have a taste of my Dark Asura Sublimation!"

 Chapter 323 - Pummeling Desolim (II)

    ----

    As the 4 copies of Desolim''s arms appeared, Apollo''s expression became intrigued, ''Isn''t this simr to the phantom mirages of the Umbra Phantom Mantle? I wonder, how does itpare? It''s just a shame that I can''t summon it properly,'' Apollo thought quietly.

    While the change wasn''t overly powerful, it was enough to counteract Apollo''s earlier scheme of nting substantial amounts of Hellfire. With the additional arms, Desolim was able to deflect the Hellfire by shing it to bits and using the sword winds to shift it away.

    Nevertheless, this wasn''t the only card up Apollo''s sleeve. He prepared himself and brandished the two Hellfire short swords in his hands. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, Apollo dashed forward, dragging a burst of dark energy along with him.

    His entire body was wreathed in the embrace of the Umbra Phantom Mantle. Since it was the best he could muster in his current state, Apollo created two mirror images of himself. While it paled inparison to what Desolim summoned, it was still enough to alleviate the divide in numbers.

    As Apollo''s short sword shed with Desolim, he started to take notice of something, ''His style has changed. His main pattern of attack used to be quick and repetitive, but now, the momentum is interchangeable. Moreover, he''s also switching up the number of arms focused on one attack.''

    This difference allowed for Desolim to press Apollo back. As he was on the losing side, a smile appeared on Desolim''s face. His pride had been reinvigorated now that Apollo failed to suffice against his onught.

    "Yess! This is the power, a minor race such as yourself can never think to overpower a Spirit. If we abandon our Spiritual Bodies and call upon our true vessel, death would be your eternal friend," Desolim sneered with an egotistical expression.

    In response, Apollo could only chuckle. If it was before, he would have been surprised by this information. Fortunately, Destrys had already revealed some vital information. Therefore, when it came to dealing with Spirits, he was actually better off than some veterans.

    On the other hand, Apollo felt it was time he stopped fooling around. A silver gleam shed in his eyes and an astonishing message appeared within Desolim''s mind. It was so baffling, that for an instant, he was shocked motionless.

    "N-not human...you''re not human," Desolim muttered, but his words failed to enter anyone''s ears, controlled by a foreign presence.

    During this small window, Apollo took it upon himself to create distance. However, it wasn''t to recuperate. On the contrary, an amalgam of dark energy billowed towards Desolim that made him pale.

    A burst of maniacalughter sounded from behind the strike as rhythmic yet heavy steps could be heard, "Much stronger than these pipsqueaks! You''ll do. All of my frustrations will have to be emptied unto you. Don''t me me, me your stupidity," Vc cackled.

    In the next moment, he disappeared and reappeared right before Desolim. Compared to the speed he showcased against Apollo, he was much faster. Since he suffered from no injuries and didn''t seek to y around, he was in peak form from the start.

    Although he remained in a humanoid form, Vc still unfurled his mystifying wings. Those whoid eyes upon it gasped in awe at its magnificence. But, there were also those on the floor with expressions of horror.

    Before arriving here, Vc wreaked havoc amongst the students and their Spirits alike. With his speed, it was effortless to deal with them. He zipped back and forth and not once was he touched. Conversely, some of the Spirits were missing arms and arge number of students were unconscious.

    The severe damage inflicted upon their Spirits in rapid session caused a mental overload, sending them into a state of debilitating shock. Naturally, Vc didn''t feel a shred of remorse as he caused this. In his eyes, the more chaos in the area, the more enjoyable it was.

    Meanwhile, as Apollo was privy to this due to their connection, he held a faint intention to let Vc loose more often. Not only would he not have to move a finger to cause mayhem, but he would also reap the rewards!

    When Vc mutted the Spirits and rendered their summoners useless, Apollo was rewarded with Experience. Although it wasn''t as much as killing a Greater Demon or subjugating his pieces, the experience was worthwhile nheless.

    Regardless of the number, it was Experience he gained passively through his demon. Hence, Apollo was jubnt, ''So, not only does killing malicious increase my conduct, but it also rewards more experience whenpared to the past.''

    Back when Apollo killed the 3 mercenaries, while it increased his Demonic Conduct, the increase to his experience bar was negligible. At first, Apollo thought this was due to the system''s intention to inhibit him from bing a mindless murderer. Now, Apollo realized this was only partly true.

    ''As I advance, I be more knowledgeable of the expectations that befall me. The system wishes for me to be ruthless, but only when my mind is refined enough. Only then will I possess the requirements to negate the fulfilling feeling of murder,'' Apollo surmised.

    After bing a demon, malicious acts became rather enjoyable. In fact, if a human was to learn of his thought process, they would be frightened by what they witnessed. Compared to a human, a low-ranked Demon''s modus operandi was simply savagery.

    This was why Fuhrer stressed the matter of evolving beyond the mindless lower rung of Demonhood. While it was okay to retain your violent tendencies, for Apollo''s line of work, it would also require the ability to withstand.

    Suddenly, a fissure in space opened up but nothing revealed itself. Or, that was what everyone else saw. In Apollo''s eyes, the situation waspletely different, ''Is it done?''

    ''Completely done.'' Fuhrer replied telepathically. The order Apollo gave him was to deal with all of the extra students that Vc didn''t. Unlike Vc, Fuhrer''s methods were less invasive and more straightforward. While within the cover of the void, Fuhrer conjured numerous des andunched them forward.

    Each de punctured the chest of the surrounding Spirits simultaneously. It was a one-sided massacre. And, although these Spirits were Spiritual Bodies and wouldn''t die unless their real bodies did, the damage pooled to their summoners.

    To recuperate themselves as well as their Spirit would take an ample amount of resources as well as time. Thus, there was a collection of unconscious students currently littering the battlefield.

    Upon noticing this, Grayson''s eyes widened, "I-Inhumane monster! What have you done? Is there any reason to be so heavy-handed? If you destroy their Spirits like that, the damage to their mind will be obscene! It''d be akin to crippling them."

    "Unfortunately, that isn''t my issue. By choosing to go against me, they should have been prepared for this oue. This is the result of their inane actions. Now, let them wallow in the trenches. As for you, I suggest you focus on your current fight. My summon can get a little...unruly~" Apollo said with a light chuckle.

    His yful response caused Grayson to seethe. Now, not only did he have to deal with the chaotic state of his mind, he needed to withstand Apollo''s condescending attitude. It was truly infuriating, it made him feel powerless.

    "Eeeyyaaaaaa!" A pained scream resounded and they turned their heads to Desolim buried into the ground with Vc standing over him. If one looked closely, they''d realize Desolim''s limbs were pinned to the ground by Vc''s metallic feathers.

    ''BANG!''

    "Shut up! You''re too noisy. Where do you get off ruining my fun?" Vc spat whilending an explosive punch on Desolim''s face.

    In response, Desolim''s eye reddened, akin to a maddened bull. Sadly, this only garnered Vc''s hystericalughter. "Yes, yes! I love that look. Give me more. I want to fuck you up so much!"

    With a frenzied smile, Vc continued to pummel Desolim''s chest, cracking his ribs and stern in the process. The sounds of cracking bones were like a symphony of refined music passing through Vc''s ears.

    To make matters worst, Vc impaled Desolim''s chest and pried open his torso. In contrast to what one would believe, as a Spiritual Body, there were no organs. However, there were systems of energy simr to the structure of organs.

    The moment heid eyes on them, Vc''s eyes brightened, "Woah ho ho ho, what do we have here." A blue me lit on Vc''s finger as he examined Desolim''s insides. They trembled in response to the appearance of that blue me.

    "S-stop...stopp¡­.Eeyyaaaa!" The pained scream echoed throughout the barrier. Since Apollo came prepared, the signs of battle from this area were reduced to a minimal. Although he could''ve had Fuhrer deal with all of the residual aura before it leaked it, he didn''t wish for that to happen.

    After all, Apollo took pleasure in public crushing those who went against him. As a result, he was perfectly fine with having some form of authority appeared.

    On the other hand, Grayson wasn''t so lucky, "E-enough..I''ve learned¡­ pl-ease stop." His voice was so strained and powerless, it sounded like he would lose consciousness at any moment.

    Regrettably, his plea didn''t appeal to a tinge of remorse in Apollo, "No, you haven''t learned, you have lost. There is a stark difference. If the roles were reversed, there is no proof you would relent. So, I won''t either."

    "Vc, continue. Pummel him until he is unrecognizable," Apollo chuckled darkly.

    "S-someone...please save...us," Grayson struggled, his voice akin to a whisper. At this point, he just wished for someone to appear and thwart Apollo''s tyrannic spree. If it went on any longer, he was sure that everyone present would face irreparable damage.

    As of right now, they had already reached the precipice of mental crippling.

 Chapter 324 - Shattering Barriers

    ----

    ''BOOM!'' ''BOOM!'' ''BOOM!''

    "Ayahahahaha," Vc''s maniacalughter throughout the pauses in the explosives vibrations. In addition to burning Desolim''s internals with his blue mes, he also pummeled his body until it formed an identical indent in the floor. Obviously, Vc was fixated on causing an astonishing amount of damage.

    Compared to any other Spirit involved in this scuffle, there was no other Spirit who suffered as much damage as Desolim. Since he had gotten on Apollo''s bad side, Apollo allowed Vc to act without restraint under the circumstance that he remained in his current form.

    Naturally, to Vc, this small condition was worth the exchange. As he tortured Desolim and beat him senseless, Vc felt the repressed frustration dissipating. Sadly, while his mental state was stabilizing, Desolim, on the other hand, was bing far worse. In fact, under the repeated blows from Vc, he struggled to stay conscious.

    To make matters worse, Grayson had just fainted. In other words, even if he wished to return his Spiritual Mark back to Grayson''s Soul Temple, it was nearly impossible. To return, the summoner needed to still be conscious to open back up their Soul Temple.

    In this situation, Desolim was no different than a sitting duck.

    "More...more¡­ Fight back! Where your vigor? Where is your will," Vc eximed in a crazed manner. A maniacal looked circted in his eyes as he grabbed Desolim''s face and hoisted him up before himself. Due to the extreme amounts of damage, Desolim''s body dangled limply from Vc''s grasp.

    When he noticed this, Vc started to frown. It was a blow to his enjoyment when he realized this opponent was weaker than he expected. "Tch, that can''t be it. Useless race. Their show strength is just a facade."

    Disgruntled, Vc clicked his tongue and tossed aside Desolim''s body. Afterward, a majestic spear appeared in Vc''s hand, wreathed in an ice blue me. A look of disgust permeated his expression and his grip on the spear tightened.

    "Since you have disturbed my only moments of pleasure. You can die," Vc said in a cold tone. Without another thought, heunched his spear forward. In the middle of its flight, it began spiraling, causing the mes to take on a respective drill shaped. It warped the air as it blitzed forward.

    However, right before the spear impaled Desolim, his eyes mmed open. At a nce, it would seem to be a reactive response to death, but that wasn''t the case. When Desolim''s eyes opened, Grayson''s body seized and started to spasm uncontrobly.

    "This may be a taboo amongst the Spirits, but it is only allowable in our moments of so-called death. After all, no human is worth forever condemning our potential," Desolim uttered. His hand snatched the air before him and he grasped the iing spear right before his face.

    A nket of dark shadow encroached on the blue mes and dispersed them. At the same time, Desolim''s body underwent a change. His dark attired leaked embers of shadows while a ck cloak extended from his back. Additionally, ayer of permanent darkness cascaded his des.

    "It''s a shame that I had to use my Reality Manifestation, but it is much better than experiencing a fake death here," Desolim uttered. The wounds to his body mended and his cracked bones creaked and reshaped themselves to their prior form.

    In light of this disy, Vc''s eyes shimmered with excitement, "Yes! Thank the dark lords that you weren''t that weak. I can finally let loose!"

    ''Fwoosh!''

    A burst of dark energy strong enough to contort the nearby space billowed from Vc. However, if one looked closely, there was a difference in the two aurae these beings exuded. While Vc''s was more so centered around death and madness, Desolim''s darkness was stagnant and almost murky, it was simr to the technique Xezym utilized. Needless to say, they originated from the same world¡ªUmbrenith.

    On the other hand, the barrier didn''t ount for such strong surges of power. Minuscule cracks appeared in the foundation of it. More importantly, this took ce when they hadn''t even shed yet.

    ''This barrier won''t hold. It''s liable to shatter after a few simple shes. Nevertheless, I have already aplished my task. This is just to allow Vc to channel his inner resentments,'' Apollo thought.

    Concurrently, he turned his head towards Odessa and the others. There was a look of fear on their face. The scene before their eyes could only be described as a nightmare. Not only would there undoubtedly be punishment, but their forces for the excursion will also be affected!

    Nevertheless, Apollo soon shifted his attention away. Truth be told, this issue didn''t bother Apollo in the slightest. Unlike the rest, when he felt like it, he could always visit his indigenous world. Thus, even if he was punished, there was no ce on Astarat that could truly contain him.

    Not to mention, he had already started to create pawns. When push came to shove, he would just have to gamble on their preparation. With his attention back on Vc and Desolim, he watched them intently. When it came to Typhir, there was no need to monitor him, Apollo was confident in his ability.

    After all, the training received from Fuhrer wasn''t for naught.

    All of a sudden, both Vc and Desolim made their moves. Each of them performed explosive dashes that obliterated the ground beneath their feet. Whereas Vc took to the air and zoomed down with ever-changing trajectories, Desolim''s body seemed to phase in and out of appearance.

    Additionally, as this happened, not only did he elerate, but his dark energy formed small aerial tforms that acted as springboards. This enabled him to close the distance between him and Vc with ease.

    When Vc noticed this, it was impossible to contain his jubnce. Creating mayhem wasn''t his only joy, on the contrary, a worthwhile fight was also high up on the pedestal of his pleasures. A peal of nearly child-like enthusiasm sounded as he struck his spear forward.

    A beam of pale blue mes fired towards Desolim, scorching its surroundings. For a moment, it looked like this strike would overpower him. But, Desolim reacting ordingly.

    He held his rapiers before him and executed an X-shaped energy sh that collided with the iing strike. The resulting collision caused discernible cracks in the barrier, but there wasn''t a single soul who paid this any mind.

    Vc was too busy bearing an unsettling grin, whilst Desolim''s expression remained solemn.

    "Again! You have grown stronger indeed! You had less preparation but were able to match my magnitude," Vcughed boisterously. With a flicker of darkness, his body turned into a streak, zooming towards Desolim.

    In response, Desolim prepared himself, pooling a substantial amount of energy into his des, fortifying the sharpness. From what he realized, Vc''s spearhead was remarkably sharp. While his rapiers were no weaker, whenpared side by side, the materials seemed to be of different divisions.

    Compared to the materials found on Astarat, the materials found within the Nihilistic Rings and Spirit World outsses them many times over. Be that as it may, there was still a ranking system present in each world. Hence, the reason for Desolim''s current preparatory actions.

    A few instantster, Vc appeared before Desolim. The two began interchanging strikes faster than the eyes could track. Yet, despite Desolim possessing two weapons, he couldn''t find the opportunity needed to overwhelm Vc.

    ''He''s faster than me. Even though it''s only marginally, it seems like he''s too experienced in battle. He''s using the rebound force to elerate his next strike and deal with my second weapon ordingly,'' Desolim thought with a slight frown.

    To date, this was one of his most difficult battles. Even the training experienced back on his homeworld paled inparison to the onught of this madman. The pattern of his strikes was erratic and virtually nonexistent.

    Moreover, the angle Vc attacked from was always change. Since he possessed the ability of flight, even when it seemed like he was horribly off-bnce, he was in fact not. His wings allowed him to stabilize himself in any position. This was a reason Tirasha had lost to him terribly.

    Suddenly, Vc changed his style. He performed an aerial spin the moment their weapons collided. And right before he lost his momentum, he channeled the force to his leg and kicked Desolim''s chin.

    The transference of the umted force disoriented him and caused him to stumbled backward. The surroundings blurred and Desolim stabbed one of his rapiers into the ground to halt his slide.

    Unfortunately, his opponent was an unrelenting one. Vcunched his spear once again. However, this time, it was akin to a ming meteor.

    Although he was disoriented, the danger was great enough to discern with terrible senses. As a result, Desolim formted a shoddy defense. The figure of a dark entity formted around his body and retaliated against the strike.

    Despite his efforts, the spear throw was still overwhelming. Desolim''s body mmed against the barrierpletely shattering it.

    As this happened, Vc floated back to the floor and walked forward with a saunter-like gait. It was as if he was going for a simple stroll through the park. Moreover, he lifted his hand and recalled his spear to his hand.

    A pleased smiled appeared on his face as he gazed at Desolim''s battered appearance in the distance, "Ah, this battle was quite fun. Unfortunately, you''re still not strong enough. You can''t ovee my advantage. As far as power goes, we are nearly equal. But, when we take into ount our experience, you pale inparison. Pure power can only go so far. Unlike you, I''ve been beaten and drilled since my birth. I may seem like a heathen, but¡­"

    Vc''s aura stagnated, like a calm before the storm. A momentter, in a focus st, it assaulted Desolim. "In truth, I''m more ancient than you believe."

    "D-de-..." Desolim tried to sputter out a response, but Vc shed forward and grasped his throat shut. The ripples of their battle spread out through the entirety of the academy.

 Chapter 325 - Avoiding Obscene Damages

    ----

    "I didn''t ask for your response. This merely time for you to listen. Furthermore, I don''t think you''re foolish enough to utter that word you''re thinking about, right?" Vc questioned with a malevolent expression, his grip tightening around Desolim''s neck.

    Audible cracking sounds could be heard from the site his handnded upon. In response, Desolim dropped his weapons and clutched Vc''s hand, attempting to pry it open. Unfortunately, when it came to strength, it appeared Vc was his superior. A shade of hopelessness appeared in Desolim''s eyes.

    ''How is this possible? I''ve already used my Reality Manifestation, how is he still stronger than me? Is it possible he is on par with a Heroic Spirit? If that''s the case...then what about that other thing I faced? Just what is that?'' Desolim thought to himself, a desperate expression on his face.

    Subconsciously, Desolim started topare Vc and Fuhrer''s strength. While his opponent now showed signs of exertion, Fuhrer''s fight was more on the effortless side. To Desolim, Fuhrer was an insurmountable wall. No matter what approach he took, he was incapable of breaking his defenses or even touching him for that matter.

    Nevertheless, it seemed Vc had grown bored of the newfound pleasure. To him, Desolim was on the brink of breaking and once that happens, there would be no more pleasure to gain from this battle. As a result, he waspelled to end this matter here and now.

    Silently, his expression grew cold and emotionless as he lifted his hand behind himself. A pale blue me appeared, coating his hand until it could no longer be seen. But, that wasn''t the end of the process. The me then melded and took on a new shape, the form of a de which started spiraling with a horrendous sensation.

    "Let''s just end this here," Vc uttered, intent on concluding this matter. Without another moment''s hesitation, he thrust his hand forward.

    All of a sudden a burst of air hurled in all directions with Vc''s position as the point of origin. Due to this development, Apollo narrowed his eyes. Whoever just appeared, they were able to avoid his senses. This meant the person who arrived was beyond his level.

    Once the dust cleared, his curiosity was quelled and the form of a titan was revealed, grasping Vc''s wrist. "Senseless violence, there is no need to be so heavyhanded. As you can see, you thing of darkness, this Spirit as damn near defenseless."

    The titan''s rough speech was then apanied by a forceful shove, sending Vc flying into the distance. Momentster, Rezar appeared, perched on the shoulder of the titan, "Tch, what in the world do we have here?"

    Since most of the participants were in unconscious states and the Spirits almost out ofmission, it was rather silent. However, unlike Grayson and his Spirit, none of the other students'' injuries were as serious.

    Slowly, Rezar turned his head towards Apollo with a deep frown, "As a disciplinary officer, I would have hoped you''d handle a situation better. But, to expect more of a ruthless savage was my mistake."

    In addition to his disappointment, Rezar instantly estimated the damages done here. It wasn''t limited to the students but the surrounding structures as well. Some of the infrastructures were damaged as a result of Vc and Desolim''s shing.

    Based on his estimation, the damages this area sustained outssed the stream of resources usually diverted towards the Outer Barracks. Because of this, Rezar could only sigh inmentation of his earlier decision.

    ''He might be strong, but his head is filled with air. He openly disregarded the rules. Even more so as a disciplinary officer. If you can''t quell a situation without the use of overbearing force, that''s what themunication device is for,'' Rezar internalized, shaking his head endlessly.

    Fortunately, after turning his head, he could sense a few other figures heading this way. If he was lucky, this ordeal wouldn''t be his responsibility. Nevertheless, until they arrived, he still needed to apprehend the culprit.

    "Apollo, surrender yourself. Let''s avoid the extra needless headache," Rezar suggested, sparing Apollo a certain type of look. Standing on Rakesh''s shoulder, his posture seemed to be rather imposing. However, things could never go smoothly.

    Apollo took a step forward, but from his demeanor, it was clear he was intent on backing down, "On what grounds do I need to surrender?" He questioned, narrowing his eyes. Now, he was set on testing the operating principles of this academy. He wasn''t the one whounched the first strike.

    In the rules, the summoning of a Spirit can be counted as a punishable offense. Especially so, when it was done with extremely hostile intentions.

    Be that as it may, as a figure of authority, Rezar didn''t very much like the questioning of a youth. One who was a part of his organization no less.

    "On the grounds of you taking this incident to an extreme level," Rezar rebutted. Then, he nced towards Rakesh while continuing, "Will you do so peacefully or will I have to take matters into my own hand?"

    The threat within Rezar''s words made Apollo''s eyebrows raise. Never did he take kindly to threats. In fact, they were the prerequisite to awakening histent stubbornness, "You''ll very well have to take matters into your own hands. I won''t be moving an inch."

    "Tch, it''s always a headache," Rezar scoffed. At the same time, he tapped his foot and jumped down. While in the air, his eyes remained locked on Apollo, "Rakesh, fetch that defiant little boy."

    ''Fwoosh!''

    Rakesh''s backfoot splintered the ground as he closed the distance between them in a mere instant. It was a shocking sight to see such a tall figure more so quickly. His speed was no less than a Spirit oriented around speed, yet he seemed to be more of a defensive Spirit. This discovery left Apollo shocked as he recalled something.

    ''That right there is a bonafide Heroic Spirit. Just the emission made Desolim''s strongest technique seem like baby attempts. Nevertheless, I still won''t being along with anyone. Fuhrer!'' Apollo eximed mentally.

    The void hiding Fuhrer split apart, revealing a dark figure donned in a marvelous armor of the abyss. Concurrently, they drew their sword with an imperious disposition.

    Right before Rakesh arrived, Fuhrer appeared in front of Apollo and raised his sword, halting Rakesh''s momentum. For a moment, both side''s eyes widened but Rakesh remained astonished.

    ''There has never been a child who could summon a Spirit capable of neutralizing a Heroic Spirit. After all, all Spirits need time to grow and acquire more of their original power,'' Rakesh thought, but then he also realized another fact.

    His expression grew solemn, "These aren''t the fluctuations of Spirit. I''ve read about this in our council records. You should be a partner to the Shadow Worlds! You''re a-"

    "Continue your words and your tongue will never work against. If you reveal our identity, you''ll experience a harsh end," Fuhrer interjected, showcasing a diabolical aura. While lips never moved, Rakesh got the message.

    Regrettably, Rakesh had his own set of pride, and Fuhrer''s ims trampled upon it. As a result, those words impelled his reaction, "How dare you! These oundish ims will nevere to be!"

    A sh of rage exploded from Rakesh as he summoned his bulwark and used the sharp edge of it to thrust towards Fuhrer. As the shield hurled towards Fuhrer, he merely raised his hand and caught it.

    The transference of force obliterated the ground in a cone shape behind Fuhrer, but when it came to him, his body didn''t flinch in the slightest. This blow albeit powerful didn''t faze Fuhrer in the slightest.

    After healing part of his soul with the help of Destrys, he was able to manipte forces more thoroughly. With his body as the medium, he shifted the force of the blow behind him. In other words, when it came to purely physical attacks unless the force shattered his capabilities, those types of attacks next to useless.

    In response, Rakesh clicked his tongue. A white aura encased his shield and this time, Fuhrer reacted differently. He brandished Bryhildr and conjured multiple dark sword winds. Each strike chipped away at the white aura surrounding the shield but to his surprise, his attacks seemed rather ineffective.

    ''The regenerative rate of this ability is pretty high. This vitality should be on par with an Archdemon, but that''s only part of his strength at that level. As far as reaction speed, strength, and energy output go, they''re all well within my level. This will require the use of more refined techniques,'' Fuhrer surmised.

    A momentter, his stance changed. It was the form of his first Tenebrous Sword. The change of aura stimted Rakesh''s caution as well as his thirst for battle. Since leaving the frontline, Rezar rarely entered worthwhilebat, resulting in the rustiness of Rakesh.

    However, one thing was certain, the oue of their sh would be far more devastating than Desolim and Vc. Yet, despite this fact, Rakesh couldn''t suppress his desire to engage in battle.

    Both his and Fuhrer charged at each other, their summoners standing aside.

    Sadly, this couldn''t be tolerated. The current state of the Academy was less than desirable.

    Thus, 3 figures showed up and immediately stopped the sh before it could happen.

    Within the three, two of them wore displeased expressions. As for thest one, it appeared as if he had only shown up for convenience.

    "Rezar, what do you think you''re doing? Do you not see the state of this area already? What will happen if you allow Rakesh to run amok? This ce would be utterly destroyed," Geneva seethed.

    "Indeed, I am disappointed in you," Sylvester scoffed. On the other hand, a small chuckle garnered their res.

 Chapter 326 - The Aftermath

    ----

    "And what the fuck do you think you''re chuckling at? Do you think you''re in any better of a position? Do you see the mess you''ve caused? Not to mention, do you understand how close the excursion is? What is wrong with you all?" Sylvester barked, fury zing within his eyes and he turned towards Apollo.

    Simrly, Geneva frowned. The main thing she had asked of Apollo was not to cause trouble. Although she was aware of the rumors floating around the academy, she wasn''t sure of the origin. And, since it hadn''t escted to a physical issue, he hadn''t paid this matter any mind.

    Unfortunately, that action appeared to be the wrong approach. Not only did the worst oue possible happen, basically 80% of the team who was supposed to enter the excursion was out ofmission. This made Geneva frown. After all, this was arger purpose behind this task. It happened every year for a reason.

    ''If our ranking is too low, our resources and control of the nodes will be in jeopardy. I told this boy not to make anyrge moves,'' Geneva thought, her frown deepening even further. Moreover, she felt a headacheing along. There were some instructors who advised against allowing Apollo to run around with monitoring.

    To them, he was a walking amalgam of trouble. If they could keep an eye on them, it would limit the amount of damage he could do. Not to mention, giving him disciplinary rights was an even worst decision. Regrettably, since he had been quiet since he received the privilege, they didn''t possess the means to revoke his privilege.

    But, if they wanted to do so now, it was a little toote. The purpose behind revocation would be to inhibit escted issues and right now, they were in the midst of one. Therefore, the only decision they could make was to take another route.

    Meanwhile, Apollo looked at the rage directed towards him and chuckled in return. His nonchnt demeanor in this situation nonplussed Geneva and the others. While she understood his disregard for life was bing greater, she at least thought he was capable of fulfilling some tasks for her sake.

    Clearly, this wasn''t true from what she witnessed. Nevertheless, as always, she was always curious about what odd thoughts were running through his mind as he engaged in these peril-inducing actions.

    "Why do you find this funny? Do you understand what you have done?" Geneva responded, holding her hand up to keep Sylvester and Rezar in ce. As Apollo''s superior, they felt responsible for the acts he hadmitted. But, Geneva restricted them from acting.

    After all, unlike the other students, Apollo possessed a special deal with her. Thus, Apollo spared her a meaningful look that was blocked from the other with the way they stood.

    "I do understand what I have done, I have responded to hostility," Apollo answered with a shrug. The more he acted like this, the more the urge to p his arose in Geneva. However, in public, she was to uphold her image as a Headmaster. If someone of her position was seenying hands on a child, it wouldn''t be good for her reputation.

    "Tch, that''s not what I mean. You know exactly what I mean. Why must you be so extreme? You''re condemning us by acting the majority of our participating students. Without them, our forces will be iplete," Geneva rebutted, raising her voice in the process. Although she tried her best to keep calm, there were just too many spirit users out ofmission.

    It must be known, these Spirit Cultivators made up the majority of the force. Now that Apollo had damaged most of them, it was hard for Geneva not to react. Even if they had a deal, she couldn''t possibly see how he would be able to reverse or rectify this situation.

    In her eyes, Apollo couldn''t equate to over 50 Spirit Cultivators. As mentioned before, someone capable of summoning more than one SPirit was a rarity. In some cases, it could even be deemed a unique situation. But, just because they had more than one spirit, it didn''t mean they were better off than someone else.

    In the past, there had been a cultivator who possessed two Spirits, but he faced trials and tribtions like no other. Every time he advanced, it was like a bomb exploding in his mind. The sudden expansion of the Spirit''s Spiritual Marks as well their Soul Temple became progressively worse.

    Furthermore, advancing became harder when each of the Spirits absorbed their innate Spiritual Essence. This left little to properly fortify his mind and each Spirit''s consumptionpounded on the other. In other words,pared to others, the time needed to advance was more than triple.

    Therefore, even if there was the off chance of Apollo possessing more than one Spirit to utilize, and the fact that his potential was somewhere beyond a Paragon, he was still within his growth phase nheless. And, the growth phase was only useful when the individual lived long enough to surpass it because what good is a dead individual?

    "Responded to hostility?" Geneva parroted, bearing an incredulous expression. She was truly unable to understand just how Apollo''s mind worked. ''It''s like the ancient principle of an eye for an eye. Sadly, there wille a time when he learns that not every issue can be met with a reaction. When the other''s forces are overwhelming, or their background uncontestable, then you''ll end up in a perilous situation.''

    After the pensive state induced by Apollo''s baffling words, Geneva continued, "That''s the wrong way to look at things. I asked you to do one thing¡ªstay out of trouble! Why is that so hard for you?"

    "It''s not hard for me. I don''t seek trouble with anyone, it begets me and I handle it. Simple as that. Now, if you ask for my opinion, these individuals are all inconsequential and worthless. You shouldn''t waste your time on people like them," Apollo responded, his straightforward and ultimately disrespectful came as a blow to everyone.

    "WHAT?! Inconsequential?! We trained some of those individuals! Are you calling us inconsequential as well?" Rezar barked, consternation seething within his eyes. Had not for Geneva holding him back, he would have pounced on Apollo by now. Granted, if he wished to do so, he would have to get past Fuhrer first who prepared his weapon.

    All of a sudden, Geneva paused and narrowed her eyes. She realized she overlooked a matter, but didn''t address that until focusing on Apollo''s previous words.

    "Inconsequential? Why do you feel that is so?" Geneva questioned. Although Apollo''s words typically sounded rude, due to the time she spent with him, she had learned that there was always another meaning behind them. Hence, it was much easier to act after understanding that meaning.

    "The evidence is all there. If you raise someone incapable of controlling their desires, there wille a day where their actions bring about your doom. Think of it as my warning, or take no heed of it at all. Either way, I''ll be able to sleep at night," Apollo shrugged again, brushing the matter aside.

    Every single person who partook in the siege on his residence exhibiting tendrils of Greed. In the process of absorbing it, Apollo came to realized some were stronger than others as it was apanied by Envy. ording to Fuhrer, those types of people were most dangerous. They were willing to do anything to obtain what they wanted.

    But, of course, Apollo wouldn''t reveal his evidence. It was too closely rted to his secret.

    On the other hand, once this matter was addressed, Geneva presented a question that made everyone reexamined the battlefield. "Do you have more than one Spirit?" Geneva asked. While she knew there was no way Fuhrer was a mere Spirit, she needed to keep up a facade.

    There were some people who just weren''t privy to the secrets surrounding Spirits. Only the families with ancestors dating back to the first generation possessed records of the deal they established with Spirits.

    Finally, everyone switched their attention between Vc and Fuhrer. Despite Vc''s seemingly human appearance, the fluctuation of his energy betrayed his disguise. Unlike Fuhrer, he couldn''t manipte the nature of his Anima.

    "It could be a possibility," Apollo grinned faintly and produced a round-about answer. At the same time, he nced between them. "So what if I do, what does that change?"

    "Change? Tch," Rezar scoffed, "If you have a second Spirit, we might as well toss you outside of this Academy. You''re pretty much useless at that point.

    "Hoh?" Apollo was intrigued by this answer. It was in direct contrast to what he assumed. Due to this expression, Geneva revealed the stigma surrounding Spirit Cultivators possessing multiple Spirit.

    After some time, once he digested the information, Apollo nodded and looked in Geneva''s direction. A confident yet yful smile appeared on his lips, "Do you think that issue gues me as well?"

    At first, Geneva wanted to refute his question, but she remained quiet and pondered a few situations. Only once she had cross-examined everything she remember, did she present an answer, "Well, you see. You''re merely in the early stages of cultivation. Your boundless potential is assisting you now, but what happens when you require obscene amounts of resources? What will you do?"

    "I''ll obtain them and I''ll continue to acquire strength and there will be nothing to stop me from doing so," Apollo answered confidently. Afterward, he recalled Vc and Fuhrer. In this situation, Vc was astute enough to know not to misbehave.

    "If that is all, may I go?" Apollo asked.

    Truthfully, they didn''t want to release him, but he was one of the few left capable of participating. At this point, he was immune to punishment.

    "You may go," Geneva allowed but she added a use, "However, you''re under house arrest until I fetch you and Sylvester will be monitoring you."

    In response, Apollo nodded. Now, all that was left was to deal with the mess left in the wake of this scuffle.

 Chapter 327 - It Is Time

    ----

    While Apollo was confined to the perimeter of his residence, Geneva and the rest were left outside with a headache. The bodies littering the ground were the least of their worries. As of right now, Geneva was more focused on how they would absolve the predicament they were in.

    "Headmaster, what is your suggestion? How should we best salvage the situation?" Robyn questioned, ncing in Geneva''s direction with a curious expression. If they let the situation fester and deteriorate to a worse predicament, the situation would soon escte to something beyond mere student animosity.

    "The problem with this incident is the number of prominent family youths involved. If it was only a single one, deterring them wouldn''t be an issue. But, that isn''t our current case. There are far too many families involved. The situation will devolve if they choose to work together," Geneva respond.

    She massaged the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache as a result of the annoyance she had to deal with. Silently, she turned towards the residence behind her and frown. Apollo truly picked the worst time to act up. After all, now that all of the Academies and their freshmen were going to convene, some of the Great Families folks were enlisted as Instructors in the Academy.

    Needless to say, when they realize the awkward atmosphere surrounding Geneva''s team as well as theck of people, it wouldn''t be hard to put two and two together. Then, with what they understand, it wouldn''t be far-fetched to im they''ll bring this information back to their families.

    "Do you need me to silence them? It''s been a while since I''ve condoned such activities, but if it''s to avert catastrophe for our school, then I don''t mind getting my hand dirty," Robyn offered. Unlike his usual demeanor, there no giddiness within his eyes. It was all reced by a cold air of murder.

    "No Robyn, there is no need to go back to your old ways. We aren''t on the battlefield anymore and you aren''t a part of the Assassin Corps. Although it''ll always be engraved in you, silencing a number of Great Families in nigh impossible," Geneva responded, shaking her head while sparing Robyn an odd nce.

    The reason she didn''t wish for this to happen was due to the fact that each Great Family possessed at least one expert of Robyn''s left. If they already received word, then Robyn would be potentially walking into an adverse situation.

    Despite the area being cordoned off from the outside, Geneva didn''t put anything beyond the capabilities of her Instructor. Although some of them pledge loyalty, it was never actually believed. They were only utilized as tools to further elerate the student''s learning.

    When it came to dealing with this matter, she felt there was only one way. "We''ll have to rely upon the idiot that caused the issue. If he can rectify this by obtaining a high, if not the highest position, we can request assistance from the Supreme Families."

    As he heard this, Robyn''s expression radiated his intrigue, "You really intend to seek help from them? You know that although their control seems minute on the surface, their grasp flows through everything. I''m sure they''ll bleed you dry if you request aid."

    Even though Geneva wished to be able to refute Robyn''s words, she couldn''t. From her time spent on the battlefield in the past, she understood just how those upper families operated. If your use was gone, so were you.

    It was only a matter of time until this specific Academy''s worth dwindled to nothing. Once that happened, Geneva wasn''t sure what the future would reveal. Not only did this unsettle her, but it also infuriated her.

    For one, this Academy had flowed throughout her heritage since the beginning. If it was lost now, that would deem Geneva none other but a failure. Although the decline was really due to theck of an inheritor being birthed, it was still expected to fail and it would be so under her grasp.

    Geneva then fell silent, a vulnerable frown appeared on the face as he leaned against the wall. "If you don''t think this is a viable solution, then what do you suggest?"

    "It''s not that I don''t think it is viable," Robyn shook his head. "It''s the fact that the n is iplete. Just relying on the kid isn''t enough. You know the current situation of the world, thest thing we need is a conflict between our forces."

    With the deterioration of the world''s defense due to corruption, Robyn''s mind was focused on other things. The small matters between these children were the least of his worries. If arge-scale war broke out over the destruction of a number of youths'' potential, this would jeopardize Astarat''s forces.

    "Then, do you suggest we make preparations? Should we begin thepartmentalized training for the Children of War?" Geneva inquired. Additionally, she started to tap the side of her forehead in deep thought.

    "That is one. The other thing you need to do is prepare all levels of our upants. Even the freshmen, when they arrive, we''ll spare no efforts to find and extract the most talented. This is war, it is no time to uphold pleasantries. Introduce them to the way the world works, how the useless is tossed aside and the strong are used as a weapon while the strongest reign supreme," Robyn answered.

    A pipe appeared in his hands. After pressing it against his lips, he took a deep inhale, "This is the only possibility I see that is the most practical. But, as the Headmaster, it is your decision whether or not to enforce it. In the meantime, I urge you to think about it. With that, I bid my adieu," Robyn responded, disappearing without another word.

    On the other hand, the medical team of the Academy was already on the scene, transporting the unconscious individuals. As for the unconscious Spirits, after a certain amount of time, their Spiritual Marks would operate on their own and allow them back inside their summoner''s mind.

    Granted, this way resulted in some aftereffects. Both the Spirit and cultivator would enter of state of soul weakness. During this time, it was imperative to heal. Not only was the body susceptible to injury, but so was the soul.

    Silently, Geneva was left pondering over her decision. As of right now, there was still some time before her decision was imminent. For now, she needed to deliberate over which route was most beneficial for the future of the Academy.

    ----

    Meanwhile, inside his Residence, Apollo was going over other matters.

    "You all did well. Especially you Vc, when you obey you won''t be punished. And, I may even allow more situations like this to happen. These humans are the least of my worries. What I need, is for you to learn absolute loyalty," Apollo remarked, sparing Vc an imperious look.

    At first, he wanted to scoff but when he recalled the fun he had when Desolim utilized his Reality Manifestation, he buried his retort, "Mm! I''ll try." He shrugged.

    Of course, Furcas and Fuhrer snickered. They could see right through his bullshit. The only reason for his current response was the temporary fulfillment coursing through his body. Once that psed, he would be back to his other ways of heathenry.

    However, neither Furcas nor Fuhrer felt this was uneptable. After all, even though they were quite used to Vc''s behavior, Apollo''s behavior was different from the First Monarch''s.

    ''We sought him out in the past and he granted us power but loose governing, expecting us to evolve on our own. The faith he ced in us lives on, but you''re different. You''re on the path the finding power, and on that journey, you''re finding yourself as well. Unbeknownst to you, your actions are inciting change,'' Fuhrer mused silently.

    In the corner of the room, he watched Apollo and the interactions between his Demons. Even Jorgun and Zarkath were present as he distributed a small amount of Anima Crystals.

    Most of them were far from their full state, thus, it was in Apollo''s best interest to make sure that wasn''t the case. He needed them in top shape. Especially so, with what was left of the excursion team.

    Uneventfully, 2 days passed. During that time, not only did the crystal refill everyone''s reserves, Apollo made some notable progress on digesting the information of darkness. Furthermore, the earlier battle resulted in a substantial amount of experience.

    However, Apollo was almost certain about something due to the small messages from the system. ''Humans are incapable of giving experience, and so is this world''s energy. But, that isn''t the same story for Spirits.''

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.4

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [99.99%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 15

    Level: 137

    Experience: 25.00%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 13,500 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 7 Zul Knight

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 5 Spirit Warrior

    Meridians: Saint-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 30,000

    Oz: 1,050

    Strength: 1000.0

    Agility: 925.0

    Intelligence: 910.0

    Vitality: 800.0

    Comprehension: 110.0

    Willpower: 91.0

    [?Traits?]- 5

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 7

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 9: Darkness, Fire

    Level 7: Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?]

    [Daemonic Avatar]

    Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master

    ?Greater Demon? [5,000]

    [Demonic Acolyte]

    Typhir Estrada (Demon Knight) ?

    Lesser Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Follower]

    Furcas (Demon Knight) - Wiseman of Corruption

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    Vc (Demon Knight - The Terrible

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Servant]

    Zarkath (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    Jorgun the Anomaly (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    ------------

    [?Interdimensional Inventory?][?Inheritance?] [?Lucky Draw?]

    Stat Points: 0

    As of right now, the first threshold had been met. And, because of that, Apollo felt an immediate difference in his body. Meanwhile, a knock was heard on Apollo''s door.

    "It''s time, let''s go!"

 Chapter 328 - A Different Realm

    ----

    The door to Apollo''s residence opened, revealing Apollo who bore ax expression. As he turned towards Sylvester, he nced toward the side unto Geneva''s enclosing figure, "I take it you had a good stay," Apollo smirked, sauntering past Sylvester.

    Unlike Rezar, his reaction wasn''t prominent, Sylvester''s eyes merely followed the movements of Apollo. Only when he was a distance away did he shake his head. ''That type of attitude will be his undoing. It seems his superiors are air in his eyes. That won''t suffice when he touches down in the World Remation Task Force in the future. He''ll be corrected.''

    Meanwhile, Apollo reached Geneva''s position, and silently, she led him towards the auditorium, which held the other participating freshmen.

    Midway through the walk, Geneva stopped and nced at Apollo, "Tell me, are you able to follow through on our promise? Thesest couple of days have been filled with meetings to understand just how to deal with you."

    While this would have unnerved others, Apollo merely nced in her direction with a light smile. "You worry too much. As I told you before, all those people are inconsequential. If I give you my word, then you have it. There is no need to gue yourself with doubts."

    Although his words wereced with unbridled confidence, Geneva still found it hard to believe. The arising circumstances surrounding Apollo seemed to be worsening. Yes, his progress was rapid and even on par with those who held a greater starting position, but the presence of more than one entity siphoning his essence worried Geneva.

    Thus, despite Apollo''s words, Geneva''s expression didn''t rx in the slightest. On the contrary, her worries deepened. This led her to offer a warning, "Be wary of the second floor and beyond. Just because the task is different every year, it doesn''t matter. You have a lot of enemies and the means of the second floor and beyond follow one consistent pattern¡ªit is arge-scale evaluation."

    "Mm, I understand," Apollo nodded in understanding. Even though the information was much appreciated, it wouldn''t do him any good to start worrying now. After all, he still had his collection of Demons by his side. Unlike the rest, this was his upper hand.

    In addition to Typhir, whose summoning capabilities were currently suppressed, Apollo still possessed 5 other Demons to utilize. In other words, he was a small-scale army, a team at the least. Hence, the reason for Apollo''sck of taut nerves.

    In the meantime, their travel became quiet once again. Before fetching him, Geneva had allowed all of the avable freshmen to convene within the auditorium. So, she and Apollo were thest to arrive.

    However, not a single soul present thought anything of it. The news of the devastating fiasco that took days a few days prior had already bruited about the campus. The looks on everyone''s faces paled when they bore witness to Apollo''s arriving figure.

    Some of them even winced and shirked back from his entrance. A great number of the freshmen currently in the Spiritual Infirmary were their acquaintances. Quite a few of them even started garnering rtionships to secure their future.

    Unfortunately, a hitch in their ns like Apollo appeared. Now, their vision of their future was blurred. It all depended on two factors to grasp ahold of it once again. It depended if they could form stronger bonds, or if their prior benefactor could recover and reinstate these individual''s statuses as beneficiaries.

    Of course, with the severity of their injuries, this seemed to be a far-fetched desire, that was, unless the upper echelon of this world was willing to separate with plenty of their illustrious healing items. Sadly, that was a pipe dream.

    There wasn''t a single Supreme Family in power that would sacrifice their items for these piddling existences. However, if the injured individual was summoned on the level of Paragons and the Great Families'' heirs, then there was a good chance of this happening.

    Nevertheless, as of right now, that was the least of their worries.

    Geneva approached the podium and gazed around before releasing a heavy sigh, "I''m sure you have all caught wind of the incident that has mutted our numbers. While it is a tragedy, it isn''t the end of us. This just means we''ll have to act with caution."

    Before continuing, she looked around and noticed the despondent attitude of the youths. ''It seems they''re scared. Well, at least not all of them are.'' A select few in the corner of the auditorium appeared restless, unlike the rest.

    Then, there were a few anomalies. For example, Apollo whose attention was focused onmunicating with his Demons, and Aaron whose arms remained crossed and his body still as if he was in a meditative state.

    If one looked closely, one would notice a stream of gentle air rolling off his body. It formed a miniature barrier around him, including controlled flickers of lightning.

    Suddenly, his eye cracked open and he peered in the direction of Apollo and then Geneva before closing them again. Small crackles of lightning danced within his eyes in that short moment.

    A voice warned in Aaron''s head. However, he didn''t respond but epted it nheless. "Young one, I urge you to be careful. Those two share a link in their core essence. I''m not sure what it means, but you should be wary of them."

    Meanwhile, Geneva finally continued, "With that being said, I believe it is time we move. Remember, move with caution, and don''t forget, it all rests upon your shoulders now. If you find yourself in the position to help your peers, I urge you to do so. This excursion means more than you know."

    In response, some nodded but others couldn''t muster a response. Most of their gazes continued to fall upon Apollo. They wondered whether or not he would be the gue they would need help from or if he would be one to render aid in times of need.

    More importantly, they all wished that this scenario wouldn''te to be.

    Geneva waved her hand and guided the students to the walls of the Academy. Once outside, they traveled even further into the distance and came across a special transportation circle.

    "This links to the center of Pangea Ind, the destination of our travels. Come," Geneva beckoned. At the same time, the circle emitted a noise, symbolizing the initiating sequences. Blue lights rose from the ground that soon filled the engravings of the circle.

    The moment it was done, a portal appeared in the middle of the circle. Unlike the ones Apollo utilized to travel to the Nihilistic Rings, where the other side was unknown and filled with chaotic energies, this one was different. The other side revealed their transport location.

    Moreover, from what they saw, they seemed to be some of theter arrivals. There were already people stationed into organized columns with differing uniforms.

    "Follow after me and refrain from talking. No matter how much you are antagonized for your current numbers, just ignore it," Geneva stated, warning everyone. Compared to the rest, she possessed less than half of their participants.

    Each of the Famed Academies was granted 100 spots, equating to 900 individuals. On the other hand, thest 100 spots were meant to be shared between the bottom 3 academies. Those who didn''t fulfill the criteria to enter this space would have to undergo a different task to enter their second year.

    Regrettably, they wouldn''t possess the same special privileges as those who obtained increased reputation for their Academy.

    Soon enough, Geneva and her students all exited from the portal and took their position.

    Before everyone, there stood 2 aged individuals each wearing distinct, luxurious robes. Each of them held a significant status within their respective Supreme Family.

    "Ahem, we are the Vice Heads of the Braum and Crux Family. We are the overseers of this event. We will bear witness to those who achieve sess within this trial. There isn''t much to reveal as the realm will do that for you. I will just wish you all a safe journey," one of the aged males announced.

    Likewise, the other male nodded along, "Yes. Have a safe journey! Those of you whoe close to the record, we may even extend a wee to the likes of you."

    In an orderly fashion, the sectioned groups entered two opened gates. If anyone over the Zul Knight and Spirit Warrior level tried to gain entry, their bodies would be evaporated by the obscene defense of the portal.

    Since it was an area left behind by an unknown force, there wasn''t a human alive who could contest its lethality. In the past, there was an individual who tried it. Needless to say, he didn''t end well.

    Soon enough, it was Apollo''s turn to enter. Without a moment''s dy, Apollo stepped through the portal and found himself in a foreign area. It was simr to a crypt, where ghastly mes lit across the corridor. However, at the end of the halls, there was arge clearing.

    Be that as it may, Apollo was unable to sense any signs of life emanating from that direction. ''This must be the individual test that Geneva mentioned. I wonder howrge this area is to separate 1,000 peoplefortably.''

    As he was lost in thought, numerous clicking noises echoed in the atmosphere gaining Apollo''s attention. Despite the noise, Apollo still sensed ack of life.

    "Hmm?" All of a sudden, a warning signal red in Apollo''s mind. He raised his arm in response, mming against an iing assant. From the initial contact, Apollo could tell they weren''t too strong.

    Yet, something was amiss, "No life signal? What is this thing?" Apollo wondered. It appeared to be a human, but from his eyes, it was no more than a carcas.

 Chapter 329 - Numerous Phases

    ----

    As Apollo looked at his foe, he was startled by the fact it seemed to be humanoid, yet something was missing to confirm this. He took a few steps in retreat to thoroughly examine it, but he had yet toe to a sound conclusion after many moments.

    The unfamiliarity of it stumped Apollo.

    ''What is this thing?'' Apollo wondered, conjuring a scythe of Hellfire. The only way to obtain answers now was by verifying them through contact.

    Meanwhile, almost as if it was programmed to do none other than attack, the humanoid figure dashed back towards Apollo. This time, there were two daggers that slid down to their palms from within their sleeves.

    Watching this, Apollo digested some of the signs, ''It doesn''t seem to move quite like a human. There is a dy in its actions. It seems to be following some type of script.'' After his assumption, Apollo matched the opponent with a dash.

    Before it could attack him, Apollo jumped and spun on the figure beforending and delivering an apt sh to its back. This action had two purposes. One, he wanted to determine the limits of its response time. If it was closer to his level, then he would entertain the idea of summoning his Demons. If not, it was the perfect time to hone his own technique.

    Fortunately, its spontaneous response seemed to becking. On the other hand, Apollo also verified this figure was not human. There were no organs, there was just a dim crystal in the middle with infrastructure resembling veins, connecting to its extremities and head.

    "Is this some type of puppet?" Apollo muttered. This was the only conclusion he could make. All of the signs pointed in this direction. Not only was there the fact that it moved as if it was programmed to follow a certain session of movements, but there was also the lifeless appearance.

    More importantly, the infrastructure confirmed this. However, be that as it may, it didn''t answer questions. On the contrary, it made Apollo pose many more questions. ''I wonder, just who made this puppet; perhaps it''s the same individual responsible for the construction of this ce.''

    Though he was onto something, he didn''t have enough time to continue pondering the matter. The attack dealt to the puppet didn''t diminish itsbat capabilities in the slightest. This was a trait it overpowered a human in. Granted, it almost presented simr weaknesses.

    For example, Apollo''s gaze shifted towards a small hitch in its connective joints before moving. ''This must be some type of prototype or just some imperfect creation that was meant to be food. Nevertheless, I just need to destroy it to advance,'' Apollo determined, entering apletely focused state.

    In his eyes, there was just him and the puppet rushing towards him. For a moment, time seemed to freeze and Apollo''s perception sped up many times over. Although he didn''t move, he received arge amount of information.

    Finally, the sound of metal grinding together echoed within the clearing. Apollo twirled the scythe around his body, moving in fluid, unpredictable patterns to disrupt the opponent''s flow. Once he achieved that, he began experimenting with the puppet.

    Due to theck of information given, he needed to find out the limits of this thing for himself. After all, he was almost certain the task he was warned of couldn''t be a single opponent. Thus, if he wished to prepare himself, it was best to do so from the start. Waiting untilter was just an inefficient utilization of time.

    Slowly, small pieces of the puppet fell off under the continued strikes of Apollo. Although he withheld arge portion of his strength, the outer material of this particr puppet seemed to be brittle. Even if he removed the weight from his strikes, the Hellfire alone was enough to damage to outer shell.

    With time, Apollo soon gathered enough information. When he dealt damage to the puppet, the crystal in the middle would pulsate and release a wave of energy to ount for the damage suffered to the puppet.

    Even though it didn''t repair the puppet, it reinvigorated its movements. This discovery made two things clear. The first being the crystal was ultimately their weakness. In fact, it was theirrgest weakest.

    Meanwhile, the other matter Apollo learned of was even more disturbing, ''If the puppets grow in strength, then a battle of attrition isn''t desirable. If their reserves arerger than mine, then they can support their maximum output longer.''

    But, after Apollo shattered the puppet, the crystal remained. This was even after directing hisst attack at the crystal. While in shock, a voice rang throughout the clearing.

    [First Stage, Phase One cleared. psed time: 24 minutes and 32 seconds. Grade 1 Inferior Puppet Defeated. Reward: Fractured Inferior Source.]

    Upon hearing this information, Apollo stared at the crystal on the floor, "So this is an Inferior Source? What are its uses?" Apollo questioned quietly. Picking up the dim crystal, he inspected it over and over. To him, there was no difference between this source and a Spirit Shard.

    However, as he retrieved one andpared it, the energies within seemed attracted to each other, but they repelled one another right before they touched.

    "I remember this phenomenon. It happens when Spiritual Essence and Natural Essence tries to fuse. Does this mean...does this mean this source spoken is just purified Natural Essence? No, purified doesn''t seem right, it''s too dim to be called purified," Apollo mumbled, producing multiple conclusions in his mind.

    Sadly, his research session was cut short. Unlike before, the voice announced the beginning of the next stage.

    [Stage 1, Phase Twomencing in 3 seconds. Opponents: 3 Grade One Inferior Puppets.]

    Apollo stood up in response and prepared himself. Three doors opened on the ground level, revealing three puppets that advanced. Compared to before, while of the same grade, they weren''t geared the same. One held a sh9ield, another was equipped with a long sword while thest one was equipped with a shield and a long sword.

    ''Interesting, each of them seemed to be specialized. Their creator must have had some advancements in their progress at the time of their making,'' Apollo surmised. Subsequently, he shifted his foot and dispersed the Hellfire scythe.

    Since it had been quite some time since he engaged in closebat, his body was itching for a stretch. After confirming this type of puppet was incapable of damaging his body, it was also revealed there was no need for a weapon as of yet.

    Even the weapons used by the puppets were of inferior material.

    Once again, the two sides shed. However, it was much more difficult than facing a single opponent. Different from the puppet from before, these 3 appeared to be programmed to act as one. Hence, they attacked from three angles simultaneously.

    Even though the attacks weren''t powerful, Apollo was still umting fatigue nheless. The repeated attacks were bound to increase his stamina exhaustion rate. Luckily, he wasn''t in a predicament warranting extra movement. In this fight, his style was barbaric, receiving blows to administer them.

    Soon enough, this trio of puppets was smashed to bits.

    Whereas the first stage gave a good amount of time to recover, the next message appeared for the start of the third phase. Moreover, the difficulty skyrocketed, even Apollo felt it.

    Nevertheless, Apollo was still enthused by the oue. It appeared this realm operating on the principle of "you eat what you kill." After all, he was able to retain the source from every puppet killed thus far.

    [Stage 1, Phase Threemencing in 5 seconds. Opponents: 5 Grade One Inferior Puppets & 1 Grade Two Ordinary Puppet.]

    At the mention of an ordinary puppet, Apollo''s eyes narrowed. Every time an unfamiliar term was mentioned it would put Apollo on edge. Until he gathered sufficient information, Apollo was liable to be cautious. He had learned before,cency is the death of man.

    Once again, the doors opened, but this time, one of the doors on the second level opened, and a puppet with a much more life-like appearance came forth. As it moved, its gait retained a semnce of an expert''s demeanor.

    From this, Apollo was able to glean something. ''I guess I can expect exponential climbs in difficulty as opposed to gradual increases. Nevertheless...let''s do this.''

    Apollo exhaled and made his move. Since hecked the numbers, for now, it was in his best interest to snatch hold of the battle''s momentum. Granted, this was only possible if he possessed an overwhelming advantage.

    Sadly, the moment he moved, so did the one atop. Furthermore, from the way it moved, it seemed like an assassin. It was many times faster inparison to any of the puppet faced up until now.

    ''BOOM!''

    Their sh was more impactful than the others. Apollo even became serious when he noticed the increased durability of this puppet. It was at least 4 times harder than the inferior one. Despite their collision, there wasn''t a crack found on their forearm.

    Not to mention, there was an almost human expression in this puppet''s eyes as it monitored Apollo. It opened its mouth which surprised Apollo.

    At first, he thought it was going to speak but warning signs arose in his mind, prompting him to react quickly. The moment he ducked, three metal projectiles shot from the puppet''s mouth, impaling the wall behind Apollo.

    The prative force behind the attack confounded Apollo. ''This thing has hidden weapons now?! Alright, ytime is over!''

    "Fwoosh!''

    Apollo released a billowing aura, reinforcing his body with Demonic Anima. Instantly, he rushed forward and punched through the torso of the ordinary puppet. Additionally, he also grabbed its head and smashed it into the ground.

    As for the rest of the puppets, Apollo swung his arm in an arc, firing a Demonic Massacre Wave. The third phase was cleared in a few short moments.

 Chapter 330 - Exceptional Puppetry

    ----

    In the time it took for Apollo to clear up to phase 10 of the First Stage, he was shocked by the rapid by in difficulty. Compared to the first phase where there was but a single opponent, and an inferior puppet at that, the tenth phase waspletely different. It consisted of 10 Grade Two Ordinary Puppets as opponents.

    Each of them possessed unique weaponry and a pattern of attack. Furthermore, their every move synergized with the other puppets more fluidly than the round prior. This development disyed the increasing attainments of their creator.

    Not only did the cooperation between the puppets be more seamless, with each progressive round, despite theck of change in grading, but each of the puppets also grew stronger. It was to the point that Apollo needed to uphold a constantyer of Demonic Anima.

    While the puppets were going stronger, it also allowed Apollo to continuously hone his movements and battle experience. This type of opponent, one which operated upon the program, without fear, was the type of opponent that benefitted Apollo the most. In exchange for the ruthless attacks he received, he tempered out the leftover instinct to guard himself against dangerous attacks.

    Additionally, the constant release of warning signals begun to sharpen his perception even further. In his eyes, a path of evasion opened up that allowed him to continue his attack but also contort his body in an angle that made retaliation against him trick.

    Overall, while the citation may appear dangerous, it wasn''t truly the case. He merely needed to deal with what was in front of him. Maybe it was the continued battle with less room for recuperation, but Apollo grew wary of his current reserves and kept a fine control over the expenditure.

    ''Three long-range attackers, 4 defenders, 2 assaulters, and 1 assassin. This makeup covers nearly all weaknesses they make present. Also, this assassin-type puppet only attacks right after the assaulters have been dmissioned. It must possess some type of sensing ability,'' Apollo surmised.

    As Apollo reached these conclusions, he swayed and slid between a collection of attacks. The relentless onught barely gave Apollo time to think, much less react after sparing the matter some thought. However, that didn''t stop his mind from working in the way it did.

    He continued to piece together the tactics utilized by the puppets in an attempt to glean the purpose behind it. If the difficulty of the puppets grew gradually then this matter would have slipped his mind. Thankfully, that wasn''t the case. The bizarre progression stimted his mind.

    Generally, an establishedbat pattern apanied by an exponentially increasingbat ability meant this was a lesson. In some form, this was true. Even if it was subconsciously, Apollo found himself unlocking ways to deal with a swarm of enemies despite focusing on their individual movements.

    The closer he watched, the more he learned about what he was witnessing. Inparison to the other round, he took his time. For one, the appearance of 10 ordinary puppets led Apollo to believe this was somewhere around the end of the first stage.

    If that was the case, then Apollo wasn''t sure if the next stage would differ in any way. Even if it didn''t it bother him too much as he was more focused on developing himself rather than storming through the phases without mastering any of his abilities.

    Likewise, this made him wonder if any of the other participants took the same route. He was sure they received the same warning about the stage where everyone was thrown into the same space. This experience now could only be seen as a saving grace.

    If they took the time, they would realize the energy within the sources was digestible, it just took time to do so. If they stormed through and overlooked this feature, then they would be condemning themselves in the process.

    "Though some of them may be stupid, in times like this, it is most rewarding to wisen up," Apollo muttered. At the same time, he stabbed his hand forward before turning it into a palm, sting one of the puppets into the distance.

    This puppet was the one bearing the long sword, also the one which bore the most openings for Apollo to take advantage of. The previous hit was an instinctual reaction to four of the puppets closing on him rapidly.

    Right after this attack, two of the defenders pressed him, but Apollo dropped his center of gravity and twisted his arms while throwing two punches. When the strikes met the defender''s shields, they too were sted into the distance.

    Suddenly, Apollo performed an abrupt turned and pped his hands together before his face. Between his pressed palms was a slim dagger, shimmering with a silver gleam. "Sneaky thing, aren''t you. But, unfortunately for you, I was waiting for this movement."

    With a smirk, Apollo tapped his foot and both he and the puppet spun rapidly. However, unlike the puppet, Apollo was in control of his momentum. Not long after he started spinning, he paused and delivered a heel drop on the puppet''s torso.

    His assault continued. Without pause, he elbowed and then delivered numerous strikes to the spot his first blownded. Circr cracks appeared, spreading from the point of contact. Under the continued blows, the puppet''s shell soon shattered, revealing the crystal shining with a brighter luster than its previous counterpart.

    ''Hmm, this crystal seems about 10% stronger than the other ordinary sources I''ve picked up," Apollo mumbled. But, he didn''t have time to inspect the item closely. The other puppets sprang to his position quickly.

    While watching them, Apollo noticed something that didn''t appear before, ''Although I''ve been focusing on their individual actions, when I switch the scope and monitor their movements as a whole, I can see the inconsistencies. Although it is hidden well, it is there,'' Apollo thought silently.

    With time, Apollo started taking advantage of the openings he learned of. The difficulty of battle dropped drastically and a few minutester, he held the lifeless carcass of one of the puppets in his hand.

    After extracting its core, Apollo dropped the husk on the ground and tossed this item in his inventory as well. As of now, there was a collection of approximately 100 sources of varying levels in his inventory. When he got the chance, the first thing on his agenda was to confirm whether or not this energy could be converted into Demonic Anima.

    For now, he desired to take a breather and recuperate the expended energy.

    "Hm?" Apollo turned to his side, his interest piqued by a spectacle he wasn''t expected. The shattered pieces of the puppets moved as if guided by some mystical power, flowing towards the center of the room.

    A momentter, a blue pir emanating billowing heat scorched the ground, leaving a sort of ming inscription on the ground, but that wasn''t the most eye-catching part of this fiasco. What caught Apollo''s eyes was the material of the puppets being smelted down to an impressionable liquid.

    At the same time, another message echoed throughout the space of the clearing.

    [The entire First Stage has been cleared. Unlike Stage One, Stage Two consists of 3 simple rounds. Complete them all and you will be granted the opportunity to experience the Third Stage.]

    ''3 simple rounds? I find that hard to believe,'' Apollo thought, shaking his head. Based on the matters taking ce before him, he found it hard to believe that these rounds could be ssified as simple.

    At a nce, he could tell that not only was the material being purified by this blue me, but it also appeared something was being injected within to bolster the qualities of it. This process was far from creating a simple opponent.

    Then, Apollo felt a burst of energy as a crystalline source, 5 to be exact, descended from the ceiling''s opening. Compared to the other crystals, these sources contained purer energy as well as a more vibrant signature.

    In fact, Apollo was impelled to steal it from within the me, but something told him that this unknown me was stronger than his current Hellfire. If he contested the me, he wouldn''t be able to ensure his own safety.

    Fortunately, if these rounds followed the same principles of thest, then these sources would ultimately end up his. As a result, Apollo tried his best to im ahold of his greed.

    ''In situations like this, the presence of greed will only lead to unforeseen circumstances. For now, let''s just recover. Once we get everything sorted, then I can think about iming those sources,'' Apollo repeated in his mind.

    Just 10 minutes after Apollo started his recovery process, the pir started to release energy rapidly, but it wasn''t sloppy. The energy formed a sphere that rotated and fused with the crystal as it descended in the chest cavity of five purple silver puppets.

    When the crystal was ced inside, lines resembling veins appeared, a human-like appearance coated the silver exterior, and finally, the puppets opened their eyes. If ced side by side, there was no difference from Apollo.

    The reconfiguration of the aura gained Apollo''s attention, prompting him to open his eyes.

    [Stage Two Phase One will nowmence. Your opponent will be 1 Grade 4 Exceptional Puppet.]

 Chapter 331 - Fusion Of Two Techniques

    ----

    Out of the five puppets suspended in the air, only one of them approached Apollo. Its mannerisms were no different than a human''s. Furthermore, there was an intelligent look in its eyes as it drew closer to Apollo.

    Suddenly, it opened its mouth. "Theck of techniques has been concluded. If you wish to surpass this stage, it''s advised you use your techniques."

    At first, Apollo was surprised. Although the puppet looked human, its voice sounded mechanical. As if the sounds were produced by the grating of a few mechanical pieces in its body. Nevertheless, Apollo was prepared for this. After all, he was aware of theck of human abilities these puppets would possess.

    "Interesting, I came bearing the same idea. With that being said, prepare yourself as well," Apollo replied. His aura changed, turning extremely vtile, which ultimately disrupted the area around him. The Infernal Ira Stigmata on his body red, revealing scorching red lines flowing through his limb.

    In truth, this was the first time he changed activated the stigmata without changing into his demonic form. First, he wanted to test the threshold of his untransformed body. If it was strong enough, then he wouldn''t need to remain worried about the drawbacks of transforming without taking on his Iraym Form.

    Slowly, the lines solidified, branching off into small splinters. Those small segments gradually attached to his fingers and other extremities. Power deluged Apollo, amplifying his strength beyond a typical Zul Knight.

    As a result, he conjured another Hellfire weapon, the two operating in conjunction. This made their effectiveness skyrockets as the edge of Apollo''s weapon seemed blurred, contorting the air around it due to the heat emissions, ''What an imposingbination. The Hellfire fortified by the output of my stigmata.''

    "Your actions are not congruent to obtaining victory," the puttered responded. Afterward, a spiral of water-like energy coated and wrapped around a sword the puppet withdraw from its waist.

    A secondter, the puppet moved. The ripples of water on its sword detached, flying towards Apollo with every swing. And, with the angles the shes covered, it was worst than dealing with the 10 enemies beforehand.

    ''Inparison, this thing can fire countless attacks. Its attack speed is noteworthy,'' Apollo praised. He didn''t expect the difficulty to skyrocket dramatically. Even though the other phases bolstered the difficulty, it was still within Apollo''s capabilities. However, this new enemy warranted more explicit reactions.

    Apollo focused on the attacks and responded with his own. The moment his weapon came in contact with the shes, repeated sizzling noises hissed throughout the atmosphere. The shes then bubbled but remained intact.

    In response, Apollo roared and severed the shes with a serious look. Because he needed to exert himself so much, he was shocked by the power behind the shes. ''These shes were arbitrary, this puppet didn''t even instill that much effort into it. If this is merely a haphazard attack, then I don''t want to know what its other attacks are like,'' Apollo thought.

    Unfortunately, the puppet didn''t let up in the slightest. After it fired these attacks towards Apollo, it dashed forward, creating a nket of frozen water under its feet. Simrly, ayer of moist ice appeared at the bottom of its feet.

    Compared to the other puppets, this particr type of puppet was able to draw upon its source to manipte energy. This made it many times more difficult to deal with as well as heightened its lethality to another level.

    Luckily, Apollo''s specialty was in direct opposition to this puppet. Without a moment''s hesitation, Apollo conjured arge cluster of Hellfire andunched it towards the ice nket at the floor.

    Immediate destruction ensued, but Apollo was taken aback when he witnessed the recovery of the nket, ''It''s output is revolting! How can it recover so fast?''

    Not even 2 seconds after the nket turned to a pool of water in the middle, it recovered its former ice structure. A pale blue light facilitated this process and Apollo knew it was the energy within the puppet''s source.

    Meanwhile, a human-like sneer appeared on the puppet''s face, "Not strong enough." A tinge of yfulness was hidden within the puppet''s mechanical voice, and despite the attempts to hide it, Apollo picked up on it.

    ''It''s toying with me? Interesting, could the creator have found a way to instill human reactions into this puppet? If that''s the case, if this isn''t the end of the puppet series, what else remains?'' Apollo wondered, directing his full attention back towards the battle.

    This time, Apollo amped up his assault. Before the puppet could respond, Apollo zoomed forward. Dark energy crept up his body, encasing him in a shadow, amplifying his speed to new heights. The sudden increase disrupted the established tempo of their battle, but the puppet didn''t fret.

    The puppet merely stabbed its sword into the center of the meter. At first, it seemed as if the action was trivial, but it wasn''t. Numerous jets of water shot forth, following Apollo''s movements closely. After some time, the water turned into ice, but one that was still under the puppet''s controlled.

    It lengthened and followed Apollo closely, even picking up speed in the process. Increased fluctuations impacted Apollo''s mind, prompting him to look towards the puppet.

    ''It''s gradually increasing its own output! Does it have individual control over its energy source? I hope that isn''t the case. It''ll be less problematic if the output increases when the puppet is stationary and allowed to gain momentum,'' Apollo thought.

    If the puppet could control its output, that meant it could also surpass what Apollo thought to be its maximum capacity. Should that be true, adopting a passive-aggressive style was not the way to win this battle, he needed to inhibit the puppet from weaponizing too much energy.

    Some time went by and Apollo continued to gather information on the puppet. The worst of his worries were confirmed, this puppet could, in fact, control the output. When he altered his speed, the puppet responded in kind.

    ''Very well,'' Apollo determined. He had already made up his mind to deal with this issue.

    Suddenly, he changed his path of travel and blitzed towards the puppet. The jets of manipted ice converged on his position, but Apollo dodged them, weaving between their opening and knocking some of them away.

    However, the ones knocked away caused Apollo''s gait to destabilize for a moment. While it wasn''t enough to warrant worry, Apollo still paid close attention to the attacks overwhelmingly close to him.

    ''The power behind each of these things outsses the strongest strike an ordinary puppet could muster,'' Apollo estimated. The appearance of his arms changed, dark, magma-like sharp rocks encasing them. Naturally, this was his Infernal Arms technique.

    Whenever he utilized this technique, it meant he was liable to take a more physical approach and sure enough, he dispersed his Hellfire weapon once again, but not entirely. Inspiration dawned upon him when the particles of his Hellfire passed by his arms.

    A small yet continuous amount of Hellfire was fed into the crack of his arms, mists of ghastly steam emitted as a result. Apollo''s eyes brightened when he witnessed this matter. The steam was the remnants of his Hellfire''s properties. Whatever the material surrounding his arms couldn''t contain was thrown.

    But, his body autonomously kept the most potent energy.

    Finally, the puppet experienced a change in expression. It didn''t look dumbfounded, but it was shocked by the sensation Apollo''s body was giving off. Despite the use of his regr techniques, thebination produced a foreign feel.

    ''While the mixture of Sins is hard to aplish, mixing techniques is rather easy. Perhaps I should travel this route before attempting to worry about the matters surrounding Sins,'' Apollo thought.

    Nevertheless, he soon pushed this to the back of his mind. For now, his priority was dealing with the puppets. Once he was ready and close, the aura of a Perfected Demonic Massacre Wave seeped from Apollo''s hands, forming quickly.

    In the time it took to blink, a wave was already hurled towards the puppet. The speed was mind-boggling, but the puppet possessed the upper hand due to the environment it created.

    As the water seethed, arge ice prism was erected to deal with Apollo''s strike, but this just made Apollo chuckled.

    A splitting aura undted from Apollo, separating the water 1 meter away from him, "Ah, the feeling of using my Annihtions after so long." While reveling in the sensation of his technique, Apollo released the Nether Severance.

    Before the ice prism could recover, the onught of the Nether Severance had already arrived. The prism was cut clean in half, along with the body of the puppet. Compared to the rest of his first, this one suspended the most energy, but it was also the best lesson. It was due to the constant pressure that he was hit with the idea to fuse his Hellfire with his iplete Sin Armament.

    Regrettably, the was expected break never came. The next stage began immediately!

    [The next stage will nowmence. Your opponents will be 3 Exceptional Puppets.]

 Chapter 332 - Producing Errors

    ----

    "Three such enemies?" Apollo muttered to himself. Just a single exceptional puppet was enough to give him a headache, if he had to deal with three of them simultaneously, a headache would be the least of his worries. On top of this, it would only worsen if each of them possessed unique special abilities.

    As a result, Apollo began to entertain the idea of summoning his Demons. As of now, he had gained enoughbat experience to justify this idea. Furthermore, he also gained insight into fusion techniques. Just this alone was enough to speak volumes of his benefits.

    However, the thought of summoning his Demons, stimted another string of question he kept hidden in his mind, ''If I summon Fuhrer and the rest, will the difficulty increase ordingly? So far, the difficulty has scaled in light of a talented opponent. But, if I introduced allies, then this might turn into a different story altogether.''

    While the gears on the wall clicked, Apollo continued to ponder his course of actions. In the meantime, the 3 exceptional puppets deemed to be his opponent descended upon the battlefield but didn''t move an inch.

    For a moment, it seemed as if they were measuring Apollo''s strength, analyzing his past battles. Their pupils moved rapidly, breaking down arge amount of information in a matter of moments. Their actions resembled the software of a supeputer rendering cryptic information until it was easily readable.

    After a few short moments, the movements stopped and each of the puppets adopted a freakishly human expression. At the same time, they came to the same conclusion, uttering identical phrases simultaneously.

    "Not strong enough to go against us at the same time. This is the end of him," they said.

    At the end of their words, each of them made a move without hesitation. They moved much faster than the prior enemy and their movements were precise, following a path that changed minutely with each propelling step.

    Apollo, on the other hand, was roused from his contemtion, slowly opening his eyes. Despite the abrupt awakening, there was a look of rity within his eyes. It was clear his choice had been made.

    Apollo exhaled and responded in response to their actions, but his eyes shimmered with opaque light that soon turned cker than the abyss. Although it was iparable to Furcas'' ability, Apollo''s perception of time reduced to half of what it was before.

    Thus, even though they were moving at obscene speeds, Apollo could sense their movements better than better. However, this wasn''t a state Apollo could uphold forever, it put a huge strain on his Tainted Temple to emte this technique.

    After all, it wasn''t his, but Furcas''s technique. Due to the absorption of Furcas''s fragment, Apollo finally arrived in a situation that warranted the use of the ability that apanied it¡ªa watered-down version of Furcas''s eyes.

    Nevertheless, no matter how reduced the effects were, it was still potent nheless. A 50 percent reduction to time perception was a god-like ability in a conflict against multiple enemies. It gave the time needed to assess the possible route and concoct a viable retaliation n.

    Of course, this didn''t do anything to Apollo''s body as a whole, hence, hisck of movement. Only his mind was affected, creating an imbnce in which Apollo didn''t wish to deal with.

    If he moved while in this state, then he would have to ount for the change in his sense of time. Even the slightest incorrect calction would result in a catastrophic oue. There was even the possibility of his mistiming his movements and missing his targetpletely!

    While fighting against enemies of the current caliber, mistakes weren''t luxuries that he could afford to make. Granted, it could all be solved by a simple summoning of his Demons, but then that would defeat the purpose of his prior action.

    Soon enough, after absorbing enough of the puppet''s behavior, Apollo canceled the technique, the puppets'' speed skyrocketing as a result. However, because they moved too fast, they didn''t possess the ability to alter the path of their strike.

    Because of this, Apollo was able to react preemptively. In that slowed state, he had alreadyprehended and estimated just where their strikes wouldnd. Luckily, it seemed they were just testing the waters with light blows.

    This was perceived from theck of essence within their strike. To Apollo, they just seemed like pure, deadly strikes. Nevertheless, without essence, there wasn''t a threat to Apollo''s like.

    Meanwhile, Apollo made his own guesses surrounding the reason for their hold on using essence, ''If Ipare this to my earlier actions, aren''t they identical? Could it mean they been instilled with my movements and reaction preferences? If so, then isn''t it the same as fighting against myself?''

    After numerous shes, Apollo started to conclude his guesses were correct. The pattern of their attacks and reactions all matched his. Furthermore, their bodies were nearly identical when taking their energy signatures out of the equation.

    In other words, neither side was gaining the upper hand. In fact, Apollo felt as if they were toying with him because they possessed the advantage in number. Yet, despite this fact, none of the puppets made any sudden changes.

    This led Apollo to understand their words, ''It seems they believe I''m unable to win, so it is justified to toy around with me? Very well, I have someone you can very much toy with. Vc,e forth!''

    A portal appeared above Apollo''s head, and from within a figure stepped forth. Holding a majestic spear with a malignant expression, Vc donning his demonic form stepped forth. Since this space was cordoned off, there was no threat of revealing his identity.

    Furthermore, Apollo permitted him to reveal this form. Even if these puppets were linked to someone, it was clear that person wasn''t part of Astarat. Or, at the very least, said person never made a public appearance. This was proved to be true from theck of information surrounding this realm.

    Its origin was unknown, and the only information recorded was thanks to the efforts of those who had already experienced this ce. If not for them, then this ce wouldn''t even exist in the records, yet remain a presence that was right under their noses.

    "Ah, time to let loose. You sonnuva bitches are mine. I like to y as well," Vc eximed. In the next movement, he disappeared from where he stood, turning to numerous afterimages in the progress. Additionally, a single wing sprouted from his back.

    Unlike his other fights, he had no intention to take the squabble into the air. While two wings provided flight, one wing produced a noticeable increase in his speed. Unsurprisingly, the sharp exterior of the wing pierced through the resistance against his body, inhibiting his top speed.

    No matter how the air impacted him, it could longer affect his speed in the slightest. On the other hand, while the puppets didn''t voice displeasure or present much of a change in expression, their movements changed, adopting an unfamiliar movement pattern.

    Moreover, they immediately resumed the use of the source''s essence. The increase in difficult excited Vc, but unfortunately for the puppets, they weren''t aware of the fact that Vc and Apollo couldn''t bepared in their current form.

    During theirst fight, without the help of Ouroboros, Apollo would have never won.

    Suddenly, Vc rushed forward, hosting a menacing grin. He responded to one of the puppet''s attacks with his w, while he dealt with the other two by swinging his spear in an arc, a pale blue me dancing across the space before him.

    Although they tried to handle the strike, the puppets were devastated to find out the weight behind this individual''s attack outssed their own. Another change in momentum took ce, most of their energy pooling towards their limbs.

    "Neer unounted for. Restraints lifted. Output amplified 50 percent," the puppets uttered together, mechanically.

    An immediate change took ce, their actions grow both stronger and faster. Be that as it may, it wasn''t enough to faze Vc, who took pleasure in shing against strong enemies. If he didn''t there wouldn''t be a reason for him to butt heads with Fuhrer and the others.

    Albeit slower than before, Vc gradually took control of the battle, avoiding their strikes and sometimes redirecting towards another puppet. Even when they control elements such as wind, lightning, and earth, Vc''s odd me melted all their attempts.

    The remnants of the mes even burnt some of the puppet''s outer shell. Compared to Vc who was untouched, the puppets weren''t faring well.

    "Come on, you should be capable of more than this? Don''t doubt a demon''s adaptation ability. You may have thought the upper hand was yours, but sadly, that isn''t the case. I AM the upper hand," Vc said, bursting into a fit of maniacalughter.

    At the same time, he lifted his hand, arge image form from ludicrous amounts of his manifested me appeared above him. Slowly, it grew to epass half of the area present. Even if they wished to dodge his next strike, doing so would prove difficult, after all, there weren''t many options for them to rely on.

    On the other hand, as Vc witnessed their stuck figures, he could only release an amused chuckle, "Bye-bye ~" He teased, dropping his hand.

    ''Bang!'' ''Fwoosh!''

    Without fail, the hand descended with a loud explosion apanied by a deluge of mes that presented a prolonged sizzling noise. Before Apollo''s eyes, the alert of the cleared phase appeared. However, that wasn''t the only thing that appeared.

    [Error! Recalcting difficulty! The introduction of a new foe will now increase the difficulty! The next phase will experience further changes!]

    The smashed puppets vibrated before flying to the sky, revealing another spectacle.

    ----------------------------------------

    Announcement for June 1st and moving forward. (Won''t affect chapter cost.)

    First of all, I want to thank all of those who stuck around during my hard times, throughout the sporadic release schedule. You don''t know how much your actions helped me. But, let''s got to the announcement.

    As the release has stabilized, two things will be happening. I will be going full-time, devoting my time to writing. In other words, this will be my sole source of ie.

    On the other hand, this also means the chapter output will increase. From June 1st (EST Zone), you can expect 2 chapters per day, but we also need to recover and tackle the new Win-Win that ising out.

    We are in this together as this is my only means of ie now. Side note, since I am shifting to full-time writing, another story will be published soon. If you join the discord, you can read the chapters in advance up to ~Ch.15.

    Discord: https://discord.gg/EX63KcUWjG

 Chapter 333 - The Strong Give Birth To Onslaughts (I)

    ----

    Suddenly, thest puppet floating within the blue pir looked towards the ground and chuckled, "You shouldn''t have summoned this thing. Now, you''ll pay the consequences!"

    The puppet''s body split apart while retaining the core parts such as the internal energy system along with the crystal source embedded in its chest. Other than that, its body was akin to a hollow chasm. At first, Apollo didn''t understand why the puppet''s body was reacting this way, but when he realized the changes in the area, he started to piece everything together.

    ''Could it be that the next stage has changed and this singr puppet will undergo another transformation? If that''s the case, then wouldn''t its difficulty skyrocket to new heights? Hmph, as if I''ll let that happen, I''ve spent enough time here,'' Apollo thought, scrutinizing the pir of mes before ncing in Vc''s direction.

    "Destroy it," Apollo ordered, crossing his arms.

    "Tch, you can''t always order! You think I''ll always listen to you?" Vc scoffed. Despite his actions, he still rushed towards the pir of mes with an amused gleam in his eyes. Truth be told, even if Apollo didn''t order him, he already held an interest in destroying this pir.

    Vc moved swiftly, taking flight after summoning his other wings, dashing towards the pir of mes. As he flew, he avoided some of the heatwaves that undted from the pir. Although they weren''t strong enough to cause despair, they were undoubtedly strong enough to disrupt him.

    After all, this pir was even stronger than the one birthed to create this exceptional puppet, part of the reason why Apollo deliberated this order to Vc. With his current strength, breaking that pir was akin to suicide. And, as he stood now, he didn''t possess a death wish.

    On the other hand, he started topare the strength of the fluctuations against mes he sensed in the past. ''It pales inparison to Irauk, but it resembled the severity of Geneva''s me for now since hers is extremely damaged.''

    While Apollo made hisparisons, Vc reached the pir and thrust his spear forth. However, an odd sight took ce. Numerous reinforced panels focused on the area under attack appeared before Vc.

    Unlike a typical defense, it only covered that single area, but it was superimposed, generating a nonsensical defense value. Even Vc''s strike was only able to puncture 2 out of the 10yers.

    "Interesting," Vc muttered, raising an eyebrow. This type of barrier was new to him as he was used to an individual conjuring either a single barrier enveloping one''s entire surface or an external barrier, one simr to a dome or cube.

    Simrly, Apollo was intrigued as well, ''Individual use of the barrier, focusing it on one position to amplify the defensive ability? Astute disy of usefulness,'' Apollo thought, rubbing his chin in the process.

    While looking at Vc''s continued attempts to shatter the barrier, he learned a new way of distributing his Anima. ''This isn''t useful for enemies on the same level, it''s more practical to use it against enemies who possess a stronger offense. This should thoroughly neutralize their strike as long as they aren''t overwhelmingly strong.''

    In light of the pir''s barrier, Vc changed his course of action. Twin mes wrapped around his spear, encasing it in a sweltering blue light. Without hesitation, he thrust it forward, shattering 5yers of the barrier in the process.

    ''That''s it?! I was expecting more than this. What the fuck is up with the durability of this barrier. It''s harder than these damn puppets. Piece of crap," Vc swore, continuously impacting the barrier with unrelenting strikes. Despite his onught, the barrier still wasn''tpromised.

    When oneyer was shattered, a new recement appeared to reinforce any weakness from Vc''s attacks. Apollo noticed this thanks to the increase in his mind''s sensitivity.

    ''Is this a lost cause? Will we have to follow the instructionsid in ce, or will I just have to summon Fuhrer as well?'' Apollo wondered. Frankly speaking, he didn''t wish to summon Fuhrer right now and there were multiple reasons for that. The main one being the pir before them.

    Apollo was almost certain by summoning Fuhrer, he would elerate the process and maybe even worsen it. Although Fuhrer was strong, Apollo possessed an odd feeling about this ce, almost as if they were being watched by some unknown entity.

    If that was the case, then it would be convenient for him to reveal all of his cards in the beginning. Even if the entity''s purpose was to find someone worthy, he wasn''t interested. Unlike the rest, he could sense this area was rted to humans.

    Any methods learned from humans could easily be learned from the Demons and at a stronger level at that. Thus, rather than searching for another teacher, Apollo was more intent on fulfilling his vengeance. Until now, he still hadn''t forgotten his animosity with the Glories.

    Inside this space where the eyes of authority were blinded, it was the best time to take advantage.

    All of a sudden, before Apollo and Vc could react, the pieces of fragmented puppets levitated,unching towards the opened puppet. Its body grew as the pieces melding into its body, creating arger frame, but that was far from the astonishing part.

    Different from the rest of the puppets, this one was odd. It could even meld the energy within the cores on the ground into a liquid, injecting it into its own core.

    ''Those are my rewards,'' Apollo thought, ring at the pir. Regardless of what he thought, he was powerless to change it. The pieces simply moved too fast. From the flight path, it appeared an attractive force greater than their reaction speed was guiding it.

    "I suggest you prepare yourself. This is inevitable. We will just have to fight together," Vc uttered, floating back to Apollo''s side. Since his actions were useless, it made no sense to continue tiring himself out.

    "I can see that," Apollo replied, sparing Vc an annoyed nce.

    "W-what the fuck yer looking at me like that for?" Vc snarled. From his point of view, this look Apollo gave was almost condescending.

    "I''m looking at you because you''re weak. I should''ve summoned someone else. I''m sure Fuhrer would have dealt with this easily. Next time, I''ll think twice about allow you to stretch those useless bones," Apollo said with a sneer, infuriating Vc.

    "W--w-w-w-WHAT?! Useless? Yer FUCKING calling me USELESS?! How dare you. When have I Vc, ever been useless?" Vc scowled, his pupils shifting to a crimson tint. Anger circting in his eyes and the pale me that surrounding his body crackled in response.

    "Just now. After all, you did fail to destroy that barrier, right? As I said, useless. And, because of you, we have to wait for thepletion of this unknown transformation," Apollo grumbled, disgruntled by theck of control he held in this situation.

    "That''s it! Send me back! SEND ME BACK! I won''t deal with this shit from you as well," Vc growled, demanding Apollo to relinquish his summoning. Sadly, it wasn''t as easy as he wished. First of all, Apollo wasn''t in the best of moods.

    "You''ll stay right here and when that puppet appears, you fight alongside me. This is an Absolute Order, do I make myself clear?" Apollomanded while turning his head towards Vc. An ominous glow containing a pure Domination Intent spilled from within that his gaze.

    A chill traveled down Vc''s spine, prompting him to nod. When Absolute Order and Apollo''s Domination Intent fused as one, it was a terrifying sensation to experience. If he wasn''t the wiser, Vc would have assumed it was the First Monarch who stood before him.

    ''He''s even worst than Fuhrer and them. He can actually control me by force,'' Vc thought with a frown. Quietly, he stood next to Apollo and watched as the pir cracked apart.

    A golden figure was revealed. Its size wasparable to a demonized Vc but the energy signature it released was shocking. The moment its feet touched the ground, a ring indent formed on the ground, a wave of energy burst forth from within the ground.

    ''This pressure¡­'' Apollo marveled, raising his defenses. At the same time, the color of his skin changed, and his physique grew. He wasn''t willing to take any chances! To deal with this enemy he had to demonize!

    ''Fwoosh!''

    Without any indication, the new puppet made a move, his movement rivaling that of teleportation. Furthermore, despite how fast it moved, there was no disruption in space or a sonic boom apanying it.

    "Wait!" Apollo eximed, but it was toote. He could only cross his arms and prepare a shoddy guard.

    ''BANG!''

    Before he realized it, his body flew into a stone beam behind him. The strike was so sudden that the sound from the blow and the explosive noise from the collision blended as one. To achieve this, it required the utmost control of their strength.

    Standing in the position Apollo wasunched from, the golden figure opened and closed their hand, reveling at their power. "How exhrating."

    "Tch," Vc clicked his tongue. In that short window, he demonized as well, throwing a blow.

    However, it was effectively neutralized by the golden figure''s hand, holding his punch in ce. "Strong but also weak."

    ''BOOM!''

    The golden figureunched a devastating blow, winding Vc in the process. This was a first for him. Except for Fuhrer and a few other Noblesse, he had never been winded from a single punch. This was an odd urrence, one he couldn''t tolerate, but also couldn''t rectify.

    This opponent outssed them in all aspects, leading them to believe this stage would be unclearable by all others.

 Chapter 334 - Fuhrer Appears

    ----

    "This is ridiculous," Vc scowled, gazing upon the golden figure. Although he looked forward to fighting a strong opponent, just as it was no fun when the individual was overwhelmingly weak, Vc didn''t find pleasure in this scenario when the opponent was needlessly strong as well.

    It reminded him of his past when he was powerless to do anything against Fuhrer and the other strong demons. He was subject to their torment without the strength to retaliate or voice his displeasure. Therefore, Vc stood next to the golden figure with a disgusted expression.

    If he was alone, he was sure his chances at victory were less than 10 percent. Additionally, despite Apollo''s presence, Vc still estimated his chances of victory at no more than 15 percent. In other words, Apollo was barely able to contribute 5 percent worth of reassurance.

    On the other hand, this wasn''t his fault. It was due to the bizarrebat standard of this golden. The supetive control of its energy rivaled upon the other ancient demons. Regardless of what idea popped into their mind to deal with this threat, Vc couldn''t see it working.

    ''It''s too fast. Its top three concerning features are its appalling speed that puts even me to shame. Its frightening strength despite ack of charge up, andstly, its swift reaction speed. When all is said and done, this is a terrifying enemy to face alone. However¡­ if I was an Archdemon,'' Vc thought, a slight frown appearing on his face.

    Based on the fluctuations he sensed, if he broke into the Archdemon state, the augmentation of his strengths would be more than enough to quell this headache before them. Unfortunately, even in the past, he wasn''t allowed to be an Archdemon.

    Due to his attitude, he was forbidden by the First Monarch, a portion of his abilities sealed in the process. Unlike the other demons, Vc was too malevolent. Even his allies weren''t safe from the repercussions of his actions. Until he got his spiteful ways under control and learned tomand his impulses, his path to advanced demonhood was sealed.

    Suddenly, a low rumbling noise could be heard from behind Vc and the golden figure. From within the huge indent in the wall, arge stone fell upon the ground as Apollo moved, attempting to extricate himself from it.

    However, the strength behind the strike dealt an insane amount of damage. If hadn''t transformed earlier, and instead received that strike while in his human form, then there was no doubt in his mind that he would be unconscious.

    ''That strike should be on par with Fuhrer''s strike. I hate to say it, but this doesn''t seem to be an enemy that just I and Vc can deal with,'' Apollo thought, spitting out the remnant of blood in the process.

    Fortunately, the pendant was already in the process of healing some of the internal injuries he received. Since his defense wasn''tcking, the strike wasn''t strong enough to cause extensive damage, but it was still enough to jolt Apollo''s internals.

    ''No matter the drawbacks we have to face, this is Fuhrer''s opponents not arise,'' Apollo determined. He then continued after a short pause when he finally removed himself from the wall. ''Fuhrer, appear!''

    Another portal,rger than thest and apanied by a ck, shadowy cyclone of energy opened directly behind Apollo. From within, Fuhrer''s imposing figure appeared. Unlike the usual appearance, Fuhrer exited while rotating his arm and cracking his neck.

    "I see that the opponents you have a face are experiencing steady growth. You''ve done well to hold up until now. I''m also proud that you didn''t attempt the Third Annihtion again. With your current state, it''s sure to produce an odd state of desire," Fuhrer revealed.

    Unlike the first two Annihtions, the third one¡ªthe Devouring Neb Strike fed upon Apollo''s desire to swallow everything. This effect produced another side-effect¡ªa sublimation of intense desires. If one''s mind wasn''t strong enough to handle the deluge of dark thoughts, then it was advised to refrain from use.

    The first time Apollo used it was pure coincidence. After all, he was in a special state and it was as if his mind was taken over by a mystical force. Even the temptation that followed the strike was capable of prating the odd mental defenses he showed at that time.

    Unfortunately, entering that state wasn''t something under his control at this moment. To obtain control over that state would require prolonged training, something he had yet to indulge in.

    "I tried," Apollo responded, spitting once again. Finally, all of the trace blood was spit out of his mouth and he felt somewhat better. "Destroy him," Apollo uttered with a cold expression.

    "Very well," Fuhrer nodded, turning his attention to the golden figure, whom of which was currently analyzing Fuhrer''s strength, However, how could he live up to his identity as a Daemos if he allowed his strength to be peered into?

    When the golden figure tried to glean his power, the feedback it received was filled with errors. Regardless of the repeated attempts, they all yielded the same results.

    All of a sudden, the golden figure spoke, but unlike its past renditions, this puppet''s voice was far from mechanical, "Interesting. Quite impressive, I''ve finally figured out the identity of these odd beings. They aren''t Dark Spirits, no. No, they''re something far worse¡ªDemons!"

    It then continued, "Never in this lifetime would I believe the scriptures were true. This is truly an existence worse than those belligerent Spirits. But, how¡­ How did you arrive here? You need to be sent back!"

    At the end of its words, a strong burst of energy hurtled from the golden puppet''s body. The ground cracked and emitted the remainder of its torrential energy, putting on a disy to affect their morale.

    Regrettably, this ensemble held no effect over Fuhrer. He merely withdrew Brynhildr and pointed it downwards, in front of his body, "Stop this ruse. It''s useless. Your disy of power is nothing more than the tantrums of a child."

    "Child!? How dare you call me, thou who has lived for a thousand years, a child? I will show you the research of this ''child," the golden figure scowled, its energy signature skyrocket once again.

    Immediately after, the golden rushed towards Fuhrer full speed. Its speed was twice as fast inparison to before. Fuhrer''s word had truly enraged it. Belittling its research was uneptable to this individual. Hence, its drastic reaction.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer didn''t make any movements in return. Silently, he watched as the golden figure closed the distance rapidly. Only once he was within a few meters did Fuhrer take a step forth, swinging his sword in an arc.

    A shadowy whip of energy extended the range of his attack, attempting to cleave the figure in half. However, the figure reacted quickly, ducking under the horizontal strike withoutpromising its current speed in the process.

    On the contrary, lowering its center of gravity and perform an even more explosive movement. Yet, Fuhrer didn''t fret. His expansive battle experience allowed him to foresee how certain enemies would retaliate.

    Moreover, Destrys'' assistance made these abilities even more pronounced than before. The reinforcement of his mind presented numerous benefits. One of which was a direct increase in his reaction speed.

    The golden figure threw a punch containing terrifying energies but Fuhrer parried the move with the blunt side of his sword, channeling the energy beside him as he deflected the strike. Another sound akin to an explosion sound but theck of a target infuriated the figure.

    "?!" The figure retreated immediately, a sword scar appearing on the floor where he once stood. This attack was barely able to be sensed. The only reason it was possible to feel itst minute was due to the figure being virtually side by side with Fuhrer.

    On the other hand, the reason the strike couldn''t be sense it because Fuhrer suppressed its presence. It was a strikeposed of pure intent, suppressing not only the space surrounding him but the strike itself.

    Of course, while the figure was still in a state of shock, Fuhrer followed up, sending three more fluid sword attacks directly after. Right before the energy waves arrived before him, the golden figure recovered.

    ''Tch, this neer is tricky. His attacks are slimy and focus on the gaps in my defense. He isn''t faster than me, but he doesn''t make useless movements. All of his actions have a purpose and they linked together,'' the figure surmised, recounting Fuhrer''s actions.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer disappeared under the nket of true darkness, swallowing his presence along with it. Despite heightening his sensitivity, the figure was unable to sense him.

    "Come out! I know you''re still here. I don''t have time to y these games. Try me if you want!" the figure scowled. Even though he yelled continuously there was no response. "Very well, you''ve left me no choice!"

    The golden figure moved abruptly, arriving at the center of the clearing. A clear white energy wreathed its first and a momentter, the whole terrain suffered destruction under the bombardment of the figure''s obliterating fist.

 Chapter 335 - Awakening The Juggernaut

    ----

    Apollo and Vc trembled in their current position. The shock continued to decimate the ground beneath their feet. The blow from the golden figure was unusually powerful, rendering the defense of the area null.

    ''If I was hit with that, I don''t even want to think about the amount of damage I would sustain,'' Apollo thought, judging the damage done to flooring to be beyond his capabilities. Earlier, when his strikended on the ground, only a faint mark was left.

    Furthermore, this was after his usage of Nether Severance, not the Perfected Demonic Massacre Wave. Even though it wasn''t perfected, the base damage of Nether Severance far outssed that of a Demonic Massacre Wave, even in its mastered form.

    Yet, only a faint mark was left after Apollo''s attempts. This alone spoke volumes of his surrounding''s sturdiness. To cause it to copse would take a short burst of unbridled force, allowing it no time to repair the damage inflicted.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer wasn''t affected by this development in the slightest. For a moment, he revealed himself, but the golden figure was shocked to find him hovering 3 inches above the ground.

    As Fuhrer walked forward, he disregarded the shattered pieces and walked on the air above it, as if it were a tangible surface to do so. To an untrained eye, it may seem this way, but what Apollo perceived was different.

    ''Is he turning the mantle into a bridge and walking upon it? No, not quite, something else seemed mixed in the mantle to give it a stable material form. Could this be...yes, it just might be,'' Apollo nodded to himself, chancing upon realization.

    There were fragments of tenebrous energy interspersed throughout the stretched mantle, acting as a catalyst to maintain the mantle''s integrity long enough for Fuhrer to walk across it. Of course, the duration was solely up to Fuhrer, exhausting a tiny portion of his soul strength in the process.

    Nevertheless, the exchange was worth it.

    "Foolish actions. The only thing you have done is make the area inconvenient for yourself. I, on the other hand, find no difference in how this situation with y out."

    "Tch, truly an opponent capable of producing a headache," the golden figure spat.

    A secondter, it stamped the ground, producing a shockwave that propelled its body forward. Unlike before, the ambient energy reacted to its actions, turning in a vortex above their heads.

    The center of the vortex opened up, revealing a pool of exuberant energy, which then fell, gravitating towards the figure.

    "Hmph, outsides means to try and augment yourself? It just disys the fears you feel and the inadequacies that you hold," Fuhrer chuckled, making a move of his own. As he drew a horizontal line with his de, a droning whine was heard from the space before him.

    A slender scar appeared before Fuhrer, releasing a ghastly energy that changed forms constantly. Initially, it was simr to a cloud of murky energy, but a momentter, it condensed, turning into numerous independents tendrils.

    Each tendril fired towards the golden figure, with half of them changing their trajectory mid-flight.

    The golden figure''s eyes widened when they noticed what Fuhrer was up to. "Oh no, you don''t!" The figure pped its hand, a burst of silverish energy hurtling towards Fuhrer''s tendrils.

    Some of them were obliterated in an instant, but the rest persisted, ultimately oveing the brunt of the figure''s strike. However, his retaliation wasn''t over just yet. The golden figure withdrew his hand before thrusting it forward with only two fingers extended.

    An eruption of energy rippled from its fingers, puncturing Fuhrer''s tendrils numerous times until finally, it dissipated under the constant barrage. Afterward, it turned its attention back towards Fuhrer with a solemn gaze.

    "As long as I focus, you''re not that hard to deal with either. None of you pose any problem. I will eviscerate you and fulfill my task. Most of all, I will cause that odd individual to perish," the figure said, his attention on Apollo.

    When Fuhrer noticed his gaze, he turned towards Apollo for a moment, "Are you...perhaps threatening my lord? I don''t think you have the gall do so," Fuhrer spoke with a grim tone. The grip he held around his sword tightened, spilling a malicious aura in the process.

    A trace amount of his killing intent begun leaking from his body.

    One thing Fuhrer didn''t tolerate was threats towards Apollo from individuals who held no rtions. If the threats came from hidden pieces, then Fuhrer was willing to overlook it in the event that he dealt with it himself.

    But, for those who presented threatening intention for no rhyme or reason, Fuhrer moved to dispel them quickly.

    "Your Lord? What part of this boy is a lord? At the very best, he''s a tool," the figure chuckled, closing the distance between it and Fuhrer at the same. Once he was close enough, its movement changed.

    They became erratic but also faster, akin to teleportation. Any other individual would have been shocked by this sudden change, but Fuhrer was prepared for most situations. He closed his eyes, sensing the puppet''s actions.

    A path of his "teleportations" appeared, leaving lingering marks on space. These were signs of him rupturing a particr barrier with usually inhibited one from moving freely. Unfortunately, unless it was approached a certain way, if your senses were strong enough, then it was easy to perceive.

    Shortly after, Fuhrer pieced together the pattern of the puppet''s movement and opened his eyes abruptly with a ck aura pulsating from within. "I found you."

    Fuhrer turned around instantly, shing Brynhildr downward before following up with a vertical sh, sending a ck-gold cross sh forward.

    The familiar sound of metal grinding against metal sounded, the puppet''s figure appearing a few steps away. Once again, its expression was odd, "How? I concealed my movements and even reflected the light away from me!"

    "Tsk, when the eyes can''t see, the soul feels. No matter where you run to in this area, all of your actions are within my grasp. Now, I believe it is time for you to perish!" Fuhrer responded, rushing forward. His overpowering momentum split apart the rubbish on the ground, arriving before the puppet in an instant.

    The puppet raised its defenses in an attempt to guard Fuhrer''s attack, but unfortunately, he wasn''t ying around this time. The weight of his strike was amplified many times over.

    The already damaged ground was further destroyed when the puppet''s feet sunk into the floor.

    Swiftly, another strike collided against the puppet''s guarding, giving it no time to umte energy. Even though its gathering process was extremely quick, a serious Fuhrer was even quicker, unleashing hell upon him.

    One strike.

    Two strikes.

    Five¡­ Ten¡­ Twenty strikes. The speed of Fuhrer''s strikes continued to increase until his arms resembled a blur, pummeling away at the puppet''s defense. Although he seemed calm on the surface, Apollo could see a fury roiling within Fuhrer''s eyes. One that caused Apollo to feel excitement for some odd reason.

    ''He hasn''t even used his Tenebrous Sword strikes. This is pure physical strength to deal with this enemy. He intends to thoroughly destroy it and enjoy himself in the process,'' Apollo realized, gleaning Fuhrer''s intent.

    Finally, the aura of his unique sword techniques appeared as Fuhrer raised the tip of his sword to the puppet''s throat.

    "Tenebrous Sword Technique: Silent Darkness," Fuhrer uttered, a thin line appearing across the puppet''s neck. Afterward, the line parted off and spread throughout its body, releasing dark fumes as the lines expanded into cracks.

    Unlike his other strikes, this particr strike destroyed his enemy from the inside out by injecting his formidable energy into his opponent. The weaker their defense, the quicker they perished, but the higher their defenses, the longer the pain persisted.

    Either way, this terrible technique was one to produce despair.

    "W-what is this?! What have you done? Calm down. I suggest you cease your actions or I will be forced to bring out my ultimate creation," the puppet eximed, its voice sounding odd. Unlike the other puppets, this puppet''s worth was immeasurable. In fact, Apollo felt this was the closest thing to a created human he had ever seen.

    Sadly, Fuhrer didn''t budge, observing as his energy ran amok within the puppet''s internal framework. "It doesn''t matter what you say, your oue is inevitable."

    After a pause, Fuhrer leaned closer, "You can release whatever creation you intend to, but they will all suffer the fate. I will defeat them and you, wherever you reside, will bear witness to their destruction."

    "B-sphemy! I will see to it that my ultimate creation brings about your destruction!" the puppet snarled, but Fuhrer couldn''t care less.

    "Regardless of you what you say, I await your action," Fuhrer responded, suddenly swinging his sword downward. The puppet''s exterior was split in half, revealing the ghastly fumes that Fuhrer absorbed back into himself.

    All of a sudden, their surroundings began to rumble, growing more intense by the moment. Naturally, this was all done in response to Fuhrer''s actions.

    "You have brought this upon yourself, now you''ll have to face my perfection!" A voice echoed throughout every corridor, finally gathering at the center of the clearing.

    At the same time, an alert appeared before Apollo.

    ?Alert: Arge change has taken ce, the difficulty of the trials has beenbined into a final yet difficult trial. [Estimated Difficulty: Utmost.?

    ?Alert: Your opponent has been determined. You will face the Juggernaut.?

    "Juggernaut?" Apollo muttered. Suddenly, Apollo had a premonition that the events taking ce didn''t follow the original order of this trial. He was certain, his actions had caused a chain reaction.

    But, it was toote to undo what was to follow. In light of this, Apollo chose to move forward.

    "If this is the utmost difficulty, then there can be no more surprises. Everyone, appear!"

    Portals opened, revealing Jorgun, Zarkath, and Furcas.

    Meanwhile, one of the walls shattered, revealing a gargantuan figure with vast blue eyes simr to sapphire gems.

    "Roarrrrghh!" Everything trembled as a result of this thunderous roar.

 Chapter 336 - A Full Party

    ----

    A gigantic figure emerged from within the debris of the destruction, releasing a deafening roar strong enough to clear all of the debris. Because of this, its appearance was revealed. The simplest way to describe its figure was a titanic monster, resembling a mix of different creatures feature-wise while retaining a bipedal form.

    However, instead of two arms, the Juggernaut possessed six arms, each equipped with unique weapons, ones saturated with a cataclysmic aura. The aura surrounding the weapons was so strong it materialized, forming a faint mist around the Juggernaut''s hands.

    Upon noticing this, not just Apollo, but even Fuhrer was surprised. ''Perhaps I have spoken too soon, this thing is extremely odd. The sensation it exudes is even stronger than the transient form of that woman the lord in the process of healing.''

    Instantly, Fuhrer made an estimation based on the generalized strength of Geneva. However, one must remember, Geneva was a bonafide Zul and Spirit Lord. Both her cultivations, in mind and body, had reached a frightening level from Apollo''s standpoint.

    After all, the realm wherein one was dubbed a "Lord" meant they unlocked the ability to gain absolute control of themself, touching upon the boundary required to attune with the naturalws of their world.

    Thus, if Fuhrerpared the Juggernaut''s strength to hers, then in raw power, it wasparable to a middle-ss Archdemon. Contesting against this power in pure strength, wouldn''t be ideal. Luckily, neither Fuhrer nor Apollo was alone. Just as the Juggernaut posed a massive threat, so did his Demon.

    Granted, the fact that the Juggernaut also possessed 6 arms couldn''t be overlooked. Theoretically, if its abilities were as nightmarish as they believed, then there was also the probability of it singlehandedly going against Apollo and his team of demons.

    "Prepare yourself and do not hold anything back! The fluctuations emanating from this thing are disastrous," Furcas uttered, numerous ck markings appearing in his eyes faster than usual. He understood the direness of the situation, so didn''t dawdle keeping a reserve over his power.

    Mostly because of the items Apollo held, but also because he was to take a supportive role in the battle. While Fuhrer also possessed a sort of foresight, it was limited to himself as the more he used it, the more he became focused on a single objective.

    In that state, delivering information would disrupt his focus and cause him to lose what he gathered. To avoid that, it was best to have Furcas handle all matters rted to observing movement and rying information.

    A magic circle filled with demonic inscription appeared on the ground as Furcas pressed his hand on the ground, injecting his infernal energy inside. As it appeared, separating lines with a dark eye attached to the end of each tentacle, soon detaching from the ground and traveling towards everyone.

    Once a tentacle reached them, ittched onto the back of their neck, connecting them to Furcas. "With this, I''ll try my best to warn you. But, you must also remember, since it''s split to other individuals, there may be a dy in information until my cognition reaches a state of overdrive.''

    Unlike his usual means ofmunication, this message was transmitted through the tentacle, directly into everyone''s mind.

    Suddenly, the Juggernaut turned its colossal head towards everyone with a menacing grin, "Food. You''re my food, aren''t you? Let me devour you!"

    ''Fwoosh!''

    The Juggernaut moved, traveled at a speed that defied the assumption around its massive physique. It moved so fast, it resembled a whitish blur, matching its pale white skin.

    However, it wasn''t Fuhrer but Jorgun who moved to intercept the Juggernaut''s approach, stamping the ground in the process. He umted momentum quickly and met the Juggernaut''s charge, a morous disturbance ensuing after.

    For an instant, it seemed like Jorgun and the Juggernaut were on par when it came to strength, seeing as Jorgun was the one with the strongest physique. But, that wasn''t the case.

    A yful grin appeared upon the Juggernaut''s lips, a massive hand creating a shadow over Jorgun''s shocked countenance. In the next moment, a resounding explosion sounded apanied by an immense cloud of dust.

    From within, the Juggernaut walked forward, cracking his neck, "Tch, a letdown. I want to tenderize my meal before I devour you, but if it this easy, perhaps your meat is already soft. Ah hahaha!"

    For some reason, the Juggernaut''sughter irked Fuhrer, causing him to look towards Apollo, "Do I have permission, my Lord? I know we had an agreement after making a pact, but this type of opponent is not only insufferable but possesses the strength to back up their attitude."

    Apollo didn''t answer right away, first observing the posture of the Juggernaut.

    ''Zero defenses have been raised, the weapons in its other hands haven''t moved in the slightest and finally, it moves with a leisurely gait. All while affecting the atmosphere around it. Is this why that voice called it an ultimate creation?''

    The more Apollo pondered the background of this creation, the more he was impelled to crush it. Rapidly, the desire to crush the Juggernaut amplified, leading Apollo to permit Fuhrer''s actions.

    Immediately, Fuhrer released a restraint on his body, a tempest of energy billowing from his body. At the same time, a nket of darkness deluged the floor of the grand clearing, seemingly altering the environment.

    Finally, this development earned the intrigue of the Juggernaut, raising his eyebrow, "Hoh? I can do something like this as well."

    Different from Fuhrer''s internal release, the Juggernaut''s was more external, once again causing an intense rumble to gued the clearing. Even the stones weren''t spared, both floating and being crushed simultaneously.

    Furthermore, half of Fuhrer''s darkness was pushed aside, but he didn''t mind this. On the contrary, Fuhrer expected this to happen after sensing the dormant aura of the Juggernaut.

    Fortunately, Apollo understood Fuhrer''s intentions. The Juggernaut might not be able to sense it, but Vc and the other could sense it clear as day!

    ''He''s altered the environment differently than the Juggernaut would expect,'' Apollo mused. Soon after, delivering an order, "Everyone, attack! Annihte the enemy."

    Without hesitation, Zarkath, Vc, and Fuhrer blitzed towards the Juggernaut, taking advantage of Fuhrer''s creation. By expending some of his Sin Reserves, he created an environment temporarily rivaling Ashiraem and Suprenis except, the two Sin energies were held together by the Tenebrous.

    The benefits of possessing a once Daemos in battle were immense.

    Meanwhile, Apollo arrived next to the dazed Jorgun, cing his hand on his chest, "Wake up, big fellow. You have a job to do just like the other. Will you just let that colossus knock you around? I''m sure you want to retaliate with a vengeance," Apollo said.

    Afterward, a jolt of Anima surged within Jorgun, awakening him with an echoing gasp, "My Lord, my apologies. I have embarrassed you."

    "That isn''t the issue. Apany your brethren and im victory," Apollo ordered, brushing aside Jorgun''s guilt.

    "I will!" Jorgun affirmed, jumping to his feet. His eyes locked onto the Juggernaut, resentment festering in his eyes. Jorgun advanced, akin to a stampeding bull umting momentum, soon joining the battle.

    Unlikest time, he didn''t settle for a brutish blow, he wielded a battle-ax, channeling his destructive momentum into sharp strikes. Yet, just one of the Juggernaut''s arms sufficed to deflect even strike heunched.

    "What?! What de shit is this?" Jorgun snarled, appalled by the ease the Juggernaut neutralized his strikes with.

    "Focus!" Fuhrer remarked, sparing Jorgun a look. Suddenly, something they had never witnessed before took ce¡ªFuhrer summoned an identical copy of Brynhildr in his right hand and ramped up his assault, effectively neutralizing two of the Juggernaut''s arms.

    Moreover, sometimes his strike would also require a third hand to be utilized. When he saw this, Apollo was inspired tomit an action he had never tried before.

    He closed his eyes and held one hand out before him, ''Come on. This has to work now,'' he thought, focusing on a single individual. While the rest of his demons could be summoned, Typhir didn''t seem to be able, or there seemed to be something blocking the ability.

    Hence, Apollo felt now was the best time to resolve the blockage. If Typhir couldn''t be summoned, then a part of hisbat strength was missing.

    Quietly, Apollo channeled his Tainted Temple and merged it with the power of the system he could control actively. Gradually, he could feel the connection between him and Typhir strengthened, but he was also given insight into the reasoning behind the blockage.

    "It stems from the connection to his mother. It seems strong sentimental feelings have to be ovee. However, Typhir''s is also unusually strong. He must possess an unquestionable rtionship with his mother. No wonder he asked me not to let his mother find out about his condition," Apollo internalized.

    Only after he promised to always keep his mother safe, did Typhir relinquish his firm grasp over his mother.

    A few secondster, another gate opened, but unlike the rest, a dense destructive aura leaked from it. Typhir stepped through momentster, glowing markings all over his body. It was clear he was embroiled in battle already as his stigmata was already in use.

    Without a second thought, he nodded towards Apollo and rushed to join the battle.

    "Ahahaha! Another meal! Come,e,e!" the Juggernaut''s maniacalughter spread out, forming a soundwave capable of attacking the demons. Fortunately, Furcas warned them to raise their defenses as soon as he noticed the odd fluctuation.

    On the other hand, Typhir simply dived into it, stapping one hand forth, his Destructive Intent forming a spiral. With every fight he took part in, his skill with his repertoire grew more refined.

    At this sight, Apollo grinned; he feltplete. "Now, why don''t weplete the party!"

    Apollo''s aura surged, the barrier containing his aura shattering incrementally. It wouldn''t be kong before he experienced the evolution of a Great Demon.

 Chapter 337 - Infernal Slaughterer

    ----

    As the surge of energy epassed Apollo, he drew upon arge source of Ira, setting his Infernal Stigmata in overdrive. Ever since Fuhrer appeared the worries he held over his damaged vitality drifted away. If he was capable of easy repairing his soul, then recovering vitality would be mere child''s y for him.

    Hence, Apollo was also bold enough to activate his Infernal Stigmata at the Greater Demon level, creating an abundance of tempestuous winds. Signs of strain appeared on his face, but his aura remained stable in return.

    ''I...can hold it,'' Apollo muttered through gritted teeth. A momentter, waves of dark energy started spilling from his body, an indication of his Domination Intent awakening. Shortly after, he reached his strongest form possible without assimting with Ouroboros.

    In fact, this was the first time he had ever simultaneously activated his stigmata like this while also utilizing his intent. When coupled with one another, their potency escted to new heights.

    Without another thought, Apollo dashed forward, moving at a speed that caused visual distortions. Two dark groups of energy enveloped his hands, sharpening until they were akin to small swords. Rapidly, the images of Fuhrer training Typhir resurfaced in his mind.

    The urge to mimic these actions deluged Apollo, causing him to act upon his impulse. Within the next few moments, he arrived before the Juggernaut, upying itsst unused hand. Unlike the others, it took Jorgun and Zarkath working together to handle one of the Juggernaut''s arms.

    After all, to obtain them, Apollo had to drastically weaken them, whichpromised their formerbat ability in return. Of course, it was only a temporary issue. As long as they continued to fight and absorb Anima as well, then their advancements were only a matter of time under the presence of the system.

    Meanwhile, Apollo adopted a pattern that seemed almost identical to Typhir and Fuhrer, but it also appeared tock a certain essence. Since he didn''t train exclusively in the sword, he didn''t experience the intricacies of Fuhrer''s techniques.

    While Typhir absorbed the essence with his vessel through the constant temperance from Fuhrer, Apollo could only emte what heprehended from afar. Nevertheless, for actions spurred by distantprehension, he fared pretty well in grasping the movements.

    ''My Lord never fails to amaze. If he''s pointed on the right path, he can even develop his own unique swordsmanship. Just because he is fated with the Monarch''s Presence, that doesn''t mean he can''t familiarize himself with all types of weapons. In actuality, it''ll benefit him greatly,'' Fuhrer mused once he spared Apollo''s actions a few nces.

    "You look down upon me? How dare you look away in a battle!" The Juggernaut raged, a fiery red aura epassing two of its arms before smashing down towards Fuhrer. The momentum of the attack cop[sed the space above Fuhrer, creating a supergravity pocket in his position.

    An overbearing weight pressed down on Fuhrer, effectively sealing his movements. Before he could react, the strike was already upon him, threatening to crush him into illustrious demon paste.

    ''BOOM!''

    Fuhrer''s body flew back instead of down through the ground, smashing through many of the numerous archaic pirs surrounding them. When they witnessed this, both Furcas and Vc gawked, but it wasn''t for the reason the other''s thought it was.

    "Oh shit! You''ve fucked up. You''ve better run! Lord, retreat! RETREAT!" Vc screeched, acting even more unusual than he typically did. This behavior earned an odd reaction from Apollo, grimacing at Vc.

    "What''s wrong with you? We''re already prepared to suffer damage in battle," Apollo responded, preparing to turn his attention back towards the Juggernaut. Unfortunately, he was once again interrupted.

    "No, I''d have to agree with Vc on this one. Get the hell out of there...NOW!" Furcas insisted, nearly mimicking Vc''s response. Due to the repeated insistence, Apollo knew there was something amiss.

    "What is it?"

    "Don''t ask, juste, Lord! Also, retract Jorgun, Typhir, and Zarkath as well," Furcas responded in but an instant. He nced to his side with a fearsome expression as he did so.

    Slowly, Apollo did the same thing, but all he saw was Fuhrer''s silentlyying in the wall. There were no energy fluctuations or anythinging from his body, thus he couldn''t understand the drastic change in their response.

    "Lord, have you forgotten? Don''t you remember Lord Fuhrer''s two Sins?! If you do, then do as we suggest and retreat now!" Vc shrieked, shirking his neck a momentter. He took refuge behind Furcas and cradled himself.

    All of a sudden, it seemed as both space and the grandiose coliseum containing them began to tremble. The broken stones littered around Fuhrer turned to molten rock before superheating enough to disintegrate them. The zone around Fuhrer turned into something akin to a supernova.

    Fuhrer gripped a portion of the wall, cracking it to pieces as he rose to his feet. "Haa, you havemitted a grave misdeed. I can tolerate your actions if it was solely me, but you disturbed me from monitoring my Lord''s progress, now that is intolerable!"

    A berserk aura swirled around Fuhrer, bing a towering pir of dark destruction. As he took a step forward, the ground beneath his feet melted. Moreover, even Brynhildr underwent a drastic change, awakening an awe-inducing appearance.

    The seemingly in sword gradually transformed into a revered de of legends. A nefarious eye-opening at the connection of the hilt.

    Meanwhile, the Juggernaut gazed upon Fuhrer with an intrigued expression. "Strong. You are bing stronger."

    Suddenly, Fuhrer took a step, appearing before the Juggernaut like a phantom, "Shut your filthy mouth." Swiftly, Fuhrer swiped down, forcing the Juggernaut to its knees as a focused blow of suppression bore down on its colossal body.

    Due to itsrge figure, the effects were more pronounced than the supergravity that just affected Fuhrer. Moreover, Fuhrer''s aura continued to be increasingly chaotic, retaining an unsettling berserk vibe to it.

    "Arrghh!"

    The Juggernaut roared, struggling to get back on its feet. Despite Fuhrer''s pressure, it still managed to get one foot nted on the ground. When he aplished this, he looked at Fuhrer with undisclosed savagery in his eyes.

    In the meantime, Vc whispered to Apollo standing next to him while still cowering. "Do you see now Lord? He is scary, abso-fucking-lutely SCARY! Never get him mad, there''s a reason he was known as the Tenebrous ughterer!"

    "Indeed, once Fuhrer goes berserk, he releases his suppressed strength. When you are chosen by the Suppression Intent, it acts upon your vessel as well. This is the only reason for his seemingly calm demeanor. If not for its existence, Fuhrer would be a berserk individual," Furcasmented, spectating the confrontation before their eyes.

    None of them could handle getting close to Fuhrer due to the berserk zone surrounding him. It didn''t differentiate between friend or foe, whoever chose to enter its vicinity would be subject to its horrific heat.

    Apollo could only watch silently as he became privy to even more secrets hidden within Fuhrer. '' I didn''t know this was dormant inside him. A berserker? Perhaps this is why he chose Typhir. If I recall correctly, Typhir was deemed as one also.''

    Just before the Juggernaut could recover entirely, Fuhrer waved Brynhildr, creating a deepceration in its chest. Furthermore, the force from the strike caused him to collide with and destroy a massive number of pirs¡ªidentical to the treatment he received.

    However, unlike the Juggernaut, Fuhrer didn''t stop there. He floated upward, situating himself just above the Juggernaut, "Tch, disappear!" Countless phantasmal des hurtled towards the Juggernaut, all of which were fixated on ending its existence.

    Yet, the Juggernaut didn''t flinch, returning an odd smile. "I grow strong too!!" His deration was apanied by his body emitting golden light. However, this was a tinge of silver within the golden luminance.

    A transformation urred, a horned golden armor wrapping around the Juggernaut''s body. Once this armor appeared, the exquisiteposition making the Juggernaut seem as if he was a champion, his confidence skyrocketed.

    With a single hand, the Juggernaut shattered the numerous des converging on its position. Apollo and the others were utterly confounded by this. If the roles were reversed, they knew they stood no chance against Fuhrer''s strike.

    This battle had just be one between two monsters. Each of them stood before each other, possessing a torrential aura that shed against one another.

    "You will lose," Fuhrer stated.

    "I win! I am ultimate," the Juggernaut snarled.

    Both of them wasted no time, dashing towards each other. Before the impact, everyone needed to brace themselves.

 Chapter 338 - The Slaughterer Slaughters

    ----

    "Zarkath, raise your Infernal Ramparts, now! And don''t stop unless I say so," Apollomanded as he estimated the uing terror these two monsters would create upon shing.

    Immediately, Zarkath obliged, pressing his hands against the ground. One by one, Infernal Ramparts rose from the ground. However, it wasn''t only half an octagon. Since their backs were against a wall, there was no reason, or rather impossible to summon any ramparts in that direction.

    Hence, Zarkath focused on fortifying the 4 summoned Infernal Ramparts by reinforcing them with rows upon rows of ramparts. In this situation, there was no such thing as being too careful. Suffering damage from this fight was not a chance Apollo was willing to take.

    Be that as it may, just the aftershock of the Juggernaut''s and Fuhrer''s first collision shattered the outermostyer of the rampart. When this happened, Zarkath worked rapidly to rece it, exhausted a sizable portion of his Anima Reserves.

    On the other hand, Apollo closed his eyes, using his Tainted Temple to sense the progression of the fight.

    "Hmph," Fuhrer scoffed, analyzing the Juggernaut''s armor. The first thing he did was pinpoint any possible weaknesses in its integrity. However, Fuhrer was surprised to find that both its exterior and interior were seamlessly prepared.

    ''Something is off about this armor¡­ it doesn''t originate from this world, or any of the Lower Worlds for that matter. Just what is the identity of this being''s creator? Are they a foe we''ll have to face in the future?'' Fuhrer thought.

    However, he soon pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind, brandishing Brynhildr numerous times in a mere instant, against the iing fist. Small nicks appeared on the gauntlet encasing the Juggernaut''s fist, but Fuhrer didn''t let up on his assault.

    His extensive attacks formed an interconnecting web that no matter how one approached it, they were bound to receive at least a few cuts. Unsurprisingly, the brutish Juggernaut received the blows and continued to release its own.

    Fuhrer guarded against it, vanishing from where he stood. A few momentster, he appeared behind the Juggernaut''s left knee, unleashing a relentless barrage of shes.

    The Juggernaut''s knee faltered for an instant but recovered quickly, showcasing its monstrous regeneration rate. Be that as it may, Fuhrer''s onught was merely in its infant stages.

    From here on, he stopped utilized simple strikes and switched to employing his Tenebrous Sword techniques. Empowered by the void, his strikes opened forceful gaps in the armor.

    With Brynhildr''s sharpness, all it required was a hefty application of Fuhrer''s strength. The madness in Fuhrer''s eyes amplified, revealing another sword strike, one with appalling effects.

    "Tenebrous Sword: Stagnant Void!"

    The area surrounding the Juggernaut became devoid of any type of energy, sucking into an unmoving void. Even the energy within itsrge frame felt sluggish, affected by the conditions Fuhrer''s move gave birth to.

    Even when the Juggernaut tried to resolve the created void, he was powerless to do so. If he wished to aplish that it would require a certain attainment into thews of the Void. In the world of Astarat, there wasn''t a single person alive who could touch upon that boundary.

    At the very most, they were skilled in spatial abilities. However, they were not one and the same. One could see void abilities as the greater part of spatial abilities. Whereas spatial abilities warped space and allowed one to weaponize it, void abilities went even further. Retaining those abilities as well as presented extra ones, such as presence concealments and dimensional ruptures.

    Gradually, Fuhrer overwhelmed with the Juggernaut with the stagnant void, "With this void active, your supply of energy is no longer immense. Once your internal energy is consumed, there will be no more energy for you to take advantage of."

    There was a faint teasing undertone in Fuhrer''s words as an unusual yful smirk appeared on his face. Without dy, he entered the stagnant void, found itfortable. But, once he entered it, Apollo lost all signals of the battle.

    "They have taken this fight elsewhere. At the very least, we are no longer in danger," Furcas revealed, the numerous pupil in his eyes spinning in a tight formation. Although he could still see Fuhrer and the opponent to a certain extent, the particrs were blurred.

    For now, they would just have to wait for their exit and see who will emerge as the victor.

    ----

    Meanwhile, in the stagnant void, Fuhrer retracted his helmet. Crimson lines bore into his skin next to his ckened eyes¡ªa sign of his berserk nature rising to the forefront. However, all of a sudden, his hair began to float as the dark armor connected to him separated piece by piece.

    A refined physique was revealed underneath with sparse clothing. Gradually, an infernal armor wreathed his body, producing a new presence altogether.

    "Allow me to take you back to my heyday. Back when I was dubbed the Infernal ughterer," Fuhrer remarked, his voice thrumming with dark intent. Compared to before, the feeling he gave off now was akin to some kind of demon god.

    A tinge of fear filled the mind once Fuhrer revealed this state, however, it couldn''t retreat now. It had its pride as its title of the ultimate creation. Retreating now would be a blemish upon its creator''s reputation.

    Regrettably, this is what Fuhrer was hoping for.

    "Don''t say I bullied the weak," Fuhrer chuckled, swinging Brynhildr gently. A collection of tendrils wreathed in an infernal aura pierced the armor producing a surprising effect. Countless small yet bloody holes appeared on the Juggernaut''s body.

    "Hoh? So you''re alive. No wonder I sensed life fluctuations from you. And no wonder my urge to kill you is so strong," Fuhrer said with an arched eyebrow, partly surprised by this development."

    ''Fwoosh!''

    Fuhrer advanced, pressing his palm against the Juggernaut''s chest. A force entered its body causing a jetstream of blood to eject from the hole. For a moment, the Juggernaut fell to its knees but still attempted to retaliate.

    It swung its rightmost arm equipped with a battle-ax coated in a vigorous aura. At the same time, it swung its opposite arm, equipped with a greatsword. If this attack connected, the oue would be devastating!

    After all, a battle-ax and greatsword were the two weapons with the greatest attack force in a fight. When their properties were coupled with the Juggernaut''s immense strength it resulted in great synergy.

    However, unexpectedly, Fuhrer didn''t move an inch from where he stood. Instead, he relinquished his grasp of Brynhildr, allowing it to float before him. A secondter, the attacks arrived.

    ''Bang!''

    "Ahahaha! You talk big, but I, the Juggernaut of Destruction shall always prevail! As the ultimate creation, it is within my right to enact my master''s desires!"

    The gleefulughter of the Juggernaut as if he had imed an almighty victory!

    "Hoh? You talk as if you''ve conquered me. By all means, please point me in the directions of the person you''ve defeated." A voice sounded within the resulting debris.

    Theugher was cut short by the calmness of the voice. Whenever an injury was received, you could usually notice it from the injury in one''s voice. Yet, Fuhrer''s voice was unfaltering, smooth till the very end.

    As the dust cleared, Fuhrer''s figure was revealed and in his grasp were the two immense weapons, thought to have put an end to his existence.

    On the contrary, Fuhrer received them with ease and even neutralizing the forces. The wasn''t the slightest sign of an impact on the floor, confusing the Juggernaut.

    "You look confused. Are you perhaps confused as to where the power behind your strikes went? Here, take it back," Fuhrer said, flickering each of the weapons.

    An explosion urred, sting the Juggernaut into the vault. It coughed up copious amounts of blood as the resurgence of its own force caused extensive internal damage.

    "Now, perish under my de," Fuhrer said, holding his hand forward. Brynhildr took to the skies, realizing a horrendous around which continued to climb without end. Soon enough, the area was engulfed in an aura that produced fears.

    "Begone," Fuhrer uttered, Brynhildr cleaving downward as a result. Not just the Juggernaut, even the void was bisected as a result. Just like that, the monstrous Fuhrer had prevailed in this fight!

    On Apollo''s side, he received a shocking message. Even without the cancetion of the void, he understood just who had won the fight. ''I wonder just what took ce on the other side when I lost sight of it.''

 Chapter 339 - Unfamiliar Elemental Zone

    ----

    ?Alert! Congrattions, due to Fuhrer''s actions, you have increased 3 Levels. [Current Level: 133.?

    Immediately, Apollo was shocked. First and foremost, Apollo was under the impression that outside of the Nihilistic Rings, after reaching Level 100, he would be unable to acquire experience. However, based on the message he just received, that didn''t seem to be the case.

    In fact, to Apollo, it just seemed like some conditions needed to be fulfilled before he could receive experience, ''Could it be the ability to extract experience revolves around how strong the being is? Because that Juggernaut unbelievably strong and has 3 levels.''

    Not to mention, gaining 3 levels from a single opponent was akin to acquiring an entirely different piece. However, Apollo could tell the Juggernaut was an opponent he couldn''t demonize. Although it seemed alive, it truly wasn''t.

    Forgoing its human-like emotion and behavior, it also possessed animalistic traits. More importantly, its "heart" was a ball of energy. It didn''t possess any lifeblood, just energy flowing through its "veins." Overall, Apollo was absolutely shocked by this situation.

    Soon enough, the stagnant void faded, revealing Fuhrer''s form gradually reverting to his previous state, the floating armor reattached to his body, dwarfing the sinister vibes billowing from his body. Apollo thoroughly understood just why Furcas and Vk called him the Infernal ughterer.

    As he witnessed the Juggernaut''s lifeless, bisected body, he was appalled. ''Its defense was ridiculous, just how did he manage to do this? Furthermore, from the signs, it appears to be a single clean cut. Even if he overpowered him, it would take arge effort to subdue him long enough to end the fight in one strike.''

    All of a sudden, Fuhrer turned toward Apollo while gesturing before him. A humongous crystal was extracted from the Juggernaut''s chest, floating towards Apollo''s hand. Within moments, itnded in his palm, warm to the touch.

    But, that wasn''t what Apollo took notice of first. ''There''s so much energy in here,'' Apollo thought with widened eyes. Moreover, there was a difference between the energy present in the crystal and what the other source presented. This specific source possessed a blend of Spiritual and Natural Essence!

    ''No wonder it could retain its own emotions. It''s a catalyst for both types of energies present in this ce. Then, I wonder what we can expect from the true interior of this realm,'' Apollo wondered, looking upward.

    Since he had cleared all of the trials in an unorthodox manner, he was also curious as to whether or not his action would fetch him extra rewards. Faintly, he could hear the murmur of the voice which alerted him of the beginning of each stage.

    ording to what he understood, the voice was trying to calcte what he deserved as a reward and how much of a reward was sufficient to disclose. After all, he still needed to transverse the levels of the realm''s true tests.

    As this took ce, Apollo beckoned for Fuhrer, curious about his transformation and just what other secrets he held.

    "Mm, what do you need Lord?" Fuhrer questioned as he arrived before Apollo. The difference between his appearance now and just moments before was truly astonishing. In mere moments, Fuhrer had regained hisposure, removing all signs of his prior destructive whims.

    "It has been brought to my attention¡ªyour identity as the Infernal ughterer that is. I''m curious, how did receive such a moniker?" Apollo inquired.

    "Mm, that''s a story that dates back to the Sinestres Warring Era of the Nihilistic Rings. I did what I had to do to assist the First Monarch in uniting the Demon Race under one banner. During that time, the number of beings I ughtered was immeasurable.

    After a moment, Fuhrer then continued, "Sometimes these actions were doing out of fury, other times they down because of orders. Regardless of the circumstances, these events gave rise to that name, and it stuck. As I learned of it, I began to continually live up to the requirements of the name."

    "I see, all that ughter, I would''ve thought someone of yourposure would have this side to you," Apollo replied honestly, rubbing his chin with a tinge of excitement present in his eyes.

    Basically, Apollo didn''t see this as a dangerous situation, but a very useful tool. Fuhrer''s presence was vital to quelling situations outside of his control as long as the danger didn''t originate from his determined path to power.

    Granted, this only excited Apollo for an instant before other thoughts entered his mind, ''I can''t live my life depending on Fuhrer for my safety. At some point in time, I''ll have to be strong enough to handle my own well-being. If not, Fuhrer will just turn into my lifelong handicap.''

    While he was grateful for Fuhrer''s strength, Apollo had concluded to not abuse. The prior situation with the Juggernaut was justified¡ªit was an opponent that neither he nor the other demons could defeat. Hence, it all rested on Fuhrer''s shoulder.

    All of a sudden, a bell chimed in Apollo''s ear and no one else''s.

    [Reward determined. You will be given: Gold Inscription Key and 10,000 Contribution Points as well as towards the objectives youplete.]

    When Apollo read the alert, he felt a change, a package appeared before him, but it didn''t appear as if any of his demons could sense it, ''This concealing technique definitely doesn''t originate from Astarat, it gives me a feeling no weaker than Destrys. Just where will this realm take us?''

    Despite his unanswered questions, Apollo received the package, storing it in his inventory. From what he read, he didn''t receive any currently useful item. They all seemed as if they were rted to this space.

    ''I guess expecting items for myself was too much to ask for. Then why did Robyn request a physical item? Perhaps that can only be obtained outside of this area,'' Apollo guessed.

    Now that the controllers of this area had administered all of the rewards, a spatial doorway, simr to the one everyone entered to get to this ce, opened up. Apollo looked back to his demons before snapping them.

    Every one of them except Typhir turned into a collection of dark energy that entered his forehead.

    "For now, it''s you and me. We''ll summon the others once we obtain a thorough understanding of this ce. After that¡­'''' Apollo paused, a malicious grin appearing upon his lips, "We''ll have some fun and return some enmity."

    "Sounds enticing," Typhir responded with a faint smile. He rested his greatsword upon his shoulder and followed Apollo through the gate.

    ----

    A few moments passed and a ripple urred in space, a doorway opening up to reveal two figures. Obviously, this was Apollo and Typhir. Apollo spread his perception the moment they touched down, searching for any familiar or even unfamiliar faces.

    However, even within a 200-meter radius, he didn''t sense a single opponent. On the contrary, all he did was sensing locations with varying energies and orientations. Some of them resembled pristine shrines, possess a light, ethereal energy, while some were subterranean volcanic areas. Spaces covering all aspects of attributes existed in this ce. Furthermore, Apollo felt some of the area calling out to him. When he matched them side by side, he realized the areas that were beckoning to him, were the ce with elements matching his affinities.

    ''Could it be that this space is linked to our affinities? If so, then shouldn''t I sense people? Unless..''

    Quietly, Apollo extended his senses into one of the resonating areas, but all it did was confirm his thoughts. "So it''s true, once you enter these ces, the inside is sealed, prohibiting our senses from prating."

    "In other words, we can only enter these ces blindly. Somehow, I think it is a test of courage. Not just everyone is willing to enter a ce without prior knowledge," Typhirmented, looking towards an area housing a violent cyclone, and another¡ªan active volcanic spring.

    "Correct, but what do we care. We''ve already suffered in Ashiraem. I doubt this can match it," Apollo said, dashing forward. However, before entering, Apollo took a glimpse of his status screen, paying close attention to his affinities and attributes.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lvl.4

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Lesser Demon [99.99%]

    Title: Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 15

    Level: 133

    Experience: 0.00%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 10,500 units.

    -----

    (Impermanent)

    Body Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 4 Zul Knight

    Spirit Cultivation Realm: ~Rank 2 Spirit Warrior

    Meridians: Saint-Grade (Middle Tier)

    Zuls: 31,500

    Oz: 1,050

    Strength: 1,050.0

    Agility: 925.0

    Intelligence: 950.0

    Vitality: 760.0

    Comprehension: 115.0

    Willpower: 95.0

    [?Traits?]- 5

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 7

    -----------

    [?Elemental Affinities?]

    Level 9: Darkness, Fire

    Level 7: Metal, Wind, and Lightning

    Level 5: Earth

    Level 3: Space

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?]

    [Daemonic Avatar]

    Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master

    ?Greater Demon? [5,000]

    [Demonic Acolyte]

    Typhir Estrada (Demon Knight) ?

    Lesser Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Follower]

    Furcas (Demon Knight) - Wiseman of Corruption

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    Vc (Demon Knight - The Terrible

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Servant]

    Zarkath (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    Jorgun the Anomaly (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    ------------

    [?Interdimensional Inventory?][?Inheritance?] [?Lucky Draw?]

    Stat Points: 0

    ''I think it''s time to increase these affinities that I''ve been neglecting.''

 Chapter 340 - Looking For Trouble

    ----

    Sometimeter, while Typhir entered one of the volcanic areas, Apollo settled for something much more worthwhile. He moved to temper his weakest affinity¡ªhis spatial ability. For this, he found himself in the eye of a spatial storm.??

    Not only did spatial winds threaten to tear apart his body, but it also felt like the energies werecking, and even being drawn out of him, surrounded only by minor vacancies and a vacuum! While it wasn''t to the extremity of being a void, it was still ufortable nheless.

    Theck of useful energies made for stringent conditions, ones where Apollo could barely convert everything. However, Apollo could also tell his experiences were just an illusion. There was a faint connection between him and space, allowing him to feel minor readjustments in the flow of energies.

    ''The energies are just camouged by the disorderly orientation of the surrounding space. To fix this, I have to first understand how to unravel the jumbled mess,'' Apollo thought. In his eyes, the energies resembled knotted hair¡ªnumerous fine strands tangled to present a headache-inducing issue.

    Nevertheless, instead of bing flustered, Apollo exhaled and calmed his mind. For a moment, he closed his eyes, focusing solely on the presence of spatial elements. Albeit sparse, he sensed the fleeting energies interspersed throughout the knots, however, they also appeared to be unbelievably fragile.

    When he used his mental energies to guide one of the strands, it almost fractured upon his touch. ''Too forceful, not diverse enough to handle this situation. I need to tone down the force of my energy.''

    Once again, Apollo felt as if his Tainted Temple was being trained. The refined usage of its energies pushed the progress of its evolution further along, gradually reaching the cusp of its current stage. Just like his body, his mind would soon undergo a thorough evolution as well.

    However, this wasn''t the height of his worries. Right now, he was focused on resolving this puzzle. Patiently, Apollo studied the properties of the spatial energies, rting them to what was known about sins.

    ''Each Sin can be said to cover quite a few properly. For example, Ira burns with ever-present wrath, incinerating not just its foes, but the mind of its wielder as well. Hence, why it gives birth to Hellfire. Superbia forever concrete''s one sense of self in an unmoving state. This can be likened to grounding one''s self or, harnessing the strength of the Earth,'' Apollo mused.

    Afterward, he paused for a short while to assess what was known about the other Sins. In addition to Ira and Superbia, there were also bits of G and Avaritia in his repertoire of knowledge. For some reason, he felt these Sins were more rted to Water, Darkness, and even Earth. Hence, in this situation, they didn''t seem to be much help.

    "I wonder... if you were to blend G and Avaritia together, what would you achieve?" Apollo questioned, his thoughts wandering to matters far beyond his current level. At the very least, if he wished to merge them as one, it''d require a highly evolved Domination Intent.

    Once he realized his thoughts were without an answer, for now, he concentrated elsewhere.

    Carefully, Apollo separated the strands of spatial energy, each one flowing into him after sessfully doing so. With each absorption, his link to the area grew stronger, allowing him to perceive the matters more clearly. Not only was it less strenuous on his Tainted Temple, but it also allowed him to decipher the clutter with less effort, resulting in an elerating solving speed.

    The first strand took somewhere between 80- 100 seconds to resolve, but the next dwindled to a stable 90 seconds. This pattern continued in varying amounts, sometimesrger, sometimesrger until Apollo''s familiarity with the energies was seamless. In little to no time at all, he absorbed enough strands to elevate his affinity.

    ?System Alert: Congrattions, Spatial Affinity has increased to Level 4.?

    Within the Vermillion Night Academy, there wasn''t really an area dedicated to knowledge surrounding spatial abilities. Not only was it increasingly rare to possess this affinity, typically, unlike the other affinities, but it also grew on its own. This was because the ability to morph space came along with a heightened cultivation realm.

    Once one became an Emperor, they would be able to freely manipte the space bounding them, releasing the tethers that kept man grounded.

    The speed of Apollo''s hand continued to increase at a stable rate, an odd gleam spinning in his eyes as he opened them. Unexpectedly, he had entered the state he touched upon in the selection trial.

    Although it put stress on his mind and was difficult to sustain without his knowledge, just its presence alone caused Apollo''s hand speed to surge threefold. The next strand took just under 30 seconds to decipher, wholly absorbing it.

    An intense aura seeped from Apollo''s eyes, working in tandem with his hand to unravel the remainder of the energies. Even though it was producing a droning sensation in his mind, Apollo paid no attention to it. His current state was too focused to realize any difort.

    ''Fwoosh!'' ''Fwoosh!''

    Apollo''s hand moved rapidly, creating dissipating afterimages. By the time one faded, he was already onto solving the next. A continuous stream flowed into Apollo which soon shifted into a torrential river.

    Before he knew it, the energies in the zone werepletely unraveled and he exited his focused state, the intricacies of the energy flow dispersing before his eyes.

    ?System Alert: Congrattions, your Spatial Affinity has increased to Level 8.?

    "It hasn''t reached the maximum of the elementary boundary. There isn''t enough essence for me to absorb andprehend. I need more," Apollo muttered. Unlike any time before, when the energy melded with his body, it was seamlessly absorbed.

    There was no period of respite needed to digest andprehend the knowledge hidden with the essence. Apollo merely rose to his feet and ventured towards the next zone¡ªthe zone of dismantled earth.

    Passing through, Apollo was enraptured by the rock that floated with a minutely changing path. When it returned to its initial position, it hadpleted a shape simr to an elongated "0".

    However, when it returned, it never actually touched the same position. It moved in a pendulum shape, creating numerous ovepping lines. While they weren''t visible to the naked eye, if one sensed it with their mind, they would notice the outline.

    "For some reason, it''s much easier to solve this one," Apollo whispered, surprised by theck of difficulty. He pped his hands and halted the movement of the rocks as he walked to their center.

    There, he allowed them to resume their flow, but he altered their path with him as their core. A formation appeared, as a result, chipping away at the rock until they started to disintegrate into rock the size of grains of sand.

    Except, that wasn''t rocks. It was the base of their essence and Apollo absorbed it, not just increasing his Earth Affinity, but fortifying his vessel as well. When all was said and done, this area was sucked dry of its essence as well.

    But, when he approached the zone filled with metal, he noticed an anomaly. It was as if a veil was torn down because he could sense multiple signs of life nearby. Although none of them possessed any familiarities, this matter excited Apollo.

    "It seems we have finally returned to the same space," Apollo murmured, grinning at the same time. Slowly, he approached the metal zone, inching closer to the positions of the signatures of life.

    A few minutester, he came across a few teams dressed in identical yellowish and silver information. Naturally, it was the attire of their respective academy, but Apollo couldn''t care to verify their identities.

    He could sense the waning energies of this particr metal zone but it was nowhere near how fast he devoured the other zones. It seemed as if these 10 people barely managed to drain 1% of the zone''s total essence every minute.

    Meanwhile, Apollo alone absorbed 2-4% of a zone''s essence every time heprehended something. His body was simply a gluttonous monster!

    Regardless, Apollo advanced towards the zone, securing a spot on the outskirt before cing his palm on the ground. Instantly, he sensed the presence of metals and metalloid fragments in the ground. Some of which were so potent that they merged to create metal spurs of extreme purity.

    If it was harnessed to make a weapon, the grade would undoubtedly reach a decent tier. This was without inscriptions and the like toplete the weapon.

    All of a sudden, the rapid waning of the energies astonished the 10 individuals whom of which im this area first. The leader amongst the bunch opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings in search of an anomaly.

    After all, inexplicable disappearance of energy was impossible here, the entire space was made of overlyrge quantities of it!

    Soon enough, the leader came across Apollo''s presence. The fact he didn''t hide his presence from the others meant he weed anyone to approach and, so the prey fell into the trap.

    "Oi, what da fuck are yer'' doing!? We imed this area first. Get the fuck outta ''ere," the brawny leader yelled. His shout alerted his teammates, causing them to open their eyes and focus on Apollo.

    Hostility festered in the atmosphere as they all red at Apollo. At first, they thought their actions woulde across as menacing, however, Apollo''s response trampled upon their threats.

    "Well, if that''s what you want me to do, then why don''t you make me~?"

 Chapter 341 - Hunted And Hunters Reverse Positions

    ----

    "W-what the hell?!" One of the individuals eximed. They couldn''t believe how reckless Apollo was. Since they didn''t know who he was, they weren''t aware of the deeds he hadmitted. However, if they were privy to it, I''m sure their first reaction wouldn''t be to entertain his whims.??

    Unfortunately, such credit couldn''t be aware to them. The burly leader felt indignation towards Apollo''s attitude, "Oi, just where do you get out causing such trouble. It''s the truth, we were here first!"

    "That''s very nice and all, but I don''t care whether you were here since time immemorable. If I want to train as well, then I''ll do so without sparing any thought for the consequences," Apollo responded, opening a single eye towards him.

    Apollo''s calm response left them unsettled for a moment. Either he was a madman, or something was wrong with him and he couldn''tprehend danger when he saw it. Regardless of what it may be, the 10 individuals already felt offended.

    "Tch, are you spheming the reputation of our Mystic Earth Academy? That''s no good, I, Stark will have to deal with you," the burly figure said, a mixture of silver and yellowish aura billowed from his body. Afterward, he withdrew a pair of chained short swords, as his followers retrieved a collection of weapons.

    Without another thought, Stark rushed forward, brandishing his short swords by swing the chain. Although the chain was short and the short sword seemed to be a mix of a greatsword''s breadth with the sharpness of daggers, Stark manipted the varying chain lengths with ease.

    Furthermore, he used the gathered momentum of his advance and channeled it into his strikes, entuating them. As the chained short sword sped towards him, Apollo leaned to the side, dodging it at thest moment.

    ''If I reveal my true power too early one, then they''ll scurry away without me having any fun and that isn''t the slightest bit eptable,'' Apollo internalized, making it seem as if dodging the strikes were quite difficult.

    When Stark witnessed the difficult situation for Apollo, a gleeful grin appeared across his lip and he issued a series of signals to his followers. An instantter, they reacted and dashed forward.

    Each of the surrounding Apollo on every side, something of them even thought to have entered his blind spot. However, what they didn''t know was that his perception provided a 360 degrees view within a 10-meter radius.

    Within this range, he was akin to a master. His senses were too kin and despite the overwhelming number, Apollo didn''t show the slightest ripple in expression. Throughout the change, Apollo remained calmed, a steady stream of hidden energy encasing his hands.

    A tingle was felt on his back, alerting him of danger in specific areas. Two sword strikes were fast iing, but Apollo took a step back, moving towards. To the others, it seemed as if he was moving towards the attacks and sealing his fate. However, that was far from the truth.

    A fleeting smirk appeared upon his lips before disappearing as quickly as it came. Two breathes before the strikesnd, Apollo turned his body. Somehow, Apollo dodged between the small opening in the strikes.

    The result was the nging of two swords as their des met each other. When Apollo executed that backstep, he had already calcted the length of the weaponry and the angle of their strike. This reading allowed Apollo to smoothly transition to his current spot.

    Softly, Apollo pped his hands together, a surge of strength flowing through their weapons. All of a sudden, their feet left the ground as they were each heading towards one another.

    But, before they collided with each other, Apollo pressed his palm into the pit of their stomach, sting them towards Stark.

    Upon witnessing this, Stark''s eyes narrowed. ''What luck, he took a step back just before those two issue their attacks. However, mere luck won''t be enough for your survival. You have already offended us. There are countless zones, yet you bother us.''

    As those two flew through the air, Stark and five others dashed towards Apollo''s position. Stark swung his chained des haphazardly, producing a sandstorm with violent winds. The grains of earth inside were a mixture of his internal energy along with some of the ambient earth.

    In this particr zone, Stark realized his attacks were empowered, further increasing his confidence in making Apollo pay. There was no way he would endure such tant disrespect without retaliation.

    Meanwhile, every time the des grazed past Apollo, it seemed as if his reaction was slowing, which led to Stark''s excitement. Simply put, Stark felt as it was just a matter of time before his strikes began toy waste to Apollo. At that time, it would be who triumphed.

    Apollo analyzed the Stark''s bodynguage, noticing his swelling confidence, but it still wasn''t time yet. There were still a few other youths who hadn''t attacked him yet. Unless he was attacked, the system wouldn''t ssify them as malicious persons.

    However, there was another situation that didn''t require physical actions, it was the leaking of killing intent aimed towards Apollo. At the very least, only the intent was required to do so.

    Sadly, it seemed as if, except for Stark, none of the other youths present knew how to channel intent. It appeared as if they were just following along with Stark''s desires.

    ''Tsk tsk, mindless followers. Someone should have schooled you. Mindless behavior will only lead to both an early and grueling demise,'' Apollo inwardly thought, shaking his head.

    "Tch, still have the time to shake your head? How about we change that! Terra Practice: Resplendent Earthen des!" As Stark bellowed this, chunks of the surface beneath their feet trembled.

    Each time his weapon passed above the ground, a sharpened de of earth was created,unching towards Apollo soon after. Within a few moments, over 10 earthen des were hurtling towards Apollo.

    At the same time, the other two were inactive finally directed an attack towards Apollo. With that, everyone within his vicinity was deemed as malicious beings. Right before the earthen de crashed into his body, Apollo''s body started to dissipate into shadowy embers.

    "W-what?!" Stark eximed, his eyes widened in shock as the de passed right through Apollo''s body. It wasn''t Apollo that he hit, but rather his afterimage. Until now, Stark thought Apollo''sck of techniques had something to do with his affinities.

    After all, a Metal Affinity was useless for dodging. It only had two properties that made it a sought-after affinity¡ªoffensive and defensive capabilities. Not only was it one of the sharpest elements, but it was also durable. Hence, why most weapons were forged from metal alloys.

    In this form, their uses were vast. It was limited to just weapons, even items and armors were forged from metals, taking advantage of its properties.

    Unfortunately for Stark, he had made the wrong assumption about Apollo. He wasn''t the hunted, he was the hunter! From the beginning, Apollo had marked them as prey, as with their questionable intelligence, they had fallen into the trap.

    "F-fuck! He tricked us! He''s been concealing his abilities! He''s a darkness user, guarded yourself. Those trick bastards love to attack your mind. In fact, everyone retreat to my position. We need to tight-

    "Where are you going? Stay right here~ Sin Shroud: Wrath''s nket!" A crimson barrier erected from the ground traveling upward, the walls of the barrier emitting a sweltering heat, frightening those trapped within.

    ''Metal, Fire, and Darkness? Is this guy someone with triple Attributes? Fuck¡­'' Stark thought.

    With an infuriated expression, he stabbed his swords into the ground, "You may have erected a barrier, but don''t forget. Metal Essence has the greatest piercing power!"

    Large amounts of Metal Essence gathered in a spiral around Stark. He used his earth essence as the foundation and created two huge earth spears, but he was far from done. The collected Metal Essence crept upon the spear, from an rming spiral pattern around the spear until it met at the tip.

    A sharp point was formed and Stark propelled it forward.

    ''BOOOM!''

    A thunderous noise sounded as the earthen metallic spears mmed into the barrier, rattling those within. A burst of heartyughter sounded from the position they wereunched from, "Hahaha! Did you really think you can contain us like chained animals? Impossible!"

    "If you think that is true, then, by all means, look again!" Apollo''s phantom-like voice sounded behind Stark, scaring him for a moment. However, he obliged Apollo''s suggestion and examined the barrier as the debris from the strike clear.

    "W-what?! How is this possible?" Stark eximed with a look of horror. Not a single scratch could be seen upon the interior of the barrier. It was as if a single attack hadn''t beenunched against it.

    "Tsk tsk, that''s the issue. Despite your weakness, you people always bear swelled egos. Now, allow me to show you true power," Apollo chuckled. As he lifted his hands, countless spears made from Hellfire materialized around him. Compared to Stark''s actions, Apollo''s was much more horrifying.

 Chapter 342 - Attempted Barrier Shattering

    ----

    "What in the actual fuck is this!?" Stark eximed, horror umting in his mind. He couldn''t believe the sheer number of des that Apollo just summoned. Although it wasn''t the void des, and merely conjured from Hellfire, it was still able to appall Stark and his followers.??

    The mes spurred on by Hellfire were simply tyrannic. It presented a certain level of despair that they weren''t used to. In fact, in their eyes, there was simply no way to survive against the onught of those des should they beunched towards them.

    "Y-you tricked us. You never disclosed that your affinities were this high. T-that fire...it''s something mixed with Fire and Darkness. And that uniform...you hail from the Vermillion Night Academy! If you hurt us, our Academies will be at each other''s necks," Stark eximed, trying to bring logic into the issue.

    Unfortunately, the person he was messing with wasn''t too logical. Apollo took a step closer with a faint smirk on his face, "What makes you think I care about the well-being of my Academy? Furthermore, what gives you the confidence that you are so important to the Mystic Earth Academy?"

    "I-I¡­" Stark was nonplussed! He couldn''t mesh the right words together to refute Apollo. First of all, this was the first time he met an individual who didn''t possess their academy in their sights, it was simply unheard of!

    Outside of the Supreme Families''nd, the 9 Famed Academies''nd was akin to a cultivation holy ground! There weren''t many areas that surpassed them in essence density and purity. Since they were erected in carefully selected positions, materializing on energy nodes.

    Hence, everyone prayed to receive admission to one of the academies, it was a life-altering experience if properly used. Yet, this individual in front of him sullied that desire everyone held by uttering his astonishing words.

    Not to mention, Stark also felt some anger towards Apollo practically calling him worthless once again.

    "W-we may no be all that useless or prominent within the Mystic Earth Academy, but they still take care of their own well. If you hurt us, you''ll be creating enmity towards it!" Stark''s follower screeched as he remained speechless.

    "Enmity is only possible when a side is still alive. As for you all, well, let''s just say your life hase to an end," Apollo said with a chuckle. Each of their expression grew pale when they heard this.

    "No, wait! Spare us, we''ll give you all of the spirit items in our possession! It should be a sizable amount and able to buy our safety," Stark suddenly yelled, stumbling to active his spatial ring. However, Apollo''s next words caused him to froze.

    "Why would I bargain with someone over possession that will ultimately be mine upon your death?" Apollo questioned with an amused expression. His odd look caused the others to finally realize what was happening.

    "D-demon. You''re simply a ckhearted demon! Does life have no meaning in your eyes? There can only be one!" Stark shrieked, the effect of apollo''s ghastly words finally terrorizing his mind.

    "Not yours, at least," Apollo responded before swiping his hand downward, all of the hellfire de converging on their position. As the mes grew potent in their eyes, everyone resigned themselves to their fates, but also continued to curse Apollo in their mind.

    Right before the desnded, Apollo smiled, "By the way, that''s exactly what I am. You hit nail on the head."

    After he said that, he turned around, absorbing the earthen essence as he walked towards the other hand. Suddenly, he held his hand over his shoulder, 12 spatial rings appearing in his palm.

    ''Hoh? It would seem that their leader possessed more than one spatial ring. Meh, more for me I guess,'' Apollo internalized, tossing them in his inventory without checking their contents for now.

    Momentster, their incinerated ashes fell upon the ground, blowing into the distance due to the nearby tempest zone.

    On the other hand, Apollo looked beyond the perimeter of this Element Zone he was in. In the distance, there was a towering pagoda that caught his eye. "If I''m not mistaken that must be that core attraction of this ce. This zone should just be a means to performst-minute advancements."

    Momentarily, Apollo made stops in the Lightning zone, submerged in thunderclouds. Unlike the rest, absorbing the essence here was quite different. In order to absorb the dormant essence, Apollo was required to be struck by the lightning.

    However, Apollo didn''t hold any qualms against being struck. In fact, there was a theory he wished to test out. ''Since metal essence is abundant in my body, it should conduct the lightning essence effortlessly. But, why are the zones so empty?''

    As he spread his perception, even in the unsealed zones, he didn''t sense a single person. This was a questionable situation, leading Apollo to believe that something happened.

    ''Perhaps I spent too long within that preliminary training space? I mean, it''s a usible reason as to why I''m alone for the most part. But, that does exin why the zones have been emptied,'' Apollo thought.

    All of the nearby zones seemed practically untouched from what he perceived, making Apollo believe that either no one passed through here, or it simply wasn''t useful. But, how could that be true? The younger generation was littered with youths looking to advance their affinities quickly.

    Then, another thought crossed Apollo''s mind, ''Perhaps this zone is a reward? Only present for those who cleared a certain amount of stages? If so, then it''s understandable. Those people back there weren''t weak, just weaker than I am.''

    But, Apollo also dismissed this idea. The reason being the number of zones. It was too limited to suffice for everyone''s use. After all, across the 9 Famed Academies, it went without question that there were strong contenders amongst their selected participants.

    Thus, Apollo''s attention soon returned to the few zones he had visited. For a while, he inspected them,ing across some shocking changes. Only after the zone waspletely depleted did the essence recover from an unknown source.

    Furthermore, when it returned, it also returned with a colored barrier around it. The barrier around the Spatial and Metal Zones was bronze, spurring questions in Apollo''s mind.

    "Perhaps my guess wasn''t incorrect, just iplete," Apollo voiced. As he retrieved the Gold Inscription Key in his presence, there was a faint response, from it and the barriers surrounding those two zones. Like air, the barriers dispersed with no issues.

    ''So that''s it. The Golden Inscription Key allows recurring use. Then, perhaps I should indulge in this area a while longer,'' Apollo thought, ultimately deciding to milk his rewards.

    First, he began by receiving the rming lightning strikes. The result was the increase of his affinity after his body contained the energy and a number of impurities being purified from his body. While the results weren''t amazing per se, Apollo felt as if his movements grew even more fluid.

    One by one, he visited each zone pertaining to each of his affinities and corrected their deficiiesnces. By the time they all reached Level 9, a golden barrier encased each of them. However, Apollo also noticed an apparent change when the barrier appeared.

    Perhaps it was the reward for defeating the Juggernaut, but the energy within those zones underwent a change, possessing a mystic air to it.

    ''Wait a minute, I recall there being something beyond affinities. I wonder if it''s possible for me to tap into it with the use of these zones,'' Apollo wondered.

    Gazing upon the barrier, Apollo waspelled to test out his theories. Apollo dashed forward without a shred of hesitation, but not into a zone, but the area in the middle. Since he had been here longer enough, he sought to shorten the time need.

    All at once, he resolved the golden barrier around the zones. Even a golden Dark Zone opened, surprising Apollo. ''Perhaps this area is already aware of my affinities. It may even possess its own sentience.''

    Straightway, Apollo closed his eyes, and sensed the mystic changes in energies. Each of them edxerienced a liberation of their properties, amplifying their worth to a new echelon. Buried benheath the outer shell, Apollo fdound a crtystalline version of their eneries with a potent signature.

    ''This is it! I need to absorb this,'' Apollo determined. Just as he sensed the presence, not just his Infernal Nucleus, even his Tainted Temple and Diabolic Heart of Wrath resonated with the energy.

    Extracting the energy was a peculiar process. For some odd reason, the external energy couldn''t be absorbed. It was the impurities expelled by the energies of its own ord. If it was absorbed, it would just recreate the recently purified impurities in Apollo.

    Intently, Apollo guided thebination of energies into his Infernal Nucleus, an odd sensation apanying this action. It was hard to describe, it was both painful and pleasurable as the same time.

    Absorbing many energies led to a concoction, but a potent one nheless. Apollo''s body began emitting strange fluctuations!

 Chapter 343 - Intricate Hoax

    ----

    With the energy melding into one giant amalgam inside Apollo''s body, it began changing into something with an odd orientation. It was simr to a chance concoction made in the kitchen by mixing an abundance of condiments. Sometimes the results were astoundingly good, other times it led to horrifying experiences.??

    Nevertheless, in Apollo''s case, it appeared his actions gave birth to a seemingly beneficial situation. Although there was diforting sensation flowing through his body, it allowed his body to expunge the filth from within.

    Momentster, Apollo fell to his knees, groaning in pain after tickles of blood flowed from his pores. At the same time, amethyst lights fired from his eyes, boring holes into the ground.

    All of a sudden, Fuhrer''s voice resounded in Apollo''s mind, "Ah, you''ve shattered the barrier. However, it seems to be a unique constraint on your body. I''m not sure as to why your body is inhibiting itself from crossing over into the Greater Boundary."

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s eyes opened, ncing to the side at a message before his eyes. While Fuhrer wasn''t aware of the issue, he was more than aware.

    ''It''s the Demonic Conduct¡­ Also Fuhrer said this is iunique? Then that means other demons don''t face this limitation? Then, what''s the point of guing me with it?'' Apollo wondered, taking a deep breath.

    Even though his vessel has more than breached the boundary of bing a Greater Demon, this system issued a restriction to halt the process. Thus, his Diabolic Heart of Wrath stopped absorbing arge amount of the Fire Essence in his body. After all, in the Greater Boundary, the Sins adopted elemental properties as well.

    The Sin Energy alone, without the invocation of Hellfire, would give birth to searing energies. Hence, why Apollo had such difficulties fighting against Vk and the others in his current state. Granted, he was partly immune to damage received from fire especially in his Iraym Form.

    Not long after, Apollo''s body calmed down, but his aura was still in a state of chaos. It was stronger than it typically was, but it was also unstable, fluctuating violently and sometimes devastating his immediate surroundings.

    As he witnessed this matter, Apollo frowned slightly, "This isn''t ideal. I can conceal myself like this. The fluctuations will immediately divulge my position. I''ll have to approach everything straightforwardly."

    On the bright side, the energies within his body didn''t disperse. It was merely sealed in ce, hidden behind a resilient barrier.

    Since he was thwarted from advancing and taking immediate advantage of this ce, Apollo moved towards the pagoda in the distance. He didn''t rush, thoroughly examining the changes in his body.

    ''Hmm, I see. Most of the change urred in Diabolic Heart of Wrath, the rest of the energies didn''t perform any changes. They seem tock the proper outlet to allow this. Very well, I''ll have to get that done as well.''

    Only after he thoroughly scrutinized the state of his body did Apollo pick up his pace, speeding forth. The closer he got to the pagoda, the more presence he could feel. Sure enough, this confirmed his theory.

    ''I was most likely in the practice area longer than anyone else. Hence, the reason I didn''t witness anyone inside the Element Zone save for those annoyances,'' Apollo thought. Most of those who partook in this excursion only remained within the practice area until the start of the Second Stage.

    Afterward, they forfeited. After all, the strength of an exceptional puppet wasn''t something to scoff at. Even Apollo faced some difficulty before finally dealing with it. However, it was worth it. The oue was an overabundance of energy stored within his body to be used at the right time.

    Coupled with the initial transformation, Apollo was sure there would be hidden benefits if he did everything correctly.

    Soon enough, the doors of the giant pagoda were upon Apollo. Instinctively, Apollo summoned Typhir, having him by his side. Since Typhir was originally a student of the academy, he still possessed the identification to allow him through. As for the others, as long as they were within Apollo''s Tainted Temple, they were permitted to enter as well.

    A summon was a testament to one''s Spiritual Strength. Hence, there was no restriction ced upon them in this area. In fact, a reason the instructors urged everyone to contract with a Spirit was that it was rmended.

    "What do you need me to do, Lord?" Typhir questioned, ncing over to Apollo.

    In return, Apollo shook his head, "Nothing yet. Just remain by my side and act normal. It would appear that everyone is already behind these doors. After we enter, assess the situation and move forward ordingly."

    "That won''t be an issue," Typhir responded with a nod.

    Immediately after, Apollo pressed his hands on the door, the mechanisms activating of their own ord. As the gears turned, a thunderous rumbling was heard, and with that, the inside was presented.

    In neat rows, everyone was separated by their academy uniform. Surprisingly, in the middle of everyone was what seemed to be an extremely odd man, however, his eyes betrayed his image. Powered thrummed within his imperious eyes.

    "Ah, it would appear that all of the living participants are here now. Well then, I believe it''s nigh time for the fun to begin. Remember, there is no such thing as teams. Everyone is your enemy. And, behind these innumerable doors are the treasures you seek," the old figure announced raising his hands.

    Blue torches lit up in a spiral, reaching the highest floor. The sight wasn''t too enrapturing, but blue mes added an eerie vibe.

    "The only way to reach the higher floors is to possess the means to activate the inscriptions on the doorway. That is all. Now, enjoy your battle," the old figure chuckled, vanishing in wisps of smoke.

    Instantly, Apollo was located.

    "Apollo! Apollo!" A scarlet-haired beauty eximed, calling out to Apollo. Naturally, this was Nadida and her animated self. Right next to her stood Odessa with crossed arms, ring at Apollo.

    As he saw this, Apollo frowned. Truth be told, he didn''t wish to be grouped with anyone as it would interfere with his intentions. The first thing on his agenda was to locate those Glories he was familiar with. Within this space, there was no way for the outside to learn of the events.

    Hence, it was the perfect time for him to move with a vengeance and distribute his revenge. If not now, then he wasn''t when the next chance would arise. After all, they weren''t of normal backgrounds. Their families possessed ample strength, some of which were stronger than Fuhrer as of right now.

    It wasn''t a simple matter to be a Great Family, it required at least 3 Lord-ss cultivators in their ranks. This meant there was a collection of Spirit Lords amongst their ranks and each of the Great Families shared some kind of interpersonal rtionship.

    Thus, there was no better time than now¡ªwhen the culprit was impossible to locate¡ªto wreak havoc amongst their progeny.

    "Ugh, don''te over here. Take this time to move on your own and acquire some worthwhile treasure," Apollo responded, attempting to distance himself from the others. Unfortunately, it was harder than he expected it to be.

    "Rude, absolutely disrespectful! That isn''t how you greet someone, jerk!" Nadida said with a scowl.

    Meanwhile, Odessa shook her head with disappointment, "That unsightly attitude of yours seems to never change. We were worried about you. We heard what you did but never got the chance to talk about it."

    "There''s nothing to talk about. I merely solved that an insignificant issue that rose before me. Now, it''s no longer a problem," Apollo shrugged. At the same time, Apollo scanned the movements of the other parties, searching for his targets.

    Due to the sheer number of people present, it was difficult to urately pinpoint the position. Not to mention, there was also the presence of Odessa and Nadida distracting him.

    "Insignificances? Is that how you view them?" Nadida questioned with an appalled expression.

    "Precisely, what else would they be seen as?" Apollo responded with a nk look.

    "U-uh...I don''t know, how about people?!" Nadida eximed, scoffing simultaneously. She was speechless. It wasn''t easy trying to get a read on Apollo.

    "Listen, let''s stop all this. In the meantime, I have some matters to tend to. So, you both should just continue to party with one another," Apollo said abruptly. Before they could respond, his presence already disappeared with the help of his Umbra Phantom Mantle.

    "Damn it! He always does this!" Nadida shouted with a disgruntled pout.

    "Leave it be Nadida, there''s no way to get through to that thick-skulled buffoon. I was trying to tell him that this is all a hoax. There is no ''treasure'' on the lower floors, it will just lead to an inevitable bloodbath.

    "Wait¡­what did you just say? A hoax? How do you know that?" Nadida questioned.

    "I am sensitive to certain energies. Only the floors above are presenting signs and there''s not enough to allow everyone in."

    "Then¡­" Nadida looked towards Apollo''s fleeting figure in the distance. If Odessa could sense it, then Nadida was fairly certain Apollo could as well!

 Chapter 344 - Prey Located

    ----

    "D-do you think Apollo is aware of the same thing?" Nadida asked with a worrisome expression. After witnessing the carnage Apollo was capable ofmitting, she possessed an innate fear for the atrocities he maymit. Even the slightest inconvenience could turn into a bloodbath in her eyes.??

    "It''s a possibility, he''s always been astute. But, his energy sensitivity is another conversation. I''m not exactly aware of how strong it is. To find that out, we''ll have to conduct some times that are close to impossible right now," Odessa answered truthfully after pondering for a short while.

    Unfortunately, Nadida''s frown deepened, "Just give me your instinctual answer. Yes or no, do you think Apollo is aware of the situation behind these doors?"

    "Ah, yes...I do," Odessa confessed. Truth be told, there were few things she felt Apollo couldn''t do. As a result, she had already reached the mental state of repressing any shock she felt towards his actions. Of course, despite her intentions, it was still hard to stomach cold-blooded murder.

    "Then that''s his intentions...I don''t think the treasures hold any value to him. Based on his reaction, I''m almost positive he is only here for revenge. You saw it, right? The way his expression changed when the headmaster revealed all of the academies will be inside a shared space," Nadida asked with a deep sigh.

    "I saw, but what can we do? You know his energy is strange. It eats away at my energy, almost as if it''s the bane of my element, and it seems to consume regr energy. How do webat that?" Odessa rebutted, a frown appearing on her face as well.

    If someone with her camp was known as a murder, even if they were the most talented person on the battlefield, it would tarnish the overall reputation of the legion. At that point, Odessa would have to reevaluate the gains and losses. Did Apollo''s help warrant the deterioration of her reputation?

    Silently, Odessa began ruminating over this thought. In the meantime, Nadida nodded along. Everything Odessa said was true, after all, she had witnessed Apollo''s anger firsthand, nearly injured in the process. Thankfully, it didn''t escte to that level.

    ''Once he''s intent on revenge, who can stop him? Perhaps it''s only possible for those oundishly strong beings. As for his peers, that''s an impossible feat. Also, that Spirit of his, its actions are even more horrendous than Apollo''s. Could that be where his malevolent attitude originated from?'' Nadida wondered.

    For now, all of her wonders were just spection. Even though she was curious and usually confrontational, by no means would she ever confront Vk, the "Spirit" she was so curious about. His actions had left a huge impression on her, rivaling a mental scar.

    Nevertheless, these two couldn''t idle forever. After all, there was a purpose to being here. For now, they needed to locate the doors and find adequate "treasures" to bring back and officially gain ess to their second year.

    "Come, follow me. Don''t dwell on this matter too much. What''s out of our hands is not our worries. Instead, let''s focus on what we can change," Odessa said, tapping Nadida''s cheek.

    "Ah, yes. Come, let''s go," Nadida agreed, trying to escape her rut as soon as possible.

    Not long after, they ignored the first level of pagoda door, skipping directly to the second. However, it wasn''t possible to repeat the process to enter the third. Unlike the first floor, the second floor held a challenge.

    "This is terrible. No wonder the Headmaster warned us of the abyssal passing rate. They''re pinning us against each other!

    On each floor, there was a set amount of gateways to ascend to the next floor and to bypass it required the exact number of participants. If the number of present participants before the door surpassed the inscribed number, then it was locked until the numbers matched.

    There were two ways to deal with them. Either expel them from the tform or kill them. Secondly, it was through the inscription keys. On the door, there were special colors¡ªbronze, silver, and gold. As the colors changed, the number of inscription holes lessened.

    However, amotion appeared on the other side of the pagoda. With 4 stairways divided into cardinal directions, there were only 4 paths to ascend the pagoda. Yet, on the southern pathway, numerous were seen flying through the air.

    If one looked closely, they''d see someone calmly ascending the stairway while simultaneously waving his arms. After starting on this stairway, Apollo quickly became aware of the intricacies of the inscription slots.

    ''It''s not based on the number of bodies, it based on the number of inscriptions in the vicinity. In other words, as long as your plunder the keys from the others, you don''t need to worry about it. Very well. Everyone, appear!''

    Instantly, Fuhrer, Vk, Jorgun, and Zarkath appeared. Almost instantly, the surrounding area was engulfed in horrifying energy. "Follow me," Apollo ordered.

    The sight of 1 grand figure alongside 3 human-looking figures following behind Apollo appalled everyone on the pathway. Some of them even jumped off of their own ord. However, those who jumped weren''t spared. Fuhrer extended his arms, using telekic forces to draw them back to his grasp.

    "Your inscription key, give it," Fuhrermanded, extending his palm before the trembling individual in his grasp.

    "I-I''ll give it t you! Just please don''t kill me!" In an instant, a silver inscription key appeared in Fuhrer''s palm, the trembling figure''s eyes pleading for leniency.

    "Not malicious, don''t waste your time," Apollo said.

    "Noted," Fuhrer nodded, tossing aside the individual. Momentster, a loud crash was heard as their body smashed into the ground. A pained groan was heard from within the tiny crater, but Apollo didn''t pay this any mind, his ascent continuing unimpeded.

    Soon, Apollo came to the entrance of the third floor, but after turning to Fuhrer, he frowned.

    "Not here either, all of the items located here are sub-par as well. It wouldn''t gain the attention of your enemies. They must be within to parties up above," Fuhrer responded. Apollo looked above, witnessing more than half of the people dashing above.

    "Can you do it?" Apollo questioned, ncing towards Fuhrer at his side.

    "If you would like me too, but I suppose it''ll draw too much attention to us," Fuhrer answered, sparing the idea in question some thought.

    "It doesn''t matter. I''m only here for revenge and to acquire the bare necessities," Apollo responded.

    "Bare necessities? I fear that is impossible. I sense that you hold a fleeting fate with this area. You must travel to the end if you wish to reim that fate. If you don''t you''ll be forever iplete," Furcas interjected, arousing Apollo''s intrigue.

    "Really now? Perhaps I just might venture to the end to witness this destiny you speak of. In the meantime, Fuhrer, just go ahead with it," Apollo said, permitting Fuhrer to act upon their discussed actions.

    Fuhrer turned towards the vacant space in the middle of the four spiraling staircases. After cracking his neck, he walked forward, stepping on air after leaving the tform of the steps. Suddenly, he drew Brynhildr from his waist and gazed above.

    ''Hmm, not very hard to deal with, but it seems it''ll take a short while to locate,'' Fuhrer internalized. Quietly, his eyes jumped back and forth scrutinizing the area above him. Naturally, his actions earned quite a few murmurs and looks of awe. However, there were also those who couldn''t understand how this was possible.

    "No way, isn''t it impossible for a Spirit to fly until after it has broken well into the Heroic Realm? Then how the hell is that thing levitating like that? Could that spirit already be a Heroic One? No...that''s impossible," A voice shouted with a quavering voice.

    Thement caused numerous youths to look upon Fuhrer''s position, even those up above. The first thing that caught their eyes wasn''t his actions, but his armor. The majestic ck decor and the glowing markings gave off an air of indomitable strength.

    "Wait a minute, doesn''t that match the description of...Wait, we need to move...NOW!" ire eximed. Although most of the inter-academy information was sealed to the higher-ups, some of it leaked. One of those such things was the Spirit of Apollo, in other words, Fuhrer.

    With him appearing now, that only meant one thing¡ªApollo was seeking them out. Not to mention, Fuhrer seemed to be gazing in their general direction, however, not them exactly.

    ''Lord, I believe I have found a couple of individuals who match the description of malice-soaked memories. I am moving to shatter the restrictions now.''

    Underneath Fuhrer, Apollo was seen nodding. However, he didn''t seem all that ecstatic about Fuhrer''s words. In fact, seldom did happiness appear upon his face. For some odd reason, Apollo rarely felt the presence of his happiness.

    All of a sudden, Fuhrer brandished Brynhildr, three superimposed strikesnding on a thin barrier above. However, instead of shattering, the barrier appeared malleable, stretching along with the presence of the sword strikes.

    "Hoh? Interesting," Fuhrer muttered with a yful gleam in his eyes. "You will shatter." A razor-sharp dark energy then encased Brynhildr.

 Chapter 345 - A Hole Leading Upward

    ----

    "Hmph, whether you like it or not; your fate is to shatter," Fuhrer stated, gazing at the barrier before him with a menacing air. The aura around Brynhildr spiked, growing chaotic alongside Fuhrer''s intentions.??

    Even those who weren''t rted to the ordeal experienced the remnants of his killing intent. Despite the barrier''s malleable properties, Fuhrer wasn''t dishearted. On the contrary, Fuhrer was the type who found difficulty to be fun.

    After all, something achieved too easily would never be greatly cherished, and Fuhrer was someone who cherished all of his actions. Whether it be inconsequential or earth-shattering, Fuhrer was a firm believer of every move being made towards an inevitable purpose.

    On the other hand, Apollo remainedfortable, and on stand-by while watching as Fuhrer continued with his shocking actions. Just his first series of simultaneous strikes were enough to garner the crowd''s awe. However, this was just a prelude to his uing efforts.

    Fuhrer took a step forth, dragging Brynhildr back towards his waist. The movement caused a rift in the space before him, but this Fuhrer neglected this. When channeling the void, all types of effects were bound to happen, this was just part of the inevitable. As long as he controlled the radius of the rift, there were no worries of his allies being swallowed.

    Conversely, Apollo was intrigued by the presence of the rift. It gave him the much-needed stimtion, presenting the opportunity to dissect rift creation at its base. Although it was an indicator of strength overpowering the respective''s world fabric of space, that wasn''t always true.

    In some rare cases, notably, when someone possessed an affinity high enough, they would tap into a mystical set of applications that escaped the realm of the mundane. That realm gave birth to the ability to do many shocking things, one of which so happened to be tapping into the Void.

    ''Fascinating, Fuhrer''s Void seems to be different from time to time, perhaps he tapping into different ones? But then, could that mean there is more than one void? If so, are they linked to different worlds? No, maybe even dimensions. Perhaps the voids between worlds aren''t one and the same. Sadly, until wee across that matter, I won''t chance upon that answer.''

    While Apollo was lost in thought, Fuhrer was doing something much different. Razor-sharp threads snaked from Brynhildr, impacting the flexible barrier countless times over. Although it wasn''t enough to destroy the barrier, it gave Fuhrer another opportunity.

    After each strike, Fuhrer''s ability to criticize the barrier deepened. It allowed Fuhrer to gain aprehensive understanding of the barrier from ceaseless strikes.

    ''So that''s what it is. Whoever designed this barrier is quite an outstanding craftsman. To interweave this number of tiny threads is tedious work. Not to mention, the concentration and reserves required to back this process would be astronomical. You have my respect, but you will also experience my ire,'' Fuhrer thought while motionlessly gazing at the barrier.

    Compared to the security barriers erected inside the Vermillion Night Academy, the one before Fuhrer was many times moreplicated. He was aware of the reasoning behind theck of shattering; the barrier was porous, mitigating the energy used against it.

    Most barriers were formed by melding arge supply of energy together, creating a nket of energy to protect something. Although this was the most elementary utilization, it was practical and typical posed great result. Well, at least enemies of simr magnitude.

    However, what happens when an overwhelming attack punctures its defenses? The whole thing would shatter! But, that wasn''t an issue for this particr barrier. Due to the orientation of the threads, they were melded as one but fundamentally independent.

    It was simr to a woman, whom of which was with child, and in the extremete stages. Though the mother and child were one, connected through intricate means, in the case of them separating, each entity was able to survive on its own. Likewise, when Fuhrer cut a few threads earlier, an rming number of threads were birthed from the still-existing threads.

    In other words, the barrier was capable of regeneration! Moreover, it was specified regeneration at that.

    This wasn''t possible from melding alone, it required a nifty application ofws eclipsing the natural such as fire, water, and the like. This was bordering on the line of creation itself. Based on this discovery alone, Fuhrer was sure his assumptions were correct. This realm wasn''t the work of a human from Astarat.

    Nevertheless, since he had promised Apollo something, he would aplish it without error.

    ''Do I have permission to reveal my demonic form?'' Fuhrer questioned, shooting a fleeting nce in Apollo''s direction.

    Apollo paused to look around before answering the question; wondering whether or not he wished to eradicate all those in his surroundings. At first, it seemed a little extreme, but a gnawing internal voice kept coaxing him to do so.

    Apollo''s finger tapped his forearm continuously, pondering the answer. Finally, he came to his conclusion. ''Not yet; it isn''t the right time. Only when we are certain can I allow that to happen. I can''t handle the recoil of a situation like that.''

    ''Very well, then I''ll spare some means to camouge my appearance,'' Fuhrer responded.

    Again, the razor-sharp threadscerated the barrier, but this time there was void energy infused into Fuhrer''s strikes. Before they could regenerate, the affected threads were sent elsewhere, neutralizing the immediate response, though not entirely.

    ''It''s slowed. As long as I work quickly enough, it should create a windowrge enough for us to take advantage of. It''s just a shame that I can''t overwhelm this thing with Daemonic Pressure,'' Fuhrer thought, sighing mentally.

    Nevertheless, the issue wasn''t outside of his ability, it was just tedious to rectify. Going the brute force route seemed to be his best bet withoutpromising his camouging veil.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer took another step forward causing part of the barrier to protrude as if it was being poked by a sharp object. Many of the weaponized tendrils merged together, forming a spiral sharper than any of Fuhrer''s prior attempts.

    A visible hole was punctured through the barrier, allowing Apollo and the others to see straight through. However, it wasn''trge enough to permit their entry. Again, Fuhrer repeated the actions, but half of the tendrils were split from the initial attack, creating a different image.

    Two obscure hands formed as piercing gleams shed through Fuhrer''s eyes. That gleam fueled the hands'' movement, making them grasp the corners of the punctured hole.

    As Fuhrer tore open more holes, the hands put pressure on the barrier, shattering some of the already fragile thread of energy. Furthermore, the hands were created from the infusion of his Suppression Intent. Thus, the hand suppressed the regeneration before it could even take ce.

    Rapidly, the barrier weakened, a gaping hole appearing in the middle.

    "Excellent," Apollo chuckled. With steady steps, he approached the middle of the staircase. Under normal circumstances, Apollo wouldn''t have done this, but Fuhrer was there and he trusted himpletely.

    In the corner of his eyes, Fuhrer noticed Apollo''s movements and gave a nod, "It''s fit to enter. You can bring the others as well."

    "I intend to," Apollo smirked, tapping his foot against the tform. Slowly, he floated towards Fuhrer, who was currently channeling his First Tenebrous Sword, the Phantom Millennia.

    Small fragments of the barrier fell to the ground and dissipated. However, Fuhrer''s expression seemed more strained than usual. It appeared sending the energy elsewhere and suppressing its regeneration was more taxing than he let on.

    Meanwhile, the others looked in awe as they witnessed a gaping hole in the middle of the staircase.

    "M-my god...Did his Spirit do that? It disappeared all of a sudden, then this hole appeared shortly after! I think this guy is responsible for this!" Someone eximed. This shout precipitated the screams of others.

    Yet, instead of fear, they appeared to be extremely unexcited. Some of them thought to take advantage of Fuhrer''s actions. However, how could Apollo or even Fuhrer allow that to happen?

    ----

    Up above, two tforms higher, Lazaro and Aeon peered down at the hole in the barrier.

    "He''sing for us, isn''t he?" Aeon questioned, his gaze fixated on the hole.

    "Without a doubt, but we''re much stronger than before, and we have Spirits. We''ll just have to let him know why Glories aren''t to be trifled with. Soon enough, we''ll be Scions," Lazaro answered, his solemn stare frozen on Apollo.

    Feeling the stare, Apollo looked up and smiled meaningfully, sending a shiver down their backs.

 Chapter 346 - Death Is A Consequence

    ----

    While Apollo smiled at those above, the people under him began to rush towards the opening in the barrier. As they got closer, the pressure from the steps was alleviated, making the journey much easier. Theck of stress made their progress skyrockets.??

    Unfortunately, they soon came across an issue.

    Apollo looked towards those capitalizing on his actions, "I don''t recall giving you permission to follow me, did I?"

    "EH?! Who do you think you are? Just because you opened this hole doesn''t mean you hold the right to govern who uses it!" A male eximed while ring daggers at Apollo.

    In response, Apollo gave a in smile.

    ''Fwoosh!''

    Apollo appeared before the individual, embers of shadow flickering everywhere, "On the contrary, that is precisely why I hold governance over that hole. You can see it as my property."

    ''Bang!''

    Apollonded a violent punch on the individual''s stomach, causing them to gasp and retch as a result. Before they could respond, Apollo rotated. A lightning-quick kick sent the fool hurtling into the wall.

    Due to the disy of power, some felt apprehensive of moving closer. After all, that fellow was left groaning in the wall, partly unconscious.

    "You all can take this as an example of what will happen if you''re just like him. Of course, if you think you''re strong, you''re weed to try your luck," Apollo chuckled.

    Some of the people felt his words were far too overbearing. After all, everyone here was amongst the upper echelon of their generation. Along with that stature came an ego. Needless to say, most of them couldn''t handle Apollo''s condescension.

    A male with yellow spiky hair and sharp markings under his eyes dashed towards Apollo, his body wreathed in lightning. As he moved, the crackles of lightning left motes of light in his wake.

    "Very well," Apollo nodded, rushing towards the iing opponent. Unlike his typical behavior, Apollo didn''t conjure any Hellfire or use any Anima. After reaching the cusp of the Lesser Demon stage, Apollo felt the presence of some dormant strength.

    Although it was repressed, tapping into the power temporarily wasn''t impossible. In fact, it was quite easy. It only required Apollo to incite his Diabolic Heart of Wrath. This was because theter evolutions were centered around deepening one''s connection with Sin rather than honing the vessel as a primary target.

    The individual thrust his hand forward but his attack missed due to Apollo leaning to the side. At the same time, Apollo mimicked the same strike, aiming for his opponent''s neck.

    Sensing the danger of the strike, the individual leaned to the side but a small cut appearing, trickling blood.

    "Name?" the spiky-haired youth questioned.

    "Apollo," Apollo answered, focusing on the blood leaking from his opponent''s neck. Surprisingly enough, even his blood was electrified, small cracks of lightning conducting throughout his blood.

    "You''re strong but too overconfident. The thing about lightning is it''s too unpredictable. My title as Tristan the Blue sh isn''t for show," Tristan eximed.

    He advanced once again, but this time, his eleration was astonishing. Apollo just barely managed to dodge the next strike.

    Despite dodging, there wasn''t a window for Apollo to take advantage of. Once Tristan executed his attack, he continued his dash immediately after. His pause was negligible.

    Shortly after, Tristan switched angles and blitzed towards Apollo again. Taking a step back, Apollo scrutinized Tristan''s movements.

    ''He''s fast, but it''s not very efficient. His movementsck flexibility and are too linear. For example¡­''

    Apollo shifted his body to the side and stuck out his foot at thest possible moment. A forceful impact was felt in his leg but he didn''t focus on that. Instead, he chuckled at the tumbling Tristan.

    It was truly a funny sight to witness a so-called talented individual eat dirt as if it was a sublime delicacy. Before he stopped, Apollo jumped towards him. He didn''t give Tristan the chance to recover properly.

    Apollo was right on his back, using the same dangerous strike. Regrettably, Tristan''s evasion was sloppy. Apollo''s hand caused arge gash in Tristan''s leg. As someone who utilized a high-tempo battle style, damage to his legs was devastating.

    As he stood to the side, blood dripped down Tristan''s right leg, ''Damn...this guy is crazy. Not even batting an eye when I''m that close. While many people know my weakness, it hard to ovee the instinct to flinch when I''m near.''

    Generally, Tristan''s opponents would shirk back from his advance due to the apanying winds. Most of the time, the winds disrupted their sight, allowing Tristan tond blows with ease.

    Yet, when it came to Apollo he couldn''t find an opening. Despite the winds sting his face, Apollo didn''t flinch nor acknowledge the wind. On the contrary, Tristan was more aware of them than he was.

    Due to his Wind Affinity, most of the opposing winds weren''t able to affect him. Especially so if they were winds birth from the aftereffects of someone''s attacks. If it wasn''t controlled by essence, then it was useless.

    ncing at Tristan''s leg, Apollo moved closer once again, favoring Tristan''s wound.

    Although he wanted to move away, it was proving difficult. Not only did flowing Lightning Essence through his leg hurt, but he was limping as well. Apollo''s attack had burrowed deeper than he thought.

    Not to mention, the residual Anima on Apollo''s hand injected enough Demonic Anima to start deteriorating the area around the wound.

    "Wait¡­wait! I yield!" Tristan shouted. Unfortunately, his exmation didn''t make Apollo feel anything. There wasn''t a shred of remorse in his eyes.

    "You should have thought about that when you confronted me," Apollo responded, finally conjuring a collection of extremely dark energy in his palm. He intended to make an example out of this person as well.

    "A-are you insane? Just because I fought you I have to die? Have you never participated in a friendly duel?" Tristan retorted, he couldn''t wrap his mind around Apollo''s logic. The mere fact of going against Apollo warranted his death?

    "Not necessarily, I''m just doing it because I feel like it. Also, I don''t fight ''friendly'' battles. You should enter each and every fight with the intention of dying. Only then will you try your hardest to earn your survival. Nevertheless, goodbye," Apollo smirked.

    ''Pucht!''

    Apollo''s hand punctured Tristan''s heart, a look of horror stered across his face, "M-madman. You''re...y- insane¡­" His breath trembled as he continued to sputter blood; a sight that would traumatize many. Yet, Apollo''s expression was unmoving throughout this entire process.

    "And death is a consequence~"

    While looking around, Apollo thrust his hand, discarding the blood located upon it. At the same time, his appearance was confrontational, seemingly egging the others on. However, after witnessing this spectacle, they had already made their decision¡ªtaking a shortcut wasn''t worth their lives.

    ''Hoh? My lord, it seems as if you''re growing merciless,'' Fuhrer chuckled lightly. Truth be told, he wished for Apollo to be even more ruthless because there were some demons who wouldn''t think twice about going against him.

    For example, the other candidates. If he couldn''t control them, then he would have to eviscerate them and deal with all rising issues.

    ''Yes, perhaps that is true,'' Apollo nodded. Since no one else intended to confront him, Apollo gathered the others and ascended the tform steadily. While he advanced, his gaze was locked on the Glories up above.

    "Don''t worry. I''ming for you. It''s about time we settled our unfinished business. If you have any worries¡ªI won''t be gentle," Apollo sneered.

    Although he wasn''t loud, Apollo was heard and the others were incensed by it. They were able to discern hisckadaisical view of them from his tone.

    "Who does he think he?" Lazaro scoffed, tightening his grasp around two short swords. The veins in his forehead throbbed as his mind filled with infuriated thoughts.

    "What do you think. He''s insane. Haven''t you heard the rumors surrounding his name? I didn''t know if it was his at first due to some changes in people''s stories, but once they revealed the name, it was clear," Aeon muttered. He withdrew a slender longsword, polished and extremely sharp.

    Since Apollo wasing towards them and would reach their position without fail, it made no sense for them to run. Instead, it was better to defend their reputation and fight this fight.

    Afterward, portals opened behind ire, Typhir, Aeon, and the others one by one. Large figures of varying strengths and elements appeared, highlighting their intention to fight.

    In ordance with their increased numbers, Apollo summoned hisst two demons as well. Auras inducing trepidation appeared; Typhir and Furcas revealing themselves. Apollo alongside his 6 demons advancing with an imposing gait and an air of ughter.

 Chapter 347 - Awakening The Berserker

    ----

    "W-wait...is that Typhir?" Aeon muttered, focusing his sights on a familiar-looking person. Although his physique wasrger and the air around him was menacing, there wasn''t much of a change towards his features, enabling Aeon to recognize him with a nce.??

    Veria''s eyes widened at the mention of Typhir''s name. Since he entered the Vermillion Night Academy, he had be a ghost, never once reaching out to them. While the others thought nothing of it, the same couldn''t be said for Veria.

    Unlike the rest, she was gued by an innate soft-heartedness. This was part of the reason Apollo targeted her in the past, sensing the conflicted emotions inside her mind. Those same feelings appeared once again, trembling as sheid eyes upon Typhir.

    Meanwhile, Typhir was close to emotionless as he gazed towards them. Simr to how he loathed Grayson and Reiner, the Glories upied the same position in his heart. Besides Veria, who consoled him in the shadows, most of the Glories treated him no better than an oaf, belittling his intelligence.

    Although he never voiced his discontent, it drove a wedge in their rtionship. In fact, upon their first meeting, Typhir had connected more with Apollo than any of the other Glories in their lifetime of interactions.

    Hence, why it was so easy for the system to establish absolute authority without damaging his mind in the slightest.

    "It seems they recognize you," Apollo said, glimpsing towards Typhir. Apollo could sense the resentment emanating from Typhir''s Tainted Temple and it made him ecstatic¡ªTyphir''s demeanor was distancing itself from humanity!

    "I just hope they recognize the unfamiliarity of death. After all, that snake Lazaro is responsible for many wrongful deaths," Typhir responded, withdrawing the greatsword from his back soon after. His Destruction Intent began leaking as well.

    Although his identity as a Demon destroyed his chances of contracting with a Spirit, the power he gained in exchange for this sacrifice was more than sufficient. It wasparable to assimting with a Spirit, reaching a vessel not far from that state.

    "Good answer," Apollo chuckled. "Now go."

    With a nod, Typhir performed an explosive jump, elerating towards the Glories up above. Based on his momentum, he seemed unstoppable and intent on their destruction. Twirling the greatsword around, wisps of Demonic Anima were conjured, which created a dismal atmosphere.

    However, Demons thrived in this setting.

    Furthermore, Fuhrer lifted his palm, deluging the area on Ira and Superbia to give Typhir some assistance. After all, Typhir wasn''t just up against the Glories, there were also their contracted Spirits present as well.

    Judging from their aura, they were quite strong.

    ''It must have been quite taxing to form contracts with these spirits. They seem to be on par with Xezym in potential. However, I truly await his transformation after escaping those doors,'' Apollo thought. Afterward, he watched the ensuing battle closely.

    Although he could end it quickly, it would be no fun to instantly overwhelm them. This was a sensation he sought to savor, slowly devouring their hope, morsel by morsel.

    Within moments, Typhir was upon them. Since Apollo had marked Lazaro as his target, Typhir''s first target was Aeon, the one who seemed amiable yet possessed a conniving heart, orchestrating many of their distasteful ns.

    Aeon''s eyes narrowed, retrieving his longsword to receive Typhir''s attack. The moment they met, his eyes widened, utterly astonished by the overbearing weight behind Typhir''s strike.

    ''M-my god¡­ when did he get this strong?!''

    While Aeon wasn''tunched back or anything, his arms ached from receiving the strike. Only after strengthening his arms with Natural Essence did the pain subside. Straightaway, he retaliated with an attack of his one, performing a rapid downward.

    Yet, Typhir merely swatted the sh away with an upward stroke, "You''ve trained your schemes yet have neglected your body."

    Bang!

    Typhir delivered another powerful swing, yet this time it was horizontal, causing Aeon to slide back a few steps. Despite his disheveled appearance, Aeon still shot Typhir a venomous gaze.

    "Don''t give me that condescending talk as if you''ve surpassed us all. Among the Glories, your potential is amid the lowest spectrum," Aeon spat, a swirl of silver energy spinning around his sword and body. It continued to swirl until it formed an extra metallic surface on his weapon.

    As for his body, armor made of that energy appeared, gradually covering his body up to his neck. The armor solidified in a few seconds, appearing close to a metal alloy. However, Typhir was aware of this ability already; it was simr to his Heavenly Bronze Body inheritance.

    But, Aeon''s family technique was known as the Adamantine Warrior Armor. Not only did it increase his defenses, but it sharpened all of the Metal Essence he utilized, honing some of its speed in the process.

    Nevertheless, Typhir didn''t even flinch at this sight. He nced skyward, perceiving the Sin Fuhrer hadced into the atmosphere. Drawing upon it, Typhir drewthe Sin towards his sword.

    Different from regr weapons, the one Fuhrer gave him was capable of channeling Sin Energy. In other words, it was a true instrument of the Demons. Any weapon Apollo tried this with shattered, unable to contain the virility of Sin Energy.

    The greatsword in his hand gleamed with a crimson-gold hue whilst emanating a near-ck aura. Since Aeon had pulled out all the stops, so did Typhir. Although Typhir''s aura eclipsed Aeon, he still kept up his guard, watching his surroundings always.

    After all, he was familiar with Aeon''s battle strategy. His favorite stratagem was a pincer formation. Not to mention, Lazaro and ire always obliged to help. If they interfered in this battle, then there was a chance Typhir would end up on the losing end.

    Granted, that was extremely hard to aplish. The Demons behind him weren''t just for show. The moment one of them made a move, so would they. These were the orders Apollo had distributed.

    Regardless, one thing was overlooked.

    When Typhir dashed forward, seeking to utterly crush Aeon, he sensed something at thest most, performing an abrupt sidestep.

    Boom!

    Arge halberd shattered the ground where he once stood, a Spirit donned in azure armor appearing. The fluctuations of its aura were violent and so was its demeanor. It raised its halberd towards Typhir with a smirk.

    "Come."

    "dly," Typhir responded, a faint shade of ck appearing beneath his feet. In the next moment, Typhir''s body turned partly indiscernible whilst he moved forward. As one looked at him, one would realize an anomaly taking ce.

    It seemed as if he was performing an iplete teleportation; his body disappearing and reappearing constantly. This was the fruit of Fuhrer guiding in the ways of melding pieces of the Tenebrous Sword with his actions.

    Although he could only enter the void for an instant, this was a godly tool in battle when timed properly. If there wasn''t a target for the opponent to hit, what would they strike? This small window would then disorient them, disrupting the flow of battle and putting the odds in Typhir''s favor.

    Of course, if the opponent''s senses were too keen, they could estimate his reappearance based on his path of travel and current speed. However, to perform that calction would require someone of Furcas''s expertise.

    "Heh, mere parlor tricks!" The Spirit eximed, obliterating the ground as he dashed toward Typhir. Although he kept changing his position, the Spirit''s eyes darted back and forth, keeping an active note of Typhir''s whereabouts.

    Not to mention, the wide range of the halberd allowed the Spirit to do something astonishing. He swept the halberd outward, covering not just the area Typhir appeared in, but the position behind and before him.

    With his advance effectively neutralized, Typhir was left with no other choice. After a short estimation of the Spirit''s strength, Typhir matched the strike with a blow of his own.

    Bang!

    The collision resulted in a deafening sound, but the mor repeated continuously as both sides released a relentless barrage of attacks. For the most part, their attacks were equal, but Typhir ended up suffering a loss.

    "Ugh," Typhir groaned. While he was focused onbatting the Spirit, Aeon had circled to his rear and attacked a blindspot. A longsword could be seen piercing through Typhir''s side.

    Furthermore, the Spirit took advantage of the small opening, delivering a heavy smash!

    Boom!

    The strike caused arge crater to be formed, destroying a portion of the steps. Jorgun was about to dash forward, however, Apollo lifted his arm and shook his head. "Don''t worry, he is far from done."

    "But Lord, they''re teaming up on him," Jorgun responded.

    "Not really, they''re on the same team. Just leave this to Typhir. It''s something he has to do," Apollo answered back.

    Suddenly, the stairway began to rumble, precipitating Apollo''s smile. "Now, go on and fight the Berserker."

 Chapter 348 - Returning Memories

    ----

    A horrifying aura rose from within the dust of the prior strike. It resembled a demon seeking blood with undisclosed hatred. Three w marks swiped the dust away, revealing Typhir with bloodthirsty eyes.??

    "Heh, good strike. Now it''s my turn," Typhir said in a dark tone, cracking his neck at the same time. He then stepped towards the two, swinging his sword once. Despite the distance between them, an rm rang in the Spirit''s mind.

    He dodged to the side, yet still felt the strike''s residual presence. As he rubbed his finger against his chest te, there was a small scratch upon it. The Spirit looked at Typhir with intrigue.

    "I thought I dodged that, but it seems I was incorrect. What do you call that?" The Spirit inquired.

    "Your demise," Typhir responded, swinging his weapon yet again. An identical feeling engulfed the Spirit, causing him to repeat his actions. Unsurprisingly, yet another scratch appeared on the Spirit''s chest.

    "Ainz, what''s the issue. Aren''t you dodging the shes?" Aeon questioned, noticing the continually appearing marks on his Spirit''s attire. Simultaneously, the marks led to slight difort in Aeon''s mind. This was the weakness between a Spirit and its summoner.

    "I feel as if I am, yet it doesn''t seem to be the case. I think this guy is using some odd techniques. I can''t sense them properly!" Ainz responded, narrowing his eyes while also tightening the grasp of his halberd.

    Instead of dodging, he decided to react differently to the next strike.

    However, his actions merely gained Typhir''s amusement. Once again, Typhir utilized the same strike, remaining in the exact position. When the sensation encapsted Ainz''s mind, he reacted, shing downward immediately.

    A torrential stream of energy trailed his strike, yet Ainz wasn''t satisfied in the slightest, ''That strike didn''t confront anything, just what is happening-...''

    "Agch!" Ainz eximed, a deep gash appearing on the back of his armor. Despite theck of indication, the target of Typhir''s strike altered. Ainz''s mind raced to find an answer but wasing up short.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer grinned proudly when he witnessed this sight. Naturally, Apollo caught wind of it.

    "Something you taught him?"

    "That goes without staying. This is just the first Tenebrous Sword technique utilized well. Don''t you recall when I used it against you?"

    "I do, but I remember it differently. He''s using it from afar whereas yours was used when our swords shed," Apollo answered.

    "Correct, but the true intended purpose is to create a strike capable of deceiving the enemy. In truth, it''s not one but two attacks¡ªa real one hidden within the shadows of the feint. Since he now understands part of the Baleful Steps, it wasn''t hard to grasp this concept," Fuhrer answered.

    "I see, but didn''t you say he is a Berserker? Why does he seem so calm?" Apollo questioned. Back when Fuhrer revealed Typhir''s identity as a Berserker, Apollo made a widespread assumption. Based on prior knowledge, he thought Berserkers were mindless individuals who grew stronger whilst lost in a frenzied rage.

    However, from Typhir''s current state and Fuhrer''s expression, he could see his assumption was incorrect.

    "Heh, how brazen of you. I''m guessing you saw him as a tool of mindless destruction, but that couldn''t be further from the truth. In fact, a true Berserker is fueled by adversity, absorbing their rage and channeling it into inconceivable strength. Otherwise, how would I have be the Infernal ughterer?" Fuhrer answered.

    "Then...a berserker who is calm¡­

    "Is one of the most dangerous opponents, but an amazing ally. Their rage unshackles their ability to assess the current predicament with nonsensical precision. Take the Spirit''s attack for example; Typhir hadn''t altered the real strike until the retaliating strike had already begun," Fuhrer answered.

    "Then, does that mean if Typhir enters this state in our spars, his victory is guaranteed?" Apollo inquired, intrigued by this thought. Up until now, Typhir hadn''t won a single spar. However, he also never went berserk. Most of the time, Apollo didn''t take it that far.

    However, the discovery of this spectacle enticed Apollo to do so. After all, it was most beneficial to understand the intricacies of his subordinates'' strengths. The system only revealed their state, not the true extent of their strength.

    Although the system revealed the restriction ced upon them, that was only their resting strength. There were various techniques capable of amplifying a Demon''s strength to new heights. For example, the Second Transformations of the Lost Council.

    Each of them held a tiny fragment of the First Monarch''s strength, but that same strength was also what made their loyalty irond.

    "Not exactly; there are things capable of disrupting a Berserker''s upper hand. For instance, your unique intent. Once youe in contact with its mystical powers, you will understand what I mean. In the meantime, let''s watch the show."

    Apollo agreed, shifting his attention back towards Typhir''s disy of power.

    Ainz had determined Typhir''s power to be too unpredictable, calling for Aeon''s assistance. Standing next to each other, they gauged Typhir''s strength.

    Seeing as how there was nobored breathing or a change in attack strength, they were sure this wasn''t hard for him to aplish. But, to manipte a strike like that should consume a decent amount of mental energy.

    Hence, they didn''t believe Typhir was capable of employing this strike haphazardly. Although they weren''t far from the truth, they made a miscalction. While it was taxing, it wasn''t as strenuous as they believed.

    In fact, Typhir held his hand back towards Fuhrer, "Master, may I borrow Brynhildr?"

    With a nod, Fuhrer sent Brynhildr towards Typhir. Now equipped with two swords, Typhir let loose. While he used the long-range version of the first Tenebrous Sword technique before, now he shed against his opponents directly.

    This action fooled Ainz and Aeon, leading them to believe he was running on fumes. This misconstrued thought led to a seemingly victorious shift, but they couldn''t be more wrong.

    After Typhir had seen their unguarded rears, he had already determined his assured path to victory. While their weapons shed physically¡ªthe feint of the First Tenebrous Sword¡ªa collection of transient energy assailed their backs, opening tworge wounds.

    Each of them inhaled sharply as the stinging sensation in their backs grew more prominent.

    "D-damn! What treacherous techniques are you employing? Fight us properly," Ainz snarled,shing out his halberd in anger. Typhir defended with his greatsword while chuckling at the same time.

    "How cute, you think I care about your temper tantrum. I''m not here to entertain you, I''m here for one thing and one thing only¡ªto see you perish for your wrong deeds!"

    Fwoosh!

    An aura of destruction billowed from Typhir and infused into his weapons. This burst of strength allowed him to create numerous cracks in their weapons. At the same time, he continued to utilize his obscure swordy.

    "T-Typhir...don''t," Veria muttered weakly, extending her hands towards the battle. She didn''t recognize the person before her. Not only was he too powerful, but he was also too focused on revenge! Although she understood why this was so, she didn''t feel it would console his tattered heart.

    Typhir turned towards the sound of her voice. It was only a fleeting moment, but with their current abilities, instances felt longer than what they should be. Nevertheless, Typhir looked at her with a in expression.

    Regardless of what he felt for her in the past, it was just a glimpse of the past. Besides his journey, there was his Lord¡ªApollo, as well as the woman in his sights¡ªNadida. There was no room in his mind for this empty rtionship.

    "I will," Typhir assured, resuming his unrelenting barrage. In the background, Lazaro held a grim expression as he clenched his fist. He could see the fear in Aeon''s eyes clear as day.

    ''This was supposed to be a journey to strength for us! Just what has gone wrong? The enmity between us can''t be this strong? All this over a small scuffle in Pangea Ind''s Pavilion?!'' Lazaro thought.

    Unbeknownst to him, his mind had been cleansed of a certain incident.

    "If we submit, you''ll leave us be?!" Lazaro scowled, gazing directly upon Apollo. From what he saw, Apollo was the one in control. Typhir hadn''t moved until he instructed him to do so. Admittedly, this meant Apollo held the authority.

    Unfortunately, Apollo was even more heartless than Typhir was. "When did I ask you to submit? I''d much rather see you gone from this world."

    "U-unreasonable! For what reason? I''m sure our enmity isn''t that great!"

    "On the contrary, I believe it is. After what happened in the Dark Ruin Labyrinth, our rtionship is irreconcble," Apollo responded.

    Lazaro and the others nked at the mention of that ce. Their sealed memories came rushing back in a torrent. All of their expressions paled when they recalled his form¡ªan appearance of death!

 Chapter 349 - Familiar Voices

    ----

    With the appearance of the wicked voice, both Apollo and Fuhrer were shocked. This was the first time they had witnessed a Spirit who possessed a bearing and energy signature resembling a Demon. Although they were extremely different in characteristics, this Spirit managed to perform a monumental task!??

    "Do my eyes betray me, or is this Spirit rather bizarre? It neither feels like a Demon nor does it feel like a Spirit," Apollo muttered, looking at the newly possessed Lazaro with interest.

    ording to his earlier words, this particr Spirit was named Erebane. While Fuhrer thought it meant nothing; for some reason, this name was rather enticing to Apollo. Due to some innate knowledge, he understood that any being with the prefix "Ere" in their moniker was derived from the primordial darkness.

    In other words, Apollo understood why Erebane felt oddly simr to Destrys. What Apollo didn''t know was that Destrys was a given name; it wasn''t the name he was given. In fact, Destrys'' true name was Erebus! The true primordial of Darkness. However, he abandoned that name after millennia.

    Now, he was merely Destrys and anyone who was aware of his real name was either long gone or never announced it in fear of his reprisal. After all, just like the First Monarch, Destrys had acquired a mass of enemies. The mere mention of his name would cause cataclysmic tides to ur.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer shook his head, "Your eyes do not betray you at all. This person is indeed an absurdity; I will deal with them. Something is amiss with them and I don''t quite know if you''re their enemy."

    Apart from Fuhrer and perhaps Azridan, there wasn''t anyone else who could tell Apollo he wasn''t fit to be someone''s opponent. Even if it was the truth, it would awaken an innate defiance within him; the desire to prove everyone wrong.

    However, with Fuhrer''s vast experience, Apollo wasn''t willing to disprove his theories. After all, more often than not, Fuhrer''s estimations were urate, frighteningly so. Plus, there was another issue with this so-called Erebane.

    The aura he awakened with was morphing and strengthening quickly! Simply put, it seemed he was empowering himself by feeding off of Lazaro. Forget using him as a means to further his Demonic Conduct, Lazaro might not even exist after Erebane was finished with him.

    Despite his reassurance, Erebane truthfully didn''t care for Lazaro''s soul. All he needed was the vessel. And, once that was acquired, he knew just how to take care of it to keep it from deteriorating. It was through a special practice known as Absolute Assimtion.

    Taking a few steps forward, Fuhrer withdrew Brynhildr with a cid expression. Yet, if one were to look closely, they''d realize the frigid, murderous energy seeping from his eyes. Although it wasn''t directed at anyone yet, it symbolized Fuhrer drawing upon some of his source strength.

    As Fuhrer drew closer, Erebane exited his reverie, staring towards Fuhrer, "Will you be my opponent? Good, I have a few questions. For one, why do you have such a familiar stench woven into the threads of your mind?"

    Whoosh!

    Erebane dashed forth at a mind-boggling speed, which shattered the staircase under his feet. The relentless rush caused a small shockwave, but Fuhrer didn''t react to that. Instead, he swung his sword upward, forming an arc of strong winds.

    Yet, at the height of his sh, a sonorous metallic sh was heard. The sound was so piercing some of the people present had to keep their ear covers to keep their eardrums from rupturing. It was a painful experience, but there was nowhere they could go.

    If the people present on this staircase descended, the pressure amplified. Not to mention, if they chose to take another staircase, the pressure felt would multiply once again. The reasoning behind this was simple.

    The intent of this small "trial" was to teach its participants how to advance throughout all adversity and refrain from retreating. Hence, why the reversed path would result in a stifling and almost incapacitating force bearing down on them.

    Neither Erebane nor Fuhrer stepped back from their collision, but both of them seemed slightly strained as if their strengths were essentially even. Even after increasing the pressure of their strikes, a difference could barely be seen.

    The ground surrounding them sunk in and cracked apart while the two remained rooted in ce.

    "You''re not a normal Spirit. Just what has impelled you toe here?" Fuhrer questioned while analyzing Erebane, At the very least, he wished to glean something from Eerabne. For example, if his true purpose foring here was Apollo!

    While the First Monarch possessed an amicable rtionship with Destrys, that couldn''t be said to be true about the other Primordials of the Spirit Race. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Most of the Primordials motioned for Destrys to distance himself from the Demons yet he tantly disregarded their demands.

    Naturally, this drove a wedge in their rtionship, causing the Spirits of the darkness to face unusual levels of discrimination. In the domain of the Spirits, the dark spirits were held to the lowest regards despite having the second most useful abilities.

    Nevertheless, Destroys felt it was worth it. The practices and insights he learned through the exchanges with the First Monarch triumphed over any of the losses he suffered. In fact, those same insights were fragmented and left inside the orbs heunched throughout the cosmos!

    "I could say the same about you¡­ you Demon! You don''t belong here nor do you have any jurisdiction. You''re motives for being here intrigue me. Why don''t you spill them!?" Erebane said with aughing roar.

    Afterward, heshed his foot out, intending to obliterate Fuhrer''s ribs. However, how could Fuhrer, whom of which was well-versed in extreme hand-to-handbat, let that happen?

    Fuhrer raised his forearm, blocking the blow with another resounding explosion from their contact. After a short moment, Fuhrer retaliated with his own strike, shing his arm diagonally.

    Without a moment''s hesitation, Erebane abandoned their sh, retreating a few steps away. Although they seem equally matched, Fuhrer''s lethal strikes were still extremely sharp and dangerous. If he was careless, then Erebane was bound to suffer damage.

    "Not very friendly at all, are ya?" Erebane said with a chuckle. Cracking his shoulder, Erebane moved his body around to alleviate some of the load it felt. Since the assimtion was fresh, it would take some time to properly limate to this body.

    Suddenly, a few wisps of ck energy flickered around Brynhildr. The yful attitude of Erebane meant he was whimsical and probably insane by nature. Such opponents usually revealed horrifying trump cards as the fight went on.

    Hence, it was ideal for Fuhrer to finish it as quickly as possible.

    "Hoh? That''s quite the special energy you have there. Darkness mixed with shadows, ultimately merging to form a unique void source. However, I can see something that doesn''t belong to you within there. Give me what is mine!" Erebanew demanded with a light of greed shining in his eyes.

    When Apollo felt this greed, his mind pulsated. It was an abnormal sensation, one he had never felt before. During all his prior run-ins with Sin, it required his touch as a medium.

    Yet, as he watched Erebane, he could distinctly feel the greed as if he was touching it! Either his resonance was bing stronger, his anatomy became strange after Azridan reawakened, or there was a secret hidden within Erebane.

    Both the former andtter were extremely usible, but Apollo was more focused on the second choice. After all, it was Azridan who taught him the practice of Stigmata. With his reawakening, perhaps it marked the long-awaited appearance of his next Stigmata.

    Then again, Fuhrer also warned him about his Complete Awakening. If that were to take ce, then Apollo would have to withstand the simultaneous pain of multiple Stigmata being engraved at once!

    "Unfortunately, I don''t understand what you''re insinuating," Fuhrer responded. A secondter, he shed his sword, following up with multiple shes in quick session.

    "Heh, I guess I must just be some incoherent madman then," Erebane quipped. Immediately after, his body flickered before turning into vanished dark embers. Before the strikes could attack him, he vanished!

    Furthermore, although fundamentally different, the technique used was oddly reminiscent of the Baleful Steps. The only thing missing was the aura of death masking the user''s presence. Instead, it just felt as if Erebane vanished, disappearing with the engulfment of boundless shadows.

    ''This isn''t Void traveling. No, it''s more like he created his own dark dimension and stepped inside. Also, it seemed nearly impossible to pinpoint. Could this be why he has targeted us?'' Apollo wondered.

    A warped spot in space appeared, but surprisingly Fuhrer didn''t react and Apollo couldn''t understand why!

 Chapter 350 - Erebane

    ----

    "Fuhrer, watch out!" Apollo roared, attempting to warn Fuihrer of the impending danger. However, Fuhrer barely acknowledged Apollo, giving him a nod. In a typical situation, Fuhrer would have outright responded, but not this time.??

    On the contrary, Fuhrer was frowning. ''As I thought, the Lord is absolutely not his opponent. If it was him in this spot, he would have been killed many times over. Truly a troublesome enemy, but not outside of my ability. It''ll just take patience above all else.''

    In truth, the warped point in space was a diversionary tactic employed by Erebane. It was meant to draw attention away from his true ns. And, judging by Apollo''s response, he fell for it. If this small utilization of cunningness was enough to fool his senses, then Fuhrer was gratified he chose to step up.

    If it was Apollo in this position, he would have already fallen victim to Eerbane the moment his focus wavered. For beings like them, all Fuhrer and Erebane needed was an instant to reverse any perilous situation they were in.

    While he was growing stronger at a rapid pace, Apollo had yet to reach this state, failing to ssify as Erebane''s opponent. Fortunately, Apollo was blessed with above-average cognizance. When he watched Fuhrer barely react, his immediate thought was something was amiss.

    ''It seems I have made a blunder. Now that I think about it, why would Fuhrer, whose experience topples my own many times over, ever fall victim to a sleight tactic like this?'' Apollo internalized, partially reprimanding himself.

    Although he treated himself harshly, this was truthfully a learning experience. Learning of practical schemes to employ in battle while separate from danger was a pristine opportunity. Not only was he allowed to expand his knowledge, but there was virtually no danger apanied by it.

    Granted, if Apollo had sent out a different Demon, his beckon might''ve resulted in some unsightly results. Perhaps even reducing his personal army by one! This mistake was quickly etched in his mind, adding to a repertoire of thoughts that circted during battle.

    Meanwhile, Erebane clicked his tongue while with the boundless shroud of darkness, "Tch, this guy is too vignt. He didn''t even spare a nce at the feint. Perhaps theck of supetive life energies gave away my actions."

    Contrary to what one believed, Ereabne wasn''t the one undergoing movement. However, the darkness around him was in perpetual movement, constantly shifting the angle at which it traveled.

    Hence, while Erebane was rooted in the same position, it didn''t appear that way in Fuhrer''s eyes. As he searched, it seemed as if Erebane was moving constantly, awaiting the perfect time to execute an attack. Of course, with his expertise, Fuhrer wouldn''t just broadcast his this information.

    All of a sudden, Erebane changed his actions, taking a light step that caused him to drift alongside the darkness. While watching Fuhrer''s reactions, Erebane''s focus remained locked on Fuhrer''s eyes.

    ''His eyes aren''t shifting, so I''m guessing he isn''t aware of my true position. But, his stance also has zero openings. In fact, those two openings he is showing are purposely created. Although they were ced seamlessly, I can still tell abnormality surrounding them.''

    Previously, when Erebane disappeared, Fuhrer reacted by changing his stance. Unless someone wished to exit from within the fabrics of dimensions, then it was hard to draw them out of it without a higher mastery of the same practice. Even then, it was taxing because it required one to first ovee their opponent''s attainments then wrest control of the established space.

    Since Fuhrer was unsure of the future dangers of this ce, he wasn''t willing to exhaust so much energy. Especially when it was difficult to recharge a Demon''s energy in this region. If they exhausted Apollo''s supply of Anima Crystals and Fragments of Sin, then he would need to return to the Nihilistic Rings earlier.

    However, if these two continued in this same manner, then it would lead to a standstill thatcked an expiration date. Upon realizing this fact, Fuhrer sighed, releasing a stream of gaseous energy.

    "If you don''t stop hiding, then I will just destroy everything. The lives that will be lost in the process will be on your head. You might not fear this, but I have ways of melding their fates with your consciousness. Furthermore, you WILL reveal your intentions ining here. This isn''t a request but an edict. Try me if you will," Fuhrer said in a frigid tone.

    Theck of emotion made Erebane wary of Fuhrer. It didn''t seem his words were empty threats. While he wasn''t aware of Fuhrer''s past, he didn''t need to be. That type of cold, murderous aura was something honed over countless years of perilous fighting!

    Still, Erebane didn''t appear. Despite his thoughts on the matter, Erebane still tested Fuhrer''s resolve. Or, rather he was testing how much ughter Apollo would permit. Once he perused Lazaro''s memories, he found that most of the orders came from Apollo, which was odd in his eyes.

    "Heh, if I was that strong, I wouldn''t take orders from such a weak person," Erebane snorted. Some of the respect he held for Fuhrer evaporated after learning of this. Apart from Apollo''s current state, there was also the fact he fell victim to Erebane''s scheme so easily.

    Since Erebane refused to acknowledge Fuhrer''s promise, a torrential aura of destruction and ughter started to spill from Fuhrer as aposed madness filled Fuhrer''s eyes. Needless to say, he was tapping into his Berserk state once again.

    Different fromst time, he did so willingly and without a catalyst such as receiving damage.

    Once the aura appeared, Erebane''s pupils constricted. ''I...I know this aura! But why is that so? Never in my life have I met this person. No, this just means I need my answers even more!''

    Gradually, Erebane''s presence appeared from within the darkness. Immediately after he appeared, Erebane''s body became coated in an obsidian-like armor with shadowy embers flowing at the joints.

    Magnificent white etchings flowed through the armor and met one another forming an intricate pattern, filled with ghastly energy. As the armor appeared, it seemed to absorb all light.

    ''An Arcanic Armament,'' Fuhrer thought while observing the armor. While Demons possessed Sin Armament, if their purity was strong enough, a Spirit could invoke something just as powerful; an Arcanic Armament.

    Comprised from a Spirit''s quintessential predecessors, they drew upon the source of their births to tap into the hidden weaponry of their souls. The stronger a Spirit was, the more Armaments there were hidden amongst their lineage.

    The moment the armor appeared, Erebane''s demeanor changed. From the way he stood, one could sense the pride emanating from his being. However, as a being of pure Pride himself, Fuhrer found this situationughable.

    It was started to be a battle of pure ego!

    BOOM!

    Two enormous aurae shed together, causing a tempest strong enough to upheave some of the individuals standing on the staircase. Despite their attempts to rectify this issue, they were still pushed back nheless. Not to mention, this was just from the impact of their aura, they hadn''t even truly shed yet!

    Fuhrer brandished Byrnhildr with three mirror images formed from glossy, dark energy appearing within arms reach. With their appearance, each sword covered their immediate 90-degree circumference. In other words, Fuhrer had used an offensive technique to establish his ultimate defense.

    "U-ugh...it''s so terrible," Nadida groaned. The pressure felt as if a boulder had been mmed into her chest. Suddenly, Odessa stepped in front of her just moments before raising her hand.

    A barrier erected, experiencing some weight fracture almost immediately.

    However, Fuhrer and Erebane made their move. Their high-speed exchanges were astonishing! Not to mention the fact Erebane wielded two long daggers, simr to Lazaro''s previous style.

    His swift yet light attack quickly gained momentum while dealing with the mirror attacks of Fuhrer. Although hisbat experience paled inparison, Erebane ingeniously utilized his weapons.

    Thin threads attached to Erebane''s dagger, allowing him to deftly switch between ranged and close-quarters defensive measures. At thest second, before he suffered damage, Erebane retracted his weapon akin to teleportation.

    Nevertheless, Fuhrer found his actionsughable. The longer Erebane engaged in the fight, the more pressure Fuhrer added.

    "You fight well, it is a shame that your mes of life will soon be extinguished after you''ve worked so painstakingly to achieve them," Fuhrer said in a taunting tone. Although psychological warfare was the most basic of the basics, sometimes that was all that was needed to turn the tides.

    Especially so, in a fight where an end was barely in sight.

    Meanwhile, Apollo squinted with his palm before his eyes as he noted their exchanges. The results were appalling, but to Apollo, this was valuable information. Gradually, he was absorbing their patterns of attack along with their unique techniques.

    All of a sudden, Fuhrer shed his sword horizontally, the other three mirror images mimicking his actions. A horrifying rift was ripped open, which continued to spread without end.

    It seemed Fuhrer''s words weren''t just a taunt!

 Chapter 351 - Erebanes Change

    ----

    When Fuhrer noticed Erebane''s change in expression, he couldn''t help but chuckle. "Did you perhaps believe my words were just to amuse you? I meant everyst word I said; there will be death and it will be on your head," Fuhrer said before creating yet another horrifying rift.??

    The two rifts were executed in such a way that caused them to be perpendicr to one another. Afterward, their centers ovepped, which caused a new type of oppression to appear. Everyone within a 100-meter radius felt a tremendous amount of pressure bearing down on them.

    "Hah?! What makes you think I care about their trivial lives? Whether they live or die is of no concern to me," Erebane retorted. Except for himself, there wasn''t much else he cared about. As a simple Rogue Spirit, he only chased two things¡ªpower and immortality.

    Unless something came along to threaten either of these desires, then Erebane wasn''t moved by many conflicts. However, Fuhrer was one such person capable of doing that!

    "Hoh? That''s interesting seeing as you''re talking to a Demon," Fuhrer countered. A sh of demonic energies circted in his eyes as he searched around for some victims.

    When his gaze met the youths, they nched. They didn''t understand why but they felt the aura of death radiating from his eyes. In fact, when they looked into his eyes they felt as if their minds were endlessly descending, stuck inside a sinister temporal loop.

    Inside that ce, there was only gloom and nothing else. In a matter of seconds, some of them fell to their knees and started screaming hysterically. After all, this was Fuhrer''s intention. For him to activate the technique and operate it to its utmost capacity required the sacrifices to be insane.

    For those who possessed a more concrete mind, Fuhrer amplified their anguish. In addition to endless falling, Fuhrer added a recurring increase and decrease of supergravity. Sometimes they couldn''t breathe, other times they couldn''t grab stabilize themselves to alleviate the nauseating feeling.

    When this didn''t work for a select few Fuhrer moved on to even move cruel methods. After all, as a Daemos who had lived for countless years, his repertoire of torturous methods was endless!

    Sht!

    A tearing noise could be heard, as a disturbing scene took ce inside the illusion they were ced under. It started with their most advanced of extremities¡ªtheir toes and fingers. One by one, they were gradually torn away to exacerbate the excruciating pain felt.

    However, since the body tended to shut off pain reception after a certain amount of pain was inflicted, Fuhrermitted an action that rectified these obstructions. Fuhrer flicked his hands back, injecting a wisp of Demonic Anima inside all his targets.

    As the energy flowed through their body, it altered their internals to Fuhrer''s fondness. This way, he could control how much of the pain remained within their minds without any diminishing effects.

    ''No...he''s a fiend!'' Erebane thought with rattling eyes as he stared at Fuhrer in horror. Although he had engaged in some maleficent behavior, it was never to this level. At the very least, he singled out a single person whose nature was already corrupt and preyed on it!

    What Fuhrer was doing was much worse! In fact, they couldn''t bepared. Based on his estimations, there were at least 100 people who were under the influence of Fuhrer''s actions and the numbers seemed to be growing.

    If those many minds were to be attached to his own, then he wasn''t sure just how he would be affected. Bearing the nuisance of one soul haunting him was eptable, but if that number was to skyrocket indefinitely then his estimations became obsolete!

    With that being said, Erebane didn''t dawdle. He remembered the item given to each participant and motioned to retrieve it. However, with Fuhrer paying such fine attention to him, how could he not discover his actions?

    "Eh? Just where you doing think you''re going? Stay," Fuhrer said. While his tone was light, his actions were extremely heavy. Fuhrer pressed his palm against the air, causing the ovepped rifts to shift forward.

    At the same time, Fuhrer also actualized a zone of Suppression Intent around Erebane. As this zone restricted his movement, the rifts sealed off his route of escape. To make matters worse, the summoned mirror swords were suspended at all of the openings in Fuhrer''s actions.

    If Erebane moved in the slightest, one of those swords were bound to attack without discrimination.

    "F-fuck! Release me! How dare you this! I know of the pact between Spirits and Demons, you can''t do this! This is akin to suicide for your race. It''s treason!" Erebane bellowed in a manic rage. His eyes were a bloodied crimson as he strained to break the restraints that held him in ce.

    "Ah, quite the argument but there''s an issue with that reasoning. In fact, there''s more than one. Would you like me to inform you of them?" Fuhrer said whjile sparing Erebane a menaching smirk.

    That smile carried an eerie chill that prated Erebane''s bones. He didn''t know why, but something was off about this Demon.

    ''There''s no way he can possibly know. He isn''t strong enough to have been alive then. I refuse to believe he has ess to that vital information!'' Erebane inwardly thought, hoping Fuhrer didn''t shatter his route of retreat with any ancient facts.

    "Ah, it seems as if your mind is in turmoil. Don''t worry, allow me to appease your worries. The pact between the Spirit Race and Demons isn''t what you believe. We aren''t allied the way you assume. We are only allied to a single factor.

    "Seeing as your Archlyte rejected our request to ally, your information is wrong. And, although we are allied to you Spirits of Darkness, you don''t count because you seem to be an anomaly," Fuhrer stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

    Erebane''s expression paled when he heard these words. It seemed that Fuhrer was truly aware of the inner workings of the deal. But, Erebane couldn''t understand how.

    ''I don''t get it...for him to have this information, he would need to have been there. However, with his strength that''s impossible. It''d take a Noblesse at the very least!'' Erebane thought, searching through his link to the past.

    As a Spirit of Darkness, bearing the Ere lineage, he had ess to a source of urate information. Some of it came directly from Erebus, but a majority of it was sealed due to Erebane''scking power.

    While Erebane was lost in thought, Fuhrer continued to bury the hatchet deeper in Erebane''s mind.

    "Also, the Grand Spirit Council won''t mind your death in the slightest. It slipped my mind beforehand, but it has now dawned upon me¡ªI recognize why you don''t bear the innate feeling of a Spirit."

    The sentence jolted Erebane''s mind. It made him recall a certain meeting and he didn''t appreciate that very much. It was a memory he tried to bury in the depths of his mind. In fact, it was the very reason he turned to the "dark side". angrily

    "NO, shut your mouth. Don''t act as if you know," Erebane roared indignantly. Based on his reaction, it would seem the history wasn''t as ck and white as Fuhrer presumed. Nevertheless, Erebane''s sanity wasn''t his worries. Thus, Fuhrer proceeded forth.

    "You''re just a Rogue Spirt; one who has had their Quintessence Mark erased. That''s why youcked the presence of a Spirit. You''re abandoned!" Fuhrer uttered coldly, yet kept a gleeful smirk the entire time.

    "SHUT YOUR FILTHY MOUTH! You don''t know my history, you don''t know my experiences!" Erebane bellowed. His roar reverbated throughout the pagoda''s staircases endlessly. Everyone was frightened by his infuriated roar, trembling from the vibrations.

    So much so, some abandoned their thoughts of venturing higher and immediately chose to enter some of the doorways on their levels to guarantee protection.

    Meanwhile, the white etchings on Erebane''s ck armor pulsated with glimmering gray light. It seemed as if the ck from the aura was bleeding into the etchings, which in turn produced an effect that boosted one''s power.

    In other words, it seemed Erebane''s berserk state stimted some hidden strength buried in the depths of the armor.

    ck veins carrying a frightening dark power crept up Erebane''s face. Once they connected to the bottom of his eyelids, his entire eye turned white.

    Fuhrer was surprised by this change and so was Apollo. It was simr to when Vc and the other Demons of the Lost Council underwent their Second Awakening! This source of power wasn''t Erebane, it was just something imbued into his body.

    Quietly, Fuhrer muttered to himself, ''I can feel it, this is his power!''

 Chapter 352 - A Connection

    ----

    Meanwhile, back with the internal space of the Umbryonic Source Orb¡­??

    "Hm?" Destrys'' attention stirred as he turned towards a particr corner of the space. Until now, he had been patiently waiting for both Xezym and Sapphyr to return from the trials of this orb. Once they reemerged, he could release his grasp over this waning spirit.

    For now, he used his own authority to keep it active while also shielding himself from the detection of the world. If he didn''t then the same beings that fought against Fuhrer woulde for him. Although Fuhrer practically defeated them, Destrys'' possessed a few unique restrictions.

    As the Grand Spirit Council held dominion over this world, Destrys wasn''t permitted to destroy or even be involved with the World''s Spirit. If he didn''t obey then he''d be weing some rather distasteful forces.

    First, if he didn''t cease his actions, an envoy woulde but they wouldn''t arrive bearing any hostility. On the contrary, they''d just personally deliver the edict of the Grand Spirit Council, forcing Destrys to desist from interfering in this world.

    Not only was this behavior beneath a Primordial, but they just tantly disliked Destrys for his unruly character. If he didn''t adhere to their demands then that meant even more dire actions had to be taken.

    The next step would be the liaison of one of the Primordials. Typically, these characters resided at a level just below the Primordials as they have trained under their tutge for eons. They were masters of their Elements, allowing them to reign supreme on any Minor or Great World. However, on a Supreme World like the Spirit Domain, they were just high-level personages.

    Truthfully speaking, experts at these levels would be enough because the fragment within the world in question wouldn''t be at Destrys''s original power. Furthermore, with the insignia of another Primordial, the liaison possessed the means to damage another Primordial''s source, if need be.

    Thus, it wasn''t advisable for a fragmented Primordial to be hostile with a liaison. If it were their archaic body, then that was another story. Unless it was another Primordial, then damaging them was a pipedream. Even then, there was disparity amongst the elements chosen by Primordials.

    Nevertheless, Destrys didn''t think much of this matter. After living for so long, neither death nor threats scared him anymore. In his eyes, he had seen the pinnacle. Unless there was a truth beyond it, then there wasn''t anything he could be threatened with. Or, so he thought.

    ''My lineage? Since when did I have a lineage?'' Destrys wondered. He could sense someone tapping directly into his source. Although it was a minuscule stream to siphon from, Destrys could sense it nheless.

    This wasn''t possible for just any Spirit. They had to be birthed from that exact source. In other words, it needed to be his offspring. But, as far as he knew, he never had a progeny.

    ''I was never that promiscuous, seeking to leave behind an expansive lineage. During my lifetime, the only thing that interested me was knowledge and the possibility of attaining whatid beyond. However, I do recall a few times my carnal desires were fulfilled. Could that have resulted in an unknown child?'' Destrys wondered.

    For a few moments, Destrys closed his eyes. While he did so, his consciousness wandered towards the leak in his source and came across something intriguing. ''Oh? It''s growing wider and doing so forcefully. Strange though, it isn''t depleting any of my reserved strength. It''s more like¡­''

    Suddenly, Destrys''s eyes mmed open as he realized the issue, "This is assimtion! They aren''t absorbing an abundance of my energy, they''re mostly copying its properties and using it to boost themselves temporarily! Interesting, whoever this is, they must be quite the genius to do so without practice. Crude, but useful."

    Contrary to what one would expect, Destrys didn''t sever the link. He let it develop until it reached a certain maturity. After all, this particr method was a double-edged sword. While it allowed Erebane ess to a boundless power, it also allowed Destrys to peer into his inner experiences.

    "Let''s find out your history and origins to learn just why you havee to this," Destrys said while awaiting the anticipated moment. Shockingly, that moment came promptly as it seemed the person in question was using this power at an rming rate.

    "So then it is true¡­ you bear history with me but, your mother; I didn''t expect it to be her. No wonder your Spirit carries so much hate. Part of that burden is to be ced upon me," Destrys uttered in a daze while recounting what he discovered from Erebane''s memories.

    Furthermore, Destrys was also shocked to find out his opponents, "Fate is such a mysterious existence. Who would have thought that they would be his opponents? Hopefully, they spare his life. If so, I intend to meet this boy."

    ----

    Back within the Anomaly Realm¡­

    "Urghh," Erebane groaned as his body slid back after receiving Fuhrer''s strike. After employing this newfound strength, he was dismayed by the fact Fuhrer still somehow outssed him in strength!

    Although Erebane''s energy was now on par with Fuhrer, the strength of his vessel wasn''t. After all, Destrys wasn''t famed for physical strength but for his mastery over his respective energy and element. When it came to manipting his energies, it was hard to find an equal, even amongst the Primordials.

    Of course, it took some time for Erebane to realize this. And, after a few more exchanges, he did.

    "Damn it, I''ve been going about this all wrong," Erebane scoffed. Immediately, he jumped back while spreading his arms. Four des of darkness materialized above his palms beforeunching them towards Fuhrer. Now that he abandoned physical shes, Erebane intended to keep a spacious distance between them.

    Nevertheless, as Fuhrer watched the iing de, Brynhildr brimmed with power. Just moments before the des came in contact with him, Fuhrer shed his sword at an inconceivable speed.

    Ding!

    A metallic ring was heard upon contact and surprisingly, Fuhrer had taken a step back! The weight behind Erebane''s attack was more than he estimated.

    Ding...Ding...Ding!

    After parrying the other three des, Fuhrer was astonished. After who knows how long, he was forced to take retreating steps in quick session. Although it was hard to imagine, Fuhrer didn''t limate this to his own weakness.

    No, there was a deeper reason.

    "This energy isn''t yours. It''s far too strong. Even stronger than I. But, with all benefitse repercussions. Are you sure you''re able to manage the immensity of those drawbacks that wille from employing this power?" Fuhrer questioned.

    "Tch, don''t worry about me; worry about yourself. Now that you''re at a loss, let''s see if you persist to witness those consequences," Erebane retorted. Now that he felt empowered, his confidence returned in full and even somewhat inted.

    But, Fuhrer shook his head in response, "The foolishness of adolescence. I remember those days. The days wherein we are the most destructive to ourselves." Fuhrer then reigned in all of his energy, seemingly cutting off his presence.

    "Come," Fuhrer said. Compared to before, Fuhrer now resembled a sheathed sword. With his power concealed and all fluctuations finely manipted, the sensation he gave off was one of stillness.

    As a Berserker, this was their most frightening state.

    "Heh, you think you can orchestrate my actions? No, I will move for myself," Erebane sneered. Three more des materialized as he raised his hand towards Fuhrer. Unlike before, there was no pause between creation and discharge.

    The de continued to grow while hurtling towards Fuhrer.

    Yet, he didn''t react. Fuhrer stood in ce, gazing at the iing des with his hand on the hilt on Brynhildr. It was unknown when he performed this action, but he had returned the sword to his waist!

    Hoooo¡­

    Fuhrer eximed as the des arrived. Erebane''s eyes brightened as he watched the des seemingly eviscerate Fuhrer. However, Erebane was then shocked.

    "W-what the hell?!"

    As the de tore Fuhrer apart, there was no blood or even sound indicating the action''spletion. The des merely passed through his body, which dissipated into a flowing smoke. This technique was familiar to Erebane, so he immediately erected a defense.

    "Damn it!" Erebane scowled. Afterward, he created a sea of des all around him andunched them in every direction. If Fuhrer''s technique was of any rtion to his own, then the best way to counter it was to deluge the area in an energy capable of puncturing dimensions.

    As his current energy came from Destrys himself, Erebane was capable of doing so with ease.

    Ding!

    Another metallic noise was heard but that wasn''t all. A shrill cry reminiscent of metal being dragged against metal sounded. In the next instant, one of the des of darkness was redirected towards Erebane.

    Furthermore, it appeared to possessed another energy weaved inside. As the wielder of the Tenebrous Sword, this was Fuhrer''s specialty!

 Chapter 353 - A Request

    ----

    Whoosh!

    As the abnormal de collided with Ererbane''s des of darkness, they shattered like fragile ss. While they weren''t weak in the slightest, Fuhrer had manipted theposition of this specific de.

    Not only did he allow the de to retain its powerful properties, but he also added his own, creating a monstrosity of an attack. Despite Erebane''s attempts to block or deflect it, the de continued to burrow through the conjured defenses.

    "Damn, damn! Just what did you do to this thing?!" Erebane shrieked with widened eyes. No matter how he tried to dissect the de to perceive the changes, it was futile. It was an energy belonging to the Demons, something he possessed no knowledge about.

    If he wished to glean some from Destrys''s source, then that would take too long. And, judging by Fuhrer''s current actions, it was clear he wouldn''t allow him the opportunity to do so. As a result, Erebane was left to one option.

    "Arghhh!" With a roar, Erebane held out his hand before him. Arge staff started to materialize before his hands. As it formed, the residual energy coalesced into dark mes which would amaze anyone who saw.

    How could mes be so beautiful?

    The wisps of mes, while ck in color, possessed a crystalline purity. It was akin to looking at a ck gem with an incorporeal form. Though it was beautiful, it was extremely taxing to facilitate, causing Erebane to turn deathly pale.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer appeared from within the shadows of the de and executed a swift vertical sh. It was precise and to the point, intending to chop Erebane in half. If it was sessful, then it would spell the end of him.

    Unfortunately, it wasn''t that easy. The summoned staff moved of its own ord, arriving in the most opportune position to block Fuhrer''s sword.

    Bang!

    Despite Fuhrer''s explosive sh, neither side gave way. Surprisingly, even though that staff was airborne, it wasn''t affected by the strength behind Fuhrer''s strike. It was absurd, to say the least. So much so, Fuhrer raised his eyebrow in astonishment, disying his shock.

    "Whose weapon is this? Could it havee from the same source of your current power? If so, you''re just digging arger grave for yourself. The more you tap into what''s not yours, the higher the risk you run," Fuhrer said with a faintly disappointed expression.

    "Tch, shut up already. You talk too damn much. What is with you geezers and always monologuing as if you know everything," Erebane squeezed through gritted teeth. The pain was already running amok in his body.

    However, if he gave in now, he knew it would spell his doom. It was safer to incur the repercussions of his actions rather than fall at the swing of Fuhrer''s weapon. Thus, painstakingly, Erebane utilized every fiber of his being to uphold his actions.

    "Heh, you must want to see the demise of this newly acquired vessel. Very well, I will satisfy you," Fuhrer replied. Until now, Fuhrer was holding back. Since he first learned of Destrys''s presence, Fuhrer wanted to refrain from killing Erebane and intended to disable him at the most.

    After all, the rtionship between the First Monarch and Destrys ran deep and with Fuhrer''s loyalty, he wasn''t willing to sphemy any of the First Monarch''s former ties. However, there was also the possibility of Erebaneing here for Apollo.

    If that was the case, then he wasn''t willing to take that risk. Furthermore, he was sure the First Monarch would have made the same decision in this situation. Not to mention, Erebane was drawing upon a power far beyond him.

    Typically, this led to a single oue¡ªdeath!

    Fwoosh!

    Fuhrer released his aura in full, withholding nothing. The all-epassing aura of the void spilled from his body as his Suppression Intent filled the surrounding area, weighing down everything. Lastly, a mix of Demonic Anima and Sin Energy deluged the expanse as well.

    When everything was factored together, Fuhrer became a monstrosity. With a light gait, Fuhrer slowly advanced towards Erebane. As the epicenter of this phenomenon, when he moved, so did the force he conjured.

    Fwmm!

    Fuhrer shed horizontally, effortlessly executing the Tenebrous Sword: Phantom Millennia. A relentless barrage of numerous void shes converged on Erebane''s position. This sight would terrorize anyone subject to it, but Erebane could only grit his teeth.

    In response, he pulsed his palm, making the suspended staff rotate and create a barrier constructed from palpable darkness. As the void des made contact with the barrier, it seemed as if the barrier absorbed them.

    It appeared the barrier was simr to the theory of shock-absorbent pads, where a portion of the attacks was absorbed by the malleable surface of the barrier. However, Fuhrer was familiar with this type of protection.

    "Everything possesses a limit. Let''s see just how much you can take," Fuhrer said. Over and over again, Fuhrer continued tounch this single strike. Every time the barrier absorbed the Phantom Millienia, it seemed to be increasingly unstable.

    On the other hand, Erebane coughed up a thick clump of blood. The strain was damaging him and he was reaching critical levels. Yet, Fuhrer didn''t dial back his actions, continuing to be heavy-handed.

    Soon enough, Erebane was brought to a knee, holding out his hand to continue to control the staff. Even the slightest movements were bing excruciatingly painful, but Erebane ultimately closed his fist, which caused the barrier to expel all of the absorbed shes.

    In a sh, a mind-boggling number of void des inundated Fuhrer. However, Fuhrer revealed a mirthful smile in response. After biding his time, it was time to let loose in the truest sense.

    With an exhale, Fuhrer widened his stance with one foot moving two steps farther. Afterward, Fuhrer brandished his swords countless times, each swing producing phantom-like afterimages. To the onlookers, his movements seemed as if he possessed numerous arms.

    Moreover, from theck of exertion, it appeared Fuhrer was in a special zone. As all of his activated abilities coalesced into one great advantage, he turned into a leviathan Erebane just couldn''t contest!

    A look of horror crept upon Erebane''s face as he witnessed this scene. He couldn''t believe it. He at least expected this abrupt attack to stifle Fuhrer for some time, yet it appeared his hopes were just that¡ªempty dreams.

    Again, Erebane ejected another mouthful of viscous blood but continued to hold on. The staff before him begun to rotate, soon provoking a disturbance in the ambient darkness.

    "T-this...will be the end," Erebane muttered weakly. As the darkness was riled up, it soon congregated to form a thick vortex. Starting from a small vortex, the rampant dark winds worsened into a tempestuous hurricane, which assailed everyone in the area.

    As Apollo watched the battle between these two, he was pleasantly surprised. Each side disyed techniques that weren''t outside of his grasps. Considering his current standing, if he continued to advance then the moment woulde when it was his turn to employ these techniques, or at the very least, his version of them.

    Once the hurricane reached its epitome, with the staff at its heart, it hurled towards Fuhrer.

    Fuhrer noticed the moment it moved and narrowed his gaze. Until now, he had only unleashed the first two Tenebrous Sword techniques. Now, it was time to reveal the third!

    Compared to the others, this one was unique as it channeled both Ira and Superbia along with the Tenebrous Way. The contrast of crimson and gold along with the faint gray birthed what was known as a beautiful tragedy.

    Rather than a sh, the third technique was a simple thrust. A stab that gave rise to a cataclysmic aftermath. A few seconds after the release, the tenebrous energy shattered, leaving the two vtile energies toe in contact with one another.

    However, as they both tried to devour each other, their actions incurred a horrific reaction. Something akin to a ck hole was formed and it started to engulf everything into its center upon copse.

    "Enjoy the Third Tenebrous Sword: Copsing Void," Fuhrer said with a chilling smirk as he sheathed Brynhildr.

    Amidst the hurricane sucking its obstructions to shreds, Erebane''s eyes widened as his body was dragged towards the terrifying void.

    However, before he could allow it to happen, Fuhrer heard a voice echo throughout his mind.

    "My old friend, do you mind doing me a favor and sparing him? In the meantime, you can seal him effectively disabling him. He has already left himself in an utterly horrid state."

    As the voice asked this of him, Fuhrer''s eyes glided back and forth between Erebane''s dismayed appearance and Apollo''s fervor. ''Do I oblige this request?''

 Chapter 354 - An Urge

    ----

    "What do I do?" Fuhrer thought to himself. He was conflicted. After all, this was a request that came from Destrys himself. Not only was he an existence he didn''t wish to offend, but he was also someone who imparted knowledge upon Fuhrer.

    Thus, even though he was ruthless in most cases, Fuhrer still understood camaraderie and how to treat those deemed as allies. Typically, backstabbing them wasn''t one of his desired actions.

    Hence, Fuhrer raised his hand and twisted it 90 degrees. This caused the copsing void to pause its momentum and be stagnant. A contemtive look crept upon his face as he continued to hold control over his technique.

    "I understand that you have some qualms against this as he has shown hostility toward your young Lord, and you ancient demons cherish loyalty the most. However, it has been brought to my attention that this kid is indeed my progeny," Detrys revealed, continuing to implore Fuhrer to concede.

    "?!" Fuhrer''s eyes widened when he looked upon Erebane. His mental gears churned as he started to piece the given information together. First of all, he should''ve realized that only the lineage would be able to tap into a unique power.

    Thetent power would be passed down through the bloodline in a dormant state. Only when a strong enough catalyst was utilized or when their state was strong enough would the recessive power begin to activate. During that time, the sessor would experience an exponent growth in power.

    Second, Fuhrer was able to notice Destrys''s energy signature in the power Erebane wielded, yet he wasn''t able to perceive their connect. Of course, this had something to do with Destrys''s higher state.

    How could someone weaker be able to peer into the secrets of a grander being? It was nonsensical and impossible unless some inconceivable tactics were employed. Such as bearing a forbidden item.

    "Your progeny you say? Just when did you attain one of those?" Fuhrer asked. At the same time, he kept the void at bay. Although it threatened to break free from his control, a strange power leaked from Fuhrer''s body, which seemed to make the void quiver in subservience.

    "Yes, precisely. Apparently, my actions resulted in an unforeseen birth and I wasn''t aware of his existence. And, my deeds have precipitated his current conditions. Thus, as his father, I am to me. So, will you be able to do me this one favor? If so, then I''ll return it in kind when we meet again," Destrys offered.

    For a time, Fuhrer was silent. Before answering, he looked over to Apollo. Although he had the power to make his own decisions, this was something that included Apollo, so Fuhrer felt he should at least be included in the ultimate decision.

    "Apollo," Fuhrer beckoned telepathically.

    Hearing the beckon, Apollo extricated his attention from the enrapturing void before him and peered over in Fuhrer''s direction, "What happened Fuhrer?"

    "It''s like this."

    After exining the entire situation, leaving nothing to imagination, Apollo was surprised by the information provided. For starters, he was impressed by Fuhrer''s devotion to him. Even though there was no exclusive indication of Erebane''s intent to harm Apollo, Fuhrer immediately assumed it as so.

    In truth, Erebane was more interested in Fuhrer than he was Apollo. Unlike Apollo, Fuhrer received some of Destrys'' ethereal energy to repair his mind, producing a faint connection to Destrys'' presence.

    When Erebane sensed this, he wished to pry some information on just where he got that. s, fate was a tricky vixen. Fuhrer was just far too strong for Erebane to defeat, even with the assistance of his father''s power. Not only was he an amateur at wielding it, but he also employed it incorrectly from the very beginning.

    "So, you mean to say Destrys is talking to you right now and wishes for you to spare Erebane?" Apollo summarized, rubbing his chin in thought as he gazed upon the straggling Erebane. The image of Erebane now was nothing like when he and Fuhrer engaged in battle.

    At this point, Erebane was akin to a dying me. Most of his orifices were leaking blood and his previously robust physique was shriveling up. This wasn''t due to Fuhrer''s strike; it was the repercussion of forcefully wielding that power.

    Anger was only a momentary option for more strength. It was apletely destructive power, to both oneself and others. At least, that was true for most beings. This logic didn''t apply to someone like Saehtyn. After all, his power was wrath itself. The angrier he was, the more of his power he could manifest.

    "Correct, so what do you think? Should I just allow Destrys to deal with this matter?" Fuhrer questioned.

    After a short pause, Apollo nodded with a cryptic expression. "Yeah, you might as well. Since he has yet to meet his progeny, Destroys should at least be given the luxury to meet them."

    With the currentplex expression of Apollo bearing a mix of mncholy, Fuhrer knew exactly what he was thinking about. Up until now, Apollo had never met his parents, so he could rte to him. This was true for both his past and present life.

    Although he was physically in their presence before, it wasn''t for long. Once he was deemed useless, his family had cast him into the serf division after birth. Evidently, power meant more than blood in his past life, and his memories of those parent''s faces were nonexistent because of this.

    "I agree with you," Fuhrer responded, preparing to ry his answer to Destrys. But, before he could do so, Apollo added another look.

    A faintly emotionless look entered Apollo''s gaze as he continued, "However, this won''t be given for free. Tell Destrys he isn''t allowed to disappear until we return. There is something I wish to ask of him."

    "Eh? What do you wish to ask him, my Lord?" Fuhrer inquired with a dubious expression. Most of the information Apollo currently possessed came from Fuhrer, so he couldn''t understand just what he wished to learn from Destrys.

    "Nothing much, I just wish to understand more about the ancient pact of the Spirits and Demons and see if I can perform a certain action. I''m sure Destrys would be privy to whether or not it is feasible," Apollo answered.

    He then added, "Cancel it."

    Fuhrer obliged with a nod and snapped his finger, which sent a sharp surge of energy to disrupt the copsing void. Afterward, Fuhrer disappeared and reappeared right before Erebane with a single step.

    "Y-you...this sight amuses you, doesn''t it?" Erebane muttered with an unfocused gaze. The pain circting throughout his body was immense. Albeit dismal, it was shocking to see he was still conscious despite his condition.

    "There is no amusement to be enjoyed. I juste bearing some news. Due to your actions, someone wishes to meet you," Fuhrer said before reaching his hand out. A faint force engulfed Erebane''s body, lifting his bloodied self off the ground.

    Once this happened, Fuhrer walked back to Apollo with Erebane floating behind him. However, Fuhrer''s word continued to repeat inside his head, causing Erebane to finally mutter the question guing him.

    "Who...who is it. Just who wishes to meet me?" Erebane questioned. His voice was akin to a whisper and it was grating due to his body''s current condition. Just talking required most of his bodily energy.

    "It''s quite simple. It''s the same individual that I received this ''familiar smell'' from. It would seem your actions have stimted their interest. Unfortunately, there isn''t a way to meet them at this moment. So, I''ll have you off to someone else."

    With a gesture, Fuhrer passed Erebane to Apollo. Silently, Apollo inspected the battered Erebane who floated before him. Above all, Apollo was curious about something, causing him to reach out to touch Erebane''s forehead.

    "If I can extract power from these humans, what would happen if a Spirit were to supply me with Sin. As a higher being, shouldn''t the Sin they possess be higher as well?" Apollo wondered.

    His finger continued to inch closer and closer. It was soon encapsting in a collection of ck wisps. They congregated and started to swirl in just a few moments. A mere glimpse felt as if it would devour everything without remorse.

    At the same time, a crazed look graced Apollo''s countenance. The mere thought of extracting this type of energy excited him. Perhaps this was just what he needed to catapult himself over that limit.

    Just as his finger came in contact with Erebane''s forehead, Azridan''s voice resounded within Apollo''s mind.

    [Is...that a Spirit? You mean to tell me the Spirit this world uses...are THOSE Spirits?]

 Chapter 355 - Preying On The Weak (I)

    ----

    "What? Why do you sound so surprised?" Apollo questioned while keeping his finger in contact with Erebane''s forehead. Although his desire to experiment on his curiosities was overwhelming, Apollo very much wanted to understand the astonishment behind Azridan''s words.

    [Because...I never expected the link between worlds to be so prominent. I thought the contracted beings would be other lower existences at best. Who knew¡­ Just what secrets do humans possess for a higher race such as Spirits to contract with them?]

    Even as the warden of Apollo''s system, Azrdian wasn''t privy to many of the events linked to Astarat''s history. Since his strength wasn''t at the apex anymore, nor did his corporeal body exist, Azridan''s use was limited outside of supplying Apollo with guidance.

    "I don''t know, but surely I can take advantage of this as well. After all, there are some insufferable Spirits on my execution list. I wouldn''t mind crushing their skulls beneath my grasp," Apollo said with a menacing smirk.

    Finally, he allowed the dark energy to burrow deep into Erebane''s mind in search of the previously present greed. If he could harvest that energy, it would be a pleasant addition to his current strength.

    However, the longer he spent perusing the mind of Erebane, the more disgruntled Apollo became. Despite his spirited attempts, he couldn''t detect a hint of the earlier greed. It was as if it vanished without a trace; almost as if it was never there.

    How could that be? Sin didn''t just up and vanish.

    With a frown, Apollo eventually stopped his fruitless actions. ''It would seem things never go my way. I should have expected as much. It''s as if most of his mind has been sealed. Most probably the work of Destrys. Although there may be a good reason for it, I''m much more interested in acquiring that power.''

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer remained still as he continued to converse with Destrys.

    "Your young Lord has quite the nasty temper on him. If it weren''t for me forcefully sealing that boy''s mind, your Lord would have destroyed him without being all the wiser. I understand his thirst for power but don''t let it corrupt his sanity," Destrys warned.

    Fuhrer nodded, ncing in Apollo''s direction. Although Destrys'' warning was overall correct, Fuhrer didn''t actually intend to act on it. After all, he was aware of the feats Apollo needed to aplish. If his thirst for power wasn''t strong enough then his will as a leader wouldn''t be strong enough either.

    Sadly, a faulty will was not allowed for a Monarch. Whenmanding a race, there was no time for second guesses or to let inferiority to gue the mind.

    "Don''t worry. As long as he channels it well, it would be his strongest source of strength. I''m sure you remember the attitude of the previous Lord. Reserved, yet always pursuing a greater power," Fuhrer answered.

    "I''m aware. But, I also know that he acquired quite the bulk of enemies in his youthful days. I recall many destroyed by his actions."

    "Inevitable sacrifices. They should feel worthy to be sacrificed," Fuhrer replied without a hitch in tone. This was his belief. As long as it came to the rulers of the Demon Race, then their fates and actions took precedence over the general masses.

    Cruel as it may seem, that was the way of the Nihilistic Rings. At the height of its power, before it was brought under one banner, countless wars were afoot; all spurred by the desire to acquire more power. Not just power in the form of physical strength, butnd, resources, and wealth as well.

    In this sense, Demons weren''t much different from the humans who warred with one another.

    "Very well. If that is how you view it. Anyhow, I believe it is time to cut this conversation short. It''s consuming too much of the energy I have set aside to deal with the uing episodes. I leave the decisions to you. As long as you preserve his life, deal with the boy as you see fit. As for your young Lord''s demands...tell him I hear him and I ept."

    He then added with a faint chuckle, "Ah, the gall of youth. How wholesome."

    "Indeed. We will see you when we get back. At that time, you''ll meet your progeny."

    After Fuhrer''s response, there was no response. Destrys had obviously severed the link to retire to his prior means. On the other hand, Apollo gazed upon the battle and looked at the mutted corpses of the Glories.

    Because of Fuhrer and Erebane''s fight, there wasn''t a single one who possessed a whole corpse save for Veria, who was untouched. Unlike the rest, she didn''t get involved in the battle. She just didn''t have the heart to do so.

    After witnessing the cruelty of Apollo and his subservient Demons, the threat of death nearly shattered her mind. She could only fall to her knees and mutter incoherent pleas for her life to be spared.

    After seeing her, Apollo did something shocking and stepped towards her. "Ah, the faint-hearted one. What was your name again?"

    Standing before her, Apollo knelt and lifted Veria''s chin to scan the trepidation in her eyes. It was potent. So much so that it was difficult for her to look Apollo in his eyes without freezing up.

    Surprisingly, this sight amused Apollo. On top of Sin, Demons also fed off of the fear and desperation of others. While sinful behaviorprised the foundation of Sin Energy, fear and desperationprised Demonic Anima. Hence, why the usage of Demonic Anima felt so dark and putrid.

    It was a condensation of both despair and trepidation itself.

    "Do I have to repeat myself?" Apollo asked with a faintly irritated look. When she caught wind of this, Veria nearly yelped in fright.

    "V-Veria. My name is Veria," Veria responded while struggling to look Apollo in his eye while he held her chin. Just a simple movement, yet it was capable of annihting her wits.

    "Ah, yes. I remember you now. Tell me, should I send you along with your friends? Or, perhaps I should attend to those dormant feelings you harbored towards them," Apollo questioned.

    Before he allowed her to answer, Apollo brought her to her feet by her chin. Since he wasn''t in his demonic form, the surveilling people had no way of knowing what he was doing. At the very most, they thought it was some type of dark technique.

    After all, if he revealed his demonic form, he would just have Fuhrer do his handiwork and eliminate all eyes who bore witness to the scene.

    "D-don''t, please. I want to live," Veria pleaded with tears pooling in her eyes. Truth be told, she felt as if she would do anything to guarantee her life, even sell her soul to the devil!

    "Then, right here, right now. Show me your resolve to relish in the blessing known as life. Tell me, what can you offer me?" Apollo asked with a smirk. Right after, he turned towards Typhir and beckoned for him, "Typhir,e here."

    With a slow gait, Typhir drew closer. During that entire time, his gaze rested upon Veria. A disturbance was soon caused by all the murmurs that arose from the sight of Apollo''s behavior.

    "Woah, isn''t that a child of a Great Family? To think someone would have the gall to cause all this destruction to their next generation. Even if surveince isn''t allowed...there are many eyewitnesses," one of the people in the crowd murmured.

    "Yeah, I agree. He''d have to kill everyone here to silence them!"Anothermented.

    "You do understand that you''re a part of those witnesses, right? What I''m trying to say is don''t give that madman any fucking ideas with your rubbish!" Yet anothermenter said.

    Though it may seem as if they were talking loudly, these individuals were just whispering. However, with Apollo''s enhanced hearing, he could hear all of their remarks in an audible tone.

    Truthfully speaking, Apollo had reached the point where he stopped caring about the repercussions of his actions on this world. After all, he intended to make waves in the Nihilistic Rings and to do so very shortly.

    To do that, he would need to increase the pressure bearing down on himself. With the stakes raised, Apollo felt he could advance quicker. Especially so if strong Spirits cruised into the picture. Once he killed them, he could extract their essence for experience towards his level!

    Before Typhir reached Apollo, he ced his hand on the hilt of his weapon preemptively.

    Shockingly, Apollo shook his head, "No need. Instead, transfer to her the experiences I have given you. Of course, this is after she reveals what she can present."

 Chapter 356 - Preying On The Weak (II)

    ----

    "W-what do you expect me to do?" Veria stuttered as her eyes switched between Apollo and Typhir''s position. Although his words were quite clear, due to her personality, Veria wasn''t able to piece together what Apollo was asking of her.

    Therefore, Apollo could only sigh and simplify his intentions, "It really is quite simple. Either this ce bes your perpetual grave, or you be my personal minion. However, before thetter can happen, I would like for you to discard that worthless disposition of yours. The world is much crueler than you know."

    "Y-your minion!?" Veria muttered with widened eyes. Even though she was desperate for her survival, she didn''t expect Apollo to have this type of demand. Not only did it shock her, but it frightened her as well.

    ''If I want to live...then I have to be one of them?'' Veria internalized with shaky eyes. Bing one of Apollo''s minions andmitting terrible atrocities went against her beliefs. Her timid and empathetic inclination would be shattered to pieces if she was to be a cruel being.

    Thus, it led her to question whether or not staying alive was worth it. And, Apollo could see this ambivalence in her eyes. It made him remember his former self, the vulnerable boy who could acquire nothing due to his destitute circumstances.

    As a result, there was a small reaction within Apollo. A hint of anger surfaced in his eyes as he gazed upon Veria, "Is this all you''re worth? Allowing your peers to trample upon you because you don''t wish to voice your opinion? Don''t try to deny it, I have already felt your repressed impulses, I know very well what you keep hidden."

    Veria paled at the mention of her repressed sentiments. After all, it was true that she couldn''t endure the actions of Lazaro and the others; willfully ruining the lives of many who went against them. This was both an abuse and misuse of their power by using it to threaten others.

    I mean, who would go against a Great Family, whose ranks possess a collection of Heroic Spirits? It was nonsensical! Going against a Great Family''s direct descendants was akin to a death wish.

    So, their victims could only suffer in silence, dreading their own weakness as it kept them nailed down to the vice of nihility.

    "W-what do you mean from me?!" Veria screamed at the pitch of a bloodied shriek. Apollo''s fervent reprimanding was burrowing deep into some of the repressed images in her mind. shes of disturbing events passed in incited a remembrance as Veria bit her lip.

    "You want me to tell you that they deserved to die? That they are scum? But you are no better! Even if they deserved to die, it isn''t your right to determine their death," Veria retorted with a trembling hand. Despite her instability, there seemed to be a hint of resolve that appeared in her previously fragile gaze.

    "Then, whose right is it? The parents that led to their corruption? Their background which enabled their actions? Face it, after being born with a golden spoon, they never experienced the true treachery of an impoverished life. If so, they wouldn''t squander it the way they do. That goes for all of you who lived a previously sheltered life," Apollo answered in a deep voice.

    His grim tone resonated in the ears of many. Based on his expression, it was clear he was speaking from experience. They were almost certain that this individual had suffered an abundance of his own hardships.

    "I-I," Veria stammered, unable to find the correct answer. While she felt Apollo had a point, it was still difficult to ept the cruelty of taking someone''s life. Nevertheless, if the decision was left up to those people, then the situation would never evolve or devolve from its current state. No punishment would be administered and it would all be swept under the rug.

    The only way for something to happen was for them to mess with someone of a stronger backing. However, all of the children of the Supreme Families were remarkably well known. Just the thought of provoking one of them was madness.

    The upper levels of the family didn''t need to mobilize, simply sending their strongest youths tomit a massacre was possible. After all, some of them possessed top-notch talents in Spirit Cultivation, harboring some horrifyingly strong partners.

    "Lord, how about we just kill her and be done with it? This little crap right here is very irritating, I just really want to squash her fragile body! Like, bam, I could do it right now and it''d be that easy!" Vc snarled, licking his lips as one of his wings appeared in the form of a sharpened weapon. It took all of his willpower to refrain from sticking holes in Veria.

    Nevertheless, as Apollo was engaged in something, he wouldn''t allow Vc to act wantonly and monitored his actions, "Fuhrer, keep an eye on Vc. He isn''t allowed to cause any mayhem unless I permit him to do so."

    "As you wish my Lord," Fuhrer nodded and raised his hand to Vc, restricting his body on the spot.

    "D-damn...this isn''t fair! I did nothing wrong. You know it as well as I do, she is annoying and we might as well put this peasant out of her misery!" Vc shrieked indignantly.

    In response, Fuhrer hit him on the head with the sheath of Brynhildr. "Quiet, he''s doing this for the sake of his excursion back to the stronghold. Our current force isn''t strong enough to go up against our foes. It''s only a matter of time before we experience conflict with the current order of Demons."

    "Tch, I''ll just eradicate them all," Vc responded with a scowl.

    Fuhrer''s eyebrow raised with amusement, "Oh yeah? Then why did we find you hidden in the ranks of some unknown stronghold? Why weren''t advancing closer to Lucifer''s position?"

    "U-uh¡­" Vc started to sputter with a furious blush as Fuhrer''s prodding poked holes in his disy of vain strength.

    "Heh, you should''ve been the one to old the Forgotten Sin of Vainglory with all that rubbish you spew," Furcas chuckled at the side of both of them. Outside of the 7 knowns Sins, there was another that had long since been forgotten.

    It was only prominent during ancient times¡ªthe times of catastrophic wars. The sin of vainglory was a trait found in the demons who spoke grand words yet backed it with zero action. Furthermore, any minute action taken was performed by their underlings, for which they took credit.

    Such a practice earned a despicable repute and ultimately led to the abolishment of the Sin since anyone found with this Sin was murdered ruthlessly before their deceitful ways allowed them to snake their way into power.

    "Ahem," Apollo cleared his throat to signal everyone to shut their mouths. Afterward, he returned his attention to Veria, whose state seemed much better than before. Honestly speaking, this is what Apollo sought.

    In fact, Apollo was looking for her to start oveing this fragile shell of hers, "Now tell me exactly what is on your mind."

    "Joining you...won''t change my life for the better. You''ll just be condemning me to your murderous aberration. I can''t stand by that," Veria said while shaking her. As much as she wanted strength, this wasn''t the route she visualized for herself.

    Apollo smiled faintly and then posed a question, "Really? Tell me, what would you do on the day of the destruction of your family?"

    "D-destruction? Are you threatening me? Is this...such a severe ultimatum?" Veria asked in response but Apollo merely shook his head.

    "No, I''m just talking about the inevitable. Some people have brought to my attention the presence of something known as a disaster. It ising. Haven''t you realized? I''m sure your academy has recently implemented extreme cultivation regimens. Ever cared to ask why?"

    Apart from Apollo, there weren''t many amongst this generation who were privy to the looming catastrophe. After all, not every individual was able to mold their Headmaster like putty in their palms.

    "So we are in danger? Is this why you seek me out? But, if that''s the case, why me?"

    "It''s simple actually," Apollo answered before pressing his finger against Veria forehead. A scene of Apollo leaving an imprint in the depths of her body appeared. This happened back in the Dark Ruins Labyrinth, during the time he absorbed the Sin Energy from her mind.

    "A mark?"

    ''Precisely, and I''m sorry to say that I don''t know how to reverse it. Truthfully speaking, that wasn''t my doing. So, I can only offer to ce you by my side to guarantee your safety. Otherwise...your death will be certain and you will be powerless to change anything.

    Veria''s eyes rattled at this revtion. Did she not have a choice in this matter? Would she have to ultimatelymit abominations?

    Meanwhile, Apollo turned to Fuhrer before seeking verification, "How much have you uncovered about this ce?"

 Chapter 357 - Truth Behind The Realm

    ----

    After dealing with Erebane, Fuhrer wasn''t idle. He took this time to perceive information shrouded in the depths of this mysterious staircase area housed by the exemry pagoda. However, its outside appearance was merely a facade. It hid a gruesome truth buried underneath.

    "I''ve uncovered...everything I suppose," Fuhrer answered while ncing up at the ceiling of the pagoda. Now that they stood on a level above the prior one, Fuhrer was able to pierce some of the erected defenses tasked with protecting the intricacies of this area.

    "Such as?"

    "As in, the treasures these youths covet aren''t treasures at all. They''re tools used to covertly siphon their Spiritual Essence and channel it elsewhere. The initial trial is merely a pretense for the selected item to drain them," Fuhrer exposed.

    Yet, Apollo wasn''t shocked by this information. After all, this ce was simply too good to be true. Who would leave an entire realm of treasure unattended? Obviously, there was a hidden motive behind those actions, and based on Fuhrer''s findings, this seemed to fit the bill.

    "How long do you suspect this has been going on?"

    Before answering, Fuhrer observed the ley lines hidden within the walls. The flow of energy seemed to converge at the ceiling and then disappear without a trace. However, Fuhrer was well aware that energy didn''t just disappear, nor could it be easily destroyed. The easiest way to affect energy was to disce it.

    So, Fuhrer was rather confident that the energy was vanishing behind the protection of some type of barrier. And, judging by the fact Fuhrer couldn''t really sense its presence, quite a significant amount of effort should have been sacrificed to erect it.

    "A millennia, at the very least. The absorption system shows signs of being archaic and the practices don''t appear to be from present time. I even dare say this may be the realm of this Minor World''s sovereign ancestor," Fuhrermented while running his finger against the wall.

    While he could just inject his Demonic Anima into the wall as per his incorrigible tendencies, that would be more detrimental than helpful in this case. After all, the foundations of this area were built atop this system, with itsplexities acting as a core.

    In other words, if Fuhrer destroyed the system, this pagoda would destruct along with it. With its immense size, this wasn''t a gamble Fuhrer was willing to take at this point. Maybe if the situation grew dire in the future, he would consider it, but that option was null for right now.

    "I see, so it seems the Academies have been tricked for countless years. Can you tell if the origin of the creator is human or not?"

    "It seems to be a human, but it''s a higher energy source. So, I assume it''s some type of transcended human. Or, based on the instability, perhaps iplete?" Fuhrer responded, but from his tone, it was apparent that he was unsure about the topic.

    Nevertheless, for Apollo, any information gained was useful information in his hands.

    "So, I just need to travel beyond that ceiling up there, right?" Apollo asked while continuing to stare above at the seemingly normal ceiling. However, he was already well aware that it was simply a mirage hiding the deceitful truth.

    "U-uh, reaching the ceiling is impossible. Our instructor warned us not to attempt to reach there. Not only is it suicidal, but it has also never been done. Even the past Paragons never came close to that ceiling," Veria muttered once she caught wind of Apollo''s conversation.

    The defenses of the area were simply mind-boggling. The amount of mental fortitude as well as physique stability needed to venture that high was astronomical. Hence, why no one had ever sessfully done so. The requirements rivaled near inhumane standards.

    No matter how strong their talent was, a human''s physique came with natural limitations. There were some things talent just couldn''t ovee. Not to mention, the reason the realm rejected anyone over the Zul Knight Realm was obvious!

    The stronger the entrant, the higher the chances of them stepping inside that enigmatic area rose. Once the secrets were unveiled, there would be no turning back. Perhaps it would even mandate the death of the person lucky or rather unlucky enough to seed.

    "Hm? Well, let''s just say I''m a boy of miracles. As I recall, I''m not like these other Paragons. I''m something much greater," Apollo said with a calm smile. Afterward, he extended his foot to take a step before turning around for a short moment.

    "I expect my answer by the end of this ordeal. If you run, I will find you¡­ or maybe not. I may just let you resign yourself to your tragic fate now that you bear that damned marking."

    With Apollo''s yful tone, Veria could sense just how insignificant her life was to Apollo. Even if he didn''t manage to turn her, he could always ramp up his efforts in corrupting Geneva.

    Compared to Veria, she was several times more useful. The only reason he refrained from pushing too hard was that he wished for Geneva to demonize at her utmost strength. If he was still a Lesser Demon, then it would stifle her transformation process, which in turn wasted a great deal of her innate power.

    Thus, Apollo used this time to find the proper catalyst to propel himself into the Greater Demon¡ªanother reason he was adamant in passing through that restriction. Perhaps his answer rested on the other side.

    Apollo''s Demonic Conduct had skyrocketed to new heights after having his demons y so many humans, especially the Glories. It was already enough to fulfill thest requirement of evolution. Yet, the much-awaited sensation never appeared.

    It seemed that more stringent expectations apanied the identity of the First Monarch''s sessor. For a moment, Apollo thought back to Fuhrer''s words. With the question bothering him, Apollo conversed with Fuhrer telepathically.

    "Fuhrer, that Complete Awakening you mentioned. How would I go about doing it? There are some Sins that I''ve never been subjected to. Wouldn''t it be impossible for me?"

    "Mmn, not quite. You see; you misunderstand. This process isn''t based on what you''ve been exposed to, there just needed to be an affinity in your soul. And, based on what I saw, everyst Sin applies to you. There is a boundless wrath buried within you. This is an insufferable pride that surfaces from time to time.

    "Your responsibilities have also led you to lust and greed after power, while also turning into a glutton for it. As for your sloth, you may not realize it, but slothes in many varieties. Yours manifests in your desire to delegate tasks to others, such as your lower demons. Lastly, you were born from envy¡ªfeeling jealous over the possessions of your peers and family members. In short, you''re an amalgamation of every Sin; you just need a catalyst to activate the process."

    "Like what?" Apollo questioned immediately. After finding out this information, he was excited to start the process.

    However, in response, Fuhrer merely tapped Apollo''s forehead, "That is for you to determine. As a creature of emotion, you need to discover what your personal catalyst is. What drives you? And not just the expectation projected onto you, it must resonate within your inner being."

    Apollo grew quiet as he contemted Fuhrer''s word. ording to him, thest shackle for evolution didn''t reside in the body, but in the mind. When it came to the mind, hints of shrouded information were much harder to find.

    Hence, why Demons with a Tainted Temple experienced some difficulty when advancing to a higher level. If their hearts were attuned to their Sins, then the evolution wouldn''t fail.

    Meanwhile, Apollo took this time to carefully ponder just what he was missing. In the meantime, he continued to ascend the steps one by one. Apart from Typhir, his actions were absurd in everyone else''s eyes.

    It was as if the staircase posed no issue to him! There wasn''t the slightest pause in his steps as Apollo continued to ascend higher and higher. At the same time, he also spared some attention to the increase in his experience, stats, and even level.

    His assumptions were correct. Destroying a Spirit enabled him to turn their core energy into experiences and the general values were simr to killing a newborn Greater Demon.

    On the other hand, as Apollo and his Demons advanced, Veria could only watch them with a nk expression. Her time was running out, and she had to make an important, if not vital, decision.

    ''I will only surrender my future to him if he can truly make miracles ur. If not, I''m better off just perishing when the timees,'' Veria thought with a defeated sigh.

    Yet, her eyes widened suddenly as she watched Apollo''s actions.

 Chapter 358 - A New Paragon Appears

    ----

    To everyone''s shock, Apollo reached the top of the staircases in no time at all. In mere minutes, Apollo arrived before the ceiling created through mirages. However, Apollo was astonished by the surreality of the wall.

    "It feels so real. If not for Fuhrer''s earlier information, then I''m afraid I would take this ceiling for truth."

    Despite passing his hand over the ceiling, it was identical to the stones below. But, Fuhrer warned him of this property. Unlike the floor, which was created by using mundane materials, capable of being found anywhere, the ceiling from fabricated from Essence.

    This Essence was gradually purified and hardened many times over while also being reinforced by the injection of its master''s intent. Thus, what remained before Apollo was a concoction of utmost mastery.

    Something that he could not bypass or prate. However, that couldn''t be said for another person.

    "Furcas, I leave these matters up to you," Apollo uttered before stepping aside, which allowed Furcas to move closer and inspect the false ceiling closely.

    It was silent for quite some time as Furcas gazed upon the ceiling with impervious focus. Gradually, his pupils split and increase in number; a sign he was activating his specialty.

    "Ah, I see. This is quite a tricky issue they haveced within this matrix," Fuhrer muttered while fascinated with the marvel before his eyes. Unlike many other energy matrices, the one before Fuhrer held three functions.

    The first function was purposed with gathering essence from within each individual room. It was subtle and wouldn''t be detected unless the victim''s perception was abnormal and skipped boundary. However, such an urrence was too unique. Perhaps not even 1 in 100 million people would have this ability.

    Meanwhile, the second function made it so that exit from the room wasn''t granted until a certain amount of Essence was gathered from the individual. This was true whether they chose a "treasure" to take from the room or not.

    As for thest function, it was even worse. It was linked towards Fuhrer''s apprehension of destroying the entire formation by force. There was atent self-destruction feature weaved into the intricacies of the matrix to prevent any assants from attempting to rewire it.

    If an attempt was made, then starting from the lowest ring of rooms, they would implode continuously until the lower floor was no more. But there was another dilemma. As the lower rings started to self-destruct, the ones above would consequently increase their essence drainage.

    So, instead of a meager absorption, it was quite possible for the victim to suffer ailments from having a massive amount of Demonic Anima sucked out of them.

    Fortunately, Furcas had already constructed a solution by the time he became privy to this information.

    "My Lord, this will rest upon your shoulder. The only way to bypass this matrix would be for us to have you destroy it from the inside. Therefore, I suggest you enter that room right there," Fuhrer said, pointing towards a room on the far left side of the staircase.

    Although it seemed inconspicuous, it was a room on the highest floor. That alone should be a testament to its importance. Not to mention, the pressure on this level was immense, so the absorption should be of a simr level as well.

    "If you say so," Apollo said with a nod. Without hesitation, Apollo moved to enter the room. Since it was an enclosed space, he already knew how he would advance with his actions. It was only a matter of whether the matrix would learn of his presence fast enough.

    But Furcas had also ounted for this issue as well, "Lord Fuhrer and Vc, you two need to enter as well in you humanoid forms. Conceal your demonic fluctuations until you experience a sensation of being dragged down. That will be your cue to reinvigorate your energy."

    "Ah, so that''s your n; you wish for this restriction to weaken itself of its own ord? Very well, it should be a workable n," Fuhrer admitted while agreeing to go along with.

    He chose the room opposed to Apollo''s before entering. Vc, however, entered the room before him and wore a scowl the entire time, "Tch, only thinking of me when I''m of use! Otherwise, I''m never the one to be volunteered for fun."

    "Oh, shut up already. Your time wille in the future. Just do as you''re told unless you want the Lord to reprimand you again with the authority of the old master," Furcas scoffed with a tinge of annoyance in his eyes.

    Vc wanted to retort, but he didn''t. Instead, he entered the room.

    Meanwhile, as they entered their respective room, a youth with an exceedingly handsome appearance, along with vibrant ck eyes and wild crimson hair flowing down his back, arrived next to Odessa.

    Based on the look he gave her, there was no farming in his eyes. In fact, it almost seemed as if he felt superior to her, "Is this the rumored Supreme Child of Darkness? Now that I witness him firsthand, he is quite interesting indeed."

    Upon hearing this voice, Odessa reacted by clenching her first and narrowing her eyes. Obviously, there was some bad blood between the two, because Odessa moved away immediately.

    "What gives you the gall to appear before me, Alistair?" Odessa snarled, summoning two orbs of white light in her hand. If one looked closely enough, one would realize the core of these white orbs seemed to be constantly creating something.

    "Hoh? That''s simple. How about under the premise that I''m stronger than you and can very much do as I please. Oh, how about because I have an interest in you and shall im you without fail? Most of all, this guy has piqued my interest and I wish to confront him," Alistair responded with overflowing arrogance.

    In response, Odessa seethed! "I-impossible! He is already mine. Get your grimy little snake hands out of here and find somewhere else to intrude upon."

    A faint chuckle was heard, disrupting Odessa''s disy of anger, "Why don''t you make me? It''ll be much more worthwhile if you don''t just talk and instead back it up."

    ck mes erected around Alistair as two small rifts tore open by his shoulders to reveal two obsidian rapiers. Each of them was ravishing beyond belief, capable of stunning one to death.

    Literally, Alistair had once killed by immobilizing his enemy with the beauty of his weapons before killing them with a single stab of his rapier. Since he hailed from the Braum Family, as with all of their offsprings, he was a master at utilizing a rapier.

    However, when those ck mes appeared, Odessa paled. After all, Odessa and Alistair''s situation was unique. There had never been two Paragons with twopletely opposing powers.

    While Odessa could breathe life into her own, Alistair was nothing more than a reaper. Those mes he wielding were the culmination of death! Even the power Erebane wielded paled inparison to how dreadful the atmosphere around Alistair felt.

    Gradually, Odessa stayed her hand, causing the energy above her palm to disperse.

    When Alistair saw this, he gave a smug smirk and canceled his own energy as well, "That''s what I thought. Now back to this young man; what do you mean he is yours? I don''t detect any kind of binding contract with him. So, in my eyes, he''s still free game to rope in."

    "It doesn''t work that way! He doesn''t agree to be binding by contracts like that. Even if you try to force him, it won''t work. And, I''m warning you now¡­ DO NOT FORCE HIM," Odessa said. It seemed like she was angry at first, but that wasn''t the case.

    In fact, she was keeping both Apollo and Alistair''s best interest in mind. After all, he was aware of how insane Apollo''s behavior could be. Perhaps even offending a Supreme Family might not be too extreme of an offense for Apollo tomit.

    She wouldn''t put it past him to do extremely foolish things when his anger roiled.

    Thus, if Alistair provoked him far enough, Apollo maintained the possibility of mobilizing his Demons to do away with Alistair.

    "Are you trying to test my bravery? There isn''t a soul in this world that I wouldn''t test. Much less someone who had caught my eyes.

    All Odessa could do was frown at Alistair''s stupidity. A few breathster she sighed and muttered to herself, "Don''t say I didn''t warn you beforehand." After a pause, she thought about Apollo''s earlier words and nodded, ''I''ll just have to have faith in your word. What else can I do?''

 Chapter 359 - Disrupting The Matrix

    ----

    Meanwhile, Apollo was fascinated the moment he entered the room. It shockingly possessed avishyout typically found in the possession of royalty. The room was outfitted with many disy cases, which each held one treasure of glorious appeal.

    However, after learning of the true hidden purpose, Apollo viewed them differently. ''An urate depiction of a wolf in sheep''s clothing. Appearing harmless while bearing poisonous fangs underneath, though I can''t judge.''

    Truth be told, there was a simrity between Apollo''s earlier behavior and the tactics deployed by this realm. Apollo had once feigned weakness just to surprise his prey in the long run, but he didn''t need tomit such acts of weakness anymore.

    After bing stronger, Apollo gradually veered away from the use of these tactics. For one, his current enemies weren''t strong enough to warrant his use of those types of tactics. Brute force was all he needed for the moment.

    Of course, when the time arose, he didn''t mind getting his hands dirty with psychological filth.

    Nevertheless, Apollo took a step forth and inspected the cases along with the varying items inside. ''Not as overwhelming as I imagined. I would have expected some shocking items to appear now that I''ve arrived at the so-called highest floor.''

    Stepping aside, Apollo looked at the cases with an indifferent gaze. Although the items were stronger than any of his prior encounters, the grandeur of the items was incapable of emotionally moving him.

    If anyone were to witness his reaction, they''d faint from shock! Everyst one of the items present could rouse the Supreme Families to action. Artifacts of this level seldomly appeared.

    For instance, there was a sword with a silver hilt and fine golden de, slender and sharp in its design, carrying mystical engravings down its side.

    Although it appeared to be on the level of a Tier 8 Artifact, usable by Emperor ss existences, Apollo subconsciouslypared it to a de such as Brynhildr. When it came to sharpness, appearance, and feeling evoked by the de, they were allcking inparison.

    Next, he moved toward another item. It was a suit of silvery armor, simr to the one Aeon used as an inherited technique. The only difference was this one possessed green markings and summoned a faint tempest around it while being forged from ster materials.

    While each item was high in quality, Apollo didn''t find one that resonated with him. Even if his purpose was to overload the matrix inadvertently with his Demonic Anima, he still wanted to capitalize on his presence in the room.

    Finally, Apollo came across something looking to be an egg. It was surface was polished with a gorgeous ck exterior. Golden symbols entuated its attention-grabbing qualities as Apollo advanced towards it.

    Suddenly, a transmission appeared in Apollo''s mind.

    "My Lord, I havee across an egg. It appears to be a fragment of the matrix''s core. Its appearance is a facade to trick one into coveting it. However, it is a generous gift to us," Fuhrer said. Unlike his usual demeanor, this was a trace of mirth in his words.

    His first impression of this endeavor wasn''t supportive but was understandable because it wouldn''t be odd if the matrix''s source wasn''t found even after scouring theyout many times over. After all, it was basic knowledge to keep the core concealed from potential tampering.

    However, the core being disyed in in sight meant a few things. One, the creator of this matrix was extremely confident in this matrix''s security. Just the self-destruct function was enough to cause its opponent''s inconvenience. However, this type of confidence usually suggested corresponding arrogance.

    Meanwhile, it was also possible this was a desperate move. If this wasn''t the original position of the item, then that meant the one benefitting from this matrix was in a precarious state. After all, such behavior was only justifiable as ast resort move.

    Both Fuhrer and Apollo realized this once Fuhrer revealed the truth behind the matter.

    "Now that they''re desperate, this works in our favor; no wonder. This means the matrix''s channels should be wider than normal to support increased absorption. In other words, our energy will reach the source quicker than normal," Apollo responded while looking at the egg with an odd gleam.

    "Precisely. Nor do we need to be precautious. If the channels are as wide as I suspect, then you can just flood it with energy. As long as there are enough decoys to mask our energy signature, it''ll be toote by the time the matrix notices the odd influx of energy," Fuhrer answered.

    Afterward, Fuhrer spread his perception throughout the entirety of the pagoda''s staircase area. Nearly all the bottom-level rooms were upied by upants who motioned to gain ess to their chosen treasure.

    ''I''m quite fortunate that I didn''t kill all of those eyesores when I had the chance. They''ve be quite the essential pawns in this scheme,'' Fuhrer inwardly thought. If he killed all of them, then he wouldn''t possess the means to disguise his energy from detection.

    Now, with the addition of ample foreign energy, Fuhrer possessed the means to obscure not just his own, but Apollo''s energy signature as well. So even if Apollo slipped up and injected energy out of rhythm with Fuhrer, he possessed the instruments to correct it without fail.

    After a short countdown, both Fuhrer and Apollo began the gradual injection process. Auras simr in color to the egg''s exterior shell surrounded the case as the energy entered through the pores of the ss.

    Akin to a gluttonous fiend, the egg began to ravenously devour the injected energies before pulsating. This symbolized the egg''s desire for more. However, Apollo nor Fuhrer ramped up the instition process.

    After all, Demonic Anima was a frightening type of energy. Its tantalizing nature produced addictive aftereffects when introduced to foreign species. Furthermore, it wasn''t a situation where the feeling abated. It was quite the opposite. The addictive sensation amplified as the amount of ambient Demonic Anima increased.

    Thus, Demons learned how to exploit this trait. Instead of feeding the addiction adequately, they only gave the bare necessity, which produced an ever-present state of desire. Since Apollo and Fuhrer were only supplying what was necessary, the intricacies of the matrix morphed.

    It was slow, but the strain on the others attempting to im their items continued to rise. It was for this exact reason that Fuhrer called them pawns and nothing else.

    Fuhrer calcted the matrix''s reaction from the beginning. With the help of Furcas, he was able to pinpoint the precise amount of energy needed to facilitate this action. Only when this process started did Fuhrer give Apollo to signal.

    Fwoosh!

    Apollo''s input of energy suddenly skyrocketed. The numbers on his status screen continued to dwindle at a hastened rate. The momentum soon picked up further as the drainage as was akin to using ader to catch water.

    Every hole was tasked with contributing to the flow, hence it was impossible to keep the blow full. Nevertheless, it wasn''t Apollo''s intention to keep his reserves at maximum capacity.

    "A-aghhh!"

    Screams were heard from the doorway of many rooms as the absurd absorption rate caused their veins to writhe in pain. Their energy centers suffered from difort because of the abrupt consumption.

    Fuhrer smiled when the screams entered his ears, "Ah, what a symphony. The most melodic noise there is."

    Some victims eventually fainted when their reserves reached critical levels. As a safety measure, some of their talismans even flickered with a faint light. When their consciousness was disturbed, the lifesaving mechanism of the distributed inscription would activate.

    However, the inscription came with faults of its own. For example, when Apollo killed those in the Elements Zone, it didn''t produce the faintest of reactions. Apparently, the inscriptioncked in dealing with one-hit kills.

    It could only rectify prolonged danger. Meaning the inscription was only useful if the user was first knocked unconscious. Granted, they designed it this way to deal with the staircase and not enmity from another human being.

    Unlike a normal realm used for expeditions, the Anomaly Realm didn''t house a single monster. The puppets couldn''t count as monster as the choice to ept or deny the trial was given to the participant.

    Besides, every youth present was capable of at least handling the lowest level of puppets.

    Soon enough, cracks appeared on the exterior of the ck eggs. Once the cracks appeared, it became unstable while emitting sonorous screeches.

    Fuhrer immediately acknowledged this action as the prelude to the self-destruct sequence. However, how could Fuhrer allow his ns to be for naught?

    With a disdainful sneer, Fuhrer traced his fingers against the case at lightning speed. A diagram gradually appeared as the vibrations of the egg dwindled. Finally, Fuhrer adding finishing touches with a simple poke.

    Schhh!

    The ss shattered to reveal the unprotected partial core.

 Chapter 360 - A Goliath (I)

    ----

    With the exterior being shattered, it allowed the fragile interior to disy itself. As Fuhrer expected, it was just a cluster of circting energy with a hint of mystical aura interspersed throughout. While it appeared to be simr to the otherponents, this mystical part was far moreplex.

    ''Something rivaling intent, I believe this is called Laws for other races. While we Demons don''t dabble with it, I know it is something closely rted to the Spirits,'' Fuhrer thought.

    As a result, part of him guessed this ce had something to do with a Spirit.

    Or, at the very least, it was connected to an individual with rtion to a Spirit. Thus, Fuhrer leaned more towards his assumption of this ce belonging to a human from this world. Perhaps even an ancient one from the times when Spirits first came in contact with this world.

    "Did you find some Fuhrer?" Apollo questioned. Since Fuhrer was quiet for such a long period, Apollo felt something had changed. Not to mention, the sleek exterior of the node''s shell shattered on Apollo''s end as well.

    Needless to say, this had something to do with Fuhrer''s actions. The node wouldn''t just shatter for no reason without a catalyst to facilitate the process.

    "It''s done. The matrix is exposed and the self-destruct process has been impeded. However, the matrix is still very much viable. Our few seconds of work aren''t enough to disrupt the years of meticulous efforts instilled into this work. Nevertheless, we have aplished our task," Fuhrer responded.

    Afterward, he moved his hands in an obscure pattern before inviting Furcas inside. Although Fuhrer''s level of control had reached the level of mastery, he was only proficient in this. When it came to restrictions, formations, barriers, and rituals, his knowledge didn''t even cover one-tenth of Furcas''s breadth.

    "You have done well. No damage has been inflicted on the delicate operations of the matrix. All the ess points are avable and the flow is unobstructed. Allow me to get to work. In the meantime, do whatever you must. I have a feeling the owner won''t appreciate our undesirable actions," Furcas chuckled.

    In the next few moments, Furcas inhaled his pipe projecting silver smoke onto the node. Once the smoke saturated the node, Furcas repeated his actions again except the smoke this time was a different color. It was white withrge ck splotches.

    The two streams of smoke merged with one another to produce a blend of smoke void of their prior inconsistencies. Seconds after this took ce, Furcas'' pupils instantly multiplied to his highest limit.

    It wasn''t often that he performed this feat, but judging by the integrity of the matrix, it would require him to pull out all the stops. The room for allowed error was minimal, hence it wasn''t an option for Furcas. If he failed, the repercussions of their actions were bound to escape just the confines of this realm.

    Plus, Fuhrer wasn''t too sure if linking to the Nihilistic Rings was a feasible escape n. One, they had just returned from that ce and ording to Apollo, he wasn''t allowed to visit the Nihilistic Rings too often.

    At first, he didn''t understand why. But after co-existing with the system and talking to the voice more than once, Apollo came to grips with the underlying issues of staying in the Nihilistic Rings for too long.

    The first danger was hispetition; the Monarch Candidates. Their actions weren''t limited in any shape or form. Even threatening the current Lords was beneath their methods.

    And, with Fuhrer''s power tied up in protecting the position of the Nihilistic Rings, he didn''t possess the strength needed to obstruct their attempts. Thus, the safest route was to limit the exposure to the Nihilistic Rings for the time being.

    However, the Nihilistic Rings was also Apollo''s home, not to mention the ce where his growth was fastest. Aside from confirming his spections with the Spirits, Demons were the only other races capable of giving him experience now that his level was above 100.

    The only issue withmitting genocide against the Spirits was whether the Grand Spirit Council would receive word of this matter. After all, if the Grand Spirit Council were to retaliate, the Terrors of this world would be the least of Astarat''s worries.

    Just a single Legendary Spirit ran the risk of destroying the with their extraordinary energy signatures. Them being on this while trying to restrain their aura was akin to applying endless amounts of pressure on a shaken-up soda bottle and expecting it not to burst!

    The damage was an inevitable result. One that Astarat was incapable of handling.

    While Furcas took care of the matrix, Apollo revisited the earlier items. Now that the matrix was under Furcas'' control, the absorptive qualities of these particr items vanished.

    With it gone, it gave Apollo the opportunity to take these items, even if they weren''t enticing. Just because he found no use of them personally didn''t mean they were worthless to him. Plenty of individuals were unable to control their greed, especially in front of items of this quality.

    By the time Furcas gave any indication of progress, Apollo had already wiped the room clean of any items. Shockingly, he found an item in the corner which seemed to resonate with his pendant. However, upon further interaction, the sensation disappeared.

    ''That''s odd. I''ll have to look into this further when I get the chance. What are the chances of this ce possessing an item in rtion to this pendant? Then again, maybe it isn''t rted and is just a material capable of assisting its evolution,'' Apollo mused.

    "My young Lord,e. I have to show you something. It seems Furcas is making progress faster than he estimated," Fuhrer revealed while beckoning to Apollo.

    In response, he exited the room after stowing away the small shard he found in the room''s corner. Soon enough, he learned of the progress Fuhrer mentioned.

    In light of Fuhrer''s actions, the center of the ceiling showed signs of instability. The middle was fading, only to be reced by a translucent screen. However, from this angle, the only thing that could be seen was numerous veins leading down a questionable corridor.

    "Based on the energy flow, something is consuming this energy at an rming rate. There is no room for umtion! The initial appearance is the energy''s only presence on that floor," Furcas muttered while narrowing his eyes.

    ording to his discoveries, there was indeed a living entity atop that floor. However, the signs were currently obscure, making it troublesome to differentiate between the orientation of this being''s race.

    "How much longer until the floor is fully essible," Apollo questioned. Something told him that after they entered the floor, their time spent in this realm woulde to an abrupt end.

    "Approximately two minutes. However, I won''t be able to keep it open. I feel my presence will be vital inside, so the matrix will have the required time to recover without my interference," Furcas responded.

    Apollo''s expression becameplex as he weighed Furcas'' words. "In other words, after entering the floor, our actions will be victim to an allotted time. If we fail...all of our earlier actions will be for naught?"

    "Precisely. I believe this is why no one has ever managed to enter that ce sessfully."

    All of a sudden Furcas'' expression underwent a drastic change.

    "Quite the frightening individual resides up there. Now that I''ve managed to sense it...it is someone far above a human," Furcas said with a frown before turning towards Fuhrer.

    He then continued, "History seems to be repeating itself. I think this world is more important than we think."

    Fuhrer''s eyes widened when he heard that, "A foreign?!"

    "An ancient one at that. One of our first enemies to ever gue our race," Furcas stated in a grim tone.

    Rage filled Fuhrer''s eyes as his aura red. Without a second thought, he rushed towards the opening on the floor with Brynhildr in his grasp. ''You all are one of the reasons my Old Master disappeared. Therefore, you deserve to experience the results of my wrath.''

    Astonished by this change in the situation, Apollo looked to Furcas for answers, "What is going on?"

    "I have told him about the threat we face. Only one race is capable of absorbing energy at that scale¡­ I hate to admit it, but I have found traces of a Goliath up above. It is fairly weaker than a full-fledged Titan but it is still an immense danger."

    After receiving this information, Apollo''s sights fell on the hole in the middle of the floor. ''I can''t allow you to brave danger alone.''

    "Everyone, upwards now."

 Chapter 361 - A Goliath (II)

    ----

    "A Goliath? What exactly does that mean?" Apollo questioned while traveling alongside Furcas. Although he was under the tutge of Fuhrer, there was a great deal of information still unknown to him. One such piece was the vast history of the Demons and their enemies.

    Even though the mention of the Goliath seemed quite important, Apollo wasn''t the slightest bit privy to this information.

    "Well, to understand the rtionship of the Demons and Titans now, you''ll have to understand the truest meaning of a tenuous rtionship. At most, our coboration was an indefinite transaction. A mutual enemy, drawing our interests together," Furcasmented.

    "That means?"

    "The Angels. Our deep-rooted enemies, stemming from the opposition of manipted beliefs. Our origins, while identical, take an odd turn once ites to the graces of the primogenitor. Unfortunately, beyond this fact, a majority of the information has been sealed within the Lost Division," Furcas answered.

    "Lost Division? Why does this all sound familiar yet so unfamiliar?" Apollo muttered. The mention of the Lost Division spurred on a faint reaction from his mind, but he couldn''t quite understand what it was.

    However, someone else chimed in once they felt his thoughts.

    [The Lost Division? Just who are you talking to right now and why do they know the other name of the Condemned Ring? Such information should be guarded and avable only to the sessors of the Monarch.]

    Apollo''s eyes widened for a moment. Judging by Azridan''s response, Apollo understood just what Furcas was alluding to.

    "The ce of inheritance, but what is its significance? Why are there so many enemies?"

    "Without strife, there is no growth. One needs the other. So, the racesmonly enter resolvable conflict except... the Lord did something that has never happened before," Furcas said. His expression became grim as a fragment of his sealed memories were stimted by his response.

    "What happened?" Apollo questioned. For some odd reason, it felt like the reason wasn''t as terrible as Furcas made it seem. In fact, Apollo felt the answer was something normal.

    "Well, the power bnce between the upper races is...delicate, to say the least. Just the slightest mishap could give birth to a being far stronger than what is permitted. Maybe even one on the level of the primogenitor of each race.

    "Thus, the Monarch Assembly made precautions. In other words, each of the race''s highest members was tasked with promising not to collude a birth between any of the upper races. If an offspring that was too strong was born, it would disrupt the bnce of the higher races¡ªthe Demons, Angels, Titans, and finally, the Celestials."

    Upon mention of this piece of information, Apollo froze as a blurry face came into view. It was a gentle smile, yet he couldn''t make out the fine details. Trying to remember caused a massive headache, strong enough to hold him in ce.

    "Urgh¡­"

    Apollo groaned as he clutched his head, but the memory continued. The view panned to the left, revealing yet another blurry face. However, instead of a gentle appearance, this particr face seemed unbelievably handsome yet cold and imperious at the same time.

    Faintly, Apollo could hear a message repeating in his mind.

    "This boy will be hunted. There are two extremes in his body. I suggest we guarantee his safety before we leave. Seal him, split him. In the future...he''ll possess the means to reim his rightful power."

    "N-no¡­ we just got to meet him. We can''t cast him away already."

    "This isn''t up for debate. You know this is a forbidden union. These actions are a must and for his safety. In the meantime, we''ll keep those who seek him at bay. We''ll prevent any disasters."

    After this, the conversation grew blurry and Apollo''s grasp of memory fragment faded.

    "Lord? My Lord! We must hurry, the floor is growing unstable and the rest have already entered," Furcas eximed, trying to awaken Apollo from his trance. Finally, after a few seconds, Apollo caught himself.

    While staring at Furcas in a daze, Apollo could only question himself, ''That memory...it must be mine. Then doesn''t that mean I was split as well as sealed? But what does that mean?''

    Eventually, Apollo followed behind Furcas and entered the floor. However, the sight he saw was astonishing, causing Apollo to freeze. There was an odd atmosphere as his eyes fell onto a towering figure. Completely gray in color, the body possessed countless interconnecting etchings on its skin.

    It sat in a cradled position with its head against its knees while several streams of energy flowed towards its spines. The energy branched off, causing the symbols to glow with a faint gray hue.

    As if sensing their presence, the figure moved just moments after they entered this unreachable floor. The movement caused a faint tremor as it lifted its head and looked towards Fuhrer, whose eyes burned with unsurpassed fury.

    "A Demon; one carrying an unprecedented amount of resentment. You must originate from our first era. No wonder you understand. But how did you find this ce? We buried it in a world you should be incapable of reaching."

    The Goliath''s voice was both deep and archaic as it looked towards Fuhrer with a cid gaze.

    "Thest race to invade was the Titans. Seeing as you understand my resentment, you should be privy to the events that transpired. Tell me! Just what did your leadership allow?" Fuhrer roared before lifting Brynhildr to the Goliath.

    In return, it smiled.

    "Allowed? We allowed nothing. We merely retaliated. It was your race who erred first. Before pointing fingers, make sure to understand the severity of your own actions."

    As this exchange took ce, Apollo looked over towards Furcas for answers. It seemed Fuhrer was too fixated on extracting answers from the being before them.

    "It touches upon what I just revealed to you. Although they caught wind of a forbidden action, they were never able to locate it. I guess the old Lord executed the actions crucial to safeguarding your location," Furcas answered.

    To make sure theirmunication didn''t bepromised, Furcas only replied using the mental connection birthed by the system''s authority.

    However, things escted further once Fuhrer noticed the smug smirk of the goliath. Instantly, his past ways of the Infernal ughterer, second hand to the First Monarch, resurfaced.

    As a result, his identity was given away by his savage aura.

    "I was there! I remember this diabolical aura that gave birth to obscene amounts of decimation! You''re that damned ruler''s right-hand destroyer!"

    Fuhrer''s eyes burned with madness when he heard the Goliath''s remark. "Silence! Don''t you dare disgrace the name of my liege!"

    Fwoosh!

    Fuhrer disappeared with an absurd burst of speed. Simultaneously, a debilitating killing intent leaked from his body as he appeared before the Goliath within a fraction of a second.

    Without a second thought, Brynhildr glided forth with the Goliath''s neck as its target. The atmosphere seemed to cower before Fuhrer''s strike as not even the slightest bit of resistance acted upon his attack.

    "Tch, it may have been eons. But I am not one to be underestimated. I have survived numerous wars. What makes you think I will fall under the whims of your de?"

    The symbols on the Goliath''s body shed with a mellow grey light. ''It seems the amount of energy isn''t enough. To be expected of a meager energy source. Nevertheless, it will have to suffice.''

    Boom!

    The Goliath received Fuhrer''s strike with its bare hand. Contrary to what Apollo expected, there wasn''t a single mark on the Goliath''s palm after defending against the attack.

    While the demons possessed ster attack potential, the Titans wereuded for their imprable defense. Only an absolute attack was enough to puncture their defense. However, an absolute offense from a demonic standpoint required an overwhelming strike empowered by Sin.

    "Tch," Fuhrer clicked his tongue before a crimson-gold aura encased Brynhildr. As one who went up against this race before, he was more than familiar with the requirements to y one.

    Be that as it may, the Goliath didn''t just sit around. With its figure, three timesrger than Fuhrer, it performed an explosive jump to create some distance. Obviously, it didn''t intend on dying. Though escaping would prove difficult as well.

    "You will answer my questions, and you will also perish. That is absolute," Fuhrer remarked before leaking a ridiculous aura. One Apollo had never seen before. Unbeknownst to Apollo, Fuhrer was drawing upon his Daemos Soul.

    However, that came with great repercussions. Every Nihilistic Ring felt an insidious stir. With anger clouding his judgment, Fuhrer was doing the one thing he was saving as ast resort!

    "Wait... I''ve seen this before. Don''t let him use that!" Furcas eximed.

    Sensing the severity of Furcas'' tone, Apollo could only listen to the given instruction.

    "Vc, you''re with me!" Apollo ordered before charging toward Fuhrer and the shing Goliath. While the aftershocks were terrifying, the consequences of Fuhrer''s current actions would be far worse.

    In fact, it could render everything done null and void. With such a dire consequence, Apollo couldn''t allow it to take ce. Instead, he''d just have to join to fight. No matter how inconsequential his strength, every additional hand was a possibility to lessen the burden on Fuhrer''s shoulder.

    Even Furcas made a move as he attempted to form a worthwhile restriction.

 Chapter 362 - Restriction Lifted

    ----

    "D-dammit! This why I hated going up against these damned colossal beings!" Furcas snapped. Most of his restriction was unstable because of two reasons. One, the Goliath was one of thergest current beings Furcas had tobat. Ever since having a portion of his strength sealed, the Titan Race was the least of his worries.

    Now, with the reappearance of such an enemy, he didn''t possess the instruments required to erect a constraint strong enough to hold it. Furthermore, the Goliath''s presence was akin to a diesel engine being ced inside a meager truck with an insufficient fuel tank.

    The slightest action caused a ludicrous consumption of ambient energy. With its huge structure, Furcas found it difficult to manipte the energies of this ce to align with the barrier he intended to create.

    "I''ll help! Just get it done," Apollo ordered before rushing forward. Since it was just him and his demons in this area, his body underwent a rapid change. It grew from just beyond six feet to over ten as the color of his skin shifted to a blend of crimson and purple.

    Finally, two short horns appeared on his forehead, with streams of magma flowing through them. After adopting the Iraym Form, his strength returned to its original level. Furthermore, Apollo wasted no time in employing his Iplete Sin Armaments.

    As a being with nigh imprable defenses, Apollo understood he was in no situation to hold back. He intended to use whatever means he had at his disposal. As such, he turned towards Furher''s frightening visage and attempted to calm him down.

    "Fuhrer, don''t lose yourposure. Remember, there are many of us to assist you or at least try to," Apollo eximed. Outside of him, there was Jorgun, Zarkath, Furcas, Vc, and even Typhir. With such an extensive team, Apollo didn''t understand how they posed no threat.

    In fact, Apollo turned towards Vc and gave him a gesture with a solemn nod. Judging by his expression, Vc understood it was no time to quip. Although he was immature, he understood there was a time and ce for everything. If Apollo lost his poise as well, then there was no telling just what he''d do with his Absolute Order.

    Whoosh!

    Vc''s wings unfurled while he took to the skies. Dense azure mes coated the tips of his wings as he left a zing trail in the air. Simrly, his demonic form appeared, except he didn''t adopt his childish form. Like before, when going against Apollo, he tapped into the second awakening.

    When he did so, most of his figure changed and escaped the curse of perpetual childhood ced upon him. Although it wasn''t the proper way to undo the curse, it was a temporary fix for him. Except for the First Monarch and Fuhrer, there weren''t many others who were privy to his affliction.

    Nevertheless, the Goliath noticed Vc''s movement the moment he acted. Contrary to what one would expect from its size, the Goliath moved at lightning speeds to intercept Vc in the air. In two seconds, it appeared before Vc with a disconcerting smile.

    "Quite a slow demon, aren''t you? Really disappointing. How dare a measly child, who hasn''t even reached their Archdemon stage try to confront me! Borderline disrespectful to think I can''t deal with you," the Goliath said with a presumptuous sneer.

    Boom!

    Without remorse, the Goliath swatted Vc out of the sky, but not before being intercepted by Fuhrer. This time, more than three sword scars appeared on its forearm. This was the first bit of damage for it to receive, yet it didn''t seem fazed by it.

    "Getting sharper, but I''m sure you remember the strength of us Titans. Surely, the Demons don''tpare to us in this aspect," the Goliath said. Then, a shocking sight took ce. The scars on its arm healed at a visible rate, on par with Apollo in an area submerged by infernal energy.

    No, it was even a tab faster.

    Meanwhile, Apollo appeared by Vc''s side to find him in a crater. A look of shock was stered across his face, which was soon reced by indignation. If there was one thing Vc hated, it was to be looked down upon. He received enough of that from his own kind.

    Bam!

    Vc exploded from the crater, intending to rush towards the Goliath, but Apollo grabbed his arm and stopped him. Clearly, Vc was losing all rationality yet again. But, if both he and Fuhrer lost their reasoning, then who would make the clear-minded decision of battle?

    "Rx. What are you going to do? Headbutt him until you feel better? Obviously, this is an enemy that outsses you terribly. If we wish to be of use, then we''ll have to work together with everyone, understood?"

    "But he is looking down on me, dammit! I am supposed to just ept that? Hell no! Let me gouge those smug eyes out of his head and eat them. I bet they taste terrific!" Vc snarled with a vicious growl.

    Unfortunately, Apollo didn''t condone such behavior. Maybe it was eptable in other situations, but from what he learned a Goliath wasn''t a typical enemy. For if it was, then Fuhrer wouldn''t have been reduced to his current state.

    As the member of the team with the greatest control, it took an absurd reason for him to fall into a near mindless rage.

    While holding Vc''s hand, Apollo directed orders to the others. Without hesitation, they dashed towards Fuhrer to assist. Instead of directly interfering with the battle, they awaited a halt in Fuhrer''s moment to strike.

    Although they understood most of their attacks were next to meaningless, their only purpose was to be a nuisance for the Goliath. The slightest blunder was an opportunity for Fuhrer to deliver an ungodly amount of damaged.

    When it came to strength in terms of burst power, Fuhrer single-handedly held the lead, and many times over at that.

    "Tch, damn bug. I should squash you like the vermin you are. I don''t understand why the Titan Monarch didn''t eradicate your race when he had the chance. Unlike us, who possess many viable options, there was only one other capable of contending for the ruling spot of you demons.

    "You may have eluded destruction, but I have already sent word of your presence. As the right-hand man, it''s only a matter of time! Hahaha!"

    The Goliath burst intoughter filled with mirth as he thought about the impending eradication of the Demons.

    However, hearing this, Apollo froze and so did the others. In Apollo''s case, he thought this was an independent space. How could the Goliath possibly transmit information from this ce?

    In addition to the difficulty, this distance should make it virtually impossible.

    "You''re bluffing," Apollo said before looking at the Goliath with an intense gaze.

    Shockingly, Fuhrer rxed his shoulders before turning back towards Apollo, "Regrettably, he isn''t. The Titans possess a kind of hive origin. They''re all connected to a single source which allows it to transmit information. Although the speed varies... it will reach there nheless.

    "Exactly," the Goliath said with a smug smirk.

    Ignoring his actions, Apollo gazed at Fuhrer, "How long do we have? We can still kill this thing, right?"

    "Seeing as this is a Goliath and an ancient one at that¡­ I estimate we have close to a higher world year before they learn of my exact position."

    ording to Apollo''s knowledge, a higher world''s time was much slower than a world like Astarat. Hence, why days and months always passed upon returning from the Nihilistic Rings.

    "A year?" Apollo parroted. Then, he looked towards the Goliath before releasing his own Ira. It seemed yet another individual was contributing to his peril, almost like he didn''t hold any sway over his own destiny.

    "I''m not strong enough. I don''t have the power I need, the power I desire. Yet everyone aims to eradicate us. Is this the fate I have been condemned to?" Apollo muttered. In light of his seething rage, the Tartarean Fiend Regalia on his body started to bubble.

    Upon noticing this, Fuhrer took a step back and allowed Apollo to advance closer.

    Though, just because he allowed it, didn''t mean the Goliath felt the same way. Once Apollo came too close, it punched forward, copsing the space before its fist as a bizarre force traveled towards Apollo.

    Before it could reach him, however, Fuhrer sliced it in two and continued to let Apollo, whose exterior armor seemed to shatter, walk forward.

    "This entire time I have been blocking my own self from advancing further. I''ve asked many questions yet blinded myself to the truth. It''s exactly as Fuhrer said. The answers have been within all along."

    [Lad, just what is happened? Why is your Anima so chaotic? And your Diabolic Heart of Wrath is quaking. Are you¡­]

    "Who is thisd? I''ve never seen a demon protect another so closely. There are no initiate rtionships amongst you primitive beast. Something is amiss," the Goliath muttered while examining Apollo closely.

    Yet, no matter how closely he inspected Apollo, he could find the discrepancies he was looking for. After all, his biased opinion was clouding his judgment severely.

    On the other hand, Apollo stopped approximately 15 meters away from him. During this time, Apollo''s thoughts grew increasingly chaotic. Signs of every Sin surfaced within his body.

    After this happened, Fuhrer''s anger gradually subsided as his appearance soon turned into one of excitement. ''Yes, the young Lord has finally awakened to a fragment of himself. Perhaps the deep-rooted hatred of the races was the right catalyst. Plus, this Goliath seems quite foolish.''

    ?System Alert! The restriction on the objective has been lifted. Due topletion, all rewards have been delivered.?

    ?System Alert! Greater Demon Evolution [100.0%]!?

 Chapter 363 - Sublimation Of Seven Sins

    ----

    In light of the emissions from Apollo''s body, the Goliath''s eyes widened with realization, "A damned evolution?! No wonder you have been protecting him. However, your expectations are futile. Your fates are inevitable!''

    Boom!

    The Goliath charged relentlessly towards Apollo. For some odd reason, he felt uneasy about Apollo''s evolution. It wasn''t direct, but it was still evident enough to enter the Goliath''s radar.

    While Apollo''s momentum wasn''t terrifyingly strong, Fuhrer was already enough of a headache. If another troublesome enemy appeared, then his chances of escaping lessened dramatically. If life wasn''t so precious to him, he wouldn''t have set up this intricate ce to restore his lost vitality.

    After all, the battle of the races was truly a cataclysmic event, leaving marks of its terror upon each of its participants. Whereas the Demons were forced to go into hiding, the Titans experienced mass damage to their ranks. Several Goliaths lost their lives, and their superiors¡ªthe few Colussus were left in an adverse state.

    A desperate animal was one who put up the fiercest fight. And, desperate the First Monarch was at that time.

    "I''d like to see you step past me," Fuhrer said with an intimidating pressure whilst also brandishing Brynhildr. Unlike the others who failed to track Fuhrer''s sword once aimed at them, the Goliath stopped in his tracks with a deepening re.

    At a nce, it seemed like Fuhrer was attacking but in truth; it was two strikes weaved together. The interlocking attacks fulfilled both an offensive and defensive role, forming a powerful barrier before him.

    Furthermore, beingposed of void energy, it was extremely difficult to perceive.

    However, as a race sensitive to energy, the Goliath could sense the discrepancies in his surroundings. As void energy was famed for its intangible and often elusive properties, it was the optimal energy for internal attacks.

    Thus, the Goliath remained wary of this strike.

    Contrary to what one would believe, the Titans also possessed a ring weakness. Their outer physique drained most of their energy. And, because of its properties, their robust physique was only present to guard the weakness birthed by their innate constitution.

    Though their external physique was powerful, once the shell was bypassed, they were akin to fragile ss. Needless to say, with his extensive knowledge, Fuhrer was well aware of this and preyed upon it.

    Even if his own reserve weren''t too deep, as long as he managed himself properly as to limit the exhaustion of Apollo''s reserves, then Fuhrer wasn''t too worried. Not to mention, there was also the fact he drew upon his Daemos Soul.

    As one of the Demon''s strongest power sources, it temporarily reversed the burden his actions frequently ced upon Apollo''s Tainted Temple as well as introduced a minute influx of energy indigestible to Apollo''s mind.

    In a sense, it could be seen as one of the reasons he managed to start his evolution now. Besides understanding the deep need for strength, the energy presented severe and unforeseen circumstances.

    Shockingly, Fuhrer''s repressed energy allowed Apollo and glimpse into the past.

    During that encounter, he came across a familiar face. Except, unlike the face in his vision, this one was bloodied and somber. On the other side, there stood many beings of great strength, ostensibly his rivals.

    Fortunately, there was an ally by his side. But, two people could only aplish so much. While experiencing this sensation, Apollo fell into a selfless state. 7 archaic glyphs appeared before him. Each of them possessed a color along with a distinct emotion embedded in the strokes of the glyph.

    A faint resonance tempted Apollo to touch the glyphs. The first toe in contact with his hands was crimson in color, matching the blood found on a gruesome battlefield.

    Upon contact, endless rage submerged Apollo''s mind. In that state, he came to understand just what Ira''s purpose was.

    Simr to Saehtyn, Apollo possessed an unmatched talent for this particr Sin. Growing up with loathing towards everything, wrath was Apollo''s single-most intimate emotion. Hence, why he lost himself to rage quite often in the past.

    But, the next one surprisingly humbled his mind. The rage dissipated, flowing back to the blood-red glyph. Subsequently, a golden haze encased Apollo, presenting an oddly pleasing feeling. For some time, Apollo felt as if he was on top of the world. As though there was noparison in this world.

    Regrettably, that delight was snatched away, only to be reced by a third emotion. At this point, Apollo started to feel a tearing sensation, in addition to an inconsble yearning from the depths of his soul.

    Rather than vanishing like the rest, however, this feeling was superimposed by the desire to steal everything for himself, obtain power by any means necessary, and a resentment for anyone who possessed a better fate than he did.

    The deluge of emotions were the personifications of his own Sins. Each Sin carried a trait unique to his experiences. As one, they formed his potential. Despite remaining still, each sensation grew alongside one another.

    Soon enough, Apollo experienced something he was incapable of describing. In short, it felt like the system was an advocate for this particr Sin. Or, at the very least, its presence warped hisprehension of this Sin.

    Apollo spectated as he watched himself from a distant view. Different from how he usually took matters into his own hands, Apollo witnessed as this figure delegated all tasks¡ªbattle, logistics, trivial¡ªeverything. Anything that didn''t require his supervision was given to his subordinates as a task.

    "Sloth," Apollo muttered. Since this was his first confrontation with this Sin, it left a deeper impression on him. Meanwhile, with the introduction of each Sin, the glyphs shattered to dust before forming a turbulent tempest.

    With his Tainted Temple as the object of interest, the remnants of the glyphs pierced deep into the crystalline exterior until it began the melding process. Instead of blending, Apollo''s Tainted Temple underwent a ghastly change of destruction.

    "Agggggh!" Apollo''s body trembled before falling to his knees. Just as Fuhrer had warned, his evolution to a Greater Demon proved to be much worse than others. Not only was the collision of the Sins an unimaginable pain, but the reformation was even worse.

    Soon enough, the residual energy trickled down to his Infernal Nucleus, bing a war on two fronts. Both Apollo''s mind and body were being assaulted. Yet, there was no sign of trial as with Ira.

    Suddenly, Apollo''s eyes opened, but they were ckened. At a nce, it also seemed as if he was void of a soul and was merely an embodiment of Sin. However, the energy he emitted changed directions before converging at the point of origin.

    Fuhrer''s eyes brightened with excitement as he watched this. By no means was this a sign of failure. It was quite the opposite! Managing to keep his body together alone was a monumental feat.

    Boom!

    While the Goliath was too focused on Apollo, Fuhrer delivered a sharp kick on his chest to create some distance. "You''re far too close. Your inconsequential presence will not sully his greatness. For what is about to awaken will lead us all to the proper end."

    "Tch, what blind beliefs. What are you, a zealot? Your olden Monarch led you by the noise and it seems you are doing it again. Truly a disgraceful race, groveling at the first signs of possible strength," the Goliath said.

    However, despite his derisive words, Fuhrer didn''t react. After all, Fuhrer recalled the Monarch''s words perfectly. "You and your leaders will see. Greatness requires an audience. In this case, the audience will also be.

    Fuhrer paused before turning towards the Goliath with a malevolent grin, "the victims."

    "Preposterous! We defeated you before and it will happen once again! The abomination of your race has already perished. While hidden, we are all aware that the Demons grasp at nonexistent straws!"

    A light chuckle escaped Fuhrer''s lip before sighing, "As always, you all talk too much. But, my young Lord. You may test out the hatred that runs through the fiber of your beings."

    Ssssst!

    A low sizzling noise was heard as Apollo''s body crackedpletely. Unlike before, which required him to activate the Tartarean Fiend Regalia consciously, it seemed to be one with his body now.

    Additionally, Apollo''s right pupil changed from its previous amethyst color. It waspletely gold with a crimson pupil in the middle. Lastly, Apollo''s features seemed to age a few years. The effects of the evolution were obviously overwhelming.

    Another set of horns appeared on his forehead and after undergoing this evolution, Apollo looked at the Goliath differently.

    Whoosh!

    Apollo lifted his arms and summoned two Perfected Demonic Massacre Waves, yet they seemed inherently different from before with sparse fragments of magma-like Ira embedded within.

    "Fuhrer, it''s your turn," Apollo ordered before giving a faint nod.

    Although no explicit directions were given, Fuhrer understood the intention behind this action. Fuhrer extended his arm and injected Sin Energy within the two conjured waves in a fluid motion.

    Immediately, those waves hurtled towards the Goliath, whose eyes widened as a result.

    An instinctive guard was employed, but there was something unusual with thebination attack.

    There was only silence at first, but then a deafening scream echoed repeatedly.

    "I-Impossible!!"

 Chapter 364 - Gulas Utilization

    ----

    Despite defending against Fuhrer and Apollo''sbined attacks, the goliath failed to do so properly. Tworge gashes opened on his arm once the two Perfected Demonic Massacre Wavended on his forearms. If not for moving away at thest moment, each of his arms would have been severed below his elbows!

    In response, the Goliath screamed with fright. After all, it wasn''t often that a Demon''s strike bypassed a Titan''s defense like this. It required an unparalleled mastery over energy potent enough to burrow through their exterior.

    "W-what the crap!? Has the young Lord just evolved? But what''s with his transformation," Vc eximed while marveling at Apollo''s current appearance. Besides his power signaturepletely changing, Apollo felt fundamentally...different.

    However, Furcas was much more shocked by Vc''s slip up, "Did you finally refer to him as young Lord? Then, that must mean you also ept him now. Just... why is that so?"

    "U-uh... I don''t know what you''re talking about. Ahem, don''t focus on me. Instead, you should focus on just what happened to the young Lord. Something has changed and I feel the need to basically worship him. Does this mean his control over us has deepened?" Vc responded.

    Besides the evolution, it also appeared as if Apollo''s system unlocked itself as well. After all, as the system is tasked with grooming him into the next Monarch, activating his Seven Sins was akin topleting the first major task.

    As a result, Apollo was introduced to even more power. For example, his Domination Intent purified of its own ord. Hence, why the Demons felt even morepelled to follow Apollo.

    "Typhir, sword," Apollo ordered before holding out his hand.

    Without hesitation, Typhir tossed the sword towards Apollo. Snatching out of the air, Apollo brandished it in a way that resembled Typhir''s style. As he did so, his left eye shimmered with a golden ze.

    ?System Alert: The ability of the Covetous has been activated. ?Eye of Mimicry? in use.?

    Gradually, Apollo stepped closer to the Goliath without any indication of fear. A swirl of dense Ira released from his body and continuously flowed into the Goliath.

    "You''re just like us. Your confident disy is all a facade. Although the ruse fooled me at first, I have awakened. I understand that you''re a mere fraction of what you could be. An Archdemon? While it may have worked before, your bluff is no longer enough!"

    Whoosh!

    Apollo executed a sharp sh. Although it didn''t contain the Tenebrous Sword practices, it drew upon the vast Ira he emitted and condensed it into an attack, mimicking the style of a Demonic Massacre Wave.

    Compared to the actual attack, this wave was many times more lethal. For one, the purified Ira carried a scorching heat, double the prior strikes. The feeling of dread it conferred was so great that the Goliath was forced to retreat rather than defend!

    A wary expression crept upon his countenance as he observed Apollo closely, "Just what are you? It makes no sense. A Demon shouldn''t be able to sense a Titan''s internal reserves. No, not at all."

    As a Titan, their specialty included the ability to camouge their reserves. None of the demonic inspection techniques were capable of prating their dense protectiveyer, yet Apollo was doing exactly that. No matter how he tried to justify this, the Goliath couldn''t achieve an answer.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer couldn''t curb his joy as he watched Apollo''s anterior. Although it was faint, he could see a vague projection of the old master. This was the exact way he weaponized the Sins, albeit a much weaker interpretation.

    "Young Lord, have you awakened your Stigmata?" Fuhrer questioned. The only way to truly im his power would be to unleash the stigmata. However, after this transformation, even Fuhrer lost the ability to peer into Apollo''s body. Thus, he was forced to inquire about the information directly from the source.

    "No, I can''t cement it yet. It requires focus, and it''s unfortunate to say, but I don''t have that luxury right now. Once we leave this ce, I willplete it. However, I did manage to do this," Apollo responded before lifting his hand.

    A singrity appeared before the palm of his hand. One that Fuhrer was all too familiar with. After all, he had emted this effect many times despite not possessing the actual Sin.

    "G! Damn, that abominable Sin!" Fuhrer eximed with widened eyes. Although every Sin produced its fair share of danger, gluttony gave birth to conditions that affected others as a consequence.

    Yet, Apollo merely gave a cryptic smile before crushing the singrity in the palm of his hands. Afterward, he opened his mouth and inhaled.

    At first, it didn''t appear to cause any effect, but the Goliath''s expression changed a few secondster. From his perspective, Apollo''s action was ridiculous. Contrary to the sight, Apollo wasn''t just breathing, he was devouring every ounce of energy in the atmosphere.

    Without the subsistence of this energy, the Goliath''sbat abilities would take a nosedive!

    "Preposterous! Cease your actions!"

    Shockingly, Apollo obliged with a chuckle, "Oh, by all means, I will. But your death is imminent either way. You''ll be pertinent to my growth."

    Woosh!

    Apollo disappeared under the embrace of the shadows. By utilizing the Umbra Phantom Mantle, Apollo traveled through the shadows and appeared from under the Goliath. While possessing the element of surprise, Apollo executed yet another sh.

    Aimed at the earlier wound, the sh sessfully severed the Goliath''s arm. However, because he was privy to their regeneration abilities, Apollo extended his arm and created another singrity.

    In mere moments, the arm shriveled up before soon disappearing into nothingness. "Quite delicious, I must say. Now, let''s move onto the entr¨¦e," Apollo said with a smirk.

    "Get away from me! Something is wrong with you!" The Goliath swung its sole arm frantically, exhausting a sizeable amount of the energy stored within. Although the Titan''s unique energy was powerful, the G was even more terrifying to go up against.

    Granted, it required an extreme affinity with G to achieve this. One of the reasons Saehtyn loathed his meetings with Belphegor was due to his nature to randomly devour what he wished. And, getting him under control was awfully difficult to do.

    Not to mention, seldom was Belphegor satisfied. As the Demon closest to the embodiment of gluttony, his appetite was near bottomless.

    On the other hand, if Apollo didn''t establish his stigmata, then this control over G would be superficial and vanish eventually. Stigmata were required to stabilize a Demon''s evolution. In Apollo''s case, one stigmata¡ªInfernal Wrath¡ªwouldn''t suffice.

    Every Sin required separate stigmata to contain it. Fortunately, afterpleting his metamorphosis, aplete one at that, the information previously obscured on therge obelisk in his mind became clear as day.

    While there was no order to it because of his anomalistic evolution, it was perfect for his conditions. So, Apollo wished to leave this ce as soon as possible because odds were as soon as he killed this Goliath the space was bound to copse.

    "Tell me, just how was this ce created? What is the history behind it? Surely this isn''t your handiwork. A Goliath would absorb the energy before being given the chance to construct this intricate disy," Furcas questioned.

    "Why should I tell you?"

    Because of his response, Apollo''s expression darkened before giving Fuhrer a sign to act.

    Boom!

    The Goliath was forced to his knees under the presence of Fuhrer''s oppressive pressure. As a denizen of the upper races, suppressing the Goliath required all of Fuhrer''s focus.

    "Although you will die, depending on how cooperative you are, it can either be excruciatingly slow or painless as well as quick. Your choice," Apollo offered before stepping in front of the Goliath.

    In response, the Goliath chuckled and shook his head. "Do you think this scares me? As if! We''ve experienced training where dying would''ve been a pleasurable escape."

    "Tsk tsk tsk, wrong answer. Yet another falsehood. Very well," Apollo nodded before dragging his nail down the Goliath''s chest. Once he reached the middle, he thrust his hand forward. Since his natural arms were now the Infernal Arms of Damnation, Ira flowed through them endlessly.

    In other words, the puncture was seamless.

    "Gahh!"

    "You see? Prolonging your life was this ce''s purpose. So this disy of courage is...should we say, inappropriate? Now, allow me to present my theory."

    Apollo smiled yfully before continuing, "I''m guessing you found a human from Astarat. Possibly during the time of the Spirit''s assimtion. The human proved useful and so you gave them the knowledge needed to concoct this ce. In time, it matured into the setup you needed, and then here we have it¡ªa ce that doubles as a so-called treasured space."

    The Goliath trembled indiscernibly, or so he thought. Even though it was faint and almost unnoticeable, both Fuhrer and Apollo saw it.

    "Are you telling me you gave a human the means to learn secrets from a higher race? Even if you deny it, these ims will be broadcasted back to your source. So tell me, would you like us to kill you, or your own kind?" Fuhrer said with a cold smirk.

    Apollo nced at him before nodding. Even without discussing it, both of the demons were on the same page. Clearly, their tacit understanding experienced growth.

    "Heh, you know what else they will figure out? My suspicions about you! Only a single race can peer into the guard of a Titan. A C-"

    Pucht!

    Before the Goliath could finish, Apollo lobbed off his head with a clean horizontal strike.

    "No need for the extra nonsense, just do us a favor and disappear now."

    ?Congrattions, you have reached Level 150.?

 Chapter 365 - Collapsing Space

    ----

    As a denizen of the upper races, and one whose original power reigned amongst the top of its people, the Goliath''s death rewarded Apollo with an obscene amount of experience. Enough to catapult him over 15 levels! However, this was only possible because of the atrocious multiplier attached to the feat of killing a Titan member.

    As a race deemed to be inconsble, the enmity present between gave Apollo an additional benefit. The immense experiencepelled Apollo to find more Titans to kill, but such a desire was illogical at the moment. Not only was it extremely dangerous to expose himself right now, but there were also members of the Titan race who were stronger than he couldprehend.

    Thus, when Fuhrer saw his delighted expression, he moved to dismiss any of Apollo''s irrational thoughts. "Although it might have been a thrilling experience, I would advise against anything you seek to do at this very moment. For now, there are other things for you to focus on."

    Before answering, Apollo continued to gaze at the headless body of the Goliath. Beyond the experience, the G running rampant in his body tempted Apollo to consume his remains. With no further words, Apollo bent down and ced his hand against the Goliath''s fallen chest.

    In moments, the Goliath''s body shriveled up at a bizarre rate. Nearly 5 secondster, its body which previously stood over 5-meters tall was no more! Its body had been devoured without any indication of ever existing!

    "Ah¡­ don''t worry, Fuhrer. I won''t do anything foolish. In the meantime, there are things we have to get out of the way. How close would you say we are to taking ahold of her?" Apollo questioned while gazing forward into the crumbling nothingness.

    "Based on your new evolution, if you manage to erect all of your stigmata and begin initial bonding with the Sins, then you should be more than strong enough to take ahold of her mind," Fuhrer responded after giving the matter some thought.

    Obviously, the person in mind was Geneva. Now that he was a Greater Demon, corrupting her didn''t run the same former risk. The possibility of her losing a great deal of her power because of the downgrade was no longer present.

    After all, a Lesser Demon couldn''t bepared to the newfound power birthed by the evolution to a Greater Demon. Not to mention, an evolution like Apollo''s where all the Sin abilities were within finger length.

    Although the remaining process was still painful, it was something Apollo could handle. Compared to Ira, the other Sins weren''t as self-mutting. On the contrary, the remaining sins posed more harm to others than to Apollo.

    "Good, that''s an answer I like to hear," Apollo muttered. At the same time, his body slowly started to revert to his human appearance., However, at a nce, stark differences could be seen. For one, instead of 16, Apollo now appeared to be around 18 or 19. All the time spent inside the Nihilistic Rings acted upon his body now that his empowered vessel was capable of an even longer lifespan.

    The system previously withheld the effects as the physique of a Lesser Demon was too weak. If too much of the temporal difference built up in that fragile physique, his body could be ripped to shreds while passing through the spatial channels linked to the Nihilistic Rings.

    This was even more true when mentioning the sturdier links between the Rings. Compared to the channel linked to Astarat, the channels interlocking the Rings were at least 5 times sturdier. That meant it ran 5 times the risk of harming Apollo.

    Fortunately, after bing a Greater Demon, this issue was resolved. Furthermore, another option was now avable to Apollo now that he had be a Greater Demon.

    ''One step closer to meeting with Saehtyn. Even though I''ve be stronger, I''m not exactly a match for a full-fledged Archdemon. If there are truly as many of them as he implies, then I''ll have to at least reach the peak of my level,'' Apollo thought.

    "Ahem, my Lord. Do you wish to flee the area? There''s not much else to do here, and it has be exceedingly unstable," Furcas remarked before ncing around. Although it wasn''t overwhelmingly evident, Furcas'' special technique enabled him to perceive the hidden.

    The intricate nodes of the space were all destroyed, and it would only be a matter of minutes before the entire space copsed. If they moved too slowly, then there was a chance of them suffering injury from the copse of space.

    "Don''t worry. I understand the dangers we face," Apollo nodded. After evolving, the sealed technique gained from the assimtion of Furcas'' fragment begun the unraveling process. In short, Apollo''s previously bounded ability was gradually shattering its restraints.

    It was only a matter of time before those ?Unbound Eyes? unleashed their full potential. As a result, Apollo also discerned the same threats Furcas mentioned.

    "Fuhrer, I''ll leave this up to you," Apollo said before walking to an odd corner of the room. Even though it seemed like nothing was there, Apollo stilled snatched the space before him and acquired a hidden sliver of what seemed to be a crystal.

    ''This thing emits the same frequency at that crystal piece found within the recess of that room. If I''m not mistaken, they should be two pieces of a whole. The only question is, where are the remaining pieces and what do they form?'' Apollo wondered.

    Sadly, the answers he sought weren''t present at this time. So, he could only push it to the back of his mind. For now, escaping this ce took precedence over his other worries.

    ----

    Moments after Apollo''s killed the Goliath¡­

    "W-what the heck! Odessa! Do you feel that? Why is everything shaking?" Nadida eximed with widened eyes. The change was far too sudden for her to understand. One moment, she was epting a seemingly mystic item and in the next, the whole ce felt as if the most rming earthquake hit it!

    Simrly, Odessa frowned because this was no normal earthquake. From what she could sense, the spatial wall holding this realm in ce was falling apart. And, based on the origins of the tremors, the damage originated from the top of the realm. In other words, the secret area only Apollo was capable of entering.

    "I think this is the doing of Apollo. I don''t know what he did or acquired while up there. But it seems whatever was sustaining this ce has either lost its purpose or has gone missing entirely," Odessa announced with a sigh. It seemed no matter what Apollo did, he was always the cause of trouble.

    "W-what? If it''s causing such arge disturbance, then does that mean he has obtained the core item of this ce? I hate him! Why is he the one to always get the best stuff?" Nadida snarled. The more she felt this was true, the more she pouted.

    In response, Odessa could only look at her with an incredulous expression. ''We face imminent danger of a copsing realm and this is what you focus on!? Why is everything apetition with her?''

    "Why are you looking at me like that? Shut up, don''t judge me. Because I know you are," Nadida said with a re.

    Sighing with a look of defeat, Odessa could only shake her head, "Let''s go. Crush the Inscription Key you required. It''s not just an entrance to the door of your choice, it is also an exit for this realm."

    "No, not yet. We have to wait for Apollo because we don''t know if that area up there allows the escape method to be used. We need to guarantee his safety," Nadida dered, refusing to leave just yet. Although the area had be unstable, it wasn''t severe yet so there was still time for her to await Apollo''s arrival.

    Upon noticing Nadida''s expression, Odessa narrowed her eyes before whispering into her ear, "You like him, don''t you? I mean, yes you arepetitive with the others, but you don''t show as much care for their safety as you do Apollo."

    For a moment Nadida''s eyes widening as she answered with a sputter, "W-w-whaa?! I don''t know what you''re talking about. It is normal for us to care about the safety of our friends!"

    "Mmm," Odessa nodded with a meaningful expression before smiling. "Well, look. The person you''re waiting for has arrived. But remember, his future might not be as pristine as you think. I mean, you saw how many Spirits he summoned, right?"

    "I¡­" Nadida paused as she recalled the entourage Apollo entered the highest floor with. ''Could it really be true?''

 Chapter 366 - Underwhelming Return

    ----

    While Nadida was lost in thought, Fuhrer acted on the other side of the hidden floor. With a simple sh of Brynhildr, Fuhrer opened a portal linking to the floors below. At first nce, Apollo could see that the pagoda was nearly empty.

    Additionally, he also noticed the increasing damage to the surrounding space. ''I expected as much. These people are known to scurry at the first sight of danger. I guess it''s correct to view them as nothing more than vermin,'' Apollo thought before eventually stepping through the portal.

    However, he stopped immediately after as he took notice of two figures at the bottom of the obliterated staircase. Both Nadida and Odessa gazed at him with worrisome expressions. Until now, they weren''t sure if he would safely make it out. On the other hand, Fuhrer found this scene amusing.

    "Well, would you look at that? The young Lord''s charisma has caused two beauties to watch after him blindly. Even in this unfortunate ce, they''re awaiting your arrival. It''s a shame that they don''t suit your taste," Fuhrer teased.

    But, Apollo just gave him a small smirk. "Who knows what the future holds, they could be~"

    Instead of continuing to entertain Fuhrer''s banter, Apollo jumped from where he stood. While the distance to the ground was absurd, Apollo felt no danger. In fact, falling from this distance feltfortable. As he thought about it, Apollo pictured Vc descending from the air.

    Ever since witnessing Vc''s ability, Apollo always wondered whether or not he''d be able to fly as well. After all, some of the strongest demons possessed wings. Even Saehtyn possessed a pair of infernal wings.

    Thus, as Apollo thought about it, he felt an itch on his back. The feeling continued to grow as his descent elerated. Finally, just 25 meters from the ground, a pair of ck wings unfurled from his back. Although they looked in at first, they soon gained color matching his skin.

    And, simr to his body, markings of the Infernal Ira Stigmata appeared alongside the bone structures of his wings.

    Whoosh!

    With a p of his wings, Apollo levitated one meter above the ground before retracting his wings and falling to the ground with a gentle impact. In response, both Nadida and Odessa looked at him with apparent horror.

    "Wings?! You have wings?! What in the hell, this is unfair! Are you a chicken?" Nadida screeched while pulling at her hair. It seemed as if Apollo was pulling ahead of her at every return.

    Meanwhile, Odessa''s reaction was much more reserve, "Is that the ability of an inhuman race, or have you learned how to channel the abilities of your Spirits through your vessel? If it''s thetter then this is quite surprising. You''d need to be a Spirit Master to aplish that."

    "Mm," Apollo nodded while brushing aside her words. In his eyes, he owed no exnation. However, after sparing it some thought, he also realized he didn''t want any rumors to arise. Thus, he opted for a more fitting story.

    "You could say I''ve deepened my rtionship with my partners," Apollo answered before ncing around and continuing, "Wouldn''t it be smarter for you all to disappear from this ce? Why would you remain?"

    "Isn''t that answer obvious?" Nadida said with a scoff before dragging Odessa with her and mumbling under her breath, "Dummy, he such an oaf. He doesn''t get it, never does!"

    Witnessing this scene, Odessa smiled yet again. Then she looked back toward Apollo as truly gave him an inspective gaze, ''He''s changed. And, I mean that in more ways than one. Maybe we can talk about itter.''

    In tandem with Nadida, Odessa crushed her Inscription Key and disappeared from the space. However, Apollo remained in ce for a short while. For one, he didn''t require the inscription to leave. On the other hand, there was still a vast collection of energy here.

    If no one absorbed it, then once this ce copsed, it would just disperse and travel the cosmos endlessly. So why shouldn''t he take advantage of it now?

    ?Alert! The voracity of the Gluttonous Soul has been stimted. Endless Devouring activated.?

    A vibrant whirlpool appeared above Apollo as he opened his mouth and inhaled the residual energy of this ce. The longer he consumed it, the duller the ce became. Soon enough, it appeared lifeless, and Apollo ceased his actions with a smile. Now that he held a rudimentary control of G, there were a few things that no longer worried him.

    Not to mention, there was a certain message hidden amongst the vast list of changes that urred during his evolution. Unlike the rest, this was directly linked to what he needed. It gave him even more insight into the Nihilistic Ring''s power.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lv.5

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Greater Demon [15.00%]

    Title: Monarch''s Descendant, Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 18

    Level: 150

    Experience: 0.00%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 25,000 units.

    -----

    Strength: 1,750.0

    Agility: 1,625.0

    Intelligence: 1,650.0

    Vitality: 1,580.0

    Comprehension: 195.0

    Willpower: 165.0

    -----------

    [?Traits?]- 1

    ?Supreme Demon Body?

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 3

    -----------

    [?Sin Margins?]

    Ira - Primary [Infernal Hellfire]

    G - Initial

    Avaritia - N/A

    Superbia - N/A

    Invidia - N/A

    Luxuria - N/A

    Acedia -N/A

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?]

    [Daemonic Avatar]

    Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master

    ?Greater Demon? [5,000]

    [Demonic Acolyte]

    Typhir Estrada (Demon Knight)

    ?Lesser Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Follower]

    Furcas (Demon Knight) - Wiseman of Corruption

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    Vc (Demon Knight) - The Terrible

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Servant]

    Zarkath (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    Jorgun the Anomaly (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    ------------

    [?Interdimensional Inventory?][?Inheritance?] [?Lucky Draw?]

    Not only did the indication of his internal state disappear, but so did his affinities. In return, a measurement of his current Sin attainments appeared. Based on the information given by the system, the breakdown of the margins was separated into 5 parts¡ªInitial, Primary, Late, Peak, & Perfection.

    The amount of Sin that could be utilized as well as its purity was determined by the determined state. The closer to perfection it became, the stronger it was.

    Once Apollo browsed through his status menu and noted all the changes, including the consolidation of his traits into a single overpowered trait, Apollo closed the menu.

    A few momentster, he stepped through the portal opened by Fuhrer and arrived a distance away from the others. However, with their acute senses, the overseers of the excursion immediately noticed Apollo''s appearance. Fortunately, while inside the spatial tunnel, Apollo acted quickly and stored his demons back in his Tainted Temple.

    Most of the people who witnessed his mass of Demons were either dead or couldn''t recall their presence. To avoid danger, most of the people entered doors before Apollo summoned everyone. Thus, the chances of him being discovered were nonexistent.

    Of course, his apparent increase in strength was enough to discover. So Apollo didn''t attempt to hide it in the slightest. On the contrary, Fuhrer''s aged appearance merely stood beside him in case any unusual developments urred.

    Unfortunately, the massive disparity in the number of people who returned and enter raised numerous red gs. As a realm void of any real danger, the obscene number of deaths didn''t make any sense.

    "Hm? Just what happened inside there? Why are there so many of them missing? Furthermore, it seems like they''ve all been put through something terrifying. Look at their expressions," one of the two elders muttered while observing everyone closely.

    "Precisely," the other elder nodded while doing the same. It only took a few seconds for them to notice a few of the returnees kept ncing in Apollo''s direction with tant signs of fear.

    "Him? Just who is that boy? Should we question him further?" the first elder questioned.

    "I believe so. With this many deaths, it''ll be a matter of time before we have a massive headache on our hands. It would be best to learn of the reason behind it," the other elder responded.

    Since they had made their choice, both of them disappeared before reappearing before the collection of youths.

    "It would seem some kind of unforeseen event took ce. Would you all care to clue us in? That is, to take care of any uncalled-for repercussions."

    Once this questioned was asked, almost as if they had trained this motion time and time again, the entire crowd pointed in Apollo''s direction. While they figured as much, they didn''t want to move without ample evidence.

    And, suffice to say, everyone''s mirrored response was evident enough.

    "Ah, so it''s you. Very well. Before anyone is allowed to leave, we''ll need some adequate answers!"

    Meanwhile, Geneva could only frown as she watched this scene. ''Why... WHY!? I just can''t catch a break with this kid."

 Chapter 367 - Defending

    ----

    Despite the presence of two elders of renowned Supreme Families, Apollo remained unfazed by the sights of things. In fact, their appearance made Apollo quite happy. Because after his evolution, the pestering need from him to lie low seemed to dissipate gradually.

    Although it wasn''t confirmed, Apollo felt his own power had already escaped his peers. If that was the truth, then it was only a matter of time before the restraints upon his Demons lifted this as well. Once that happened, they''d recover even more of their strength and reduce the gap to their original power.

    Meanwhile, Geneva couldn''t help but feel tense as he moved to intervene. Even if she was sure something terrible took ce, she couldn''t allow anything to happen to Apollo. For one, he was the only one who possessed a cure for the atrocious wound inflicted by that near disaster-level Terror.

    "Wait, wait. Elders, I''m sure there is no need for this matter to escte out of hand. All we require is some answers, right?" Geneva remarked. While doing so, she nced back at Apollo and signaled for him to stay in line. After all, each of these elders possessed a noteworthy status in their family.

    "That all depends on how thing young man acts. We''ve already gathered enough evidence from the expression of these children. If that isn''t enough, there is a ghastly killing intent leaking from this youth''s body. That''s only possible aftermitting a terrifying massacre. What else do we need?" the first elder asked. Despite being old, he possessed eyes as sharp as an eagle.

    Furthermore, theck of wrinkles and the like made it difficult to determine his true age. After bing an expert of his standard, increased longevity was merely a byproduct.

    "Elder Vidar, Elder Sabas, surely this isn''t enough to spark a revolt. Do you really wish to upend the rtionship between academies? We''ve already noticed the increased activity of the Terrors. We can afford something like this right now," Geneva responded.

    Her response carried some weight as both Elder Vidar of the Braum Family and Elder Sabas of the Crux Family revealed changes in expression. As part of the task force tasked with dealing with the Terrors, they were the first to learn of this information.

    And, with Geneva making it public, it put them in a difficult situation. Outside of the needed authorities, the general public wasn''t aware of the Terror''s threat, though some students were able to glean this information from the change in the academy''s curriculum.

    Such intensive training was a clear indicator of iing war. Otherwise, the training regiment wouldn''t be so exhaustive.

    "You may have a point, but you also fail to realize that most of the kids who are missing also possessed a part in the task force. This ordeal has effectively crippled our new batch of soldiers. What will be the answer for this? Because we don''t have them," Elder Sabas said.

    However, something odd took ce as a neer appeared next to Geneva.

    "Elder Sabas, I believe I can shine some light on the issue. Would you allow me to?"

    Elder Sabas smiled faintly with a doting smile before nodding, "Well, of course. Why would I ever revoke that permission from my adorable grandchild?"

    Needless to say, the new mediator, in this case, was Odessa. As a child of the Crux Family, she possessed an intimate rtionship with Sabas. Although he called her his grandchild, he wasn''t her direct grandfather. Due to their family structure, even the siblings of grandparents called the younger generation their grandchildren. As long as there was a blood connection, then it carried some weight.

    "Alright. Well, I''d like to start by saying this was retaliation. It wasn''t Apollo actively seeking trouble. Although he is something to always go overboard, as a soldier, isn''t it correct for him to know ruthlessness?" Odessa questioned while looking directly into Elder Sabas''s eyes.

    Before awaiting an answer, she then panned her gaze around the survivors with an eerily threatening gaze. As a Paragon, there weren''t many who were willing to risk the ire of a Paragon, so they all avoided her gaze. All except one, who possessed a gaze just as overwhelmingly yful.

    Naturally, this person was Alistair. The sole person who didn''t fear a Paragon''s pressure. After all, he was one as well.

    "Although you make good points, it doesn''t excuse the fact many were killed. Besides, we expect ruthlessness towards the Terrors, not your own kind. Delve too deep and you lose your humanity, bing nothing more than a tool for killing. Is that what you wish to cultivate?" Sabas questioned in return.

    For a moment, Odessa was silent. Then she looked towards Apollo before confirming her own thoughts. She leaned closed to Elder Sabas and whispered, "But wouldn''t that make us hypocrites? How many people have we turned into that exactly? As a Supreme Family, there is nothing but blood on our hands."

    Following her response, Sabas was speechless. All her points were correct. Speaking of this now was hypocritical at best. Their foundations were built on the sacrifices of countless lives!

    Simrly, Elder Vidar stayed out of this as well. Because when it came to history, the Braums were much darker than the Crux''s, literally. As a Family with deep ties to shadow abilities, their tendency to operate on the dark side was more frequent than their counterparts.

    "Ah¡­ either way, just sweeping this under the rug is difficult, to say the least. Correct me if I''m wrong, but there are many Great Family children as victims, right? This means the blowback isn''t just from us. You''ll be handling their wrath as well. Is this truly something that boy can afford?"

    With this point being brought up, Odessa could only frown. Given their extensive military powers, the Supreme Families didn''t fear any retaliation from the lesser familiar. Just their upper echelon was enough to level most of the Great Families without much effort.

    Meaning, the Great Families understood that their presence was a luxury and not really a necessity. If their behavior were to necessitate it, they would waste no time is eradicating the Great Families.

    Meanwhile, Apollo continued to shift his gaze around. Truth be told, this situation was meaningless to him. Outside of figuring out the abilities and reason for the Terrors, he held no ties towards this world. As such, he didn''t fear the repercussion of his actions.

    Even the Kaisers no longer existed on his radar. After evolving, the impressions of the former Apollo vanishedpletely. It seemed as if his soul was overriding the facade created for his protection. Slowly but surely, the secrets would unveil themselves as Apollo grew stronger.

    "My Lord, what do you wish to do? I can tell from your expression that this is all just annoying you," Fuhrer asked. While it was the truth, Apollo still shook his head.

    "Just wait it out. It''s only a matter of time. Self-interest is the best interest. I''m sure these old fogeys just want to avoid a headache. Not to mention, you sense it, right?"

    "I do. And, it is worsening fast. It''s only a matter of time before that race previously talked about makes their grand appearance. Although, I wouldn''t say they are much of a threat," Fuhrer hinted before ncing over at the two elders with a smile.

    Although they tried to hide their inspection, each of them tried to estimate Fuhrer''s strength. On top of the hoax of their words, they wanted to understand how much of an opponent he was.

    Since they were unable to, they weren''t willing to jeopardize their lives. Compared to the others, this generation was filled with too many anomalies. There was no telling just how strong the so-called Spirits these children contracted with were.

    In fact, some of them didn''t even follow the applied natural order. With Astarat''s Spirit weakened, the restriction experienced some defects as well.

    Haah¡­

    Eventually, both of the elders sighed and gave into Odessa''s logic. However, not before leaving a message of their own.

    "We take no part in this incident. The severity of the situation will be put on your shoulder. Take it as a learning opportunity on how to manage your subordinates'' actions," Sabas before lightly tapping Odessa''s shoulder.

    In response, she nodded before turning towards Apollo, only to see him vanish from where he stood. Instead, he appeared alongside Geneva, whose expression wasn''t the best.

    "Seriously, just once. ONCE! Can you avoid trouble? Wait," Geneva examined Apollo well before giving him an odd look. "Why do you look different? It wasn''t more than a few days, yet it seems like you''ve aged two years. Just what is going on with you right now?"

    "Changes are bound to happen. Now tell me, are you willing to change? Because I smell a storm brewing and it may implicate others. Danger forms on all fronts and with that injury, I doubt you can shield even yourself," Apollo said with a small chuckle.

    Hearing these words, Geneva''s eyebrows creased further. Judging by his words, Geneva felt that Odessa''s earlier words were untrue. Perhaps this entire incident was the work of Apollo, and was all orchestrated to put her in a position to fall under his control!

    Of course, these spections were merely her own and not what was voiced by Apollo.

    "What are you trying to say?" Geneva finally muttered after some time.

    Instead of answers, Apollo''s right eye gleamed with an amethyst light, enrapturing to all whoid eyes upon it. While envy was capable of taking what Apollo sought, another ability existed outside of that.

    When mixed with the presence of Acedia, Apollo''s left eyes now possessed the power of projecting the corruption he wished!

 Chapter 368 - A Shared Glimpse

    ----

    "W-what are you doing? What''s... happening?" Geneva muttered as she stared into Apollo''s left eyes. A hypnotizing swirl appeared within the depth of his pupils as a devilish smirk crept upon his lips. After locating the residual traces of Sin left in his body from his evolution, Apollo assessed the best ways of exhausting them.

    A few moments into sifting through the various ways present to a demon, he came across the method conducive to his ns. There was no easier way to corrupt Geneva than to utilize two Sins of ghastly nature¡ªInvidia and Acedia.

    With Invidia, Apollo reversed the output.

    Rather than having it steal someone''s ability, he had it project his desire upon the target. Just as Ira was harmful to one''s self, the infernal heat birthed by it singed everything in its path. Thus, Invidia possessed a mirror ability as well; two sides of the same coin.

    It could either take what Apollo wished or deliver what Apollo felt others deserved. Either way, each principle was based on the fact that Apollo felt envious of something. No matter how little the reason was, as long as it existed, it was enough to spark the process of this ability.

    "Don''t worry. Just slip into thefortable embrace of what you need. That wound on your torso, don''t you wish for it to heal perfectly?" Apollo suggested while taking a step closer. Before others could realize the situation, Apollo requested Fuhrer''s assistance.

    "Make sure no one can trouble us," Apollo demanded before silently gazing at Geneva.

    In response, Fuhrer nodded. A momentter, a dense amount of Ira collected above his palm before dissipating into the surroundings. To the others, this energy was undetectable, but for Apollo, it was a different story. A crimson barrier he was all too familiar with surrounded them on all sides.

    "Wrath''s nket," Apollo muttered before giving a faint nod. Afterward, he redirected his attention towards Geneva, whose mind was slipping further away. Admittedly, the temptation of regaining her former strength was too enticing to give up. If she was healed, she could possibly step onto the battlefield once again.

    However, a part of her was also reluctant because just as the battlefield gave her life, the events that transpired also haunted her. Simply healing her wound wouldn''t mend the scars left on her psyche.

    "Please don''t do this, I didn''t agree to this. I just wanted to ept your energy every so often. What are you doing to me?" Geneva muttered powerlessly. As she looked at Apollo, she could feel faint changes currently unexinable to her. Her immediate surrounding began fading while a budding heat surfaced from her wound.

    Even though Apollo hadn''t injected Geneva with excess Anima or Hellfire outside of their few contact, the remnants of the undigested energy reacted to Apollo''s signal. Since they shared the same signature, only Apollo held the power to direct its actions.

    Although she didn''t want to believe it, Geneva had truly sealed her fate the moment she epted the first dose of Apollo''s Hellfire. Especially the Hellfire that mutated after absorbing that earlier source.

    "This is all the result of your own actions. Tell me, did you think my assistance was for free? After learning of my secret and feeling the extent of my me, did you truly believe this world held any of my interest? Truth be told, only you interested me. With that odd bloodline, you''re stronger than the average human," Apollo responded.

    With a light touch, he traced the outline of Geneva''s cheek. Under the guidance of Apollo''s me, Geneva''s body reverted to its initial enrapturing form. Honestly speaking, once her phoenix bloodline was stimted, even Tirasha''s concealed beauty was a level below Geneva''s appearance.

    In truth, she seemed more like a phoenix than a human. As her ancestor was a True Phoenix, one who attained a human form after reaching its peak, most of the human traits in Geneva were rewritten. To date, she was the only Vermillion to possess such a pure bloodline.

    Unfortunately, her innate abilities never got the chance to activate as it required both death and maturity of her bloodline. The Dark Nirvanic Rebirth symbolized a dark phoenix awakening to their true abilities, but for some reason, the Terror''s energy was decrepit enough to disrupt this event.

    The only way for Geneva to ovee this was for her to have the hidden energy purified. However, her only option of doing this scared her just as much as surrendering to the wound. In this case, it was a matter of her choosing the lesser of two evils.

    "Deep down, I knew epting it wasn''t the right thing to do. However, I don''t know why but I felt it was possible for me to change your attitude. Maybe if I led by example and was more trusting, you would do the same," Geneva admitted.

    Judging by her vulnerable appearance, it seemed like she was telling the truth, but Apollo didn''t seem to react to it. Conversely, he squatted before Geneva with an unusual expression.

    "Let me tell you something I''ve learned about myself. I could''ve taken ahold of a people as my birthright and led. But, you know what happened? Another side of me was too weak, too fragile to take that ce. As to not introduce me to danger, my father sealed me. Which means not just my own people, even our enemies were unaware of my actual presence.

    Apollo examined Geneva before smiling faintly and continuing, "You don''t know what that feels like, do you? To have everything you should have known stripped from you in order to protect you? It may be in the best interest of everything, however, its effects are longsting nheless."

    Earlier, during the insurgence of Sin, Apollo''s temporarily unlocked an isted memory. However, this memory differed greatlypared to the prior one. ording to what he learned, he wasn''t sealed at the time of the first memory.

    The true events were much different. The First Monarch gave Apollo enough time to experience the culture of the demons. Introduced as his heir to the ancient demons, Apollo failed to live up to what the First Monarch expected. With a split bloodline, he held too muchpassion, which overshadowed his potential as a demon.

    As such, once they verified that he didn''t have the heart to go against the Titans or keep the demons in order, the First Monarch and his empress made the decision. For his safety, Apollo''s true soul was sealed and split in two.

    However, things weren''t always as smooth as one hoped. Or rather, this experiment happened too smoothly. Both sides of Apollo''s sealed soul experienced events outside of the First Monarch''s calctions. Moreover, it took far too long for the process to begin.

    Apollo should have immediately found adequate host bodies and assimted with them. However, the act took eons, causing an unforeseen mishap. During that time, Apollo''s souls were subjected to prolonged darkness.

    Hence, why each of his souls held such a high affinity for it. Furthermore, this sustained exposure resulted in mutation hidden within the depths of his soul. Now, every time he evolved, and his soul regained its rightful power, more of that darkness would surface.

    Gradually, Apollo''s expression grew stoic and emotionless. "So don''t be scared. Just know that this process will make you greater. Because you''ll be alongside me and aplish great things. But, not now. I''ll wait for you to arrive of your own ord."

    Suddenly, the swirling sensation in his eyes stopped, and Apollo stood once again. Consequently, Fuhrer also canceled the Wrath nket encasing them. While he and Apollo walked further away, Geneva was left with a nk expression.

    After all, Apollo didn''t just tell her about his experience. A glimpse of his words projected into Geneva''s mind. Despite it being a few seconds, the short immersion into the boundless darkness appalled Geneva.

    Thus, she could only imagine the damage done to Apollo''s mind.

    Though she was curious to know more, Geneva eventually rose to her feet and inspected the remainder of her team. Shockingly, she was left with more survivors than the others. Unlike the rest of the academies, Apollo had already eliminated the one from his school during the small "incident".

    Be that as it may, this wasn''t done out of kindness to the others. It was just Apollo knew when to monitor his own actions. Since he aplished the needed Demonic Conduct and didn''t possess the ability to devour at that time, there was no need for him to go any further. Especially since he caught the culprits.

    "What do you wish to do? That was odd of you. Why did you begin the process only to stop?" Fuhrer wondered.

    Apollo stopped because of this question. The answer might seem clear on the surface, almost as if Geneva''s word had prated his heart, but that wasn''t true. Doing so was easier said than done. Mere words weren''t enough to affect his heart.

    "It wasn''t enough. The residual Sin burnt out faster than I could corrupt her. I guess her mind is more solid than I expected. No worries, it''s only a matter of time. In the meantime, what do you say we go meet another demon."

    "Another one? Just who do you suggest? With your soul linked to Suprenis, there aren''t many options. The only one I know left in that Ring would be¡­"

    "Correct. I think we''ll go in search of Asteroth next. He should hold the power we need before venturing back to Ashiraem," Apollo responded with a light smile. Yet Fuhrer could only look at him with caution.

    ''Oh, that''s going to be a terrible idea¡­''

 Chapter 369 - The Seven Unmatched Stigmata (I)

    ----

    "Absolutely terrible idea, young Lord. Do you even remember who Asteroth is? The Infernal Duke of Destruction. Are you sure that''s a demon you wish to seek right now? Even I don''t know how much of his strength he has retained. Although there are many demons far stronger than him...let''s just say he''s one of the few obsessed with iparable destruction," Fuhrer stated.

    As a demon of the Lost Council, each one possessed a unique personality, along with a certain style ofbat. After being bestowed a certain amount of power by the First Monarch, their strengths varied greatly. Separated into a few different levels there were the Presidents, Knights, Earl, Marquises, Princes, Archduke, andstly, the Kings.

    Each of the rankings denoted an ancient power. These levels existed outside of the presences of the Lords and standard measurement of powers. Unlike power attained from consuming Demonic Anima, the ranking granted by the First Monarch bestowed a different type of authority.

    Simr to how Vc induced a second transformation, these chosen demons resided outside of the normal scope for demons. After all, to maintain the order of raucous demons required uncontestable strength. Granted, it couldn''t be activated all the time without supervision or it''d abused.

    As a result, each demon possessed a uniquemand to cut off the power funnel needed to power this given ability. So, after learning of this, Apollo felt he possessed a trump card to control the lost council.

    If they couldn''t ess their unorthodox power, then they were no different from regr demons.

    "Don''t worry. I''m not silly enough to set out this very moment. For now, let''s focus on cementing my evolution and delving deeper into the hidden techniques of...my father," Apollo determined.

    For a while, he entertained the thought of returning to the academy by flight, but that wasn''t exactly advised in his current situation. Thus, Apollo settled for the better alternative¡ªinstructing Fuhrer to cut open a portal leading directly back to his dorm.

    However, before Fuhrer could do so, Odessa stepped before Apollo with an odd expression, "No thank you for me? I''m guessing you just intend to leave without speaking?"

    The frown on her face deepened as she took notice of Apollo''s unchanging depression. The way he looked at her was akin to a nuisance. And such, his next words were even more impactful.

    "I don''t recall asking for your help. What makes you think I can''t handle myself. If this is a ploy to guilt into thinking I owe you, then let''s cut the act right here. Your help was negligible," Apollo stated in a harsh tone.

    As Odessa listened to her word, her face filled with hurt as she looked down. Honestly speaking, this thought hadn''t crossed her mind. While her actions were always indirectly linked to her fearing the poaching of Apollo by Alistair, she genuinely cared for his safety.

    Unfortunately, Apollo didn''t view her actions the same way Odessa did. Instead of grey, Apollo''s views were shifting to an immediate white of ck. Meaning, Apollo''s views were starting to lean towards the absolutes, leaving the grays of uncertainty to vanish.

    "Is that how you view me? I can''t just look out for you? You''re really a jerk, you know that? I don''t care what happens to you. Since you push everything away, how about I just vanish?" Odessa grumbled while firing Apollo a frightening re.

    However, Apollo merely shrugged, "That''d be fine by me. If you''re this sensitive now, how will you ever think to lead a pack."

    Before she could answer, however, Apollo stepped through the portal, which vanished in an instant. nkly, Odessa could only stare at the portal dissipate in front of her very eyes.

    Meanwhile, Nadida quietly approached her from behind and ced a hand on her shoulder, "Odessa, don''t worry. Apollo is just like that. His words are very harsh and he doesn''t really take others'' feelings into ount. I suggest you just ignore what he said."

    "It''s not that," Odessa said while shaking her head, "I''m just scared he''ll renege on his promise. Doesn''t he seem more detached to you? At least he put up with us before, but now it just seems like we''re an eyesore to him."

    "It could be possible but, only time will tell. Besides patience, I can''t really see another solution. I''m sorry, Odesa. I know Apollo is important to your ns," Nadida said with a soft sigh.

    Afterward, Geneva rounded up the remaining student. Since the excursion was over, it was now time to return to the Vermillion Night Academy. The longer they idled was the less time they had to perfect the use of their acquired items and even propel their cultivation higher.

    In the meantime, Apollo and Fuhrer had a conversation rted to his brusque behavior.

    "Overly ruthless wouldn''t you say, young Lord? I can sense it. Her actions truly put your care first. I am just curious as to why you''re admittedly pushing her away. Isn''t she always a viable candidate?" Fuhrer questioned.

    Still inside the spatial tunnel, Apollo froze while ncing in Fuhrer''s direction. "Truth be told, her growth could be faster. But, her mind is gued with thoughts of assisting me. Something tells me she still believes me to be weaker than her despite my feats."

    "That''s understandable. As someone in her position, admitting someone has surpassed you might be difficult," Fuhrer responded while recalling some past situations. As apetitive race, there were many instances wherein a demon was on the verge of losing their ranking, yet refused to do so amicably.

    Such actions led to strife and sometimes, that strife escted into inevitable injury. And, the losing side was usually the one who refused to abdicate their position.

    "True, but I don''t wish to reveal my strength just yet. I''d like to leave a great surprise for these so-called Absorbeyns before we go," Apollo replied. A faint smile appeared across his lips as he recalled Fuhrer''s warning.

    With a Disaster-level Terror in the midst of being birthed, there was only a matter of time before a full-scale war urred. Especially so if the one who empowered the Disaster recovered to their former strength.

    "Understood. But about Asteroth, I suggest you deepen your repertoire before attempting to meet him. This isn''t an estimation, but a certainty. When he sees you, he will confront you¡ªphysically."

    Apollo just gave a nod as a response before exiting for the spatial tunnel. At a nce, his room remained unchanged save for a minute difference from the ones inhabiting the room.

    Both Ouroboros and ia were sitting in a meditative stance. Surprisingly, ia was in her fox form, showcasing her illustrious coat. Compared to before, her state seemed illusive, almost as if the sway of her hair induced a faint illusion.

    "It would seem her attempt was a sess. Perhaps Typhir and Ouroboros won''t be the only visitors on our next trip," Apollo thought. A few secondster, he pricked his index finger before beckoning to her, "ia."

    ia''s eyes flutter opening, revealing to eyes swirling with mental energy, "Hm?"

    "This is for you." Apollo extended his finger before dripping a few drops of blood onto her tongue. As a beast, ia required a different type of practice to demonize her. Typhir simply required the injecting of his vital Anima, meanwhile, ia required blood to expunge the beastly natures embedded into her bloodline.

    Once that wasplete, Apollo''s blood reconstructed the prior bloodline, just with a demonic orientation. Naturally, this was courtesy of Apollo''s earlier mixture used on Geneva.

    "Do you need any more resources before I continue with my own matters?" Apollo inquired before exhaling. A quick transformation urred as Apollo returned to his demonic state.

    "No, not yet. I think I''m fine. But Boros seems to have consumed all the resources you left him. He''s a glutton! The moment you left he devoured them all without remorse and then has been asleep ever since," ia eximed.

    But, contrary to what she expected, Apollo didn''t show any signs of anger. In fact, he chuckled softly, "Fuhrer, is his innate G deepening?"

    "More than that, I believe it is beginning to fuse with Avaritia. That means not only will his hunger be genuine, but he''ll be able to retain an overabundance of what he needs. Hence, I suggest you monitor his intake."

    "I''ll take your advice seriously. In the meantime, let''s advance with the program."

    Boom!

    Apollo pped his hands together, summoning the shroud of the wrath''s nket. Different from Fuhrer''s, Apollo nket ovepped countless times over. Even then, Apollo still requested Fuhrer''s assistance to reinforce it further.

    After all, while the first Stigmata was formed by one Sin, the remainder needed to be performed sessively. Otherwise, the Sin energy stored for this process will disperse, requiring Apollo to seek out new sources.

    This meant venturing to the respective Ring for their purest forms. His Stigmata was created before going through aplete Awakening, so the starting requirement wasn''t as stringent. But now, along with an obscene power-up, he alsoplicated the mandate purity.

    Nevertheless, Apollo was fine with his decision.

    ''Azridan, reveal the avable stigmata to me.''

    ?Alert: 6 Unique Stigmata have been found and listed below.?

    ¡¸Voracious G Stigmata (Gluttony)

    Insipid Acedia Stigmata (Sloth)

    Covetous Invidia Stigmata (Envy)

    Insatiable Avaritia Stigmata (Greed)

    Dauntless Superbia Stigmata (Pride)

    Deluging Luxuria Stigmata (Lust) ¡¹

 Chapter 370 - Seven Unmatched Stigmata (II)

    ----

    The appearance of the first Stigmata shocked Apollo. Not because he was unfamiliar with them, but because their introduction differed greatly from the Infernal Ira Stigmata. Unlike his first experience with the Stigmata, the system projected the orientation of the Stigmata directly into Apollo''s mind.

    ''I didn''t expect it to be so¡­prehensive,'' Apollo thought to himself. Beginning with the Voracious G Stigmata, it held two positions. First, the tongue required an engraving, while the reverse function needed to be applied to the Tainted Temple.

    With such a small structure, Apollo expected it to be many times easier than his first engraving, however, his expectations were baseless. Every Stigmata possessed an identical difficulty. After all, the factor which determined the extent of difficulty was the grading of the Stigmata.

    And, the Seven Ungodly Stigmata were the crux of the demonic way. Thus, each of its pieces were just asplicated to grasp. Be that as it may, as the strongest demon blood ran through Apollo''s veins, mastering these Stigmata wasn''t impossible.

    No, in his case, it was a certainty. It just took monstrous willpower to follow through.

    "Fine, we''ll begin with the G," Apollo muttered before exhaling. A turbid green gas ejected from his throat before forming an orb right before him. As the minutes passed, the gaseous orb solidified into a liquid sphere.

    As he watched this, Fuhrer was appalled by what he was seeing. "C-Condensation of Sin? And on his first try? Could it be the stigmata are just as frightening as the legends record? If so, how could the olden Lord be defeated? Condensation at the first stages is unprecedented!"

    As with any other energy, Sin Energy followed a distinct path of gas to liquid to solid. But, each stage was difficult to transition between. Typically, it required a Sin Purity in thete stages. Otherwise, the Sin Energy would carry too many impurities to condense.

    Yet, Apollo''s Stigmata, or rather the technique which created them, acted as a catalyst to forego this step. With this the difficult part bypassed, this technique made it so the only requirement was a special bloodline, along with adequate willpower.

    In fact, even Azridan didn''t awaken the Stigmata Apollo''s body revealed. On paper, it might seem like the same technique, but Apollo''s bloodline stimted the hidden facilities of the Stigmata. Nevertheless, just the superficial version was enough for Azridan to reign supreme through his generation.

    If not for him being too trusting, it would have been a matter of time until he absorbed the portion of the Monarch''s legacy essible to normal Demons. As for the true legacy, it resides within the system given to Apollo, hence the sealed descendant tab.

    Only the true descendant of the First Monarch held the key to opening the depths of the lost realm. After all, a severely helpful tool existed in that ce. If obtained, Apollo''s control over the demons would be irrefutable.

    But, to make that a reality required Apollo to hold the power to trample over all of his brethren. As of now, that wasn''t possible. For one, the Lords were his biggest obstacle. Each of them possessed control over their Sins at the Perfection level. In other words, if he was to fight one of them, they''d be able to weaponize whatever he threw at them!

    Therefore, the Lords didn''t attain their positions by batting their eyes. It came from exceptional prowess and the triumph of many contenders. A bloodbath was required to seed in those positions.

    Regardless, Apollo focused on his current task at hand. Fuhrer''s thoughts didn''t affect or even register in his mind as he continued with his actions.

    Gradually, Apollo opened his mouth, drawing the condensed orb of G closer. Small tendrils separated from the orb and assaulted Apollo''s tongue with a prolonged sizzle. Even though Apollo''s reaction was negligible, the pain was enough to make him wince.

    For some reason, the pain didn''t seem to target his body, but his soul. Simr to when he attempted the same process with Ira, the persona of G seethed within the extracted Sin.

    However, almost as if it was protecting him, the Infernal Ira Stigmata released a glimmering light.

    A crimson energy surged into the green orb before causing it to turn cid. The previously disturbed surface smoothened in mere moments.

    But, Apollo was far from done. Next, the diagram of the Dauntless Superbia Stigmata appeared in his mind. The cement of this one was on his spine and Tainted Temple, respectively. Pure golden energy billowed from his body before converging behind him.

    Unlike the orb of G, the Superbia took on the form of a double-edged sword ced behind his spine.

    Witnessing this ordeal, Fuhrer frowned, "The worst of worst. Superbia is an extremely dangerous Sin because that pride is capable of wounding one''s self as well; self-destructive. Hence, why when mixed with Ira, it besbustible."

    Regrettably, this was a process Fuhrer couldn''t intervene in. The slightest outside made failure an extremely probable oue.

    Subsequently, the diagrams of Avaritia, Invidia, and Acedia Stigmata appeared simultaneously with their orientations being the right eye, left eye, and forehead. The Insipid Acedia Stigmata took on the form of a sharp rhombus, whereas the two other stigmata¡ªCovetous Invidia Stigmata and Insatiable Avaritia Stigmata¡ªcaused Apollo''s eyes to adopt six starred pupils.

    However, thest one, the Deluging Luxuria Stigmata, appeared above his loins in line with his navel. With each of them present, they formed aplete map across Apollo''s body.

    ''With him suffering aplete awakening, the Stigmata now require a simr simultaneous activation. Though it will be painful, I have nothing but trust in his ability toplete this process,'' Fuhrer inwardly thought.

    A few momentster, the energy burrowed into Apollo''s body. An overwhelming surge of pain caused Apollo to tremble temporarily before the sensation of being cleansed washed over his body.

    At the same time, a message appeared before Apollo''s widened eyes.

    ?Alert: Body being cleansed. All techniques foreign to demonkind will be expunged and reced with skills fitting of your stature.?

    Once this message appeared, Apollo''s eyes bled, releasing murky blood. Instead of crimson, it was grey with specks of ck embedded throughout. Simrly, the same liquid seeped from Apollo''s orifices until the process concluded.

    Afterward, Apollo''s body felt unusually light. Although pain still assailed his body, it wasn''t the foremost sensation. Power thrummed through his body!

    Eventually, the fresh markings settled, allowing Apollo to a much sought breather.

    "You''ve done well. It wasn''t as excruciating as you estimated, right?" Fuhrer chuckled while taking a step closer. After a simple inspection, Fuhrer found he couldn''t confirm Apollo''s Sin Purity.

    However, Apollo couldn''t respond for a while. Although the pain had subsided, the shock from the overwhelming information hadn''t. Each of the stigmata finished their verification and hinted at an ability for Apollo!

    ?Alert! All your abilities have been determined. However, a few remain sealed until you meet the required prospects.?

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lv.5

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Greater Demon [50.00%]

    Title: Monarch''s Descendant, Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 18

    Level: 150

    Experience: 0.00%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 25,000 units.

    -----

    Strength: 1,750.0

    Agility: 1,625.0

    Intelligence: 1,650.0

    Vitality: 1,580.0

    Comprehension: 195.0

    Willpower: 165.0

    -----------

    [?Traits?]- 7

    ?Supreme Demon Body?

    ?Gluttonous Soul?

    ?Vacant Soul?

    ?Eye of Mimicry?

    ?Eye of Desire?

    ?Intrepid Mind?

    ?Tempting Corruption?

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 5

    ?Demonic Imposition: Adamantine Servitude? [Partially Awakened]

    ?Demonic Providence: Domination? [Sealed]

    -----------

    [?Sin Margins?]

    Ira - Primary [Infernal Hellfire]

    G - Initial [Endless Devouring]

    Avaritia - Initial [Boundless Desires]

    Superbia - Initial [Adamant Will]

    Invidia - Initial [Covetous Eye]

    Luxuria - Initial [Corrupted Eye]

    Acedia - Initial [Languish Perception]

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?]

    [Daemonic Avatar]

    Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master

    ?Greater Demon? [5,000]

    [Demonic Acolyte]

    Typhir Estrada (Demon Knight)

    ?Lesser Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Follower]

    Furcas (Demon Knight) - Wiseman of Corruption

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    Vc (Demon Knight) - The Terrible

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Servant]

    Zarkath (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    Jorgun the Anomaly (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    ------------

    [?Interdimensional Inventory?][?Inheritance?] [?Lucky Draw?]

    ...

    In addition to each Sin attaining the Initial level, Apollo also learned of their apanied abilities and the traits they offered. Although he didn''t take the time to delve into their intricacies, Apollo understood their general uses from the changes in his body.

    However, the two new techniques were entirely unfamiliar to him. Even focusing on them didn''t impart any knowledge. ''Perhaps its sealed state prohibits me from receiving information, but that''ll change soon enough. Obviously, they must require a higher state.''

    "What do you wish to do now? Should we revisit the Nihilistic Rings? Your current situation should enable you to stay longer. And, your growth will be much faster."

    "Yes, but not just yet. Before I disappear, I have to make it so Geneva or the others don''te looking. Furthermore, has her change finished yet?" Apollo inquired without turning around.

    Since it was aprehensive change, ia''s transformation was taking longer than Typhir''s or even his.

    "Almost. It would seem mimicking her bloodline takes some time. Perhaps she might even receive a blend of Sin to portray her earlier abilities," Fuhrer answered.

    "Mm," Apollo nodded before rising to his feet. "Come with me. Let''s go visit the administration. I have no use for these items, anyway."

    "But you could just devour them," Fuhrer suggested.

    This caused Apollo to stop in his tracks. The idea was viable now that it was mentioned, but Apollo had something more fitting in mind. Thus, he smiled and rejected the idea, "No need. This type of devouring is superficial. We have a better option if we bide our time. In the meantime, let us get the important matters started."

    Whoosh!

    Two magnificent wings unfurled behind Apollo with a medley of color flowing through newly formed gems on the joint of his wings.

    "Following right behind you." Secondster, Fuhrer split opened a portal. ording to Apollo''s estimations, Geneva and the rest of the administration should be having a meeting.

 Chapter 371 - Ultimatums And Threats

    ----

    Encased in the protection of the Umbra Phantom Mantle, Apollo avoided detection as he flew towards the Administration Hall. Based on what he sensed, there was indeed an increased number of people on its grounds. This was only true when a meeting was underway.

    At the same time, Apollo also detected Fuhrer''s appearance from within a void portal. This led Apollo to question himself. ''Have I gotten that much faster? Fuhrer''s Void Shuffling is some of the fastest movement I''ve ever seen, yet I''m not too far behind him.''

    After evolving, each of Apollo''s stats surpassed the 1,000 point threshold with ease. As a result, every one of his stats received the respective boost. Although the numbers didn''t change exponentially, the factor of each point did.

    If 1 point in Strength was equal to 5kg of strength prior to his evolution, the current factor was 15. In other words, a simple transformation resulted in an immense upgrade. However, that wasn''t the end. His Supreme Demon Body, which held more than one effect now that all 7 Stigmata were engraved on his body, caused another unforeseen change.

    Unfortunately, despite evolving, Apollo was still unable to peer into its contents. It seemed other requirements remained for him to gainplete ess to his given skills. In the meantime, Apollo was also focused on another matter, which proved to be extremely important.

    ''For now, most of my abilities are tied up in traits. That means I''ll need to increase my familiarity with the Annihtions. Now that I have multiple Sin Sources, I should be able toprehend them without a hitch. Granted, there are no other ridiculous requirements,'' Apollo thought.

    The first technique that came to mind was the Devouring Neb Strike. Now that G flowed throughout his body, there was no need to emte the sensation. Instead, he just needed to stimte the G to act ordingly. Once done, learning the Devouring Neb was only a matter of time.

    Unlike his crude usage in the Anomaly Realm, the Devouring Neb Strike required a refined usage of G. Haphazard usage would only produce an undesirable risk of the neb imploding, which might lead to everything within a 500-meter radius being swallowed.

    Nevertheless, Apollo pushed this matter to the back of his mind. Until he gained a chance to practice it, it held no meaning for him to brood over its uselessness right now.

    Eventually, Apollonded right before Fuhrer, who apanied him through the grand doors of the Administration Hall. The lobby was empty at a nce, with most of the staff upying the conference room.

    With that being the case, Apollo advanced towards the only upied room without hesitation. Following right behind him, Fuhrer smiled faintly. ''There are signs of innate confidence in his gait. Perhaps he''s recovering his true identity. It''s only a shame that I can''t verify it as such, else I would have begun the needed training regiment. His evolution was longer than desirable. Time isn''t on our side.''

    Now that the Goliath had transmitted their existence, staying in Astarat risked introducing them to needless danger. After all, the Goliath wasn''t just aware of their presence, since the human he made a deal with originated from Astarat, he was also privy to its position as well.

    If this information was transmitted along with Fuhrer''s presence, then grave danger was inbound. Especially so if Fuhrer''s enemies managed to regain a semnce of their original power. That type of strength could sunder Astarat with a mere flick! The flimsy defense of Astarat held no effect over the action.

    Thus, Fuhrer felt Apollo needed to enter the Archdemon stage as soon as possible. Although it was weaker than a Noblesse, it gave Apollo the option to stay in the Nihilistic Rings indefinitely.

    Compared to the Greater Demon level, an Archdemon''s body was nigh impervious to temporal forces. Thus, trying to reject Apollo''s body at that point would be nearly impossible. Not to mention, the prerequisite to this stage was merely the purity of his Sin.

    Now that he has proven himself, Demonic Conduct no longer held his evolution hostage. It was all based on his personal acquirements.

    Meanwhile, Apollo pressed the doors to the conference room to reveal Geneva, Robyn, Rezar, Sylvester, and a few others with grim expressions. Naturally, the first topic of discussion was the way the situation before the Anomaly Realm''s entrance unfolded.

    "Why so serious~? You all seem as if your children have died," Apollo chuckled while ncing around the room. Initially, Apollo''sment appalled the room''s upants, but his next actions left them stupefied.

    As if they meant nothing to him, Apollo waved his arm and discarded numerous items on the table. After killing the people within the realm, he had Vc imed their storage items. So, there was an abundance of items in his possession, especially the ones found on the falsely believed top floor.

    "W-what? Didn''t the realm only permit one item for retrieval? Why does he have multiple from the top floor?" Robyn asked with widened eyes.

    "W-wait what? Robyn is right! I remember seeing these items during my early years, but the price to retrieve them was too exorbitant," Rezarmented as well.

    However, Geneva remained uncharacteristically quiet as she glossed over the items. ''Something is wrong. He wouldn''t just reveal these items for no reason. There''s got to be more behind his actions.''

    Noticing her expression, Apollo smiled, "Could you be pondering my partial request? As I said before, the time wille. I won''t force it. In the meantime, these are yours. Especially you Robyn. The item you seek should be there as well."

    Robyn''s face changed drastically upon hearing this. He couldn''t believe his ears. After all, he didn''t truly consider Apollo relinquishing his own chance to gain a worthwhile item to choose one for him. However, with the current situation, it was definitely possible for his item to remain within the pile.

    Conversely, Sylvester felt this behavior was disastrous. "No, I don''t think we should ept these items. They can misconstrue our stance if we do. Remember, the ire of the Great Families is almost inevitable."

    "Can''t we just request the aid of the Supreme Families?" Robyn countered with apparent greed surfacing in his eyes. His cultivation was stuck at one level for far too long, driving him to search for drastic means to change this fact.

    "Were you not listening or has greed clouded your judgment?! There is no assistance from the Supreme Families, they''ve already washed their hands of the situation," Sylvester eximed. His frustration was permitted as they had gone over this topic right before Apollo entered.

    "No, no, no. That can''t be true. We house their beloved Paragon. How could they let the school grounds be endangered?" Robyn returned. However, everyone in the room looked at him differently upon hearing this. A frightening oue appeared in their minds for a moment.

    "The destruction of the academy isn''t within their worries, just the safety of that girl. I''m sure they''ll dispense an expert to extract her from the premises should the situation turn awry," Rezar muttered after pondering the current situation.

    Generally, someone in the positions of the Supreme Families didn''t bother themselves with the strife of their underlings. In their eyes, if they killed each other, that just meant fewer resources to trickle down the chain. But, that also meant the retrieval process would take a hit as well.

    At least, this was the public''s understanding.

    In truth, the Supreme Families typically employed rogue cultivators using the threat of death. After all, although they thought they escaped the radar of the families, that was never truly the case.

    "Why don''t you just recruit two of the Great Families to assist you. I''m sure the academy is a neutral area of experts. Thus, I''m sure the reservoir of adequate experts should be enough when paired with them," Apollo suggested.

    Everyone turned towards him with looks of confusion. Why would the Great Families help them after the atrocity that took ce?!

    "Are you truly mad? Has reasoning never been your strong suit?" Sylvester scoffed.

    However, Fuhrer didn''t appreciate the tone he used, causing him to unsheathe Brynhildr partially. Though, Apollo stopped him before he couldplete his actions.

    "I understand you''re frustrated, but I suggested you watch your tone," Apollo stated in a calm tone. Then a torrential pressure burst forth from his body as a horrifying light emanated from his eyes.

    Although the pressure wasn''t enough to stifle everyone, it was powerful enough to astonish them. Since when did Apollo''s pressure get so strong?!

    "Now, as I was saying. Two of their children are still alive. They should be more than willing once you reveal this information," Apollo continued, which caused a few murmurs.

    "If they''re still alive, then to assure their safety, they might very well assist us. But how would we incite them to act?" Geneva asked after quieting everyone down."

    "Well, first, we have Typhir. My trusted follower. His mother would be more than willing to help. But, it might be more limited to our safety. No worries, Typhir can change this."

    "And the other?"

    "She isn''t from this academy but," Apollo paused with an unsettling grin, "I can fetch her whenever. Granted, I''ll have to be here to do so," Apollo shrugged with a nonchnt demeanor.

    "What does that mean? Where do you intend to go?"

    "Where I always go. Except, my departure shall be much longer this time. So, I suggest you determine what your ns are at this very moment. Because I leave in a few minutes."

    "Preposterous! We are the staff. How can you tell us what you will do?" Sylvester eximed with stupefaction in his tone.

    "Simple, I am the one keeping him from killing you," Apollo retorted while pointing directly at Fuhrer.

    Everyone quieted down once Apollo brought this matter to light. Subsequently, Apollo released a yful chuckle. "So, what will it be~?"

 Chapter 372 - Returning A Lost Son

    ----

    Sylvester''s eyes widened with frustration because of Apollo''s tant disregard for their status. ''A-Absurd! Where is the respect for his superiors? We shouldn''t tolerate this type of behavior from any of the younger generation. If so, they''ll think it''s okay to trample upon us.''

    Besides Sylvester, based on a few other''s expressions, it could be seen that Apollo''s behavior wasn''t exactly appreciated. However, Apollo didn''t acknowledge their discontent. On the contrary, the longer he waited, the thinner his patience became. And, should he lose all patience, then the upants of this room were bound to lose their life.

    Noticing the palpable tension in the room, Geneva coughed and took control of the momentum, "If I were to entertain your idea, tell me, how would we enact your ns with you gone?"

    "The same way I''ve always operated. The other person was once my enemy, so there is no favor from my side. If I wish it, I''ll threaten their lives as I see fit. And, perhaps their family as well," Apollo responded in a lighthearted tone as if this matter was no issue for him.

    Upon hearing this, however, a few of the administrators in the conference room scoffed. For one, his ims were too grand for his inconsequential presence. No matter how much talent he held, it was foolish to believe one person couldbat an entire Great Family.

    "Heh, you''ll be pulverized the moment you set foot on their territory." A seated man in school robes with an almost thin looking physique and well-kept ck hair snorted. Once this was mentioned, a few other administrators voiced their opinion.

    However, their momentarypse in judgment seemed to affect their recollection of the situation. This time, Apollo dropped his hand, allowing Fuhrer to act as he pleased.

    Shing!

    A metallic cry was heard after experiencing Fuhrer''s near imperceptible quick-draw. After the sound appeared the room grew quiet. For a moment, the source was unknown, but then the same administrator released a hysterical scream.

    "Ahhh! My arm. My armmmm!"

    From his shoulder down, his entire was missing. In fact, as they looked at Fuhrer behind Apollo, they noticed the arm in his grasp. Though this type of wound could be easily reattached with the respective healing technique, that would be difficult to perform now.

    To impart a lesson, Fuhrer incinerated the arm before their very eyes. Now, they would think twice about infuriating the silent entity behind Apollo with their thoughtless words.

    Meanwhile, Geneva trembled as the majesty of the Hellfire danced in her eyes. Her hand fell towards her wounded torso while clutching her shirt with apparent desire. Fortunately, with everyone focused on the missing arm, no one took noticed of this ensemble.

    Well, no one except for Apollo, who smiled faintly.

    "The next infraction of you mouthing off will result in the utter loss of life. Try me if you don''t think my words are authentic," Fuhrer spat coldly while panning his gaze over the room.

    While this happened, Geneva calmed down her seething desires before speaking up, "Okay, okay. Don''t get out of hand. Let''s resolve this calmly. There is no need for violence. How about we just choose to go with your n? Does that soothe your anger, or whatever emotion you''re feeling at this moment?"

    Right before Apollo could respond, Sylvester twitched, unable to contain his opinion, "Although his words were crude, Ren is right. Stepping to the Great Family''s front door is absurd! That''s basically weing death. Not to mention, threatening the academy would be even worse. There''s no way to rectify that!"

    Under Sylvester''s fervent rejection of the idea, Geneva could only frown helplessly. This situation was truly turning into a headache.

    "I guess it''s not you who holds the authority in this situation," Apollo muttered in a derisive tone. Afterward, enormous shadow separated from his body before forming into the appearance of Vc, Jorgun, Zarkath, Furcas, and finally Typhir.

    In response, everyone jumped back from their startling appearance.

    "What the hell?! Are those Spirit. Are you fucking joining me? Does this kid really have 6 Spirits?! How can a body contain 6 of them?!" Rezar eximed. This situation bewildered with. Much 6 Spirit, there had never been a person to contract 3 Spirits sessfully!

    Yet, in their eyes, Apollo managed to double this number. At a nce, this might seem to be cmitous for his body, but Geneva took notice of something very odd.

    ''This was an effortless summoning. No strain, no portal. These Spirits must have formed the highest link with Apollo. But that doesn''t make any sense. His current power should even outss the second years, yet he has so many links to maintain¡­''

    Geneva bit her fingernail while continuing to ponder this situation. However, a few moments in, she remembered her experience with Fuhrer. ''Wait¡­ if they are the same as the thing behind Apollo, then perhaps they aren''t Spirits. What did they call themselves again? Demons, was it? Just how scared should I be of this situation?''

    "You were saying? I have an army of my own. One with unquestionable loyalty, unlike the morals of the people I''ve experienced thus far. Each and every one of the students here are prone to bing backstabbers. So, I have no reason to rely upon," Apollo answered before staring directly into Sylvester''s eyes.

    Without flinching, he continued, "Anything else you would like to say? You may choose to go up against any one of them if you choose to."

    Anyone could see Apollo was inciting Sylvester to make a foolish move. However, as someone who valued respect over all else, Sylvester found it hard to refrain from retaliating. In this case, the typically irrational Rezar was the voice of reason.

    "Don''t. Just by sensing their emanations, you can tell these Spirits are unquestionably strong and of the dark element. With these two things coupled together, they''re most likely a terrible enemy to face. Not to mention, when has a human ever gone up against a Spirit and prevailed?"

    Sylvester understood Rezar''s logical words, but then something else clicked. "He has. He has gone up against a Spirit and prevailed. If he can do so, why can''t the time change? There''s obviously room for change."

    Noticing that Sylvester was losing his rational mind, Robyn intervened, "Don''t. You''ll just worsen the citation."

    "Robyn''s right.. Don''t do anything unnecessary," Genevamented. At the same time, he held her own thoughts. ''Besides, Apollo is no longer human. Comparing yourself will only invite trouble to yourself.''

    "I presume you''ve chosen to opt for my decision? If so, perhaps there is someone who will eventually be of help to you," Apollo answered before snapping his finger. A message entered each of his subordinate minds causing them to disappear, leaving only Apollo in the room.

    At first, the others didn''t know how to perceive this action, but Apollo''s next words were unusual. "I may have control over them, but should they lose theirposure this whole academy ground may be at risk. So, I suggest you stay in line."

    "A-" Sylvester wanted to respond, but Geneva interjected quickly.

    "Quiet," Genevamanded while looking at Apollo with a solemn expression.

    Consequently, Apollo continued with a faint smirk, "Consider these items my gift. And, is the Umbra Night Institute open?"

    "Not at this moment. Everything has been closed to prevent infiltration from the Great Families," Geneva answered.

    "Well, I''ll just open it myself then," Apollo responded before disappearing into shadowy wisps.

    Even after his disappearance, no one dared to speak, just in case Apollo was still in the room. After all, there were some techniques that erased one''s presence while retaining the same location.

    Unlike the rest, Robyn didn''t really carry an opinion on the matter. He merely approached the pile before singling out a cerulean ring with white etchings. Out of the entire pile, this was the only item to resonate with him. Obviously, this was the item Apollo mentioned earlier.

    Just touching the ring made his cultivation base quiver! Compared to the others in the room, his mood was many times better. Regardless of how they advanced, the Vermillion Night Academy seemed to be in a losing position.

    Geneva sighed before reclining in her chair. The predicament weighed heavily on her mind. Even if they wished to give up Apollo, after the revtion of all those Demons, Geneva understood that he was by no means helpless.

    Not to mention his horrid aura.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Apollo flew over the campus while monitoring the movements of his Demons. Each of them converged at the position of the Umbra Night Institute as per his directions.

    Secondster, Apollonded before its grandiose door before cing his palm against his. His special identification card slid into the groove. However, a mechanical voice declined ess.

    As a result, Apollo relied upon Fuhrer.

    Zweut!

    His sword split open a portal, bypassing the door guarding the institute. Subsequently, another portal opened up, except Apollo pulled Erebane from inside. Compared to before, he wasn''t as pale and his thin frame regained some of its vigor.

    ''I guess being the offspring of a Primordial has its benefits. While iparable to that Goliath, he seems to be healing nicely.

    "Are you ready to meet the one who requested your safety? I''m sure he can''t wait to meet you," Apollo remarked before entering the portal.

    Instead of being greeted by corridors, Apollo and the rest arrive directly before the Umbryonic Source Orb. In light of their arrival, the orb expanded to wee them all.

    Of course, the first to enter was Erebane after Apollo''s shove.

    Afterward, Apollo entered followed closely behind by his followers.

    Instantly, Apollo was greeted by the sight of two figures who had gone through an excessive change. So much so, Apollo was wordless for a moment. ''Perhaps I should have tried to absorb the legacy of Destrys.''

 Chapter 373 - A Small Spar

    ----

    Moments before Apollo arrived in the space of the Umbryonic Source Orb¡­

    Both Xezym and Sapphyr underwent shocking changes. Dark mes wreathed Xezym''s body as the previously tattered robes were reced by a seemingly dark armor. Contrary to his expectations, the armor wasn''t monotone.

    There were tones of silver, deep purple, and even white inteced in the exposed sections of the armor. Furthermore, the armor didn''t seem metallic, but rather made from a material mimicking its properties yetcking the luster to be called metal.

    On the other hand, Sapphyr''s change was even more shocking. There were zero signs of her previous appearance and familial traits. First, her hair was now jet ck. What''s more, if one looked closely, it''d appeared that the tips of her hair waves with shadowy wisps.

    Furthermore, her cream color skin was now a pale shade of white, as if her body had never experienced the delight of the sun. This, apanied by the sharp glint in her silver eyes, made Sapphyr an ethereal beauty in the truest sense. With the help of Destrys, her physique could no longer be called human.

    Now, she resided in a special ce¡ªa sort of limbo between Human and Spirit. As a result, she could dip into the best of both worlds without sacrificing much. At least, that was from her point of view.

    "You have both done well. I''d say you have absorbed sixty and forty percent of the legacy, respectively. I''m surprised a human has outssed a Spirit in spiritual practices. Shocking, but not unprecedented."

    After Destrys acknowledged their progress, Xezym kneeled before him with a bowed head. This respectful gesture made Destrys smile as it had been eons since someone was grateful for his help.

    "Your guidance has been life-changing. I will take what you have instilled in me and continue to hone myself. My progress doesn''t stop her. It is merely the beginning," Xezym vowed before lifting his head to meet Destrys'' approving gaze.

    Obviously, Xezym was well aware that Destrys was the sole reason for his unspeakable changes. The techniques, as well as the energy he was subjected to inside the Legacy Gate, were beyond his previously limited mind.

    The utilization, the practices, the in-depth resonance with darkness¡ªonce all of these factors merged into one, it created the gateway to Xezym''s liberated understanding.

    "Very well. However, actions are the true manifestation of words. I''d prefer your action over your words. Only then can I instill myplete trust in you. Until then, I simply wish you luck," Destrys replied before turning his attention towards a minor fracture in space.

    Gradually, it expanded to reveal a body being dumped inside. At a nce, he was unfamiliar with them. However, a thrum deep inside his being led Destrys to believe this was the individual he sought.

    ''So the time hase. Let the grudges subside and the future grant a new embrace,'' Destrys thought to himself. As this was the first time he had ever seen Erebane, there was bound to be some deep-rooted malice. After all, what child didn''t hold resentment after learning of their parent''s absence?

    This was true even for matters that didn''t involve the apparent. Until it was addressed, it was hard to find the true source to me.

    Suddenly, the portal expanded once again due to the influx of more people. One by one, Apollo and his followers entered the portal. After his initial shock, Apollo smiled before examining both Xezym and Sapphyr.

    However, before addressing them, Apollo nodded towards Fuhrer, who used a special energy to levitate Erebane and send him towards Destrys.

    "I appreciate your favor," Destrys thanked before waving his hand lightly. Erebane''s battered body stopped before Destrys. A small evaluation was made before Destrys chuckled lightly, "They really did a number on you, but most of this damage is your own doing. Nheless, I shall help you."

    A stream of extremely pure dark energy punctured Ereabne''s chest inducing a small jerk. However, Ereabne''s eyes mmed open afterward because of the indescribable pain coursing through his body.

    "Bear with it. This is needed. Most of your internals have been rupturing. The exterior might seem to be healing, but it is only a deceiving facade; our specialty as dark spirits," Destrys revealed.

    As this happened, Sapphyr approached Apollo of her own ord before looking at him with an odd gaze, "You look different. Are you supposed to look this old?"

    "Likewise," Apollo returned with a chuckle. A cursory nce highlighted many changes about Sapphyr, "I could even say you''re almost an entirely different person."

    After a brief pause, Apollo touched her hair to find it possessed a bizarre property. It was almost illusory. "I like this look. It''s much more appealing than what you were before."

    For a moment, Sapphyr paused before recalling moments before she was thrust inside that dark ce. At first, she wanted to me Apollo for any torture she could experience, but contrary to what she thought, the unorthodox training didn''t allow her the luxury of monitoring her surroundings.

    Thus, instead of resentment, Sapphyr appreciated Apollo''s odd act of kindness, "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to change."

    Apollo nodded faintly but the vibe in the surrounding turned tense and even dark! A cluster of Ira appeared around Apollo''s hand before stabbing it towards Sapphyr without any prior indication of an attack.

    Sapphyr''s eye widened in response, leaving her minimal time to react. Fortunately, the time spent inside the Legacy Gate wasn''t just for show. A thinyer of dark energy secreted from her pores before melding with a body.

    Once this was done, Apollo''s strike came in contact with her body, yet his expression morphed into one of shock. His arm passed right through her as if he was striking air! However, Apollo noticed a few abnormalities.

    At the site of his attack, numerous shadowy wisps matching the ones dancing from her hair strafed across her ribs.

    ''A technique simr to the Umbra Phantom Mantle? But, it seems to be at a lower level since her control iscking,'' Apollo mused. Then, he spun and encased his single arm in the aura of the Umbra Phantom Mantle.

    This time, she couldn''t avoid the strike. Sapphyr was forced back once Apollo''s strikended on her torso. Although he didn''t use his full strength, her ability to remain standing and only be forced back a few steps astounded Apollo.

    Conversely, Sapphyr was in utter shock. ''He''s grown this strong in that short amount of time. I''m almost sure of it. He''s stronger than I was before I was given this opportunity. But, I''mnot the same anymore!''

    Boom!

    A surge of dark energy billowed forth from Sapphyr''s body. In the next moment, she retrieved a rapier. While it appeared simr to her old one, Destrys fundamentally changed its property. Colorless inscriptions absorbed her emitted energy, which soon precipitated a change in the weapon.

    A light hum was produced as Sapphyr rushed towards Apollo.

    Not willing to back down either, Apollo mimicked her response. Except, different from his first attack, both of his arms were now wreathed in the vast aura of the Umbra Phantom Mantle.

    ''Hopefully, I can control this properly. It''s my first time trying to use this aura as a way of attack.''

    Bang!

    A resounding explosion urred the moment they collided. Sapphyr''s rapier stabbed Apollo''s cross-guarded arms. However, she didn''t stop there. In a fluid motion, Sapphyr performed an aerie spin, intending tond a sharp kick on the top of Apollo''s head.

    Unfortunately, Apollo''s senses were too keen. An ominous glint shed in his eyes as Apollo''s left arm morphed into the Infernal Arm of Damnation. Once the transformation waspleted, Apollo responded with a punch.

    Boom!

    Another deafening collision took ce. This time, however, Sapphyr was forced back a lot further. Yet, Apollo didn''t relent. He stormed forth through the cloud of dark energy and appeared before Sapphyr.

    "This is a nice stretch. But, I know you''re hiding something. This can''t be the extent of what you''ve learned," Apollo remarked before unleashing yet another relentless strike. Under the barrage of his attacks, Sapphyr could only defend with a solemn gaze.

    "That smug attitude. I''ve always hated it. Just watch, I''ll fix that for you right now!" Sapphyr eximed. Three ripples urred behind her before coalescing into three darkness de. They weren''t just any de though.

    Apollo''s eyes widened upon perceiving them, "So, you''ve managed to learn that same technique? Then, let''s see how it matches up against mine."

    Simrly, the same ripples took ce behind Apollo. The Void Rend des hurtled towards one another before causing a terrifying explosion of dark energy. Both sides retreated while coughing.

    Despite neither sideing out on top, Apollo smiled, "As I thought. You were hiding it well. Destrys has given you something, hasn''t he?" During the time of impact, Sapphyr''s de underwent a subtle change.

    Although it was easy to overlook, Apollo spotted it due to his familiarity with the power. It was the same exact power Erebane power against Fuhrer, albeit at a minuscule scale inparison.

    All of a sudden, Fuhrer coughed, "You two just couldn''t wait to gauge each other''s strengths? As expected of youth. The vigor apanied by that age is bliss."

    In response to Fuhrer''s remark, Apollo''s partial transformation gradually subsided.

    "We''ll call it a tie and continue thister. In the meantime, I have something to request of you Destrys. Do you need to monitor his recovery, or can you apany me?" Apollo inquired.

    "Oh? Seeking to redeem your favor already? Impatience sometimes ruins the worth and indulgence of a moment. Are you sure this is what you wish for right now? The minuscule often impairs the greater picture."

 Chapter 374 - Tempting A New Servant (I)

    ----

    After Destrys insisted for Apollo to rethink his decision, Apollo paused in his steps. ''Could it be possible he understands what I''m going to request? If so, why would he suggest that holding on to the favor would be better?''

    Due to his raised questions, Apollo could only ask for confirmation from Destrys, "Why do you believe it''s best to wait?"

    "That answer is a quite simple one, youngd. As you know, this is just a fragment of myself. Any favor you ask me to fulfill can only be partially done. However, that partialpletion will still count as repayment since I am capable of aplishing your requests better than you are."

    Admittedly, Apollo couldn''t retort this. With both extensive experience from years of life as well as the attainments produced by those experiences triumphed over Apollo''s without end. Anything Apollo sought to do, most likely took no more than a nce for Destrys.

    "That may be true, but what if my request is something that I can''t do alone? For example, gaining entrance to the Doman of the Spirits," Apollo finally countered after digesting Destrys'' remark.

    For a moment, Destrys was surprised but then he chuckled, "If you''re anything like your predecessor then I''d have to decline that request. Who knows how much carnage has been woven into your soul due to the adversities of your life."

    "But your words."

    "I understand what I promised, however, part of that me is held by the Spirits. Therefore, there is no telling what atrocities you''llmit while inside that ce. But, if you''re willing to face a limitation, I can entertain that thought," Destrys replied before wielding a thoughtful expression.

    "A limitation? How intrusive will it be?" Apollo inquired. After dealing with Destrys, Apollo understood his personality, so there was a chance his restriction wasn''t as bad as he thought. Hence, Apollo''s current intrigue.

    "It''s a simple restriction. You''ll be restricted to my domain personally and I''ll even show you a few things should you ever find the time to arrive there," Destrys offered before gazing behind Apollo, "Before that, I suggest cultivation your forces with unwavering focus."

    A quick nce at where Destrys paid attention to gave Apollo a glimpse of what he hinted towards, "Can you see the power of the Old Monarch in them?"

    "That goes without saying. After all, there is no one more familiar with his power. The power to elevate his own. It was quite an unusual thing. Perhaps it went even beyond him," Destrys muttered while recounting his old experiences.

    A genuine smile appeared on his face, but it soon faded as he relinquished his thoughts of those times. No matter how much he wished for it to happen, it was near impossible to retrieve or even relive the past.

    It''d take an extremely ethereal moment to enter the required state to detach oneself from reality to that extent.

    Nevertheless, Apollo''s mind was changed after Destrys offered this. However, there was something he still required confirmation about. "Does the restriction offer me another iplete favor in return?"

    "You sly boy. Only time can tell. Perhaps there will be a time where we must call upon each other. At that time, maybe payment will be the least of our worries," Destrys remarked. Although his tone was light, there was a solemn light in his eyes.

    In return, Apollo agreed, albeit barely.

    Then, Apollo brought up another issue.

    "You said a demon can''t make a contract with a Spirit. Then, in your own way, how do you see that girl? Is she a Spirit or Human?" Apollo questioned. At the same time, his finger was pointed towards Sapphyr, who looked at him with a weird expression.

    "Well, in truth, she''s neither. She is not a human or a Spirit. Thus, I don''t think either of the restrictions limits her body. However, there is also an issue as she can never truly evolve into a Spirit because of her birth," Destrys answered.

    Unlike Demons, which are the embodiment of Sin, Spirits operate on what''s known as Arcana in their world. And, without an Arcanic Source tied to the origins of Spirits, it was impossible to be a Spirit.

    Furthermore, an Arcanic Source couldn''t be artificially made. Thus, why the other 3 races wished to monitor the Demons extensively. Among the 4 races, the Demons were the race with the strongest procreation rate. This was due to their ability to bypass the need for a Sinful Organ and produce it after birth.

    In the eyes of the other races, if left unmonitored, the Demons would be able to propagate endlessly and cause an uprising. The use banning interracial offsprings was put in ce to mostly limit the Demons.

    If their abilities met with any of the other upper races, the resulting offspring would be a near-impossible force. Especially if that offspring awakened to both sides of their powers.

    "So you mean to say, she can still be melded to one''s liking?" Apollo questioned with an interested gleam in his eyes. The way he looked at Sapphyr was akin to a toddler receiving a shiny new toy.

    The gaze unsettled her, but she didn''t react strongly. Instead, she listened to their conversation with interest. ''I had a feeling I was no longer human, but what is Apollo? The way he speaks carries no trace of humanity in it.''

    All of a sudden, Apollo beckoned for Sapphyr. While doing so, his body changed before her very eyes. From his initial human appearance, he took on his Greater Demon form. Revealing his mystifyingly enthralling horns.

    Sapphyr''s jaw dropped. The abrupt change nearly short-circuited her mind, leaving Sapphyr frozen in mid-gasp. Meanwhile, she subconsciously stepped closer to Apollo out of fear.

    Typically, one would retreat upon signs of fear, however, Sapphyr was the opposite and for a good reason. After fighting Apollo, she was aware that her speed paled inparison. If he wished to, Apollo could catch her in an instant. Hence, she felt it was useless to even try to run.

    Not to mention, the area was sealed off. Without the inference of a presence like Fuhrer or Destrys, any upant of this space would have to wait until the Umbyronic Source Orb exhausted its current energy supply and ejected them from the realm.

    A few momentster, she stood before Apollo''s eclipsing figure with a faint tremble. However, Apollo''s reassurance doused her taut nerves.

    "Rx, it is still me. This is just my true form I have kept hidden. Surely you''ve expected something was amiss with me. After all, who else acts like me? Nevertheless, that isn''t why I brought you here. Would you like to get stronger? Perhaps...strong enough to obtain vengeance?"

    "Vengeance? I''m strong enough now," Sapphyr responded. After her transformation, not only did her power increase but so did her confidence. As a result, the target of her vengeance was always in mind.

    "No, I don''t believe so. I have a clear picture of that woman in my mind. Sarai, was it? Looking back, I can tell her general power level and you are about thirty percent weaker than her. Plus, ample time has passed. Do you think her progress has stagnated?

    "Are you trying to tell me that Sarai was already a Spirit Lord at that time? That can''t be true, how do you know?" Sapphyr eximed. Her eyes rattled as she looked at Apollo due to his revtion. Right now, she was no stronger than an early Spirit Lord.

    This included Xezym''s upgrade as well. Sarai and her SPirit were bound to have advanced through the realm by now. Thus, Sapphyr''s confidence took a small blow.

    Fortunately, Apollo was counting on this temporary state of hopelessness. After all, a Demon''s powers worked best when the victim was in a near powerless state. With their vulnerable mind, aplete change was inbound.

    As such Apollo leaned next to her ear while using a lulling tone. The Luxuria in his body activated as faint signs of the Corrupted Eyes appeared. "Tell me, Sapphyr. What would you say if I told you can help solve this issue? As you know, I''ve already helped you once before."

    Before responding, Sapphyr''s eyes illuminated with a light pink hue. Then, haze shrouded her mind as she fell under Apollo''s spell, "Can you really help? Will I be able to end the tyranny of Sarai? My mother doesn''t deserve that treatment... and my father is powerless against my grandfather."

    "If memory serves, it should be quite easy," Apollo replied.

    At the same time, Destrys and Fuhrer exchanged surprised gazes. "Is this body using a new Sin?" Destrys questioned.

    "Oh yes, perhaps I forgot to tell you, but my Lord has alreadypleted the initial transformations. He holds infantile control over every Sin. Don''t you see the familiar stigmata etched upon his body~?" Fuhrer answered with a proud smile.

    Consequently, Destrys examined Apollo''s body to find it was true. ''They''re more concealed than I remember. Then again, I had only met the old guy when he was Daemos.''

    While Fuhrer and Destrys talked amongst themselves, Apollo moved forward with his n. Each of the Sin streams in his body separated in preparation for the process. When creating a follower, it was best to let the Sin determine its affinity. Because each one possessed their own sentience.

    Gradually, Ira, Superbia, Avaritia, and Invidia permeated his palm once it made contact with Sapphyr''s forehead. Clearly, Sapphyr''s deep-rooted malice held arge effect on the Sins that interacted with her.

    On the other hand, Apollo was delighted with this development, ''Although the Sins are different, she should be on par or even stronger than Geneva!''

    Whoos!

    A surge of Sin then flowed inside Sapphyr''s body.

 Chapter 375 - Tempting A New Servant (II)

    ----

    The vibrant surge of Sin caused Destrys'' eyes to widen in shock. ording to his knowledge, the slightest bit of Arcanic Arts should render demonic transformation impossible. Yet, the surge of energy emitting from Sappyhr''s body was rmingly pure.

    "How is this possible?" Destrys questioned with an incredulous expression. Even Fuhrer was shocked by the enormous difference. Compared to Typhir''s change, the one Sapphyr was experiencing was at least twice as strong.

    Although this didn''t mean the state of their Sins were worlds apart, it did mean that her starting state could be much higher than the rest. This type of Sin was only found in demons at the Greater Demon level, or perhaps even Archdemon.

    However, it didn''t truly pass that threshold. Instead, Apollo''s energy enabled an absurd change to take ce within those he conquered. As a result, Fuhrer grew increasingly bewildered as the process advanced.

    ''The signs of the Supreme Demon Body. It appears the bloodline embedded in his soulblood is resurfacing. The sole leading ability of the Old Monarch is budding into fruition!'' Fuhrer thought as his bewildered expression changed into one of excitement.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s eyes cycled through an assortment of colors and symbols. Since Sapphyr held a strong affinity towards a few Sins, Apollo took the initiative to introduce her to them early on. Perhaps this would have a beneficial effect.

    ''It wasn''t my decision; the Sin acted of their own ord and Luxuria even seemed to incite the others. Perhaps they share a rtionship while inside my body, unlike the outside situation where each of them seeks to overpower one another.''

    Admittedly, the reason behind this rudimentary coexistence was Apollo''s partially sealed ability. Although he couldn''t verify it because of the omitted information, ever since then, both his Sin''s sentience and his Demon''s felt more controble.

    ''Could it be that Adamantine Servitude means everything under my control will fall under irrevocable domination? If so, what is a providence then? So many questions, yet not enough answers. Perhaps Fuhrer understands what a providence is,'' Apollo mused while ncing towards Fuhrer.

    Unfortunately, a few momentster, Apollo was forced to return his attention back towards Sapphyr. That momentarypse in focus nearly cost him the entire process. Although his body could handle the simultaneous influx of Sin, Sapphyr''s couldn''t.

    Thus, Apollo was tasked with introducing the Sins one at a time, with Luxuria being the first. However, while extremely focused, Fuhrer appeared alongside him.

    "Your knowledge surrounding the rtionship and orientation of Sin iscking. Although I have told that the rtionship is toxic in the past, in truth, some of the Sin possess higher affinities towards each other," Fuhrer revealed before pointing toward the faint pink energy wreathing Apollo''s finger.

    After this action, Fuhrer continued. "Luxuria is a Sin with many branching pathways. After all, lust doesn''t just rte to the matters of craving the opposite gender. No, its true purpose originates from desiring someone or something that produces a heavy attraction."

    "In others, Luxuria shares a close rtion with Greed?" Apollo questioned while upholding unwavering focus. After all, he couldn''t afford to lose it. A failed change produced a frightening situation. Because, if an activated Sin entered a body other than a Demon, it led to an inevitable explosion.

    Sin found in foreign bodies was always in a dormant state. Hence, why no other race except demons could forge attacks with this type of energy. Once the energy traveled through a Demon''s vessel, the dormant abilities of the respective sin were activated.

    If left alone, the destructive capabilities were simply frightening.

    "Correct. They do indeed share a close rtionship. Luxuria can be seen as an initializing agent. After boundless lustes the existence of greed. Especially so if the user manages to indulge in what they lust after. However, there is also an inverse rtionship. Can you guess what that might be?" Fuhrer asked with a faint smile.

    Stepping to his other side, Fuhrer examined the area under Apollo''s finger to find a faint mark. This intrigued Fuhrer enough to even address it, "Also, are you trying to forge a simplification of the Stigmata on her body?"

    "No, I''m not. I''m just acting as the catalyst. The rest is being aplished by my released Sin," Apollo answered. However, judging by Fuhrer''s expression, Apollo felt he knew something, "What is it?"

    "The correct answer would be yes. You released this Sin, so by default, it has absorbed a portion of your desires. And, since you desire strong subordinates, it is carrying out your wishes to the best of its abilities, albeit somewhatcking."

    This revtion surprised Apollo. ''Could my control of Sin really havee such a long way? From barely surviving the temptation of Ira to having Luxuria operate on my subconscious whims? If so, the changes brought about by this evolution are simply astonishing!''

    Meanwhile, Apollo also took the time to address Fuhrer''s earlier question after giving the matter some thought, "Let''s see. I feel as if there are two possible answers."

    "There are, but they are situational and well as sequential. Thus, try to determine the rtionship between the two and give me an answer," Fuhrer responded. Since Apollo''s interaction with Sin was increasing, now was the best time for Fuhrer to impart as well as have Apolloprehend information that carried far into the future.

    For a while, Apollo fell silent while pondering the rtionship between the two Sins floating around in his thought. Truth be told, he felt the cements were interchangeable at first, however, upon further analysis, Apollo found that the three sins should indeed possess a concrete order.

    "Firstes the lust, but greed isn''t the next sensation toe about. No, it''s situational and dependent on the fulfillment. Thus, if the lust is indulged, it will ultimately lead to greed. However, if the lust is denied, then it is bound to create envy. Which shall soon morph into the rage of absence," Apollo muttered.

    Based on his expression, Apollo''s answer gave Fuhrer a pleasant surprise, "Correct. You have described the interpersonal rtion between Luxuria, Avaritia, Invidia, and Ira. In other words, you have arrived at the core of thisdy''s gues.

    "Essentially, what you''ve done is depicted the struggles of the woman before you. By understanding the Sin, you can determine which arrived first in a person and how their experiences influenced the Sin," Fuhrer exined.

    Afterward, Apollo was hit by inspiration, "If this is her path of Sin, what would happen if I emte the sequence?"

    Instead of giving a concrete answer, Fuhrer chuckled, "Why don''t you try it out and see? You should be willing to task risks because your future will be filled with them."

    In response, Apollo nodded and chose to test theories. First, he made sure to reach the limit of Luxuria Sapphyr''s body could contain then immediately switched to Invidia. The reason behind this was simple, Apollo was aware of part of Sapphyr''s past.

    ''Greed never appeared in her past because she never managed to ovee her sister. Thus, she envied the strength and position of her sister. And, that envy is what fueled Sapphyr to overstrain herself,'' Apollo inwardly thought.

    Sometimeter, the capacity of Invidia was reached, leading Apollo to focus on Ira now. Compared to the rest, however, Apollo gawked upon acknowledging the depth of her capacity. ''This vessel for her Ira is at least 5 timesrger than the rest! The hatred she carries for her families must be unmatched.

    Then again, Sapphyr did suffer the torment of Sarai for countless and that treatment bled from her to her mother. And, due to her immense potential, her grandfather¡ªthe Grand Master of the Braum Family¡ªindirectly permitted this behavior.

    Anything to appease his beloved grandfather Sarai.

    ''Perhaps this is why I have taken a liking to you. Simr circumstances birth simr paths. Plus, it makes for an easy target to mold into a follower,'' Apollo thought before finally addressing thest Sin.

    Although Avaritia was present, it wasn''t as strong as the rest, which meant its presence was fairly new. In fact, Apollo was almost certain that this greed was born from Destrys'' inheritance ce.

    After all, that was the only area she tasted true power. And, after receiving it she wished for more. Unfortunately, the time Destrys could keep them inside was already exhausted. At this point, his energy reserves within this fragmented being were mere fumes, at best.

    Nevertheless, Apollo still deluged her body with the respective Sin. Once the process was down, Apollo took a step back as watched the change.

    Unlike Typhir, Sapphyr wasn''t a demon of destruction. On the contrary, her form stayed slender with entuated curves. However, her eye-catching feature were two wings made from obsidian bones unfurling from her back.

    Furthermore, the inner structure was then outfitted with shadowy feathers reminiscent of mes. In fact, it was nearly identical to the initial state of Hellfire, except it didn''t offer the sensation of change.

    "Well, what do we have here. To think this youngdy would awaken the Dark Abyss mes. Then again, I should have expected as such. She does possess the proper assortment of Sin," Fuhrer nodded in approval.

    Meanwhile, Sapphyr''s eyes opened, and they were quite odd, to say the least. For the most part, they were amethyst, but there was a ring of pure silver surrounding them. Which led Apollo to believe possessed some type of abnormality.

    However, although Sapphyr''s eyes were opened, she seemed panicked.

    "Oh, she might not be able to move. There''s an issue with the Dark Abyss mes. When they''re first activated, they try to drag their summoner''s mind to the abyss. I suggest you help her," Fuhrermented.

    "Tch, why does everything have to be such a hassle?" Apollo grumbled before summoning his wings and flying up towards Sapphyr.

 Chapter 376 - A Stream Of Surprises

    ----

    Eventually, Apollo arrived before Sapphyr, whose body continually released an obscure sensation. Although it was simr to the void used by Fuhrer, it was fundamentally different, as well as weaker. After all, the abyss just meant an abandoned realm in the possession of the demons.

    However, the void was linked to all worlds. If one''s expertise was high enough, then traveling to a different world by use of the void wasn''t far-fetched. In fact, during his prime, this was exactly how Fuhrer performed any assassinations he was meant to carry out.

    Needless to say, this was another reason why many races and even individuals wished to see him dead.

    Nevertheless, their hope couldn''t be fulfilled because Fuhrer''s life force was exceedingly difficult to threaten. Even though his body existed, most of his sustenance remained tied to the Nihilistic Rings. Thus, if they wished to see his demise, it''d require the location of the Nihilistic Rings.

    But, as of now, its position was well hidden.

    Meanwhile, Apollo hovered before Sapphyr with an odd expression. Unlike moments before, where her eyes were thrumming with power, Sapphyr''s gaze was nk and nearly lifeless.

    "It seems her mes are quite powerful. It''s dragging along and passing through her mind faster than estimated. Lad, not to rush you but I suggest you act quicker. Only her master can help her in this situation. Remember, everything given to her was once a part of you, thus you should also know what to do," Fuhrer revealed before taking a seat next to Destrys in a chair formed from dark energy.

    "It''s quite odd. How did he manage to evolve so quickly? Or, is there another mystery behind his change?" Destrys inquired. Thest time he saw Apollo, even if the time was distorted in this ce, he was a mere Leser Demon. Furthermore, there were no signs of all seven sins being active, which gave rise to even more questions.

    As Fuhrer trusted Destrys, he decided to reveal what he knew, even though it was iplete. Except for Apollo and Azridan, no other demon knew of this system''s presence, "It''ll be thetter with a mixture of the former."

    Before continuing Fuhrer paused for a moment before gathering his thoughts, "You see, he didn''t evolve fast at all, but, the sublimation of his Sins did happen rather fast. As his offspring, this much should be expected, but there''s also a change in him that I can''t quite pinpoint."

    "Would you deem this change as bad or good?"

    "Indeterminable at this point. It''ll require further monitoring. But, for now, I feel this change is beneficial. Of course, this is just my opinion, so the particrs are susceptible to change," Fuhrer responded.

    Afterward, he continued to silently watch Apollo handle the situation in his hands.

    Since this matter what unfamiliar to Apollo, his first thought was to approach it from a delicate angle, ''If she is being dragged to the abyss, then the I''ll just have to attract her. However, the question is how much force is required to do so? If I''m too gentle the chance of failure is high, but if I''m too rough, now only can I damage her mind, but her potential could be ruined.

    Left in a dilemma, Apollo didn''t realize the area around him emitted a ripple with the consistency of jelly. Once it spread further and encased Sapphyr, the pace of her chest rising and falling slowed dramatically. At first, this escaped Apollo''s notice because one, he wasn''t looking for it, and two, this power waspletely unfamiliar to Apollo.

    Although it was unexpected, this activation was helpful nheless. Especially after the system detailed its presence.

    ?System Alert: Acedia''s ability ?Languished Perception? has activation. Everything will feel slowed down until you release the sphere of Acedia.?

    While the white sphere continued to glow around them, Apollo took this given time to examine Sapphyr closely. While it seemed like she lostplete control of her body, that wasn''t the case.

    Even though it was almost imperceptible, Apollo managed to locate an anomaly. A spark of dark energy traveled back and forth between her thumb and middle finger, with a changing frequency. However, if it was put into a message, then this signaled tranted to something Apollo understood.

    "So that''s what you need? Understood," Apollo muttered before raising his arms. With both of his palms opened by her ears, Apollo formed two orbs of dark energy, except the energy became morepact.

    "Does he intend to do what I think he does?" Destrys inquired with a bewildered expression.

    However, despite searching for an answer, Fuhrer was at the same impasse! "I''m not sure what he intends to do. Everything this boy does is quite unorthodox. Oftentimes, this issue is handled by the master devouring the mes, but that also poses an issue."

    "Some of the follower''s power is devoured," Destrys interjected. Though he wasn''t a demon, he was extremely knowledgeable about them thanks to the teachings of the Old Monarch.

    Finally, Apollo''s actions left them stupefied. Two explosions of dark energy urred by Sapphyr''s ears. However, before any damage could take ce, two disks appeared over her ears.

    Both the vibrations and the rampant dark energy were absorbed, whilst the intent of his actions was aplished! Sapphyr''s eyes regained focus with a tinge of pain apparent from her expression.

    Although Apollo tried his best to absorb the dark energy before the explosion could cause extensive damage, even with the help of his Languished Perception, the distance was too much for him to effortlessly deal with in his current state.

    Fortunately, Sapphyr shook her head, "Don''t worry. There''s nothing wrong. Ut''s just my reaction to the bit of difort brought about by the me''s sudden disappearance."

    "You say that that, but you''re not a very good liar," Apollo chuckled before injecting some Demonic Anima right under her ear. The trickle of blood seeping from her ear evaporated as the signs of pain on her face lightened.

    After it was done, Apollo smiled, "Wee to my followers."

    ?System Alert: Because the system has reached Lv.5 and you''ve evolved into a Greater Demon, your privileges amongst your followers are much greater. A new list has been formed.?

    ?System Alert: A list of new privileges- ?

    ¡¸You can bestow the following:

    Demonic Assignment

    Armament Creation

    Sacrificial Evolution¡¹

    Each of these new privileges intrigued Apollo, causing him to look over each one carefully. The first on the list, Demonic Assignment rted to the information Fuhrer revealed to him. However, this type of ability was something only royalty should possess, or at the very least, the council.

    ?Demonic Assignment?

    Information: As you are currently a Greater Demon, this allows you to bestow your followers with an official demon Ranking. However, your current powers provide limitations. You''re only allowed to bestow up to the title of a Demonic Earl.

    Earls: Allowed up to 3.

    Knights: Allowed up to 5.

    President: Allowed up to 10

    ...

    Upon reading this, Apollo remembered that achieving these rankings took certain requirements. However, if he could create them then wouldn''t those requirements be added to his demons? Granted, those like Fuhrer and Furcas, possessed the qualifications to go beyond an Earl.

    Regrettably, Apollo''s current authority didn''t grant his power that strong yet. Be that as it may, his current abilities were more than enough.

    Then, Apollo moved on to the next privilege.

    ?Armament Creation?

    Information: Allows you to bestow 1 Demon with the ability to create a personal Armament. (The limit can be increased by increasing the system level alongside your evolutionary state.)

    *Note: A Personal Armament differs from a Sin Armament as it doesn''t have the same limitations. If forged properly, its potential could be limitless.

    Apollo''s eyes widened the moment theynded upon the note. If this type of Armament was unique, then howe he couldn''t use it on himself and only bestow it? After all, if he had his own Armament, then he wouldn''t need to worry about conjuring anything with Hellfire.

    s, this didn''t seem to be his fate. Perhaps there were reasons behind only be able to bestow others with this ability.

    Lastly, Apollo glossed over thest ability.

    ?Sacrificial Evolution?

    Information: As the holder of the system, you can sacrifice Experience to elerate the evolution of your demons. However, this is only allowable up to the first phase of the Greater Demon stage.

    Of all the privileges, Apollo found this to be the most useful, but he didn''t mess around with it just yet. Instead, Apollo instantly elevated Fuhrer, Furcas, and Vc''s standing to that of an Earl''s.

    Surprisingly, this action resulted in a new string of notifications!

    ?System Alert: You have reached the prerequisites to form a household. Would you like to sacrifice the medallion to officiate your household? [Y/N]??

    Once again, the item that escaped his attention for a long time resurfaced. Except, this time the prompt informed him of reaching the prerequisite. ording to Fuhrer, his prior self was only inviting trouble if he announced his household. However, with his power now, Apollo felt that it was a different story.

    Regardless, he still needed Fuhrer''s opinion.

 Chapter 377 - A Household Battle (I)

    ----

    Immediately, Apollo''s attention turned towards Fuhrer after the prompt to create a Household appeared. Although he couldn''t see the consequences of forming one now, perhaps the wiser Fuhrer would be to shed a more in-depth light on their current situation.

    After all, while a noble ranking of a Demonic Earl didn''t affect their physical prowess, it did have its fair share of uses back in the Nihilistic Rings. For example, a special marking was embedded on a Demon''s body the moment this title was conferred. This marking allowed a few choices, with one being the ability to locate the current council.

    However, seeing as this marking was bestowed by the Demon Monarch System, this ranking wasn''t based on the current powers, but the Lost Council. In short, the distance between the Lost Council close and Apollo''s party shortened. In fact, after bing an Earl, Fuhrer could more or less sense a few of the beings hiding within the Rings Apollo had already visited¡ªAshiraem and Suprenis.

    Once he realized this, Fuhrer turned towards Apollo with apparent astonishment, "Did you just bestow a noble ranking upon me? Which one was it? I didn''t expect this authority to arise so early, has your Domination Intent evolved yet again?"

    A prerequisite to forcefully assigning a noble ranking was the presence of such an Intent. However, it also required a strong version of it. But, ording to what Fuhrer saw, Apollo had yet to reach that baseline, hence his current surprise.

    However, Apollo immediately denied that assumption, "Not at that. I just happened to chance upon an ability behind by the Old Monarch. But, it''s very limited as of right now. At most, I can only create 3 Earls. As you all are my strongest weapons, that privilege has been given to you three¡ªFuhrer, Furcas, andstly, even the insufferable Vc.

    "Hey, that''s bullying dammit! Why am I the only one to get talked about?! Not to mention I''m standing right here," Vc snarled with indignation. Compared to the rest, he truly never caught a break from the jabs. Sadly, Apollo''s current expression seemed overly amused.

    "Oh? What about it? Do you wish to learn with your hand?" Apollo chuckled. Simultaneously, his arms morphed into the Infernal Arms of Damnation, followed by a thick coat of dark energy epassing it. This caused a shocking flood of nefarious energy to wash over everyone.

    Furthermore, while Apollo''s left arm interacted with Ira to form a ckened-crimson color, his right arm surged with a ckened-gold color. Vc''s eyes narrowed upon noticing this. His ensuing reaction happened quickly with both his sharp wings appearing while coating in azure mes.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer could only shake his head and step back, ''I won''t intervene in this matter. This can be seen as a much-needed rematch. Not to mention, Vc is someone who needs dominance asserted upon in the harshest ways possible. Only the Old Monarch was capable of that horror.''

    Whoosh!

    Vc charged towards Apollo moments after his wings appeared. Yet, Apollo didn''t move. Instead, he unfurled a set of majestic wings of his own with obsidian gemstones and inscriptions embedded throughout. Whenpared to Vc''s wings, despite being much younger, Apollo''s wings appeared archaic and unmatched!

    Once Apollo''s wings unfurled, an oppressive force assaulted Vc, but with his unwillingness to give in, Vc shrugged it off and kept advancing towards him. Arriving just a few secondster, Vc''s expression turned increasingly savage.

    Suddenly, a spear covered in azure mes erged within Apollo''s sights. However, once again, his Languished Perception activated, which slowed down Vc''s rapid. While it wasn''t needed, the supportive benefits were appreciated.

    First, Apollo stepped to the side, dodging the downward sh. Afterward, he followed up with a sharp double kick with little dy. Regrettably, as a demon trained inbat, Vc''s reflexes were well trained, allowing him to bring up his spear''s bottom half to sessfully block Apollo''s strike.

    While there was no apparent winner, Apollo''s expression also remained casual the entire time. ''Let''s see if you''re trained in this technique as well.'' A flicker of dark energy urred and Apollo''s figure disappeared right after.

    "Lord, don''t be a scurrying rat hiding in the dark. You are supposed to fight me head-on. This isn''t dominance if you don''t confront me head-on!" Vc snarled. Subsequently, he shifted his gaze around the battlefield before experiencing an odd sensation on his chest.

    The appearance of such an odd feeling led Vc to raise his guard. Yet, despite his preparatory actions, he was powerless to defend against what came next.

    "This isn''t cowardice. This is taking advantage of my strengths," Apollomented with his voice reverberating from the darkness that encased him.

    An instantter, a strong attractive force dragged Vc forward. While he was in flight, Apollo''s body appeared right under him.

    Boom!

    Only a frightening explosion was heard after Vc received Apollo''s direct hit. Even the other flinched upon hearing it.

    "My god, thatd is heavy-handed," Destrys muttered while spectating the entire situation. First, Apollo used the suction property of G to draw in Vc. But, before it could cause any unforeseen damage, Apollo canceled it.

    Instead, he used his amplified right arm tond a crushing blowing on Vc''s jaw.

    To a normal person, this type of strike was enough to obliterate their heads, yet Vc rose from the dust and corrected his dislocated jaw. A crunch echoed followed by a spitting sound, "That punch had some meaning behind it, Lord. But it''s far from enough!"

    Before Apollo could respond, Vc followed up with yet another rapid rush, except this time he employed varying flight paths. It wasn''t a simple straight line. As to confuse Apollo, he performed several sharp turns and angle shifts.

    Unfortunately, his tactics were for naught. With Apollo''s morphed perception, following Vc''s movements was an effortless ordeal. In fact, Apollo even intercepted his final flight path.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Numerous deafening noises rang out followed by a horrifying impact. Vc once again stood no chance against Apollo in this exchange! Regrettably for Vc, it seemed he bit off more than he could chew because Apollo didn''t seem satisfied just yet.

    "Get up," Apollo ordered whilending before arge crater. Vc''s bodyid in the center with many dents on his torso and even a misshapen arm! Obviously, Apollo''s earlier relentless blows didn''t hold back in the slightest.

    With a groan, Vc dug himself out of the hole. Furthermore, signs of infernal rage flickered around his body with a deep-red hue. Crimson veins appeared on his body while his physique swelled.

    While inbat with Apollo, Vc was tapping into his Second Awakening.

    Meanwhile, Apollo simply smiled. "I''ve been waiting to test out this form. As my next highest affinity, it was only right that the system allowed me to tap into this form.

    ?System Alert: The Sin Vessel ?Dauntless Vertebrae? is being stimted heavily.?

    ?System Alert: Transformationplete, ?Suprana Form? achieved.?

    Superbia deluged Apollo''s body as the inscriptions along his spine shimmered with a dark-gold light. Furthermore, his horns and even his eyes gradually radiated a ckened-gold color. Not to mention, his hair morphed into a gray color, reminiscent of light soot.

    As he took on this form, Apollo emanated an air of unsurpassed confidence. Even the way he looked at Vc revealed a tinge of disgust. "Get up, or I will make you get up."

    "Oh yeah!? I''d like to see you try," Vc retorted. Ignoring the healing damage, he shed his weapon horizontally. An astronomical amount of Ira hurtled towards Apollo because of this.

    However, instead of moving, Apollo received this strike with his body. For a moment, there was a gaping gash on his chest, but in the next second, it started to heal at a visible rate.

    "Is that all you have? If so, then allow me to indulge in showing you a true demonstration of power."

    Fwoom!

    A sh of gray light zipped through the sky faster than Vc could react. Despite its small magnitude, upon the impact, the sh of light caved in Vc''s chest.

    Gasp!

    The sheer force behind the blow caused Vc to kneel in pain, yet before he knew it, he was no longer kneeling. Now, Apollo held him by the throat, gazing directly into his eyes. Unlike his Iraym Form, where any angering moment was amplified several-fold, the Suprana Form induced a state of insufferable pride.

    In short, Apollo felt omnipotent and untouchable. So much so, he grinned at Vc''s weakness, which was then followed by him burying Vc''s face in the ground. "A disgusting masochist. So, you like to be dominated? Very well. Let''s break your defiance once and for all.''

    Gradually, Apollo''s free right hand changed to reveal a spiraling drillposed of Superbia.

    Meanwhile, the expression of the other''s changed upon witnessing this, "Shouldn''t we stop this? He''s going to end up killing him."

    "No, he won''t. You might think he''s not in control of his actions Furcas, but Apollo is of sound mind. He''s just allowing his repressed pride to surfaced unabatedly. Besides, Vc asked for this, he should wee the consequence," Fuhrer responded.

    "But-"

    "No, buts," Fuhrer interjected. "It was his error in believing to be on par with the Lord while still in the same evolution stage. Therefore, he shall suffer the consequences. Just witness how the events unravel."

    Furcas could only nod helplessly while continuing to watch.

    On the other hand, Vc was far more defiant than Furcas was worried. "T-tch. You are still weak, young Lord!''

    Crunch!

    All of a sudden, Vc''s words were cut short by the pain of having his ribs crushed. His eyes even widened, but Apollo''s expression remained unmoving. In fact, Apollo crushed each side of his limbs individually.

    "I expect you to heal nicely, so as much as you resist is as much torture you receive. Your choice," Apollo stated nonchntly. Then, a de made from sweltering Ira sizzled when pressing against Vc''s chest.

    At this point, Vc began questioning his decision.

 Chapter 378 - Household Battle (II)

    ----

    Sszzzt!

    An intense and audible sizzling noise reminiscent of fresh meat being ced into bubbling oil was heard once Apollo''s finger contacted Vc''s skin. Due to the intense heat of his Ira, Apollo''s finger punctured between Vc''s ribs with ease, simr to how a hot knife cut through butter.

    In front of Apollo, Vc was no better than a defenselessmb for ughter, except ughter wasn''t Apollo''s goal, making Vc''s life unharmed. Be that as it may, perhaps certain types of torture were oftentimes ordeals that made one beg for death.

    Although Sapphyr had once witnessed Apollo''s ruthlessness, it wasn''t to this extent. While she was unfamiliar with Vc, looking at Apollo''s action made her torso her in that same spot.

    ''Didn''t he call them his followers? Why is he torturing that one like this? Will that happen to me as well if I disobey? What have I done...epting this power might have been a curse, but¡­'' Sapphyr paused her chaotic thoughts, however, as she was caught in a daze, she didn''t realize her next words weren''t said in her mind, "It was so tempting!"

    Everyone turned towards her because of her sudden outburst, but unlike the rest, Furcas, Fuhrer, and Destrys monitored her closely. Compared to Furcas and Fuhrer, Destrys'' analysis wascking.

    "It seems like the remnants of her Sin are still afflicting her mind. I wonder if it''s due to her special state prior to evolution. Nevertheless, it''s nothing harmful. It might just morph her mind," Fuhrer remarked once he had ample time to observe her.

    On the other hand, Furcas saw something much different. His six pupils spun in an unchanging formation, allowing him to perceive something much more interesting. "Adoration, fear, gratitude, and thirst. There are a plethora of emotions circling her mind right now and a sin fragment is attaching to each one!"

    "Precisely. That''s why I said she''ll only end up with a morphed mind," Fuhrermented whilst sparing Furcas a quick nce.

    "No. It''ll do more than that. It''ll give her the foundation to bing like him," Furcas said while pointing towards Typhir. Different from the rest of the demons acquired through his own efforts, Typhir was the only one who possessed an affinity towards Apollo before the transformation.

    This matter gave birth to his qualifications to be Apollo''s right-hand man. However, the framework of Sapphyr''s current framework possessed an identical possibility. However, how can there be two right-hand personages?

    "You jest. How can that be possible? You seem to be forgetting a needed aspect of a Monarch. A ruler onlyplete with an empress by his side," Fuhrer answered. He also shook his head while adamantly denouncing Furcas'' ims.

    Although it was possible, Fuhrer felt the future held a different possibility. After all, with his current demeanor and the training received from Fuhrer, Typhir possessed everything he needed to evolve to thatuded supplemental position.

    "Hah?! Do you really think that woman is enough to be the Monarch''spanion? Now you are the foolish one, Fuhrer. While her potential is greater than our own, surely there is someone even stronger out there," Fuhrer returned.

    However, contrary to what Furcas expected, Fuhrer didn''t retort with an attitude. His response was simple. "When at the peak, any decision bes one with monumental waves. Whether the mate is the strongest or the weakest, a Monarch holds the means to create what he sees fit."

    After hearing his words, Furcas was left at an impasse because he had no way to retort this! Every word was correct. Even they were created by the Old Monarch, so what''s to say that this young boy couldn''t do the same and designed his ideal mate and force?

    ''It would seem my words were unwarranted. I should be more trusting in Fuhrer''s words and the dark stars. Although sometimes incoherently, they all detail the young lord''s movements,'' Furcas thought.

    Once their small chat was finished, their gaze fell back upon Apollo dealing with Vc.

    "Do you submit?" Apollo asked calmly. There was no screaming, no rage, only an insurmountable pride in his eyes, along with the intention to continue if his desires weren''t met.

    Regrettably, Vc was as foolish as he was a demon. "Submit?! Hahaha, I''ll admit you had me for a moment, but you''ve made a mistake! A true dominator never asks for submission-"

    Boom!

    Again, before Vc could conclude his sentence, Apollo smashed his body into the ground. But, something shocking took ce afterward. The Ira and Superbia covering his left and right arms advanced, covering even more of his body.

    This matter caused a shock in everyone! ording to his current actions, it appeared Apollo was attempting to merge two Sin. But, if he did that at his stage, the oue was unpredictable. Could it be entering the Suprana Form led to insufficient judgment?!

    "Young Lord, don''t. You''re not ready to attempt this! Your trait of domination is insufficient!" Fuhrer warned. Subsequently, Fuhrer''s sword-wielding hard subconsciouslynded upon his hilt. If Apollo''s judgment was truly obscured, then it''d be up to Fuhrer to take matters into his own hands.

    Yet, a low chuckle was heard. "Lower your hand. I am more than aware of my own limits. Your reminder is extraneous. I just need to be more extreme for this miscreant to oblige naturally."

    Afterward, the coat of Ira and Superbia stopped in an odd ce. A divider of sorts urred, with Apollo manipting his Domination Intent as a makeshift barrier to prohibit either Sin from leaking into each other.

    As a result, half of Apollo''s body was submerged in ckened gold light, whereas the other was a ckened crimson. If it was before his transformation, this wouldn''t result in any change. But, because of hisplete change, Apollo''s body possessed an innate thirst for Sin.

    Thus, a bizarre change, which even Fuhrer had neverid eyes upon, urred.

    ?System Alert: Two sources of Sins stimted with a restriction set in ce.?

    ?System Alert: An unusual situation has appeared because of your actions.?

    ?System Alert: Unknown stabilizing agent found.?

    ?System Alert: ?Dual Partial Transformation? is urring.?

    The right half of Apollo''s body where the Superbia deluged remained untouched by change, but the same couldn''t be said about his left side. It reverted to the state of his Iraym Form!

    In short, half of Apollo''s skin was a mixture of crimson-bronze whereas the right side remained a grayish-white color with slight ents of ck. Witnessing this scene left everyone in awe.

    Speechless, no one could find the words to describe this situation as Apollo jumped and disappeared into the crater holding Vc''s body.

    At first, Vc''s eyes widening with trepidation once the unfamiliar figure appeared before him. But, as his eyes focused he came to realize that this figure was in fact, Apollo!

    "W-what the fuck? What is this form?"

    "No idea," Apollo replied. It was the truth, even his knowledge of this form was limited as all this was done on a whim. In fact, part of him expected this to fail, but ording to the system messages, there was an unknown stabilizing agent within him, which made this situation possible.

    Nevertheless, afternding, Apollo didn''t spare any more words.

    Boom! Boom! Boom!

    A relentless barrage of thundering noises sounded as the edges of the crater continued to crumble. After 10 blows, a horrifying volcanic eruption spilled from the crater. Although it seemed to be formed from fire, this volcanic eruption was formed purely from Sin Energy.

    "My god. He just keeps growing! His control is increasing while he fights. That''s the Young Lord''s Sin. It''s even touching upon the Purgatory''s Blood boundary!" Furcas eximed in horror.

    Purgatory Blood, while an unfamiliar term to Apollo seeing as he had only heard of it once before, wasn''t a mystery to others. It simply meant one''s Ira was condensed enough to create the magma residing in the depths of Ashiraem. After all, the core of Ashiraem was akin to a prison, somewhere the most uncontroble yet too valuable to kill demons were sent to.

    Not only was the heat destructive to their powers, any usage of Sin down there only fed its strength It was a strange magma, feeding of all sources of infernal power. Hence, why outside of those banished demons, no one else even ventured to that space.

    Yet, Apollo''s own Ira was gradually growing closer to that state. In a sense, if he could wield that power, then he''d be the bane of any demon who traveled the path of wrath, so long as his purity trumped their own.

    But, to truly wield such power took an unprecedented vessel. Both Fuhrer and Furcas refused to believe he possessed that vessel right now.

    Suddenly, a singed body was ejected from the crater before smashing heavily into the ground. Unsurprisingly, it was Vc, who at this very moment struggled to even more. Just stretching his arm produced a world of pain.

    "M-madman. I concede¡­

    Whoosh! Boom! Ccck!

    Apollo''s body burst from the crater beforending with his heavy foot pressed into Vc''s spine. A string of crackings sounds echoed from his ribs and spine as his body formed an indent in the ground.

    "I submit!" Vc struggled to exim in a wheezing voice. Yet, Apollo didn''t let up and even increased the pressure on his back, causing the ground to splinter further.

    "Now, tell me Vc, just why don''t I believe? I''ll need some definitive proof. Because I wouldn''t like for this to happen again. Contest me severely like this, and I will kill you," Apollo threatened in a cool tone.

    Uttering such threatening words in a calm voice made the others understand one thing. Apollo was serious!

    ?System Alert: Your follower Vc the Terrible''s soul is willing to enter ?Adamantine Servitude?. Because another prerequisite has been fulfilled, another seal has been lifted.?

    With the appearance of this information, Apollo smiled because this was the definitive proof he needed.

    "Excellent. After all, it''s never good when a Household has internal strife."

    "W-WHAT?!" Fuhrer blurted while stupefied by Apollo''s words.

 Chapter 379 - A Long Awaited Fleeting Meeting

    ----

    "Forgive me if I misunderstood you young Lord, but did you just say internal strife of a Household?! What particr Household are you referring to?" Fuhrer questioned in shock. After all, he was the strongest advocate against forming a Household. Although some time has passed, the same threat remains, or at the very least, a remnant of said threat.

    "I''m referring to our Household. Don''t you believe it''s time wee together under one mantle? Not only will it solidify our standing, but it should also form a beacon for the others of the Lost Council to locate us. ording to your past exnation, of course," Apollo responded while also removing his foot from Vc''s back.

    A sigh of relief sounded from Vc''s lips but not before his body was frozen in ce by the presence of the Adamantine Servitude washing over his body. Gradually, any prior defiance was being rewritten with absolute loyalty towards Apollo''s order. While his personality wasn''t being affected in the slightest, since it was a matter of Vc''s innate disposition, Adamantine Servitude only adhered to Apollo''s word.

    Otherwise, Adamantine Servitude remained in an inactive state until Apollo''s targeted stimtion. Be that as it may, Vc no longer possessed any intention of going against Apollo, because from what he felt, doing so was only weing an early death.

    The others didn''t experience it directly, but he did. The Sin Energy Apollo utilized was lethal, carrying all intents to kill once it permeated Vc''s body. If he didn''t give in, the chance of him not being alive right now was astronomical!

    ''He''s even worst than the Old Monarch. At least he pulled back his strikes at the very moment of death, but my young Lord didn''t even put this matter in ce as a precaution! What would happen if I were to die? Would I be forgotten and reced? Is my position so interchangeable?''

    In light of these dark thoughts and looking questions, Vc could only shiver due to the answers his unsettled mind generated. ''As long as I am obedient, then I don''t need to worry about those questions,'' Vc told himself.

    Afterward, he continued to listen to Fuhrer and Apollo''s conversation. After all, the matter of bing a Household was extremely important. Even though there were enticing benefits attached to the privilege, there were also ring vulnerabilities.

    "Yes! I remember my past exnation vividly. But, while you have grown, the prior risk still exists. We should at least wait until the risk isplete resolved by your growth, At that time, it won''t be toote to register as a Household, and an overwhelmingly strong one at that.

    "Why can''t we just do so right now and weather the storm? Aren''t you the one who taught me that higher risks meant higher rewards? If I don''t take this risk, then won''t my next evolution take even longer than my previous one? There''s just too much to aplish!" Apollo vehemently retorted.

    Because of this, Fuhrer fell silent with a difficult expression. Obviously, someplex thought ran through his mind, some of which he contemted divulging to Apollo. However, if he was to learn ande in contact with them, then this is some vital information for Apollo.

    "Some of the Lost Council resents the Old Monarch for just leaving us. The devolving situation of the internal strife contributed to the death of some of their families. As such, they vowed to never take part in the demonic civil issue ever again. But, their palpable hatred still remains," Fuhrer revealed.

    However, as he started to continue, Apollo interjected with his own thoughts, "So what you mean to say is that by forming a Household upied by you Furcas and Vc, the others will infer that I have a rtion to the Old Monarch?"

    "Precisely. And, during the test, there is a chance of you being the target of their ire. There is even a chance of them going overboard to cate their vengeance. One such example is Asteroth you seek. Some of these demons retain more power than I do because their source wasn''t used to protect the Nihilistic Rings," Fuhrer admitted with a pained expression.

    In truth, he missed reveling in his own power and being unquestioned while next to the Old Monarch. In his eyes, his current predicament was a fall from grace. From invoking reverie to barely being able topete in power level was a truly devastating reality. Thankfully, Fuhrer''s mental state was by no means fragile.

    "I don''t see the issue with that. In fact, I believe that is my purpose. Perhaps the Old Monarch has left issues for me to correct in order to prove my ability. Wasn''t it you that said his disappearance was bizarre and not even his body was found? The only thing that happened was the sealing of the lost realm," Apollomented.

    To Fuhrer, this exnation made sense. ''Now that I think about it, my old friend is the type to leave many intricate tests, even if they might not seem like it on the surface. Perhaps I should allow him to truly form the Household.''

    Suddenly, Apollo''s eyebrows when he listened to Azridan''s message.

    [Did I hear you wish to form a Household. Lad, have you already be a Greater Demon? Although I healed myself, there seems to be some lingering issue. Something obscures my analysis of your presence. Besides, I know that voice talking, it''s so familiar.]

    ''Yes you do, it''s Fuhrer. Don''t you remember him?'' Apollo questioned.

    [F-Fuhrer?! Old Man Erus?! You jest. That ancient guy is still alive?]

    ''Very much alive. In fact, there are no signs of his death any time soon. He has overseen my current training. Hence, why I managed to aplish my promise to you. I evolved,'' Apollo answered.

    For a while, Azridan was silent as he reminiscent his younger days. Hearing the name Fuhrer sparked a surge of memories. Their resurgence brought happiness, which was long vacant from his life after experiencing the treachery of betrayal.

    [May I speak with him for a moment?]

    ''You may, but how? Do you wish to take control of my body once more? When ites to this, only you manage to make in on my list of entrusted individuals.''

    [I will try, but your body is even more imprable. It might be difficult for my current state to hold assimtion. Nevertheless, I have some stuff to reveal.]

    Once Apollo gave his consent, his body trembled before exuding a dark breath. His eyes then closed momentarily before going through a lurid change. ck veins surround his eyes as they turnedpletely ck with the absence of pupils.

    Then, a distorted voice echoed from his throat, "Fuhrer."

    The change in his voice caught Fuhrer off-guard, causing him to nce at Apollo oddly. "What is it, young Lord? And, why does your voice sound so... bizarre?"

    Before answering, Azridan''s tried to control Apollo''s body to the best of his ability. First, he coughed, which caused the subtle change in his voice then he resumed his attempt, "This isn''t Apollo."

    As soon as that phrase left his left, everyone jumped back while preparing for battle. The first thought running through their mind was that one of the Sin''s sentience managed to take control of his body. If so, then only chaos would ensue, seeing as each one was the embodiment of seething corrupting.

    Fortunately, Azridan raised his hands to show his harmless intent, "I just wish to talk with you Fuhrer. It is your old student."

    Upon hearing these words, Fuhrer''s body quaked while his hand slid from his hilt. "My old student? Do you mean...is it you, boy? Azridan, is that you?"

    "It is me, Master. Forgive my current state for my body is no more. Therefore, I must use this young''s boy''s vessel to get in contact with you," Azridan said with a grimace, but continued to talk through his expression, "Allow me to show you the travesty that remains."

    Azridan held out his hand until Fuhrer grasped it. Immediately, an influx of imaged shed before Fuhrer''s eyes. It detailed the experiences of Azridan, even revealing his obscured meeting with the Old Monarch.

    Finally, after a few moments, their hands separated. Surprised filled Fuhrer''s face, "So you''re the reason he possesses those Stigmata. Your death was abstained, cing you in a state of perpetual existence. You were chosen as the guide!"

    "I was. But as you see, there are others who wish to enter that forbidden ce. However, even wasn''t unable to unlock its core part. However, there was a message, that only the child carrying the blood of domination can enter that ce and those he permits. I believe you should allow this body to carry out his desire of creating a Household.

    "What about the looming danger of the ones who killed you? ording to what I saw, they were all infinitesimally close to evolving into Daemos."

    "Close, but never truly taking the step, as with I. They''ve yet to understand the truth with their clouded judgment," Azridan replied. "Regardless of their power levels, they''re susceptible to their source, so their mind won''t survive the attempted sublimation."

    Unlike the rest of the states, to be a Daemos required one to merge with the Primal Source of a Sin and create a Daemos Soul sublimated with your chosenbination of or singr Sin.

    However, this also weed the demon to the purest state of the Sins. Compared to this, the earlier trials were but a drop in the boundless ocean. During this merge, it was easy to lose one''s self without sufficient willpower.

    "I understand what you want. You want to draw them to Apollo''s position through the creation of the Household. But that doesn''t seem to be everything."

    "Correct. None of them possess an understanding of the Void. So if we can recover a certain amount of your strength, they''ll never reallye close to your position unless you will it. But, the inevitable danger will also spur Apollo''s thirst for power. It''ll hasten everything."

    "I see, so all of this is in the written events. Very well. Rest for now, we''ll talk once we get the chance in the Nihilistic Rings. In the meantime, allow the boy to begin the process."

 Chapter 380 - A Households Reappearance

    ----

    The transformation of Azridan subsided as soon as Fuhrer instructed him to relinquish control. Instead, Apollo''s consciousness reappeared with a perfect recollection of the conversation between Fuhrer and Azridan. As a result, there was no reason for Fuhrer to clue him in.

    Apollo picked up from where they left off, "I take it I have permission to officiate a Household?"

    "Indeed you do. However, let''s revisit this once more. Are you sure you''re willing to live in such a precarious situation? One wherein those same demons who betrayed and then ultimately killed Azridan will hunt you endlessly?" Fuhrer questioned once more.

    Perhaps he felt Apollo didn''t ce enough importance on this matter, because if they managed to kill Azridan and ept the rite in his stead then that meant they''d officially arrived at a state located between a Noblesse and a Daemos. While weaker than a Daemos, they''d still be strong than a Noblesse.

    In fact, there was even a chance that Irzanach and the others were stronger than the current Lords. But, without proof, this was mere spection. After all, the full power of the Lords was unknown, because taking up that position also rewards a special power capable of being used just a handful of times.

    Nevertheless, despite understanding Fuhrer''s wariness, Apollo felt it was misced. "I was told that I must be willing to take risks to achieve what I seek. That means risking death as well. Besides, if it isn''t my fate, then I have no worries to spare over this situation."

    "Very well, if that is your honest opinion then begin the process," Fuhrer answered. However, a part of him was also surprised. ''With his personality, I''m surprised he managed to keep from establishing one until now. I for sure thought he would slip up and give it to creating one before evolving.''

    Meanwhile, Apollo retrieved the medallion from his inventory before looking into it. Once again, information that hadn''t appeared for a long time appeared before his eyes. But, some minutes differences caught Apollo''s eyes.

    For one, the initial medallion was golden with cracks in it, producing an archaic vibe. However, the medallion''s current appearance was pitch ck, with the cracks releasing a purplish hue. Moreover, there was a faint crimson aura circling the medallion in his palm.

    Overall, the changes seemed to be linked to him. Compared to its prior form, this current medallion felt twice as oppressive. Just looking at its invoked some dark thoughts.

    "What a pure medallion! That must be made from a Dark Mythril. To think someone would form a medallion from this item. You''re in luck young one. If you ever get your hands on a stronghold and use this as a core, the environment will be extremely beneficial to your followers," Fuhrer revealed with eyes glued to the medallion.

    The worth of the medallion alone was capable of inciting some horrendous events. Fortunately, the broadcast didn''t transmit the grading of the core, otherwise, Fuhrer would forbid Apollo from making the Household at this very moment.

    Any demon with matured intelligence, including the current royal demons would fight to the death for such an item. After all, one of its cores benefits was something lost with time as this material was currently extinct.

    After the movement of the Nihilistic Rings, it lost its optimal position to continue its creation of Dark Mithril. Any amount of it found at this point would be treated with the utmost care and only utilized by the strongest of demons.

    ''Who would have thought that earlier item was truly Dark Myrthil with a disguise covering it. However, now that Apollo holds the seven corrupted sins, it must have absorbed each property and recovered to its original form,'' Fuhrer thought.

    In the meantime, Apollo searched through the current information about the Household Creation Medallion.

    ¡¸Item Name: Household Creation Medallion

    Item Ranking: Abysmal

    Usage: Being in the possession of this medallion allows the users to create a household of the highest renown, bestowing a special title. This creates the highly sought ?7 Corrupted Zones? environment.

    ?Ruler of a Lost Household? - Unlike the rest of the present household, your household is one of a kind with the potential to contain each unique Sin signature thanks to the unique properties of Dark Mythril. Because of this, you''ll be given the title of a ?Unique Ruler?.

    ?7 Corrupted Zones? - As long as you inject the proper Sin properties, this medallion, once registered at the core of a stronghold will produce 7 unique zones, which are essentially forbidden zones capable of elerating the absorption of Sin by breaking it down to its most basicponents.

    [Current Sin Purity = +20% Absorption speed for your followers. +25% personal Absorption Speed.]

    *Note = Dark Myrthil is unlike other materials. It possesses the ability to bind to a master as long as a fragment of your soul blood is embedded within.¡¹

    ....

    Immediately, Apollo was intrigued by the new information received. ''In other words, the household is just the name whereas the stronghold is the true vessel of the household. Even then, it seems there are some benefits present without a stronghold. But¡­''

    Apollo pondered the end of the first set of information. If he was rewarded a title for establishing his household, then didn''t the mean the name and orientation of it would already be determined? If so, then Apollo had an idea of just what the messages the others would receive.

    ''I guess the Old Monarch doesn''t permit me to feel fear amongst the lower denizens of the Demon Race. Very well, I will y along and follow your n. It seems I have no choice in this matter regardless.''

    ?System Alert: Household Creation Medallion found. Intent to register recorded.?

    ?System Alert: Do you wish to create your Household. [Y/N]??

    First Apollo exhaled before answering the system, "Yes."

    Boom!

    The medallion released a torrential before forming a mirror image coalesced from this same energy. However, rather than move anywhere, it started to spin readily, eventually reaching a speed that made it seem like a straight line.

    Once that speed was obtained, the rotating medallion burrowed deep into Apollo''s mind without a shred of pain. In fact, the medallion soon found itself before Apollo''s Tainted Temple and imnted itself there, which formed an identical imprint.

    The shape was simr to a D, except wasn''t closed with some being refined and others producing an unsurpassed rough feeling. Not to mention, it was finished with obscure dots ced in bizarre spots.

    But, while Apollo was surprised, a shred of mental energy came in contact with the imprint. Surprisingly, the moment it did so, Apollo''s body emitted a burst of terrifying aura of Domination, one that didn''t seem to belong to him.

    "I should have known," Fuhrer said with a grimace. On the other hand, this spectacle precipitated Apollo''s next set of notifications.

    ?System Alert: The creation of your household has been finalized.?

    ?System Alert: The registered household already possesses a name. Now bestowing the name.?

    ?System Alert: Congrattions! You have be the head of the ?Dominus Household?.?

    Whoosh!

    An ethereal ripple undted from Apollo''s body, traveling far beyond his current space. In fact, while this ripple couldn''t be trained, the undting wave possessed a clear target. It went past Ashiraem, Suprenis, Gria and kept burrowing through the protective barriers erected through Fuhrer and the Old Monarch''s efforts.

    Eventually, it arrived within the Lost Ring and collided with a gargantuan temple. Although it didn''t produce much of a reaction. The temple rumbled for an instant before releasing a frightening wave that wave over each Ring simultaneously.

    While some demons were unaware of this presence, others narrowed their eyes with a hint of fearced within.

    "Has he returned? Is this the return of the Monarch''s household?!"

    Meanwhile, a demon with a disgruntled appearance opened his eyes as signs of hatred throughout them. ''This isn''t the monarch that I remember. It is far too weak to even be linked to him. No, it seems someone has finally been able to ept the mantle. Which means I finally have a target to funnel my anger into!''

    Boom!

    The demon destroyed the table he upied before bursting through the roof of the tavern he sat in. While in the air he scanned the area to locate the ripple that passed through just as instant before in the air.

    A few momentster, he caught a trace of the ripples while looking towards a tower in the center of Ashiraem, "If I can''t find you, then I might as well wait for you there. If you''re the monarch''s sessor, then you''ll have to meet these new lords. And I, Asteroth will be waiting there for you!

    ----

    Gradually, the wave of energy undting from Apollo''s body dissipated. Other than being granted the new title, Apollo didn''t feel much different. However, the way the others looked at his him changed.

    All of the demons bowed and repeated the same message. "Young Lord, please ept me into your household. We are willing travel even into the darkest depths of nihility with you. Your dark brilliance shall overshadow all."

    With a nod, Apollo epted their vow, which unsurprisingly generated another message.

    ?System Alert: The ?Dominus Household? has increased to 8 members. (Rulers: 1)?

 Chapter 381 - Leader And Guardian

    ----

    ?System Alert: The ?Dominus Household?''s magnificence shall radiate throughout all the Nihilistic Rings.?

    ?System: Please choose the respective ?Guardian? and ?Leader? of the Household. Its creation isn''tplete until these roles have been assigned to your trusted subordinates.?

    Silently, Apollo browsed through the information linked to the positions: Guardian and Leader. Although there were more positions, the Household wasn''t mature enough to unlock this power. The intricate powers required a concrete stronghold to facilitate that power.

    Nevertheless, Apollo gained enough information to determine his choice. A Guardian, as the name entailed, oversaw the protection of the household. Typically, this role was taken up by the strongest demon in your repertoire. And, that title indisputably belonged to Fuhrer.

    In his absence, Apollo knew he could always rely on Fuhrer to maintain the security of the Household. Thus, Apollo instantly assigned him as the Household''s sole Guardian. Although this position was only headed by him for the time being, once the Household grew, it held the chance to acquire more.

    After all, a single person wouldn''t be enough to surveil the stronghold once the number grew obscenelyrge. Once that hap[pened, at least 2 or 3 more would be needed. Meanwhile, the Leader''s purpose went beyond a Guardian''s. Simrly, it was a more demanding position.

    While it wasn''t the highest position under the Ruler, it gave the assigned demon the ability to form their own squad and use them to govern some of the lesser subordinates. Furthermore, having this role was a prerequisite to being a contender for some of the higher rolester on.

    Since the Households operated on a merit system, it required said subordinate to have the respective qualities and experiences before even being considered for the job.

    Thus, that position was assigned to Typhir, which shocked him. After all, there were two demons who were much stronger and ever more useful than him. In fact, even the newly changed Sapphyr was stronger than him since Apollo''s current form didn''t hold back her transformation.

    Yet, Apollo simply smiled when he saw Typhir''s current expression.

    ?System: ?Erus Fuhrer? has been assigned to be the first ?Guardian? of the ?Dominus Household?.?

    ?System: ?Typhir Estrada? has been assigned to be the first ?Leader? of the ?Dominus Household?.?

    "My Lord, are you sure this is a good choice?" Typhir questioned. Although he was ruthless to others, when it came to filling any roles for Apollo, his confidence was insufficient and he feltcking.

    However, as someone chosen by Apollo and trained by Fuhrer to be the next Tenebrous Sword''s sessor, how could that be so?

    "Absolutely. I feel this is the best course of action. If there is anyone I ce my unhindered trust in, then it is you," Apollo answered.

    Afterward, Apollo turned towards Vc andmand him. But, unlike the prior situations, Apollo wasn''t forced to use the Absolute Order power at all.

    "I''ming, young Lord! W-what do you need of me? Vc questioned with a respectfully bowed head. Moreover, he was even trembling as he kneeled before Apollo.

    After witnessing this sight, Furcas sputtered while choking on the smoke from his pipe, "Bwahaha. Who would have thought he could be so respectful. It appears his defiance has been absolutely broken."

    "Y-yes, young Lord," Fuhrer mocked while clutching his stomach in boisterousughter. Even Jorgun, the giant demon, joined in with raucousughter.

    In response, Vc seethed causing his face turned red from fury and even embarrassment. This was something he didn''t typically do, so being mocked by Furcas infuriated him beyond belief and it showed from the crimson color of his eyes. "DAMN YOU!! Shut up before I rip your faces off."

    "Y-yes, young Lord," Furcas mocked again. This time wiping a tear that fell from his eyes. Even Apollo chuckled a bit as he witnessed this teasing.

    Vc became speechless as heard this chuckle, "not you too young Lord. This is unfair! I always promised to listen. Why do you torture me so?!"

    "Rx. You''re just being overdramatic over essentially nothing. You''ve been through far worse. Don''t you recall when Asteroth made you wear his arm like a glove? Bwahaha, hrious!" Furcas continued.

    But, this piece of information surprised Apollo. Although it didn''t seem vital, it gave Apollo some insight into Asteroth''s personality. ''If Asteroth is one of the demons who me the Monarch for his disappearance, is also prone to this type of behavior, then I understand Fuhrer''s warning. I''ll have to be strong enough beforehand if I meet someone like that.''

    Since Apollo''s thought took a serious turn, he eventually raised his hand before making an official announcement, "We''ve be an official Household, which means, when we move, we move as one unit. If our individual strength iscking, we''ll simply ovee those odd with overwhelming numbers and then conquer.

    "With that being said, many of you need to be stronger. Now that I''ve grown stronger, the restraint on your bodies should have loosened. However, as the Leader, the first one to receive the assistance of my newly awakened power should be Typhir. Any objections," Apollo questioned while panning his calm gaze amongst his demons.

    All of them shook their heads, not daring to refute Apollo''s passive order. Regardless, they all felt that even if they voiced why they were the better choice, they''d have to take that up with both Fuhrer and Apollo. And, after seeing what he did to Vc in this blend of Suprana and Iraym Form, none of the demons wanted to experience that.

    Of course, before he did anything, there was also something else he needed to address, "Sapphyr. Do you still have control of Xezym?" The whole reason he demonized her while in the odd state was to confirm whether breaking the imposed restriction of the others races was possible.

    After all, if she demonized while first being in an irregr state, then surely the results held the possibility of bing irregr as well. Unfortunately, only testing his spections would provide answers, hence why he used the readily avable Sapphyr.

    For a while, Sapphyr was silent because following her change, the only thing she did was examine her personal changes. She didn''t even attempt to contact Xezym mentally, until now.

    There was some type of static at first, but the more she focused, the more the issue was resolved until finally, Sapphyr could feel the established link to Xezym!

    "I think so," Sapphyr admitted before performing further tests. Gradually, Sapphyr verified each of her prior links to Xezym and found that some of them have even strengthened after bing a member of an upper race.

    Be that as it may, receiving confirmation also raised further questions in Apollo''s mind. ''While their link remains, what are the chances of it effecting each?'' Assaulted by this question, Apollo couldn''t let it rest until he received an answer.

    "Destrys, I recall you saying you possessed a contract with the Old Monarch. How did it affect you two?" Apollo inquired.

    "It didn''t. At least, not directly. Because of our origin, the only type of contract we could form was a mutual one where both sides were equal. If you''re asking about thisss here, then it remains true. Although their link remains, the fundamentals have already morphed. At most, she and the Spiritd are partners now," Destrys answered.

    This information was better than Apollo expected because he thought there was a chance of some upper echelon of the Spirit Race interfering in what he had just done. But, if it''s mutual, then the odds would be low.

    Because, a Demon of simr strength would need to move to revoke this union as well. But, what Demon had the gall to do such a thing to an individual carrying the insignia of the Dominus Household?

    Nevertheless, Apollo released a sigh of relief, "I thought that so-called Arclite would interfere."

    "Impossible. I''m untouchable because I was once the Arclite until I abdicated the throne. Any of the Primordials can be the Arclite. All it requires is for them to win against every Primordial," Destrys revealed.

    Apollo''s expression turned odd, "You gave up a seat of strength?"

    "Everything isn''t as ck and white as it seems. Once you hold the highest power, you''ll realize that absolutes aren''t what truly matters. It''s the greys that truly encroach upon your limelight," Destrys answered mysteriously.

    However, Fuhrer''s expression changed as soon as he heard this, because he understood just what Destrys was hinting at. ''It would seem we aren''t the only ones facing the woes of struggle.''

    Before moving, Apollo allowed everyone to situate themselves before choosing Typhir. "Come here, it is time for you to undergo your first awakening."

    A demonic rune appeared on Apollo''s both hands. However, the side possessing the Suprana Form carried a grey rune whereas the side that took the Iraym Form carried a ck rune. But, while they differed in color their structure was identical.

    It just possessed two different Sin signatures.

    "I''ve chosen you because my current state is the exact configuration of Sin Path. Thus, besides you, there is no better candidate. Fuhrer''s strength eclipses my own so this is no use to him. Therefore, you Typhir, shall enjoy your next evolution alongside me," Apollo announced.

    Desire welled inside Typhir''s eyes as he kneeled before Apollo, "I await your gift, my Lord. With the guidance of the Tenebrous Sword, I shall be the infernal sword which destroys all that clouds your path."

    "Correct. You will. And, you will take pride in doing so while watching the fruits of bathing the world in your wrath," Apollo responded. An evil grin crept upon his face as a mysterious energy mixed with traces of Sin converged at his palm.

    ?System: ?Sacrificial Evolution? invoked. [Current Experience Pool: 4,555,000.?

    ?System: The chosen follower possesses the potential to evolve. [Current Evolution: 75%]?

    ?System: Sacrificing 111,000 Experience is needed to raise the follower''s evolution 1%.?

    ?System: Do you wish to precipitate your follower''s evolution. [Y/N]??

 Chapter 382 - Sacrificial Evolution

    ----

    A ck shroud covered Apollo''s body as he activated his newly acquired ability. Typically, this wasn''t something he would do. Before testing out any of his abilities, Apollo was prone to gathering information about it first. Although the system gave a good description of the skills, sometimes it omitted things like the consequences or even terrible its requirements were.

    However, a skill like this¡ªSacrificial Evolution didn''t raise any gs. One such reason was that it operated solely on experience. Instead of siphoning Apollo''s Sin Energy, the ability exhausted experience. In other words, the highly versatile energy "Experience" took on the properties of the energy it needed to emte.

    In this case, it was extreme amounts of purified Superbia and Ira, hence the reasons for the discolored symbols on Apollo''s palms. Those acted as a turbine that churned the experience into something reminiscent of Sins Energy. Afterward, it was Apollo''s prerogative as to just how much experience he imnted into Typhir.

    As of right now, aplete evolution for Typhir would only require just under 2.8 million experience. However, just reaching the baseline sounded odd to Apollo. Outside of elevating their current evolution, Apollo wondered if sacrificing experience held any other hidden use.

    But, that answer would only be procured to acting upon his spections. Thus, Apollo began the process with haste. Not only was Typhir the first to experience the marvel of the system''s power, but he was also, in a sense, a test subject. After all, this was the first time any of the demons witnessed such a spectacle.

    ?System: ?Sacrificial Evolution? invoked. [Current Experience Pool: 4,555,000.?

    ?System: The chosen follower possesses the potential to evolve. [Current Evolution: 75%]?

    ?System: Sacrificing 111,000 Experience is needed to raise the follower''s evolution 1%.?

    ?System: Do you wish to precipitate your follower''s evolution? [Y/N]??

    "Yes," Apollo muttered, which caused a horrifying storm of dark energies. It didn''t just possess the two aforementioned Sins, there was always energy drawn from the void as well as a lurid aura. If it wasn''t for Apollo''s presence, everyone present would have thought this phenomenon signified the descent of the deity of death!

    Everyone in the vicinity took a step back as to not be affected by the turbulent aura. The way all of them collided yet seemed overpowered shocked everyone. Even Fuhrer. This was a first for him, to control rampant aura likes this, to the point of forming a union drill was beyond even him.

    To even meld Ira and Superbia required him to use Tenebrous Energy as a medium. Yet, whatid before his eyes was such a scene happening without a medium!

    On the other hand, Apollo became fascinated upon watching this scene. ''Perhaps this is why it is sacrificial. The forceful elevation must be the consequence of letting these powers run amok. However, if it was left alone then the recipient would undoubtedly die.''

    However, that possibility wasn''t an issue for Apollo and the others. Because the system controlled everything to a tee. Besides, why would a tool, which was created to make him and his followers unparalleled, result in their deaths? It would be too anti-climatic. Though, cing yourplete trust in something posed its dangers as well.

    For example, Azridan''s past. It was all spurred by having the trust topete with honor towards the Monarch''s name. Yet, Irzanach and the other trampled upon both that trust and honor, leaving Azridan to bask in his inevitable doom.

    "A-argh," Typhir groaned as his knees caused deep cracks in the ground. Despite its appearance, the energy burrowing into his body was extremely heavy. Since it was so dense, it increased Typhir''s weight several times before it could even raise his evolution progress by 10%.

    At this rate, another monster would be created as a result of the system. Granted, this is exactly what Apollo sought. If not, how would Typhir fulfill his role as the Leader of the Dominus Household? It was a role that required ample strength to aplish properly.

    Because, households weren''t as amicable as they seemed. Progression was achieved through gruesome battles. Although the permission of death was set by the ruler of the household, being severely beating wasn''t an odd urrence.

    And, after bing the Ruler of the Dominus Household, all of this information flowed into Apollo''s mind. Previously, it would have been some information that unsettled Apollo, but now, he looked forward to having his subordinates prove themselves, especially since one of his ultimate goals was to reenact the War of the Titans once again.

    Typhir''s roared crescendoed until finally, arge implosion took ce. A gust of infernal winds burst his body to reveal a towering demon, on par with Jorgun in size, except the emanations Typhir exuded were horrifying!

    Whoosh!

    Apollo threw a simple punch without any indication.

    Initially, Typhir''s head was bowed, but it raised upon sensing danger. Almost instantly, he reacted by catching Apollo''s fist, which resulted in a deafening echo. The hollow bang from their arms colliding was confounding for the others to watch!

    Directly after, Typhir retaliated by turning his body. This allowed him tounch a wide swing. But, Apollo retracted his fist and use the same hand to catch this blow. A sound even worse than the prior one resounded, however, Apollo smirked.

    ''Physically, stronger than I am. But, let''s see what his control is like,'' Apollo thought before dashing in.

    Bang!

    He delivered a strong kick to Typhir''s torso to give him a window to act. Albeit minute, Apollo managed to produce an astonishing amount of Sin to utilize.

    Reflexively, Typhir drew his greatsword, which immediately surged with Ira, but hints of Superbia swarmed his sword hilt. Although his control wasn''t strong enough to simultaneously use them at identical levels, he was still strong enough to produce traces of this power.

    Straightaway, Typhir''s lower body was covered in a dark mist. Not only did he use his time to train in the sword, but he also spared time to hone his usage of the Baneful Steps. As of now, he managed to master the first step, however, the difficulty of the second step continued to stump him.

    Upon realizing his actions, Apollo reciprocated them, but much stronger, ''Perhaps this will be the inspiration you need. Sometimes even the littlest things can provide the most substantial impression.''

    Zwoom!

    The aura of darkness nketed Apollo''s body allowing him to disappear in the next second. But, rather than stay hidden, he reappeared at a speed akin to teleportation and unleashed another furious punch.

    This time, Typhir blocked the strike with the blunt side of his greatsword, but there was also a yful expression on his face, "Let''s go for a little ride my Lord."

    The muscles in Typhir''s sword-wielding arm swelled just before he unleashed a simple upward sh. However, the momentum behind it was absurd¡ªstrong enough to send Apollo into the air!

    At the same time, Typhir exhausted a leap which caused the ground to explode while he traveled behind Apollo closely.

    "You can''t fly yet you wish to have aerialbat?" Apollo questioned. He also tried to mitigate the force of the swing, but he was shocked to find that doing so took more than he estimated. ''Is the extent of his unleashing the entirety of his physical strength? If so, bravo.''

    "I don''t need the ability of flight my Lord, I have this," Typhir said before creating a tiny tformposed of the same energy used to wield his sword. Now able to gain a footing, TRyphir unleashed another frightening burst of momentum.

    Boom! Boom! Boom!

    A rapid exchange of relentless blows took ce yet Apollo nor Typhir seemed to be on the losing end. For every strike, there was a guard or even a sessful counterattack!. As a result, both sides suffered some damage. But, both sides still hid a reserve of strength.

    The only issue was, Apollo couldn''t justify wasting his energy like that. This was only meant to gauge Typhir''s next strength as a Greater Demon. And, Apollo''s first analysis told him that Typhir was stronger than Jorgun, even when he was still a Greater Demon.

    ''Plus, ording to Fuhrer, Typhir is a berserker like him. Meaning, if he tapped into that strength this his attack power would balloon beyond his limits,'' Apollo thought but then a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.

    Both the markings on his spine and arm surged with an oppressive aura, "It''s my win, but you did well."

    BOOM!

    Bang!

    Typhir''s flew towards the ground rapidly before producing a cataclysmic explosion. Meanwhile, Apollo remained suspended in mid-air with heavy breaths as he gradually descended. Hisst strike resulted from stimting two Stigmata simultaneously and delivering a two-handed heavy smash.

    His original target was Typhir''s body, but shockingly, Typhir managed to raise his swords at thest moment and dissipate some of the force.

    "Ughh," Typhir groaned while lifting a boulder off himself. He then looked up towards Apollo and shook away the residual pain. "It''s your win. But, we''ll fight again when I can control both of them!"

    "I look forward to it," apollo eximed.

    Momentster, he finally touched the ground. At this time, his transformation reverted to his normal demon state. Exhausting anymore Sin would require him to absorb ridiculous amounts of Sin. Something he couldn''t do just yet. First, he needed to round everyone up before venturing back into the Nihilistic Rings.

    "Fuhrer, we''ll be gone for much longer this time. And, we''ll need everyone. But, what do you suppose we do with Erebane?" Apollo voiced.

    Both Destrys and Fuhrer thought on this matter. Sooner orter the orb would reinstate ess to the students, but Erebane couldn''t just remain here. Not to mention, once Destrys disappeared, the mirror space would copse.

    Eventually, Destrys came up with an idea. "I''ll hide him somewhere in the world. When it''s time, thest will be able to sense him."

    Since no one held a better idea, Apollo agreed to it.

 Chapter 383 - Sapphyrs Gift

    ----

    "Very well. If that''s the n then we''ll just resort to that," Apollo replied. Afterward, he nodded towards Fuhrer, who withdrew Brynhildr to sh a rift in space. However, before doing so he stopped before Destrys.

    "I''m unsure of when we''ll meet again. But, when we do, I hope our circumstances are much better. There must be a reason as to why you have split up your body like so," Fuhrermented. Unless something went awry, there was no reason for a Primordial to split themselves and jeopardize their original strength.

    However, instead of providing Fuhrer with a concrete answer, Destrys simply nodded in return, "If all goes well, then we''ll meet again. Hopefully, by then one of us will have information on the disappearance of your Monarch. Reuniting with my oldest friend would be the epitome of achieving closure."

    "I feel the same as well. Farewell, old friend," Fuhrer responded before finally stepping through the portal. Unlike usual, it didn''t close after he entered it, he suspended its closure to allow the others to exit at their leisure.

    But, save for Apollo and Sapphyr, the others had no remaining business within this isted mirrored space. So, they followed behind Fuhrer quickly and left the premises.

    In the meantime, all that remained was Apollo, Sapphyr, Destrys, Xezym, and the still healing Erebane. Some of their expressions were different from the rest, especially Xezym''s. His face was filled with doubt about the agreed decision.

    "My Lady, are you really going to ept this thing into your sacred ce? You don''t know them all too well. Doesn''t this alone pose many risks? To invite them into that fragile ce is a hazardous move," Xezym asked with concern.

    Although he was nothing but grateful for Destrys, Erebane''s presence was another story altogether, he was just too much of an unpredictability. Despite being Destrys'' descendant, ording to the earlier stories disclosed by Fuhrer, this individualmitted some atrocious deeds.

    Not to mention, when at full strength, he was a strong opponent, which was proven by how much of a resistance he put up against Fuhrer. Compared to him, Sapphyr''s current strength without the needed training didn''t equate to even half of Fuhrer''s avable strength!

    Thus, if the situation turned awry, there was even a chance of Sapphyr failing to control Erebane. This oue could very well lead to Sapphyr receiving some heinous injuries. Though this was an unfortunate situation, it wasn''t the absolute worst oue to arise from that issue.

    When it came to the worst possible consequence, that involved Apollo. Since Sapphyr was now part of his entourage, allowing her to be harmed wasn''t on his agenda.

    So, if someone like Erebane¡ªwho was only an addition through favor and oath¡ªendangered his subordinates, chances were that Apollo would ultimately kill Erebane, or at the very least severely wound him.

    After all, in his current state with all the techniques at his disposal, Apollo could defeat Erebane by exhausting his repertoire of skills. Once that happened, there would be no chance for return.

    "It''s not up to me. My Lord has chosen me for the task as I''m the only one who possesses the required ability," Sapphyr answered before sparing Xezym a charming smile. "Besides, I trust my own ability and potential now. It''s only a matter of time until I reach a more reassuring level."

    "Very well, my Lady. Ignore my ipetent words then," Xezym replied with a respectful posture. Afterward, he looked towards Apollo with aplex expression, "So this is the true you; no wonder you grasped the essence of my technique without a hitch inprehension. You weren''t a human."

    "No, I wasn''t. But, I appreciate your assistance. Your presence is one of the reasons I managed to gain inspiration so easily," Apollo responded. The time spent under Xezym''s watch was fruitful for Apollo and his Baneful Step.

    Although the Umbryonic Source Orb possessed the greatest contribution, that was only true after learning of the first step, which wasrgely spurred on by Xezym''s actions in the training room.

    In response, Xezym gave an abrupt nod before waiting for Sapphyr toplete the process.

    Contrary to all of their worries, Destrys already thought of a solution to cate their worries, "I will ce a dampener on my descendant. Unless some absurdly powerful surge disrupts it, he shouldn''t be an issue for you. Simultaneously, I will also limit his ess to my origin pool for the time being."

    "Is that enough caution for you all? Any more suppression would intrude upon his basic rights as an individual and reverse some things put in ce. Yes, it would relinquish all chances of error, leaving him defenseless, but that would also, in turn, invite some unwanted troubles for not just him but you as well," Destrys added suddenly.

    The words spoken seem unusually grim, thus the faint warning drew Apollo''s attention. Mostly because it wouldn''t be mentioned for no reason, "Is there something important you haven''t disclosed?"

    "Not quite. This more so has to deal with the way a Primordial is bound to their race. If he loses the protection of my sourcepletely, his position will be revealed to the Grand Spirit Council. At first, I thought he was a Rogue spirit abandoned by the council, but that isn''t the case."

    "Why do you believe that?"

    "Simple, because the Grand Spirit Council would never abandon the offspring of a Primordial. They''re too great of a weapon to not possess. In other words, this boy''s existence was never registered by the Grand Spirit Council. It would seem his mother guarded his presence well," Destrys revealed with a cryptic expression.

    It almost seemed as if part of him longed for the person in mention.

    "So, in other words, there are no records of Erebane''s birth and the sudden appearance of someone bearing the marking of your Arcanic Source would cause an uproar amongst the highest level of your Grand Spirit Council," Apollo voiced while nodding in understanding.

    This situation sounded quite familiar to him. In short, Erebane''s situation was simr to his own but fundamentally different. The other Monarch Candidates wished to im his innate power, whereas the Grand Spirit Council would love to train Erebane as a secret and extremely powerful weapon, but both of their positions were more or less concealed.

    Truth be told, learning about this situation made Apollo feel a faint association with Erebane. After all, after experiencing his rage, Apollo understood why Erebane did what he did. Most of his life was earned by wing out the depths of hellish situations, which eventually led to a warped personality.

    Eventually, Destrys finalized his actions by imnting Erebane''s unconscious body inside Sapphyr''s Tainted Temple. Surprisingly, despite the new presence, she felt no different. There was none of the expected additional mental weight.

    "Also, Apollo. Remember, danger lurks in every corner, and it is nearer than you expect. I can sense it on you. You''ve recently met with a member of the Titan Race. I finally understand why this ce is so odd. It stands at the precipice of the Union."

    "The Union?" Apollo parroted with a bewildered expression. This was a term entirely unfamiliar to him as he had never once heard of it nor seen a record of its existence.

    "It''s a term that only the upper echelon remembers. It has two pieces of history. One, it was the ce of battle for the War of Titans. Two, it is the point in this domain in which all the upper domains ovep. This particr world sits run under that ce, but it remains at a lower-dimensional threshold, so it escapes the surveince of most."

    "In short, you''re saying that being in this world is akin to hiding in in sight. Within the grasp of all yet sessfully avoiding their detection," Apollo muttered.

    "Precisely. But, there is a chance that outside of the Demons and Spirits, others were sent to this general area. If so, then you killing that member of the Titan Race will surely alert some nearby member, if any. Thus, tread carefully. That is all," Destrys warned before growing excessively faint.

    Apollo took this information to heart because of Fuhrer''s earlier exnation. Their previous position was already transmitted. Fortunately, it was from an isted space. The only question was how far was the isted space from Astarat and how fast could the rtion be identified?

    "I understand. There is a reason I am returning to my rightful home. Growth is needed and not just for me. All of my followers demand it. I appreciate the warning. Now be well," Apollo thanked before gliding into the portal with Sapphyr by his side and Xezym following shortly behind.

    Suddenly, a sensation was felt on Apollo''s arm while a few strands of astonishingly dark hair brushed against his cheek. "Hmm?"

    "Thank you. You stood by your promise because I can feel it exclusively¡ªthe possibility to awaken a substantially stronger power," Sapphyr murmured.

    Apollo smiled faintly in return, "My promises are backed by actions. I don''t distribute empty promises. My words will inevitably end up the truth, even if the only way to do so is to produce chaos in the process."

    "And, I will be by your side through the chaos and the abyss, my Lord," Sapphyr answered with a charming smile before moving forward suddenly. The action surprised Apollo but he didn''t flinch, because there was no imposed threat from her actions. However, there was something else present.

    Sapphyr''s pale blue lips pressed against Apollo''s cheek for a moment before separating. Meanwhile, Xezym stared at this situation in shock. This was a first! During his time with Sapphyr, she had never made an advance on anyone!

    Yet, she gave Apollo a kiss on the cheek of her own ord.

    On the other hand, Apollo just smiled in return, "I wee you to do so. In fact, I very much expect that much of you. Besides, thank you for your...gift," Apollo chuckled with a faintly alluring light circting through his eyes.

 Chapter 384 - Household Expansion (I)

    ----

    "My gift?" Sapphyr giggled. Afterward her charming smiled deepened once Apollo didn''t reject his "gift:". ording to what she remembered from interacting with him previously, Apollo was an individual who seldomly allowed contact¡ªfrom anyone, it wasn''t based on gender. So, him not pushing Sapphyr away was already a huge improvement.

    Not to mention, based on his expression, it seemed like he even weed her presence. It appeared the state of his attraction towards others was transitioning as well.

    "Yes, your gift. What else can I call something so pleasant? It certainly isn''t a nuisance," Apollo chuckled, before turning his head to the side. The end of the tunnel was right before them, but Apollo presented an immediate change in expression.

    "What''s wrong?" Sapphyr questioned once she noticed it. To grow from smiling to serious in one moment was not only astonishing, rming as well. Could it be that he sensed iing danger?

    However, Apollo''s next words only made Sapphyr stop and stare in shock for a moment.

    "Nothing is wrong, we''ll just have to continue thister on. If we exit the portal with such an amiable smile, I''m almost sure that Furcas and Vc will have a field show. Perhaps even Fuhrer will find something to tease me about," Apollo voiced.

    "W-what...just that? Isn''t that fine, my Lord? They''re your followers, aren''t you allowed to just order them?" Sapphyr responded with a partially curious gleam in her eyes.

    "I could, but I wouldn''t use my authority for such a petty reason, besides I''m not sure how effective that would be," Apollo muttered in response. With his special pact, Fuhrer alone was immune to the Absolute Order of the system, so even if he willed it, Apollo couldn''t stop Fuhrer from partaking in some harmless banter.

    Meanwhile, the Absolute Order could control the others, but it wouldn''t be able to wipe the smug look off of Vc and Furcas'' faces. Thus, although they could be silenced, dealing with their actions entirely was quite hard to aplish. Until he achieved a higher authority of the system, confirming whether his control of them was so concrete was hard to discern.

    In the meantime, Apollo and Sapphyr finally exited the portal, followed closely behind by Xezym. Different from where they entered, Fuhrer cut a portal linked directly to the outside of the Umbra Night Institute.

    Once that took ce, he cut another portal linking directly to Apollo''s residence, but Apollo had another route in mind. "You all can go ahead and meet in the residence, I''ll be there shortly. There''s something I must do in the meantime."

    With a nod, the others disappeared from the scene, leaving these 3 alone.

    "What do you have to do and why do I suspect it involves me?" Sapphyr questioned in a small voice. The way Apollo looked into the distance focused on a certain building before looking at her told Sapphyr that he intended to do something¡­ irregr.

    "Well, you''ve been locked away in that Legacy Gate for quite some time, shouldn''t we pay your aunt a visit and allow her to know that you''re safe and sound?" Apollo chuckled softly. Immediately after, a pair of dark wings unfurled from his back before shooting into the sky and zipping towards the position of the Administration Hall.

    Left with no other choice, Sapphyr followed quickly behind through the use of her own enchanting set of wings. Xezym, on the other hand, simply sunk into the shadows cast by the buildings and traveled that way.

    Since all of them boasted new movement techniques, all of them arrived before the Hall in a few short moments.

    Whoosh!

    Apollo and Sapphyr''s wings disappeared the moment theynded, followed by them entering the Hall. Without stopping, they advanced to the highest floor housing Geneva''s office. Usually, Apollo would have Fuhrer open a portal, but since he wasn''t here, Apollo didn''t feel like wasting any time to summon him.

    Instead, he took the manual route. At the same time, Sapphyr retracted Xezym''s presence. So only those two remained.

    Once before her office, Apollo held out his hand. Since there was an absence of a door handle, there was only one way to enter¡ªbeing permitted by Geneva. However, both Apollo and Sapphyr''s aura were vibrant, so she sensed them in an instant.

    "Come in," Geneva instructed, causing a deep swirl in the middle of the door.

    After entering, the familiar space of Geneva''s office greeted them.

    Almost immediately, Geneva was bewildered by the person who stood next to Apollo. While some of their features felt familiar, their aura was something she had never seen before, which made it difficult for Geneva to link this body with her precious niece Sapphyr.

    But, Sapphyr stepped forward after noticing her aunt''s quizzical expression, "Hello Aunty."

    "S-Sapphyr?" Geneva sputtered with widened eyes. She found this hard to believe, but the voice attached to the body was authentic. Not to mention some of Sapphyr''s earlier mannerisms remained as well. So, as the moments passed, Geneva started to realize more weing simrities.

    "Yeah. I know I look different, but let''s just say both Xezym, and I managed toe across a fortuitous encounter. Though short, the lessons learned were many," Sapphyr admitted. At the same time, a pleasant smile crept upon her face. Something that once again shocked Geneva.

    ''When''s thest time this girl smiled so happily? Could she really have obtained what she needed? If so, then where was she for all this time and why can''t I sense the exact change she''s gone through. It''s almost as if..''

    Suddenly, Geneva''s expression filled with horror, "Sapphyr, don''t tell me the fortuitous encounter you speak of is epting the power of Apollo? I hope that isn''t the truth."

    All at once, the memories of the enticing allure of Apollo''s power revisited her mind. And,pared to before, they were much stronger. Powerful enough to make the wound on her torso pulsate in thirst of more of that delectable power.

    "Partially. Truth be told, I don''t regret my decision at all. If it can fix all the problems, then the consequences it brings are worth it. But, I''vee for something else, for you. Haven''t you suffered enough?" Sapphyr said.

    After a short pause, she continued, "I''ve heard stories of how much you loved the battlefield, but after the catastrophe, you had to leave it and never return since. But, I can sense some of Apollo''s energy coursing through you. Why not allow him to finish the job?"

    Truth be told, Sapphyr couldn''t sense what she imed, instead, this was all dialogue that Apollo requested her to say. During their short flight to this ce, Apollo briefed her on his intention ofing here. And, with how close she was to Geneva, surely she would aplish this better than he could.

    Plus, after verifying that he could create strong Greater Demons like Typhir and Sapphyr, he wasn''t apprehensive about turning Geneva. That was, unless the change her innate body would garner was still stronger than his current limit.

    Geneva''s expression becameplicated once she experienced the persuasion of Sapphyr. All of her ims were correct. The position of a Headmaster truly wasn''t her calling. Not a day went by that she didn''t revel in the past.

    Even then, a voice gnawed at her incessantly to decline this offer. Would she even be able to retain her free will? She didn''t wish to be someone else''s pawn, acting without her own discretion taking into ount.

    "Aunty, don''t be so defensive about it. I promise, there is only more power on this side. Apollo will deliver on anything he promises you. All you need to do is ce your trust in him," Sapphyr added.

    Eventually, Geneva''s willpower crumbled. "Okay¡­ but, what will we do about filling the role of Headmaster?"

    "Two choices. One, I allow you to stay here while I leave for quite some time and you remain as the Headmaster. Two, I take you with me to an intriguing ce and introduce you to more power while you allow Robyn and Sylvester to seed you. Leave this ce behind," Apollo voiced.

    At the same time, he raised his hand to Sapphyr. She had done her part so the rest was up to him.

    "An intriguing ce? Could it be your home? If so, I would like that see that ce. Is that where you continually disappeared to?" Geneva questioned.

    "Yes, nowe," Apollo instructing before walking right past her. ording to his memories, this window was only for show. And, he was correct.

    The moment he stepped through the window, he arrived outside. Since there was no tform under his feet, he immediately started to fall. However, that was solved without fail.

    His wings unfurled and he met Geneva''s worried gaze. But, instead of beckoning her, he turned around and flew towards his residence at a moderate speed.

    "Come," Sapphyr said before matching Apollo''s actions.

    Witnessing this scene left Geneva in awe, muttering incredulously, "They both have wings."

    ....

    Soon enough, Apollo arrived inside his residence with both Geneva and Sapphyr apanying him. Immediately, the sight of numerous demons nearly caused Geneva to faint but Apollo shook his head.

    "They aren''t dangerous, to you at least," Apollo smiled. But before moving forward, he whistled.

    Fwoosh!

    "Masterrrrrr, I missed you," Ouroboros eximed. Compared t before, two horns appeared atop his heard and his previously silver scaled released an unusual aura. Compelled to touch, Apollo found that these scales sapped his energy, specifically his Anima and G the moment he made contact.

    Meanwhile, a few prompts appeared as a lithe woman with foxy eyes appeared from between therge bodies of the demons.

    ?System Alert: Two potential additions to the Households found.?

    ?System Alert: They are directly linked to you, do you wish to add them to the ?Dominus Household? registry? [Y/N]??

 Chapter 385 - Household Expansion (II)

    ----

    Upon entry, Apollo eyed the new notification with a pleased smile. Although the Dominus Household was newly recreated, it was developing nicely. With the addition of the new members, he was almost close to having 10 members.

    While it paled inparison to the Household of notable Demons like the Lords, or even the Royal Demons whopose the Council as of right now, Apollo didn''t fear for the future because he understood that it could change at any moment. Those who were in power now could end up groveling at his feet while begging for their lives.

    At that point, the Dominus Household would be thrumming with renown. Thus, Apollo pushed the current small form factor of his house to the back of his mind. Instead, he focused on what he held control of right now¡ªthe members within the household.

    ?System Alert: Two potential additions to the Households found.?

    ?System Alert: They are directly linked to you, do you wish to add them to the ?Dominus Household? registry? [Y/N]??

    "Yes," Apollo replied without hesitation. The insignia of the household appeared on the side of ia''s neck, whereas it appeared on Ouroboros'' forehead, right between the small two horns. It was simr in appearance to the dark rhombus embedded in APollo''s forehead, except a few sharp connections protruded from each point of the rhombus.

    Meanwhile, Geneva remained in fright as she watched the actions of these Demons. Although she had once witnessed the state of Fuhrer, he wasn''t all too terrifying. Especially since he kept his aura mellow. But now, not only was Fuhrer in his original form, but Fuhrer, Vc, Zarkath, Jorgun, and even Typhir adopted their demonic forms.

    For a moment, her gaze was stuck on Typhir. "So familiar¡­ wait, is that Typhir? Are you telling me you changed him as well?!"

    "Of course, how else would I have healed him. I wouldn''t let him die because the reason for his injury was me. So, he deserved the best of chances to achieve the revenge he did. Besides, he deserves a spot alongside me," Apollo answered with a quick nce.

    "Deserve? Why does it sound like you believe your power is a luxury? Tch, still as obnoxious as ever," Geneva scoffed with a shake of her head, however, the res she received from the Demons in response made her shiver. Afterward, she covered her mouth with her hand in case her mouth weed an unfortunate end.

    After all, she recalled just how much Fuhrer wanted to kill Sylvester for disrespecting Apollo. Surely, she could be in the same predicament if she followed that route. But, Apollo just chuckled at her naivete.

    "Oh, but it is just that. If you were to ept my power then you''d understand why I hold it with such regard. It isn''t something a person of your world could achieve," Apollo responded with a proud smirk.

    "I can attest t that! It is truly a power that leaves you in awe," Sapphyrmented while stepping next to Apollo. "Just ept it, aunty, you won''t regret it."

    Finally, with a sigh, Geneva nodded, "Okay."

    In that same instant, Apollo ced his palm before her face. "Let''s just verify the Sin Paths you possess before moving along," Apollo voiced. So far, Sapphyr possessed the strongestbination. Each of her Sins possessed the ability to feed off one another should we master them to the highest level.

    Ira, Invidia, Superbia, and Avaritia¡ªApollo saw these in Sapphyr earlier, but during the first time trying to change Geneva, he saw an interesting blend of Sin. One that Sapphyr didn''t showcase any signs of upon change.

    Almost immediately, a few strands of Sin Energy flowed from Geneva''s forehead. Just like Sapphyr, there was a collection of 4 distinct colors, meaning she possessed a grand total of 4 Sin Paths as well.

    With a normal demon body, 2 was the absolute limit for the number of Sin Paths contained by a Demon''s body. However, the demons created through Apollo''s system possessed a body much stronger than a typical demon. Using his Supreme Demon Body as a base, the system emted a weaker version before imnting it into the demon of his choice.

    This was also true for any demon he took control of. Regardless of their body standard, the system forcefully upgrades it. In truth, this was a reason why it was so easy for Apollo to control the demons. After experiencing that taste of power, the thirst for power deepened exponentially.

    Typically, treating your subordinates well as well as introducing them to frequent upgrades was a good way to keep them loyal, even without the presence of a controlling device.

    Nevertheless, Apollo didn''t look further into this because he wasn''t aware of just how strong the demon body granted by the system was. Even this information on his body was omitted. If that was the case, how would he look into the information regarding his followers?

    Perhaps it all required a higher authority, or perhaps even a higher level. Overall, the possibilities were few and far between, hence why Apollo didn''t fret over the current situation.

    Meanwhile, Apollo monitored the Ira, Superbia, Luxuria, and G present from her body. It was truly a harrowingbination. But, Apollo expected as much seeing as how she devoured his mes. This Sin must have stemmed from her bloodline.

    On the other hand, Luxuria seemed to have two reasons. First, it appeared she lusted after someone but never disclosed the fact. Perhaps it was a type of forbidden attraction, either way, it was never revealed. On the other hand, the second reason behind her Sin was her lust to return to battle.

    Her desire buried in the depths of her mind resurfaced as Apollo peered inside. ''The new usages of Sin are very convenient. If I will it, I can see the origin of their Sin Paths. For example, her Ira has many, but the most contributing factor is the battle with this strong Terror. It was the root principle of change in her life.''

    Lastly, the Superbia embedded in her body was the result of her innate disposition. In the past, she was one of the most prideful women known to Astarat, because not only was she strong, but her beauty was almost unmatched. Many of the Supreme Family children coveted Geneva in her prime.

    Now, with her appearance falling to a ss below, she was only on par with the likes of Odessa, Valerie, Nadida, and so on. As for Sapphyr, she had already transcended their realm.

    Eventually, Apollo smiled and begun the demonizing process. Immediately, a cocoon of sweltering heat appeared around Geneva''s body. The changes in her body took ce rapidly. Especially the ones linked to her ranking.

    ?System: Your Stigmata are reacting to the creation of this demon.?

    ?System: This strong specimen is special enough to immediately jump into the Archdemon realm. However, restrictions will be ced do you wish to allow this change? [Y/N]??

    Without pause, Apollo agreed. Even if some restrictions were imposed on Geneva, bing Archdemon from the start would make her stronger than the rest but he didn''t believe she would be strong than him. The restriction would confirm that.

    ?System: The change hasmenced. Changes will ur in you as well because on the presence of an Archdemon.?

    Whoosh!

    A surge urred followed by a link between Apollo and Geneva. At first, he didn''t understand its presence, but in a few moments, he understood the issues.

    ?System: Generating the benefits of your actions....?

    Of its own ord, Apollo''s menu appeared before his eyes except the numbers rted to his level and parameters were changing rapidly right in front of him! Despite his increased cognition, he couldn''t determine the oue

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lv.5

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Greater Demon [50.00%]

    Title: Monarch''s Descendant, Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 18

    Level: ???

    Experience: ???%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 25,000 units.

    -----

    Strength: ???

    Agility: ???

    Intelligence: ???

    Vitality: ???

    Comprehension: ???

    Willpower: ???

    -----------

    [?Traits?]- 7

    ?Supreme Demon Body?

    ?Gluttonous Soul?

    ?Vacant Soul?

    ?Eye of Mimicry?

    ?Eye of Desire?

    ?Intrepid Mind?

    ?Tempting Corruption?

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 5

    ?Demonic Imposition: Adamantine Servitude? [Partially Awakened]

    ?Demonic Providence: Domination? [Sealed]

    -----------

    [?Sin Margins?]

    Ira - Primary [Infernal Hellfire]

    G - Initial [Endless Devouring]

    Avaritia - Initial [Boundless Desires]

    Superbia - Initial [Adamant Will]

    Invidia - Initial [Covetous Eye]

    Luxuria - Initial [Corrupted Eye]

    Acedia - Initial [Languish Perception]

    -----------

    [?Demonic Servants?] - 9

    [Daemonic Avatar]

    Erus Fuhrer (Demon Knight) - The Tenebrous Master

    ?Greater Demon? [5,000]

    [Demonic Acolyte]

    Typhir Estrada (Demon Knight)

    ?Lesser Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Follower]

    Furcas (Demon Knight) - Wiseman of Corruption

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    Vc (Demon Knight) - The Terrible

    ?Greater Demon? [0]

    [Demonic Servant]

    Zarkath (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    Jorgun the Anomaly (???)

    ?Weakened Greater Demon? [0]

    ------------

    [?Interdimensional Inventory?][?Inheritance?] [?Lucky Draw?]

    ...

    While watching the change, Geneva''s appearance underwent an extreme change, the first being the closure of the wound on her torso. In its ce, a newyer of cream skin with a supple texture reappeared.

    However, once it appeared, the curvature of her waist was entuated, almost as if her ribs were made of malleable putty. Afterward, she too gained wings except they were reminiscent of a phoenix''s wings.

    Granted, there were some ring differences. The feathers of her wings seemed to be made from a metallic material, exuding a beautiful blend of ck, red, and a hint of purple. Not to mention, they melded together, so it was hard to tell they were even feathers.

    Then, her body adopted a shape almost identical to Sapphyr, except rather than cold dark air, the atmosphere surrounding Geneva was akin to a supernova. During this entire process, only Apollo approached her.

    The rest stayed away due to the franticshes of mes. Its violent nature even caused Fuhrer to conjure a Sin Shroud.

    ''So this is the transformation into an Archdemon? How fascinating,'' Apollo thought before reaching out his hand to touch Geneva''s cheek, only to feel an incinerating heat on his fingertips.

    But, ayer of Ira protected him from damage.

    Finally, Geneva opened her eyes, and upon doing so, a swarm of mes circted in her eyes before subsiding.

    "You... weren''t wrong," Geneva voiced while gazing at Apollo with a hint of pleasure gracing her lips.

    On the other hand, the finalized results astounded Apollo!

 Chapter 386 - Infernal Succubus

    ----

    Different from the rest, not only did Geneva''s transformation cause a change in Apollo''s stats, but the message received after transformation was different as well. Typically, the system would only notify Apollo of receiving a new follower, but this set of notifications went beyond that. It even gave information on Geneva''s exact changes as well as some of her restrictions.

    ?System: Congrattions, your new follower has unlocked an initial evolution of an Archdemon.?

    ?System: Alert, your new follower has obtained a special sub-race within the Demon Race.?

    ?System: Due to your follower''s innate qualities, she has changed into an ?Infernal Subus.??

    Almost immediately, Apollo was taken aback by the information distributed by the system. For the first time, upon demonizing his follower, they received a race and it wasn''t just any race.

    It was a variation; a fusion of two races. In short, an Infernal Subus was a step above normal Subus, because, on top of their lust, there were some other principlesced into their actions.

    Essentially, it was a hybrid species¡ªthe fusion of an Iraym with a Subus. But, achieving such abination was difficult, because of the demanding properties of an Iraym. Their Hellfire scorched all foreign entities without discrimination, and only the strongest of subi could survive the introduction of that overbearing me.

    But, in Geneva''s case, she didn''t need to worry about these issues. After all, her change was precipitated by the system. So, it artificially filled any prerequisite she needed to fulfill.

    On the other hand, as a consequence of this immense favor, a drawback ensued. Just evolving to the next stage was turned into a monumental task for Geneva.

    ?System: Because your follower''s initial evolution is higher than yours, their control over Sin Energy will be restricted and their Sin Purity temporarily limited. [Maximum Growth: Primary].?

    ?System: The restrictions on her Sins can only be broken once you attain the Archdemon state. And, it will happen autonomously.?

    At this time, Apollo fell silent. Even if her Sin Energy was restricted, just the physique of an Archdemon alone was powerful. Take Zarkath for example. Apollo only managed to acquire him through the help of Fuhrer.

    Fortunately, he was a demon unaffiliated with Apollo''s grand purpose. So, Fuhrer was allowed to help him suppress this demon.

    However, if it was a demon from the Lost Council, then that was a different story. As mentioned before, the members of the Lost Council weren''t allowed to assist Apollo against the other members; it had to be done through his own efforts.

    If this order was disobeyed, then every morsel of power granted to the erring demon would be annihted, essentially turning them into a nk te. While it wasn''t exactly horrible for the ones whose power returned to the Greater Demon, or even Lesser Demon level, it was another story for the Archdemons and Noblesse hidden within the shadows of the Lost Council.

    Starting over from scratch after retaining that much power was absurd!

    Not to mention, the time it takes to advance again would be unknown, because some materials that were present during the ancient times of war weren''t present today. Naturally, this had something to do with the Nihilistic Ring''s change in position.

    Nevertheless, this was a matter they just couldn''t allow to happen.

    Finally, Genevanded before Apollo with a swivel of her hips. A yful smile appeared on her lips as a smoky shade appeared around her eyes. This wasn''t the result of her actions, but an innate change to increase her allure. Compared to the rest, an Infernal Subus was amongst the most tantalizing Demon Races.

    However, rather than focus on her, Apollo was surprised by the next message given by the system.

    ?System: As a result of acquiring your first Archdemon, the system has permanently transferred a portion of their strength to you. [Transfer Volume: <10%].?

    ''Transference of a portion of her strength? I wonder if I can get some more in-depth information regarding this matter,'' Apollo thought. As a figment of his will, the system abided by his wishes and disclosed even further information on the given power.

    ?System: The changes of your status will be limited to three major factors¡ªSin Purity, Attributes and Evolution Meter.?

    ?System: The number provided by the estimated notifications covers the overall depth of the transference. So, all the changes added together will add to the power siphoned from your follower.?

    ?System: Rather than go to waste, it is imperative we empower the Monarch.?

    Apollo was in shock. This was a first for him. The system never revealed its intention to him before. So, rather than keeping the energy stolen from Geneva in a stored ce, it imnted it in Apollo.

    What''s more, one thing Apollo immediately took notice of was the meager number.

    ''Just greater than 10%? Although it is vague, I have a feeling the number is infinitesimally close to 10. If that''s the case, then could it be my current power isn''t far from an Archdemon?'' Apollo wondered.

    Generally, absorbing a portion of her strength should result in more than just a mere 10% gain, but that was only true if the recipient was much weaker.

    Afterward, Apollo took a moment to browse through the changes in his stats. Instantly, three evident changes caught his attention. The first was his level. Although it wasn''t emphasized by the system, he was sure this would receive some assistance as well.

    Because, the easiest way for him to grow stronger at this point was to continue increasing his level. In turn, it would simplify the process of increasing his Sin Purity.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lv.5

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Greater Demon [60.00%]

    Title: Monarch''s Descendant, Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 18

    Level: 160

    Experience: ???%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 25,000 units.

    -----

    Strength: 2,056.0

    Agility: 1,910.0

    Intelligence: 1,939.0

    Vitality: 1,856.0

    Comprehension: 224.0

    Willpower: 193.0

    -----------

    [?Traits?]- 7

    ?Supreme Demon Body?

    ?Gluttonous Soul?

    ?Vacant Soul?

    ?Eye of Mimicry?

    ?Eye of Desire?

    ?Intrepid Mind?

    ?Tempting Corruption?

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 5

    ?Demonic Imposition: Adamantine Servitude? [Partially Awakened]

    ?Demonic Providence: Domination? [Sealed]

    -----------

    [?Sin Margins?]

    Ira - Primary [Infernal Hellfire]

    G - Primary [Endless Devouring]

    Avaritia - Initial [Boundless Desires]

    Superbia - Primary [Adamant Will]

    Invidia - Initial [Covetous Eye]

    Luxuria - Initial [Corrupted Eye]

    Acedia - Initial [Languish Perception]

    ¡­

    In addition to receiving 10 levels from absorbing Geneva''s power, it elevated his evolution progress by 10%. But, one must remember 10& of a Greater Demon was nowhere close to being equivalent to 10% of an Archdemon.

    In addition, the restricted ess was strong enough to elevate both Apollo''s G and Superbia to the Primary stage. Although he absorbed her other two sins as well, it just wasn''t strong to permit a change in those other two Sins.

    While the system said his purity of Luxuria arrived at the Initial level, it barely skimmed the surface, unlike the rest of his powers. As a result, it could be seen as his weakest current Sin.

    But, that was only temporary. All it required was for him to attune himself with the Sin well and learn how to properly indulge himself in its debauchery. But, different from the others sins, indulging in Luxuria was more so a luxury than a necessity.

    So, it wasn''t high on his agenda at that moment.

    Suddenly, Ouroboros'' childish voice sounded in his ear, "Masssster, who is this prettydy? You know Boros likes her, right? Hehehe!"

    Listening to his words, Apollo could only shake his head exasperatedly. Despite being a childpared to everyone present, Ouroboros was by far the naughtiest. Yet, Geneva didn''t seem to mind his words and even smiled while holding out her hands.

    "Would you like toe to this prettydy?" Geneva whispered in an enticing voice. Ouroboros'' tail rattled excitedly, but he didn''t immediately jump off of Apollo''s shoulder. Instead, he looked to Apollo for permission, which intrigued him for a moment.

    ''Can Ouroboros perhaps sense my change? Besides that, I can''t think of a reason why he would request my permission now of all time.'' Usually, Ouroboros spent most of his time in ia''s embrace, so Apollo didn''t understand the reasoning behind the change.

    Still, Apollo obliged nheless. In the same instant, Ouroboros flew directly into Geneva''s supple embrace.

    Meanwhile, Apollo gathered the others around. Typically, he''d have Fuhrer cover this process, but Apollo wanted to test something out.

    ''I won''t be barred from using it anymore, right? The memory is hazy, but I recall a presence stopping me from conjuring these gates. But, if I do summon it, it''ll make our travel even more convenient as well as give me experience on the matter,'' Apollo thought while pondering the possibility.

    Regardless of the oue, Apollo still intended to move forward with his actions. So, immediately a grand gate exuding a massive heat signature erected from seemingly nowhere as Apollo ced his hands on the ground and funneled Ira deep inside.

    As the gates opened, a torrent of Ira assailed their faces but it was soon reced by a sh of Superbia before returning to Ira. But, all of a sudden, a demon burst through the portal, however, it was instantly shed in half by Fuhrer.

    And, it was a familiar demon, an Ifrit.

    "My Lord, are we returning to Ashiraem? Have you made up your mind to abandon going to Suprenis? If so, I standby your decision," Fuhrer voiced. Truth be told, the next strongest demon resided in Suprenis, and they bore a small link to Vc.

    So, if they returned there, chances are that demon would confront them. The only issue was that demon in question was one of the Kings of the Lost Council! Just thinking about this matter gave Fuhrer a headache.

    "Yeah, I believe it''s better this way. Only danger and difficult allies reside in Suprenis," Apollo replied. Afterward, he ordered everyone to follow behind him, "Dominus Household, it is time to unleash hell!"

    Whoosh!

    The entire household stepped through the portal and entered the tunnel linked to Ashiraem. Unlike before, Apollo was apanied by a small army. So, his intention here was inherently different.

 Chapter 387 - Path To Conquering

    ----

    As soon as Apollo touched down in Ashiraem, the way he breathed and even interacted with the ambient Ira was vastly different. In fact, just the slightest inhale caused a visible stream of Ira to flow towards his nostrils. And, this wasn''t him focusing on absorbing Sin Energy, it was just the current state of his affinity with the Sin.

    The development not only surprised Apollo but even Fuhrer was pleasantly surprised by the current situation. Nevertheless, Apollo didn''t pay attention to this for much longer. Instead, he immediately made some ns.

    "Fuhrer, now that we''re back in Ashiraem, I think we should visit your true body. What do you say, it''s something we should do, right? Should some changes have taken ce after meeting with Destrys?" Apollo asked before looking into a general area.

    Unlike his first time here, he understood the basicyout of this zone. While it wasn''t sufficient to say he was familiar with the area, his perception was strong enough to clearly indicate what existed in his immediate area.

    Besides that, he could also sense the festering link between him, Fuhrer, and Fuhrer''s original body which sat at the core nod of the grand barrier protecting the Nihilistic Rings. The stronger Apollo became, the more the presence of that barrier became apparent to him.

    ''Although it''s faint, I can sense a bizarre aura weaved into the atmosphere. It seems to be mixed with 3 types of powers, but it''s difficult to distinguish their origins,'' Apollo thought silently while ncing upward.

    Meanwhile, everyone else observed their surroundings, especially Vc who possessed an irregr expression. One Apollo soon caught wind of.

    "Why do you look so awkward?"

    "Ahem, me? I don''t look weird at all, my Lord," Vc replied instantly. It was faint, but Apollo could tell that Vc was fidgeting nervously. Clearly, his ims didn''t match his behavior, which caused Apollo to narrow his gaze.

    "Are you lying to me?" Apollo asked. Although his tone was somewhat light, an oppressive aura began leaking from his aura, frightening Vc in the process. If this was before, he would have shed heads with Apollo but after witnessing that beat down and the genuine threat revealed by Apollo, Vc didn''t press his luck at all.

    "N-no, my lord! I just sense Asteroth. He''s here in this world and he''s angry. Plus, he''s been in this exact position before. Other than that information, I don''t know the rest," Vc blurted while constantly shaking his head.

    Whereas Vc was on edge, Apollo grew curious. "Just how do you know that he''s is here and nearby?"

    ''The system gave no indication, so does Vc possess something that the system doesn''t?'' Apollo wondered.

    Not long after, Vc shook his head, "We''ve always shared a link. The Old Monarch bestowed our power together. So,pared to the rest of the demons, the link we share is deeper, embedded in the depths of our powers."

    "If that''s the case, are the state of your personalities simr?" Apollo asked after giving Vc''s words some thought. If their powers were of simr natures then perhaps the power affected their developed personality. After all, it wasn''t odd for a Sin Path to influence one''s behavior.

    In fact, that was the ultimate purpose of a Sin Path¡ªto mold its possessor into the vessel bearing the most fitting qualities. If their aspects didn''t blend seamlessly, then there was a chance that the Sin Path was iplete. An indication that one''s evolution process would soon peter out and fall into stagnation.

    "Hah, simr. You haven''t the slightest clue, my Lord. Just wait until you meet Asteroth. Oh, you think Vc is bad? He is but a childpared to what awaits you when dealing with him. Asteroth is a grown man whose temper resembled that of a toddler throwing a tantrum," Furcas snickered, clutching his stomach as he entered boisterousughter.

    Upon hearing these words, Apollo didn''t know how to react. Truth be told, he didn''t mind an unruly subordinate. As long as he was stronger, he could always put the person in their ce. What bothered Apollo was the fact he was currently unaware of Asteroth''s position, nor was he ready to face him.

    But, if he shared the same innate link that allowed Vc to sense his general movement then chances are he was aware of Vc''s general position now that he was in Ashiraem. However, Apollo was curious as to whether Asteroth knew Vc was in the grasp of others.

    For all he knew, Vc could have simply returned to Ashiraem to wreak havoc like in his past. But, Apollo couldn''t move forward without achieving some type of confirmation.

    "Vc, when''s thest time you were in Ashiraem?" Apollo questioned.

    He was silent for a moment, but Vc ultimately answered after calcting the timeframe, "I think it''s been close to 2,000 years since I''ve been in this ring. Most of my time was spent in Suprenisying low and finallying across that stronghold to takemand of."

    Apollo''s expression grewplex after hearing Vc''s answer. If he truly hadn''t been here for over two millennia, then reappearing now would be odd. Especially after the signs of the reappearing Dominus Household.

    Granted, there were a few other exnations for Vc''s appearance, Apollo didn''t expect Asteroth to be the reasonable type¡ªsomeone who pondering the possibilities of other sound reasoning. Based on the stories of the others, Apollo took Asteroth as the irrational type.

    "If that''s the case, then he''ll be on the hunt for our heads soon enough. Or, he''ll be waiting for us somewhere we must visit if I''m not mistaken. Therefore, we move quickly and we move with purpose," Apollomanded.

    Afterward, his wings unfurled and he took the skies in search of a path. There were numerous paths leading to the position of Fuhrer''s true body, but Apollo was only interested in the one littered with demons.

    Just traveling towards Fuhrer''s position wasn''t enough. Apollo needed to acquire experience and allows his followers to train as well. Despite these demons being from the same race, Apollo had no qualms destroying them for what appeared to be the "greater good".

    Apollo acquiring strength took precedence over allowing these demons whose potential was virtually exhausted to continue existing. The best bet was to annihte them in hopes of the next cycle of lower demons possessed a more worthwhile power.

    Of course, this wasn''t Apollo''s only reason for doing so. He also needed to search for a way to enter or even locate the Lost Ring. ording to his estimations, he was almost certain the sealed abilities were linked to that ring.

    Perhaps until he ruled over that household irrevocably, the power wasn''t his to use. Even so, this was a ce that had been lost for countless millennia. But, then it hit him, thest to learn of this ce''s presence was Azridan.

    ''Azridan¡­'' Apollo called out to him. Eventually, after a groggy pain, he answered.

    [What do you need,d?]

    ''Not too strenuous. I just needed some information. Can you perhaps recall the position of the Lost Ring?'' Apollo questioned. This was hit best bet, but unfortunately, Azridan''s response was far from what he hoped to receive.

    [That is a negative. We didn''t seek out the Lost Ring. It beckoned us when we were deemed ready as candidates. It wasn''t until I almost mastered every Sin that it reached out to me. But, for some reason, its position isn''t cemented. It drifts endlessly. So even if I remembered its position, it would pose no help. It''s bound to be elsewhere after countless millennia.]

    ''I should have thought as much. Of course, precautions were put in ce as a means to deter any invaders,'' Apollo thought. Since this was dead-end, Apollo didn''t press the matter.

    Luckily, the information wasn''t all useless. ''As long as I get every sin to a certain level, there''s a chance of having the Lost Rings call out to me of its own ord. Regardless, there''s a lot to be done.

    Finally, Apollo located a cluster of Ifrits whose power signature eclipsed what he once face. By no means were they mere Lesser Ifrits, these seemed to be the genuine fiery demon

    With a narrowed gaze, Apollo lifted his finger towards the cluster of Ifrits, "Dominus Household...conquer!"

    Whoosh!

    Everyone moved at the same time, with Fuhrer and Typhir taking the lead. Each of them brandished their sword, bisecting the nearest Ifrit. Under the siege of their powerful swords, these enemies didn''t stand a chance!

    Meanwhile, Apollo remained up above, monitoring the situation while remaining still. On the other hand, his experience meter in the corner of his eye continued to rise rapidly. Not only that, a stream of notifications indicating the source of his experience and the follower who earned the kill appeared in his sights as well.

    Gradually, Apollo formed a smile, thoroughly pleased by the update of the system. It made it convenient for him to understand the contribution of his subordinate. Of course, the system developed this way to assist his decision in assigning roles within the household.

 Chapter 388 - Explosions Of Ira

    ----

    Eventually, after watching the others destroy Ifrits, Apollo grew bored and found himself wanting to join in on thebat. After all, what fun was it for him to just watch from the sidelines? He needed to enjoy some of the thrill firsthand as well.

    Gradually, Apollo dropped down into the heart of the battle, which remained untouched from the sheer numbers of Ifrits in the air. Once he touched down, the gauntlets around his hands materialized with their ominously sharp edges.

    Apollo clenched his fist before dashing forward. The full entirety of his frightening speed was put on disy as the shadowy embers of his Umbra Phantom Mantle appeared without much invocation. At this point, the second step was bing second nature for Apollo.

    Just a thought and it would wreathe his body, boosting his speed to shocking heights.

    Whoosh!

    Apollo dashed past an Ifrit and despite its strong physique as a Greater Demon, Apollo''s ws shred its torso until its internals were present without any protection. A small chuckle left Apollo''s lips as he saw this, "Like paper. If that''s the case, soon enough only Greater Demons will reward any experience for me."

    Afterward, Apollo merely snapped his fingers, incinerating the Ifrit with his dense Hellfire. Even though it was a demon, this Hellfire burnt its physique all the same. Unlike the other demons, Apollo''s me already possessed a shred of Purgatory''s Blood.

    If even Noblesse''s feared that ghastly me, what chances did a mere Ifrit who had yet to evolve into a Greater Demon have at surviving?

    ?System: You have killed Peak Lesser Demon (Scorching Ifrit).?

    ?System: Experience meter increased by 0.24%?

    Although the experience granted by the system for the kill wasn''t exactly pleasing it wasn''t off-putting. Realistically speaking, the battlested no longer than 3 seconds, yet Apollo managed to acquire a quarter of a percent. Even if a small position of his follower''s kills went to them, at the very least, Apollo required a fifth of a percent from each of their kills.

    In other words, it would only take 450 or so kills until he reached the next level. And, due to the system change, each level resulted in a substantial increase towards not just his attributes but his evolution progress as well.

    After all, his experience could in a sense be exined as converting into the foundation for his Demonic Anima and Sin Energy. Although it didn''t directly fill his reserves, the level was the action that granted a deeper reservoir for Apollo.

    As such, more than ever, Apollo sought to level up. It was amongst the most important matters for him. Because, while the system revealed that only his Sin Purity mattered, in simpler terms, his levels were linked to that Sin Purity.

    It was both directly and indirectly linked. The direct link referred to the fact that a certain expression threshold would significantly decrease the difficulty of increasing his purity, whereas the indirect link mostly covered the fact that his level would eventually fulfill sub-existing qualities.

    Such as, precipitating the transformation into an Archdemon. Granted,pared to what was needed for the Greater Demon state, the Archdemon eclipsed it ruthlessly.

    Although he never revealed it, after transforming, Apollo possessed a general idea of just what level he needed to achieve to not just evolve once again, but tap into some of the sealed abilities of the system.

    On the other hand, a technique embedded in this core of his Hellfire intrigued Apollo. It was an odd technique, that in which could be catastrophic to his followers if he wasn''t careful. Still, Apollo was curious as to whether his control of Ira was strong enough to unleash this technique.

    Finally, his curiosity overwhelmed his sound mind. "Everyone, fall back, I would like to test something," Apollo revealed while started to steadily levitate until his body was almost 50 meters off the ground.

    After achieving this height, he positioned himself over the mass of raging Ifrit before looking down on them. At the same time, Fuhrer and the other gave him the space needed to act upon his skepticism.

    Apollo raised his hands before his body the instant they created space. A flicker of sparks took ce between his palms before igniting into roaring mes. The beauty of the mes danced in Apollo''s eyes as he looked at it with delight.

    ''Now show me that you''re strong enough to enact my desires,'' Apollo thought before causing a sudden phenomenon on a grand scale. The Ira within a 100-meter radius reacted to the appearance of his me and emitted wailing cries.

    However, those cries soon turned into the desire to merge with Apollo, but that wasn''t what he intended to use the Ira for. As a result, the Hellfire in his palms emitted a quelling ripple, wiping away the Ira''s fervent behavior.

    In its ce, obedience towards the fire in his hand urred. Once this was attained, Apollo revealed yet another smile, "Then you are ready," Apollo admitted before mming his palms together abruptly.

    A surge of fragmented Hellfire scattered in every direction before forming tiny explosions, which almost simultaneously. Instantly, every one of the Ifrits were incinerated by these small-scale explosions.

    Apollo watched the spectacle as his experience bare skyrocketed at an obscene rate. From a single kill, the numbers grew exponentially until the Ira within the 100-meter radius was exhausted. In a single move, Apollo had killed many.

    ?System: Congrattions, you have reached Level 156.?

    ?System: +1% to All Attributes and Demonic Reserves.?

    Furthermore, his own reserves were even used! Instead, he manipted the external world to do its bidding. Unbeknownst to Apollo, he had just revealed an ability he possessed but had no information on.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer revealed a delighted expression while he watched this scene, "Rudimentary, but truly the ability of the Old Monarch. Inciting Ira to do his bidding all by lifting a finger. Exactly why he was dreadful inrge-scale wars. The power at his disposal was built for conquering!"

    Steadily, Apollo drifted towards the ground as he looked towards his followers, "Members of the Dominus Household, as my followers, this power will inevitably be at your disposal, we just need to move forward with our ns."

    Everyone in the household reacted to Apollo''s words, standing with a firm posture, ready for more battle. But, unfortunately for them, Apollo''s actions had demolished an entire zone, leaving nothing else for them. The remaining path to Fuhrer''s body was void of enemies.

    Therefore, Apollo and the rest uneventfully came across the cave housing Fuhrer''s body. Immediately, Typhir was enthralled by the ck sword embedded in the ground before Fuhrer''s body. As the true body of Brynhildr, a legendary demonic sword, its beauty was surpassed only by weapons wielded by the First Monarch himself.

    The slender, razor-sharp edges of the sword, the ability to change its form at will, andstly, the deeply embedded dark, suppressive energy of the sword allpelled Typhir to touch. But, he knew that he was far from doing so.

    Because, Brynhildr was by no means a tame sword. It possessed a soul of its own, one that was strengthened after feeding on Fuhrer''s Daemos Soul. Nevertheless, Apollo came here for a reason.

    "What did you need to give me, Fuhrer?" Apollo questioned. Apollo only returned here because remembered a certain conversation they had in the past. It was told that once he became a Greater Demon, he should return to this body. And so, he did.

    "That ring around my left finger. Take it because it is yours. There should be ample materials in there that you need. Especially if we are going to conquer something temporarily until we can get locate the Lost Ring guarding our home."

    Immediately, Apollo grabbed the ring. However, instead of inspecting the contents, a prompt appeared before his eyes.

    ?System: A dark singrity fragment found. It''s capable of merging with your Interdimensional Inventory.?

    ?System: Do you wish to merge the two spaces? [Y/N]?

    Since Apollo said this ring was his, he agreed to merge them together without a second thought. In the next second, the ring disappeared from his palm reappeared in a slot of the system inventory, but not for long.

    It soon vanished again before being reced by 3 additional rows of space in his inventory. Furthermore, at least 4 of the rows be filled with materials. Each of them seemed ancient and almost lurid. Every one of them produced a pungent sense of death.

    "Dark Mythril, Macabre Stone, Purgatory Ore," Apollo named some of the items in his possession, and looked at Fuhrer with raised eyebrows, "Are these materials from the original times of darkness?"

    "Precisely. And you should never reveal that they are in your possession. Especially to the Royal Faction or Lords that I''ve been made privy about, thanks to your friend. Most of these items can potentially release the limiters of a Noblesse. Creating more Daemos. But, why would you do so if you can''t control them yet?" Fuhrer answered truthfully.

    In addition to the materials, there were also consumable resources, but they were many times purer than the fragments Apollo was used to.

    "That goes without saying. I might be ignorant, but I''ll never needlessly endanger myself. Well, without reward. If it''s worth it, then who knows," Apollo shrugged after giving the matter some thought.

    "Oh Lord," Fuhrer grumbled while understanding that Apollo was being brutally honest. If the situation was truly worth it, then he was the type to endanger himself to see it happen. And, if he failed, then he inevitably fell into a fit of rage.

    Now that they imed the item, Apollo looked towards the tower in the distance. ''Should we operate closer to there? Perhaps there''s something simr to where we found Vc.''

 Chapter 389 - Effects Of Past Actions, A Newcomer

    ----

    Now that Apollo and his minions were back in Ashiraem, obviously, he came with a n in mind. If not, why would he be here? As for the matters of where Vc was found, naturally, that was a stronghold. However, theyout of Suprenis was vastly different from Ashiraem.

    Unlike Suprenis, which housed numerous strongholds headed by either strong Greater Demons, or some Archdemons, Ashiraem''s current situation was much different. Strongholds were not only scarce, but information regarding their locations was scarce as well.

    Especially now, after every demon alive experienced the aftereffects of Apollo reawakening the slumbering Dominus Household. As a result of its rebirth, the Rings were in a state of discord. Although most demons didn''t understand the unusual wave that hurtled through the Nihilistic Rings, it was a different story for some others demons.

    For example, the Lords who possessed close ties to the Sin''s primal sources and the council. After all, if that aura truly symbolized the activation of a household, then surely that household was headed by a demon on a conquest. There was an intent to dominate embedded within the deepest recesses of that wave''s signature.

    "Although I am the leader, your opinions hold weight as well. So, what do you guys suppose we do in this situation? Do we head towards that grand tower in search of something to upy us, or do we settle within these outskirts and forge something unique to us?" Apollo questioned abruptly after turning towards the demons behind him.

    For a while, everyone was silent with pensive expressions as they pondered Apollo''s question. However, Jorgun merely looked at Apollo while chewing on his forefinger. Evidently, he didn''t possess any input towards this decision. Out of all the demons, his intelligence was amongst the lowest.

    In short, Jorgun was all brawn, no brain. But, Apollo could easily make do with this because everyone yed a special role. If everyone possessed identical strengths, how would they synergize properly? Differences were needed to truly augment one another strengths while filling in the gaps of their weaknesses.

    Meanwhile, the others realized that each decision posed its benefits. Thetter¡ªchoosing to settle within the outskirts and created something unique was as it sounded. It would be a unique construct under Apollo''s sole possession. If they took this route, it offered them unhindered freedom, as well as the element of surprise.

    However, that element of surprise only went so far. Sooner rather thanter, they''d be vulnerable to attacks on all sides from various types of demons since it was an uncharted area. If a stronghold appeared out of nowhere, and the demons in the area vanished, obviously that would soon raise red gs for the leaders of this Ring.

    Contrarily, the former¡ªtaking control of an upied stronghold¡ªeliminated the need for initial funds steep enough to cover the expenses of creating brand new constructs. But, if the stronghold they chose was too strong, then it was bound to have forces littered throughout the ring.

    Again, this particr development would paint too much of a target on their back. Causing arge scene at this stage in his ns would only inhibit its progress. Of course, there were ways to work around the issues of both choices.

    As such, Sapphyr was the first to speak up, "I suggest we go with the former, my Lord. Even though it would be nice to have something of our own, don''t we already own something that belongs to us? We merely need to find it. So, it''s in our best wishes to find a victim to take advantage of."

    Apollo smiled upon hearing this answer, "Look at you limating to your desires already. I''m sure this isn''t something you would say prior to your transformation. I''m pleased by your progress," Apollo praised.

    In response, Sapphyr presented a charming smile before averting her gaze from Apollo. Because of his Deluging Luxuria Stigmata, Sapphyr felt as if she would fall into a quagmire of lust if she looked at him for too long, especially when he praised her like that.

    Nheless, Apollo shifted his gaze around, "Any other suggestions? How about you Furcas, you seem as if you want to reveal something?"

    As a Demonic Diviner, Furcas was amongst the top decision-makers on the team, so it was only natural that Apollo sought his input on this decision. And, after being called upon, his opinion came quick.

    "I agreed with thedy. ording to the dark stars, it''d be ill-advised to create a fresh stronghold. Especially in this ring. For now, it doesn''t appear to affect us greatly, but there is a strong disturbance in the fate of this ring," Furcas revealed.

    "What do you mean?" Fuhrer questioned immediately, narrowing his dreadful eyes.

    "Well, while it doesn''t face destruction, Ashiraem will certainly be afflicted with a gue. Whether this is literal or just an allusion, I''m uncertain. All I know is that the signs are quite potent. They may even be on par with your Fuhrer," Furcas admitted with a solemn expression.

    "If that''s the case, then we''ll settle for the majority decision. Now, all we need to do ispile information on the strongholds in this ring. Can I leave that up to you, Fuhrer?" Apollo questioned. After all, he experienced firsthand the strength of Fuhrer''s perception while back in Astarat. It was capable of enveloping most of the world!

    Unfortunately, Fuhrer''s expression seemed odd after hearing Apollo''s request. "I would do so without hesitation for you. But, there is truly something amiss. I''m not sure if it''s because of the awakening of our original household, but the entire ring is engulfed in an aura that I can''t prate with my current level of mental force."

    "Is that so," Apollo muttered with a small frown. ''Could my own actions be putting a wrench in my ns? Is this what they called taking a sip from a poisoned chalice? Could awakening the household truly have caused this? Or, does this tie into Furcas'' revtion.

    Despite Fuhrer word''s, Apollo didn''t believe that this was the result of his actions. Immediately, his thought traveled back into the past, extremely far in fact. So much so, he looked to Azridan for assistance.

    ''Azridan, can you sense what they speak of?''

    [I can. Now that you''re many times stronger, your perception is even more effective than you know. As for the energy veiling this Ring. It''s actually, Fuhrer''s except it''s been tampered with using an energy on par with his own.]

    Apollo''s eyes widened when he heard this. How could that be possible? The barrier of the Nihilistic Rings existed for eons and did so without the faintest sign of growing weak. But, everyone overlooked an action of Fuhrer.

    [The breach was small, but whoever introduced this energy was skillful enough to weave it in a way that would eventually nullify the entire thing. And, it seems they entered through apse. If anything, it''s only a matter of time before the Nihilistic Rings face the wars I once read on the tablets.]

    "Fuhrer," Apollo called out in a grim tone, gaining Fuhrer''s attention. This was a tone Apollo seldomly use. He then continued after receiving his undivided attention, "When you went up against the Goliath, who was stronger?"

    Briefly, Fuhrer''s expression changed as he faced this odd question, but then he recounted the experiences of that abnormal dimension and recalled a matter hepletely overlooked, "At first, it was the Goliath. But, then I tapped into my original power; the one guarding the realm."

    "And, because of that, something, or someone managed to take advantage of the barrier''s instability. A foreign energy decays the barrier as we speak," Apollo announced. Not just Fuhrer, all of the demons present revealed mortified expressions.

    "It must be someone from one of the three races then!" Fuhrer snarled, which caused a burst of dark energy to re around him. Now that he tapped into his berserk power, his fuse was even shorter. Though, their current predicament was one that warranted anger.

    However, it wasn''t all bad. Because, if utilized properly, this was a piece of information that would be valuable to those in power. For example, the ones who didn''t wish to lose their luxurious statuses.

    "That''s okay. A reenactment of the past only means that the same forces need to rise once again. Perhaps this isn''t all bad. Maybe we can forge our ideal race in the mes of perilous wars. Give me more information about this ce. From what I sense, there only seems to be one hub on this ring," Apollo said, raising his hand to Fuhrer.

    Finally calming himself after a while, Fuhrer imparted the knowledge he possessed about Ashiraem. Since this was a ring of destruction and fire, settlements barely survived.

    However, with Saehtyn as the guardian of that zone, the mes weren''t allowed to bubble out of control. As a result, there existed a single civilization on Ashiraem, and it was known as Firaria, the Hellish Land.

    Because it was one of a kind, it was the only ce Apollo could target. That ce marked the origin of his conquest!

    Apollo unfurled his wings with a strong gust of ck winds, ''It seems like we''ll be heading there anyway. We''ll just have toy low until it is time.'' Apollo thought.

    Eventually, everyone rushed towards that position. Those who could fly stuck to the ground at insane speeds, while those like Apollo, Vc, and Sapphyr took to the skies, leaving a trail of demonic energies in their wake.

    Meanwhile, while the entire Dominus Household rushed towards Firaria, Saehtyn''s fiery visage reacted to the presence of someone in the room. "Hmm? What brings you here?"

    "What? I can''t just visit a sulent man for no reason," A coy voice answered. Both yfulness and soul-stirring temptation meld as one inside this statement.

    Hearing this voice, Saehtyn showed a small frown, "Asmidia, when will you stop your tactics? You''re a Lord, so you need to fortify that image."

    "Mm, I dunno~ Why don''t you spank me because I''ve been naughty girl?"

 Chapter 390 - Masters Of Sin (I)

    ----

    Saehtyn frowned while continuing to look at the woman before him. This particr demon was one that many sought, yet never managed to taste. In a sense, she wasuded as the forbidden fruit of the Nihilistic Rings. Always tempting, but never allowing the actual deed to take ce.

    However, the way she teased Saehtyn was many times worse inparison. Because, unlike the others, he didn''t fall victim to the temptations of her otherworldly features, or the behavior that matched it. Thus, his reactions intrigued her into sparing no efforts in trying to break his willpower.

    "Oh,e on big boy~ Don''t look at me like that. I''m more than just a Lord, don''t I deserve some affection as well?" Asmidia cooed, stepping next to Saehtyn as she dragged her finger around his body. However, Saehtyn''s gaze remained stoic, unaffected by the tempting practices of this demoness with a devilish figure.

    Asmidia, in particr, was a female demon that embodied all the qualities likened to features that would incite the most petrifying lust. Her teal hair reaching her hips fluttered in the wind as if set adrift by an ever-present breeze that graced her presence alone. This caused a tingling scent to waft into the nose of anyone who bore witness to her allure.

    Her willowy waist dipped on both sides, creating a scene that should be otherwise impossible. Not to mention, a pair of slender, unblemished legs apanied her thin waist. Instead of the usual reddish skin tone of a demon, hers was a perfect mix of cream and white to form abination that attracted the eyes of all.

    In addition to her behavior, her outfit matched as well, barely covering the most tantalizing parts of her body. Her tight-fitted suit seeming to be made from a glossy ck material was barely enough to keep any of her assets from spilling out.

    Still, Saehtyn didn''t fall victim to the dangerous power in her grasp. In fact, most of the energy she used to lull others was burned uponing within 1 meter of Saehtyn. Part of this was his doing, but it was mostly the doing of Ira, which for some reason detested the presence of Luxuria.

    Aware of this matter, Asmidia''s bond with Luxuria only served to deepen her desire to corrupt Saehtyn, even if it took forever.

    "Watch where your hands travel lest you no longer possess them by the grace of dawn," Saehtyn threatened while just barely looking in Asmidia''s direction.

    "Ooh~ I''m so sorry. Will you finally do me in~? Yes please, I want you to destroy me," Asmidia said with a giggle. Not only did Saehtyn''s threat have no effect, it even excited the odd woman!

    In return, Saehtyn could only groan before emitting a dreadful heatwave to create some distance between them, but Saehtyn soon found it to be pointless. ''I hate this power of hers.''

    Before Saehtyn released that wave, a dense cloud of pink mist engulfed Asmidia, which allowed her to disappearpletely. But, once Saehtyn stopped, she reappeared in the exact same position. Clearly, his actions were ineffective.

    "No no no~ Honey, you can''t stop me from getting what I want once my mind is set on it. How about you juste and have one taste, I promise you''ll get addicted~," Asmidia whispered softly with an endearing wink.

    "I''m surprised, I was actually beat to a task. Although I didn''t want to appear here in the first ce," A voice dripping with pride echoed throughout the room. Suddenly, a dark portal opened to reveal a demon with golden hair draping over his shoulders while being dressed in dark armor resembling a suit.

    Saehtyn''s expression darkened as soon as he heard this person''s voice. Partly because he detested this individual, but truly because he sensed 4 more simr portals opening in quick session.

    "What is this? Is my quarters some kind of meeting area? Just why have all of the Lords appeared within my personal quarters? We could have easily convened at the Council Space. And, you! Lucifer! You have the gall to appear here?!" Saehtyn snarled.

    Lucifer merely chuckled in return, "I have the gall to do anything I please. Do you believe you can stop me?"

    Again, Saehtyn seethed even further after experiencing Lucifer''s insufferable arrogance.

    Meanwhile, Asmidia bit her finger in thought while looking between Lucifer and Saehtyn. Finally, she couldn''t help herself, "Mmn, it''s hot when you two argue. Lucifer, you''re just as much of an enigma as Saehtyn is. Why do you never call upon me~?"

    "Because you can''t handle me, and I know the true you. Not this facade that Luxuria has turned you into. Therefore, I have no reason to call up you, nor are you up to par with my worth," Lucifer answered with a scoff.

    Asmidia gripped her cheeks while smiling unusually, "Mmm, so confident. And, you scold me just right. Maybe you would be better to punish me when I''ve been naughty!"

    But, after giving his opinion on the matter, Lucifer didn''t speak again. Instead, he turned his attention towards the 4 figures appearing from within the portals.

    "Belphegor, Mammon, Abaddon, and Beelzebub," Saehtyn groaned before once again taking a seat in his chair. Every Lord of Sin was now present in his quarters, and from their expression, they all came for a single reason.

    A demon with a sloppy appearance and oversized belly sucked on arge bone while looking around the room, "Hahaha! I see you removed all signs of edible ware from this ce, but do you think you can stop me?"

    "No, forget edible. Point me in the direction of his valuables. I''m sure he has acquired quite the collection over the years. It''d only be right before me to peruse his things, no?" Another demon with a haggard appearance said while cackling and rubbing his hands together with excitement.

    Meanwhile, Abaddon the Unmatched Sloth, the only one separate from the rest,zed against a pir while sighing, "I know I''m one to avoid the problem, but I had to leave the embrace of my Eternal Cushion, so why don''t we just hurry this up."

    "Eternal Cushion; you have one of those? Tch.. and why isn''t my tower asrge as this one? I don''t like it at all," Beelzebub snarled while revealing his undisclosed jealously.

    As a result of this union, the room fell into chaos, as nothing but bickering ensued. Since each of them possessed a thorough link to their Sin, all of their personality were morphed to draw upon the strongest power possible.

    Fortunately, Saehtyn had enough, causing him to m the bottom of his ax against the floor. A fiery shockwave undted throughout the room before he could gain all of their attention. "You are all obviously here for a reason, so how about we just deal with that matter before anything?"

    "Very well, you are correct. We need to address how we will react to the presence of that aura not too long ago. Didn''t we agree that the creation of households were henceforth forbidden? So who was foolish enough to ignore this," Lucifer revealed.

    Towards this question, no one had an answer. But, Lucifer wasn''t done. From his expression, it was clear he intended to ce the me somewhere.

    "The origin of the ripple seems to be Ashiraem. Or, we wouldn''t have alle here. Wouldn''t you agree?"

    "Mm, I just came to see this handsome and strapping fellow," Asmidiamented with a wink.

    "I just required more food. If there is some present, point in the direction," Belphegor shrugged as well, continuing to suck on his bone.

    "I sensed something, but it should''vee from my Ring, because I would have handled it ordingly," Beelzebub chimed in.

    Again, a bunch of nonsensical murmured circted the room, making Saehtyn how any of these fools managed to be a Lord. Each of them focused on inane things!

    "As you should know, the origin was this ring. We were merely the first to receive the signal," Saehtyn corrected.

    "Still, if you''re first, that means the creation was closest to you. Meaning that someone doesn''t respect you. Could you be losing control of your Ring?" Lucifer said with a condescending smirk.

    "Presumptuous! Watch your words, because your Ring will fall before mine."

    "If that is what you truly believe, then why don''t you scan your ring for the culprit, Saehtyn?"

    Eventually, everyone started to agree with Lucifer, but if they were being honest, this ce wasn''t as remarkable as it was in the past. But, that was Saehtyn''s intention because of a past incident involving these fools.

    Namely, Belphegor, Mammon, and Beelzebub. These three alone were enough to rob anyone blind in the matter of a single night!

    Nevertheless, Saehtyn still attempted to scan his Ring to prove his innocence, however his expression soon changed after realizing he couldn''t.

    "I...can''t scan my Ring," Saehtyn said.

    "What do you mean, you can''t scan your ring? Could you be losing your power as well," Lucifer answered with a derisive tone.

    "Do you understand the words that areing out of my mouth?! Am I speaking anguage you don''t understand, fool? As I have disclosed, I can''t!" Saehtyn seethed after receiving Lucifer''s derision."

    "Tsk, I should have expected as much from you. Luckily, I left my avatar within Suprenis. I''ll just have to¡­" Gradually, Lucifer''s words slowed and his expression turned into one match Saehtyn''s.

    "What is the meaning of this?! I can''t scan my Ring either," Lucifer boom with a distraught expression. Immediately, he thought someone was attempting to overthrow him, hence his strong reaction.

    But, after convincing the others, they attempted the same thing and all failed. As this situation was unprecedented, they all asked the same question.

    "Just what type of household was made and just what has it done!? The order has been disturbed!"

 Chapter 391 - Masters Of Sin (II)

    ----

    Chaos ensued within Saehtyn''s throne room as the other Lords, save for Belphegor, who was much more upied with finding something to devour, and Beelzebub, who remained in a funk upon realizing that he wasn''t the first toe across something.

    On the other hand, Asmidia continued to nibble on her finger while ncing around the room, with her gaze mostly falling upon Saehtyn and Lucifer. Compared to the rest, these two actually seemed to understand the gravity of the situation and were focused on it.

    However, Lucifer''s reaction was much worse than Saehtyn''s. Which was odd, seeing as how Saehtyn was generally the one to blow up and do so thoroughly. After all, his title as the Lord of Wrath wasn''t acquired while sleeping. There rested an unbridled rage within him.

    Still, Lucifer wasn''t far off, except the fact he couldn''t ept this oue spurred his strong reaction. "Just what is the meaning of this? Who dares to have the gall to attempt to dethrone me? I''d like to see them pry my authority from my dead hands!"

    A burst of dark gold energy caused a tempest in the room as Lucifer became riled up, even touching upon the source of his power. However, if a Lord was allowed to run amok, it was safe to say that at least a quarter of a Ring would end up in ruin.

    While it was far from what a Daemos could do, it was still extremely terrifying, to say the least. After all, there were some Noblesse who couldn''t even destroy a single mountain in a Ring''s terrain.

    So, being able to destroy approximately 25% of a Ring was already a cmitous power. Thus, Saehtyn couldn''t allow Lucifer to spiral out of control. Since this was his Ring, he could exercise a domain that effectively neutralized Lucifer''s power.

    Which is a reason the Lords would never agree to fight inside another''s Ring. The location alone was enough to provide a substantial advantage.

    Granted, the suppression wasn''t absolute. Eventually, it could wear off if the Lord who imposed it exhausted too much of their strength. Fortunately, no one inside the throne room was involved in a scuffle, and Saehtyn was only using this authority to keep Lucifer, so he didn''t need to worry about growing tired.

    Nevertheless, as the prideful being he was, how could Lucifer sit back and allow this to happen?

    An even stronger surge billowed from his body and directed a deadly re towards Saehtyn. "Do you have the permission to use that type of authority on me?!"

    "Is this my domain or yours? You''re creating a disturbance, yet you throw a fit when I try to rectify that? Do I need to put you in your ce?!" Saehtyn bellowed with a fiery ripple circting his eyes. Furthermore, a me even stronger than Hellfire appeared in his palms, albeit only tiny wisps.

    However, they circted through his gargantuan battle ax before enveloping the finely made de in a terrible aura.

    Once that appeared, everyone in the throne room quieted down. After all, the me Saehtyn was currently wielding was the same me that all demons feared¡ªPurgatory''s Blood. Although it was in his nature to avoid this usage, being around Lucifer always brought out Saehtyn''s most dreadful wrath.

    Finally, Lucifer stayed his hand and controlled his seething aura, "I yield. But only because you hold the advantage. This would have gone differently if we were in Suprenis and not Ashiraem."

    "Whatever you say. Just know that we are not in Suprenis," Saehtyn grunted.

    "Unf~!! I just love it when you two fight. The mes passing between you two just make me so hot! Do you any of you boys perhaps want to¡­ touch me?" Asmidia chimed in while biting her lips with a seductive wink.

    Unfortunately, neither of the two fell victim to her charms. But a guffaw did echo behind them as Belphegor immediately said something disturbing. "Oh, by all means. I''ll eat you up. I''ll devour you until nothing''s left!"

    "Ew," Asmidia said with a visible frown apparent on her enthralling lips, "I''d much rather be burned than have that happen."

    "W-what!? I''m just as strong as these two. I devoured his Infernal River and swallowed Lucifer''s Fear Devouring River. Yet, neither of them were the wiser," Belphegor eximed while also incriminating himself to seem like a more fit target.

    "What a moron. Did you really think we didn''t know it was you? We just didn''t care because they both have refilling properties. After all, they''re linked directly to the source of their respective Ring. You can never devour that much. Your fat ass stomach would explode," Lucifer scoffed.

    On the other hand, Saehtyn grunted in agreement before directing their attention elsewhere, "Now, can we get back to the important matter at hand? We need to understand just why one of our authorities over our rings has been revoked. And, why it is only the most basic one at that."

    "Didn''t we already locate the culprit? It has to be the presence of that new yet mysterious household. Although it is infantile, for some odd reason, the signal felt... archaic," Lucifer answered while recounting the sensation he felt when the alert passed through the Nihilistic Rings.

    Before then, they experienced no issues with their authority. So, the most usible answer would be that the origin of the household was the issue. But, for some reason, Saehtyn felt this wasn''t the correct answer. It was too simple and while the ripple was irregr; he didn''t sense any malice from it.

    In other words, the intention of the wave wasn''t to disrupt, it was simply to alert. But, if that was the case, then just was the issue with the Nihilistic Rings?

    "While that may be true, I fear it is the wrong answer. Think about it. To forcibly strip our authority would take a demon who has achieved the Daemos level. After all, this current order was erected by a dying Daemos.

    "So, only their equal could interfere with. That, or something greater," Saehtyn said while rubbing his chin in deep thought.

    Though it was removed from the tablets, inheriting the position of a Lord gave ess to a type of forbidden information. For example, the current council of the Nihilistic Ring was chosen by a Daemos who originated from the era of the First Monarch.

    In fact, it was someone Fuhrer was all too familiar with. But, he wasn''t aware of this matter because of the fact that he lost his Daemonic Abilities long before this council was created. Not to mention, it was only a makeshift council, so it truly wasn''t important to Fuhrer.

    The only thing that mattered to him was that the Nihilistic Ring''s safety was ensured. Outside of this matter, he could care less if they micromanaged themselves. As long as their actions didn''t endanger the race, then he didn''t trouble himself to learn about these minute details.

    Still, it now held importance, for if the Lords were to get the wrong impression, then they could very well trace the false source of their problems back to Apollo. And, if that happened, then the oue would be unknown, especially if they did so before Apollo could make any substantial improvements.

    As he was now, he was still no match for even a single Lord. A mere primary or initial purity was child''s y before them. Appearing before them now and wishing to hold onto his life was simply oundish!

    "Well, if that''s not the cause, then what do you suppose the reason is?" Lucifer questioned. As they were fairly young, these 7 were not alive during the reign of the First Monarch. Hence, they also weren''t aware of the deep-rooted enemies the race possessed. Or, at the very least, it didn''t cross their minds as it was extremely long ago.

    But, Saehtyn''s expression becameplex as he heard this question, "Do you all remember the tome from when we epted our positions as the master of our Sins?"

    "Of course! If you remember, why wouldn''t I?" Lucifer answered immediately.

    "Da fuck do you think? That was the day I could never stop being hungry," Belphegorined.

    "Do you think my mind is shit? If you remember, you better believe I do too, or we''d have to trade mind because then I''d think yours to be better than mine," Beelzebub clicked his tongue, speaking an incoherent mess.

    Finally, Asmidia squeezed her legs together with a euphoric expression, "THE best day of my life. I''ve never felt pleasure like that again in my life. Especially since none of you will fix this naughty girl~".

    "WHAT?! I just offered t-

    "Shut up, I''m not talking to you," Asmidia said in an ice-cold tone, causing Belphegor to simmer down immediately.

    Conversely, Saehtyn was once again taken aback, ''Always apetition with nothing getting done. Nevertheless¡­''

    "Then you all should recall the original appearance of the Sins. Now, do you recall the images they showed up right before granting half of their power?"

    "Vaguely. It was just some odd beings and some other mrkey that made no sense," Abaddon uttered while issuing a prolonged yawn, "What of it?"

    "I''m willing to bet you almost slept through it. Despite those images, I waspelled to ask a few questions, and what I learned is quite¡­ intriguing? I guess," Saehtyn said before pausing for a brief moment.

    "Well, what the hell is it? What is this damn suspense," Mammon yelled at the top of his lungs, seeking the answers that Saehtyn possessed.

    "Well, there are 4 other races. Two of which we share bad blood with. And, get this, one of them managed to infiltrate our ranks before," Saehtyn said before recalling an offer made to him. It was too good to be true, almost fishy even.

 Chapter 392 - Master Of Sins (III)

    ----

    The room was silent for a moment, but Lucifer snapped his finger with an expression of realization, "I recall these. The tome you are referring to was written in our ancient nativenguage, identifying them as the Arcanas, the Angulus, the Celestius, andstly, the Tytaens; which loosely trantes to the Spirits, Angels, Celestials, and the Titans."

    "Correct," Saehtyn nodded. Although the tome was difficult to decipher, with the help of an ability granted by the Sin''s themselves, each lord was able to decipher their respective tome. But, each tome only held the unique experiences of that Sin.

    However, should the information ever be pieced together like it was now, then it would paint aplete picture that elucidated on the important history of the Demon Race. Even the history that was erased after the Lost Council was sent into hiding due to powerlessness and the Monarch''s disappearance.

    "So, what relevance does this have to our issue now?" Lucifer wondered while panning through his memories to spruce up his understanding. However, the volume of information embedded within his tome was so much to remember that most of it was buried in the depths of his mind.

    Fortunately, a clear image of the tome remained, so whatever was forgotten could always be revisited, which is exactly what Lucifer was doing as he perused his memories of the tome. Eventually, he came across a particr fragment of information.

    It was dated eons ago, but from the story it told, Lucifer realized the rtionship he thought to be there was, in fact, a figment of his imagination. ''Why did I believe the rtionship between these races were fine? Just because their presence was recorded didn''t mean they were allies.''

    "Well, that''s the thing. ording to my tome, each race possessed a handful of extremely strong individuals, but they were also banned from engaging in intimate interactions. But, here''s where the records take a turn."

    "From my understanding, my tome only understood the wrath of the other races when they found out that the first and only leader of this race defied thisw. Because of this one incidence, an entire war took ce, dragging all 5 of them alike into the pits of irreconcble hatred. In the end, two sides joined together, whereas one surrendered and the other remained inactive. But the specifics are omitted."

    "No, they aren''t. They are on my tablet," Beelzebub voiced, before continuing with the story. "It was the Angels and the Titans who joined together against us Demons, whereas the Arcana surrenders and the Celestials remained neutral in this fight. Of the 4, they were the ones who incurred the least losses, or rather, that''s how it seemed on the surface."

    "I remember the rest. My tome holds this information," Lucifer said, taking the mantle to reveal even more of their history, "The two leaders of the Angels and Titans fought against our Monarch, forcing him to a disadvantage. But, although he was at a disadvantage, he made somest-minute measures. From there, the story ends."

    "What the hell? So is this Monarch dead or what? This is an ancient story, but it''s a teaser! Where are the true details?!" Mammon yelled while angrily smashing his foot. It was just getting good, and yet the story ended right there; it was simply infuriating!

    "Who knows; that was countless years ago. Can anything survive that long? I doubt it because even we are only tens of thousands of years old. If I''m not mistaken, this incident could have happened millions of years ago," Saehtyn replied.

    Of course, if they learned that someone like Fuhrer, who was eons old, was still alive, then they would undoubtedly seek him out. By this notion, Fuhrer was truly an ancient demon. And, so were Furcas and the others.

    With all of the information from their tomes present, these Lords now understood a fraction of their history, even the fact that their creator, while acting outside of the Monarch''s wishes, made these positions to ensure a semnce of order remained.

    After all, he was a demon who lived in the times before order came to be. So, he knew very well just how destructive disorder for the demons was. Especially in a time where their safety was already at risk.

    Due to the Monarch''s single action, he had marked the race for doom. But, it was unknown if his actions were intentional or not. Did he seek to evolve his race? Or was he just perhaps testing the others races to see how much they valued their words?

    Either way, his actions while unique, still paved the way for incalcble dangers.

    As such, now that the Lordspiled their information, Saehtyn drew another feasible condition, "So, what if this results from those races finding our changed positions? What if that ripple has nothing to do with our issue? Or, it''s the exact opposite and it''s present to assist us?"

    "Then I''d say that we are in trouble. Assuming that was the case, but it could also be a little far-fetched. After all, would those races truly harbor a grudge for that long?"

    "It''s possible. Especially if they''re hellbent on eradicating us," Saehtyn added.

    "Mm, how about you eradicate me by abdicating my pink throne''s seal?" Asmidia winked yfully, but she then followed up with some words that held some truth, "Because it''s possible the Monarch''s little ytime ended up with a little ything, hehe~"

    "Are you saying¡­"

    "Yeap~ It''s possible the races went to war because the Monarch''s action gave birth to something they feared. After all, who would give up power after tasting it? For example, you guys. Would any of you abdicate your throne willfully?" Asmidia asked, but it seemed rhetorical as she added her own answer immediately after.

    "If you say yes, then you''re a naughty liar~. Just look at how you all reacted when you learned that you could no longer scan your ring''s territory. You panicked at the assumption of your receding power," Asmidia giggled with a teasing wink.

    Even Abaddon, who was busy leaning against a pir, showed signs of being distraught when he learned that Acebion wasn''t under hisplete control. After all, the thought of losing power while at their peak was frightening to think about.

    "Yes, we understand. So shut up and go back to your insufferablyscivious self instead of being smug," Lucifer said before clicking his tongue in annoyance. Truth be told, he''d much rather hear her lewd remarks instead of her reciting the inexorable truth.

    Suddenly, Lucifer backtracked to another thing Saehtyn mentioned. "You said something about being approached? Do you mean by those who im to have ties to the Monarch?"

    "Precisely. He called himself Irzanach, and he told me once before that he was on the brink of bringing you all to his side," Saehtyn revealed.

    "Interesting, he told me the same thing," Lucifer nodded, while rubbing his chin meaningfully.

    Eventually, every Lord present revealed that Irzanach had indeed approached them with this same line. They even went on to reveal that Irzanach promised to give them 100% control of their Sin''s Primal Source should they swear their allegiance to him.

    However, none of them epted the offer, even Belphegor and Mammon, which was surprising. In most cases, Mammon was foolish enough to let his greed drive him, leading to some terrible decisions.

    Meanwhile, Belphegor was just partly a fool. Wave something with an enticing scent before his face and you were immediately talking hisnguage. Yet, neither of them bit the bait. Although they were foolish, they were intelligent enough to understand when something was suspiciously ideal. That typically meant something was amiss.

    Not to mention, from what they sensed, Irzanach wasn''t too much stronger than them, so just how could he im to give them 100% of a Sin''s Primal Source, when he himself didn''t possess it?!

    "Yeah, his behavior was too odd for me, so I sent him away. Plus, he kept giving me an odd stare despite me sensing a repugnance from him," Asmidiamented while shuddering visibly. This made all of her assets shake, which in turn caused Belphegor to salivate.

    "Damn, get the hell away from me!"

    Boom!

    Without hesitation, Lucifer kicked Belphegor into the wall before wiping Belphegor''s unsightly saliva from his suit.

    "Wait, did you just say you sensed something repugnant? But, aren''t you attracted to all demons, save for Belphegor? Isn''t that what fuels your position?" Saehtyn questioned with an extremely odd expression. Apart from Belphegor, whose appearance was outright disturbing, appearing to be nothing more than huge, unsightly slob, Asmidia never once mentioned being repulsed by a demon.

    "It is, but I don''t know. There was just something so off about it. I could only distance myself and not pry. It was also like something or someone of equal power condemned him. Perhaps he wants to use us as a catalyst to break that condemnation?"

    Saehtyn and Lucifer pondered the possibility but also revisited the information their ovepped pieces produced. "There was a possibility of being infiltrated, right? What if the infiltration was long ago? For example, during the time of someone''s condemnation?"

    "Are you saying that the one who has been infiltrated is the one who approached us? But, wouldn''t there be dissonance in the current age? Such a demon would have to at least be a million years old," Lucifer responded with narrowed eyes.

    "Not quite. Remember, those tomes were still being etched to this day. So perhaps the matter regarding infiltration is recent! Next time he appears, I suggest we test him, because he may very well be linked to the source," Saehtyn voiced.

    Eventually, everyone agreed to this course of action, but they didn''t vanish from the throne. Besides this development, there was still another matter to speak about.

 Chapter 393 - A Terrifying Clash

    ----

    "Since you guys are still here despite using to a consensus, I''m guessing that there''s a matter that continues to interest you all. If so, thene clean," Saehtyn said before looking around the room. Although it didn''t look like he was the one being targeted this time, it did appear as if there was some unusual tension in the room.

    It went even deeper than the stressed rtionship between the Sins. As stated before, whenever these lords came together, there was bound to be chaos, but there were also times wherein their Sins remained docile.

    However, that was only the case when an important issue appeared. One that even the Primal Sources of the Sins could sense.

    "I''m not sure if this matter is rted to the ripple we just finished discussing, but I experienced something rather¡­ odd if you will," Lucifer admitted before continuing even further, "Well, you see, I was approached by a very odd demon. And, for some odd reason, it was almost as if the divided source inside me wanted to devour this demon."

    "A portion of a Primal Source wanted to devour a demon? I''ve never heard of such a matter ever happening. Are you sure this is the feeling you sensed? Perhaps you misconstrued the message from your Sin," Saehtyn answered with aplex expression.

    In return, Lucifer sneered, "Are you doubting my intelligence? I''m more than capable of performing intelligent tasks, unlike a certain someone who is all brawn and no brains."

    Again, Saehtyn struggled to control himself after experiencing Lucifer''s infuriating behavior. Fortunately, he was capable of keeping his wrath under wraps after centuries of practice. Though, Lucifer somehow managed to always challenge this ability.

    "I don''t doubt your intelligence. I just doubt you. After all, nothing seems to prate that insufferable pride of yours, and this will be your undoing. One of these days, you will walk willingly into your death because of your foolish trait," Saehtyn retorted.

    But Lucifer just smiled in response, "And you will burn from the inside out once you realize that aside from your little me, your worth amounts to nothing. Now, can I get back to my experience?"

    "Do as you please," Saehtyn scoffed.

    "Boys, boys~ So much repressed love. Why don''t your two just settle your differences and unite? I''m sure the union would bring some happiness," Asmidia giggled while looking between the two.

    However, Saehtyn and Lucifer felt differently. Both of their eyes burned with the intention to destroy her, but they didn''t act. For one, her Luxuria''s Haze was too tricky to deal with. If she truly employed all of her ability, then being trapped in the haze was the least of their worries.

    Eventually, Lucifer found the opportunity to reveal the rest of his experience, "As I was saying, the source revealed a desire to devour this demon. So, I entered his presence only to realize his pride was worse than mine, but that wasn''t the thing most amiss."

    "What was?"

    "I had no control over the Superbia he utilized! He stood right before me, employing his Sin, yet I couldn''t sense nor could I influence it. I-it was just baffling and simply unprecedented! Something I''ve never heard of. How can a demon exist inside of my Ring and I not have the ability to tap into their Sin?!" Lucifer muttered.

    As the Lord of a Ring, even if it was a position created by a Daemos using their familiarity with the Sins, the Lords retained the ability to use all of their respective Sins as they saw fit. So finding out that he couldn''t move this Sin was astonishing, to say the least.

    To confirm this discrepancy, Lucifer employed all of his conferred authority over said demon. However, their body never once wavered, and what''s worse is that they chuckled over his actions. Although the demon didn''t retaliate, Lucifer learned one thing from looking into its gaze.

    "I don''t know where that confidence came from, but I could tell immediately that he looked down upon me. I was furious, but I was also an at impasse. Powerless while on my throne?! It was embarrassing," Lucifer scoffed.

    However, a voice that belonged to no one present echoed within Saehtyn''s throne room.

    "First of all, these Rings belonged to none of you. You are mere fakes; ceholders if you will. Born to portray a counterfeit image of obtaining peace. For true peace, you''d have to be one of us."

    Suddenly, arge portal opened in the center of Saehtyn''s throne room. Arge white figure with obsidian spurs jutting from their joints and pristine silver hair walked out from within the portal. Their golden eyes scanned everyone present and smiled.

    Afterward, three more figures stepped from within the portal. They were smaller in height, butpared to the Lords who were present, each of these new additions carried an absurd aura.

    Still, from the expression everyone revealed, they were more than familiar with the person who led this small group. As for the other three individuals, they drew nks over their identities.

    "Irzanach," Saehtyn spat with narrowed eyes. It had been quite some time since Irzanachst paid a visit, so he was expecting a visit, eventually. However, Saehtyn''s attitude was different this time for a single reason.

    Unlike the prior visits, where Irzanach came alone, he came alongside three other individuals. And, from what he sensed, each other these demons carried more than a singr Sin Path inside them.

    Needless to say, Saehtyn was almost certain that Irzanach visit was one with nefarious intentions.

    "A pleasant surprise. I wasn''t expecting all of you fakes to be gathered in one ce. Perhaps this is my fortune, or maybe even misfortune. But one thing I do know," Irzanach revealed a gruesome smile, "Your abilities are waning, and it''s only a matter of time before they evaporatepletely."

    "You! So you take ownership of this dastardly situation? I will rip your mouth to shreds," Lucifer snarled. Immediately, another surge of dark gold energy appeared as his eyes radiated with a golden light. His figure changed, growing into a form simr to Irzanach and Apollo''s Suprana form, except Lucifer was twice asrge.

    Whoosh!

    Lucifer rushed towards Irzanach without a second thought. His first thought was that Irzanach posed no advantage since he wasn''t a Lord. He couldn''t have any sort of assistive powers, but he was wrong.

    A portion of Ira within a 5-meter radius seethed before forming a barrier before Irzanach. Not only did it allow Irzanach to block Lucifer''s strike, but one of the individuals by his side made a move. They utilized Ira effortlessly as well.

    Boom!

    Lucifer was forced to block while taking a step back with a solemn expression. ''Why are they able to move such pure Ira? Isn''t this his domain?!'' Lucifer thought while immediately turning towards Saehtyn.

    Unfortunately, Saehtyn was just as clueless as he was. In fact, he was forced to question Irzanach''s past ims, ''Could he truly be someone who is up for the Monarch''s old position? That''s the only exnation as to why I can''t sever his link with the Ira in this ce.''

    Regardless, Lucifer wasn''t someone to just take an attack without retaliating. His entire right arm became enveloped by a golden w doused in golden embers. Once it appeared, Lucifer''s aura surged once again.

    Zwip!

    Lucifer turned into a golden sh as he returned a frightening strike to his earlier assaulter. They were forced back in return, but Irzanach shook his head derisively.

    "Xynthos, you''re supposed to be the second inmand, yet you let a fake push you back? Should I perhaps be disappointed in you?"

    Tch!

    Xynthos, the demon bearing 2 markings under his eyes and snow-white hair bared his fangs as two extremely long teeth grew in each corner of his mouth. mes jetted from his mouth while his expression grew increasingly savage.

    "Good. That''s what I thought. Now wreak havoc in this form."

    Whoosh!

    Xynthos dashed towards Lucifer, virtually teleporting from where he stood. An instantter, there was a chunk missing from Lucifer''s shoulder as eyes widened in shock. Meanwhile, Xynthos clenched his jaw and ground the flesh in his maw to dust.

    "Who are you people!?" Saehtyn finally bellowed, releasing his Iraym Form. Compared to Apollo, his was moreplete as the marking on his body glowed with crimson light and filled his body from head to toe. Even his hair turned into pure Hellfire as the gargantuan ax in his hands inundated the area with a terrifying heat.

    "Us? Why we are the ones who will reim the position as the Monarch. And, since you don''t want to join us, that begins with us eradicating you all."

 Chapter 394 - The 9 Kings

    ----

    Not too far from Ashiraem''s Tower¡­

    Apollo''s gaze fell upon the tower while traveling at rapid speeds. Although he told himself that he wasn''t ready for it, an innate feeling drove him to think about the tower quite often. In fact, Apollo started to wonder about it, causing him to look to Azridan for some answers.

    ''Azridan, do me a favor and help me wrap my mind around something. Is that something you''re up to do?'' Apollo questioned before sparing Sapphyr a quick nce. For some reason, she seemed lost in thought as she traveled alongside him.

    Initially, this wasn''t something Apollo would worry himself with, but because she was now one of his followers, he could more or else sense when her mental state was amiss. Still, he didn''t voice his concern because he needed some answers from Azridan first.

    [What do you need,d? If you''re curious about your techniques, then I''ll tell you right now that I''m at a loss as well. I didn''t know that there was a hidden effect once they were all engraved properly.]

    ''No, it''s not that. I didn''t expect you to know since the system has omitted the information. Based on our past experiences, I''vee to learn that omission means yourck of knowledge as well. Regardless, I''m more interested in this tower located at the center of Ashiraem,'' Apollo responded.

    For a while, Azridan was silent as if he was sifting through what he remembered about them. Eventually, he came across the first set of information.

    [Well. First, they are obelisks and not just some simple towers. Their original purpose was different from what it is used for today. Especially since after me, the knowledge on this matter was lost.]

    ''And that knowledge is?''

    [They''re cores. Even Fuhrer should know about this as well since he once told me that he had a hand in their creation.]

    ''Really?'' Apollo answered with a tinge of surpriseced in his thoughts.

    [Correct, you can ask him. Nevertheless, the true purpose of those obelisks was to give the Sins a ce to sleep. Quite literally, in fact. They originally contained the Primal Sources of the Sins, but now, they''re empty husks of their former glory.]

    ''But, I thought the Lords upy them. How can they be empty husks?''

    [Because they''re iparable to what they once were. For this information, I think you should ask Fuhrer. That is, if he''s willing to tell you, because my knowledge on the matter is shoddy. Had I been able to absorb my fragment, then I''d understand more.]

    ''I see,'' Apollo nodded before turning his attention towards Fuhrer, who used a continuous string of Void Shuttling to close the distance between him and Ashiraem.

    Initially, Apollo was going to seek this information from him so that he could deal with the gnawing feeling that kept pestering his mind. But, he instead focused on Sapphyr for the moment.

    "Something troubling your mind?" Apollo questioned while also flicking a small wisp of dark energy against Sapphyr''s cheek. This interrupted his stupor and caused a light blush to appear on her cheeks as she looked at Apollo.

    "Sorry for that. I was just thinking about something. I know I''ve changed but I can''t help but wonder if this opportunity can be presented to my mother as well? I''m not sure how much longer she''llst in that ce," Sapphyr said with a voicedden with worries.

    In return, Apollo spared this request some thought. Although he only sought the most useful subordinates, he also came to realize that his intentions weren''t ideal. Because, if he only epted those with high potential, who would he delegate the gruff work to when it came time to take everyone on a journey to conquer?

    Thus, Apollo''s mindset gradually veered to one that covered all of areas of his needs. Still, that wasn''t the only gripe he had with Sapphyr''s request. Since she was freshly changed, Apollo didn''t expect all of her prior thoughts to disappearpletely, nor did he want them to.

    Because, if used ideally, then these emotions could be Sapphyr''s fuel. After all, she was a demon centered around Ira as well, which meant wrathful emotions could empower her.

    However, too much of those emotions could impact her negatively.

    "It''s certainly a possibility, but you must also remember that the choice will be up to her. Not everyone will be like you and wee this change with open arms. Some will detest the feeling that we present. If it wasn''t for that, I wouldn''t have kept my race hidden for as long as I did," Apollo responded.

    In return, Sapphyr nodded. Not just because his words were logical, but because she felt the same way. For example, Geneva didn''t ept the change at first. It took Sapphyr convincing her to ultimately lead her to take that step.

    Now, she was stronger than ever.

    Suddenly, Geneva appeared right between them with a mischievous expression, "Well, aren''t you two unusually close? Care to invite me into the conversation?"

    As an Archdemon, the changes she experienced were more apparent, as well as overwhelming. Whereas Sapphyr retained some of her earlier emotions, Geneva''s Sin medley had already started to change her thoroughly.

    But, it wasn''t as fast as it could be due to Apollo''s absorption of her excess purity. Nevertheless, the rate of her change was still shocking nheless.

    "By all means, you can. But, I have something to do. In the meantime, you two can catch up," Apollo said before closing his eyes to focus on the link between him and Fuhrer. However, Geneva felt some displeasure towards his actions.

    "That''s not fair. He talked to you, yet when I came he ignored me," Genevained before looking towards Sapphyr who shrugged in response. She truly didn''t know the answer, as all of Apollo''s conversation took ce in his mind.

    Not to mention, he blocked their abilities to sense information from his mind, effectively turning their links into one-way traffic. Aside from Fuhrer, whose link was tens if not hundreds of times stronger than the rest, the others couldn''t sense any changes in Apollo.

    With that being said, Fuhrer immediately sensed when Apollo directed all of his focus towards their link. Typically, he only did this when he had some questions that required rification.

    "Ask away, young Lord," Fuhrer said before Apollo could even speak, which made Apollo feel as if his tendencies were bing too predictable.

    ''Perhaps I should learn to randomize myself. Predictably is one of the worst traits to have, especially in a battle against someone with extreme amounts of vignce,'' Apollo thought before voicing his question, "The obelisks; what were their original purposes?"

    "Hm? What spurred that question?" Fuhrer wondered. After all, Apollo''s inquiry about these towers was something that still eclipsed his level. Therefore, Fuhrer was almost certain this question was the result of outside factors.

    "Azridan answered my earlier questions, but he also said that you know of their origin. I''m not sure if it''s just based on your age, or if you have confirmed that you indeed possess this knowledge," Apollo answered.

    In return, Fuhrer ceased his Void Shuttling. Not only because of Apollo''s question, but because he had already arrived at their target, unlike the rest.

    "They were the original Daemonic Vessels of the Sins," Fuhrer revealed, which shocked Apollo. If that was the case, then he now understood why Azridan described them as empty husks of their former selves. However, Fuhrer didn''t appear to be finished with his answer.

    "But, now they''re just figureheads at most because the Sins were moved elsewhere. Since the Monarch suspected some retaliation for his deeds, so he temporarily imnted the Primals Sources into some physical vessels, which ultimately resulted in some lesser byproducts. Do you have any clue what those byproducts are?"

    "The Lords?" Apollo guessed, only to receive Fuhrer''s amused chuckle.

    "No, you simpled. The creations were what we called the 9 Kings. Except, there were two additional demons, forged from the leftovers of the Monarch''s savagery and ruthlessness¡ªtwo extreme demonic powers," Fuhrer said, which catapulted Apollo into deeper shock.

    From what he understood, the true identity of the 9 Kings was the upper echelon of the lost council, but ording to Fuhrer''s words, they could be the Sins themselves?!

    "If that''s the case, then what do we face during the trials of our Sin Path?" Apollo muttered skeptically.

    "Listen to my words,d. I said temporarily. Meaning those sources were extracted once again and hidden in a secure ce right before the great war. But, just a mere fusion for a few years was enough to instill unimaginable strength in the Kings. And, those are what you have to go up against," Fuhrer said.

    Finally, Apollonded before the gates of Ashiraem''s sole city while staring at Fuhrer in shock.

 Chapter 395 - Firaria, Ashiraems Sole City

    ----

    For a while, Apollo stood frozen with shock. If even Fuhrer described the 9 Kings as unimaginably strong, just how strong would he need to be to make an attempt at controlling them¡ªa full-fledged Archdemon? A Noblesse? Or even a Daemos?

    Under normal circumstances, Apollo wouldn''t have such an unusual reaction, but after learning of the fact that these Kings used to house the Primal Source of the Sins, resulting in a substantial upgrade of the power bestowed by the First Monarch, Apollo couldn''t help but wonder what realm of strength that pertained to.

    Although Fuhrer had mentioned that the disappearance of the First Monarch resulted in a decline in the power of the Lost Council, could it truly affect the Kings as well? Compared to the others, whose strength came from their own actions, the strength gathered by the Primal Sources was fabled to be inexhaustible.

    Hence, Apollo''s current skepticism as to whether the weathering of time affected the Kings as well. As a result, Apollo could only ask Fuhrer a final question.

    "If you had to guess, how much of a chance is there that the Kings'' powers have receded?" Apollo asked with a solemn gaze before adding another addition to the question, "And, amongst the kings, are there any like Asteroth, who mes him for his disappearance?"

    In response, Fuhrer nced in Apollo''s direction between sighing heavily, "Are those answers you truly wish to know?"

    "Yes," Apollo answered in an unwavering tone. Even if the answers turned out to be the worst possible oue, it was something vital for him to know. Because, their meeting was inevitable, as the system was designed to gather all the fragmented powers left in the Nihilistic Rings.

    It was designed to assist in the ascension of the demon monarch! So, Apollo swallowed his apprehension and sought every crucial answer.

    "Very well. The Ruthless Queen and the Savage King both devolved to a maddened state after the Monarch''s disappearance. Especially since they were alongside us when the true reason behind the war was revealed. Although they have no family because they were the Monarch''s creations, they still possessed perfect psyches. So they too can feel betrayal," Fuhrer said in a grim tone.

    He paused but was far from done, "Alongside those two, you have to remain wary of the Envious Queen. Because she developed deep-rooted feelings for the Monarch but was not chosen to be his Empress. And, with you as his liege, once she senses you, she will undoubtedly pursue you relentlessly."

    Again, Apollo nodded after learning of this matter, "So the Kings aren''t all Kings?"

    "Not at all. Their title is the Kings, but they involve both male and female demons. In fact, the strongest of all is a female. Even I have almost lost to her due to her unusual battle style. Let''s just say you''ll understand what I mean if you ever go up against her," Fuhrer answered.

    "Though I will reveal this now. ording to what I know, the Kings were confined to the Abyssal Ring. So until you reach that ce, you won''t need to worry about them for now. Or, at the very least, I don''t think you do," Fuhrer added before revealing aplicated expression.

    Just like the other rings, the Abyssal Ring was engulfed in a barrier formed from his energy. But, if the barrier receded, then chances are those terrifying Kings could be set free.

    But, since this was an uncertainty at this time, Fuhrer didn''t reveal it just yet.

    Apollo fell into deep thought before giving a slight nod. Initially, he released a tired sigh, but that changed when he recalled Geneva''s situation. ''Although they''ll be difficult, if the system is tasked the way I think it is, then the hardships will equate to the benefits I experience after.''

    With that in mind, Apollo pushed the matter to the back of his mind, "Thank you, Fuhrer; you have given me a general idea of how fast I need to strengthen myself."

    In the meantime Apollo remained in position, waiting for the others who catch up while he inspected the gate.

    At a nce, he was surprised by what he saw. Although he had seen the gates to this city once before, he didn''t realize it was sorge due to the vast distance. But, now that he was standing before, in addition to being astonished by Fuhrer''s words, the magnitude of the gates left him awestruck.

    Simultaneously, gazing upon the gates led Apollo to question whether the city of Firaria was built before or after the construction of the vast obelisk. Either way, there were apparent signs of the city being old. After all, it was Ashiraem''s sole city.

    There were more in the past, however, its unstable environment, as mentioned before, contributed to the destruction of said cities.

    Finally, after a few minutes, Jorgun and the others caught up before heaving behind Apollo. Just like in Suprenis, there was a gatekeeper at the gates of Firaria. And, based on his appearance, it was an Ifrit who managed to evolve into a high-level Archdemon.

    Still, Apollo approached the gatekeeper with a in expression, void of fear or any other emotion. Be too weak and demons were bound to walk over you, but be too strong and they were bound to take offense.

    Thus, Apollo opted for a neutral stance since thest thing he wanted to do was cause a scene at the gates monitored by the Lord of Ashiraem''s underlings. After all, he was advised not to enter the city until he became an Archdemon.

    ording to what he understood about Saehtyn, Apollo was unsure how he would react to him not heeding his word. Therefore, Apollo moved cautiously to escape the radar of such a high-level demon. Unless it was inevitable, then Apollo wouldn''t be appearing before any such beings.

    The gatekeeper scanned them with an impartial gaze as he looked over Apollo''s underlings, "4 Lesser Demons, 6 Greater Demons, and a single Archdemon. If you wish to gain entry, that''ll be 27 Fragments of Sin."

    Immediately, Apollo started to frown. However, Fuhrer looked towards him and shook his head while transmitting a message, ''This is the standard price. Even in ancient times, we used this method. It seems the ruler of this ce hasn''t deviated from that system.''

    Still, Apollo was curious as to why it was so much, "What''s the breakdown per entry?"

    With another scanning gaze, the Ifrit spoke once again, "The price is determined by the volume of Sin a demon can absorb. Your entry fee is to neutralize this expenditure."

    "As a Lesser Demon has a meager limit, they are only worth one fragment. Likewise, a Greater Demon is much stronger, so the fee is increased to 3 fragments andstly, an Archdemon pulls a substantial amount of Sin, so it''s 5 fragments for her entry."

    Apollo tapped his chin thoughtfully before asking a question, " By that logic, shouldn''t a demon who doesn''t use Ira be granted free entry?"

    "Negative. If a demon from another Ring attempts to gain ess to this city, then they''ll be refused," the gatekeeper answered with a stoic expression.

    Meanwhile, Apollo was amused by this answer. Not wasting any more time, Apollo paid the entire fee. Compared to what he received from the ring Fuhrer gave him, this was but a drop in the ocean.

    Now entering the city, a sight of rustic buildings made from stone varying between ck, grey, and red greeted their sights. Taverns littered the pathways of the city, with areas such as pools of magma and zones filled with cloudy steam appearing frequently.

    On top of that, there were numerous buildings that barely fit the standard of what Apollo witnessed in Astarat. However, the base material of these constructs gave Apollo the feeling of being much sturdier.

    In fact, Apollo even flicked a nearby building. Instead of damaging the stone, he felt a throbbing sensation from his finger, which subsided soon enough. What''s more, is that Apollon noticed that only the outskirts looked this way.

    The deeper they walked through the city, the more refined the architecture of the buildings became, projecting the sense of demon royalty. However, Apollo soon understood why.

    Every time they turned a corner, they were greeted by an abundance of Archdemons! In other words, the closer they got to the tower, the stronger the inhabitants became.

    ''Perhaps this will turn out to be more troublesome than I presumed,'' Apollo thought, but then he stopped and widened his eyes. It wasn''t just him. Every Greater Demon in his party bared the same expression.

 Chapter 396 - A Strong Surge, Information Points

    ----

    A strong surge of Sin Energy hurtled through Firaria, causing not just Apollo and his followers, but even the misceneous demons roaming the street to peer in the direction of the Lord''s Tower. From what they sensed, the tower was the point of origin for this disturbance.

    However, the Sin that most of the spectators sensed wasn''t Ira, but Superbia. So, they were taken aback by the presence of this Sin. After all, the gatekeepers turned away all demons who didn''t walk the path of Ira.

    But, Apollo and the others thought differently, "That Superbia is even stronger than mine, but I doubt an Archdemon from Suprenis is strong enough to force their way in here," Apollo muttered.

    "I don''t think that''s the case at all. From what I have sensed, this purity is locked at the edge of perfection. Based on what I''m sensing, it should belong to someone who has yet to be a Daemos, yet is stronger than a typical Noblesse," Fuhrermented.

    In light of this revtion, Apollo''s expression changed drastically, "Do you mean that the Lord of Suprenis is in that tower?"

    "Possibly," Fuhrer admitted. The obelisk was originally designed to disrupt anyone who intended to peer inside. So, Fuhrer was unsure of the exact proceedings taking ce inside. Still, with his keen senses, it was enough to infer some possible scenarios.

    However, while Fuhrer was unsure, Apollo came across a certain answer.

    [He is correct. But, continue to watch. I can sense a despicable entity building up their energy.]

    As the warden of the system, Azridan possessed some unusual advantages. One being an affinity with things built by the First Monarch.

    And sure enough, after Azridan revealed this to Apollo, a ripple of Ira possessing a bizarre presence appeared and shed against the Superbia. But, when it appeared, Azridan''s voice brimmed with anger because he recognized this energy anywhere.

    It was only gained aftering in contact with one of the Monarch''s fragments left to the public.

    [It''s them. They''re here.]

    "Them. You mean them, as in the one''s who betrayed you?" Apollo responded constantly.

    [Correct. And they''ve achieved a level on par with my previous strength. If I''m not mistaken, all four of them¡ªIrzanach, Xynthos, Kirheim, and Zekilyx¡ªshould all be within the confines of that tower.]

    "What do you suppose we do?" Apollo questioned. Although he was almost certain that he was no match for them, Apollo also understood what obtaining vengeance felt like. While it wouldn''t undo the wrongs dealt in the past, it did provide a minute sense of closure.

    [We do nothing. Because as of it right now, it''s not our fight. And, if they ever learn of your presence, then they''ll want to understand how you obtained the Monarch''s true power yet have not been to the inheritance ce, nor have you crossed the Noble Boundary.]

    "I know. This wasn''t for me, but you. However, since you know how to suppress your anger, I won''t press the matters. Instead, I''ll offer you a promise instead. If the Monarch gave the Kings their vessel, then there''s bound to be a method for me to give you one as well. When I''m strong enough, I will repay the assistance you''ve given me in full."

    [I look forward to it. In the meantime, an ideal situation has opened up to you.]

    "Yes, I''m aware of it as well," Apollo said before looking towards his followers. "Fuhrer, have you located any areas with particrly increased traffic, for example, some kind of information hub?"

    "Not exactly," Fuhrer answered. While he had indeed found many of such ces, their number was too broad for them to cover in a short period. By the time they finished sifting through the location, they would have most likely lost the advantage of the current situation.

    In return, Apollo could only sigh. He would be lying if he said it wouldn''t be a letdown to not take advantage of this unique situation. But, if Fuhrer couldn''t do it in such a short time, then it meant the numbers were trulyrge.

    However, someone who seldomly talked took a knee before Apollo, "My Lord, if you will?"

    "What is it, Zarkath?" Apollo answered.

    "I have some insider knowledge pertaining to the hidden information channels of Firaria. Before I was a guardian of the Link located in Ashiraem, I was one of the officers in charge of those channels. I still remember a number of the more important locations."

    Apollo''s previously disappointed expression changed as heard this. Although Zarkath was just a product of Apollo''s whimsical actions to prove his superiority, it seemed his actions had indeed paid off. Zarkath pulled through just when he thought he''d have to settle for putting a dampener on his ns.

    With that being said, Typhir still found something unusual. He didn''t realize it before, but it clicked now that Zarkath mentioned the presence of the Links, "Didn''t that gatekeeper say that those without the Sin of Ira will be turned away. If so, then isn''t the presence of the links redundant?"

    "Nope," Fuhrer shook his head. "It''s actually not a bad policy. If you truly delve into the gatekeepers, then only those indigenous to the Suprenis are forbidden from stepping foot in here. Conversely, those with multiple Sins are still weed."

    "I see," Typhir nodded before falling quiet. Although he received an answer, this policy still felt obscure to him.

    Meanwhile, Apollo remained without an opinion, because this was the exact thought that made him chuckle earlier. ''I''m guessing that unless it''s someone like a Lord who can shatter the restrictions ced on them, this policy was introduced to prevent any issues arising.''

    Which was the truth. The tumultuous rtionship of the Sins would only produce chaos identical to the initial state of the demons.

    "If that''s the case, then point us in the direction," Apollo said, taking their attention away from this discussion.

    "We''ll have to get our hands on a map before that is possible. Even if I remember their positions, their routes are tricky to get to. Not to mention, there are still at least 100 main points. Though, if we are only looking for ces relevant to household information, then there is only about 10," Zarkath said.

    But, Apollo shook his head in response, "We don''t need information on households, per se. We just need some relevant information on some strongholds."

    "Mm, if it is so, then the number should escte to a marginally higher number. We''ll still need a map," Zarkath surmised after doing his best to remember the relevant information. But, as an officer, he wasn''t a member in the highest position.

    So, he was always apanied by someone of a higher rank when making his errands to various drop-off points. Not to mention, whoever he traveled with possessed a medallion that linked to some of the smaller hubs in the area. It gave them the ability to transport to a closer location, essentially minimizing arge portion of the travel time.

    Eventually, Zarkath brought them to a shady area, but it was useful as it provided a map that highlighted all areas of Firaria without fail. Plus, the material the map was made from allowed Sin Energy to be injected inside to be used as a sort of marker.

    After examining the map for a while, Zarkath listed all of the areas that operated with this kind of information before giving it to Apollo. However, instead of rushing towards the area identified on the map, Apollo turned towards the others.

    "How much of this map can you all remember after looking at it?"

    "I don''t need to answer that question," Fuhrer replied with Furcas nodding in agreement. Among the demons, both of their cognitive functions were much higher than the rest. So, it was effortless to remember.

    Especially for Furcas who tracked the positioning of the dark stars.

    "It''s easy enough," Geneva nodded in agreement.

    "Yeah, I have no issue memorizing the positioning," Sapphyr added as well.

    However, Jorgun blinked while staring at Apollo with an embarrassed expression, "C-can I see that one more time? No...no¡­ maybe three more times? I promise I''ll get it by then!"

    The others could only give disappointed stares, but Apollo just shook his head, "No need. I can''t entrust you with this matter. Forgetting isn''t the issue. I''m almost certain you''ll end up blowing a fuse when something bes too difficult. Therefore, you''re with me."

    Apollo stowed the map within his grasp before giving everyone directions. Everyone aside from Ouroboros and ia were given specific coordinates to check. On the other hand, Apollo''s group of four traveled towards thergest information hub.

 Chapter 397 - A Hard Bargain

    ----

    Now that a task was delegated to everyone, Apollo traveled with the others to towards thergest hub. With Ouroboros wrapped around his shoulder, he traveled with ia and Jorgun in tow.

    "Masterrr, I''m hungry," Ouroborosined while rubbing his cheek against Apollo''s. Since Ouroboros was a beast who was born with an innate disposition towards devouring, his appetite was simply ravenous.

    Therefore, Apollo was forced to pacify his hunger. However, before retrieving any of his items, Apollo observed his surroundings to make sure that the coast was clear. After all, Zarkath''s presence was acquired because of his own greed.

    But, just as he was prone to coveting someone''s items, the other demons could be as well. So, it was safest for Apollo to take adequate precautions before executing any extreme movements. Only once he was certain that their trails were clear did he feed Ouroboros two Inferior Crystallized Chaos.

    They disappeared in an instant as Ouroboros devoured them, but he seemed unsatisfied as he continued to nudge Apollo''s cheek. "Master, some more pleasssse~"

    Helpless in this situation, Apollo retrieved 5 of them this time. A tiny whirlpool appeared before Ouroboros as he swallowed these ones in an instant as well. Fortunately, it seemed like this total was enough for him as he hissed happily and remained on Apollo''s shoulder without another word.

    Meanwhile, Jorgun looked at the two, curious as to what that crystalline item was. Furthermore, he wondered if it was edible to him as well. But, he didn''t voice his question because he didn''t want to end up embarrassing himself again.

    So, he remained quiet while looking elsewhere.

    "Jorgun, don''t let your thoughts drift off. I can''t afford you losing your sense of direction. I expect you to stay by our side at all times," Apollo said, causing Jorgun to nod repeatedly.

    "O-of course, lord! I''s done no such thing. I ampletely here. My mind is fine," Jorgun eximed with a slight stutter. Rather than pressing the matter further, Apollo simply nodded before matching their pathway to the route highlighted on the map.

    Although the map made it look small, the actual distance between their target and their initial position was immense. So despite their rushing, there was still well over half of their path remaining. But, if he could fly, Apollo could move much quicker by avoiding all the twists and turns created by the buildings.

    Sadly, he didn''t know if it was permitted. Although he passed by numerous winged demons, none of them utilized their wings. Instead, they traveled everywhere on foot. For the reason alone, Apollo assumed that flying within the confines of the city wasn''t permitted.

    And, if it wasn''t then Apollo chose to abide by their mandates for now. Besides, although his pace wasn''t his limit, it was by no means slow. The scenery changed rapidly as both ia kept up with his controlled pace.

    Though, he was pleasantly surprised because physical actions were never ia''s strong suit.

    "How has the assimtion gone? Does it feel morefortable than before?" Apollo inquired while examining ia from the corner of his eyes.

    "Yeah, it''s not bad. Actually, I feel much better. Specifically, my illusion ability," ia said before producing a hazy light from her eyes. If this power was used on someone else, perhaps it would be difficult to go up against, but in Apollo''s case, his mind deflected the mental power that ia''s eyes projected.

    Still, Apollo found her ability to be more powerful than he assumed. Although his mind neutralized the intrusion, it wasn''t instantaneous like before, which meant that it required some effort to dispel the abilities she used.

    "If you be stronger, perhaps you''ll be the one to enchant our enemies. Not only are you a beauty, but you can be a master of illusion as well," Apollo chuckled before concocting numerous ns in his mind. Each one of them required his subordinates to be masters of sin, as well as their own techniques.

    After all, Sin Energy was merely a fuel source. There was still room to create something unique. For example, all of Apollo''s abilities granted by his Sin Paths were unique to him. For the most part, his aura of domination yed arge role in the optimization of his ability selection.

    So, when his Sins melded with his aura, it created the path of dominating said Sin. Simrly, Fuhrer traveled the path of ughter and suppression. Therefore, his application of Sin was different from Apollo''s and even Typhir, who opted for destruction over suppression.

    Nevertheless, the innate properties of the Sin Energies still remained. So at their core, all of their actions shared the same precursor.

    "A beauty¡­ and master of illusion? I''ll try," ia murmured in a timid voice before looking at Ouroboros who unknowingly took on the form of a little boy again. Rather than wrapping around Apollo''s neck, he sat on his shoulders as a child would do their father.

    Except, there was no need for him to hold on as his legs were akin to unbreakable hooks. Suddenly, Apollo felt some short silver hairs tickle his forehead. A chubby upside-down face appeared in his view, blocking it entirely.

    "Masssster, I''m bored," Ouroboros started toin once again. Plus, his stomach resumed its bodacious growls as he caught wind of innumerable scents that caused him to salivate. "I smell... deliciousss!"

    Apollo leaned his head to the side and looked in the direction Ouroboros blocked to find an oversized tavern that took up an entire section. Based on the refined appearance, Apollo understood that he hade to the right ce. The central information hub was, after all based out of a tavern.

    But, to gain ess required a special knock, which Apollo initiated. Except, the knock he used belonged to a special party.

    The rectangr peephole slid open as a result of his particr knock, "What officer are you under?" A gruff voice questioned, but silence pervaded because Apollo was unsure of the answer to this question. Unbeknownst to Zarkath, the policy unique to this hub had undergone some minute changes.

    Finally, Apollo tested the waters by giving an answer, "Officer Zarkath."

    "Zarkath¡­" The gruff voice parroted, "We haven''t heard from that fellow since he took that job from the Lord himself. How did you manage to obtain his officer pattern?"

    "I asked him for it," Apollo responded truthfully, only to receiving a snorting sputter from the other side.

    "Yeah, right kid. And I just managed to bed Lady Asmidia. Why in the hell would an officer give out his pattern freely and risk the ire of the All-seeing Nautilus?" the gruff voice retorted.

    ''All-seeing Nautilus? I guess this is the name of the organization,'' Apollo silently mused. He then moved closer to the door while subconsciously leaking a faint aura of domination, "I don''t know. Maybe because he''s joined my faction? Ie for information, else I wouldn''t have made use of this knock."

    Apollo then cut straight to the point, "Ie seeking business. Do you wish to conduct some or not? The knock should be proof enough."

    "Arghh¡­" A groan came from the other side of the door, followed by numerous tinkering noises, presumably the sound of a ridiculous number of locks being opened.

    Ultimately, the door swung open to reveal a demon with short horns and a frame that was evenrger than Jorgun. Two oversized tusks jutted out from his jaw as his disheveled appearance was immediately noticed.

    "How big of a business deal are we taking. Here at the central hub, we don''t take orders less than 1,000 Fragments," the demon revealed.

    "1,000, you say? I suppose that''s an affordable limit. To make things crystal clear, Ie with the intention of buying the tavern special," Apollo voiced while putting emphasis special.

    Immediately, the demon''s expression changed, turning into the most unsightly smile, "The name''s Balrog, and we wee your business." After weing them inside, the door immediately mmed shut behind them.

    Then, Balrog took a seat behind one of the many tables. Meanwhile, Apollo took in the changes of scenery, noticing a number of demons whose appearance betrayed their orientation as a demon. Each of them exuded an air of eloquence exclusive to royalty. This included the help employed by this ce.

    "Using visual tactics to ensure your customers a good time, I presume?" Apollo said. Suddenly, a slender female ced a tter of bubbling drinks at the table. While their appearance was offputting, the scent that wafted into Apollo''s nose was intrigued.

    "Liquid Ira. Try it. At the same time, the leader will be with you shortly," Balrog said before rising from his seat. The "tavern special" was outside of his clearance. It required the head honcho''s permission since the information was both sensitive and mutually destructive.

 Chapter 398 - Submit To Conquer

    ----

    "Liquid Ira?" Apollo muttered while looking inside the drink. Truth be told, the appearance didn''t quite fit the name as it was a greenish drink and not red. So, Apollo was confused as to whether this name referred to its contents, or if the name was simply conferred due to its seething properties.

    Additionally, Apollo was also curious about the current situation as well. Since he didn''t understand the process for this ce, he wasn''t aware of the weight mentioning the tavern special held.

    But, with his nature, it was only right that he asked. "Why aren''t you the one to handle the deal? After all, you are the one who greeted me, are you not?"

    "Correct, but you see, I''m a mere entry-level Archdemon. I can''t possibly handle the consequences of the information you seek. So, I''ll have to pass along this task to my boss. As long as they like you, you''ll be fine," Balrog responded while knocking his hand against the table.

    Secondster, another waitress approached the table, except this time she presented some food that carried a familiar scent. ''Do they make cuisines spiced with Fragments of Sin here? How interesting. Business must be amazing for them to maintain this type of frivolous exhaustion,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Since he was offered it, Apollo didn''t stand on ceremony and weed his followers to eat while he awaited the presence of Balrog''s boss. However, while he said he would pass along the responsibility, he remained seated at the table with a bizarre grin. Soon enough, Apollo couldn''t help but question it.

    "Is there something...amusing?"

    "Not quite. I''m just bored, and this is how I pass my time," Balrog responded, but Apollo merely shrugged at his answer before revisiting his first words. As far as his information towards the hierarchy of demons went, he wasn''t privy to their breakdowns.

    "You called yourself an entry-level Archdemon, yes? I''d like to know what that means because I''ve never heard that term before," Apollo said.

    Contrary to his expectation, Balrog was neither surprised nor did he experience any change in expression. It might seem odd, but there was a decent reason behind these actions.

    "Of course you wouldn''t. That''s how we of the All-seeing Nautilus refer to this level. The proper term is simply identical to the breakdown of sin purity. As for our terms, it refers to the age of the Archdemon rather than power. Because, as an Archdmeon ages, the volume of their Sin condenses, resulting in a more potent power. In my boss''s case, they''re what''s known as aplete Archdemon. Meaning they''ve been an Archdemon for over a thousand years," Balrog revealed.

    But, to Apollo, this exnation seemed wed.

    [That''s one way of viewing it, I guess. The other way is that failing to be a Noblesse after 1,000 years denotes the exhaustion of that demon''s potential.]

    Apollo''s eye brightened when he heard Azridan''s exnation, because he had the same thoughts. If that was true, then as long as he yed his cards right, then there was a chance of him possessing the upper-hand in this negotiation.

    ording to Zarkath''s exnation, the chances of acquiring information weren''t 100%. First, the All-seeing Nautilus needed to ascertain whether the buyer''s intention would result in coteral damage outside of their eptable range.

    In some situations, mentioning their name posed no threat. However, if the buyer was causing trouble at a higher level, then this was business they couldn''t stand by because Saehtyn was the type to enforce sanctions if the order of Ashiraem was disturbed.

    Although, just like Apollo, the others in this ce were aware of the unusual situation happening inside of the Lord''s Tower.

    Nevertheless, despite receiving some information from Azridan, Apollo didn''t reveal his intention. Doing so would be a foolish move on his part. Instead, it was smarter for him to wait on Balrog''s boss, who based on Balrog''s actions, was upon them.

    An elderly demon with a long beard and bronze skin stroked his beard while approaching the table with steady steps. Alongside him was a levitating ring that held a ck pillow seating a ruby bracelet in the middle.

    Before taking a seat, he slipped the bracelet on his wrist, which erected a red barrier that was undetectable from the outside. Rather than any introductions, the elder demon sat down and immediately got to business.

    As soon as he opened his eyes, two amber lights scanned Apollo''s body before dissipating. It was unsure if this was a technique or just the byproduct of him opening his closed eyes, but Apollo felt nothing.

    And even if he did, the system was a tool that deflected all inspection thus far. This included Saehtyn, so Apollo doubted a demon stuck in the Archdemon state could prate the defenses of the system.

    "What type of information do you seek? Is it the secrets of an esteemed individual? Background information on their rtives? Location of some of Ashiraem''s royal demons? Possible areas hiding ancients secrets? The selection for the tavern special spans over a vast variety," the elder demon said.

    But, instead of immediately answering, Apollo narrowed his eyes, ''These are all prodding questions. All the choices listed should be information gathered through nefarious means. So, if I agree to one of these, then the deal would be over before it began.''

    Therefore, Apollo chose another route. In this case, he would have to first submit in order to cement his conquerter, "None of the sorts. I would just like some simple information. For example, information on vacant areas within or near this city."

    "Hmm," the elder groaned before falling silent while he stroked his chin. The atmosphere within the bubble changed as this silence continued for longer than anyone would desire. Throughout the silence, Balrog''s eyes darted between Apollo and his boss.

    At first, the elder''s action was simply a ruse to understand what type of person he was. Was he irrational? Blowing up at the slightest bit of dy and inconvenience. Or, was he reserved and in control of himself? After all, the downfall of most demons at Apollo''s age was their inability to adapt to the conditions that would otherwise infuriate them.

    Oftentimes, this inability led to death.

    But, as the silence endured, the elder acquired the information he needed, "Shrewd. That''s what you are. Most your age would have spoken first by now to ask whether the deal is set."

    "I feel no need for me to ask a trivial question. As long as your heart is set, then I doubt my words can move them," Apollo responded.

    "I see. So, do you care to tell me the real information you seek? Someone of your shrewdness would note here merely seeking locations. I, Brakar, have had my fair share of sit-downs."

    "Mmn, there was some truth to my words. I do seek information on some locations. However, they don''t necessarily need to be vacant," Apollo said while cing his chin on his hand.

    Brakar''s eyebrow rose when he heard this. To say he wasn''t intrigued by this request would be an untruth, "Hoh? And what type of location is that you seek?"

    "Perhaps something on the scale of a stronghold property."

    Instantly, both Balrog and Brakar had a change in expression. From shock to rm, they wondered why someone this young demon could possibly want information pertaining to a stronghold.

    "Do you seek to join a faction? If this setting fits you, perhaps there is an opening in the Nautilus for you," Brakar offered. It was always beneficial to introduce a shrewd youth to this business. After all, their information gathering system was top-notch.

    Regrettably, Apollo rejected the offer immediately, "While joining a stronghold would be ideal, I guess you could say I''m just on a business endeavor."

    "Very well. There are a number of strongholds in this city, all of varying levels. However, as a Greater Demon, I suggest you aim for a stronghold with a Greater Insignia, this means their leader is a Grater Deamon. Provided that you intend to ''negotiate'' with them, correct?"

    "Correct," Apollo admitted with a light smile, but his following word astonished them yet again, "But that level will probably be insufficient. I prefer one stronger, but not too strong. Something that is within both of our limits. Don''t you agree?"

    "Heh," Brakar chuckled, "Truly a shrewd one. For that information, It''ll be 1,100 Fragments of Sins. And, I have just the stronghold in mind. But, while it is within reason, it is also not."

    "I''ll have to use my discretion to determine that," Apollo smiled before presenting a ring towards Brakar. "The items you have requested are inside."

 Chapter 399 - Playing The Fool

    ----

    Brakar was astonished by the ease in which Apollo relinquished his hold over his items.

    ''So young yet willing to part with over 1,000 Fragment of Sins without flinching? Either his image of the item is absurd, or his pockets are immense. Either way, this deal isn''t harmful to us since this particr stronghold is within reason. Though, I can''t say the same for him.''

    Immediately, Brakar likened Apollo''s confidence to a misunderstanding of his own strength. After all, the household he intended to give Apollo carried a Winged Insignia, meaning its ruler was a genuine Archdemon.

    As far as he saw, Apollo was no more than a Greater Demon, and the three by his side were mere Lesser Demons. So, never in his wildest dreams would Brakar assume that he possessed an Archdemon by his side to outss the members of the stronghold.

    Nevertheless, since this was an easy deal for him, he wouldn''t be asking questions, especially about a matter that possessed worries that numbered close to zero.

    After receiving the payment and verifying its contents, Brakar snapped his fingers before whispering a message into one of the waitresses'' ear who approached the table. Once she received her message, she disappeared in a puff of crimson smoke.

    Meanwhile, Apollo took the time to take a sip of the Liquid Ira drink. Surprisingly, when the drink touched his lips, Apollo was alerted by a message.

    ?System: An impure Sin presence has been located. [Now starting the purification process.]?

    Ding!

    ?System: Purification processplete. [Ira''s purity has increased by 0.01%]?

    ''Hoh? So this drink is actually made from Ira, albeit impure. Despite it being a small sip, a 0.01% is a negligible increase. Plus, I doubt this method can be used to increase the purity infinitely.''

    Although it was a viable method of increasing purity, it had its limits. For example, Apollo absorbing a Fragment of Sin granted by Ouroboros digesting the Inferior Crystallized Chaos would, on average, increase his Sin Purity by 0.3%

    That was the equivalent of taking 300 sips of this Liquid Ira. However, even the Fragment of Sin suffered from diminishing returns the more he absorbed them. As such, the second absorption wouldn''t be equivalent to the same 0.3%.

    Though Apollo possessed a nifty ability that allowed him to forcefully reset the value rewarded, however it required two prerequisites. One, he needed to engage in difficultbat that required him to use a Sin generously.

    Second, he needed to exhaust ALL of his Sin Energy so that the value granted by the Fragment reset itself. However, with 7 unique vessels, doing so was tedious work. It would require him to engage in nonstopbat. It wasn''t ideal for him, so Apollo''s next course of action was to browse through the resources given to him and see if any of them produced any stronger effects.

    In the meantime, while he was lost in thought, watching the Liquid Ira swirl around in his cup, the waitress who left not too long ago returned with an envelope in her hand.

    "For you, Boss Brakar," she said before walking away from the table. Brakar didn''t open nor check its contents and merely handed it over to Apollo.

    "I''ll leave the verification to you. We guarantee 100% customer satisfaction here at the Nautilus."

    As he received the envelope, Apollo opened it without dy and peered at its contents. In addition to a set of coordinates, there was information regarding some members of the household, as well as some other in-depth information. However, since it was meaningless to Apollo, he didn''t peruse the information thoroughly.

    All he wanted was an establishednd. As far as the members went, he couldn''t decide if he wanted to gather some effortless experience. While the idea was enticing, it wouldn''t be optimal for an entire stronghold worth of staff to disappear.

    It wouldn''t just raise some questions, but it would also be noticed within due time. This was because following the edict to stop the registration of new households, strongholds were mandated to report their condition to the Lord''s staff every 3 months.

    Prior to reading a bit of crucial information in the letter, this was unknown information to Apollo, "The next routine evaluation is in approximately 2 weeks?"

    "Correct," Brakar nodded.

    ''Hopefully, this odd situation within the tower disrupts that matter. But, that could also be my wishful thinking since this matter isn''t handled by Saehtyn himself. It''s fine; I''ll just have to make do,'' Apollo internalized before raising to his feet.

    "I appreciate your deal and perhaps we can conduct business in the future," Apollo said before gesturing for Jorgun and ia to follow him. Once they exited, both Brakar and Balrog looked at each other.

    "What are the odds of that fellow taking over that strongholdpletely?"

    "Next to zero. Not only is he only a Greater Demon, but that household is led by a demon of the royal faction. While it''s disgraceful to take advantage of the foolish. This transaction was basically a free fee," Brakar answered before tossing Balrog the ring.

    "I just don''t understand. Outside of the Lord''s circle, getting your hands on this resource is hard, so where did he acquire so much that it doesn''t pain him to release it?"

    "Unfortunately, you''re asking questions that I don''t have the answers to. However, what I do know is that he needs to be careful and not just of that stronghold," Brakar said in return.

    "Agreed," Balrog answered.

    ----

    While Apollo proceeded with the matters inside the central hub, a much different situation took ce in a remote tavern in Ashiraem.

    Geneva nced around a popted room before extracting some important details. Pinpointing her target, Geneva sauntered up to one of the open seats before releasing a heavy sigh. Afterward, she flicked her finger and ordered a drink.

    A demon beside her dressed in olive armor that possessed a distinct engraving on its left shoulder looked in her direction after noticing her actions. Then, his eyes scanned her body before filling with interest.

    "What''s a prettydy doing sighing so heavily?"

    "What else, troubles. My attention has all but vanished," Geneva said while shaking her head. A quick nce to the side gave her all the information she needed. Because this wasn''t a haphazard decision to enter this ce.

    Apollo had changed her directions after learning of some trivial yet seemingly useful information. One of the members of the stronghold he intended to target was a frequenter at this tavern. So, her task was simple¡ªuse her allure as an Infernal Subus and y the fool!

    Thus, she continued to y her part well, inching closer, "Care to show me some attention?" Geneva whispered. But, if one looked closer, they''d realize there was a faint pink colorced into her breath as it wafted into the demon''s nose.

    It was fleeting, but a pink sheen appeared in his eyes before dissipating. He had fallen under Geneva''s spell without being all the wiser.

    "For you~? I''ll be more than willing to do so. The name''s Zirim, from the Dakea Stronghold," Zirim replied with a faint smile.

    "Geneva," she said with a light chuckle before leaning next to Zirim''s ear and whispering something indistinct. But, her actions were a misdirection as her focus wasn''t on what she said, it was her action done with her finger.

    Doused in a pink aura, Geneva dipped her forefinger into Zirim''s drink.

    "We''ve just met, but I can tell you''re a feisty one," Zirim chuckled with an apparent look of excitement. Whatever Geneva said to him, it riled him up.

    But, to seal the deal, she winked and continuing to whisper in a lulling voice, "Drink up. We can leave once you''re done~."

    Not only did Zirim not suspect her of anything, but he even mindlessly gulped his drink before jumping to his feet. He took the lead in leaving, but Geneva followed him with an alluring yet mischievous smile.

    Upon exiting, she directed him to follow her. Outside of being overly attracted to her, the intoxication she infected Zirim with had no other effect. Still, it was extremely effective.

    What awaited him after following Geneva, however, was a greeting from Fuhrer, who looked at Zirim before tossing him against the wall.

    "Sleep," Fuhrer said before covering Zirim''s face. Eventually, his body went limp as Fuhrer''s overwhelming energy robbed him of his consciousness.

    "Did I do well?" Geneva smiled while asking.

    "You''ve aplished your task well," Fuhrer nodded before taking the next step in the n. All of his armor receded into his body, leaving ayer of thin under armor.

 Chapter 400 - A Prolonged Ruse

    ----

    Eventually, using a special technique, Fuhrer was able to match Zirim''s appearance almost perfectly. However, there were some imperfections, just not from the visual aspect. Nevertheless, unless the situation called for intimate interaction, then Fuhrer wasn''t worried.

    Besides, his role was minuscule. At most, he was only being used as a scout. Because, the changed order that Apollo gave him was to infiltrate the stronghold and learn of any changes that weren''t listed in the report.

    Although the All-seeing Nautilus was a credible source, Apollo wasn''t sure how dated the information was, nor was he willing to rely solely upon information gathered by an outside source.

    Therefore, if it was Fuhrer who gathered the information, then he''d be much morefortable.

    "Oh my, such a nifty ability. How did you manage to do that?" Geneva wondered while closely inspecting Fuhrer''s disguise. Not only did he match Zirim''s build, but he even copied any of the otherwise unimportant features.

    But, if he was going into a den of demons with an unknown number of Archdemons, then exercising caution would pay off in the long run. After all, the sharp senses of an Archdemon was bound to notice even the faintest inconsistencies in appearance.

    "Just a simple technique. It just requires a perfect control of Demonic Anima to morph your predetermined structure," Fuhrer said. Unlike some of the techniques employed by certain Sin Abilities, this wasn''t an illusion technique, it was genuine and thorough change.

    "Oh really? Does it hurt?" Geneva asked before poking the armor. There was a lot of crunching noises when Fuhrer changed, obviously produced from the reconstructing of his bone structure. Therefore, Geneva could only be skeptical about the level of pain produced.

    "Perhaps during your first uses, but, it bes a tolerable sensation. Although it sounds gruesome, it''s not as ufortable as it seems. But, we need to move along with our ns. So, handle this individual before regrouping with the young Lord," Fuhrer said before disappearing into a dissipating shadow.

    Left alone, Geneva simply stared at the unconscious body of Zirim, "Tch... what do I do with you? I wouldn''t have even touched you if it wasn''t for my orders." Geneva said with a disgusted frown.

    Suddenly, a cluster of mes appeared at her fingertips. Before making a move, she first confirmed that the perimeter was clear of any witnesses. Once she was certain this was the case, she then pressed her fingers against the ground, drawing a slow, straight line.

    A perfect line segment appeared on the floor before her, but she was far from done. She moved her hands away from her body while keeping them parallel to the surface and in line with the marking on the floor.

    Tworge ws appeared above the line, opening it into a chasm. While it wasn''t extremely deep, it wasrge enough to fit a bodyfortably.

    "Have a nice sleep," Geneva said with a small snicker before kicking Zirim''s body inside and sealing it shut. Afterward, she walked away as if none of this took ce. While it was unknown how long such a prison would hold him, he only needed to remain hidden long enough for them to move forward with their ns.

    ----

    On the other hand, after delivering new instructions upon leaving the central hub, Apollo nced around while taking in his surroundings. ''Is it just my paranoia, or is there something different about this ce now that we''ve left?''

    Although he couldn''t pinpoint the origin of this feeling, aftering out of the door, it felt as if he and the others were being watched. However, the sensation didn''t appear the instant they exited, rather it took some time before the feeling encroached on them.

    ''Could they have conducted a scheme to double-cross the deal and sent someone to track us?'' Apollo wondered. It wasn''t unusual for these types of businesses to conduct deals where they also pulled one over on their customers.

    Not only would it allow them to gain immediate profit¡ªif the target''s strength was deemed to be much weaker than their own¡ªbut it also allowed them to steal back whatever they sold if the worth was high enough. This would allow them sell it back to an even higher bidder in the future.

    But, Apollo wondered if the Nautilus truly operated this way. Would an organization who went to painstaking lengths to set up an informational hierarchy based on securitymit such an action? If so, could they possibly stay in business afterward?

    Wariness towards this organization would be unusually high if that was the case. Not to mention, after a while, there was a chance of the Lord''s entourage investigating the abnormality surrounding the disappearances of those who approached this business.

    Therefore, Apollo was fairly certain that this wasn''t the actions of the Nautilus. Of course, he could also be wrong, because as a Greater Demon, he did reveal an unusual level of wealth.

    Thus, Apollo could only settle for one behavior, ''I''ll have to test for myself, whether this is the conniving actions of the Nautilus. If so, I wouldn''t mind having Fuhrer raze its existence to the ground.''

    Despite his preference to maintain low visibility, coveting his life was one behavior that Apollo didn''t tolerate. So, even if it wee unspeakable levels of danger, if it was within his ability, then Apollo was bound to retaliate and do so ruthlessly.

    In light of his intention, Apollo started to move in a pattern without any destination in mind. He merely turned odd corners while apanying the others to see if the sensation of being watched vanished.

    And, despite traveling far, it didn''t. So, he escted his actions even further, now luring the stalkers to an uninhabited corner of Ashiraem. But, to make it seem as if he wasn''t all the wiser to their presence, or familiar with the area, Apollo frequently stopped to look around before choosing a direction.

    This short stall made it seem like he was evaluating his choices, but, in fact, there was a second reason for his actions.

    "Masssster, where are we going? And why does it seem like we''re lost. Didn''t we have a m-" Ouroboros started toin over their unusually long route, but Apollo covered his mouth.

    "Shh," Apollo said before continuing to keep up the ruse. Noticing his odd behavior, ia blinked unnaturally before looking towards Apollo and speaking in a hushed tone.

    "Are we perhaps behind followed?"

    Apollo looked at her with an intrigued expression before nodding, "It''s possible. How did you know? Can you sense it as well?" As an individual with mental abilities, ia was bound to have a strong perception, so Apollo wouldn''t find it unusual if she could truly sense something, even though his impression was only a vague feeling.

    "No, but I did notice the brief change in expression from those two. And, seeing how you''re acting, I can only assume that somewhere along the line, you stopped feeling safe. If that''s it... can I¡­ try something?" ia murmured.

    Silently, Apollo gave her permission. Immediately, a hazy energy ripple undted from her forehead before forming a ring-shape. Outside of Apollo, who was linked to ia, the others couldn''t even sense her actions.

    But, as Apollo stood within the circumference of the ring, he noticed that his mind trembled continuously. This was a sign that he was deflecting a constant influx of intrusive mental energy. In other words, an illusion.

    "Have you encased us in an illusion?"

    "No, the opposite. I have assaulted the area with a looped illusion. So, if there is someone following us, then we''ll know soon enough," ia said before pulling Apollo''s hand. "Come over here."

    Steadily, ia led Apollo and the others to a corner as they lied in wait.

    Suddenly, three individuals stopped while looking around with a flustered expression.

    "What the hell? They were just right here? How did the scent end abruptly?" One of them eximed while looking around. Upon closer inspection, Apollo came to realize that this particr individual possessed featuresparable to a wolf.

    This was a first for Apollo. As far as he was aware, he thought all demons of a Ring were limited to a certain species. But, it seemed that he was wrong. In fact, he shook his head as he realized something, "Why would I believe that is so when Geneva''s a subus? That alone is a variant type of demon."

    Meanwhile, Apollo soon obtained the reason for being followed.. "I smelled them. It was a strong scent that only exists when in contact with arge amount of those items!"

 Chapter 401 - A Candle Much Brighter Than The Rest

    ----

    Apollo''s eyes shed with intrigue when he heard the words of this demon. ording to what he said, the culprit of them tracking Apollo wasn''t the Nautilus, but rather the unique scent produced by the Fragments of Sins in his possession. Though, he wasn''t aware that they even carried such a thing.

    ''I guess there is still much for me to learn about the resources we demons use,'' Apollo thought. However, he continued to watch the actions of the demonic trios to see how strong they were.

    If they failed to break out of the illusion, then that meant these demons were weaker than ia. Granted, they could also be extremely physical demons with weak mental capacities, which meant they were susceptible to mental attack.

    Even if that was the case, keeping 3 demons under an illusion simultaneously was severely taxing for ia. Although her initial actions were focused on the environment, after entering theid trap, it switched to constant consumption of her mental energy.

    So, it became a matter of her mental endurance for now. That was, if Apollo''s intentions were to merely keep them in ce. After all, he had already verified that were indeed some demons tracking him.

    "Do we smash them!?" Jorgun bellowed while emitting a hostile air. A churning sound echoed from his muscles as he activated his special trait, ready to rush the three at any given moment.

    However, Apollo lifted his hand and restrained Jorgun''s actions, "No. Not just yet. I want to see something." It wasn''t apparent at first, but Apollo noticed something interesting about this bunch, the tattooed emblem located on their left shoulders.

    Given the information he possessed, this tattoo immediately caught his eyes because it matched the insignia of the stronghold he wanted to target. ''Members of the Dakea Stronghold? What are the odds that their grunts would be tracking me as I hatch a n to pry their belongings from right under them?''

    In addition to having Fuhrer infiltrate their ranks and understand their chain ofmand''s power, Apollo started to hatch another n. One that would allow him to walk into the doors of the stronghold without being stopped. And, it didn''t require him to raise a disguise at all.

    "I-I¡­ don''t know how much longer I can hold the looped illusion. They''ll start to sense us soon enough," ia said suddenly while revealing a pained expression. The amount of mental energy she was expending to keep them suspended in the illusion was substantial.

    "How long?" Apollo questioned before gazing directly at the three who traveled in circles. Of course, they weren''t aware that they were doing so. To them, it seemed as they were tracking the scent of the Fragment of Sin.

    "Thirty more seconds, max," ia said, but one could tell just how diforting her actions were from her shuddering breaths.

    "Understood," Apollo replied before stepping out from the shelter of the alley. He walked before the three before waving his arm towards ia, "You can dispel it. It''s no longer needed."

    Immediately, ia ceased her usage of mental energy, causing the illusion to dissipate and return the demonic trio to their rightful senses. But, being greeted by Apollo staring them down left them with odd expressions.

    Regardless, no sudden moves were made before the demonic with the wolf-like features realized that the source of the scent was, in fact, this demon standing before him. ''Such a strong stench of fragments despite being so young?''

    "Is there any reason that you have been following me for quite some time now?" Apollo inquired while silently evaluating the strength of the trios. Although he knew their reason because of the information revealed inside the illusion, he wanted to test if these demons were confident enough to openly voice their motives.

    Besides, a short evaluation was all he needed to learn that outside of the demon with the wolf-like features, the other two demons seemed to be regr Ifrits who gained a decent amount of intelligence. While they were both Greater Demons, one of their signatures was more pronounced than the other, symbolizing their increased strength inparison.

    "A reason? There is always a reason. In your case, I believe you should have touched something enticing recently. Care to share some of that wealth," the wolf demon said with a menacing smile. His canines were on full disy, yet Apollo remained unimpressed.

    "Does the sun set when you tell it too? Do the stars shift when youmand them? If not, what makes you think your request will incite my action?" Apollo said with a light chuckle.

    "Are you... taking us lightly?" the wolf demon said with a growl. However, Apollo merely shrugged at his question.

    "You''re more than wee to approach me. After all, you were led here for a reason," Apollo said. A ze of Ira then started circting over his right arm.

    The demonic trio on the other side clicked their tongues. They found Apollo''s actions to be foolish. Who in their right mind would wee a three-on-one? Either he was insane, or he was taking them lightly. Either way, Apollo''s words were enough to spur their reaction.

    A heated aura appeared around all of them before rushing towards Apollo.

    In return, he smiled. ''Finally. A chance to understand how Ipare against regr demons. My demons were created by the system, so they possess a noticeable advantage. But, going against these fools will give me a more distinct idea.''

    Instantly, Apollo made a retreating step to create some room. While doing so, his eyes shifted about, taking in all the actions these three demons performed. The wolf demon rushed him with a frontal attack while the two Ifrits split apart and attacked him from both sides.

    Clearly, this trio possessed prior battle experience as their rhythm seemed trained. Nevertheless, Apollo didn''t regret his decision.

    Although he was still in the middle of floating backward, Apollo stamped the floor and shot forward at a frightening speed. Unlike his usual course of action where he used one of the Baleful Steps to elerate, there was a burst of Ira lingering on the ground.

    Not only could it be used for attacking, but if it was ced right, then the explosion caused by its initial usage could be leveraged to increase one''s instantaneous movement. And, Apollo did just that.

    Instead of the two Ifrit''s attacknding on Apollo, their fist collided and caused one of them to take a few steps back while shaking off the pain.

    Meanwhile, Apollo closed the distance with the wolf demon and headbutted him in the face.

    Boom!

    The wolf demon''s body crashed into the wall causing a series of reverberating noises. However, despite the force of Apollo''s strike, he didn''t manage to destroy the wall that the demon was forced into.

    ''Quite sturdy,'' Apollo mused before making another sudden move. He leaned backward before nting his hands on the ground while simultaneously kicking his legs.

    Bang! Bang!

    Two muffled echoes sounded as he fended off the Ifrits who sessfully defended against his attacks. Though, while they managed to defend, both of them frowned after receiving that kick.

    "What a heavy attack," one of them murmured.

    Apollo was only one person, yet he was keeping three demons at bay simultaneously. Granted, this was only possible because of his passive skill attached to his improperly trained Acedia.

    With his slowed perception, he could read the rhythm of the battle much easier. Especially since their speed was about 5% slower than his own. This gave him more than enough time to formte a surefire route of retaliation.

    On the other hand, these three felt as if they were fighting a well-trained general. All of his actions neutralized their attacks beautifully.

    ''This guy has to be a talent. But where did he train? And, is he affiliated with any organization?'' the wolf demon wondered while cracking his neck and staring at Apollo with narrowed eyes.

    Rather than extorting him for his Fragment of Sins, the wolf demon started to fabricate other ns.

    Suddenly, Apollo spoke with a smug smirk, "If that''s the extent of your abilities then I''ll have to stay, there will be no wealth shared amongst us at all."

    Although his expression was infuriating, the wolf demon shook his head. "It''s useless. Stand down. He understands how to defend himself well. But, I''m wondering, are you willing to hear another offer? It''ll be much more appealing, perhaps, a spot in a stronghold if you''re unaffiliated?"

    It was faint, but Apollo smiled once he heard this offer. After all, what else would a stronghold seek if not wealth and strength?!

    ''A bright candle to not make the wrong judgment.''

 Chapter 402 - Inviting Chaos Into Ones Home

    ----

    Essentially, power and wealth went hand in hand. Sometimes, wealth was power, especially in a situation where only financial excellence prevailed. Other times, a wealth of power was needed. In Apollo''s case, he brought both factors to the table.

    And, after spending years within the Dakea Stronghold, this wolf demon understood the importance of acquiring both abilities. Therefore, he could only make Apollo the best offer he could muster¡ªthe ability to join the Dakea Stronghold.

    Although this was Apollo''s intention, that didn''t mean he would impulsively ept the offer. Making a move without much thought would make him seem desperate, not to mention a rookie as well.

    One of the cardinal rules of negotiation was to never ept the first offer because, more often than not, while it sounded sweet, the intricate details of the agreement benefited the one forming the contract the most.

    In this case, while the wolf demon''s offered sounded genuine, there were actually some attachments to it. For one, his standing in the stronghold wasn''t necessarily high. After all, he was a simple Greater Demon. ording to the information Apollo held, this stronghold possessed some Archdemons, or at the very least one.

    Additionally, Apollo was still an initial Greater Demon who was on the brink of entering the primary stages after absorbing Geneva''s energy. Yet, after feeling the aftershocks of their attacks, Apollo understood that these Greater Demons only ranged from the initial to primary range.

    Even then, it was a level of power that was capable of invoking Apollo''s shock.

    "Hoh? What makes this deal enticing? Is this an example of the ''if you can''t beat them, join them''? You want to cate my fury after being a nuisance now that you realize you can''t defeat me?" Apollo chuckled.

    He then continued, "If you can''t defeat me, then what good would joining your meager stronghold do for me?" Albeit harsh, Apollo''s words were correct. In the simplest of offers, it was general knowledge that one should leverage their benefits to make an enticing offer.

    In this demon''s case, he only said that it would be appealing, yet didn''t add any reasoning for it to be appealing.

    Be that as it may, the wolf demon looked at Apollo in shock, "I-I need to make the deal appealing? Are you not aware of the Dakea''s fame? This is public knowledge! Besides, I am a mere captain of 2. There are countless more who are stronger than me in the group. Don''t use my strength as a benchmark."

    "Hoh? Then why don''t you enlighten me? If you''re only a captain, what can you possibly offer me? Aren''t you just digging a deeper ditch for yourself? Are you even trying to recruit me?" Apollo sighed disappointedly.

    Again, the wolf demon started to stammer. ''Damn it! How isn''t this going well? But, I can''t lose this opportunity¡­ If I manage to recruit someone like then there''s a chance of me increasing my rank!''

    "Wait!" the wolf demon eximed. Finally, he thought of a deal that would be enticing to Apollo, "I can get you a meeting with the Vice-Commander! No¡­ the Commanders, to have them evaluate you. As the leader, one of them will be able to grant you a proper rank."

    Despite the offer, Apollo remained silent, simply looking at the demon with a distant expression.

    "If you''re not aware, they''re both genuine Archdemons! They''re the reason the stronghold produces as much renown as it does. I, Kadiun, swear by my Sin, that I tell no lies!"

    Internally, Apollo chuckled at this situation, ''Now who looks desperate. But, I think I''ve terrorized him long enough. I''m almost certain this is the lowest he would stoop. Any more and I''ll possibly jeopardize my chances of walking into the stronghold.''

    "Your Commanders you say? If that''s the case, then perhaps I peruse this offer. Before that, you''ll be able to extend that offer to others, right?"

    Apollo whistled, causing Jorgun and the others to appear from the shadows of the alleyway. While he was sure there was more than one, Kadiun didn''t know that there were three of them, so he was taken by surprise.

    Still, from what he sensed, each of these demons possessed some adequate abilities. So, he nodded in response to Apollo''s question, "I believe it''s possible."

    "Then lead the way," Apollo said before gesturing for Kadiun to take the lead. Despite knowing the route, Apollo couldn''t let that be known after his earlier disys of directional helplessness. That would only raise suspicions.

    Though, if he needed to, he could always make up an excuse about misdirecting them after learning of their presence. Still, it was too out of his way, so Apollo opted not to take on any additional tedious task.

    During that time, however, he ryed a message to Fuhrer. ''A route into the stronghold has been secured.''

    ''Understood, I will continue to scour the premises. As of right now, I have only located 3 Archdemons,'' Fuhrer responded.

    Apollo experienced a change of expression because of this information. ''Three? It was listed in the report that there was only two at most.''

    "Then the information you have acquired is wrong. My senses are not wrong. There are truly 3 Archdemons on the premises right now," Fuhrer revealed.

    ''Just await our arrival then,'' Apollo said before closing the link. He then issued orders to all of the other demons, giving them a set of coordinates to stake out. Once that was done, he then silently followed behind Kadiun and the two Ifrits.

    Unbeknownst to this trio, they were truly weing chaos into their home with open arms.

    ----

    Fuhrer analyzed the Dakea Stronghold silently while sticking to a single corner. While it wasn''t over crowed due to its spacious area, the foot traffic within this ce was noticeable. It wasparable to the many markets he passed while arriving at this ce.

    ''It seems they have taken advantage of all the benefits of this ce, even having some equipment on sale alongside adequate resources'' Fuhrer thought to himself. If he had to describe this ce, then a stronghold was simr to household, except the bonding agent, or rather the contract, wasn''t as dire.

    As long as one felt like it, then they could leave a stronghold at any given time while surrendering a fee. Of course, those with higher positions possessed a different variation of this contract.

    Some of them held sensitive information, so it was dangerous to let them go. In their case, it was identical to being contracted by a household. On the other hand, there were some teams who explored the unchartednds of Ashiraem in search of useful items.

    Not only would it benefit the stronghold, but it also presented the demons who chose to go on those journeys with the opportunities to grow stronger. Because, there were various undetermined encounters scattered around this ce. Especially in the ruins that were once thriving cities.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer felt a tap on his should, "Lieutenant Zirim! Shouldn''t you be at the bar attempting to snatch some skirts?"

    Fuhrer turned to see a demon dressed in identical armor sparing him a cheeky grin.

    "Uneventful," Fuhrer replied before returning to scanning the area. However, the same tap disrupted him yet again.

    "Uneventful?! Isn''t that half the fun, working to obtain that tail? It''s all about the adventure. Those were your words," the individual said yet again. This time, Fuhrer frowned slightly because not only was this individual''s breath horrid, but he didn''t understand the rtionship between Zirim and this fellow.

    So, each word spoken could potentially blow his cover. Therefore, Fuhrer narrowed his eyes at the person, "It was uneventful because it was too easy tonight. Perhaps I''m just getting unusually good at it. Because of that, it just didn''t feel... fulfilling tonight."

    For a moment, the demon nked but then punched Fuhrer''s shoulder whileughing uproariously, "Shucks, I get it, man! I wish had your looks. Then maybe I''d have a night like that."

    "Don''t count on it," Fuhrer shook his head while hiding his disgust. Eventually, the guy disappeared after annoying Fuhrer for a few moments longer. Once he left, Fuhrer shook his head, ''This generation has truly be simple. Is this their focus? If that''s the case, how would they react if they knew their safety was in jeopardy. Both from us and outside threats.''

    Fuhrer clicked his tongue before sighing and falling into a reverie of the glory days.. Since his job was done, all he needed to do was wait for Apollo and the others.

 Chapter 403 - Mayhem Awaits

    ----

    It wasn''t long before Apollo was brought before the front gates of the Dakea Stronghold. Since Kadiun was happy to lead him to this ce, he also brought him past the gates before looking towards the building located in the farthest depth of this territory. But, judging by its closed gates, Kadiun understood that the chances of Apollo meeting with one of those three right now were extremely slim.

    Typically, when the gates were closed, it meant neither of the three leaders wished to be disturbed. And, even though he was talented, extremely so, Kadiun wasn''t sure if he was enticing enough to disturb their established rules.

    "Errr, it would seem you''ll have to stick around to receive that meeting. But, as you can see, this area is outfitted with everything you may need. You can waitfortably without suffering a single loss."

    "Except time," Apollo said with a faint smile. Nevertheless, he wasn''t too interested in meeting up with any of the leaders just yet. Before that, he needed to find Fuhrer. Because while he knew the disguise he was wearing, the bustling area made it difficult to pinpoint his location.

    "That may be true, but obtaining the chance to join a stronghold of this level should be worth a small dy, at least. Don''t you think?" Kadiun said while nodding continuously.

    In response, Apollo shrugged, "More or less. Perhaps it''s possible, perhaps it''s not."

    Such an awkward response left Kadiun grimacing yet he didn''t know how to respond. Instead, he led Apollo to the lounge area of the stronghold before making himself sparse.

    While he offered Apollo this opportunity, he still needed to get it authorized, which required him to travel up themand chain. So, he sought out the higher-level Captains first before receiving their referral to talk with a lieutenant afterward.

    Eventually, he traveled far enough up themand chain toe in contact with the individuals who reported directly to themander and vicemanders.

    In the meantime, Apollo used his link to locate Fuhrer after a small hassle. "From your point of view, will this area suffice or no?"

    "It will have to. You''ve already sacrificed too many resources for the location to be in vain. At the very least, you''ll need to assumemand of at least a portion of it. However, going up against 3 Archdemons is a bit¡­"

    "Yes, it feels slightly out of our league," Apollo agreed. While he possessed adequate forces, the Archdemons were only the upper echelon of this stronghold. He still needed to take into ount the many demons that were employed by this stronghold.

    Hence, the most ideal situation would be to be swift and overpower the Archdemons before the individuals outside became aware of the situation at hand. However, doing some would require at least 3 people capable of dealing with an Archdemon as well as neutralizing their energy fluctuations.

    Outside of Fuhrer''s unusual strength, and Geneva being a genuine Archdemon, there were no others. Even if the others piled together, the change from a Greater Demon to an Archdemon wasn''t a simple equation of one plus one equals two.

    In this case, it wasn''t an addition but multiplication. Hence, why the admission for an Archdemon was at least 5 Fragment of Sins. Moreover, this only pertained to newly evolved ones. If their purity was too thick and their reservoirs deep, then the price would increase ordingly.

    "Perhaps you should have prepared more before making this move, but regrets don''t help the future. So let''s not dwell on it," Fuhrer said before continuing, "Besides, now that I think about it, there''s not much you could train."

    "Perhaps the annihtions, but even then they aren''t that difficult. Even now, I can feel the restraints over the 4th one dissipating quickly. It''s only a matter of time until I understand its properties," Apollo said.

    Besides the first three strikes, which were the Demonic Massacre Wave, Nether Severance, and Devouring Neb Strike, the fourth Annihtion was steadily showing signs of presenting itself.

    The only issue was the properties it entailed were still a mystery. However, based on how obscure the sensation was, something told Apollo that it wasn''t rted to a Sin at all.

    [Do you recall your special requirements for evolving into a true demon?]

    "Perfectly," Apollo responded. "It was the Demonic Conduct."

    [Precisely. Now, do you recall the names that Fuhrer revealed to you just hours ago?]

    "Why do I feel like you''re trampling upon my intelligence right now? That goes without saying!" Apollo said with a deepening frown.

    [Heh, rxd. I''m just giving you a hint. Piece the two discrepancies together with your current powers and you will unlock the mystery. Any more than that and I will be essentially spoonfeeding you.]

    Apollo clicked his tongue in annoyance, "That''s one thing I didn''t miss while you were asleep. Snide remarks."

    [I missed you too,d.]

    "Yeah, whatever," Apollo scoffed before directing his attention towards the middle of Ashiraem. Because, even now, the ripples originating from the Lord''s Tower persisted. What''s more, they continued to worsen every time a new ripple appeared.

    ''The Lords are facing off with the Monarch Candidates. But, the true question is whether this works in my favor or worsens the stakes for the Nihilistic Rings,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Despite the benefits of the situation turning progressively worse, Apollo also thought about the consequences of these actions. Especially, since he was ted to be the Monarch. But, what use was it bing the Monarch if the territory he ruled over was gued by endless destruction?

    Therefore, while keeping his short-term goals in mind, Apollo also started to formte some ns to increase his strength. One of which being an odd question. For this one, he produced a three-way connection between Fuhrer, Azridan, and himself.

    "I''ve heard you talk about Demons conquering worlds before. Does this practice still exist?"

    [It doesn''t need to still exist. You CAN be the practice.]

    "If you can open the Tartarean Doors on a wider scale, then you can effectively step between worlds without the help of the Portals of Doom," Fuhrer said, after giving the matter some thought.

    "Really now?" Apollo said with a delighted expression. A dark smile crept upon his lips as he nodded repeatedly. "If that''s the case, I have a target in mind. How much Ira is needed to open such a wide-scale?"

    "Approximately ten times the reserves of a standard Archdemon. So, 1 million units of Anima and Ira blended as one should suffice," Fuhrer estimated before revisiting his words, "Maybe less. We''re going by the old position. Either way, you''ll be able to sense when you''ve used enough."

    "You can exin the matter to me in detail when we reach that point. For now, I just needed to know if it was possible," Apollo said before averting his gaze from Fuhrer. Quite some time had passed, so he was relieved to see Kadiun walking his way.

    "Pardon the dy. It was truly a lot of footwork but I managed to get it done," Kadiun said before turning towards Fuhrer and giving a nod, "Captain Zirim."

    For a moment, Fuhrer nked, unable to return the greeting as he wasn''t aware of this demon''s name. Fortunately, Apollo was and delivered the message to Fuhrer.

    "Captain Kadiun," Fuhrer returned a nod.

    After exchanging their greetings, Kadiun led Apollo towards the center area of the stronghold. But, what no one noticed was Fuhrer slipping into the shadow and returning to his original form before turning into a shadow that flowed into Apollo''s mind.

    Now, he could be re-summoned at any given moment while in the presence of these leaders.

    ----

    ording to Apollo orders, Vc, Sapphyr, Geneva, and Furcas all waited in an inconspicuous corner outside of the stronghold. In addition to waiting for the right moment to strike, they were also monitoring the area for any anomalies.

    Because, just like them, there were bound to be individuals who thrived in mayhem. If that was the case, then they''d have to do their best to either cause a distraction or find a way to funnel the people inside towards the disturbance.

    Therefore, save for Geneva, who started to turn into an incorporeal ck me, the rest were tasked with staying in ce. Just like Fuhrer, she turned in a form that Apollo could call upon at any moment.

    In the meantime, Apollo finally entered the door that guarded the central area. But, what greeted him wasn''t what he presumed.

    ''Well, this isn''t what I expected.. Could it be a situation simr to Vc? Perhaps this is why the information was incorrect.''

 Chapter 404 - A Genuine Archdemon

    ----

    Apollo''s odd train of thought was caused by the sight that appeared before him. It was a demon in the form of a boy, norger than the size of Apollo back when he first acquired the Demon Monarch System. However, Apollo also noticed some astonishing aspects about the boy.

    For one, he possessed leonine features. It was more suited to call his hair a thick mane of fiery crimson locks. In fact, it was almost as if his hair wasposed of mes, but theck of flickering heat told Apollo otherwise.

    Additionally, the boy possessed golden eyes in the shape of a feline''s. But, golden eyes usually hinted at an affinity with Superbia. So, Apollo was instantly on high alert. ''A demon with dual Sins? If so, this will be a first.''

    Ignoring the fact that the Monarch Candidates possessed multifaceted Sins, this was the first time Apollo came in contact with the demon that could potentially wield two Sins. Therefore, that was enough for him to raise his guards. Even more so if this wasn''t the actualmander. That meant there were still two individuals stronger than this "child."

    "Kadiun tells me you are talented," the boyish demon said.

    "He is, Vice-Commander Arleo. I''ve experienced it firsthand. This individual is well versed inbat and it is as I said earlier. I believe he''ll be a strong addition to the organization," Kadiun instantly repeated. These were the same words he fed to Arleo before.

    However, Arleo simply spared Kadiun a nce before returning his attention to Apollo.

    ''Hoh? That''s some pride I see,'' Apollo inwardly thought while also answering the question, which was truthfully worded as a statement, "Perhaps. Though, I presume you''ll want to verify his ims for yourself."

    "It could be possible, but I don''t think it''d be a fair match-up at all. As you see, I''m an Archdemon, and you... well, you''re just not a match. But, perhaps you''ll fare well against a lieutenant here," Arleo responded with an uninterested wave of his hand.

    But, when it came to pride, Apollo was endowed with enough to rival anypetition, "If that was truly the case, then I don''t see anything special about bing an Archdemon. And, I only suggest you line me up against a lieutenant if you''re willing to lose them."

    "Hmph," Arleo harrumphed before forming a faint smile.

    Whoosh!

    A zing trail was left on the floor as Arleo teleported from where he stood. Although he moved extremely fast¡ªfast enough to even disrupt Apollo''snguished perception¡ªApollo didn''t just stand around.

    He raised his left arm at thest second, resulting in a deafening boom. A throbbing pain appeared on his arm, but he managed to guard the attack, nheless.

    "Perhaps you''re right. None of the lieutenants can guard this strike without making ample preparations. Still, not enough to warrant your bloated confidence," Arleo said while still midair with one leg extended.

    This pain was the product of a simple kick. One that wasn''t reinforced by Anima or Sin. Because of this, Apollo now understood the disparity between the evolutionary state. Especially for individuals who were tempered by more than one Sin.

    Despite their lengthier advancement times, they were stronger with the superimposed cleansing of purer energies.

    Still, Apollo had a few cards of his own to y. The earlier pain instantly disappeared as Apollo deepened the activation of his Infernal Arms of Damnation, bulking up his arms. Since Arleo was still within striking range, Apollo retaliated with a savage punch.

    But, Arleo used his free leg to kick Apollo''s fist. The rebound allowed him to create some decent space. And, a coat a raging Ira appeared around Arleo before he could touch the ground.

    Apollo now understood what fighting against a decent Archdemon meant because the rate at which he reacted with the ambient Ira was even faster than Apollo!

    "If you wish to join this stronghold and have a good position, then I won''t go easy on you," Arleo said, not even waiting for Apollo''s response as he formed an obscure hand seal and smashed his hand into the ground.

    A surge of Ira flooded the ground before traveling towards Apollo in a torrent. A ring then formed under his feet with a 3-meter radius while the temperature of the area around him rose exponentially.

    Without a thought, Apollo deepened his transformation. The Infernal Ira Stigmata thrummed with power as he resisted the magma that surged from the ground. While it was painful, Apollo burst through the walls of the geyser and dashed forward, which garnered some astonishment from Arleo.

    ''That''s a very strong stigmata he was. It seems like it has raised his capabilities by 50%. Sadly, that isn''t enough to close the gap between our evolutionary stages.''

    Suddenly, ming whiskers appeared on Arleo''s face as his expression turned savage. Additionally, a tail of mes trailed behind him. Compared to before, his speed skyrocketed before an exhausted of baffling heat apanied each of his movements.

    ''He''s only used Ira thus far, but it is potent. Should you attempt some techniques? Or do you want to reserve your energy?'' Fuhrer questioned.

    ''No need to reserve it,'' Apollo responded. A savage aura permeated his body as heunched an endless stream of Perfected Demonic Massacre Waves towards Arleo. However, his current power proved to be an issue as Apollo struggled to hit him despite his absurd fire rate.

    Still, Apollo focused even further, amplifying the torrent of savage waves once again. The spacing between each release was minute, making it hard for Arleo to close the distance, but he was intent on putting Apollo in his ce.

    "Waves of savage energy? I can do something simr," Arleo muttered before clenching his fist. A cluster of sharp energy enveloped his hand when he opened them, soon morphing into the image of lion ws.

    Identical to Apollo''s actions, Arleo zipped around while releasing a relentless barrage of infernal w strikes. However, to his surprise, Apollo''s attacks were much sturdier than they looked.

    It required some effort from Arleo to shatter them upon contact. Something that was unprecedented. It didn''t usually take so much energy for him to shatter an attack of a Greater Demon, much less one that was being mass-produced.

    Another thing he took note of was Apollo''s monstrous reserves. Firing over 200 such attacks in such a tiny window was simply unheard of. Granted, Arleo wasn''t aware that the system allowed Apollo to shorten the activation process as well as reduce the cost of his techniques.

    So, while it took others some time to gather their resource, Apollo''s activation and discharge experienced little to no dy at all, taking ce at virtually the same time.

    At this point, Apollo had already passed Arleo''s test. But he was curious as to where Apollo''s limits lied. Never would he have guessed that Apollo''s current actions were a prelude to what he had in store.

    Meanwhile, the doors to two small huts akin to a shrine opened to reveal two individuals. One was a demon with a middle-aged appearance with a thin physique that rivaled on the frail side. However, a lethal air swirled around him continuously¡ªit was an aura. It was just unknown what type it was.

    Conversely, the other individual was a middle-aged demon as well, except he possessed a burly physique with apparent signs of being burned present all over his body. It was evident that he dabbled with mes, and not just the Hellfire created by Ira.

    Simr to Geneva, Vc, and Sapphyr¡ªwho all possessed obscure mes¡ªthere were many types of mes present in the Nihilistic Rings. Hellfire was just the most essible, while also being the me with thergest potential for growth.

    "What a ruckus," the burly demon groaned. "A beautiful sleep just wasted¡­"

    "Rather than sleeping, shouldn''t you be needed elsewhere?" the thin archdemon countered.

    "Hah?! Why don''t you reveal what you were doing then?"

    "That is of none of your concern, Xonnomor," the thin demon said with a scoff.

    "Whatever you say, Gallmath. Still, what is the meaning of this fight? And who is this boy that I''ve never seen before? Could this perhaps be a recruitment session?" Xonnomor asked in thought.

    "Dunno, it''s quite possible. Though if you ask me, it''s getting kind of fierce. Isn''t Arleo a little too worked up, even activating that ability of his? Young, but still rough around the edges. Then again, I guess we should expect that from him," Gallmath added with a tired sigh.

    Obviously, Arleo was more of a handful than the others knew.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s attention turned towards these two new demons.. A ripple of darkness took ce before revealing two more demons, each bearing a level of power that put these neers on immediate alert.

 Chapter 405 - Disadvantageous Odds

    ----

    Fuhrer donned in his illustrious ck armor and Geneva dressed in an enthralling outfit which entuated her defined curves immediately caught the attention of the Archdemons. However, it wasn''t their attire that took them by surprise, but the method in which they appeared as well as the fluctuation of power rippling off of their bodies.

    Evidently, these two were neers and from their bodynguage, both Xonnomor and Gallmath could tell they appeared with the intentions of protecting the one currently inbat with Arleo.

    Still, they found this situation to be quite odd. Because, inside Ashiraem, seldom was a demon loyal to another that was weaker than them. There were only two reasons for this to happen, with one being mindlessly clear¡ªthey were loyal to a weaker demon because of their background.

    Whether it be family or perhaps affiliations, both of them were viable sources for gaining protection. And, it was the conventional route, since after achieving a notable level of strength, it was imperative to preserve the name of their household.

    Granted, this logic only existed for the already established households. The current order didn''t allow for this possibility since the state of their resource were already reaching rmingly scarce levels.

    Secondly, the protection was acquired with wealth; another typical strategy. But, from what these two sensed, the neer''s actions hinted at the former. It was obvious that they weren''t moved by material gain.

    After all, the Dakea Stronghold''s financial stability was within the top ten of all the strongholds listed within Ashiraem, yet they appeared before them with hostile intentions.

    "Should we be worried?" Xonnomor muttered while gazing towards Fuhrer. He locked eyes with him and didn''t recoil in the slightest. After years of tampering with countless mes, emotions weren''t something that could strike fear in Xonnomor''s heart.

    However, as the leader of a stronghold, he also needed to take into ount the safety of everyone present within these walls. Because, all that followed with a fight between Archdemons was carnage, especially when they moved on to wielding their sins.

    "That old man over there, while not an Archdemon, produces an extremely odd energy signature. It raises even more rm than the woman who is a genuine Archdemon. Isn''t that odd?" Gallmath voiced skeptically.

    Generally, it was almost impossible to find a Greater Demon whose aura outssed an Archdemon, but this was Fuhrer we were talking about. His mere existence remained outside the realm of reason. Besides, the aura they sensed was something outside of Fuhrer''s control.

    Due to his earlier action, his aura grew unstable frequently. This was all caused by his interaction with the Goliath. Unlike a regr demon, Fuhrer''s energy was special, so there were only two options when it came to reabsorbing it¡ªabsorb all of its remnants or none at all.

    If not, the results were his current situation; an aura that raged out of control on peculiar asions. After all, the energy attached to a Daemonic Soul was far too vtile for his current vessel to contain.

    Therefore, it had to release the excess energy to avoid any damage being done. Hence, the reason for his wild aura.

    "I believe battle is inevitable," Xonnomor said before extending his right hand to his side. A spark urred which soon turned into a rampaging inferno. However, this wasn''t an attack at all. The me soon dissipated to reveal an azure warhammer with silver etchings around the thick base.

    Despite its extremely heavy appearance, Xonnomor wielded its massive frame with a single arm.

    In response, Gallmath unsheathes a pair of twin swords with slender edges. Rather than appearing as a uniform weapon, the edge of his twin swords seems almost liquid. However, if it was liquid, how could he ever expect to cut something?

    As a result of their actions, Fuhrer unsheathed Brynhildr entirely, generating a gust of dark winds thatcerated the void. Just as his aura was unstable, Brynhildr reacted to the surge in his energy, restoring itself to 20% of its former glory.

    Immediately, both Xonnomor and Gallmath revealed solemn expressions. Admittedly, Fuhrer''s aura turned out to be more of a fright than previously assumed.

    "Do you have some sort of business here?" Xonnomor questioned while moving his gaze between Fuhrer and Geneva. Afterwards, he also looked towards the fight between Apollo and Arleo, which took an abrupt turn when Arleo decided to increase the frequency as well as the intensity of his attacks.

    At first, Fuhrer entertained the idea of assisting Apollo, but he decided against it when he noticed his expression. Although he was in a strenuous situation, Apollo seemed excited. At the same time, he hadn''t pulled out all the stops just yet. There were still a few actions hidden in his repertoire.

    "Business? I guess you can say that. Otherwise, we wouldn''t be here right now," Fuhrer responded before looking towards Geneva, "Which would you like to take?"

    "The thin one. The other one seems to be more of your opponent than mine," Geneva responded. Although it seemed like they were on par with each other, Xonnomor''s strength outssed Gallmath.

    While they decided to run the stronghold together, when it boiled down to the truth of the matter, then Xonnomor was the true master of the stronghold. However, split responsibilities were more convenient, as it allowed him to continue his exploration into the art he adored.

    "Very well," Fuhrer nodded. ''Hopefully, this matter is resolved in a way that doesn''t escte any further.'' After this thought, Fuhrer rushed forward at lightning speed while holding Brynhildr in a horizontal position.

    Simultaneously, Geneva''s wings opened and took to the skies, approaching Gallmath from high above.

    ''Decisive,'' Gallmath thought before preparing to engage. The liquid surface on weapons erupted as heunched a ranged attack towards Geneva. Three wisps of crimson energy morphed into pythons seeking to swallow Geneva.

    However, how could she allow the battle to be over so quickly? While the attack was strong, it wasn''t beyond Geneva''s capabilities. Typically, she chose to y around with her Luxuria, but not in this case.

    She chose to use Ira to retaliate. Because of her variant race, both her affinity for Luxuria and Ira was identical. Thus, she could also use them interchangeably. For the initial attack, she pped her wings to produce a tempest of infernal winds.

    Gallmath''s expression tensed when he sensed the strength of her attack. ording to his senses, Geneva''s was only an initial Archdemon, yet her strike was on par with his, which was the attack dealt by a primary Archdemon!

    After reaching the Archdemon state, the disparity between the small stages was at least 3 times greater that the differences found in a Greater Demon''s distinctions.

    Therefore, Gallmath was forced to take this matter seriously. A cold expression appeared as several crimson yet tattered cloths encased his body, covering him from head to toe except for his eyes.

    Whoosh!

    A st of terrifying heat assaulted the area as he stepped on warped air, traveling closer to Geneva in an instant. At this stage, whether a demon possessed wings or not was inconsequential. As long as they were strong enough, then they could employ techniques to match the advantage of a winged demon.

    A yful smile appeared across Geneva''s lips as she drifted to the side, summoning a whip made of Hellfire. The tip crackled as sheshed it towards Gallmath, who deflected the strike with a swing of his weapon.

    "Oooh~ So strong," Geneva giggled before waving her arm with even more vigor. The results were her whip moving at a momentum that caused numerous afterimages. To deal with her attack, Gallmath employed a movement technique that caused his image to flicker between her strikes.

    Obviously, his thin physique wasn''t just for show. His redeeming quality was his speed. Whenpared to Geneva, he was much faster than her. But, his speed was achieved at the expense of adequate weight behind his strikes.

    So, whenever Geneva increased the strength behind her attack, Gallmath''s movement stalled for a moment. Since this urred more than once, Geneva took note of this matter.

    ----

    Apollo''s breaths grew heavy as he continued to fend off Arleo''s heated assault. Admittedly, this battle was much more difficult than he presumed. The divide between a Greater Demon and an Archdemon was not something he could ovee through the use of one sin alone.

    Therefore, Apollo entertained the idea of activating the usages of another sin. After all, during the spar with Typhir, he learned that activating two stigmata at once, while putting an immense strain on his body, elevated his strength to shocking heights.

    Perhaps if he used this course of action, he would be able to at least be on par with Arleo. On the other hand, he also started to entertain other ideas. For example, the Noble Art that Fuhrer had once discussed with him.

    Unfortunately, Apollo''s worst fears wereing true.. The atmosphere outside seemed to be riled up, but he was too focused on the matter at hand to pry into the reason linked to this change.

 Chapter 406 - Unknown Intruder Intervenes

    ----

    Inside the Lord''s Tower within Ashiraem just minutes before¡­

    At this point, the situation between the Monarch Candidates and the Lords devolved to the lowest possible point. The initial situation only involved Saehtyn and Lucifer retaliating against them, but now even the other 5 joined it.

    Yet, to their dismay, their introduction to the battle didn''t go as nned. Despite it turning to a 7 against 4, the Lords failed to gain the upper hand. In fact, just as every Sin was present on the Lords'' side, the same remained true for the Monarch Candidates.

    "As I said, mere fakes! Overwhelming numbers yet underwhelming performance," Irzanach sneered. For every move the Lords made, he possessed a counter. It was almost as if he had made ample preparations for this development.

    Meanwhile, Lucifer continued to grow increasingly frustrated as time went on. "Damn it! Just what is going on? Where is their sudden increase in powering from? It wasn''t like thisst time we met!"

    "I don''t know," Saehtyn responded with a solemn expression. Even he felt the weight of this battle because not only was he forced to utilize his specially forged ax that could only be wielded after inciting its properties with Purgatory Blood, but he even entered his Complete Iraym From.

    Compared to Apollo''s form, which had yet to mature, Saehtyn''s current appearance was essentially a ming monster. Everything¡ªhis hair, eyebrows, horns¡ªthey were all engulfed by incinerating mes.

    Furthermore, this form increased his regenerative abilities by many folds, yet there were injuries present on his body. Admittedly, someone spurred a horrifying increase in strength for their opponents.

    ''I don''t get it. They barely outssed us before, yet they''re now able to overpower us effortlessly? Although he says our power is waning¡­ I don''t feel it. Outside of the inability to search, I don''t sense a decline in my strength. It''s exactly the same,'' Saehtyn thought while furiously gazing at Irzanach and his minions.

    It was infuriating to admit, but Saehtyn sensed that today could mark the end for the Lords, as he knew it. After all, aside from these seven, there were no other demons of this era who possessed a mastery on par with them.

    Even the collective strength of the council paled inparison to these seven. So, if they couldn''t ovee this situation, then their chances were simply dismal.

    "Dammit! Just let me devour everything! We can all just perish together, hahaha!" Belphegor burst into maniacalughter while opening his mouth. A pit of darkness appeared in his mouth as an intense suction force pulled on everyone in the room.

    However, Xynthos presented a savage smile before dashing towards Belphegor with a sh of ck lightning. A scorch mark appeared on the floor as he smiled at Belphegor, "Why don''t you shut up you gluttonous buffoon. Tell me if you''re still hungry after you eat this!"

    Boom!

    A confounding echo reverberated ruthlessly throughout Saehtyn''s throne room as Belphegor stared at Xynthos in shock. Aside from the pain he felt, this was the first time that someone managed to get so close while resisting the attraction force of his ability to devour mercilessly!

    On top of that, Belphegor came to realize that he lost all control of his jaw. That earlier strike possessed an rming amount of condensed Anima, strong enough to inflict absurd amounts of damage on a Lord.

    Instinctively, the other Lords created some space between those four. It seemed like the longer they fought, therger the advantage of the opposing side became. If it continued at this rate, then it was only a matter of time until the Lords failed to protect themselves altogether.

    "You see, I offered you a way out numerous times, yet you refused to take it. Only you are to me. Likewise, there need not be a ce for you fakes in the new order anyway. You''re an eyesore and I might as well get rid of you all," Irzanach said before his hand.

    Steadily, an orb appeared in the center of his palm. But,pared to the attraction birthed by Belphegor''s actions, the one Irzanach controlled at this moment was at least two times stronger! Tense expressions appeared on the Lord''s faces as they looked at each other.

    In addition to sensing a ghastly power at the depths of that force, they could also sense their connection with the Sins wavering. Obviously, Irzanach intended to cut off their connection to their pools of strength.

    All of a sudden, Irzanach released the tiny orb towards the center of the seven Lords. And once it reached the correct position, it expanded. But, it stopped abruptly, and it wasn''t due to Irzanach''s action. Even he suffered from a change of expression.

    ''Hmm?!''

    Irzanach''s eyes narrowed as he analyzed the orb. The properties were fine. It just seemed like it was being contained by an overbearing force. However, no matter how much he inspected it, he couldn''t trace the source of this force.

    That was until everyone heard footsteps ricochet throughout the halls of the throne room. However, a neer at this point in time should be impossible.

    Irzanach had sealed all exits before making his grand entrance. Needless to say, he came heremitted to achieving some results.

    "Argh," An irritated grunt echoed throughout the corridors. "I know this stench anywhere, you fuck. I have a bone to pick with you!"

    Despite the signs of irritation, it was evident that no one recognized this voice due to their clueless expression. Regardless, even if they weren''t familiar with this mysterious neer, the Lords took the opportunity they were given to recoup themselves.

    A cracking noise repeated continually as Belphegor fixed his jaw with a disgruntled frown, "That hurt dammit!"

    All of a sudden, the voice sounded again, "Oi! Are ya deaf, or are you just ignoring me? I said have a damned bone to pick with you!"

    Whoosh!

    A surge of destructive energy inundated the throne room, destroying the orb before it could devour any further. From this disy, Irzanach''s expression experienced an unsightly change.

    ''Who could possibly be strong enough to disrupt my attack like that?!'' Irzanach wondered with a tense expression. Unless that was an attack using all of their strength, then Irzanach felt something was amiss.

    There was no way that there was a demon alive who could possibly dispel his attack so easily.

    Finally, the neer''s appearance came into sight. It was a middle-aged demon with a seething expression as he panned his sights throughout the entire floor. However, it gradually changed to one of disappointment as he found not a single familiar face.

    "Is this some kind of joke?!" He bellowed angrily while pointing at Irzanach, "You. Just where did you obtain that power?!"

    "And, who might you be?" Irzanach answered with a question.

    Regrettably, it seemed as if this particr demon didn''t appreciate his response. Two frighteninglyrge warhammers that seemed to be a staggering blend of a hammer and a battle ax appeared in the demon''s grasp.

    "That''s how you want to y it? Very well. I''ll just beat the information out of you because I am severely disappointed and my day is now ruined!"

    Suddenly, Xynthos made a move, rushing towards this demon while moving at shocking speeds. But, despite his velocity, the demon just chuckled.

    First, he kicked the air before him. A wave of destructive energy interspersed with faint bits of Ira deluged the area right before him, intending to swallow Xynthos. And, from what he sensed, this feeling was corrected.

    Hence, Xynthos dodged to the side. However, the attacker expected this of him and was already next to him when he dodged.

    "Worthless," he snorted. In the next moment, both of his warhammers connected with Xynthos'' ribs before catapulting him into a wall.

    "Damn useless demons. Do none of you know how to fight anymore? Fuck, this is irritating. Know what. I''ve decided to do so after all. I should just kill all of you since you''ve gotten on my, Asteroth''s nerves!"

    That''s right, the neer was in fact the demon was traveled to Ashiraem after sensing Apollo''s act of reestablishing the Dominus Household. What brought him here were the unusual signatures of Irzanach andpany.

    At first, he thought it to be the culprit of the activation. However, upon closer inspection, Asteroth came to realize that this was just some iplete replica, which evidently left him furious.

    So, he opted for the next best option¡ªunleash his frustrations by killing the ones who gave him a false impression.

    On the other hand, Irzanach understood that Asteroth was serious about his ims.

 Chapter 407 - Atmosphere Disturbed By Chaos

    ----

    Asteroth didn''t wait for the reply of his foes. Instead, he advanced towards them with heavy steps that caused the ground to shudder. At the same time, he pounded his hammers against the ground, creating a trail of magma-spewing geysers.

    Within seconds, a thinyer of magma formed along the surface, yet Asteroth found the disturbing heat to befortable. "Ah, sing my babies~"

    Whoosh!

    The next pound caused a torrent of spears made of magma tounch in all directions. Each of them carried a destructive aura on par with the same tactic used to dispel Irzanach''s earlier strike. If any of these spearsnded on their target, then the amount of damage inflicted would be nothing short of catastrophic.

    So, Irzanach prepared a tripleyered barrier made solely from Ira to defend against this attack. Meanwhile, the other three used various means to defend themselves.

    But, all their actions did was gain Asteroth''s amusement. "The standard of us demons has truly fallen. But, that''s to be expected when you are no longer gued by horrifying conditions. The need to be immutable disappears as you growcent."

    Disappointed by what he saw, Asteroth could only shake his head. This time, he lightly tapped his hammer against the ground, causing all the magma to vibrate. It then started to seethe before forming the maw of a gigantic dragon.

    Of course, it wasn''t real and was only a mere image. Regardless, the dread produced by Asteroth''s actions was real. His aura of destruction was far too potent, affecting even those who weren''t targeted by the attack.

    In the next moment, the dragon''s mouth crashed down on Irzanach and the rest, creating a bubbling pool of smoldering magma. The waves crashed against the walls of the room before folding back on Asteroth''s targets.

    In the meantime, Asteroth slung one of the warhammers over his shoulder while shaking his head derisively, "How could I have mistaken your pitiful identity? I am truly stupid. But, that''s my blunder. I could''ve remained asleep for all this trouble."

    As if a reaction to being called pitiful, a bestial roar sounded from within the pool of roiling magma right before Irzanach burst through it. A small change urred as the spurs that were previously obsidian in color were now golden.

    Furthermore, Irzanach''s previously silver hair turned pitch-ck. Obviously, he was forced to desperate straights as he was now tapping into a power that intrigued Asteroth.

    "Hoh? So you do have some rtion to him after all. Heh," Asteorth chuckled. But after his small chuckle came a bizarre sight. Two extremelyrge wings nearly three times the size of his body appeared behind Asteorth as he cracked his neck.

    "Ah, when was thest time I''vee across the opportunity to let loose? Don''t disappoint me. It''ll be a shame if you don''t even manage to survive even 3 blows."

    With a p of his wings, Asteroth turned into a blur while moving at insane speeds. At this point, the actions he employed escaped the realm of both Archdemons or a Noblesse. Although Fuhrer revealed Asteroth to only be an Earl, his power was extremely special.

    It was simply destruction¡ªan aura produced by many demons., But in Asteroth''s case, he took that power a step further, managing to use it as a base and have his sin augment it.

    This was the opposite of the usual direction of power. The general usage was to set your Sin as the base and use your determined aura to augment it. Although it locked the property of your energy, it was the easiest one to increase one''s strength.

    Yet, Asteroth traveled a divergent path, using destruction as his foundation. As a result, the number of destructive sources he gathered was innumerable. Furthermore, most of them were gathered during times of war.

    It was the most opportune time for him to understand everything about the power he sought. But, seeking that power also caused him to devolve into an irrational person, even more so than the Sin of Ira could.

    As for his current realm of power, it was obscure. Evolution-wise, he reverted to an Archdemon, but power-wise, he was more lethal than that as shown by his disy. Plus, his experience inbat was gained from going against the Kings and Fuhrer.

    Opponents which made Irzanach seem inferior when evaluatedparatively.

    However, Irzanach was also nothing to scoff at now that he had dropped all restraints. He had activated the fragment obtained from the Monarch''s test. And, the fragment he received was centered around Superbia.

    Unfortunately, activating this now meant he wouldn''t be able to do so for quite some time. But, the repercussion was worth it because it was either this or forfeiting his life and thetter wasn''t within his intentions.

    There were only a few seconds remaining in this form for Irzanach, so he needed to make them count.

    Before making his move, Irzanach agitated every morsel of Superbia essible to him. Not only did the effectiveness of his actions increase by twenty percent, but the possibilities he could unleash with this Sin expanded as well.

    But, at this point, he only had one goal in mind¡ªsurvival.

    While he made his preparations, Asteroth''s first strike came. It was a simple smash, but the force behind it was capable of obliterating all obstructive objects. Despite dodging this attack, Irzanach was left in shock.

    This was because the entire floor now possessed a gaping hole as a result of his strike. It had to be known that despite their extensive fight, the pirs and floor barely suffered any damage, yet Asteroth managed to absolutely demolish it in one hit.

    "Oh?! Only rats scurry about. You''ve epted a fragment of his strength, yet you''re still a rat? The Monarch would be disappointed to learn of his power being used like this," Asteroth snorted before immediately following up with another attack.

    Apart from the action of swinging his hammer, two clusters of destructive energy imitated the path of his attack. If itnded on Irzanach, then he would undoubtedly perish.

    Fortunately for him, he had finished all preparations. A giant ck halberd emanating a bright golden light materialized above Irzanach''s head before gaining an intense spiral. shes of golden crackles urred as the two destructive clusters approached the halberd.

    At thest moment, Irzanach released this attack. For an instant, there was only silence. Not a single sound could be heard. It was reminiscent of the calm before a storm. Then, in a fraction of a second, a cataclysmic sound erupted.

    The aftershock was so disastrous; it blew the entire wall off the tower! There was now a gaping hole in the side of the tower since a panel was gone. Plus, the tower was unable to contain the collision, allowing a powerful wave of obscure energy to hurtle through Firaria and even most of Ashiraem.

    Naturally, the sight of arge hole in addition to a bizarre ripple plunged Ashiraem into a state of shock. During this time, even the upants of the Dakea Stronghold rushed out of their confines to learn more about the situation.

    Instead of shying away from danger and uncertainty, the denizens of Ashiraem flocked towards it without fail.

    On the other hand, Asteroth remained in the throne room with a visible frown. Not because of the damage done, but because neither Irzanach nor the other three could be found. They escaped in the mayhem caused by the otherwise unsightly collision.

    "Tch, what a pussy. Running at the first sight of fighting a losing battle. If I ever get my hands on you again... you won''t have the chance to run," Asteroth grumbled while relinquishing his two weapons. At the same time, his vicious aura receded before turning towards the others who stared at him in shock. Especially Lucifer.

    ''It''s the same feeling again¡­ it''s like this demon doesn''t belong to our era. I can''t exin, but I''m certain now. We, Lords, have no jurisdiction over this sort of character.''

    ----

    Meanwhile, Apollo decided to unleash his full strength without restraints. The substantial movement and Fuhrer''s information gave him all the incentive needed to advance with his intentions. While the crimson hue of his Infernal Ira Stigmata remained, the golden hue of the Dauntless Superbia Stigmata was added as well.

    The introduction of this energy caused Apollo''s next strike to sessfully push back Arleo. But, rather than being surprised by Apollo''s ability to push him back, he was more focused on the presence of this second sin!

    ''He''s like me! Two sins. Though, the fact he can use them simultaneously and on equal levels is shocking. In my case, it''s a little different.''

    Since Apollo activated these two sins, Arleo waspelled to reciprocate these actions.

 Chapter 408 - Fear Created By An Unprecented Power

    ----

    "Roarrgh," Arleo released a bestial roar as a tinge of golden light permeated his crimson aura. However, inparison to his crimson aura, the appearance of the golden hue was faint. Admittedly, the difference between his two attainments in Sins was great, or at least that''s the impression his actions gave.

    While it wasn''t as exaggerated as he made it seem, the reason for the unequal proportions was due to Arleo''s fears. After all, he had attempted to use both of his Sins simultaneously once before. But, the result was unsatisfactory, to say the least.

    As Fuhrer revealed once before, using two Sins at once was dangerous without a sufficient medium. Especially when it came to two hyperactive Sins like Ira and Superbia. Abustion would ur if they slipped past the boundary that forbade them froming in contact with one another.

    s, Arleo wasn''t privy to this information back then. He attempted to wield his two Sins simultaneously and his actions resulted in a devastating oue. The incident forced him to be bedridden for a month while his two Sin Vessels recuperated. However, he was lucky because most demons who attempted that feat possessed substantial Sin volume.

    The deeper the reserves, the stronger thebustion. But, as a young demon, Arleo''s Sin volume at the time was insignificant, so the result was only being damaged and not death.

    Fortunately, Arleo learned from his mistakes. Furthermore, the mistake gave him some insight into the rtionship between sins. Although they were antagonistic, there was an improper way to bypass their vtile behavior and preserve the safety of one''s Sin Vessels.

    As long as he didn''t allow the supplemental sin to be in equal parts, then the chances of abustion urring reduced greatly. And, even if it took ce, the diluted ratio resulted in a bearable shockwave.

    Therefore, Arleo was willing to take this chance against Apollo, because with his current state, the chances of thebustion happen was next to zero as long as he monitored the two outputs closely. Not only was it to show that he wasn''t inferior, possessing dual sins of his own, but Apollo''s usage also gave Arleo some inspiration.

    ''I can feel it. Although his Sins are being used equally, they aren''t blended. This must mean he is sparing a substantial amount of mental strength to keep them at bay. That, or he''s aware of some secret to make dual utilization simplistic,'' Arleo thought to himself.

    He wasn''t sure of Apollo''s tactics, but he was sure that someone of Apollo''s talent wouldn''t recklessly endanger themselves just to prove a point in a small evaluation. At least, that''s what he thought until he realized that he harbored even greater intentions.

    Finally, Arleo''s aura climbed to a new height as a tinge of gold ovepped his already terrifyingly sharp ws. The change caused a sense of dread to pulsate in Apollo''s mind.

    ''That isn''t something I''d like to suffer an attack from,'' Apollo thought. As a precaution, Apollo agitated arge portion of the energy within his Sin Vessels.

    ?System: ?Diabolic Heart? is being stimted.?

    ?System: ?Dauntless Vertebrae? is being stimted.?

    ?System: ?Dual Partial Transformation? activated.?

    As they sounded, a Sin Vessel was in short the organs of a demon that were optimized to contain Sin. In Apollo''s case, each of his Sin Vessels were indicated by the cement of his stigmata''s core.

    So, in addition to activating his stigmata, Apollo once again took on the mixed form of a Suprana and Iraym. The divided form took the Archdemons of the Dakea Stronghold by surprise. After all, each of his forms were a rarity in this day and age. So witnessing a demon unleash both forms and do so in such an odd way was a baffling sight.

    Regrettably, neither Xonnomor nor Gallmath could spare this matter too much attention, as Fuhrer and Geneva were more than just worth adversaries.

    However, they didn''t need to. Arleo alone disyed enough shock from everybody present. After all, he was the one closest to the spectacle. Besides, being so close allowed him to sense something else.

    "What¡­ Isn''t this aura practically on par with an Archdemon?!" Arleo muttered with widened eyes. As revealed when he used this form on Vc, the simultaneous effects from both forms causes Apollo''s strength to receive a sizable increase in Apollo''s strength.

    In fact, just his strength alone increased by 50%!

    In other words, while in this form, Apollo''s strength was close to 3,000. Not too far from equaling an Archdemon at its peak levels.

    All of a sudden, Apollo''s powerful change resonated with Arleo''s innate thirst for battle. A sharp glint appeared in his eyes while his intrigued smile exposed his amplified fangs.

    Bang!

    An explosive noise urred as Arleo performed a mad dash towards Apollo. The previous notion of limiting the damage done to the strongholdpletely escaped Arleo''s thoughts as he destroyed the ground as a result of his actions.

    His rapid eleration caused him to turn into a blur of crimson-gold before appearing before Apollo with a wild visage. Additionally, the ws surrounding his open hand seemed to grow two timesrger as he floated before Apollo for a moment.

    In response, Apollo''s eyes narrowed as a sharp aura billowed from his body. Immediately, Apollo switched from using the Demonic Massacre Wave to using the potent attack power of a Nether Severance.

    An absurd sh took ce, followed by a whirlwind of malevolently sharp aura that splintered everywhere. Although this was one of Apollo''s strongest attacks, it wasn''t enough to overpower Arleo.

    Fortunately, although it wasn''t enough to overpower him, that didn''t mean he suffered a loss in this exchange either. To Arleo''s surprise, the two attacks neutralized each other, granting neither side any advantage.

    Still, Arleo was shocked by the oue as well as Apollo''s ability, ''Wasn''t the preparation of that attack a little too quick for a Greater Demon? That convergence rate was identical to mine¡­ How odd.''

    Afterward, the two shed numerous times with neither side able to capitalize on openings.

    Therefore, the more he fought against Apollo, the more Arleo found himself being intrigued by Apollo''s existence. Perfect utilization of Sin without forcing a cataclysmicbustion, and now a movement rate of energy on par with an initial Archdemon.

    It was simply unprecedented!

    Though he was shocked, Arleo didn''t forget to throw in a surprise attack by conjuring another strike before Apollo could recover from theirst shes. Unlike Apollo, who gathered himself to execute the Nether Severance, Arleo wasn''t using an additional technique.

    These ws were simply an innate technique that consumed his supply of Sin Energy continuously without any extra invocation. Depending on the intensity of the stream provided, the ws could either be stronger or weaker.

    But, what Arleo didn''t know was that Apollo didn''t need a period to gather his energy either. As long as Apollo achieved a certain mastery of a technique, the system stored the information and granted Apollo the ability to invoke instant execution.

    In short, Apollo possessed a type of cheat code, but it was only essible if Apollo proved he deserved that privilege bypleting the requirements.

    Therefore, when Arleounched yet another w attack, Apollo retaliated with another Nether Severance, producing an identical effect, except this time Apollo finally used the aftereffects of the collision to create some room.

    ''Despite my unique perception, I''m just barely keeping up with his movements,'' Apollo thought to himself. Afterward, Apollo''s expression became solemn as a third and then fourth energy leaked from his body. They both carried faint traces of omnipotence and desire.

    For a moment, Arleo felt a sense of dread apanied by reverence, but this was quickly shaken off. Still, that short instant was enough to raise some awareness. ''What type of power is this?''

    Unlike the ancient demons, there were some demons who weren''t privy to the usage of auras since it was a practice used to envelop Sin. Plus, it was a path introduced to the demons by the Monarchs.

    But, with the remnants of his practices being scarce, knowledge about these matters was limited. Especially for young demons such as Arleo, who learned all they knew from instinct as well as trial and error.

    Just as Asteroth stated before, the standards of the demon suffered immensely over time. As of now, if they werepared to the other 3 upper races, their ce as the contenders for the strongest would undoubtedly be revoked.

    Not to mention, Apollo''s current actions of employing over four energy produced pure fear!

 Chapter 409 - Experiencing The Devouring Nebula

    ----

    Fear of the unknown was a typical reaction produced by the inability to understand what the eyes witnessed. Generally, such a fear was attributed to knowledge, or theck thereof. Hence, the reason Arleo felt fear towards Apollo''s feats.

    Meanwhile, the appearance of Apollo''s additional powers caused a notable change in his demeanor. Since evolving, this was truly his first proper usage of his domination properties in battle. Though he used them against Vc, it was more so the suppression of the system since Vc was his follower.

    On the other hand, his current foes were unaffiliated to Apollo. So the fact they felt this fear meant that his transformation and newly acquired traits amplified his powers to now affect all demons alike. Meaning it was strong enough to now produce fear in demons who were susceptible to his power.

    Even if they didn''t feel fear towards Apollo because of his unimpressive state, since this ability he used was one that belonged to the demon''s highest effect, they recoil regardless. It was an aftereffect of the origin.

    And, from what Apollo could tell, the current limitation of the ability was based on its target''s evolutionary state.

    On the other hand, Apollo smiled when he saw Arleo''s instinctive reaction. "I will show you something interesting," Apollo imed with a small smirk before unfurling his wings. As they did so, the fourth power he revealed experienced a sudden influx.

    But, Apollo restrained it to external usage only. As of right now, using two Sins to augment his personal strength was Apollo''s absolute limit. Therefore, any additional Sins could only be used to affect his surroundings or opponent directly, otherwise, his other Sins would risk being disrupted by his oblivious actions.

    Nevertheless, just the idea of possessing a third Sin and being apple to release it produced even deeper fear in not just Arleo, but Xonnomor and Gallmath alike. After all, it was a power that was inconceivable to them!

    "Now. Let''s resume our real battle," Apollo said before flying directly towards Arleo. While doing so, he extended his palm and created a dark hole at its center.

    A strong attractive force attempted to pull Arleo toward Apollo, but his ws dug into the ground, allowing him to remain rooted in ce. Although that was the case, the drag of Apollo''s attack was too much to ignore.

    In response to Apollo''s attack, Arleo was finally forced to use a demonic technique. The image of a crimson lion with a tinge of golden lights interspersed throughout its body appeared. Once it was fully materialized, it pounced towards Apollo, intending to rip him to shreds or, at the very least, disrupt his attack that continued to increase.

    Regrettably, Arleo wasn''t aware of the true properties of the small sphere in Apollo''s palm. As soon as the lion formed from Arleo''s technique entered Apollo''s range, its form started to be progressively unstable.

    Even if he wished to retrieve his attack, Arleo''s actions were already irreversible as they had fallen into Apollo''s clutches.

    He could only watch as the lion was first broken down into two distinct sources before being absorbed by the sphere in Apollo''s palm. While watching this, Arleo became aware of one appalling matter.

    This match was extremely unfair! Apollo was employing the unholy trinity. A triple usage of Ira, Superbia, and now G!

    ''He''s not stronger than I am... but he perfectly counteracts my strengths with this assortment of abilities,'' Arleo thought after witnessing this rather appalling turn of events. Since Apollo possessed the same exact Sins as he did, it allowed him to devour the energy used to power his techniques.

    This was why Saehtyn loathed Belphegor. His endless devouring was a trait that almost every Lord despised. However, in Apollo''s hands, it became an even worse tool. Because while Belphegor possessed an absurd devouring threshold, it was still a limit at the end of the day.

    The closer he inched towards that limit, the more dire it was for him to expel that energy, whereas Apollo didn''t possess this issue. The difference remained in the orientation of their sins. Each example highlighted the pros and cons of G.

    Yes, it was an extremely convenient ability to be able to devour energy as a safety measure, but that was only true if the devouring had a purpose. In Belphegor''s case, it rarely did.

    He just devoured for the sake of doing it. But, even then, his limit while immense was finite. Sooner orter, he would be forced to regurgitate what he devoured. Especially if it was other Sins. Aside from devouring, G didn''t have any other ability.

    It couldn''t covert other Sins into G, so by him devouring their attacks, all Belphegor did was iste their attacks in hopes of exhausting his enemy''s Sin reserves before he reached his devouring capacity.

    Fortunately, aside from the other Lords, there weren''t many demons who could challenge his limits. So, since bing a Lord, he was never forced to discharge his isted chasm. Despite that, however, Belphegor was aware that he possessed a limit even as a Lord.

    Meanwhile, this same limitation didn''t gue Apollo''s actions. Because, his devouring wasn''t restricted to just devouring his opponent''s power and isting it elsewhere, he used his Sin Vessel otherwise known as Sinful Organs to extract the energy and channel it towards the respective sources.

    In other words, Apollo effectively turned his opponent''s power into his own strength. But, while he didn''t possess the same restraints as Belphegor, he still possessed some limitations, nheless. For example, the attack he absorbed couldn''t be too overwhelming or the devouring process would shatter outright.

    So, if he was to go up against a peak Archdemon or perhaps a Noblesse, then Apollo would still end up in a hopeless situation if Fuhrer wasn''t allowed to render aid. Hence, while he was strong, he was far from omnipotent, and Apollo understood that.

    Be that as it may, his actions were still unprecedented for his foe. Watching as someone absorbed your attack was a situation capable of making one feel hopeless. Even more so after witnessing Apollo''s next actions.

    "Fly," Apollo uttered while raising his hand towards Arleo. The same energy that he absorbed was then turned into an attack of his own in the form of numerous spears beforeunching towards Arleo.

    The sheer number of projectiles heading towards him caused Arleo''s eyes to widen in shock before turning into a grim expression. He could tell that although one of the spears wasn''t lethal enough to inflict fatal damage, if too many of them made contact, then his already unfair circumstances would devolve even further.

    As a result, Arleo waved his arms frantically, deflecting the spears as best he could. However, simr to his earlier disy with the Demonic Massacre Wace, Apollo unleashed these spears in a nonstop torrent.

    At first, it cost none of his own Sin reserves as he was simply expending what he absorbed from Arleo, but his wanton usage caused Apollo to quickly start exhausting his own Sin, which made his actions more cautious.

    Although the upper hand was his, in a battle where even the most trivial of mistakes could turn the tide, he couldn''t afford to make a mistake for Arleo to capitalize on. He continued to monitor the situation as he watched Arleo move at a savage pace to deflect all the spears without fail.

    But, Arleo performing this action also gave Apollo the opportunity to gather needed resources for the Devouring Neb Strike. Unlike the other two Annihtions, his mastery of this technique wasn''t sufficient to unlock the instant activation variant.

    So, he was required to manually channel his G. But seeing as it was a Sin he possessed a high affinity for, it didn''t take any time at all for him to gather a substantial amountrge enough to empower the technique.

    By the time he finished his actions, Arleo had just dealt with thest strike only to bear witness as Apollo unleashed an even more terrifying strike. Unlike the rest, this strike hurtling towards him produced an unmitigated sense of dread.

    If it made contact, the damage he suffered would be immense!

    "Tch," Arleo clicked his tongue when he realized he could barely move despite his intention to do so. The strongest trait of the Devouring Neb was its ability to first root its target in ce and then draw them in without fail.

    Even if it didn''t utterly destroy its target, the energy used to employ the strike was powerful enough to unleash brutal injuries.

    Arleo''s eyes narrowed as he entertained a dangerous thought. However, he wasn''t left with many options besides the idea running through his mind.. Gradually, the golden color within his aura grew stronger, symbolizing the increase of his Superbia output.

 Chapter 410 - The Dominus Households Calling

    ----

    Initially, Arleo''s current thoughts were something that he wouldn''t entertain because of its heinous drawback, but his current situation didn''t allow for many other options. So, regardless of the consequences, Arleo''s thoughts continued to gain some attractiveness in his mind.

    After all, the number of abilities Apollo revealed was simply too shocking. It was to the point that it generated some envious emotions from Arleo. Most of his efforts were performed to unearth a proper way to wield his Sin, yet his opponent did so effortlessly.

    Such a development was capable of producing jealousy within anyone if their efforts were painstaking enough.

    ''I''ve long since learned that life is full of unfair advantages as well as disadvantages. But, I''ve worked too hard to have my efforts be insignificant now. Therefore, we''ll just have to settle for mutual destruction,'' Arleo thought.

    A secondter, his expression became increasingly savage.. Not only was it because he had convinced himself to unleash a brutal attack, but also because the strike Apollounched at him continued to gain momentum while absorbing the ambient Ira.

    Although it was a strike strictly based on G, Apollo''s unique bloodline allowed for some anomalies. One of which being that most of his strikes, if centered on a single sin, could adopt faint properties of another.

    However, this was easiest for G, as the core of its power was only to devour. Unlike the others, which influenced their users to reject the remaining Sins, G didn''t. It sought to swallow everything and to do so, it would need to be impartial.

    Hence, it was free to manipte, albeit notpletely.

    Apollo couldn''t manipte the inherent property of G, he could only determine the action that happened afterward, whether it be feeding the devoured strength to another attack, or simply being absorbed by his vessels.

    Still, the ability to control the momentum of a battle in such a way turned Apollo into a daunting opponent. Imagine investing your entire strength into an attack, only to have it redirected towards you due to an overpowered ability¡ªthis was Arleo''s current gripe with Apollo''s existence.

    It was unbnced for anyone near his power level.

    Therefore, Arleo was forced to entertain some severe actions. He understood what they meant, but at this point, taking a direct hit from Apollo''s bizarre attack was just as dangerous. After all, the Devouring Neb was an attack created by the Old Monarch, so it wasn''t something that just any demon could withstand.

    It required an extremely strong demon body to receive the strike and survive with minimal damage sustained, something that Arleo didn''t possess. At best, Arleo''s demon body was slightly above the standard of a normal Archdemon.

    Because of his past mistake, Arleo put off the process of engraving a second stigmata on himself. He was too afraid of the possible dire consequences of doing so. Therefore, his body, while stronger than the typical version of his current state, wasn''t at its full potential.

    The only way to rectify that issue was to ovee his fear. But, gaining that opportunity required him to survive Apollo''s attack. Thus, he opted to achieve mutual destruction at the very least as he felt the likelihood of surviving would be slim at best.

    ''Sure, you can absorb my Sin Energy while separate, but I doubt you can do so after they intertwine,'' Arleo thought with a heavy expression. Although he had decided to move forward with his actions, he still felt a shred of apprehension, causing him to stall his decisive attack.

    For a moment, he started to second guess his decision. But, once he felt the unbelievable attraction force of the Devouring Neb, all of his worries immediately dissipated.

    Regardless, in the brief moment of his pause, Apollo sensed Arleo''s action with a frighteningly cold expression. The Demonic Anima in his body surged before mixing with a dense cluster of Tenebrous Winds.

    ?System: ?Umbra Phantom Mantle? is being empowered by the ?Monarch''s Tenebrosity?!?

    Suddenly, Apollo''s movements escted to a new realm of agility as he felt the threat of Arleo''s actions. A ck line careened across space as Apollo''s body phased from the position he stood.

    Whoosh!

    Not only did Apollo''s movement cause an appalling wave of darkness to billow outwards, but an eerie noise apanied his movement as he advanced towards Arleo''s breakneck speed.

    ''The wail of the shadows,'' Fuhrer muttered as recognized that noise anywhere. It was a cry produced when even darkness felt fear towards the being that entered it. Once someone aimed to covet his life, then Apollo was no longer merciful.

    A sanguine thirst for murder surfaced from the depths of Apollo''s soul.

    Bang!

    Apollounched a fierce punch towards Arleo, who managed to narrowly dodge the blow. However, despite his sessful dodge, his expression changed when he noticed the unsettling change in Apollo. His body leaked an ominous intent as he obliterated the floor with his attack.

    Since he dropped all pretenses with causing destruction, Apollounched some devastating attacks. But, seeing as he was initially inferior to Arleo when it came to speed and strength, Apollo''s dreadful attacks failed to connect.

    Be that as it may, it did aplish his second purpose. By causing Arleo to remain on edge, his rate at stimting his Superbia suffered a drastic decrease.

    ''It''s like fight against a beast,'' Arleo thought with a frown. Even his own bestial actions weren''t as savage as the way Apollo unleashed haphazard attacks.

    Apollo''s cold gaze shifted towards Arleo who remained wary of him, "Is that fear I sense from you? Good, despair."

    All of a sudden, Arleo''s eyes widened as he made an immediate retreat from where he stood. His sense of danger birthed from his animalistic instincts released a potent signal.

    As soon as he moved, two desposed of pitch-ck energy collided with each other before shattering. Shards of extremely sharp energy exploded everywhere, causing some wounds to appear on Arleo''s upper body.

    As the fight went on, it was bing increasingly dangerous.

    Once he realized this fact, Arleo made a desperate move. After bing an Archdemon, the first thing to experience a change was one''s affinity with their Sin. As a result, if the conditions were right, it allowed an Archdemon to augment their absorption rate.

    Conversely, this allowed for the opposite as well.

    Arleo''s eyes narrowed as he watched Apollo rush towards him at an absurd speed. An abrupt change took ce as therge ws formed from a constant influx of Sin vibrated before experiencing a collection of cracks.

    The cracks were initially tiny, but that changes in an instant once they started to emit gaseous Sin signatures as well as a near blinding light.

    By the time Apollo sensed the imminent danger, it was toote. A bright glimmer of crimson-gold filled his sights.

    BOOOM!!

    A shocking explosion urred and Apollo suffered the consequences at point-nk range.

    Meanwhile, the other fights taking ce stopped after feeling the aftershock of the catastrophic explosion.

    Whether it be water, stone, nts, or nearby armors, everything within a 20-meter radius was disintegrated. Fortunately, although those things were decimated, two bodies remained unmoving within an immense crater formed by the explosion.

    "The stronghold¡­" Xonnomor muttered with an incredulous expression. His first worry wasn''t for the safety of the ones involved in the explosion, but for the current state of the stronghold''s condition!

    Xonnomor nked as he started at the untold damages done to the territory. But, calling what urred in this area damage would be an understatement. It was simply destruction!

    Meanwhile, a sweltering fury billowed from Fuhrer''s body as heid eyes upon Apollo''s unmoving body. Even the void threatened to copse after experiencing the overbearing suppressive from spilling from Fuhrer''s body. "Young Lord!"

    "I should have taken control of this situation from the beginning. Even if it endangers you all who have fallen from glory, if it is the Young Lord''s will, then I shall enforce it," Fuhrer said before slowly lifting his sword towards Xonnomor''s direction.

    Despite being over 10 meters away, a trickle of blood seeped down his throat as half of Brynhildr became invisible.

    "What is this?" Xonnomor muttered as he felt a horrifying energy holding his throat hostage. Although Apollo said no killing, Fuhrer struggled to refrain from iming this demon''s head.

    Suddenly, Apollo''s hand twitched inside of the crater as his eyes shot open with a bloodied light. A pained groan gurgled in his throat as he stood up. Because he was at the epicenter of the st, most of his chest and torso were singed by the st, revealing a shocking amount of charred flesh.

    However, it seen fell off as the crimson gem embedded at the top of Apollo''s chest pulsated with boundless vitality. Since Ashiraem was a ce filled with infernal energy, this item could activate its special effect at any given moment.

    In this case, Apollo activated that now. This was one of the reasons Apollo didn''t despair over the st. Right before it hit him, the first wave of healing energy rushed through his body.

    Nevertheless, its properties didn''t quell the fury in Apollo''s eyes. A ruthless expression causing even Fuhrer to recoil appeared on Apollo''s face.

    "It''s a terrible habit to go against one''s word. Yes, I know I said I wouldn''t cause a raucous. But, I''ve changed my mind. If the Lord''s forces were alerted, they would''ve arrived by now. Therefore..."

    After a short pause, Apollo uttered his next words in a frigid tone, colder than the depths of the Netherworld, "Dominus Household... Devastate!"

    Ssszzh!

    Apollo''s order caused a sea of shadowy embers to coalesce into many figures standing behind Apollo. Each of them bore frightening expressions, especially Vc and Typhir.

 Chapter 411 - A Gruesome Brawl, Inflicting Punishment (I)

    ----

    The abrupt appearance of multiple demons shrouded in an unfamiliar dark energy shocked both Xonnomor and Gallmath. Although all of the neers were only Lesser and Greater Demons, that didn''t take away from the fact that they appeared from seemingly nowhere, almost as if they were summoned!

    ''Could that be possible? Is there really a demon that can summon other demons? Isn''t that too much of a convenient ability? If so, there should definitely be some type of limiting factor,'' Gallmath thought with a solemn expression.

    While the situation appeared manageable from the start, it was devolving quickly. So much so that Gallmath abandoned his fight with Geneva to retreat towards Xonnomor, who stood in ce with aplex expression.

    "Why the face?" Gallmath questioned while sparing Xonnomor a nce. From his words, it was apparent that just like his partner, he couldn''t sense the dreadful energy circting around Xonnomor''s neck.

    ''What type of energy is this for even Gallmath whose instincts surpass even my own to fail to sense its presence,'' Xonnomor wondered while staring at Fuhrer but then immediately shifting his gaze towards Apollo. ''Did I read the situation wrong? Are they in fact following his orders? If so¡­''

    "Your purpose ining here, what is it? Surely, you don''t mean to raze the ce to the ground. I don''t sense any opposing insignia from you, so there is no enmity," Xonnomor questioned while looking directly towards Apollo..

    Since his initial guess was wrong, after watching Apollo summoned nearly a dozen demons, Xonnomor understood that this demonic youth was truly their leader. And, based on his expression, he had fallen into a maddened rage.

    "Survive this assault and perhaps you will learn my motives," Apollo said in an ice-cold voice while covering his closing wound with his hand. However, once he touched it, an odd situation urred.

    It was faint and almost an inconsequential amount, but there was genuine Purgatory Blood pulsating from Apollo''s hand. With a simple swipe, he thrust the mes towards both Xonnomor and Gallmath, whose eyes constricted to the size of needles.

    An intense wave of danger inundated their minds, causing them to split apart from each other. Four drops of Purgatory Bloodnded where they once stood, burning ghastly holes in the floor.

    But, their retreat, while effective at dodging Apollo''s stroke, caused Xonnomor to suffer a deep gash on his neck. Fortunately, Gallmath walked away unscathed.

    Still, the vitality of an Archdemon was not to be underestimated. Although Xonnomor''s expression contorted from the painful sensation, the wound of his neck healed at a visible rate once a thick screen of Ira coated his body.

    "If that''s how it will be, then we won''t go down without a fight," Xonnomor said before cing a second hand on his gargantuan hammer. An exuberant aura burst from his body as his aura fluctuated wildly, creating a crimson tempest.

    In response, Fuhrer chuckled, "Foolish."

    The same aura from instants before began to leak from Fuhrer''s body, but Apollo''s voice sounded in his head.

    "Don''t use that power yet. We can''t afford the consequences. At most, I''ll allow you all to utterly destroy this ce, but we can''t expose ourselves to that degree."

    "Understood, Young Lord," Fuhrer obliged before retracting that aura. Every time he did so, he risked the chance of weakening the Nihilistic Rings defense even further. Although he was furious, this was something that Apollo just couldn''t condone because it wasn''t worth it.

    Initially, Apollo didn''t wish to destroy this ce as he was now. His original ns were to have Fuhrer overwhelm the weaker Archdemon, while he and Geneva took care of the other side. This way, he could force them into submitting to refrain from causing too much damage.

    Because, it was listed in the reports that the leader of this stronghold held too much care for this ce with bear witness to any wanton destruction. However, that scenario was discarded once he learned of the third Archdemon. His priority after learning of that information was to devise a n capable of taking that Archdemon out of the equation.

    But, the safety of his subordinates was something he didn''t want to risk. So, Apollo was forced to challenge his current abilities. Since most demons were restricted to one Sin, his first thought was to overwhelm his opponent with the plethora of Sins at his disposal.

    It worked, but Apollo didn''t ount for the suicidal attack that he was struck with. Because Arleo used it, it provoked Apollo to ignore the rational decisions made. Any shred of hesitation he held towards producing mass destruction dissipated instantly, causing the situation to go awry for the leaders of the Dakea Stronghold.

    Therefore, the initial three vs. three evolved into an all-out brawl. The first two to take the lead in the assault were Typhir and Vc. Although they were both only Greater Demons, they far more furious inparison to the others.

    For Vc, it was because of his willful action of entering Adamantine Servitude, but Typhir''s reason wasn''t as forced. Learning of Apollo''s condition produced a strong reaction from Typhir, provoking him to release his unbridled fury in the form of a terrifying aura.

    After all, out of all of Apollo''s followers, Typhir held the strongest loyalty, even more than the system could instill. It was simply in his nature even before he became a demon.

    During the time in the academy as well as the Dark Ruins Labyrinth, Typhir disyed extremely high levels of loyalty, even going as far as to render aid despite theck of benefit. So, once he appeared and sensed the situation, he rushed towards the nearest enemy while holding his greatsword horizontally.

    Typhir''s expression darkened immensely as he rushed towards Xonnomor. While he could tell from therge disparity in their aura that he wasn''t a match for this opponent, Typhir wasn''t worried about this matter.

    Because, Vc rushed alongside him with aparatively cold expression. Moreover, he revealed his second transformation from the beginning, taking this fight seriously.

    Not to mention, as this was a brawl, all of Apollo''s minions rushed towards the fight, not giving the other side the chance to retaliate properly.

    Meanwhile, Apollo turned his attention towards the unconscious Arleo stillying in the center of the crater. Although he was the cause of the st, he didn''t die from the strike. True, he was severely wounded, but Apollo could still sense powerful signs of life from him.

    ''I guess it pays to be an Archdemon,'' Apollo thought to himself while calmly walking towards Arleo. A cluster of Ira appeared in his hand before forming into a short sword that emanated a truly ominous presence.

    Both Xonnomor and Gallmath''s eyes widened when they noticed Apollo''s actions.

    Did he intend to kill him!?

    Without a word, Apollo lifted his hand over Arleo''s body, causing a strong force to lift him from the ground and draw him into Apollo''s grasp. Quietly, he looked at the bloodied features of Arleo, contemting what he should do with this demon.

    From what he sensed, Arleo wasn''t much older than he was, speaking volumes of his potential as he was already an Archdemon. However, despite how attractive his potential may be, his earlier actions were a threat to Apollo''s life.

    Therefore, Apollo was unsure as to whether he should simply kill this individual or find a way to milk his usage to the fullest extent. While doing so, Apollo''s hand subconsciously tightened around Arleo''s neck causing him to react.

    His eyes fluttered weakly before barely opening. His gaze was distant, but he summoned enough strength to realize that Apollo''s condition was much better than his. Instantly, he understood how things could possibly turn out.

    "Kill...me. Are you...going to kill me?"

    "Haven''t decided yet. It''s possible," Apollo answered in a stoic tone. The more he looked at Arleo the more his expression change from one of rage to one where all signs of emotion vanished.

    Then, a thought surfaced in Apollo''s mind, ''Strength is what I need, so let''s test something.''

    Wrrmmm!

    An odd and almost eerie humming noise lingered from the short sword in Apollo''s hand as he touched it against Arleo''s sternum. At first, there was little to no reaction, but then like a broken dam, a crimson stream gushed from Arleo''s chest.

    Compared to just moments before where Arleo barely clung to consciousness, his eyes were now wide open as he realized what Apollo was doing.

    "No!" Arleo scowled while trying to force away Apollo''s hand. Unfortunately, the strength that he sacrificed for thest attack made it so he couldn''t escape Apollo''s clutches.

 Chapter 412 - A Gruesome Brawl, Inflicting Punishment (II)

    ----

    Arleo''s eyes widened and his mental rity returned as soon as he realized what Apollo was doing! An excruciating pain swept through his body as his personal Ira was being forcefully extracted.

    Unlike a Greater Demon where only the vessel was augmented, evolving into an Archdemon meant the demon was required to meld their Infernal Nucleus and/or Tainted Temple with their body. In others words, their entire vessel became the container to hold their energy.

    Simrly, this meant that the pain would increase exponentially if it were ever to be extracted. Because, the Anima and Sin Energy didn''t just exist within their Sinful Organ and other independent containers anymore, it permeated their flesh and bones.

    So, Apollo manipting his G to extract the Ira from Arleo''s body generated absurd amounts of pain. But, he couldn''t scream out loud due to Apollo''s tight grasp on his throat. Admittedly, it seemed this was Apollo''s purpose for doing so.

    "You don''t necessarily have to die, but I certainly have to be ruthless," Apollo voiced with an unsettlingly calm smile. It was as if the fear in Arleo''s eyes didn''t bother Apollo one bit.. In fact, Apollo stared directly into his eyes as an incorporeal figure made from Ira departed from Arleo''s body.

    It was identical to his shape, except itcked any type of defining features. It was just a cluster of Ira, albeit not up to Apollo''s standards just yet. Despite unleashing such a devastating attack, Arleo still possessed a surprising amount of Sin Energy remaining in his body.

    At Apollo''s current rate, extracting enough of Arleo''s Ira to warrant punishment would take at least 5 minutes. However, after ample testing, Apollo found that actively restoring his reserves only took him 50 seconds when uninterrupted.

    Yet, it would take nearly six times that just to extract the remainder of Arleo''s Sin.

    Granted, this was vital Sin essence and not just energy used for fueling attacks. In other words, it was the purified Sin that facilitated his evolution. If it were to be extracted, there were bound to be untold consequences, perhaps even devolving back to a Greater Demon.

    Upon realizing just what Apollo was absorbing, Arleo wed at Apollo''s hand frantically, aiming to escape his grasp. After all, the greatest humiliation for a demon was not only to lose to someone weaker than them, but to be forced to experience the torture of devolving.

    Sadly, no matter how much Arleo wed, he couldn''t get Apollo to release him. On the contrary, his hand tightened, causing Arleo to nearly lose consciousness.

    "ept your punishment for it is inevitable," Apollo stated slowly, speaking each word in a clear tone.

    BOOM!

    Before Arleo could continue his actions, Apollo mmed his body into the center of the crater. As a result, a secondary pit formed in the crater''s core. Afterward, Apollo lifted Arleo''s twitching body with a callous expression.

    "Let''s prevent any further interference," Apollo said. The frighteningly sharp aura of the Nether Severance appeared around his free hand before taking on the form of a de as Apollo manipted it.

    In addition to that aura, Apollo pulled an even more heinous move by funneling some of Arleo''s Ira into this strike, creating a thinyer of sweltering energy around the hastily formed de.

    Still, it was more than strong enough to serve its purpose.

    Apollo pressed the de against Arleo''s stomach before thrusting it forward at an appallingly slow rate. Arleo felt every movement as the de punctured his flesh without much resistance. Then, it made contact with his spine.

    "I have faith in your ability to heal. You''ll just be out ofmission for a while," Apollo said with a light chuckle before thrusting his hand forward, effectively severing Arleo''s spine.

    As a result, his limbs went limp without the constantmand of his brain. Furthermore, without his earlier resistance, Apollo continued to extract the energy.

    ?System Alert: Extracting a source of Sin of higher purity.?

    ?System Alert: Amount exceeds your current limits.?

    ?System Alert: The determined amount has been reduced to the devouring threshold]. [Estimated Time Remaining: 4 minutes, 44 seconds.]?

    Apollo read the notifications before nodding. ''So it is indeed possible. But, there''s a limit to it. Perhaps the system doesn''t want me to weaken our race too greatly. Though, I don''t intend to.''

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, as Apollo dealt with Arleo, the situation with the rest of his subordinates bordered on pure animosity. On one side, Jorgun, Vc, Fuhrer and Typhir teamed up to absolutely pummel Xonnomor.

    Whenever one of themnded a strike that Xonnomor blocked, another would pop up at the best position possible and unleash a ruthless strike. And, since these four were the most violent of Apollo''s subordinates, their methods were rather rming.

    For example, Jorgun ripped off Xonnomor''s arm after Fuhrer''s unsurpassed swordsmanship nearly severed it in one stroke. And, unlike Arleo, Xonnomor was of a single Sin, so the option to unleash a suicidal attack escaped his grasp.

    Conversely, Gallmath''s state was no better. His opponents were the remaining Geneva, Sapphyr, Furcas, and Zarkath. And for their first even group brawl, their teamwork was phenomenal. Granted, it was all due to Furcas'' intrusion.

    Unlike the other three, he didn''t physically enter the fight. Instead, he stayed at a distance while employing his inscription circle to create a formation. As Gallmath was a demon focused on speed, Furcas was a terrifying opponent for him to go against.

    He telegraphed the movements of Geneva, Zarkath, and Sapphyr to seal off all routes of retreat. And, his special practice allowed him to gleam theplete scope of Gallmath''s actions before he could even employ them.

    As a result, Gallmath''s expression darkened greatly. Especially after sensing the odd mes in Sapphyr''s possession, ''Just how did we end up in such a situation?''

    "Watch out. He is bing desperate, but his movements won''t be sloppy," Furcas warned. He could tell that Gallmath was the type that exceeded his usual limits when put under pressure.

    Especially since he managed to reduce the damage he received while battling against 3 demons simultaneously. Although only 1 of them posed any real initial threat, the instruction of Furcas'' urate judgment turned them all into potentially fatal adversaries.

    Suddenly, Zarkath mmed his palms against the ground, which caused a stream of Ira to rush towards Gallmath before creating a ring around him. A secondter, over a dozen Infernal Ramparts rose from the ground, forming a prison.

    Seeing this moment as an opportunity, Sapphyr stabbed her rapier forward. A st originating from a tiny sphere at the end of her de engulfed the interior of the Infernal Ramparts in dense ck me.

    Although they were only summoned for a moment, the walls formed by the ramparts started to shake. Numerous cracks appeared at the center of one specific rampart. Although Zarkath provided an extra influx of Ira, the cracks appeared faster than he could repair them.

    Soon enough, it shattered, revealing Gallmath, whose body was engulfed in persistent ck me. His frenzied and bloodshot eyes stared at Sapphyr before rushing towards her at breakneck speeds.

    Unfortunately, this wasn''t a fight involving two single parties.

    Geneva intercepted his mad dash, forcing Gallmath to block a strong kick at thest moment.

    "Don''t bully my little girl, or I''ll have to bully you~ You want me to be nice, don''t you?" Geneva giggled, but there was a cold gleam in her eyes as she looked at Gallmath. The former state of Apollo appeared in her mind, and as Arleo''srade, she felt he deserved punishment.

    "Your benevolence is something I''ll have to refuse," Gallmath said while clicking his tongue. Anyone could tell from Geneva''s tone that her words didn''t match her intentions.

    Suddenly, a horrifying collision was heard as Gallmath''s eyes widened while looking at the horrifying sight before his feet. The battered state of Xonnomor entered his eyes as almost half of his body possessed some gruesome holes.

    It hadn''t even been 2 minutes since the start of the fight, yet Xonnomor was left in such a dreadful state. That''s when Gallmath understood something. He dropped his weapons while looking at the rest of the demons who closed on his position with a slow yet menacing gait.

    This was an unwinnable fight! If he didn''t surrender, then his state would be no better than Xonnomor, because this bunch of demons was merciless!

    "I surrender," Gallmath uttered while dropping to his knees before looking down at Xonnomor''s gruesome wounds.

    "That isn''t your decision. You''ll have to take that up with my Lord," Typhir uttered before striking his sword downward. It made it as far as right before Gallmath''s forehead before stopping suddenly, as if he had received an order.

 Chapter 413 - A Little Surprise

    ----

    "Stand down, Typhir. Any more and it''ll encroach on a new set of ns," Apollo said from afar, causing Typhir to instantly lower his de. Although Apollo''s back was turned towards his followers, he sensed their general actions as he finished up the remainder of absorbing Arleo''s Ira.''

    For a moment, Apollo also entertained draining some of his Superbia as well, but after sensing the purity of it, Apollo decided against doing so. Sure, it would have given a slight boost seeing as it was from an Archdemon, but Apollo also learned from the system that absorbing purity near his own would only result in a near negligible gain.

    Besides, when the process neared the end of his actions, it revealed more in-depth information about his actions..

    ?System: The current ?Endless Devouring? faces limits.?

    ¡¸Endless Devouring - *Unique Ability

    Rank: *Greater

    Information: The unique ability of the highest granted by the engraving of the fable stigmata of gluttony¡ªthe Voracious G Stigmata. At its purest, nothing can escape the endless devouring of G.

    Effect: Allows you to devour Sin Energy rted to your affinities to use at your discretion. (Sin Purity determines the limit.)¡¹

    ?System: Using ?Endless Devouring? on your own kind is restricted to absorbing up 25% of their vital Sin.?

    Apollo nced at thest message before looking away. While 25% of their vital seemed insignificant, it wasn''t. Because, even Arleo, whose evolution as an Archdemon was meager, possessed a Sin Reserve at least 6 times deeper than Apollo.

    Although Apollo was unsure just how vast his own was, to possess 6 times greater volume already told Apollo of the disparity between an Archdemon and a Greater Demon. The difference came from using the entire body as a body.

    Hence, Apollo felt an even greater respect for Fuhrer when he recalled how easily he could restrain one if he intended to do so.

    Suddenly, Apollo''s attention was stimted by a message he overlooked.

    ?System: Sin bearing a unique marker can''t be absorbed repeatedly. [Cooldown between repeated ?Endless Devouring? on the same target: 1 year.]?

    ''A year? Just as I thought, the system truly doesn''t want me to drain my kind dry. With that being said, it says nothing about the Primal Sources themselves, so perhaps those can be exclusively mine,'' Apollo thought before once again dismissing the notification.

    Seeing as he didn''t intend to bleed anyone dry, he didn''t see that as much of a restriction. Besides, there was an immediate workaround and Apollo noticed it. ''I don''t have to target one when I can target all.''

    Finally, Apollo extracted the entire 25% of Arleo''s Ira and gazed at its tantalizing appearance. Sadly, he didn''t marvel for much longer before opening his mouth and greedily devouring the essence with a delighted smile.

    "Tastier than he was annoying. It works out, I suppose," Apollo said before dropping Arleo''s body.

    ?System: Ira''s Purity has risen greatly.?

    ?System: Unique Archdemon essence has been absorbed. [+5.00% to Evolution Meter.]?

    ?System: +5% to Strength Attribute & +50% Demonic Anima Reserves.?

    After reading these messages, Apollo understood even further why the system didn''t wish for him to devour the same target endlessly. Some of the benefits acquired couldn''t be absorbed a second time.

    For example, the fact the systembeled the essence as unique meant that it had been registered. Trying to absorb the same essence again wouldn''t reward any benefit whatsoever. However, the enticing gains of this absorption led Apollo to view Xonnomor and Gallmath as nothing more than a juicy source.

    He appeared before them in an instant with an intrigued expression, "Did I hear you say you surrender?" Apollo asked while tilting Gallmath''s chin up towards him. As he did so, he could see the hatred embedded within Gallmath''s gaze.

    But, he was astute, so he didn''t voice his displeasure, especially since both Typhir and Fuhrer stood by Apollo''s side with their hands on their weapons.

    "I have. It is an inevitable oue. And, seeing as how you all didn''t kill Xonnomor, I''m guessing you feel we have a use," Gallmath replied. However, there was also fear in his eyes as he noticed a grave change in Arleo.

    ''Did¡­ did he forcefully revert Arleo to a Greater Demon? If that''s true, then that earlier Sin was in fact G,'' Gallmath inwardly thought.

    "Good. Then, tell me. Do you feel I should im my spoils of war?" Apollo asked with a mischievous chuckle before squatting in front of Gallmath. His transformation gradually reverted to his pure Iraym Form as he analyzed Gallmath''s behavior.

    Gallmath shuddered for a moment while looking into Apollo''s eyes, but he also understood that Apollo was simply toying with him. Now, his only question was should he humor him or not. Needless to say, he made a wise choice.

    "Perhaps. As beings of conquering, shouldn''t we always im our spoils of war?" Gallmath answered.

    In return, Apollo smiled while holding out both of his hands, "Good, but about that. My spoils aren''t just limited to you all. I want... everything," Apollo said with a rapacious look in his eyes before creating two bizarre forces yet again.

    Compared to the Ira that came out of Arleo, the Ira escaping from Gallmath was approximately 3 times denser, whereas Xonnomor was even more shocking¡ªmore than 4 times greater, but not quite 5 times as much.

    And, because Apollo gained experience in the extraction process, it was more than seamless than the prior one. There was more pain, however, it was quicker inparison.

    Within 4 minutes, another stream of notifications filled Apollo''s view as he devoured their vital Sin simultaneously, except this time, there was an additional reward.

    ?System: +15 Levels. All Attributes +15% [Current Level: 175]?

    ?System: Ira''s Purity has risen to Late and is locked as a result.?

    ?System: 2 Unique Archdemon Essence absorbed. [+17.00% to Evolution Meter.]?

    ?System: +22.5% Strength Attribute, +17% Agility, +125% Demonic Anima Reserves.?

    ''The absorption of the Endless Devouring outsses the system by arge margin. But, it also seems that I have caused my Ira progress to be locked. I guess my physique as a Greater Demon doesn''t permit going beyond this level,'' Apollo sighed before shaking his head.

    "Young Lord, have you¡­ just made their Ira your own?" Fuhrer questioned with an odd expression. Truth be told, he didn''t expect Apollo to understand G to this extent. Even more so when it came to this unique ability.

    Granted, Fuhrer was unaware that Apollo was simply following the progression path the system left for him.

    "Yes," Apollo nodded before observing these two. Unlike Arleo, these two were still genuine Archdemons. Their evolution was too far along to revert from just having a quarter of their vital Sin absorbed.

    Regardless, despite retaining their evolutionary state, all their progress was lost! Both Gallmath and Xonnomor exuded auras only on par with Arleo''s earlier strength. Although it was painful to experience, Gallmath felt it was better than death.

    As long as he was alive, then there was a chance to regain his strength. However, he also recalled something Apollo just said, "Did you say you want it all? As in¡­ you want to take this stronghold from us?"

    "Precisely," Apollo nodded with a nonchnt attitude.

    But, from Gallmath''s expression, there seemed to be something on his mind. Because of this, Apollo narrowed his eyes, "If there''s someone concerning reveal it."

    "Well, how should I say this? This stronghold isn''t¡­ ours. We don''t have the right to bestow it upon you," Gallmath said before tapping his fingers on Xonnomor''s forehead, causing his eyes to jerk with a deep gasp.

    Pain wracked his body, but since he was already missing an arm and was used to excruciating pain, he didn''t fret over the feeling. Instead, he frowned when he sifted through the information from Gallmath.

    "This stronghold belongs to the Royal Faction. And, if you take it from us, an envoy or a few will appear in a matter of days. It''s happened before," Xonnomor revealed.

    Meanwhile, Vc had a change in expression when he heard this, "Wait a minute. Why does this sound familiar? I recall an identical situation happening in Suprenis!"

    "Did you say Suprenis? Excuse me, but are you talking about the stronghold previously manned by Tirasha?" Xonnomor questioned with a worried tone.

    "Tirasha? What of her?" Apollo''s expression became one of surprise as he heard a demon from Ashiraem uttered the name of someone from apletely different Ring. "And, don''t you mean currently? I reestablished her reign."

    "W-what?! You have news pertaining to my younger sister?!" Xonnomor eximed with a widened expression.

    Conversely, Apollo smirked when he heard some surprising news.

    ''Sister?'' Now, this was something worthwhile.

 Chapter 414 - Ruthless But Reasonable

    ----

    The slightest mention of Xonnomor having a sister intrigued Apollo, much less one who he had already run into once before. Although it was revealed earlier that she was a demon from the Royal Faction, who employed various means to keep their seat in the current council, Apollo didn''t realize just how important she was.

    So, for Xonnomor to produce such useful information now, was much more relevant than he understood. It allowed Apollo to begin formting his ns for Suprenis as well. Ashiraem was merely the start.

    Of the avable choices, it was the Ring that could reward the quickest growth as well as the one he was most familiar with.

    Ever sinceing here and deepening his connection with his first Sin, thoughts of ruling this ce circted Apollo''s mind frequently. Now, since he wasing into power, it was possible for him to act on those impulses.

    As a result, Apollo took a few steps closer to the two weakened demons and kneeled before them, "The Royal Faction, you say? Just what is their purpose? How are they rted to the council?"

    At first, both Xonnomor and Gallmath had odd expressions because this question was one even the general public possessed the answer to.. Hence, they started to question just where Apollo came from. Not only was his type of power unprecedented, but it seemed like his knowledge on the simplest matter wascking.

    Nevertheless, Xonnomor ultimately uttered the answer to that question. "They are a rtively new, yet strong faction of demons, created by the remnants of a dying figure. The same figure who birthed the Lords."

    Since this information came as a slight surprise, not just Apollo, but even Fuhrer''s eyes narrowed. In fact, Fuhrer took a step forward, "A dying figure, you say? How long ago?"

    "It was about 30 millennia ago," Xonnomor answered after recalling the information recorded in the Royal Faction''s history tomes.

    "30 millennia," Fuhrer said before falling into deep thought. Although it was 30,000 years, to Fuhrer, that amount of time was a blink of an eye. And, it would require of his same level to possess the same view of time.

    "How exactly were they created?" Apollo asked skeptically. This was a matter that always baffled him. And, while aware of their presence, Fuhrer never understood their origin either.

    "The intricate details are lost on me. But, loosely, a strong being, unlike any other demon present, formed a sort of link to his understanding of the Sins. Once that happened, it allowed the Lords tomunicate with the Sin''s sentient thoughts on a deeper level," Xonnomor replied.

    Unlike the other demons, who suffered from the minor shift in the Nihilistic Rings, the Lord''s more or less possessed power in a limbo state. The simplest way to exin it was that their power was unorthodox, or even simpler, iplete.

    After all, the only be who could impart an unblemished understanding of Sin was the First Monarch. But, with his vacant presence, that scenario was impossible toe across.

    Finally, Fuhrer thought of an event that he considered to be the start of a downfall, "A dying being capable of imparting their understanding of Sin to create pseudo-Daemos. There''s only one individual I knew like that; Estran, The Sin Maestro."

    "Someone you''re familiar with?" Apollo said before ncing towards Fuhrer''splex expression. There seemed to be a mix of emotions flowing throughout Fuhrer''s mind, mainly grief, sorrow, and suffering.

    "More than familiar. If I was the right hand, then he was the Monarch''s shadow¨Dthe one most likely to seed the Monarch. His affinities with the Sin were unlike any other. However, they were only docile towards the Monarch. While he understood them, hecked the required trait to force their obedience," Fuhrer said before lifting his head.

    An eerie silence took ce while he released a mncholic sigh, "But, he suffered a fatal attack from one of the strongest Celestials there were. After all, they were infuriated over the events that transpired."

    "So, in a way, the Lords are another byproduct of the Monarch?" Apollo questioned with a thoughtful expression on his face.

    "Indirectly, you can say so. It would seem that even in hisst moments, Estran hoped to preserve our race as best as he could," Fuhrer said before turning towards Apollo with a strange look in his eyes.

    "If the Lords were truly his doing, then may I suggest a change of ns?"

    Before awaiting a response, Fuhrer lifted his palm, summoning an orb of energy in his palm. The orb split into 7 parts before floating towards Apollo. Each one of them took on a strange shape resembling a letter with odd dots and lines added to them.

    Eventually, these symbols produced a faint resonance with Apollo. It didn''t take long for him to glean their meaning, ''The written version of the Sins? What does Fuhrer want?''

    "Rather than destroy the Lords, I suggest preserving and even building upon the foundations Estran hasid. Yes, it''ll take longer. But, with the waning protection, it''ll be the more ideal choice. Wouldn''t you say, Young Lord?" Fuhrer said while kneeling down before Apollo.

    However, Apollo simply chuckled in response, "Fuhrer, you worry over something inconsequential. I don''t intend to destroy the Lords, just reform them. Now, since we have learned some important matters, shouldn''t we also talk about some things still unknown?"

    Apollo smiled with a brief pause before looking towards Xonnomor, "For example, I would love to know how your sister is of apletely different Sin. Are you two of different parents?"

    "No. Our father and mother simplye from two different parties within the faction. My sister has taken on our father''s Sin whereas I found an affinity for our mother''s. As for the rest, well you can infer that by our current positions."

    "Positions you wouldn''t want to lose, I should add," Apollomented before looking around at the extensive damage done to the stronghold. The repairs would be costly, but Apollo thought of a way to avoid paying for those matters out of his own pockets.

    ''Perhaps, taking control of these strongholds isn''t the best choice. Or, at the very least, doing so openly isn''t the best option. Like a phantom, we should operate in the shadows,'' Apollo thought with a smile.

    If the Royal Faction was truly asrge as Xonnomor hinted, then going up against them was simply anotherrge enemy. But, as he was now, his list of enemies was already growing obscenelyrge.

    In addition to the races, Apollo also felt the Monarch Candidates were eyesores whose death was inevitable. Although it wasn''t confirmed, from Azridan''s stories, it was said that Irzanach plotted with the other races to stop him from seeding the throne.

    While it was impossible for him to truly ept the throne, some of the Monarch''s techniques such as the Annihtions, which Azridan learned from the first pieces of the inheritance process, were simple enough for any talented demon to learn.

    For example, even Typhir learned the first Baleful Step, indicating theck of difficulty in the learning process.

    All of a sudden, Apollo walked forward until he passed both Xonnomor and Gallmath before turning around, "You said the Royal Faction would send enforcers here?"

    "Undoubtedly," Gallmath instantly replied.

    "And their general strength would be?" Apollo inquired further.

    "Approximately on par with Xonnomor. And it''ll be more than one. Especially since they''ve been on high alert," Gallmath continued, drawing Apollo''s interest once again.

    "High alert? Any particr reason?" Apollo questioned. This portion of information intrigued him much more than the rest because it could possibly give him some insight into where the location of the council was hidden.

    Was it in Ashiraem? Or perhaps even another Ring? This type of information was useful because, unlike the Lords, the other demons could be dispensable tools if utilized properly.

    "Yes. They''ve been wary ever since experiencing an odd sensation. They say it was an omen of an overbearing power. But, I didn''t sense what they fear, so I ignored their paranoid ims," Xonnomor answered.

    As mentioned before the council called an emergency meeting involving the Lords once they felt this energy. While they understood that their current status was a gift, they couldn''t see a scenario where they gave up their power willingly.

    Meanwhile, Apollo pondered this information for a moment while looking at Fuhrer. As their eyes locked, an exchange of messages took ce. Ultimately, Apollo felt it was best to humor these cowardly demons.

    ''Since they''re so afraid of the possibility, why not make it a reality?'' Apollo thought before ncing downward, "How about we find an agreeable middle ground? While I may be ruthless, I''m also reasonable."

    Both of the demons almost lost their wits but managed to maintain theirposure and stoic expression as they heard Apollo''s bizarre statement.

    Still, he continued, "You have already received punishment. So instead of worsening the situation, how about we take an alternative route? One that presents more room for growth."

    It would be a lie to say that Apollo''s words weren''t tempting. Especially since both of his eyes shimmered with two distinct colors. Tendrils of Avaritia and Luxuria seeped from his breath as he exhaled, flowing into their nostrils.

    Although its effect wouldn''t be as effective on these demons, who were significantly stronger than Apollo, it did help in making the process of coercion simpler.

    After a while, both Xonnomor and Gallmath nodded, agreeing to hear out his offer.

    Once that happened, Apollo ced his hands on their shoulders and spoke in a hushed tone as the Sins in his eyes burned with an even more fervent light, "It''s quite simple. On the surface, things remain the same. But, in truth, you''ll be my loyal followers who shall be rewarded handsomely."

    To back his words, Apollo pushed his hand forward, causing a small pile of at least 10,000 Fragment of Sins to appear. And,pared to the purity of the ones found in the market, these were at least 3 times greater!

    Needless to say, the alternative truly possessed some allure.

 Chapter 415 - Sowing The Futures First Seeds

    ----

    Although both Xonnomor and Gallmath were Archdemons, the allure of the number of Fragments of Sin present before them was too great to ignore. Add in the faint effects of both Avaritia and Luxuria, and it created an even more unfavorable situation for them.

    Even if their will was strong, it would only be a matter of time until their resistance wore down and they inevitably gave in. However, on individuals such as their selves, the allure wasn''t enough to overwhelm their reasoning.

    Therefore, before doing anything else, they questioned both Apollo''s motives and the reason they were chosen above the rest.

    "As enticing as your deal may seem to be, it also appears to becking in some general knowledge. While you offer things, you haven''t exactly detailed what they are," Xonnomor said with signs of struggle in his eyes as he asionally shook his head to deal with the hushed voice in his mind that spoke tempting words.

    In response to Xonnomor''s remark, Apollo merely smiled and looked at his followers, "Do I really need to answer that question? The fact that my followers were willing to follow me into nearly razing this ce to the ground, alone, should speak volumes about how they are treated."

    While the system guaranteed the loyalty of Apollo''s demons, that didn''t mean he treated them insufficiently.. In fact, he treated them well. Especially, Ouroboros as he allowed him to engorge himself at any given time.

    On the other hand, Apollo spared no efforts to grant his subordinates the power they desired. Just recently, Typhir attained the Greater Demon state through Apollo''s efforts. And, soon enough, another would appear once he amassed enough free experience to sacrifice towards any other subordinatescking in their evolutionary progress.

    Still, while Apollo''s words were logical, Xonnomor still felt he needed more. Something concrete. For example, information that proved Apollo''s genuine offer.

    "If that''s the case, tell me¡­ what is the purpose for you taking control of stronghold? Or, if you don''t want the stronghold, what is the purpose for offering this opportunity to us?''

    It was a simple question, but it was also one that touched upon revealing crucial information. So much so that Apollo showed a dark smile while answering, "Tread carefully, because I''ll warn you now. If I have to reveal this to you and you refuse to join me, then I''ll just have to kill you to avoid some unforeseen circumstances."

    Immediately, both Xonnomor and Gallmath''s eyes widened. At first, they thought their worth was the sole reason for them being alive right now, but there seemed to be another reason behind it as well. And, if it was truly as dire as Apollo said, then knowing this information could be potentially fatal.

    Regrettably, curiosity was a gue that imed many lives. Despite the danger to their lives, Apollo''s words had thoroughly piqued their interests.

    "Perhaps that is a gamble we are willing to take," Gallmath answered while turning his head to examine Apollo''s expression. It was unmoving and unaffected by his response, giving a mere nod in response.

    Though he said he would have to kill them, it was up to Apollo if he truly wished to reveal his vital information.

    "Let''s just say your use isn''t being utilized to its utmost potential, but I can make that happen," Apollo said with a cryptic smile. After a short pause, he then decided to throw in some worrying news, "The Nihilistic Rings grow weak, but the threats continue to empower themselves. Sooner orter, we will find ourselves in a crisis and once that happens, sides will need to be chosen¨Dif we aren''t united, that is."

    Xonnomor''s eyebrows furrowed when he heard this jarring news, "What do you mean, a crisis awaits? And what sides?"

    "For now, that is unclear. But, if you''re smart, you''ll choose to partake in the efforts of those who sow the seeds for the future," Apollo answered before suddenly cutting the supply to his two powers of coercion. Since this was information important to the demon race itself, it didn''t require any additional support to affect their minds greatly.

    Instead of Apollo, Xonnomor and Gallmath turned towards Fuhrer¨Dthe most ancient and mystifyingly strong one amongst the group, "I request your unbiased opinion. If you can remain truthful, then I''ll entertain the thought of joining you all."

    "Go ahead," Fuhrer replied without a moment''s hesitation. If there was one thing Fuhrer learned while under the reign of the Monarch, it was how to be impartial. While he wasn''t the impartial adjudicator of the Lost Council, there was more than one instance wherein his interference was required.

    "This threat he speaks of. Is it one that outsses the power of the Council? Is it beyond the Nobles?"

    "Undoubtedly. The current powers of our race would crumble within minutes of facing these threats. If you wish to stand a chance¡­ we''ll have to once again adopt the old order," Fuhrer answered truthfully while panning his grim gaze between the two.

    A cold sweat traveled down their backs as they heard this information. In fact, it was more than enough for them to make their decision.

    Both Xonnomor and Gallmath bowed their heads.

    "I am willing to join you."

    "I, too," Gallmath said.

    In return, Apollo ced his palm over both of their foreheads. Two notifications appeared in his view after he did so. Since the system was a matter unique to him, until the power affected those Apollo aimed it at, they wouldn''t be aware of specifics of what they entered.

    ¡´System Alert: Xonnomor A''arhi has agreed to be your loyal follower.¡µ

    ¡´System Alert: Gallmath Ezgol''m has agreed to be your loyal follower.¡µ

    ¡´System Alert: With your new followers, the household''s upancy has risen.¡µ

    "?!"

    Both Xonnomor and Gallmath widened their eyes as they felt an odd power ripple through them. In fact, it was identical to the same power that they had overlooked once before.

    "I-it''s you. So it is true. There is someone who aims to take over the leadership of our kind. The ruler of a new household," Gallmath muttered while looking at Apollo with a mix of marvel and horror.

    "Correct," Apollo nodded before walking away from them. "However, I don''t need you all to vacate the premises at all. In fact, they''re all yours. And since I have taken your vital Sin, these fragments are yours as well."

    Steadily, Xonnomor shifted his eyes towards the pile of thread forming a colorless cloud. However, the longer it remained out in the open, the faster it adopted a crimson hue. Unlike the ones found in Ashiraem, the fragments Apollo possessed were free from being bound by a single Sin.

    It wasn''t until it was introduced to a Sin''s presence that it adopted the nature of the chosen Sin. It was simr to a nk check. Only once the amount was chosen did the check be valid and possibly of immense value.

    Instinctively, the duo nodded and bowed their heads towards Apollo, "We will carry out your wishes my Lord. Do you have any particr tasks you need us to fill?"

    "Yes. Get stronger, and thene find me," Apollo said. He didn''t tell them how because he didn''t need to. After taking control of them, they now possessed a link to Apollo. So while they couldn''t sense his thought, they could feel general impulses.

    "Understood." They both nodded before epting the fragments. While it wasn''t apparent for now, but Apollo absorbing their vital Sin was the best punishment to ever happen to them.

    On the other hand, Apollo turned towards Arleo, who was buried in the ditch. Since he was a Greater Demon, he didn''t need Arleo to submit like these two. The only way to acquire an Archdemon in his current state was for them to submit to him willingly.

    Not only would their power not be affected, but it also fulfilled another task limiting one of Apollo''s sealed traits.

    Apollo lifted his hand, enveloping Arleo''s battered body in a dominant force that pulled him towards Apollo. Simr to the other two, he ced his hand on Arleo''s head. But, instead of pulling something out of him, Apollo flooded his mind with arge amount of Anima, causing his eyes to shoot open.

    Once he was awake, Apollo grinned. "I won''t kill you, but I will own you."

    Arleo didn''t understand what Apollo meant until it was toost. An invasive force flooded his mind, robbing him of his ability to defy Apollo.

 Chapter 416 - Lofty Yet Appreciative

    ----

    Meanwhile, inside the Ashiraem Tower¡­

    After forcing the retreat of Irzanach and the others, Asteroth appeared disgruntled, constantly swearing while banging the top of his warhammer against the ground, causing the entire room to tremble.

    A demon hightailing it out of there with no sense of pride truly infuriated Asteroth. It showed just how much the will of a demon had deteriorated. In the past, even if it meant death, a demon stayed and fought until the perilous end.

    Sometimes, through a stroke of fortune, the perilous oue never came. At other times, that perilous end would be a sweet gift.

    Eventually, Saehtyn approached Asteroth followed by Lucifer, who possessed an oddly wary expression in ce of his usually confident countenance. Obviously, learning that Asteroth was outside the realm of control was a frightening piece of information.

    Should they ever end up on opposing sides, Lucifer wasn''t sure how the oue of that battle would unfold..

    "Ahem. Did you say your name was Asteroth earlier?" Saehtyn questioned, attempting to gain Asteroth''s attention and stop him from creating any more damage. It was reaching the point of bing rming.

    Fortunately, although he was still disgruntled by the earlier events, Asteroth turned around, but with an infuriated grunt, nheless.

    "Yeah, what of it?" Asteroth said with narrowed eyes. His foul mood wasn''t one that would change in a matter of moments. It would take some time for him to get over what happened. Though, he wouldn''t truly get over it.

    As he said earlier, he intended to beat those four senseless if they ever appeared before him again. So instead of forgetting, Asteroth was instead prone to repressing his fury until ater date.

    "I would like to thank you for your help, Asteroth. If it wasn''t for you, I''m not sure if we would''ve made it out of that situation alive," Saehtyn said in a respectful tone after noticing Asteroth''s irate behavior. Thest thing he wished to do was anger this uncontroble fellow with a short fuse.

    All it took was one remark for Asteroth to mark Irzanach for a frightening beating.

    "My help? I didn''t appear here to help you all," Asteroth scoffed. "You all think too highly of yourselves. I could care less whether you live or die. I simply came here in search of someone but instead became infuriated!"

    Asteroth then red at the space before him while shaking his head, "Oh how the standards of use demons have fallen."

    Both Lucifer and Saehtyn grimaced at his response. They should have expected as much from this individual. Was he truly the type to ept gratitude? Perhaps the most fitting disy of gratitude would be to give him some type of reward. But, the question was, is there any in their possession that would interest him? If not, then they only ran the risk of being scolded even more.

    While they were silent for now, there was only so much someone like Lucifer could take. Even if he was astute, there was a bottom line to the number of insults he was willing to take.

    "Still, while your actions may not have been for our safety, they helped us nheless. So you deserve our gratitude," Saehtyn answered back.

    "He''s right mister~! You very much deserve it!" Asmidia said with a faint giggle and a wink.

    However, Asteroth turned towards them with a disgusted expression and sat on the ground. "Look at you all. You''re a disgrace. There is such immense potential in you all granted by who knows what yet, you squander it."

    From their initial grimace, all of the Lords frowned. Squander?! Just how did they squander their potential?

    "How so?!" Lucifer scowled with widened eyes. This was the first time in his life that someone dared to tell him he squandered his potential. He stood at the pinnacle of the current demons. Before even being able to ept this power, Estran forced these 7 to train ceaselessly until they arrived at a leave adequate enough to ept the granted power.

    Therefore, having someone tell him that his potential was squandered felt like a ruthless p in the face.

    "It''s quite simple. Do you understand that Sin is a vehicle of power? So why is that you''re not the ones at the forefront?" Asteroth countered, narrowing his eyes while looking at each of the 7 Lords.

    Until now, they felt their current path of handling the Sins was correct, but Asteroth seemed to think otherwise. He felt nothing but utter disgust for the way they employed their Sins.

    "What do you mean? We wield our Sins without fail," Lucifer answered, even conjuring a golden orb to disy how easy it was to manipte his Sin. But, to his surprise, a few meager strands of Ira coated Asteroth''s fist.

    "If that''s so, tell me why this happens." Asteroth punched his first forward,unching the thin gathering of Ira forward. Lucifer didn''t defend, simply standing still as he watched the auras collide.

    At a nce, Lucifer felt the power embedded in the thin cluster was far too weak to aplish anything, but he couldn''t be more wrong. His eyes widenedically as he watched the insignificant aura tear his orbs to shred.

    "But...how?!" Lucifer scowled.

    "My evolutionary state is even lower than yours, but you don''t understand the Sins properly, and that''s why you walk a path with a dismal end, especially since it is once granted and now earned," Asteroth voiced before walking towards the gaping hole in the side of the tower.

    However, before he could leave, Saehtyn called out to him, "Wait! If we walk a dismal path, do you understand the right one?"

    "Of course I do! I could never sphemy the Monarch and fail to learn even the most basic information. It was his gift to us!" Asteroth roared before turning back towards them.

    All of the Lords nked as they heard this. ''The Monarch created the Sins as a gift? Then... what exactly is his origin?!'' Saehtyn wondered as he contemted the words spoken by Asteroth. While some of it was hard to believe, it was difficult to doubt performance.

    Asteroth used less than a fifth of the sin volume Lucifer did, yet Lucifer''s actions didn''t stand a chance. It was absolutely destroyed!

    "Would you be so kind as to teach me? Something tells me that it will be needed. I don''t understand it¡­ but our positions, our Rings¨DI feel it is all in danger," Saehtyn pleaded, even falling to one knee before Asteroth.

    However, he merely clicked his tongue in response, "Bah! Stand up. You just need to realize one simple matter and your destined path wille to you."

    "That is?"

    "The Sins are vehicles. Therefore, they are meant to be controlled, not the opposite. Your Sin should not be the one in control. You use its power, but should never give in to its whims," Asteroth answered with caused the Lords to look at him oddly.

    Though it sounded easy, from what they sensed when they were being taught by Estran, the sins were boundless. Just how did Asteroth expect them topete with something with indiscernible limits.

    Especially one that wasplete at that. Therefore, while they were appreciative of the pointer, they were clueless about how to enforce it. It was simply a theory that sounded good on paper but was hard to actualize.

    "I appreciate the advice, but it seems to be an uncertain road for now," Saehtyn replied with a pitiful expression.

    "Not quite. You justck the vision. But since youck it, I can''t help you. Perhaps the needed inspiration will find youter on. Now, excuse me as I wait for my person of interest once more."

    Asteroth didn''t even wait for a reply before jumping down from the gaping hole in the side of the tower. Although the height was unimaginable, Asteroth seemed unperturbed by the flight as he dropped down.

    ''That was the power of Estran I sensed in them, wasn''t it? It''s no wonder that they don''t understand how to control them. Estran was a being who took the nonviolent and least invasive route, so he never sought to control the Sins,'' Asteroth thought to himself.

    Just before touching the ground, Asteroth shifted his gaze downward and delivered a ruthless punch to the air. A horrifying force neutralized his momentum, allowing him tond softly as he nced at the top of the tower.

    "Many fragments of the old order remain scattered, yet the notable figures remain hidden. Just when will you show yourselves? I know that you have made an appearance once again from the reestablishment of the household. My question to you is... just how thinks they are so worthy?!"

 Chapter 417 - Commands And Mysteries

    ----

    Back inside the territory of the Dakea Stronghold¡­

    Despite receiving the items, both Xonnomor and Gallmath remained in shock by the fact that Apollo had openly given them over 1,000 Fragment of Sins. Typically, these items were held with high regard as they were the most convenient items for not just replenishing Sin Reserves, but even heightening one''s purity.

    Hence, to receive over 1,000 Fragments of Sin, while notpletely unheard of, was a shock for these two. Nevertheless, since Apollo urged them to take it, they both nodded, splitting the amount in half.

    "I expect you both to recover to your peak state faster than you''ve achieved it. Is that clear?" Apollo demanded while looking over the both of them. Although he doubted that these two demonscked resources during their youth, there was a simple reason for his demands.

    The system evaluated the Fragment of Sins in their possession, and though the system''s evaluation seemed to be tailored to Apollo, that wasn''t the case. The evaluations made by the system were universal. Meaning, it would affect any demon in the same way it would Apollo''s minions..

    However, bing Apollo''s minions meant that absorption of said item was greater, courtesy of the system''s aid. So, although it had the same effect for all demons, the depth varied.

    Not to mention, it also depended on the grade of one''s demon body. The higher it was, the more the demon could draw out the effects of certain items. As for Xonnomor and Gallmath, they possessed what was known as a Matured Demon Body, or, in other words, the generic demon body of an Archdemon.

    It simply meant their strength, vitality, agility¨Deverything had risen to a substantial degree. If Apollo''s system were to quantify their value, then their numbers would have at least broken 5,000 by now.

    But, since Apollo absorbed a sizable portion of their strength, it was probably closer to 4,000 at this point.

    Meanwhile, both Xonnomor and Gallmath looked at Apollo with dignified expressionsden with skepticism. Unlike the others, the effect on their minds was quite different. So, while they were loyal to Apollo, there were still doubts in their minds about themselves.

    "U-uh, Lord. Are you sure thatmand is possible? How fast are we talking here?" Xonnomor muttered with a wry smile.

    "My worries are the same," Gallmath added.

    In return, Apollo looked towards them with ackadaisical expression, "How long did it take you to reach this height before?"

    "From the beginning? Or just our progress as an Archdemon?" Xonnomor asked skeptically.

    "Thetter."

    "Oh, then it took us a decade after bing Archdemons to reach our former progress," Xonnomor admitted without any shame. And, it was to be expected as advancing from stage to stage within the Archdemon rank took many years.

    Still, seeing their proud expressions, Apollo turned towards Fuhrer with a dubious expression as well.

    "Is 10 years good?"

    "Eh¡­ If we''re taking into ount our vitality and the current state of times, then sure it is an exemry rate of advancement. However, in the ancient times, the entire Archdemon state took no longer than 5 years to advance through," Fuhrer answered after analyzing these two.

    He then added, "But, it also reduces even more for the more talented or simply blessed demons, such as every demon on the council. For them, the Archdemon stagested no longer than 2 years."

    Apollo''s eyes brightened after hearing this piece of information. If this was the rate of advancement for the old council, then why couldn''t his household aplish the same?

    On the other hand, both Xonnomor and Gallmath''s pride plummeted when they heard Fuhrer''s interpretation. Theparison made their achievement feel ordinary at best. While they were okay for present times, if they were alive during the past, then their attainments just wouldn''t cut it.

    Just another indication of just how disastrous the sh between the upper races would be if it were to happen at this very moment.

    Still, Apollo thought otherwise of this information, "Very well. Then your time limit will be 1 year. Fail to aplish this matter and there''ll be consequences."

    "Consequences?!" Xonnomor sputtered with widened eyes. This was the first time in years that he had even heard this word, much less from a kid who was less than half of his age.

    "Oh brother, I''m telling you right now¡­ You do NOT want those consequences," Vc said with a terrified shudder as he remembered the ice-cold tone Apollo used to threaten him. In fact, he felt as if his spine was still thawing out, and even if it did, he would never be the same.

    The fear in Vc''s tone worked as a good deterrence because both of the Archdemons looked at Apollo with a shred of caution.

    "Rx. You''re my followers. I won''t mistreat you, however, I also can''t be too light on those who must lead in the future. Is that understood?" Apollo questioned while ncing at not just these two, but all of his demons.

    As a result, everyone gave solemn nods. Although he was aware that his entourage would undergo rapid expansion, these members now were his core followers. In addition to the Lost Council, only a select few would be able to make it into the privileged positions.

    ''There''lle a time when I''ll need Generals and Commanders. The system has already told me this,'' Apollo thought to himself while locking gazes with Fuhrer.

    At the same time, he looked towards the unconscious Arleo in his grasp. Since he decided not to kill him, Apollo settled for making Arleo into this possession as well.

    The process for him was much simpler. In fact, whereas it took a few minutes toplete the change for those two, Arleo''s domination took no more than 15 seconds.

    ¡´System Alert: A new follower, Arleo, has been acquired.¡µ

    Since Apollo had already absorbed power and he was only a Greater Demon, there was no other benefit besides acquiring a new member. However, now that Arleo was his, something dawned upon Apollo.

    "Are there any individuals within the Lost Council capable of healing? Or, are there no demons skilled in this particr area?" Apollo questioned.

    "Is that what you need?" Furcas asked all of sudden. From his words, it seemed as if he either knew some people or a thing or two about this matter.

    "It might be of use," Apollo said while dangling Arleo''s severely body before him. If left in this condition, although he was healing, it was far too slow. Not to mention, Apollo''s earlier actions didn''t help the cause.

    "Then¡­ I can do it," Furcas said with a slight pause, "However, there are others who are better at healing than I am, seeing as it requires a meticulous use of Anima and Sin."

    Apollo nodded before watching Furcas get to work. Just like before, he drew a demonic circle on the floor, except the runes he used werepletely different. They wererger with a small yet vacant sphere in the core of each symbol.

    Moreover, there were tworger circles drawn of identical sizes. Furcas stepped inside one before gesturing towards the other circle. "ce him there. Also, I will need 12 Fragment of Sins; one ced in each circle."

    Apollo obliged before cing Arleo in the circle and then nting a fragment inside each of the spheres. Afterwards, Apollo took a step back and watched Furcas make an odd hand seal. Aside from the middle fingers and thumbs, which towards ovepped each other, the rest of his fingers were pointed upwards.

    It was unknown just how useful the healing would be, but Apollo didn''t have many doubts after watching Arleo''s body start to float.

    A secondter, his body aligned with the positioning of Furcas'' fingers, causing the fragments to evaporate into dense clusters of crimson aura. After absorbing the properties of Ashiraem''s atmosphere, it left a heavy impression of Ira on the threads.

    And, since Apollo just so happened to absorb this from Arleo, it was what he needed. Otherwise, theck of Ira would have led to his heart functioning improperly.

    Meanwhile, as that took ce, Apollo took the time to sit and properly note the items that were in his possession. Until now, he had only glimpsed at a portion of the items, since they were the only ones familiar to him.

    Except for the Dark Mythril, which was mentioned to him as a result of the medallion.

    Suddenly, Apollo''s eyes narrowed once he sensed a piece of papyrus set aside in the deep recesses of his inventory. Before now, this had never entered his attention.

 Chapter 418 - A Terrifying List Of Materials

    ----

    ''What''s this thing?'' Apollo wondered before extracting it from his inventory. If not for the fact that he could sense the general material of most of the items inside his inventory, Apollo would have thought this rectangr piece of papyrus was insignificant, possibly even soot!

    After all, that was the color of it. The sensation of it was its only saving grace. It gave off a mystifying aura that Apollo couldn''t quite understand.

    However, once the grayish-ck papyrus fell into his hand, Apollo''s expression changed. Because, it wasn''t the texture he expected.

    It was smooth to the touch despite its coarse appearance. In fact, Apollo had never touched something sofortable to date. To be etched on such a sublime piece of papyrus meant that the information on it had to be important.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer smiled as the papyrus appeared in Apollo''s hand. "You''ve finally found that thing."

    Hearing his words, Apollo turned towards Fuhrer, "So you intentionally put this in there? But, why didn''t I see it before?"

    "Perhaps you weren''t looking hard enough. Or, maybe your Ira has interacted with it, which enabled you to now learn of its presence," Fuhrer answered with a light chuckle.

    It was usible. Unlike when he first skimmed the ring''s interior, Apollo''s Ira Purity had reached theter stages. Typically, this wouldn''t appear until one was an Archdemon, but, as a result of his abnormal progression, advancing in that Sin was locked.

    Still, it seemed just having his Ira at thete stage was enough to produce some worthwhile effects. However, although Apollo held the papyrus, there was nothing decipherable on it.

    "Eh? Are you ying a trick on me, Fuhrer? I see nothing on this thing!" Apollo grumbled while tilting his head and even looking at the papyrus from different angles.

    In response, Fuhrer snickered while shaking his head. He didn''t reveal the answer immediately and instead took the time to savor the amusement provided by Apollo''s actions.

    It wasn''t every day that he found amusement outside of the banter between Furcas, Vc, and Jorgun.

    However, he also knew that Apollo''s patience was virtually nonexistent. Therefore, Fuhrer soon gave an answer that wasn''t an answer. "I wonder why. The eyes aren''t the only means to see. What do we Demons specialize in?"

    First, Apollo''s eyes widened as he realized the issue. Then, he clicked his tongue, "Tch, that should be some sort of skill¨Dto make someone feel dumb for overlooking the obvious."

    In return, Fuhrer just smirked.

    Since he now understood what he needed to do, Apollo gathered a wisp of potent Hellfire around his forefinger before pressing it against the page. Despite the ridiculous temperature of his Hellfire, there was no sizzling noise or sparks surfacing from the papyrus.

    On the contrary, the reaction was subtle. It absorbed as much Hellfire as Apollo produced, stunning him in the progress. ''And I thought I was the glutton. Just how much Ira does this thing intend to absorb?''

    Finally, as if sensing Apollo''s displeasure, the papyrus emitted a subtle ripple as silver text written in a white me, ostensibly the highest form of Hellfire, appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

    When he read what this paper was, Apollo''s eyes narrowed before bing utterly dumbfounded!

    "?!"

    The information on the papyrus was simple.

    ¡¸?Hell Bringer''s Domination? (Forgery Design)

    Rank: *Abysmal

    Grade: Living Abyss Armament

    Type: War Scythe

    Attack Power: ???

    Effect: ???

    Description: A weapon of pure destruction suitable for the ruler of demons. Only the one who has imed dominance and achieved the right to be called a Harbinger of Death can wield this weapon. It is the culmination of the strongest demon to ever live, left as a present for his progeny¨Donly once deemed worthy.

    Requirements: ?Monarch''s True Heir? & ?Absolute Awakening?¡¹

    Still marveling at the information listed on the design, Apollo nced further down to see the atrocity known as the material list.

    ¡¸?Required Materials?

    Dark Mythril (100)

    ckened Adamantine (60)

    Absolute Chaos (2)

    Corrupted Eternity (1)

    Refined Sin Fabric (7)

    Abysmal Sources (7)

    Monarch''s True Blood (1)

    *Tenebrous Heart (1)

    *Bahamut''s Fang (2)

    *Neb Serpent''s Reverse Scale (1)

    *Cerberus'' Undying Blood (3) ¡¹

    "FUCKING WHAT?! I beg your pardon!?" Apollo screamed at the top of his lungs. Every item listed was something he had never heard of, save for the first one. After hearing his scream, Fuhrer teleported right next to him, taking a glimpse at the list, only to have a simr expression.

    "By the unholy lord above. Young Lord, you''ve been shagged," Fuhrer swore with an ominous expression. The first sevens items on the list weren''t the terrifying part, since they aligned with his goals.

    However, each of thest four was of terrifying origins! They either belonged to or were vital parts rted to beasts of legends. Except, they weren''t mere legends!

    "What do you mean?" Apollo asked while looking towards Fuhrer.

    "Do you not know any of these names? Bahamut, the Void Dragon of Chaos. Neb Serpent, A Devourer of Rings. And finally, Cerberus, Guardian of the Monarch''s Nether Gates. Each of these beasts possesses strength beyond my rightful level!"

    Apollo nked as soon as he heard this. What did the Monarch expect him to do, befriend these atrocities? However, Apollo should have expected as much. If the material the design was etched upon devoured almost all of his Ira, why wouldn''t the contents be ridiculous?

    "So¡­ you''re saying I should chuck this thing in the garbage, right?" Apollo muttered with a disgusted expression. Bad enough he had to worry about the advent of the other races. Now he needed to worry about three catastrophic beasts as well?

    "Heh. Even I would advise you to do so, but we can''t. The Monarch obviously left this for a reason. It will most likely be your test of session. After all, he was the only demon to ever cate these beasts. Hence, his title as the strongest demon," Fuhrer answered.

    Still, despite Fuhrer''s words, Apollo was dissatisfied. Above all, he needed a weapon. But, it appeared this weapon wouldn''t be falling into his grasp anytime soon. Not to mention, to make this weapon required knowledge of forging, something he didn''t possess.

    Only the purest of Purgatory Blood could smelt thest four materials.

    "Even if I managed to acquire all these materials, who would even forge a weapon like this?" Apollo questioned while taking a seat, still distraught by the horrifying requirements.

    "That''s quite simple; get Asteroth to do it. All of the Monarch''s forging knowledge was bestowed upon him. Aside from being the bearer of destruction, he also forged Brynhildr," Fuhrer said while stroking his hand against Brynhildr''s hilt.

    Apollo raised his eyebrows in response to Fuhrer''s revtion. "Asteroth forged that weapon?"

    "Correct. His unique forging technique will be enough to forge the mold for the weapon. The rest is up to you. Just like I gave Brynhildr a soul, you''ll need to give that weapon one as well. Should you ever make it," Fuhrer replied.

    "In other words, this weapon is impossible until after bing a Daemos," Apollo answered in return.

    "For the most part. Though, if you manage to tame Asteroth, you could always have him forge a lesser version with less rare material. In fact, I know with a Hydra... Wait a minute, that is still beyond you," Fuhrer shook his head, retracting his statement.

    Still, Apollo was intrigued, "A hydra?"

    "Err, yes but¡­" Fuhrer paused before looking at Ouroboros, "It would be a conflict of interest if you slew that beast."

    Although Fuhrer''s actions were subtle, Apollo noticed the target of his gaze before constructing the clues. Gradually, Apollo''s expression became mystifyinglyplex, "I believe I know where that hydra is as well. But, if I''m not wrong, it''s Boros'' mother. Isn''t it?"

    "Correct," Fuhrer nodded.

    Although the hydra they spoke of wasn''t the strongest of beasts. Their innate ability was one of the most convenient to exist. For example, although Ouroboros was a mere child, he was able to transmute chaos into pure Fragments of Sin.

    So, a full-grown hydra was an extremely scarce yet overly coveted existence, which was why Ouroboros''s mother left him in Apollo''s care. Guaranteeing her own survival was difficult, much less a child''s.

    Steadily, it dawned upon Apollo that this type of question was exactly what Apollo asked himself in the past, ''If I were to have sacrifice one of my own, would I be ruthless enough to do so?''

    Yet, that was still a question Apollo was unable to answer. For now, he felt as if it was impossible. However, the future was a mystery filled with uncertainty.

    "Keep it in mind, but don''t let it disturb your thoughts, because a mature hydra is as strong as a peak Noblesse. It''s more attainable but still difficult," Fuhrer warned.

    Ultimately, since it posed no benefit now, Apollo pushed the matter to the back of his mind and also stashed the forge design back in his inventory.

    A few momentster his attention fell on Xonnomor, "Speaking of which, I feel as if we need better equipment."

 Chapter 419 - A Forgers Importance, Unexpected Visit

    ----

    After linking with Xonnomor, Apollo became privy to all of his strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, he found a nifty love for forging. And, although some of his demons were well equipped, many of them weren''t.

    For example, Geneva''s current weapon was iparable to Sapphyr''s, whose weapon experienced reinforcing by Destrys. While Geneva was a few times stronger than Sapphyr, her weapon was inadequate whenpared to her current strength.

    So, a ring weakness of his people was theck of suitable weapons to use. Even Jorgun was entirely unequipped.

    Fortunately, there was Xonnomor, the one who supplied the entire stronghold with weapons. While he was no famed forger like Asteroth or such, Apollo felt his ability was more or less enough for the task.

    Besides, there were more than enough materials in his possession for him to risk a few failures. Although they might be failures on the surface, there was a lot to take away from it. In a sense, failures were the most opportune time to extract knowledge and apply corrections.

    This would allow Xonnomor to hone his expertise with the forge while also familiarizing himself with strong weaponry as well as materials. After all, not everyone would enjoy ving behind a sweltering heat.

    So, when he found an odd person such as Xonnomor, Apollo held no qualms with properly cultivating them.

    "Xonnomor, I have a request," Apollo said while gesturing for him toe closer.

    "A request? No need. As I am your follower, your wish is mymand. Therefore, it is no request but a humble order," Xonnomor replied before taking a seat next to Apollo.

    "Well put," Apollo chuckled softly before removing a grayish crystal the size of a demon''s fist. At a nce, its purity level was absurd because despite being gray, it was also translucent, allowing Apollo to see his hand on the other side.

    Xonnomor''s eyes widened in shock when heid eyes on this crystal. It was only something mentioned in the tomes and the Council only possessed three of such items. Yet, it seemed like Apollo retrieved this item without a care.

    Clearly, this wasn''t the only piece in his possession.

    Nevertheless, Xonnomor wasn''t certain if this was truly the same item. Therefore, he asked a prodding question. "Is that¡­ Dark Mythril?"

    "It is. I''m surprised you know about it," Apollo answered with a tinge of astonishment weaved into his tone.

    "It''s only possible because of my grandfather. That''s where my love of forginges from. I was fortunate enough to once witness him smith with a piece of this found inside an archaic ruin. However, the piece was only two or three times bigger than the one in your hand," Xonnomor answered.

    It seemed that although it was extinct and production for it was halted, some ancient ces still held deposits of this material.

    "I see. Would you like to travel in his footsteps and forge something with a material like this?"

    Immediately, Xonnomor''s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "You jest?!"

    The honor of working on something like Dark Mythril was an opportunity that could not be sought! Therefore, Xonnomor''s delight was indescribable. Even if he didn''t sessfully force anything, just the act of interacting with that type of material would be a marvel.

    "Not at all. Your brethren are in need of equipment. It''ll be up to you to supply them," Apollo said before falling into thought. ''I suppose other material would be needed as well.''

    Steadily, Apollo raised his hand and closed his eyes. This allowed him to sift through his inventory to find materials that agreed with the nature of Dark Mythril. Although it didn''t look like it, once melted, Dark Mythril became toxic to other materials.

    So unless the material was of equal or greater durability, then the mix would undoubtedly fail.

    Eventually, Apollo withdrew a medley of shocking materials, each one capable of causing Xonnomor to faint. To name a few, there was Congealed Miasma, Purgatory Ore, Macabre Stone, Nether Crystals¨Deveryone carried a pure trait of the demons.

    In return, Xonnomor was ck-jawed, sputtering foolishly, "I-I¡­ You¡­ Ih..."

    In the end, Xonnomor could only blink wordlessly as he realized that every sound that left his mouth was incoherent at this point. Matter of fact, Gallmath pped his back while shaking his head.

    "Come on old friend, get it together. You''re embarrassing yourself before the lord," Gallmath teased.

    "You shut your face. You just don''t understand the severity of these items! Just one of these are worth more than your life. In fact, people would kill for these!" Xonnomor shouted animatedly.

    Xonnomor''s words were no over-exaggeration. Demons had already died at the hands of the Council due to the existence of these materials. Lowly parties carried most of the excavations of the ruins out, so some of them became tempted only to suffer a tragic end.

    Granted, that wasn''t the only experience. There were singr demons who explored ruins of their own ord in search of items to better assist their journey through demonhood.

    Sometimes they seeded in gaining items for their personal improvement, other times they failed at thest moments when an excavation team was dispatched by the Council to search those same coordinates.

    When it came to ruins, it was a game of luck¨Dwould they seed or would the Council already be on the move?

    Meanwhile, Gallmath snorted after hearing Xonnomor''s ims. He didn''t believe it. How could a mere material be worth more than his life? Could it y enemies as he could? He didn''t think so.

    Unfortunately for Gallmath, he froze in motion when Apollo spoke his next words.

    "These materials I''m giving could cause your death many times over if it were ever to be leaked that you owned them. Even I wouldn''t be able to protect you. Do you understand what I''m insinuating?" Apollo remarked while gazing straight at Xonnomor.

    His expression became solemn before indicating his understanding, "I do. This is to be handled with utmost secrecy. I wouldn''t risk my life, nor your resources through a foolish mistake. But, does that also mean you''ll be leaving?"

    Apollo pondered that question. While he didn''t intend to leave, it was hard to say. There was nothing forcing him back to Astarat, and he hadn''t thought of a way to acquire power in the other rings aside from Suprenis, so Apollo wasn''t sure of the timeline of his departure.

    Eventually, he gave an answer that he felt best portrayed his intentions.

    "I shouldn''t be leaving within a short period of time. There are still a few things I must do before moving to the next ce. So, if you start now, there should be no issue," Apollo said but then his expression changed once he looked towards Fuhrer.

    He was unusually tense, even gripping Brynhildr while staring towards the space directly behind Xonnomor.

    Apollo didn''t think twice before storing the items back into his inventory. After all, Fuhrer''s expression wouldn''t change so much unless there was imminent danger. ''Is it Asteroth? Was he this close to us all along? Perhaps my earlier actions revealed my position¡­''

    Gradually, Apollo became tense as well as he thought of the possibilities. Although Fuhrer erected a Wrath nket to contain any aura of their fight, it was always best to keep some room in your n for any unforeseen circumstances.

    "Someone ising," Fuhrer said in a grim tone beforepletely unsheathing Brynhildr. Even now, he couldn''t tell the origin of the individual, which was surprising given the original state of his perception.

    ''The deterioration of the barrier and interference of this ce are truly annoying. And it will only worsen from this point on,'' Fuhrer thought while readily wielding Brynhildr.

    Once that happened, a portal with infernal edges opened behind Xonnomor. At first, there was nothing, but then the shadow of a colossal figure appeared.

    The first thing Apollo noticed was an unusually slow gait, with him being unsure if it was to add suspense or for some other reason.

    Finally, the figure''s immense frame appeared from within the portal, which revealed their appearance. Vibrant crimson skin with pitch-ck markings etched over their entire torso withrge spurs jutting out from their joints was the first noticeable feature.

    Then, Apollo saw the short ash-grey hair and scarlet pupils and immediately knew who it was.

    It was Saehtyn, the Lord of Ashiraem!

    ''Has hee for me?'' Apollo thought with a frown. Meanwhile, he also sent a message to Fuhrer, instructing him to not attack.

    Suddenly, Saehtyn turned towards Xonnomor with a grim expression, "I need to meet with your father."

    Unexpectedly, Saehtyn didn''te here for Apollo at all!

 Chapter 420 - A Concerning Forwarded Message

    ----

    It appeared that all of Apollo''s worries were unwarranted because the reason Saehtyn appeared here was for Xonnomor and Xonnomor alone. Furthermore, it seemed like even Xonnomor wasn''t his goal as he wanted to get in touch with his father.

    Although his position was unmentioned until now, Xonnomor had pointed out earlier that both his father and mother came from unique parties within the Council. Admittedly, it appeared Xonnomor''s father held a rather influential position if even the Lord of Ashiraem sought him out.

    Or, at the very least, that is what Apollo gleaned from Saehtyn''s request.

    "My father? Why exactly do you need to get in contact with him? Wouldn''t you rather my grandfather?" Xonnomor asked with a curious expression. When it came to both ranking and position, his grandfather far outssed his father.

    Therefore, the receiving party that oversaw most of Saehtyn''s requests was Xonnomor''s grandfather. However, just as his request was unusual in Xonnomor''s eyes, Saehtyn''s resulting expression was irregr as well.

    "That would be the natural order of things. However, when was thest time you''ve talked to your grandfather?" Saehtyn asked with an odd expression. It wasn''t solemn but more so pitiful as he guessed the contact amongst Xonnomor''s family was sparse.

    "I admit, it has been a few years. But, he was in exemry health thest time I saw him. So I doubt he''s in danger," Xonnomor said after giving Saehtyn''s words some thought. At first, he thought he came bearing terrible news, but theck of a tense atmosphere said otherwise.

    At least, when it concerned the safety of Xonnomor''s grandfather.

    "Well, it has been years since he''s made the preparations to shatter the Noble Boundary. Who do you think is responsible for all the excavations of the mysterious ruins? Besides, he is the only one to interact with the materials."

    Suddenly, Apollo experienced a change in expression as he looked towards Fuhrer, "Is that feasible? Can a Demon truly shatter the Noble Boundary to step into the Daemonic Domain?"

    Fuhrer didn''t answer right away. Instead, he examined Saehtyn closely as well as Xonnomor. Based on the stories he told, Xonnomor''s grandfather had indeed interacted with some materials above his understanding.

    Thus, it was also a possibility that he chanced upon some practice from ancient times. If that was so, then even if the current position of the rings were out of alignment, there was a way to force the evolution.

    "Yes, it could be possible. However, it''ll require arge number of pristine materials. Even then, the chance for sess is extremely slim," Fuhrer replied, causing Apollo to fall silent with a pensive expression.

    Finally, after a few moments of silence, he posed another question, "Could the Council have that much material in their possession? Is this also the true reason they''ve been on high alert?"

    "I mean, it''s usible. As for whether they have enough materials, I can''t answer that. ording to my memory, there were several unemptied deposits the Monarch left to repair damages in times of war.

    Before continuing, Fuhrer tapped his chin while ncing at the gargantuan battle ax attached to Saehtyn''s back, "That weapon is made from a notable amount of Dark Mythril and Purgatory Ore. If I''m not wrong, this must be the weapon that Xonnomor mentioned in his story."

    In truth, Apollo felt something was off about that weapon as well. The sensation it gave off was too familiar despite his short time in the world of Demons. Therefore, Apollo could only make one conclusion¨Dthe forging process involved materials he was familiar with.

    Fortunately, Apollo''s inventory absorbed all aura of the items he stored inside, else Saehtyn would have sensed the familiar presence, especially if he had arrived any faster.

    Speaking of which, Apollo narrowed his eyes as he thought about the Lord''s earlier appearance, ''Azridan, Saehtyn was involved in the fight against Irzanach, correct?''

    [That''s correct. He was one the first to act, besides Lucifer.]

    ''Then, are his unusually slow actions due to hidden injuries? I sense that he is ovepensating.''

    [I sense a gruesome injury to his heart. It''s fluctuating oddly. Either he exhausted far too much Sin allowing its sentience to momentarily overwhelm him, or there was physical damage done to his heart. Either way, both scenarios will spell hard times for this ring.]

    ''I see,'' Apollo nodded in response.

    Meanwhile, Saehtyn finally convinced Xonnomor to deliver a message to his father. Typically, Saehtyn wouldn''t ask for him to act as a messenger and simply aplish the matters himself, but the task was beyond him.

    Regrettably, the damage he received made it impossible for him to leave this ce. Not only did he require the nourishment of Ira to recover, but the distance he could open a doorway to was limited to Ashiraem.

    So, reaching the location of the Council''s headquarters was unlikely.

    "No problem, I will deliver the message to my father. As for the contents of the message, what will it be?" Xonnomor questioned.

    Right before he was about to answer, Saehtyn stopped. After all, there were many unfamiliar demons in the area. However, as he looked around, his eyes froze on Apollo''s figure.

    "I know you," Saehtyn murmured with a thoughtful expression. It didn''t immediately register because of therge change to Apollo''s appearance, but it soon clicked, "Aren''t you that boy who has be Azridan''s sessor?"

    "I am," Apollo nodded with a sinct response. After all, he wasn''t sure how Saehtyn would respond. But, after learning of his injury and how his state was far from ideal to engage inbat, Apollo wasn''t frightened or even worried.

    Though, from Saehtyn''s expression, he didn''t seem angered at all but shocked.

    "You''ve already evolved into a Greater Demon. And, it appears your progress within the state has already be substantial. That''s a terrifying rate of progress," Saehtyn praised with a slight nod before panning his gaze around.

    ''An Archdemon, a few Greater Demons, and a few lesser ones. But, what''s their rtion to him? With the way they''re positioned, it''s almost as if they''re guarding him,'' Saehtyn surmised while shifting his gaze back to Apollo.

    "I''ve been trying my best," Apollo replied in a humble tone. Because, while his improvement was rapid, it wasn''t at its peak. Nor was it up to par for the threats brewing.

    Eventually, Saehtyn determined that since Apollo was traveling in Azridan''s footsteps, learning about the disorderly state of affairs was an inevitable piece of knowledge. Therefore, Saehtyn sighed and took a seat on a near-destroyed boulder.

    ''Now that I look at things here, just what type of fight took ce here to cause this much damage? And... is this Superbia I sense?'' But while Saehtyn sensed some anomalies, he didn''t address them.

    After all, the mortifying events that took ce in his tower took precedence over a trivial fight between demons. It didn''t dawn upon him that his target was right under their noses because the culprit''s current power was incapable of making a difference.

    Admittedly, this would be a mistake that Saehtyn would have never expected.

    "Tell your grandfather two pieces of information. One, there appears to be Monarch Candidates still alive. And, their growth is terrifying. Even the Lords acting together suffered a brutal loss," Saehtyn revealed before taking a slight pause.

    This time, his expression became grim, "Second, tell him that the Lords are gradually losing their authority, and there are demons who exist outside the realm of our control. Perhaps they will be the key to restoring order. I have met such a demon, and he helped us."

    This news came as a shock to Apollo as he turned towards Fuhrer, ''How fast is the deterioration taking ce?''

    ''It''s not that fast. But, the grasp of these Lords is only halfplete. So their loss of power should be rapid. Well, not personal power¨Dtheir power of authority,'' Fuhrer answered.

    Apollo took in this information before looking towards Saehtyn, "Someone outside of your control helped you?"

    "Correct. Although I use help loosely in this case. He was only channeling his own displeasure and it just so happened to benefit us. That Asteroth fellow was one of the most unruly and explosive I have ever witnessed," Saehtyn answered with a small shudder.

    In fact, he looked towards the gaping hole near the top of his tower with a pained heart. That was all the oue of Asteroth''s savage attacks.

    Meanwhile, Apollo nked.. Although it wasn''t Asteroth who came, it appeared he was still too close forfort! Of course, he didn''t let Saehtyn sense his dismay, since that could ultimately arouse suspicions.

 Chapter 421 - A Technique Of Domination

    ----

    ''Asteroth is here already?'' Apollo silently thought to himself.

    It wasn''t long before he looked towards Saehtyn since he wanted to ask a few questions. However, he didn''t want to seem too desperate. So, Apollo first worked out how he would approach the topic before asking away.

    "How did you know he was outside of your control?"

    "Well, how do you think? From experience! I tried to tap into his Ira, but it was irond. It was simply impossible for me to enact my authority," Saehtyn answered with a wry smile.

    For the first time in thousands of years, he felt powerless. And, it wasn''t from one but two sides. The Monarch Candidates gave him the same exact feeling despite being from separate parties.

    "I''m guessing that he was quite strong from your expression," Apollo remarked. His roundabout way of acquiring information was hrious to Fuhrer, even causing him to chuckle.

    Yet, Apollo paid him no mind, since he could sense the origin of his amusement.

    "Strong? I suppose you can say that. Although, I would call him irregr. He alone took on 4 demons that left us at an impasse. But, he did so in only a handful of moves," Saehtyn answered while recounting the experiences within his tower.

    Apollo didn''t ask any other questions. Now, he just wished for Saehtyn to leave as quick as possible so he could release his pent up stress. The jarring news just kept pilling up on his shoulders without end.

    On the other hand, Saehtyn started to take notice of something while autonomously absorbing the Ira in this area. ''Am I still sensing his aura despite being so far? I still get this sense of not being able to control Ira properly.''

    Again, Saehtyn overlooked the true issue. Although his purity far outssed Apollo, Apollo had a special ability¨Dthe ability of dominance. So, while weaker, his body emted the same effect as Asteroth and even Fuhrer.

    Fortunately for Apollo, Saehtyn couldn''t stay for long. After sending off the other Lords, the tower was not only vulnerable; it was for the most part, unguarded. Due to the swarm of demons as a result of his earlier battle, the guards of the tower were busy fending off an endless stream of demons.

    Therefore, after making sure Xonnomor received the correct message, he forced open another infernal portal that linked directly to his throne room. However, before leavingpletely, he turned towards Apollo.

    "Make sure to remain safe, young one. I feel treacherous times are inbound. And, with those times, perhaps the order of power will shift."

    Apollo watched as Saehtyn stepped inside the portal before nodding, "I feel as if we demons will survive those times once again."

    After hearing that answer, Saehtyn turned around with a faint smile before vanishing behind the embers of his portal. Although the smile was cryptic, Apollo more or less understood that Saehtyn probably felt he was being groomed well.

    After all, there weren''t many young demons who would have given such an answer. Their response would more often than not be flustered.

    On the other hand, Apollo beckoned towards Fuhrer and Xonnomor. First, he revealed that he would be staying within Xonnomor''s quarters for the time being, since there was nowhere else suitable from lodging.

    Most of this area was destroyed. So all that remained out of the threerge huts were Gallmath and Xonnomor''s residence. Arleo''s hut was the first to be destroyed in his own actions since his and Apollo''s fight didn''t move too far from its position.

    Secondly, Apollo gave Xonnomor the materials. Since the forge was in the hut and Apollo held no qualms about revealing his technique to his followers, he allowed Xonnomor to stay inside as well.

    Once inside, Apollo was surprised by how spacious it was. The exterior truly betrayed the extravagance of the inside. It was able tofortably fit at least 5 demons without counting the room dedicated solely to the forge.

    "What exactly did you need me for, young Lord?"

    "To conceal my aura. If Asteroth is truly near the Lord''s tower, then we need to be extra cautious. We can''t risk having an early confrontation when I''m far from ready," Apollo answered.

    "Ah," Fuhrer nodded before spreading his arms. A nket of dense crimson aura formed a 10-meter sphere around Apollo, giving him enough room to maneuver inside.

    Once this was set up, Apollo turned his attention towards some he had neglected for quite sometime¨Dthe Abysmal Conqueror Record. The forge design of the weapon reminded him of this record.

    Even after evolving, he hadn''t checked for any updates with the record. After all, the first two techniques were only made essible because they were vital for Apollo at the time. In addition to needing his core practice, he needed both an offensive and a movement skill to assist inbat.

    [?Abysmal Conqueror Record?]

    Technique 1 - ?Baleful Steps: Phantasmal Daemos?

    Technique 2 - ?Nine Infernal Annihtions?

    Technique 3 - ?Dominator''s Breadth?

    .

    .

    .

    Sure enough, as he looked through the record, there was an additional technique avable to him. And, judging by its name, it appeared to be centered around domination.

    ''Although it isn''t what I expected, I guess it will turn out to be something that I need,'' Apollo thought to himself before focusing on the information pertaining to the technique.

    ¡¸Technique Name: Dominator''s Breadth

    Rank: Abysmal

    Information: Only the descendant of the Monarch can bear the title of a dominator. Awaken the presence of boundless domination as nothing can shy away from your imposition.

    ?Dominator''s Clutch? - Greater Demon Technique

    Allows you to use both your Demonic Anima and Aura of Domination to form a miniature domain of dominance. Within that zone, you are the dominator.

    Requirement: ?Monarch''s Bloodline?¡¹

    ...

    ''Dominator''s Clutch,'' Apollo thought to himself before stimting his Cardinal Sphere. A potent aura of domination released from his body, but as that happened, it blocked anima from seeping outpletely, which dumbfounded Apollo.

    ''I guess this won''t be easy either,'' Apollo thought with a visible frown.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer''s expression became odd when he sensed Apollo trying to force his anima past a blockage, ''Another one of the Monarch''s techniques. However, the bnce for that technique is a delicate one. The Monarch always said it was an ironic technique.''

    When it came to this particr technique, it required a delicate yet steady stream of the two energies to form a forceful conclusion.

    Nevertheless, Apollo didn''t expect this matter to be easy. After all, it was his first technique that started with a Greater rating. Therefore, it was bound to be of higher difficulty.

    Continuously, Apollo tweaked the ratio of the two energies but all of his attempts shared the same oue. Contrary to the simplicity of the words, achieving a bnce of these two powers was quite difficult.

    At least, from the conventional standpoint.

    Eventually, Apollo changed the way he employed his energy. Instead of allowing one or the other to seep out, Apollo hampered the flow of energy and contained it within his body, forcing it to remain under his control at all times.

    But, while they were both present, Apollo kept them separate for the time being, ''Although it wasn''t listed, the consumption of this technique is shocking.''

    While he had yet to exhaust his reserves, that was because up until now, every attempt resulted in a failure. Still, each failure exhausted a substantial amount of the resource that he led with.

    Finally, Apollo mixed the energies together before releasing it at once. The end result was a bizarre feeling, simr to how it felt to control his demons, except it was the world itself that was at his him.

    ''So this is what it feels like to truly dominate?'' Apollo thought to himself while basking in the glory this feeling presented. In fact, he had felt this once before when watching the brutal scene during the time of his evolution.

    It was fleeting, but Apollo sensed an iparably pure aura of domination. Naturally, it belonged to the Monarch in his vision, or simply put his father.

    ¡´System Alert: Congrattions, you have learned ?Dominator''s Clutch?.¡µ

    ¡´System Alert: Improve your familiarity to unlock the Auto-Unleash feature.¡µ

    As mentioned before, all skills carried a mastery level with Apollo''s system. Only after reaching a certain level of mastery did it allow him to unleash his skills without any dy.

    Nevertheless, the learning part wasn''t an issue for Apollo. Although the system only took over after a certain threshold, Apollo learned a thing or two after analyzing the system''s effects.

    Although it didn''t possess a 100% uracy rate, as long as Apollo recalled the sensation perfectly, then unleashing a technique wasn''t difficult after doing it once.

 Chapter 422 - Forging A Weapon

    ----

    With the Dominator''s Clutch added to his arsenal of skills, Apollo felt that his means were moreplete. After all, he would need everything at his disposal to deal with an enemy of Asteroth''s caliber. Even now, Apollo understood that the disparity in their strength was essentially an insurmountable chasm.

    ''For now, I''m not the only one who needs advancing,'' Apollo thought to himself before ncing towards Fuhrer. Although the environment of Ashiraem and Firaria was hectic, thest thing Apollo wanted to do was sit around being idle.

    While the Sin of Acedia was amongst his traits, its effect on Apollo rivaled Luxuria. Both of them were negligible since, while Apollo possessed an affinity, he never dabbled with them.

    "Gather everyone up. We should continue to act while the environment is still as it is," Apollo said while looking towards Fuhrer.

    "What do you intend to do?" Fuhrer questioned in return while also rising to his feet.

    "Well, Saehtyn and Xonnomor''s stories have intrigued me. And, you said it yourself. The Monarch left ample deposits for times for war, which are now ruins. So, shouldn''t we search for some of our own as well?" Apollo answered with a faint smile.

    At first, this was never in his ns, but the more Apollo thought about doing so, the more he felt exploring one of the ancient ruins would be beneficial. Not only would he be able to chance upon some required materials, but he would be able to aplish his primary goal¨Dbing stronger.

    As mentioned in the stories told by the demons, there were many demons who searched for the ruins independently. While many of them failed, that wasn''t the part of the story that attracted Apollo. Or rather, it wasn''t the possibility.

    What Apollo sought was the prospect of said ruins attracting demons of negligible intelligence, simr to the Scorching Ifrits he eradicated while in search of Fuhrer''s body.

    However, the Ifrits were no longer suitable enemies. Not that his level was so high, the amount of experience they rewarded was trivial. He would have to kill an ungodly amount of Ifrits just to increase a single level. The issue came from the fact that they were Lesser Demons.

    The number of Ifrits with enough potential to be a Greater Demon was few and far between. Therefore, Apollo needed to take more extreme measures to either continue at his current pace or amplify it.

    Either way, both decisions required a difficult choice.

    "That''s actually not a bad idea. You should do quite well in those ruins. In fact, some of them even have built-in mechanisms to increase your Sin Purity," Fuhrer revealed.

    However, as he did so, Apollo revealed a faint frown, "As appealing as that may sound, it won''t pose any benefit to me. My Ira is fixated at a certain point for the time being."

    "Ah, have you reached the threshold of your current demon body? That was... quick," Fuhrer muttered in surprise.

    Although Apollo''s demon body held many stigmata, they were all in their infantile stages. So, while he trained in the Monarch''s Supreme Demon Body, it was only stronger than a typical peak Greater Demon.

    "Yeah. So if the chance arises, I''ll just pass it along to the others. They''ll benefit from it much more than I would," Apollo answered with a faint nod.

    After this fact, Fuhrer disappeared from where he stood. Since Apollo requested something of him, he acted without dy. As expected from a trained general of the Monarch.

    Meanwhile, as Fuhrer moved to aplish that task, Apollo left the room while moving towards Xonnomor''s forge. Although it seemed like no time had passed at all, Apollo spent more than two days learning the basics of the Dominator''s Clutch.

    Therefore, Apollo wanted to check up on Xonnomor''s progress. While two days wasn''t an extremely long time, Apollo wanted to grasp an understanding of Xonnomor''s current skill. Just how quickly and efficiently could he forge useful equipment?

    Especially equipment made from pristine materials.

    Soon enough, Apollo arrived at the entrance of the forge, which was shielded by a piece of thin cloth. However, despite how thin it was, the heaviness of the material surprised Apollo.

    ''How odd,'' Apollo thought to himself. But, it was to be expected. After all, forges dealt with extreme temperatures, so the entrances needed to be cordoned off with suitable material.

    Still, the sight was mesmerizing. In fact, Apollo had some thoughts about the material.

    ''This type of material would do well in soft armor. It''s flexible and light yet durable,'' Apollo judged while stepping inside the forge. Contrary to his expectations, Xonnomor wasn''t at work. At least, not physically.

    Instead of pounding the gigantic hammer by his side, Xonnomor leaned over the anvil inside the forge and examined a piece of Dark Mythril with a diligent expression. It was unknown just how long he sat in this position, but Xonnomor was frozen in ce despite Apollo''s appearance.

    Typically, an Archdemon''s senses were sharp, so to be so absorbed in a material that he didn''t sense Apollo''s presence only highlighted how fascinated Xonnomor was with the forging process.

    In fact, if it wasn''t for him sparing so much time to perfect his craft in forging, Xonnomor would have long since reached the peak of the Archdemon state.

    Finally, Apollo cleared his throat and gained Xonnomor''s attention after standing there for over 5 minutes.

    "Oh! Pardon my appearance, Lord. I was just studying these materials. I''ve thoroughly examined them all and this Dark Mythril was thest one," Xonnomor said while cing the piece of Dark Mythril down on the forge.

    "I see," Apollo said while ncing around the forging room. It was just as Xonnomor said. Every piece of material given to him by Apollo was strewn across the floor. Although it seemed like the room was a mess, Apollo noticed a pattern in the separation of materials.

    Metal ores were by themselves. Minerals were in another pile, andstly, any misceneous items to be addedter were ced elsewhere.

    "So meticulous," Apollo said with a light chuckle before taking a seat next to Xonnomor, "Mind if I watch as you make a reference piece?"

    "Not at all," Xonnomor answer before firing up the forge. Instead of his own Hellfire, Xonnomor used a me Apollo was all too familiar with. A cluster of pure Dark Abyss mes appeared under arge smelting pot.

    The first item to be tossed in was the Purgatory Ores. However, Xonnomor''s expression soon changed when he realized that the current heat had no effect on the metals.

    Once Apollo saw this, he started to frown, ''Could it be that an Archdemon is too weak to interact with these materials?''

    Although Apollo didn''t wish for this to be true, it was possible. Because even the forge design of the Hell Bringer weapon revealed that only Purgatory Blood could smelt some of the items on the list.

    While Purgatory Ore wasn''t one of the items on that list, it was still an extremely durable material. Hence, it was quite possible that the amount of heat needed was something beyond Xonnomor.

    Granted, the mes he used weren''t his own. It was an outside source, so Xonnomor was incapable of adding his own energy to augment the mes. As a result, Xonnomor opted for another choice.

    He opened a sk, reabsorbing the Dark Abyss mes before presenting his own personal hellfire. Compared to Apollo''s, which still possessed a tinge of murkiness inside, Xonnomor''s Hellfire carried a silver hue.

    Clearly, it was of quite high purity.

    "ving away behind a forge has given me adequate control over Hellfire. So while I''m not Noblesse, my me rivals theirs," Xonnomor said before pointing his fingers underneath the pot. A continuous stream of Hellfire bombarded the pot as a bubbling noise was heard within minutes.

    Curious, Apollo took a gander at the situation going in the pot. This time, he was satisfied as the ore melted at a steady rate. From its original ck color, it became a sight identical to magma.

    While that took ce, Xonnomor looked towards his molds before stopping, "Although it is a reference piece. Do you have any preference for the weapon forged?"

    "Actually, I wouldn''t mind you forging a greatsword. I''ve been meaning to test out their uses," Apollo said after giving the idea some thought. After using Typhir''s weapon, Apollo felt that it was quite enjoyable to wield a weapon capable of insane amounts of destruction.

    "Ah! Good choice. I happen to have a ridiculous number of greatsword molds.. But, for you, I''ll give you this one," Xonnomor said before pulling out a mold that made Apollo''s eyes widen.

 Chapter 423 - Sword Of Fury

    ----

    A mold possessing two features that Apollo sought¨Dsharpness and a majestic design¨Dappeared before him. Even the appearance of Typhir''s sword paled inparison to the mold before him.

    Of course, it was a long step away from Brynhildr, which was forged from the most exquisite mold the Monarch prepared. On the other hand, the quality of the one before him was still extraordinary.

    "Did you create this mold?" Apollo asked while still in slight awe of its magnificence.

    "Of course not! This is well beyond my skill. This mold was found within a ruin and it is part of a set of three. Fortunately, my grandfather gifted it to me as a present to advance my studies of the craft," Xonnomor answered, still thankful for the chances given to him by his grandfather.

    In response, Apollo nodded. ''I suppose I should have expected that. The quality of the mold should indeed originate from that time. Wait¡­''

    "Did you just say it came in a set of three? What were the other two molds?" Apollo questioned after realizing something.

    "If my memory serves me, then it was an axe and a pair of twin swords," Xonnomor responded.

    "Saethyn''s axe?" Apollo questioned with a dubious look. Even though Xonnomor had yet to confirm it, the designs of the molds were too simr. The only difference was their shape. Even the symbols were identical down to the smallest engraving.

    "Correct, that would be the one," Xonnomor nodded in admittance.

    Instantly, Apollo rubbed his chin in thought. ''No wonder the engravings look so familiar. They''re each rted to the written word of Ira.''

    Back when Fuhrer summoned the symbols of the Sin, they resonated with Apollo deeply, so the impression it left on him was substantial. Therefore, if an item held the slightest semnce of those written symbols, then he would inevitably recognize them.

    However, since these weapons possessed these specific engraving its, also meant another thing. ''Only the Sin of Ira can activate these weapons. In a sense, it''s an iplete model. Or, rather it''s a mold formed for a single purpose.''

    Compared to the Hell Bringer, which required a bizarre amount of resource on a level that Apollo couldn''t even make sense of, the mold in Xonnomor''s possession wascking. From what Apollo suspected, the Hell Bringer weapon wasn''t locked to any Sin.

    That alone was an advantage since the typical order of demon weaponry was to engrave it with a single Sin. Hence, why that weapon was one that could only appear once.

    Only a unique vessel could carry the power required to house seven sins at once and remain permanent.

    "Very well. Use that one," Apollo nodded. The thought of having a weapon on par with a Lord excited him. In fact, because his weapon was forged from so many rare materials, there was a chance that the end result could outss Saehtyn''s weapons entirely.

    Since the mold was huge, carrying it required nearly all of Xonnomor''s strength, showing his apparent exertion by all the protruding veins on his neck. Nevertheless, he managed to drag both sides of the de mold near the forge before mping them together.

    He then secured it in ce before smelting Dark Mythril and a handful of Fragment of Sins. Although the Dark Mythril was extremely conducive to Sin, Xonnomor added it as a precaution. Because the metal was beyond him, there was a chance of it absorbing too much Sin from his Hellfire, rendering it ineffective.

    Therefore, Xonnomor produced these items before such a situation could even arise. In fact, he even kept half of the pile given to him on standby. ''Over 200 of them should be enough to at least forge this weapon.''

    As this was a delicate process, Xonnomor moved at a steady pace, eventually tipping the smelting pot over the vertically erected mold. The molten metal entered the mold, raising the ambient temperature of the room at an rming rate.

    Even Apollo started to sweat while exhaling. "Whew, that''s hot. Now I understand why not just anyone would stand before a forge and withstand this obnoxious heat."

    "Right!" Xonnomor yelled. Although he was close, the pressure of the steam was so loud it disrupted his hearing. Once the mold was filled, he pushed a gear that suspended it in the air and dragged it over to the corner of the room.

    A tub of liquid with a silver frost circting above it now rested underneath the mold as Xonnomor lowered it. A loud sizzling noise urred the moment the bottom of the mold touched the surface of the water, causing a dense mist to fill the room.

    "Is that normal water," Apollo questioned. However, normal in this sense wasn''t the same normal for a human. The water the demons use was filled with Anima. Nevertheless, this liquid was far more unique than that.

    "Not at all! This is Nether Frost. And it''s not actually water. It''s another type of me of a different extreme. Whereas a typical me burns through heat, this one achieves the opposite effect," Xonnomor revealed.

    Suddenly, Xonnomor''s expression changed as he gazed at the mold casing with a focused expression. The air around him transformed as he hastened his process tenfold. Finally, he picked up a hammer.

    Not only did he fill the de''s mold earlier, but he kept enough molten liquid to form the guard and add few designs to the hilt. The sonorous ngs of metal collided against metal sounded as Apollo took in the entire process.

    He watched each of Xonnomor''s focused strikes made with a clear path towards its intended target. With his incessant pounding, seconds turned into an hour of not moving from his area.

    Eventually, the handle adornments and guard were finished, allowing Xonnomor to rest the mold on the floor and open it. Instantly, a de that didn''t even need to be sharpened appeared before him. However, Xonnomor expected as much.

    Generally, molds of this level were used to bypass any tedious work through special means.

    Picking up the cooled de, Xonnomor marveled at its unfinished appearance. "Just a few more adjustments and it''s all yours."

    "Take your time. No need to rush if it''s not necessary," Apollo replied while also looking at the weapon''s unfinished state. Yet, the ck and silver color already captured his full attention.

    Xonnomor soon repeated some of his actions to meld the de, handle, and magnificent guard as one. Just momentster, it became apleted weapon that he handed to Apollo.

    Apollo held it before gliding his fingers over the etchings on the de, running his finger all the way to its edge. He finished this movement with a light tap on the de''s edge, but a small prick appeared on Apollo''s fingertip, which caused his expression to change.

    ''Sharp. Extremely sharp,'' Apollo thought to himself before attempting to wave the weapon.

    "WAIT!" Xonnomor eximed in fright. Although Apollo didn''t intend to, all of the veins and etchings on the weapon pulsated as if they were alive. "Don''t test it in here. With the material used... you now possess an extraordinarily sensitive weapon."

    "Right," Apollo answered with a sheepish chuckle before walking outside to the damaged courtyard. Since it was already so damaged, what harm was there in creating a little more?

    Apollo then raised the sword and performed a simple downward sh, but the oue was absolutely horrifying. The sword emitted a terrifying wave of Ira, which produced a 50-meter fissure with melted sides.

    Despite theck of promoting the process, the weapon had just unleased a strike on par with Nether Severance!

    Unsurprisingly, Apollo marveled at the weapon in his hand before noticing a slight discrepancy with this weapon. It absorbed far too much Sin! In fact, his chest felt heavy, as if arge portion of his Ira was sapped from his heart.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer appeared with the others before catching a glimpse of the weapon in Apollo''s hand, "Are you¡­ perhaps taking up the sword?"

    "Possibly. But, not in the way that you and Typhir wield it. I just needed a vehicle to transport my Sin properly, except it would seem that I have over-indulged," Apollo admitted with a faint grimace.

    "Understandable. Not everyone needs a technique to use a sword. You can simply use it as a means to create destruction. Though, I must ask. Will you be giving it a name?"

    "A name?" Apollo muttered while raising the sword to his face.

    "Yes. All weapons with a rightful owner must have a name," Fuhrer insisted.

    Thus, Apollo silently stared at the weapon as mes of Ira rose in his eyes. Eventually, Apollo thought of a befitting name, "Gram, The Sword of Fury."

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have received an iplete Armament.¡µ

 Chapter 424 - Incomplete

    ----

    ''An iplete Armament?'' Apollo thought to himself. Aside from the special techniques of Sin, and the unique privilege granted to him by the system, Apollo was unaware of the criteria to create an armament. Therefore, the fact that the system deemed Gram as an iplete armament shocked Apollo.

    Of course, the actual properties of each type of armament were different. The Sin Armaments were merely temporary manifestations of the Sins using a catalyst such as a bloodline, or evolution technique as a base. Hence, why Apollo''s particr Sin Armaments always vanished after a certain timeframe.

    His Sin manifested as armor and upgraded arms. Although he once managed to summon a type of scythe, Apollo understood that it was an anomaly produced by an extreme situation. Nevertheless, it did give him an experience that contributed greatly to his current state.

    If it wasn''t for that predicament, Apollo''s Ira wouldn''t have been pure enough to facilitate the Greater Demon transformation. While it seemed like the system made his transformation possible, it wasn''t as omnipotent as Apollo believed it to be.

    As mentioned in the beginning, the system was only as strong as Apollo''s current aplishments. The stronger he was, or rather the higher the aplishments he performed, the greater the features that he awakened.

    "What''s the matter?" Fuhrer questioned as he noticed Apollo''s nk expression. After receiving the notification, Apollo stared at Gram incredulously, causing some skepticism amongst his subordinates. Fortunately, they didn''t sense anything amiss, so they understood there was no threat.

    "No, it''s nothing. I just think this weapon in my hand is an Armament," Apollo muttered while twisting his wrist to properly examine Gram. Despite hisck of introducing any energy, a subtle sensation emanated from the weapon.

    In fact, it almost seemed as if the ck portion of the sword possessed a heartbeat, whereas the sharp portion of the silver de rippled with a nonsensical heat. Perhaps it was just the aftereffects of his earlier attack, but Gram appeared to be in a perpetual semi-active state.

    Even the fine crimson threads flowing through the de showed signs of movement.

    "Mm," Fuhrer murmured while inspecting Gram. Eventually, Fuhrer held out his hand before Apollo, "Let me see the weapon for a moment."

    Apollo merely handed him the weapon without a fuss since he understood that Fuhrer didn''t covet the weapon. He simply wished to verify if Apollo''s ims were the truth. After all, he had no ess to the knowledge or verdicts of the system.

    Once the weapon was in his hands, Fuhrer gave it a few light swings to test out Apollo''s im. Although they were light, fissuresparable to Apollo''s were made, except Fuhrer didn''t disy any signs of weakness as Apollo did.

    Furthermore, the fissures weren''t as wild, possessing a refined quality to them as Fuhrer revealed an overly focused expression. As a swordsman who possessed a love for the art, Fuhrer treated all swords with the same affection. Thus, he was able to draw out their peak potential with minimal effort.

    Eventually, Fuhrerpleted his assessment before extending his arm towards Apollo.

    "So?" Apollo asked while taking it back. Although the system ssified it as an iplete armament, it had yet to reveal any deeper information about it.

    "It certainly has the makings of an Armament, but it is far from it. While the materials have undoubtedly crossed the threshold, there are a few errors in this weapon limiting it from bing an Armament," Fuhrer answered after pondering the possible corrections that could be made to the de.

    In response to Fuhrer''s words, Apollo simply peered at the weapon with a mystifying gaze. Even if it wasn''t perfect, its current state was already enough to turn into a prized weapon. In fact, this was the type of weapon to cause all of the demons in Ashiraem to fall into a frenzy.

    Even though Saehtyn''s axe was of simr materials, no demon was foolish even to covet the Lord''s personal weapon. That was simply seeking a fool''s death. Apollo, on the other hand, was without reputation within Ashiraem, or any of the Nihilistic Rings, for that matter.

    Therefore, openly brandishing this weapon was akin to Apollo turning himself into a shiny target. Especially in the core area of Firaria, where nothing but Archdemons and sometimes Noblesse roamed.

    Granted, that was only if Apollo intended to venture towards those areas in the first ce.

    Finally, Apollo shifted his gaze back towards Fuhrer, "So, what would you say the imperfections are?"

    "It''s simple. That weapon is a mere empty shell right now. It''s a weapon without substance. Meanwhile, an Armament is a personal item capable of growth alongside its owner. In short, an item with a soul," Fuhrer revealed.

    However, before Apollo could respond, he continued, "Besides that, the weapon itself has an issue. Although it had been forged well, the purification of it iscking; admittedly so because of acking me used to forge it."

    Xonnomor grimaced because of Fuhrer''s words. The ultimate agony for a forger was to have their work criticized as inadequate, especially so for someone like Xonnomor who employed his own me to carry out the process.

    Of course, Fuhrer took notice of his expression and shook his head, "I am not calling your me weak. The weapon simplycks the imbuement of an aura. While your forging technique has mastered the basics, the problem stems from your iplete way of evolving."

    Despite being an Archdemon, Xonnomor didn''t possess a semnce of aura, which made him appear like a weak foe in Fuhrer''s eyes. After all, every demon in ancient times possessed an aura. It was an undeniable part of a demon''s power¨Dwhether it is destruction, suppression, carnage, ruthlessness¨Dan aura was needed toplete their power.

    It was also why Asteroth was so strong. Both his Sin and Aura were trained in tandem, with his aura pulling a greater part of the weight.

    "Ah," Xonnomor said while nodding in understanding. In truth, this matter was something that bothered him when fighting against Fuhrer. He couldn''t understand the enigmatic power that held him in ce, but now that Fuhrer revealed this information, Xonnomor understood just what it was.

    ''So, an aura is something crucial to bing stronger?'' Xonnomor thought to himself before thinking of some additional questions, "How does one go about forming this aura? If it can assist me in the forging process, then I would love to learn it. Can you teach me?"

    "It isn''t taught, but sensed. It is born when youe to understand your deepest desires independent from your Sin. Simply sense what you want and allow it to manifest itself," Fuhrer answered.

    Meanwhile, Apollo had his own thoughts about this matter, "Then, will this weapon always be iplete?"

    "If unattended to, yes. However, the true answer relies upon your own actions. You can purify it at any time," Fuhrer said, which caused Apollo''s expression to grow skeptical. Typically, after a weapon was forged, purifying it would require somewhat of a repeat of the process.

    Yet, ording to Fuhrer''s words, Apollo could do so himself. How?

    Fuhrer chuckled when he noticed Apollo''s expression. "You''re treating this as a normal weapon, and that''s where you''re wrong."

    Fuhrer then waved his arm, showing Apollo an example. After all, Apollo''s situation wasn''t unique. It was an often urrence for a forger to forge a weapon that left the finishing touches to rest upon the wielder''s shoulder.

    Gradually, Apollo gained an understanding as he experienced the vision Fuhrer presented to him.

    "I see. But, wouldn''t that turn it into a weapon incapable of being inherited?" Apollo questioned.

    "It''s possible, but I''m sure you''ll find a solution to that limitation," Fuhrer answered with a shrug.

    The method Fuhrer revealed to him was simple¨Dpurify the weapon by introducing it to a torrential amount of vital Sin over time. However, it couldn''t be done with his current purity.

    Meanwhile, once he learned of this, the system finally generated the information on the weapon.

    ¡´System Alert: The information on ?Gram, The Sword of Fury? has been determined.¡µ

    ¡¸Item Name: Gram, Sword of Fury

    Item Ranking: Daemonic (Iplete)

    Type: Greatsword

    Effect: When in battle, Strength +25%. This weapon causes each attack to possess the innate trait of ?Infernal Marks?, which uses a certain amount of Ira to increase the destructive power of each attack by 125%.

    Description: An impure weapon formed from fabled materials of Daemonic nature, allowing it to channel Ira seamlessly, but many imperfections hinder its flexibility. As a result, the true effects of the weapon remained unaddressed.

    *Note: Capable of refinement.¡¹

    ''Just as Fuhrer said, this weapon is truly capable of something more. Just another task on my to-do list,'' Apollo thought before raising the weapon with one hand.. Then, it disappeared with a sh.

 Chapter 425 - Urged To Leave

    ----

    Since Gram wasn''t of use at the moment, Apollo stowed the weapon within his Interdimensional Inventory before looking towards the others. "Have you briefed them on my intentions?"

    "Of course," Fuhrer nodded before continuing, "However, will adventuring through a ruin be our best choice? I mean, this ce is kind of¡­ destroyed."

    Although two days had passed, there were no signs of the damage caused by the prior battle being fixed. One, Xonnomor was too upied with studying the materials to delegate any orders and Apollo was too busy learning the Dominator''s Clutch.

    And, with both leaders upied at the time, the damage was simply left for ater date.

    "Ah, don''t worry about that. I''ll handle it," Xonnomor interjected immediately. In addition to fixing up the estate, he also needed to ry the message Saehtyn asked him to deliver. While it didn''t appear to be the case, the solution for both tasks was one and the same.

    "Are you going to the headquarters of the Royal Council right now?" Apollo questioned as he nced in Xonnomor''s direction. Until now, the location of this ce was a mystery to him, so if Xonnomor was headed to that ce, then Apollo had some ideas to follow.

    Unfortunately, Xonnomor''s answer wasn''t in line with Apollo''s hopes.

    "No. Unless called by the Council, obtaining entry is rather difficult. However, as my family upies a part of the upper ranks, we have a special means ofmunication," Xonnomor said before retrieving a blue stone. The texture was rough, making the quality questionable, but that wasn''t the relevance of the stone.

    There was arge rune, grayish in color, embedded in the center of the stone. Although it was an unfamiliar rune, the purpose of it was clear as day, requiring little spection.

    Suddenly, Xonnomor''s expression becameplex. "It truly has been quite some time since we''ve been in contact."

    While he understood that upying a high position called for a hectic schedule, Xonnomor at least wished for bettermunication.

    Oftentimes, their rtionship felt more professional than familial.

    Although Apollo wished to say something, he had no experience in this department. His first life was tragic, filled with theck of any familial experience, whereas his second one was one filled with strife and murder.

    Thus, he didn''t have the qualifications to providefort.

    Nevertheless, Xonnomor''s expression returned to normal after a few seconds. Though it was unsettling, after hundreds of years, he had be ustomed to his current situation. Not long after, he touched the rune with a surge of Demonic Anima, which caused the outeryer to pulsate in an unusual rhythm.

    Then, a noise akin to a staggered droning ring sounded from the rune as it attempted to connect to one of its counterpart.

    In the meantime, Apollo turned towards Fuhrer, "That''s a pretty nifty item. Why don''t we have one? Shouldn''t we have some made?"

    "Is it necessary? We''re all mentally linked to you, Lord. It''s the fastest method of distributing orders," Fuhrer answered.

    However, Apollo felt differently. One thing he never tested was the range of their connection. After all, they were always nearby. But, what would happen if he was ever sent to some ce distant? What if their link wasn''t strong enough to remain stable throughout substantial distances?

    Regardless of what they aplished now, the future only gave birth to uncertainties. Not to mention, his link with Fuhrer was fundamentally different. Even now, it was a special link forged through the usage of his original body, which served as a sort of strengthening beacon.

    By using a morsel of his Daemos Soul avable to him, he formed a connection that could ovee boundless distances. Meanwhile, his other subordinates'' minds were nowhere as strong.

    Thus, Apollo felt he should at least prepare some precautionary measures.

    "That might not always be the case. We should just create some to be safe. There''s nothing wrong with being cautious, right?"

    "True," Fuhrer conceded, ultimately agreeing with Apollo. For the creation of thosemunication stones, that fell on Furcas''s shoulders, who was well-versed in an abundance of demonic runes.

    A few secondster, the rune in Xonnomor''s hand finally connected to the other side. The first to speak wasn''t Xonnomor, but a grisly voice on the other side. It was deep andced with power.

    "Speak," the voice said.

    "Father," Xonnomor uttered before ncing down at the stone. "I call bearing a message."

    "Of?"

    "Grave importance. It is a message from the Lord of Ashiraem, himself," Xonnomor answered immediately.

    For a moment, the other side of the rune was silent before releasing a heavy sigh, "Reveal the message."

    "Very well. The first part of the message is that the authority of the Lords is declining. They''re losing control over the Rings and they are doing so rapidly," Xonnomor revealed. Just when he was about to impart the second portion of the message, the voice interjected.

    "Declining authority¡­ How do they know this is true? How serious is the matter?"

    "By experience. You might not have received the news yet, but the tower here has been damaged severely. Arge chunk of the highest wall is missing. And¡­ this is a result of the Monarch''s Candidates," Xonnomor replied.

    Again, silence ensued. However, it was much shorter this time and Xonnomor''s father uttered a simple answer. "I''lle there personally to review the situation."

    Obviously, from his grim tone, the matter of the Monarch''s Candidates was extremely important. So much so, it warranted his personal appearance. Meanwhile, Xonnomor was conflicted over this development. While the presence of his father was desired, it had been quite some time.

    So, he wasn''t quite sure about how to respond. Instead, he revealed another matter, "I also need you to dispatch a team of fixers. Part of the stronghold has been damaged as well."

    "Difficult times, I suppose," his father answered.

    At first, Xonnomor gave a wry smile while looking at Apollo but ultimately agreed, "I suppose so. When will you arrive?"

    "As this is a matter of grave importance¨Dshortly. Perhaps within the hour. I have to prepare a few things before Ie. If your situation is this bad, then I need to check in with Tirasha as well," his father answered.

    However, Apollo looked towards Vc when he heard this. Although it had been a few months since they caused a disturbance within Suprenis, he wasn''t sure how much order had been restored in that ce, or if Tirasha made any substantial progress.

    But, what he did know was that two strongholds suffering losses wasn''t a desirable situation for the council. ''Could this trigger their exaggerated response?'' Apollo wondered. If it was him, he would deploy the means to keep the strongholds in order. Therefore, Apollo judged the Council''s reactions from his reception.

    Eventually, themunication channel disconnected, causing Xonnomor to put away the stone while looking towards Apollo, "You said wanted to visit a ruin?"

    "Correct," Apollo nodded while looking towards Xonnomor, "Why?"

    "I suggest you do so now. If you need it, I know the location of one. I will give you the coordinates."

    To say Apollo''s interest wasn''t piqued by Xonnomor''s words would be a lie. In fact, they made him want to know the specifics even more. "Why does it sound like you are rushing us out of here? Do you fear your father? If so, I don''t believe we have anything to fear."

    "I disagree because my father is he is a meticulous person with keen senses. He is bound to sense the residual aura belonging to our household''s members. And once he realizes that¡­"

    "That doesn''t seem like too much of an issue," Vc muttered with a shrug.

    "He is a Noblesse of the primary level," Xonnomor retorted with a grim expression.

    Instantly, Vc reconsidered his word after experiencing a change of heart.

    "S-so, where did you say that ruin was? Let me take down that information for you," Vc said in a disturbed tone.

    The strength of a Noblesse was not to be estimated. An Archdemon was an ant before a Noblesse because their strengths were worlds apart.

    Additionally, every small evolutionary step rewarded a substantial boost in power. Even if they were iparable to the ancient standard, a Noblesse undoubtedly possessed an aura. Because transforming the Cardinal Sphere was a prerequisite to bing a Noblesse.

    From a sphere, it turned into a gem. Hence, the name of a Noblesse.

    Soon enough, Xonnomor gave Apollo the verified location of the ruin. After all, it was the ce that he was tasked with venturing to in a week''s time. But, it was no fault of his if the ruin just so happened to bepleted by the time he got there.

    Besides, he rathered this oue over the possible battle that could take ce in the stronghold.

 Chapter 426 - Cherished Followers

    ----

    Simr to Xonnomor, Apollo too wanted to avoid any unnecessary battles detrimental to his unimpeded growth. Especially one that involved both a Noblesse and the Royal Faction. As he was now, he didn''t stand any chance against either implication. And, he didn''t wish for Fuhrer to risk reabsorbing all of his power and leaving the Nihilistic Ring defenseless.

    That was the worst-case scenario for every demon alive. Therefore, he settled for receiving information on the ruin, even if it would put Xonnomor in a small bind. That wasn''t as tricky as having another party appear while they were inside the ruin.

    In the worst case, they would have to end up killing those who entered, but Apollo wasn''t sure if the Royal Council possessed the means to track the whereabouts of their members'' location.

    So, that was also another situation Apollo wished to avoid altogether. Granted, the alternative to killing them would be turning them into his minions. However, as of right now, Apollo was only looking for demons to be the core of his household.

    The mass recruitment of weaker demons couldeter when he moved to recreate the environment of ancient times in preparation for the war. It was no longer a matter of if, but when will the war begin.

    After all, the Titans were aware of Fuhrer''s presence. Just that alone was enough to spare no expense in locating the current position of the demons, if not already done.

    "This ce isn''t that far from here," Apollo muttered after deciphering the coordinates Xonnomor gave him. In fact, it was near Fuhrer''s cave, which was surprising since only Lesser Demons existed in that general area unless he overlooked some important sign.

    "Correct. That''s why we were tasked with carrying out the excavation. If the Council finds any signs of a ruin near Ashiraem, then it is typically us who carries out the process," Xonnomor revealed.

    Not only did they carry out excavations, but at the order of the Council, the Dakea Stronghold carried out executions as well if the culprit who entered the ruin wasn''tpliant. Since it was the natural order for a demon to kill to acquire strength, no one batted an eye when this happened.

    Even young demons were inured to the death of others because they were taught from a young age to value their advancement over all else. Even if one had to kill their brethren in the end, if it was for power, then it was justified.

    Hence, why Azridan always warned Apollo to be wary of demons that weren''t under his control.

    "Interesting. If that is so, then I want you to carry out a task for me," Apollo said with a mischievous expression as he snapped his fingers.

    "What is it, my Lord?"

    "I want you to either transmit the location of the ruins the Council gives you, or siphon some of the extracted materials to sustain the longevity of our household. Of course, I want you to do so without arousing suspicion," Apollo instructed.

    In return, Xonnomor nodded. "As long as I don''t overdo it, it should be possible. But this will have to be carried out personally by either me or Gallmath. Everyone within this stronghold reports to the Council."

    "Understood. Do as you see fit," Apollo said before turning towards the stronghold''s exit. Although Xonnomor''s father said he would arrive within the hour, Apollo wished to be as far as away as possible when he arrived.

    As a result, Apollo gestured for everyone to follow him as he exited the premises of the Dakea Stronghold. While venturing through the town, Fuhrer moved up next to Apollo before asking a few questions.

    "Aside from the ruins, what else will we do?"

    "That depends. Sooner orter, we''ll have to head to Suprenis. If Tirasha is as important as Xonnomor, then it is imperative that I turn her into a pawn as well," Apollo answered immediately.

    It didn''t require any thought, as Apollo had already done so before. If he was toe into power, then the Royal Council was something that couldn''t be allowed to exist. And, so far, the easiest way to deal with it was to cause it to crumble from the inside.

    After all, the demons were meant to be united under one banner¨Dthe banner of their irrevocable Monarch.

    "Heh. A pawn," Fuhrer chuckled faintly. "Spoken like a true ruthless leader."

    "It is as I said," Apollo shrugged, "Unlike Sapphyr or Geneva, she upies no space in my heart. Therefore, she is but a pawn. Unless¡­ she proves herself in the future."

    In response to Apollo''s answer, Fuhrer could only shake his head. ''Yikes! Thisd is truly like him. No wonder the Ruthless Queen hated his guts. That objective view, while often useful, can be a thorn in one''s side.''

    On the other hand, both Geneva and Sapphyr''s cheeks filled with a crimson tint as they listened to Apollo admit they upied a space in his heart. While they were unsure just what this meant, just the fact that he said it made them feel ted.

    After all, Apollo wasn''t a personcking in charm. He was just so socially awkward that he rejected all advances. Still, as a growing adult, it was only a matter of time before it became impossible to control his impulses.

    Meanwhile, as they ventured towards the gates of Firaria, Xonnomor conducted his other business.

    As his forge room was now, it was simply filled to the brim with rare materials, something he couldn''t allow his father to be aware of. Therefore, Xonnomor spent his time storing all the material carefully, while making sure to erase their presence with meticulous uracy.

    ''If he manages to sense their despite their presence, then he is simply a hawk! Though, if I must, then I could always fabricate a believable mistruth,'' Xonnomor thought before taking a seat before his furnace.

    His attention then fell on the mold used to forge Gram. Initially, he thought to make a few copies but then decided against doing so after some extra thought. He felt that Apollo, as the lord of the household, should possess a unique weapon.

    Thus, instead of moving forward with that idea, Xonnomor sifted through his collection of molds for ones that matched the battle styles everyone revealed in the fight.

    ¡­

    While moving towards the exit, Apollo''s attention fell on one of the Nautilus''s hubs. Although its appearance made it blend in, Apollo had alreadymitted all the locations to memory.

    ''I''ll have to pay them another visit. Perhaps they''ll prove to be useful once more,'' Apollo thought to himself. One visit had already earned him the hidden ownership of the Dakea Stronghold.

    Soon enough, Apollo and the rest reached the gates of Firaria. However, right before exiting, he stopped and turned towards the gatekeeper. A question had entered his mind at thest minute.

    "Will we have to pay another entry fee after leaving the perimeter of the city?"

    The gatekeeper didn''t even spare him a nce before giving a faint nod. "That''s to be expected. But, only if you''re gone for more than 2 hours."

    ''Two hours? It''s unknown just how long we''ll be in the ruin. I guess we''ll just have to pay the fee once again. Or, at the very least, I''ll have Xonnomor meet me to deliver the equipment,'' Apollo thought before silently stepping outside the gates of Firaria.

    Once that happened, he unfurled his wings while looking in the general direction of Fuhrer''s hidden cave. Without another word, he pped his wings and took to the sky at an astonishing pace.

    Simrly, Vc, Sapphyr, and Geneva followed close behind.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer opened a void before gesturing for the rest to step inside. Just like that, the Dominus Household moved away from Ashiraem at rapid speeds.

    Steadily, both Geneva and Sapphyr gained on Apollo, with Geneva doing so at a much faster rate.

    Eventually, she caught up to Apollo and wrapped herself around his arm, "So~, I upy a spot in your heart?" Geneva beamed while also lightly nibbling her lip.

    "Undoubtedly," Apollo nodded before sensing Sapphyr closing in at an rming pace. He started to frown as this almost felt like apetition. ''Am I... some type of toy to these two?'' Apollo wondered.

    Just as Geneva did, Sapphyr took his other arm with a cold expression. After all, unlike Geneva, one of Sapphyr''s Sins was envy! Hence, jealousy was something natural to her temperament.

    In the meantime, Apollo looked down at the area which was supposed to house a ruin with aplex expression.

 Chapter 427 - Animated Demon Corpse

    ----

    ''I knew I wasn''t foolish. There''s no ruin present,'' Apollo thought to himself as he failed to sense even the slightest hint of a ruin''s possible entrance. It was all charred ground with no anomalies.

    Of course, his knowledge on the matter was alsocking, preventing him from understanding what warranted the appearance of a ruin. Still, Apollo felt that as these were confirmed coordinates, there should at least be an apparent sign of entry.

    Meanwhile, as Apollo focused on the entrance to the ruins, the two by his side focused on something much different.

    "My spot in his heart is greater than yours," Sapphyr teased with a triumphant smirk. The way she saw it, there was absolutely no way that Geneva upied a greater position in Apollo''s heart.

    "How so?" Geneva tilted her head with a charmingly mischievous expression, "As I recall, I''m stronger than you hun~."

    She was right. Whereas Sapphyr was a simple Greater Demon, Geneva was already an Archdemon! Granted, she was a limited one. However, she was still a genuine Archdemon, nheless.

    "Tch! That''s means nothing. Not only did I know him first, but I was also the first one to be turned into a demon, so obviously he favors me more! Enough with your foolish argument," Sapphyr scoffed, also producing a fair point.

    Typically, the one who came first possessed more favor. After all, Typhir was the one who held most of Apollo''s trust. Even these two beauties were incapable ofing close to their bond.

    In response to Sapphyr''s statement, Geneva merely scoffed before tightening her grasp around Apollo''s arm, "That may be true, but I bet I''ll be the one to be more useful~."

    Finally, Apollo groaned before flicking both of their foreheads, "Enough! I''m trying to focus and your bickering is stopping me from doing that! Both of you possess immense worth. Now shut up!"

    A crimson glow radiated from Apollo''s eyes, causing both girls to quiet down with meek expressions. One of the aftereffects of such pure Ira was the ability to produce fear. After all, the opposite emotion of anger was fear.

    In other words, while tapping into that emotion, Apollo was able to elicit the opposite emotion in others.

    "Thank you," Apollo nodded before scanning the area once more, only to receive the same answer. Since scanning it with his perception wasn''t working, Apollo opted for the more direct route,nding atop the coordinates as Fuhrer appeared simultaneously.

    With his appearance, Apollo sought Fuhrer''s input, "Do you sense any ruins?"

    "Of course. You''re looking in the wrong ce," Fuhrer said before saturating his palm with Ira. "Remember how I said the Monarch left deep deposits? I mean that literally, they are buried deep within the surface of the Nihilistic Rings. Sometimes the entrance emerges, other times they are buried even deeper."

    Since Apollo couldn''t sense it, that meant this situation was undoubtedly the former.

    But, before he made his next move, Fuhrer looked at the two wrapped around Apollo''s arms and revealed a smirk, ''I suppose his earlier words have already cast a spell over them. Hopefully, they retain sound judgment.''

    Afterward, Fuhrer focused his attention back on the ground before bombarding it with a heavy palm. The earth shook, before copsing in on itself. Gradually, a staircase formed from dense bone appeared and it extended down, reaching a shocking depth.

    Yet, despite the appearance of the ruin entrance, everyone took a step back from it, excluding Fuhrer and Apollo. The bones used to forge the steps produced an eerie feeling.

    It was enough to provoke some fear even from these demons who had witnessed gruesome deaths.

    "What an adverse reaction, I didn''t expect the Ira stored here to be so pure," Fuhrer muttered before squatting before the staircase and using his finger to prod it. While it was far from perfect, the Ira here was slightly purer than Apollo''s.

    "Forget all that. Whose bone is this staircase forged from? And just how far down does this thing stretch?!" Vc eximed in shock. At a nce, they seemed to belong to demons, or at the very least, something on par with them.

    "These are not the bones of demons. The Ira has simply saturated the bones to make it appear that way. These bones are, in fact, the remains of quite a few Titans. Hence, why the races loathed the Monarch so much," Fuhrer said with a content chuckle.

    Meanwhile, Apollo did the same. ''What a ruthlessly amusing method of burying one''s enemies,'' Apollo thought. To mock their foes'' death by using their bones to forge constructs was a truly hrious yet ruthless move.

    Although his memories of the Monarch were fleeting, Apollo was already beginning to like his character because this was a stunt that he would pull as well. Truly two birds of a feather.

    While aware of their apprehension, Apollomanded everyone to follow after him as they descended the steps. After reaching the tenth step, a string of silver mes illuminated the staircase.

    Since this was an area filled with Ira, Apollo felt that other than Hellfire, there was no other exnation for the origin of these mes. However, while the mes gave them a view of the staircase''s end, Vc continued to shudder as he clutched Apollo''s shoulder.

    "Damn!! Does no one else feel that? This ce is frightening!" Vc scowled, which caused Apollo to turn towards him.

    "You know, for someone who''s so mischievous, you sure are a wimp," Apollo chuckled. But then Vc''s eyes widened as Apollo grabbed him by the nape and tossed him down the steps.

    Although he tried to unfurl his wings to fly, Apollo extended his hand and covered Vc''s body in his Aura of Domination. By activating the Dominator''s Clutch, Apollo stopped him from making a single move.

    "Stop being scared!" Apollo remarkedzily. Soon enough, the muffled thud of V''s body hitting the ground echoed.

    "Oof," Furcas muttered while peering over Apollo''s shoulder, "Haha! You got him good, young Lord!"

    "Ahhhhhhh!"

    Suddenly, a terrified shriek sounded from down below, causing Apollo to take a look.

    Vc remained on the ground, but he released a blood-curdling shriek as he noticed a decrepit body inching towards him. It resembled a demon, but nearly all of its flesh had fallen off, so it was hard to tell what it really was.

    Meanwhile, Apollo retrieved Gram before lightly swinging it, which caused a wave of dense Ira to hurtle towards the moving figure. However, instead of the figure being defeated by the strike, it deflected the wave of Ira, changing the attack''s target.

    A portion of the staircase was blown apart by this action, but Apollo simply narrowed his eyes.

    ''Hmm? It deflected that with ease?'' Apollo muttered before jumping down while holding Gram beside him. As he grew closer, he got a closer look at what caused Vc''s fright.

    The simplest way to describe what Apollo saw was a zombified demon. Its expression was listless and its appearance teetered on the edge of death, yet it exuded a sensation of boundless vitality.

    Not long after Apollonded, Fuhrer followed. "Oh? Well, that''s a surprise. It''s an animated corpse that the remnants of pure Ira have reinvigorated. And, judging by its current state, it used to be an Archdemon."

    "No wonder¡­" Apollo muttered. Parrying his strike powered by Gram was no simple matter. At the very least, it required at least an Archdemon to do so. And, while he poured little Ira into the strike, Gram increased each of his attacks by at least 150%.

    When factored in together, the 25% increase in strength and the 125% increase in attack power tranted to a substantial boost in Apollo''s destructive ability, yet the animated corpse fended off the attack with ease.

    "Also, you''re allowed to im its Ira if you defeat it since it is nothing more than a corpse moving from a shred of Ira''s sentience," Fuhrer revealed.

    "Any takers?" Apollo offered while looking around. Since his Ira was locked, there was no reason for him to take part in this battle.

    Eventually, two people exhibited signs of wanting to try their luck.

    "Do you wish to give it a go?" Typhir questioned while ncing towards Sapphyr. Just as he took a step forward, she did so as well.

    "I do," Sapphyr nodded.

    As a result, Typhir took a step back while gesturing for Sapphyr to go ahead.

    She didn''t dawdle, unsheathing the rapier at her side while advancing towards the enemy.. Immediately, a surge of ck mes coated her rapier as she readied herself for battle.

 Chapter 428 - Anger & Envy (I)

    ----

    After readying herself for the battle, Sapphyr looked towards Apollo, who gave her a faint nod. Since transforming, this was her first solo battle. Even when they first appeared in Ashiraem, all of the battles were done alongside Fuhrer and the others, so there was always an ally ready to assist.

    However, against this animated corpse, it would be a solo battle. After all, if she wished to absorb the Ira it contained, then it required her to defeat the enemy by herself. Simr to how Apollo''s demons from the Lost Council weren''t allowed to assist in the battle against their brethren.

    It was a sort of test to prove if they were truly worthy of absorbing the energy.

    "Do you believe she''s ready?" Fuhrer questioned while looking towards Apollo, who seemed to possess a nk expression as he watched Sapphyr near the corpse. Judging her as a typical Greater Demon would be wrong because she was something special.

    In addition to being a full-fledged demon, she retained one trait that didn''t belong. The ability to summon Xezym whenever she saw fit. However, even now she decided against doing so because having a Spirit appear in the Nihilistic Rings was akin to painting a beacon on herself.

    Unless Apollo permitted her to or the situation was unique, then Sapphyr didn''t see herself summoning Xezym.

    "We''ll have to see," Apollo said. In truth, he too wanted to understand the greatest extent of Sapphyr''s power. Was she truly a strong contender for that important position? He wasn''t too sure just yet, thus he needed confirmation.

    Finally, Sapphyr unfurled her wings and darted towards the animated corpse with a serious expression. Since everyone was watching her closely, losing was something that Sapphyr didn''t wish to do. While she wouldn''t be reprimanded for it, she wanted to prove her worth.

    Especially after her little verbal squabble with Geneva.

    Therefore, Sapphyr started the battle with overwhelming momentum. She used a portion of the shadow techniques learned from Destrys''s legacy to augment the Partial Shade Silhouette that Apollo introduced to all of his demons.

    As for the Umbra Phantom Mantle, that still proved to be beyond them as it required a potent grasp of the Tenebrous Dark Winds. Except for Typhir, who trained in these exact winds, the rest were on a tangent and would require quite some time to veer back onto the right path.

    Swoosh!

    Sapphyr appeared behind the animated corpse as a wave of shadowy embers obscured her presence even more than it did when Apollo cast the step. Since she possessed a bizarre affinity for darkness after melding the intimate traits of two extreme beings, it gave her an upper hand in this aspect.

    Still, as fast as she was, her rapier was stopped the moment it came in contact with the corpse''s skin. The durability of its sparse skin was simply inconceivable. A muffled clink sounded, causing Sapphyr to frown.

    On top of that, the corpse''s reactions, while slow at first, seemed to pick up. It turned around swiftly while executing a wide swing. Still, despite how wide the swing was, it moved at an awfully fast pace.

    Fortunately, it still wasn''t on par with Sapphyr''s agility as she moved along with the strike of the corpse. As a result, an eerie noise was heard from the corpse''s body as it rotated its torso over 180 degrees, something that was usually impossible.

    Nevertheless, since this was a body without a true conscience, it didn''t register the pain. While it roared, it was only aimed at Sapphyr for her slippery movement.

    In addition to her advantage in speed, the fact she was the only side with a weapon leveled the ying field. Because if this corpse was allowed to wield a weapon to extend its range, then Sapphyr wasn''t sure if it was an opponent she could ovee.

    Suddenly, a surge of dark mes ejected from her wings as her hair fluttered from the strong gusts. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Apollo''s faint smile and nodded happily. ''I''m¡­ doing good.''

    With this thought, Sapphyr lifted her rapier and drew a circle in the air. This was one of her original techniques, but there were some minor improvements made after acquiring her Dark Abyss mes. As she drew the circle, a ring of ck mes appeared.

    In the next moment, she thrust her rapier through the center, causing a thick torrent of shadowy mes to surge towards the animated corpse. Before even walking into this battle, Sapphyr had decided to not hold back in the slightest.

    As a result, she executed arge technique in the beginning stages of the battle.

    Meanwhile, Apollo was quite surprised by what he saw. ''Although she hasn''t used her Ira, this move is quite strong.'' While not unstoppable, the attack was still strong enough to gain Apollo''s attention. It was on par with his Demonic Massacre Wave because of the sheer amount of me energy she embedded into the attack.

    A Lesser Demon wouldn''t be able to withstand a single hit from this attack. Unfortunately, her opponent was not a Lesser Demon.

    All of sudden, the animated corpse released a bestial roar towards the beam of iing mes. At first, it seemed as if it was just done in anger, but everyone soon learned that wasn''t the case.

    The initially fast attack continued to lose momentum as it approached the corpse. By the time it collided with its body, while the mes were still apparent, the attack had lost approximately 80% of its momentum!

    This allowed the corpse to take only a single step back before walking through the nket of dark mes. Without any prior indication of movement, the corpse lunged forward, arriving before Sapphyr in a mere moment.

    She wasn''t even allowed the time to be in shock before the corpse retaliated with a rampaging smash.

    Of course, Sapphyr dodged it. But, the location of the attack was extremely close to Apollo, which resulted in the corpse momentarily switching targets. It performed a mad dash towards Apollo with fists saturated by in Ira.

    Fuhrer made a move to defend, but Apollo shook his head. He picked up Gram from beside him and stepped to the side.

    Just as the corpse came in contact with his weapon, Apollo turned around and reversed the corpse''s momentum, sending it flying into the wall.

    Bang!

    "Control your opponent. It''s something mindless, so don''t allow it to switch targets," Apollo instructed before once again stabbing Gram into the ground before him.

    "I-I''m sorry!" Sapphyr stammered.

    "Don''t be sorry, it''s something that you weren''t expecting. Just learn to adapt quickly," Apollo responded in a light tone, which caused Fuhrer to experience some shock.

    ''Since when did the young Lord be so understanding?'' Fuhrer thought to himself. He was almost certain that Apollo would end up criticizing her mistake. However, he was wrong. Even Apollo didn''t expect the corpse to switch targets.

    Then again, he was the only other person in the vicinity tounch an attack towards this enemy, so perhaps it possessed an instinctive hostility towards him now. Regardless, it wasn''t anything Apollo was worried about.

    "I understand!" Sapphyr answered with an adamant expression before looking at the corpse with an ice-cold gaze. ''You almost got me in trouble. You''ll have to be punished for that.''

    Whoosh!

    A rush of Sin escaped from Sapphyr''s body with two distinct colors. One was crimson, symbolizing her use of Ira, but the other was a violet color, which caused Apollo and Fuhrer to be even more invested in the fight.

    "Oh? It''s her first usage of Invidia, I wonder... just what has spurred on the utilization of that?" Fuhrer said in a teasing tone while looking towards Apollo.

    "Yeah, yeah. I know what you''re insinuating. Either way, she only has a finite amount of that Sin," Apollo responded. He understood Fuhrer was trying to say he was the cause for Sapphyr''s excessive reaction.

    And, he wasn''t wrong.

    Meanwhile, Sapphyr rushed directly towards the corpse instead of circling it. Clearly, she was angered as it showed in the change of her battle style. Granted, just because she was annoyed didn''t mean she lost all reason.

    Again, the corpse roared, except instead of an overwhelming sound wave, a condensed beam of Ira shot from its mouth. Of course, as a corpsecking in intelligence, it didn''t understand the property of the Sin that Sapphyr revealed.

    It belonged to the envious. In other words, the ones who loathed those who possessed more.

    Therefore, Sapphyr pointed her rapier coated in a violet hue at the iing beam and slid backward as she narrowed her gaze. In the next moment, she whipped her arm like asso and send the beam back towards its origin.

    BOOOM!

 Chapter 429 - Anger & Envy (II)

    ----

    A terrifying tremor took ce as Sapphyr redirected the corpse''s attack. Although it came from the corpse, the Ira was in truth ownerless, belonging to the ruin. Therefore, it could unleash damage upon the corpse just as it could Sapphyr.

    Meanwhile, Sapphyr could only redirect the strike because her body was used to channel Ira. If it wasn''t, then redirection would have been impossible. Because, the redirection wasn''t as simple as it seemed.

    After she aplished it, the violet aura around her was only half as vibrant as before. Avoiding that strike required half of her usable Invidia! In other words, returning two of such blows was her absolute limit.

    Furthermore, the reason it drained so much of her Invidia was that the inherent trait of Invidia was to plunder and mimic. Hence, the simplified process of Sapphyr''s actions was that she first took temporary control of the attack before mirroring a pathway and returning it through that mirrored pathway.

    It was simr to when Apollo emted Typhir''s sword style almost perfectly, despite never having trained in it. The only issue with this Sin was that everything surrounding the ability was temporary and would eventually vanish.

    In Sapphyr''s case, it vanished immediately. The higher the copy was, the faster it drained one''s Invidia. And, just having the mirror active for an instant consumed a significant portion of her Sin.

    Still, the sacrifice was worth the reward, as one of the corpse''s arms was blown off after receiving its own attack.

    "Mm, not bad," Apollo praised with a faint smile. Though it sounded like their utilization was the same, there was a faint difference. Whereas Apollo copied a technique, Sapphyr copied something more intricate¨Dthe Ira''s unique signature.

    "Yes, but I don''t think I want to do that again," Sapphyr frowned. Although it wasn''t apparent at a nce, her earlier actions caused difort. After all, the Ira in mention was at thete stage, whereas Sapphyr''s Ira was a sliver away from entering the primary stage.

    Nevertheless, despite the difort, Sapphyr pushed through and unleashed the same attack from earlier, except it was more condensed and aimed directly at the newly created weak spot on the corpse''s body.

    Rooarrrrr!

    Of course, just like earlier, the corpse wasn''t the slightest bit happy. However, different from its two earlier roars, this one didn''t carry any hidden effects. It was simply channeling its rage as unnecessary as it was.

    It didn''t even pay attention as Sapphyr''s attack collided with its body, causing the wound created by its missing arm to emit a ghastly smoke.

    Clearly, the battle was nearing itster stages.

    As such, Sapphyr increased the tempo of her actions, unleashing a flurry of thrusts, which produced a horrifying number of shadowy afterimages. But, with the durability of the corpse''s body, it required more than one strike to produce a crack in its body.

    On the other hand, Apollo looked past the current battle into the corridor beyond. Simr to the staircase, the same silver mes illuminated the path from what Apollo could tell.

    ''Once she''s done here, we''ll see what else the ruin has to offer,'' Apollo determined before looking towards Typhir. asionally, his hand twitched and tapped against his elbow impatiently.

    "Itching for battle?"

    "Yeah, I haven''t been able to stretch enough," Typhir nodded before leaning to the side. He yed a minor role in the earlier fight against the Xonnomor and Gallmath. Most of the damage was imparted by Fuhrer, who was just as enraged as Typhir was at the time.

    "Don''t worry. There should be ample opportunities for you to let loose," Apollo remarked with a calm smile. It was faint, but he could sense other enemies deep in the ruins. Though, some of them felt odd, making Apollo uncertain as to whether or not they were animated corpses as well.

    Typhir gave a simple nod before settling down.

    Meanwhile, Sapphyr became infuriated when, despite her relentless attacks, the corpse was still moving. "How do I kill this thing?!"

    "Well¡­ is killing it even the right word? It''s already dead. No?" Furcas muttered while scratching his cheek with a bitter smile. Everyone turned towards him because he had a point. What were they going to do, re-kill a corpse?

    Since no one possessed an answer for Sapphyr, she gave in to her frustrations. The rapier in her hands disappeared as she focused on melee for the remainder of the fight.

    "Die! Die! Die!" Sapphyr shrieked as she wed and even used her wings to rip apart the corpse piece by piece. Either this corpse had really pissed her off, or she was venting some earlier frustrations because as time went on, she became increasingly brutal with terrifying screeches.

    "Wow¡­" Apollo muttered with an incredulous expression.

    "I understand what you mean, young Lord," Vc muttered with an endless number of nods, "I think I''m in love!"

    BOOM!

    Vc was blown into the wall by a punch from Apollo, causing everyone to snicker at his misfortune. Apollo, on the other hand, looked at him with disgust, "Shut up."

    "F-fwogib me, young Lord," Vc pleaded while fixing his dislocated jaw. Those words had slipped out of his mouth, yet he had suffered a world of pain. He felt it was simply unfair.

    Because of Apollo''s action, Geneva held his arm tighter with a visible frown as she spoke in a whisper, "Will you react that way for me as well~?"

    Apollo didn''t give a verbal answer but just smiled instead. Although he wasn''t exactly experienced with females, he understood that saying the wrong thing could incite chaos. Thus, instead of words, Apollo appeased the curious demon by rubbing her cheek.

    Of course, this didn''t escape Sapphyr''s attention, provoking her absurd rage even further. She grabbed the corpse''s skull before pummeling into the ground over and over.

    Eventually, Apollo made a move and arrived next to her while cing a hand on her shoulder, "Something you needed to get off your chest, I suppose?"

    Sapphyr stood with a small pout before looking towards Geneva who stood by Fuhrer, "It''s not fair. I was first. I don''t want apetition."

    "Hoh? Are you saying that you want everything toe easy? Where''s the satisfaction if there was no struggle to obtain the glory? That''s simply an empty fulfillment. Besides, we have time. No choices will be made untilter," Apollo said in a tone that grew firm towards the end.

    After sensing his tone, Sapphyr stood with a docile nod, "Okay. I guess there are much more important things for us to handle."

    "Precisely. Now, im your reward," Apollo instructed while leaning against the wall next to her. As he was the object of her earlier rage, Apollo was sensible enough to understand what the situation called for.

    Still, that didn''t mean Apollo wasn''t cursing his situation in his mind. ''Two divas. These two are family and have simr personalities, or at least, simr desires? Either way, I should have expected this!''

    Though his expression was calm, Apollo was groaning internally. And, if there was anyone who knew of a poker face, it was Fuhrer, who chortled lightly.

    Soon enough, Sapphyr leaned over the unmoving corpse and inhaled. A thick stream of crimson aura flowed down her throat as a look of euphoria appeared on her face. Though Ira usually burned, the sensation that apanied such pure Ira was pleasant.

    Especially when a small ripple emitted from Sapphyr''s body, indicating that her Sin Purity had just undergone a sizeable transformation. She continued to absorb the Ira until every trace of it vanished.

    Standing up, Sapphyr licked her lips with a satisfied look as she turned towards Apollo, "That was¡­ delicious." There was a tinge of allure in her actions that caused even Apollo to feel a stir.

    However, he soon cleared his throat and turned towards the corridor. "As I said, we have some things to aplish."

    Apollo went on ahead of the others lest the two women caused more trouble for him. But, he didn''t advance haphazardly. Despite his fast movements, Apollo kept his attention focused on his surroundings.

    However, while walking, Apollo began to take notice of a few things on the walls leading to him stopping.

    "Is this entire ruin filled with materials?"

    "Yep," Fuhrer nodded. "Typically, all the deposits were made to store as much material as possible. As such, the storage quarters aren''t the only ce filled with material."

    Apollo ced his hand on what seemed to be a jewel with an orangish tint embedded into the wall and pulled. Even though he possessed over 2,000 Strength, simply pulling the jewel didn''t cause it to budge.

    Next, Apollo gave the wall a light knock, yet the sound that apanied his actions was dense!

 Chapter 430 - Blood Amber

    ----

    Since the wall was much harder than expected and the gem didn''t budge after pulling on it, Apollo settled for the only other usible answer¨Duse a weapon! After all, there wasn''t any one on the team with any prior mining experience, so there was no way for him to extract it without bing violent.

    Even Fuhrer''s current strength wasn''t too far off from Apollo''s, so he didn''t offer to remove it and instead left Apollo to handle it while he looked towards the many other gems embedded into the wall.

    "I believe these are called Blood Ambers," Fuhrer said after recalling the information about these gems. They were typically used to make equipment that could handle extreme amounts of bloodlust. Or, simply those demons who traveled the savage path that Apollo experienced as a means to prove his worth.

    Any equipment forged with these gems would not only amplify the fear-inducing effects bloodlust had on enemies, but it could also increase the boost received by that savage state. Overall, if Apollo wished to go against the Savage King, then this was an invaluable tool.

    Especially so if he used it to create defensive items.

    "Any use for these?" Apollo muttered. At the same time, he stabbed Gram into the wall directly below the Blood Amber. A cracking noise was heard as Apollo applied a great amount of force to pry it from the wall.

    However, Fuhrer suddenly remembered something and stopped him, "Wait! Don''t crack that gem!"

    Apollo immediately stopped, but it was already toote. The deed had been done!

    A sanguine fume sprayed into his face, entering every orifice of his face. The reason Fuhrer warned him to stop was because of this fume. Until the grade of the gem was determined, it was best to remain wary of it. Because the higher the grade, the higher the sanguine stench that it produced.

    And, the stench was used to invoke a savage bloodlust.

    After recalling this information, Fuhrer remembered why the Ira here was so pure!

    "Damn¡­ this gem has a purifying effect on Ira," Fuhrer grumbled while looking at Apollo cautiously. While it sounded like a wonderful effect on paper, it wasn''t. It wasn''t like absorbing Sin because this purification was much different. It was eerily simr to the state produced during the Trial of Rage.

    In other words, the sanguine stench stimted feelings of rage within whoever was infected by it. In this case, that was Apollo, a freakishly powerful leader.

    So, if Apollo flew into a rage, then it would be up to Fuhrer to handle him. After all, aside from him, there wasn''t anyone else present who could.

    Furcas was incapable, since his skills were more so centered on cognition instead ofbat. Vc was pummeled into the ground without being able to retaliate. And, Typhir had already lost in a spar.

    Though there was Geneva, despite being an Archdemon, Strength wasn''t her highest attribute. So, when it came to this matter, she was weaker than Apollo.

    Meanwhile, Apollo shook his head with a disgruntled snort as a deep-red glow appeared in his eyes. It was clear that the gem''s embedded aura was having some effect on him.

    Fuhrer reacted, but since Apollo wasn''t an enemy, Fuhrer didn''t even think to draw his sword. Instead, he merely walked up to Apollo with a solemn expression.

    Before making any permanent moves, he wanted to see if Apollo had what it took to remedy the effects on his own.

    After all, how could he be called the Monarch if an item like this could affect his psyche? There were things far worse than a Blood Amber.

    Apollo continued to shake his head before stabbing Gram into the ground. A change took ce as he started to exhale heavily.

    ¡´System: You are being affected by ?Frenzied Bloodlust?.¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Corruption Immunity? of the ?Supreme Demon Body? has activated.¡µ

    ¡´System: Effects of ?Frenzied Bloodlust? are subsiding.¡µ

    Gradually, Apollo stopped thrashing his head about as the notifications appeared before him. Just like with his Juvenile Demon Body that came with a skill known as Resistance, the Supreme Demon Body came with one as well. Except, it was much stronger.

    Compared to Immunity, Resistance wasn''t even worth mentioning. Immunity meant that he waspletely immune to the cause of infection, whereas resistance simply meant it was much more difficult for the infection to prate his defenses.

    Steadily, the crimson glow of Apollo''s eyes eased as he looked up towards the wall. The Blood Amber broke in half after releasing the internal fumes because not only was it a defense mechanism, but it was also what made the jewel valuable.

    So now that it was gone, the amber was only an empty husk;pletely worthless. The amount of sanguine aura left on its exterior was a pittance whenpared to its initial amount.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer released a sigh of relief. ''That''s reassuring. For a second, I thought the young Lord was going to fail. I mean... his demon body is iplete.''

    It was Apollo''s fortune that the active part of his demon body was his immunity trait. Though, this result wasn''t the oue of sheer luck. It was simply the most basic trait granted to him for engraving all seven stigmata.

    While they appeared to be opposing on the surface, this fabled technique created a type of bridge between the 7 Sins. Furthermore, that bridge neutralized the antipathy between their traits, which was what gave birth to Apollo''s Corruption Immunity.

    If he didn''t have that trait, then the stigmata would simply rip him apart.

    "Ugh," Apollo groaned before turning towards Fuhrer, "How about a faster warning time?"

    "Sure, I''ll let you know if I remember," Fuhrer chuckled lightly, which caused Apollo to frown.

    Though he frowned, he didn''t fret since there were nosting effects from the transient bloodlust.

    ''Just for a moment, there was a surge of unimaginable strength. Perhaps these Blood Ambers are useful to berserkers,'' Apollo thought while looking towards Typhir. Although he wanted to know the effects of such an item on a person with a berserker bloodline, he didn''t wish to turn Typhir into a test subject.

    Perhaps an opportunity for it to happen naturally would.

    In the meantime, Fuhrer turned his attention back towards the wall before unsheathing Brynhildr. "Let''s avoid that situation altogether. The others aren''t like you and I truly don''t wish to put them to sleep."

    Sparing the wall a nce, Fuhrer brandished his sword four times in a single instant, which caused the sword winds to form a box-like formation. A bafflingly sharp outline appeared on the wall as soon as these winds touched them.

    Bang!

    Arge chunk of the wall fell on the floor while Fuhrer gestured towards it. "Just ept it as it is. We''ll extract the important itemster."

    "Well, I guess that solves the issue," Apollo shrugged before pressing his hand against the sizeable chunk. A dark sh urred as his Interdimensional Inventory absorbed it.

    Afterward, they advanced slowly with Fuhrer cutting an enormous collection of Blood Ambers out of the corridor walls when he saw them. This way, there were no idents of the other demons being infected by the sanguine aura.

    Granted, Furcas still took the opportunity to tease Vc, "If you were infected, they would have given you a good beating!"

    "Shut up!" Vc snarled.

    "Ahahahaa," Fuhrer cackled until he coughed uncontrobly.

    Meanwhile, Apollo could only sigh and shake his head as he listened to their banter and wonder how the Monarch dealt with these two.

    While he could admit that Vc often deserved what he got, it was a recurring situation with these two. Both of them interchangeably heckled the other.

    Suddenly, Apollo stopped walking. He then turned around and stared into the distance with a grim gaze. "Someone just came in here."

    "I felt that too," Fuhrer said with a serious expression. While they weren''t sure of it, they thought that aside from Xonnomor and the Council, no one else possessed the coordinates for this ce.

    Then, could the Council have expedited the excavation of this ruin? It was possible because the Council''s recent actions were in disarray.

    "How many can you sense?" Apollo asked. It was only a matter of time before the intruders caught up because they stripped every inch of this ce bare as they passed by. So, there was nothing to stifle the advance towards this position.

    "I sense¡­" Fuhrer paused before focusing intently. Though he couldn''t scan the entire Ring, his perception was unaffected when used on a small scale. Soon enough, he gathered the number, "I sense 12 and there are no familiar auras."

    "Good," Apollo nodded. If there were no familiar auras, then that meant it wasn''t anyone from the Dakea Stronghold.. Because Fuhrer hadmitted all of their auras to memory.

 Chapter 431 - Grams Destruction

    ----

    Although the idea of intruders imposing on the exploration was annoying, Apollo thought little of it. For one, if they were hostile, it would just give him a reason to retaliate and turn them into an experience source.

    After all, when Sapphyr tore apart the animated corpse, it granted him a decent amount of experience since it was judged as an Archdemon. While it wasn''t anything ridiculous, like an entire level, it rewarded enough experience to move the bar by 25%.

    Compared to the inconsequential experience given by the Ifrits they destroyed, the experience granted by the corpse was much more appealing. And, if the demons who walked into this ce were mere Greater Demons, then they would be forsaking their safety.

    Even Sapphyr had to pull out of her cards to kill the Archdemon animated corpse. So, at the very least, anyone who wished to visit this ruin would need to be an Archdemon or suffer the dire consequences.

    "Do we continue, or should we just await their arrival?" Fuhrer asked while clenching and unclenching his hand. Truth be told, he could always take them by surprise and unleash one of the Tenebrous Sword techniques, but he wasn''t sure if Apollo wished to deal with the intruders personally.

    "I suppose we can wait. There''s no rush anyhow. The longer we stall, the greater the chance of Xonnomor''s father being gone when we get back," Apollo answered. In addition to this reason, Apollo also wanted to test out his new technique inbat. How would it fare?

    "As you wish," Fuhrer replied before standing by his patiently. The sounds of many rushing footsteps grew closer at a rapid pace. It was only a matter of seconds before they appeared.

    As such, Apollo pointed Gram forward with his left hand while his right hand emitted an intangible ripple followed by a burst of pitch-ck aura that soon faded out of existence. He was in a battle-ready state, yet it barely looked to be the case.

    A dozen colossal figures appeared wearing crudely made tribal armor. There were thick marks, at least the size of Apollo''s arm, running across their limbs. However, Apollo sensed a familiar aura from those marking.

    ''Stigmata? They''re quite simple,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer snickered, "Those Stigmata are simply eyesores!"

    The reason for Fuhrer''s amusement was simple, quite literally. With stigmata,plexity meant strength, as it meant a higher attunement with the Sin it was affiliated with.

    Conversely, the simpler the markings of a stigmata, the weaker the amount of power amplification it could generate. And, from what Fuhrer saw, the stigmata on this bunch of demons was as simple as theye¨Dthick lines of a ck tint.

    "What are youughing about!?" A demon from the other side snarled. As he heard what Fuhrer said, he was incensed. This was simply the stigmata that awakened after they trained their Sin. It wasn''t their fault that their stigmata were so weak.

    "Oh. Not only are they dumb, but they''re deaf as well," Vc cackled hysterically. He was the first to start his fit of hystericalughter when he saw the disappointing state of their stigmata. It was too much for him not to have a merryugh.

    "DAMMIT!"

    A surge of Ira burst from the lead demon as they rushed toward Vc. He couldn''t stand the fact that Vc was mocking them so openly. Did he think that he could do so just because he was in the presence of his allies?

    This particr demon didn''t think so! Therefore, he rushed blindly.

    Sadly, he should have looked before rushing towards Vc.

    "Sorry, but this fool is my punching bag, and my punching bag alone," Apollo said before appearing in the cross-section of the demon''s rush. Without a moment''s dy, Apollo shed towards the demon.

    Boom!

    The demon was thrown backward after guarding against Apollo''s sh. He mmed into the wall, but Apollo raised his hand and pulled. The demon''s body flew from within the cloud of debris, hurtling towards Apollo as the Dominator''s Clutch was active.

    At the same time, his Infernal Ira Stigmata emitted a soft crimson glow as he once again shed Gram. Except that this time, there was a visible shell of Ira encasing Gram and Apollo executed a downward sh, pummeling the demon into the ground.

    Bang!

    The floor was blown apart as the demon who rushed them earlier was left unmoving in a deep crater before Apollo.

    On the other hand, Apollo was shocked by how much activating the Infernal Ira Stigmata coupled with Gram''s Infernal Marks increased his strength. All it took was but a single hit from him to render an unimpressive Archdemon immobile.

    Though Apollo''s techniques were overpowered after receiving the inherent boost of histe stage Ira, that wasn''t the real reason behind his overwhelming disy. One thing he overlooked was the number of stats he absorbed from Xonnomor, Gallmath, and Arleo.

    As they were all Archdemons, the amount of stats he absorbed in one sitting was virtually equal to at least a quarter of his prior strength. Therefore, after experiencing the effects of the Infernal Ira Stigmata and Gram, Apollo''s strike possessed a shocking amount of strength behind it.

    So much so, itpelled Apollo to check for the changes in his stats and determine just how frightening they had be.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lv.5

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Greater Demon [82.00%]

    Title: Monarch''s Descendant, Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 18

    Level: 175

    Experience: 25.12%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 84,375 units

    -----

    Strength: 3,040.0

    Agility: 2,570.0

    Intelligence: 2,230.0

    Vitality: 2,134.4

    Comprehension: 253.0

    Willpower: 223.0

    -----------

    [?Traits?]- 7

    ?Supreme Demon Body?

    ?Gluttonous Soul?

    ?Vacant Soul?

    ?Eye of Mimicry?

    ?Eye of Desire?

    ?Intrepid Mind?

    ?Tempting Corruption?

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 5

    ?Demonic Imposition: Adamantine Servitude? [Partially Awakened]

    ?Demonic Providence: Domination? [Sealed]

    -----------

    [?Sin Margins?]

    Ira - Late [Infernal Hellfire]

    G - Primary [Endless Devouring]

    Avaritia - Initial [Boundless Desires]

    Superbia - Primary [Adamant Will]

    Invidia - Initial [Covetous Eye]

    Luxuria - Initial [Corrupted Eye]

    Acedia - Initial [Languish Perception]

    ¡­

    Apollo''s eyes widened in shock as it fell on his Strength attribute. It was over 3,000! That meant that when the Infernal Marks were applied, his attacks were as strong as a demon with at least 6,000 Strength!

    However, in exchange for such a high raw increase in power, Apollo gave up his ability tost in fights. After all, Gram was simply a glutton for his Ira. Though, the reason for this lied in the fact that the nature of its base material required at least a Noblesse to wield it.

    And, in its current iplete form, Apollo didn''t have the ability to tweak the output of this effect. Hence, why the system disyed a solid number of 125% and not a range. A range typically meant that Apollo was free to decide how much of a resource he wished to instill in a technique.

    "W-what the hell! Bergon! Bergon!!" One of the demons screeched. Unfortunately, Apollo''s overwhelming strike, on par with a peak Archdemon, annihted this demon in one hit.

    As a result, Apollo was excited but also confounded at the same time.

    ''One strike absorbed nearly 20% of my Ira Reserves. That means after the 5th strike. My stigmata will immediately deactivate.''

    After making this estimation, Apollo didn''t dawdle at all. On the contrary, a savage aura appeared around him as heunched a Demonic Massacre Wave towards the shocked group of simple demons.

    However, while they were simple, that didn''t mean they didn''t possess basic instincts. Each of them unleashed an attack fueled by Ira. Sadly, Apollo''s attack was truly monstrous. After all, the Demonic Massacre Wave was already an attack that delivered 10 times Apollo''s Strength attribute.

    So, when coupled with Gram, the amount of destruction he unleashed was absurd. Apollo''s attack destroyed not just the demons, but even the halls of the ruin suffered a bizarre amount of damage. However, Apollo also realized the twenty percent consumption was only when he used a normal attack.

    When Gram''s usage was fused with a technique, the consumption was amplified. Just that one strike consumed over 75 percent of his Ira Reserves, forcing him to cancel his activation of the stigmata.

    Still the exchange was worth it since Gram allowed him to make quick work of the intruders.

    ording to the system, a few were Archdemons, but most were Greater Demons. As such, while he didn''t level up, Apollo was close.

    ¡´System: Experience absorbed. [Current Experience: 85.25%]¡µ

    "We can move again," Apollo said while turning around. However, everyone gave him a nk stare.. Or, more importantly, the weapon in his hand.

 Chapter 432 - Allure Of An Armament

    ----

    Except for Fuhrer, everyone looked at Apollo in awe after witnessing the amount of destruction unleashed by his attack. As a result, Apollo returned a nk look with a wry chuckle. Truth be told, the results of his attack also surprised him.

    Not just because of the destruction caused by it, but because of how empty he felt. He looked down towards Gram in his grasp with a hint of exasperation, ''Will you ever not be so greedy?''

    Of course, as it was an iplete armament, the weapon wasn''t sentient. So it was incapable of answering Apollo''s question, not that he needed one. The system already revealed that Apollo could perfect the weapon through his efforts.

    Meanwhile, after bearing witness to the effect of the weapon in his hand, every member of the Dominus Household, except for Fuhrer, wanted to get their hands on one, which was understandable.

    Because amongst the higher echelons of battle, the difference of strength came down to two important factors¨Dpowerful techniques and powerful equipment. Just as Gram disyed, high-level equipment was capable of not just multiplying one''s strength, but turning them into an existence that could thrash anyone of simr strength.

    As long as their equipment was sub-par as well.

    However, as with all immense advantages, there were dire drawbacks. For example, Apollo''s actions weren''t applicable inbat against an enemy of his caliber. If he wasn''t capable of defeating his opponent in one strike, then sacrificing an enormous amount of Ira and Anima to unleash an attack wasn''t practical.

    It left him vulnerable after losing the protection of his stigmata.

    "Damn, I need me one of those! Like now! Now!" Vc eximed in shock before running up and hugging Apollo''s leg. "Young Lord! My liege, can I have one of those, please? PLEASEEE!"

    Apollo groaned because of Vc''s actions, even kicking his foot a few times, but it was like Vc was glued to his limb because no matter how much Apollo shook his leg, Vc wouldn''t let go.

    Eventually, Apollo looked towards Typhir with a smile that was not a smile, "Typhir?"

    "Understood," Typhir nodded before removing his greatsword from his back with an indifferent expression. With weighted steps, he walked towards Vc while raising his sword. "You have three seconds to let go or face the consequences."

    "One."

    Typhir''s stigmata activated, sending a surge of Ira flowing through his limbs. As a result, the fiery veins on his greatsword pulsated with intimidating power.

    "Two."

    Typhir raised his sword above his head as it became wreathed in an energy that punctured the void. As his affinity with Fuhrer''s sword techniques was high, he had mastered pretty much 80% of the first strike. Therefore, it was a shocking sight to behold as the power of the void and his Ira circled his greatsword in opposing spirals.

    "Tch, I''m not scared of you! You''re not the Lord," Vc snarled.

    However, Apollo shook his head with an amused chuckle, "But, he is the Leader~."

    "Three."

    BOOOOOOOM!

    "YOOOWWWWW!" Vc scowled in pain as Typhir''s strike split his entire back open. However, the result they sought was achieved. Typhir''s strike forced Vc to let go. And although Typhir unleashed a terrifying attack, the setting they were in was favorable to every one of Apollo''s demons.

    The high saturation of Ira increased the rate at which they healed. While it was nothingpared to the ability given to Apollo by his pendant, it was still substantial. Thus, therge gash on Vc''s back closed at a visible rate.

    As that happened, Apollo nced at him, "I understand that the allure of an armament is great. But, it''ll take time for them to be forged."

    Afterward, Apollo turned towards everyone who seemed to be interested in acquiring one as well, "As the new core of the Dominus Household, you should only expect the best avable, but you must also understand that in our current state¡­ everything will take time."

    "We understand that, Lord. Our household dunce is just too ipetent to understand that," Typhir replied while firing a disappointed look at Vc.

    "D-Don''t gang up on me! I''m dangerous!" Vc shouted with frantic hand movements, yet no one took him seriously. No one except for Furcas. He whispered something into Apollo''s ear that made his expression fill with disgust.

    "He did that?" Apollo asked in doubt. He couldn''t believe what Furcas revealed to him.

    "Yes. He did so. The old Monarch even punished him for it once. Though I must say, his disturbing tactic proved effective as it allowed him to get away scot-free for quite some time," Furcas admitted.

    In return, Apollo turned towards Vc and made his disgust know, "You are¡­ hriously disgusting. But if you ever piss in our food, I''ll find that Cerberus and let it eat you."

    Gasp!

    Furcas and Vc''s eyes both widened. While the rest had no clue as to what this Cerberus was, they understood very well. The fabled undying hellhound that guarded the Nether Realm''s gates, which connecting the Nihilistic Rings to an indispensable ce.

    In fact, Vc and Furcas had once seen the Cerberus because the old Monarch took his household to those mentioned gates and subdued the hound. But it was all a horrifying experience.

    Aside from the Monarch, with how much Purgatory Blood the beast wielded, none of the demons could withstand its dominion.

    "N-no hound. Please, no hound. I''ll be good. I promise," Vc whimpered with a pleading expression.

    Eventually, Apollo let up. Because, instead of antagonizing Vc any further, he had more important matters. For example, recing his empty heart with the Ira exhausted by Gram.

    In the meantime, Fuhrer looked towards Apollo when he started to actively absorb Ira, "Would you like to learn a Noble Art?"

    Gradually, Apollo stopped what he was doing. "Why do you ask?" Though increasing his arsenal was never a bad thing, Apollo was merely curious as to why Fuhrer asked this question now.

    "Well, although you''ve awakened a trait from your G, it''s not ideal for battle. It requires you to pause your assault to devour. But, what if I said there''s a technique that allows you to autonomously absorb the resources you exhaust?" Fuhrer questioned.

    Immediately, Apollo''s eyes brightened because the exnation of this technique was simply too enticing. The idea of oveing the need to replenish used energy was alluring. However, Apollo also understood that such a technique was not as simple as Fuhrer made it seem.

    "Why is it only ssified as a Noble Art? Noblesse can do it as well?" Apollo asked. Although Noble Arts were still highly coveted techniques, after learning from a variety of Abysmal Practices, Apollo felt that the effects of this mysterious technique were more than worth being called an Abysmal Practice.

    After all, it gave one the ability to sustain themselves effortlessly! At least, it did so when trained to the highest level.

    "No, it''s a Noble Art because of how demanding it is on the body. So I gave it this ranking," Fuhrer replied. Although he made it sounded straightforward, the technique was taxing since it put the targeted energy vessel in overdrive, which produced an autonomous absorption effect.

    Still, while the technique had ample room for improvement, Fuhrer felt it was tolerable as it was.

    A momentter, Fuhrer added, "Besides, I created this technique to emte an ability of the Monarch. I''m sure you''ll learn that ability soon enough, so you don''t need to learn if you don''t wish to."

    "I see," Apollo nodded in thought. Although it was something that would awaken soon enough, as of right now, it wasn''t within his grasp. Therefore, Apollo decided to learn this technique from Fuhrer. Just not at this very moment, given that the reason foring here was to allow the others toe in contact with purer Ira.

    And, learning how to overdrive a vessel took some practice with a disastrous initial side effect ording to Fuhrer. Thus, he returned to absorbing some of the ambient Ira through Endless Devouring.

    Besides that, he also didn''t forget to devour the remains of the demons for any additional gains.

    Gradually, after devouring the remains of the in demons, Apollo and the rest resumed their journey down the ruin''s corridor. Substantial changes in the atmosphere urred the deeper they went. It was soon enough to astonish them.

    The Ira became so dense that it formed a crimson mist along the top of the ceiling. However, it was less dense the closer it came to the height of the demons.. After all, the ruin''s corridor was made to be over 20 feet tall.

 Chapter 433 - A Vague Option

    ----

    "Whoa, this is quite dense," Sappyhr muttered as she looked up. The sight within the pathway was akin to a floating river since rather than on the floor, the dense stream of Ira spanned across the ceiling. Eventually, Sapphyr waspelled to touch it, which she did.

    She stuck her finger inside the dense mist before withdrawing it. It was an action performed on a whim, yet she was surprised by the fact it produced a result. A thin coat of Ira stuck to her finger and, for some odd reason, itpelled her.

    In the next moment, Sapphyr sucked every morsel of Ira off her finger without a worry of her surroundings. To make matters worse, she even closed her eyes and basked in the pleasure that it brought her.

    Only once it subsided did she open her eyes and look around with an extremely embarrassed expression, "U-Uhm¡­ What?"

    "N-no. Nah, nothing."

    Though her appearance was simply breathtaking, and even more tempting because of the inherent nature of her actions, everyone aside from Apollo stammered and shook their heads while looking away after recalling how Apollo punched Vc in a wall earlier.

    While he didn''t voice it, everyone present was positive that Apollo was defensive about this one. Though, as per his earlier disy, he was defensive towards Vc as well; so it was hard to get an urate read on his actions.

    "Ahem!"

    Finally, Fuhrer coughed, clearing the awkward atmosphere while pointing forward. "The storage room should be just beyond this. Otherwise, the saturation of Ira wouldn''t have grown so dense."

    "Of course," Apollo nodded with a slight shake of his head. While it escaped the attention of everyone else, Geneva sniffed the air for a moment before narrowing her eyes at Apollo from behind.

    She could smell it. As an Infernal Subus, she was extremely sensitive to two things¨Danger and lust. However, it wasn''t the former that she was sensing. Yet, unlike Sapphyr''s prior disy of jealousy, Geneva felt somethingpletely different.

    ''The Lord''s Luxuria¡­ I want it,'' Geneva thought while biting her finger. She couldn''t help herself. As a subus, part of her drew power from feeding off lust. Sadly, there was no true source for the Sin inside Ashiraem, at least not in the purity she needed.

    As a result, Geneva''s body was reaching a new starved state. Though Apollo distributed some Fragment of Sins, they didn''t satiate her how absorbing it from the purest source could, or even through contact of another demon.

    Not only would extracting it from someone calm the urge to ingest the Sin, but it would subdue to the emotions that apanied the feeling as well.

    Conversely, a pink hue faded from Apollo''s eyes as he narrowed them, ''Does this Complete Immunity not work properly? What the hell was that?!''

    Though it was only for a moment, an immense surge of lust overtook Apollo''s mind. Hence, why he questioned the activation of the immunity trait.

    But, what Apollo didn''t know about the trait was that it only worked from outside sources. The trait''s effects were rendered null when the source of the Sin was his body. After all, it wasn''t designed to neutralize itself.

    For that matter, it was up to Apollo to possess the iron will to resist temptation or the finesse to wield it properly. But, that was a matter beyond his knowledge for the time being.

    Not too long after this incident, the team arrived within the underground clearing. As the ruins had been buried for quite some time, and were shaken by the aftershocks of the gruesome war millennia ago, the appearance was run-down.

    All the once majestic pirs were now broken, with the other pieces strewn across the floor nearby. However, Apollo and the other immediately noticed the grand steel doors to the storage room.

    Despite all the damage this ce suffered, the doors were unharmed. In fact, the broken stones from the pirs and the statues thatid nearby didn''t even put a scratch on the interior of the door.

    Aside from the colossal doors, Apolloid eyes on something else¨Dthe source of the sin signatures he sensed earlier. There were at least three different types. The first were familiar¨Dsimply reanimated corpses. Except, they felt even stronger than the one that greeted them at the entrance of this ruin.

    Apart from the corpse, stone figures sat atop the broken pirs. They numbered at least 30 and each of them looked oddly familiar to an Ifrit, except there was no sign ofva, just a thick stone exterior.

    Furthermore, their sizes varied, but each one of them possessed robust figures and tworge bottom teeth that resembled tusks.

    "The Demons of Stone, Gargoyles," Fuhrer muttered while he observed the figures as their crimson eyes shot open. Cracking noises were heard as dust fell from their limbs as they moved.

    On the other hand, thest enemy was something Apollo was all too familiar with, but also didn''t understand why it was here; an Iraym. However, it appeared to be sleeping as it was hunched over in a kneeled state with its eyes closed.

    Still, Apollo picked up vibrant fluctuations of Ira from the "sleeping" figure.

    "What do we deal with first?" Typhir asked while instantly withdrawing his sword. With the number of demons present, there wasn''t a doubt in his mind that he wouldn''t get to stretch his limbs.

    "Well, from what I''m sensing, everything here is at least a peak Greater Demon. So, we''ll have to turn to Fuhrer for this advice," Apollo said.

    "It doesn''t matter which you begin with. The corpses and the gargoyles are pretty much identical in terms of durability. However, gargoyles are demons without Sin, they just operate on anima alone," Fuhrer revealed.

    Apollo frowned for a moment because an absence of Sin meant their experience worth wascking. However, he only frowned for a moment before shaking his head, because although they were without sin, each of them were Archdemons.

    So, at the very least, he was bound to level up.

    "Go," Apollo ordered.

    Everyone unleashed a battle cry before storming towards the gargoyles. Meanwhile, Apollo remained in ce while monitoring the dense Ira. Eventually, his attention fell back on the so-called sleeping Iraym.

    Though it was subtle, Apollo sensed a movement from the demon. One of its fingers twitched. ''So you''re awake?'' Apollo thought before walking away from the current battle.

    While the other kept the fight limited to the two sides of the underground clearing, Apollo walked up to the Iraym''s frozen body before kneeling before it.

    As he did so, the Iraym''s eyes opened slowly. A momentter, it raised its head and its grey eyes looked into Apollo''s bizarre eyes.

    Suddenly, the demon spoke, but since it hadn''t spoken in a long time, its voice was grating to the ears as it carried a guttural tone. "Are you worthy ofing here?"

    "Do you think you''re worthy of asking if I''m worthy?" Apollo countered with a smirk. After learning of his identity as the Monarch''s Descendant, one thing Apollo understood was that no demon could match his potential worth.

    After all, what other demon carried the techniques of the strongest demon to walk the Rings? What other demons possessed the tools to revive their race''s honor? Therefore, there was no demon alive who could question his worth.

    The Iraym sensed that superiority in Apollo''s tone and narrowed its eyes. On the other hand, Apollo''s hand opened and closed with a popping noise as he looked at the demon with an icy gaze.

    For some reason, Apollo didn''t quite like the fact that he was being asked this question. In fact, his despise for the question was so great that it triggered the appearance of a few notifications before his view.

    ¡´System: Your current mindset has triggered an effect.¡µ

    ¡´System: Would you like to announce your title? [Y/N]?¡µ

    ¡´System: Depending on your choice, you could fulfill a condition.¡µ

    Although the notifications were vague and seemingly harmless, Apollo didn''t make a rash decision. The reason was simple. The system had asked him a simr question not too long ago. It was during the time of making his household.

    During that time, the word announce was meant in the most literal sense. The system used his body as a beacon to broadcast the recreation of the Dominus Household. Thus, Apollo wondered if the system intended to broadcast a portion of his identity.

    ''Could that be true? Isn''t it far too earlier?'' Apollo thought to himself.. If this truly was the case, then the system was instigating a foolish move.

 Chapter 434 - True Identity

    ----

    Although the question asked by the system was vague, it didn''t detract from the fact that Apollo feltpelled to entertain its suggestion. After all, Apollo realized something that he overlooked before.

    ''Why would the system meant restore our race and awaken the dormant power of the Monarch put me in danger?'' Apollo wondered. If he perished, who would take up the mantle? Unlike the Monarch who left him behind, Apollo didn''t have any lineage left in the world.

    Nor had Apollo reached the point of entertaining the idea. Not only was he a child himself, but the difficulty of caring for a child was too much for him in his current situation, where even his residence was undetermined.

    Thus, Apollo''s interpretation of the question gradually shifted. Instead of answering immediately, he sought an answer for the connective link to the system''s notifications¨D Azridan.

    ''Are you aware of what the system means by revealing my identity? Will it be the same as the household?''

    [Partially, but it''s not truly the same. More than anyone, you should already understand the answer. After all, it wasn''t the system who precipitated this notification, but you.]

    ''Me?'' Apollo muttered with a dubious expression.

    Afterward, he fell silent as he recounted the thought process leading up to the question asked by the system. Because of the Iraym''s question, Apollo felt boundless disgust towards the fact that he was being questioned.

    It stimted the darkness embedded in his soul, but not quite as violent as he typically was. Instead of wanting to rip apart this demon, he wanted to exert his authority; the ability to suppress all demons under his presence.

    An innate desire that originated from the supremacy of his inherited bloodline. As a result, Apollo''s eyes gradually turned all ck, resembling the pits of the abyss. A pungent aura undted from Apollo as he took in more of the system''s intentions.

    ''This is needed¡­'' Apollo thought to himself. The more the sensation of this unbelievable bloodline coursed through his body, the more certain he became about his decision. The others might call his current actions reckless, but Apollo understood that this was an inevitable move.

    A move required to unleash his sealed body.

    "I¡­" Apollo muttered in a severe tone. His voice dripped with indisputable authority as he soon stood up with unshakable confidence. Gradually, every Sin Vessel on Apollo''s body thrummed with power.

    Because of this scene and the torrential winds spurred by Apollo''s actions, everyone stopped. Not just the animated corpse and the gargoyles, even the members of the Dominus Household stopped and turned towards Apollo''s position with a reverent expression.

    Suddenly, everyone dropped to one knee with a dutiful expression. They each bowed their heads as two gargantuan wings unfurled from Apollo''s back. Unlike before, these seemed to resemble the wings of a dark dragon with a demonic aura emanating from the inscriptions being forged one section of the wings by the ample Ira in the area.

    Immediately, the ambient Ira saturation dropped by over half as Apollo''s wings devoured them like a voracious beast. Unknowingly, Apollo fused the Sins of Ira and G to perform this instant absorption.

    Though, most of the glory wasn''t rightfully Apollo. The glory belonged to the reason behind these wings appearing.

    ¡´My child, has some doubted you? Have you been questioned?¡µ

    "I have," Apollo responded in an eerily indifferent tone. For a moment, his icy gaze fell on the Iraym by his feet, but his view soon returned to the emptiness before him.

    ¡´Then you know what you must do? As my child, your kind may not question you!¡µ

    "As you wish," Apollo responded with a faint nod. The fluctuations of his Sin Vessel reacted to his words, releasing even stronger fluctuations. Though there was no change to the depth of Apollo''s power, something else, much more important than advancing his Sin took ce.

    ¡´Announce yourself. There is nothing to fear. Be the controller of your presence. Only you determine the time to expose yourself. This system is but a tool; you are the controller.¡µ

    "Rise," Apollo said in amanding tone as he looked at the Iraym.

    It stood up and looked at Apollo face to face with a questioning gaze. However, it didn''t speak since an inexplicable instinct told them not to unless it wanted to perish where he stood.

    Truth be told, after fighting against Xonnomor and Gallmath, and then experiencing Saehtyn''s presence firsthand, Apollo understood that the current state of his actions failed to reach the standard he needed.

    Even now, he feared the battle against Asteroth after listening to Saehtyn''s story. However, how could that be eptable? The voice sensed this fear, and it also sensed the anger Apollo felt over the situation, but what Apollo didn''t understand was that his fear was the source of his limit.

    Although he unlocked a memory during his change into a Greater Demon, it simply wasn''t enough. To assume the position intended for him, he needed to understand something more important. He needed to understand himself.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer lifted his head and gazed upon the nket of darkness surrounding Apollo. It was of a familiar quality, one that he couldn''t wait to embrace once again. "I have learned of my memories, now it is time that you do so as well."

    Because Apollo already possessed the Household Medallion, the Supreme Demon Body foundations, and the knowledge of the 9 Kings, he held all the qualities to take the needed step. However, the ultimate step required a catalyst.

    Here, it was a simple phrase uttered by a demon locked up in a forsaken ruin, never experiencing the infernal star of Ashiraem.

    ¡´Speak your identity.¡µ

    "I¡­" Apollo''s body floated as all the Ira within this zone turned into a monstrous storm, yet his body remained stable midair.

    Conversely, deep fear appeared in the eyes of the Iraym as he averted his gaze from Apollo and once again dropped to his knees. However, in his current state, Apollo didn''t allow that to happen, because it wasn''t an order that originated from his mouth.

    Apollo gently swiped his hand upward, forcing the Iraym back to his feet by using the Aura of Domination. While it seemed oddly familiar to the Dominator''s Clutch, the deft usage of this aura left the realm of that simple technique.

    Next, the Iraym''s eyes turned toward Apollo against its will.

    "You asked if I was worthy of being here?" Apollo said with an eerie smirk before lifting his right hand. "Typhir,e."

    Immediately, Typhir rose to his feet and moved until he was directly under the floating Apollo, but across from the trembling Iraym. "My Lord?"

    "Remain there. Because, after I am done, it''ll be your turn to unleash your repressed destruction," Apollo instructed.

    In the next moment, Apollo pped his wings once and flew to the center of the underground cavern, which doubled as the eye of the Ira storm. Apollo nced towards Fuhrer with a faint nod.

    Except for the Monarch, only 12 other individuals knew about Apollo''s birth. Fuhrer, Estran, the 9 Kings, and finally, his mother. Therefore, after experiencing this surreal state, Apollo also understood that Fuhrer knew of his origin. It was simply sealed away, along with his power.

    "It shall all return to you, my Liege," Fuhrer said with an excited grin.

    Finally, Apollo announced himself.

    "I am the one who is worthy of all within the demon race," Apollo said in a deeply maizing voice. The once rampant Ira stilled as Apollo spoke. "I am the sole inheritor of the 9 Nihilistic Rings."

    Boom!

    A hole blew open in Apollo''s chest, yet he was unperturbed by it. After all, this explosion resulted from the seal ce upon him. A cluster of darkness appeared before Apollo, soon morphing into an image that mirrored his figure.

    A string of golden demonic runes appeared on the figure of darkness, causing it to condense until it turned into a single blood drop emanating the aura of the boundless abyss.

    "I am... Zethroz Dominus, the Monarch''s true descendant; redeemer of the Ring''s Glory," Apollo dered. As soon as he did so, the ck blood drop collided against his chest, giving birth to a string of notifications and an earth-shattering roar from his demons.

    Unlike what he expected, there was no ripple identifying his return or anything of the like. There was only stillness and his overwhelming presence.

    ¡´System: The title ?Monarch''s Descendant? upgraded to ?Monarch''s True Heir?.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have awakened bloodline of the ?Abysmal Conqueror?.¡µ

    ¡´System: The emergence of your bloodline has unsealed the Supreme Demon Body''s information.¡µ

    ¡´System: Any and everything originating from the abyss shall be conquered by he who holds this bloodline.¡µ

    As these notifications appeared, he gradually descended towards the ground.

 Chapter 435 - Unshackled & Dominant

    ----

    After returning to the ground, Apollo''s eyes gradually returned to what they once were. But, while his eyes returned to normal, the demeanor from earlier remained. After all, his earlier actions caused him to recover his former identity, awakening his sealed bloodline in the process.

    At least, half of his sealed bloodline. This was simply what he received from his father. There was still the matter of his mother, who he couldn''t quite remember just yet. Whereas the setting of the demons stimted Apollo''s demonic history, he had yet to venture or evene close to his mother''s origins.

    Additionally, while he remembered his name, that didn''t mean he would use it just yet. After all, the Dominus name was something that was bound to shake the Rings if he were to reveal it. Instead, Apollo opted to use the name he received in the assimtion process.

    Still, that wasn''t what he focused on. Instead, he looked at the bountiful information bestowed upon him by the system. The first was the title. Unlike everything else delivered by the system, the title didn''t possess a rank. Yet, that didn''t take away from its absurd effect.

    ¡¸?Monarch''s True Heir? [Title]

    Description: The title given to you after openly announcing your identity, relinquishing all fear that apanies your name. Only one without fear can wield the Conqueror''s bloodline. For there is no ce for fear in the heart of the boundless dominator.

    Effect: Increases the effect of your Aura of Domination on Demons by 50%. Increases the threshold of subservience. Decreases the difficulty of wielding techniques rted to domination by 100%.

    *Note: The effects of this title are toggle-able. It is your choice whether or not you wish to use this presence.¡¹

    Not only did this title essentially annihte the difficulty of learning the techniques rted to domination, but it also increased the threshold of Apollo''s aura. In other words, while he was still a Greater Demon, he exuded a presence that went beyond his current state.

    After invoking the title''s effects, it wasn''t far-fetched to say that Apollo could dominate all Archdemons. After all, before the 50 percent increase, Apollo''s aura could interfere with Arleo, who was an Archdemon at the time. Thus, the new limits of Apollo''s aura were understandable.

    After learning of the title''s effects, Apollo then nced at the information surrounding his bloodline. Unsurprisingly, there was an anomaly with the ranking. Even the Abysmal rating didn''t seem to do it justice, since the creator of the bloodline reached a level eclipsing that threshold as well.

    Regrettably, the fruits of theirbor weren''t enjoyable.

    ¡¸?Abysmal Conqueror''s Bloodline?

    Grade: ???

    Description: The bloodline created by one of many monikers, Lord of the Dominus Household, Unifier of the Nihilistic Rings, The Abysmal Conqueror, and finally, Aztraval, The Demon Monarch. As the strongest demon to walk the rings, the grading of this bloodline is unknown.

    Effect: Unlocks the potential of the Supreme Demon Body and establishes the foundation for your dominion.

    *Note: This bloodline is the hidden key to essing the sealed Abyss Ring. ¡¹

    ''My dominion?'' Apollo muttered to himself. Gradually, his thoughts shifted to the two sealed traits that appeared after evolving into a Greater Demon. One of them revolved around a dominion. So, one of the restricting factors for this trait was Apollo''s innate fear.

    Even if he wasn''t aware of this fear, it still served as a severely limiting factor. Fortunately, with the help of a clueless demon, Apollo overcame this fear, finally fulfilling the requirements to unleash the shackles on himself.

    From this point on, Apollo was the one without fear.

    Soon enough, he shifted his attention away from the information rtive to the bloodline and opened another bit of important information¨Deverything rted to the Supreme Demon Body.

    ¡¸?Supreme Demon Body?

    Rank: Abysmal*

    State: Greater Demon Body

    Description: The Supreme Demon Body, only attainable by the own, capable of wielding the Seven Ungodly Stigmata, is a technique unique to the Monarch''s bloodline. It was made to perfect the imperfect Sins. Therefore, there is still room for growth.

    ?Peerless Demon? - Removes all bottlenecks on your evolution process, producing seamless advancement.

    ?Pure Stigmata? - Purifies the stigmata to their purest states, ridding them of any impurities.

    ?Complete Immunity? - Enables you to resist Sin Corruption from outside sources.

    ?Reach Mature Demon Body?

    ?Reach Noble Demon Body?

    ?Reach Daemonic Demon Body?

    ?Reach Primal Demon Body?

    ?Reach Supreme Demon Body?

    *Note: There is room for improvement. However, it requires you to search for what has been long forgotten.¡¹

    Unlike his other Demon Bodies, this detailed nothing about increasing the parameters of his physique outside of the stigmata. That was because this technique''s task only involved bringing out the purest strength of the Sins. As a result, it didn''t directly affect Apollo''s body.

    It did something much greater¨Dthis technique energized the stigmata and the effect of their presence. Thus, Apollo''s experienced another type of change.

    ¡´System: Because your Supreme Demon Body has been unlocked, and the stigmata purified, the Greater Demon state isplete. However, you must visit the other Rings before you can be an Archdemon.¡µ

    ¡´System: Total benefits have been tallied: Level increased to 199. [All attributes increased by 25%].¡µ

    Despite the astonishing announcement, Apollo remained unaffected because it was something he expected. During the creation of his stigmata, Apollo tried to use Fragments of Sin to increase the purity of his Sin. However, each of his vessels rejected the fragments despite their purity, all except Superbia and Ira.

    Therefore, this was all the confirmation Apollo needed. Jumpstarting the purification process required him to visit each of Sin''s respective Rings. After all, how could he expect to purify the Sin if he hadn''t visited its origin yet?

    Soon enough, Apollo sifted through his status screen to understand just how mighty the changes brought about by this revtion were. Furthermore, he also breezed through the very first notifications that he ignored.

    While important, its importance didn''t interest Apollo as much as finding out his abilities. Still, it was very much indispensable information.

    ¡´System: eptance of your bloodline has increased the Demon Monarch System to Level 6.¡µ

    ¡´System: Level 6mands the ability to broadcast the location of all hidden pieces at all times.¡µ

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lv.6

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Greater Demon [100%]

    Title: Monarch''s True Heir, Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 18

    Level: 199

    Experience: 100%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 200,000 units

    -----

    Strength: 3,800.0

    Agility: 3,212.5

    Intelligence: 2,787.5

    Vitality: 2,668

    Comprehension: 308.8

    Willpower: 278.8

    -----------

    At this point, battle was simply unneeded for Apollo. His advancement simply required him to broaden his horizons and learn of the situation of the other Ring. Any experience gained now would just enter the pool used to advance his minions.

    So, any battle performed by his underlings would be the source of their strength despite being unaware of it.

    Eventually, hended behind Fuhrer while crossing his arms. Although his appearance didn''t change in the slightest, the surrounding air did. Even Vc was too frightened to even think about putting on an act.

    "You¡­ have returned, my liege. I have long awaited you," Fuhrer said with a smile.

    Apollo nced at Fuhrer before revealing a shocking piece of information, "Estran is alive."

    Fuhrer''s eyes immediately widened because of Apollo''s revtion. After all, ording to the Lords, they presumed him dead! Unbeknownst to the Lords, Estran only appeared that way to bide his time.

    "How do you know?"

    "Because I can sense him. He sleeps in the distant Ring. Though close to death, I can find him and revitalize him. The household won''t beplete without everyone," Apollo replied before turning his head towards the ruin''s exit.

    Again, he revealed a piece of information that surprised everyone. It seemed his ballooned confidence gave him the reassurance he sought. "Xonnomor isn''t strong enough to forge a piece of equipment I need. I need Asteroth."

    "You don''t mean¡­"

    "I do. I''ll fight Asteroth, just not here. We''ll still be avoiding everyone. I might be stronger, but there are still a few pieces I need to acquire. I need another piece, I need the Dark Lightning Duke, Amduscias," Apollo stated.

    Unlike before, Fuhrer''s expression brightened as he listened to Apollo''s word. ording to what Fuhrer sensed, he had truly recovered the bloodline! Therefore, the disparity in strength was much smaller.

    Suddenly, Apollo lifted his hand, causing Gram to levitate before him. The next moment, he thrust his hand, sending it hurtling towards Typhir at an absurd speed. Just before it collided with him, Apollo clenched his hand, causing it to stop.

    "You may use it. Unleash all the destruction you may like. That Iraym will be your opponent. As for the rest¡­"

    Apollo nced around and pped his hand. The ambient Ira turned into an enormous Demonic Massacre Wave, emanating a terrifying heat. Onceplete, it hurtled forward, creating a scene of utter destruction.

    It instantly burned all of the corpses and gargoyles to ash!

    Meanwhile, Typhir grabbed hold of Gram.

 Chapter 436 - A Destroyer (I)

    ----

    For a moment, Typhir stared at Gram in awe. After all, this was his first time grasping such fine weaponry, especially one that neared the standard of an armament. Even though he merely held the weapon, he could feel the outrageous amount of power coursing through the weapon.

    While it didn''t absorb any of his Ira because of its dormant state, Gram caused the Ira inside Typhir''s body to seethe more than he thought possible. After experiencing the absurdity of this weapon, Typhir understood why Apollo unleashed such a mind-boggling attack earlier.

    However, while the weapon was tempting, Typhir understood something. He turned towards Apollo while lowering Gram''s edge toward the ground. "This weapon is sublime, my Lord. But, I''ll like to ask that you allow me to abstain from using it for the time being."

    Apollo''s expression filled with slight surprise after hearing this. Though he wasn''t giving the weapon to Typhir, the fact that Typhir wanted to withhold the usage of the weapon was shocking. After all, the only reason Apollo lent the weapon to Typhir was to ovee the difference in their strength.

    Unlike Typhir, this Iraym remained down here for years, absorbing the exceedingly pure Ira in this ce. As a result, not only was this Iraym an Archdemon, but the aura it gave off was even stronger than Xonnomor, given that it possessed a genuine demonic aura.

    While it wasn''t on par with an Aura of Destruction or any other simrly powerful aura, there was an overwhelming heat concealed within its body. From what Apollo sensed, if it was unleashed, this Iraym could be a terrifying opponent.

    Though there was danger apanied by this choice, Apollo gave a simple nod. It was Typhir''s decision since, as the Leader of the household, he needed to possess the qualities of an astute leader, which included the ability to make adequate decisions.

    "Do as you wish," Apollo stated.

    Instantly, Typhir drove Gram into the ground beside him while withdrawing his weapon. The opposing Iraym simply looked at Typhir before shifting his gaze towards Apollo, who possessed the same indifferent attitude as before.

    Although he was a bonafide Archdemon, this Iraym felt indescribable fear as he looked at Apollo, eventually forcing him to avert his eyes unless wanted to end up submerge himself inside a terrifying pit of despair.

    "Is that a good decision? Typhir isn''t this thing''s opponent," Fuhrermented while gazing at the difference in their aura. While they both were in dormant states, Fuhrer could sense a faint outline of what they kept hidden.

    Inparison, the Iraym''s aura eclipsed Typhir''s by at least two times the size. If it was a sh powered by his bare strength, Typhir was not this demon''s opponent. Despite his superior stigmata, Fuhrer didn''t feel this was enough to bridge the gap in strength.

    Yet, Apollo had very little of an opinion on this matter, "It''s his decision. Besides, Gram is avable to him at any time. Let''s just see how he manages this battle."

    "Very well," Fuhrer conceded before falling silent. Now, all he did was watch as the two demons stood before each other.

    Suddenly, the Iraym shook its head, "I don''t wish to fight you."

    Unfortunately, Typhir wasn''t open to hearing its remarks. "Your desires are inconsequential before the Lord. As he has spoken his wish, that is exactly what will happen."

    Boom!

    The ground exploded as Typhir rushed towards the Iraym with shocking momentum. It went beyond what Vc and even Jorgun could muster as his lesser version of the Infernal Ira Stigmata thrummed with a vibrant Sin signature.

    After sensing the lethal aura emanating from Typhir, the Iraym''s expression sharpened. The fact that his plea to surrender was ignored infuriated it slightly, causing anger to appear within its mind.

    Apollo noticed this change and grinned slightly. ''This should be an entertaining battle. Let''s see just what this Iraym''s redeeming quality is.''

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Typhir''s greatsword destroyed the ground constantly as the Iraym evaded his powerful strikes with swift movements. Evidently, the Iraym was much faster since it only employed its inherent speed to dodge.

    Granted, Typhir didn''t use any quickening technique to speed up his attacks, either. Before he increased the intensity of the battle, Typhir wished to glean an understanding of the disparity in their strength.

    Yet, its passive reactions made it difficult for Typhir to do so. At most, he only understood that his agility was inferior to this demon. Eventually, the continued dodging without confrontation led to Typhir''s rage.

    Which, in turn, caused him to reveal some information that he kept secret. Suddenly, a nket of shadowy ember encased half of his body, but it didn''t stop after encasing half of his body.

    Soon enough, a mantle of pure darkness enveloped Typhir''s body, emitting a faint void signature that intrigued Apollo. After mending his understanding of the Tenebrous Sword Forms with the First Baleful Step and ample spars with Fuhrer, Typhir seeded in learning the Second Baleful Step!

    ''Oh? I didn''t expect him to make this much progress. I suppose I should stop neglecting this technique as well,'' Apollo thought to himself. Because of all the pressing issues he faced, Apollo''s need to learn the Third Baleful Step diminished greatly.

    After all, the second step still proved effective as his attributes were growing at an rming rate but. As it was, the Second Step was only rated as a Greater Demonic Technique. Therefore, since he was on the brink of evolving into an Archdemon, he needed techniques to match.

    Eventually, Apollo shifted his attention back towards the battle.

    "Continue dodging and my sword will inevitably end your pitiful existence," Typhir said in a frigid tone. In the next moment, his body vanished, but not quite as perfectly as when Fuhrer used his Void Shuttling movement.

    Still, Typhir''s movement was quick because the Iraym''s eyes widened, prompting it to dodge. However, despite its swift reaction, a small nick appeared on its throat. Just as Typhir imed, he was aiming for this demon''s neck!

    After feeling the slight pain on its neck, the demon touched it as narrowed its eyes when it witnessed the purple blood on its fingers evaporating at a rapid pace.

    "Fine! Since this is what you want, then I''ll entertain you!" The Iraym snarled, finally bing enraged by Typhir''s actions. The ground nearby rumbled as a result of the Iraym''s actions.

    Cracks appeared in the ground by its feet, producing tiny chasms of moltenva.

    After witnessing this, Fuhrer''s expression changed. He didn''t expect this Iraym to possess such an aura, "That''s the Aura of Incineration. Though inferior to destruction, it still possesses a nasty effect."

    "Does it? Typhir''s an Iraym as well, so he''s resistant towards mes," Apollo replied in return. After all, when they shed, most of the wound Typhir suffered from his Hellfire was superficial at best.

    Part of the resistance was due to Typhir''s Iraym traits, but the rest came from his stigmata. Most stigmata doubled as external armors, simr to the Essence Aegis that most cultivators on Astarat used to protect themselves.

    While the protection from Ira could be used against all iing attacks, it was most effective against the identical Sin. Hence, why demons with weaker stigmata generally loathed going against a demon with a simr yet stronger form.

    With his Aura of Incineration activated, the Archdemon rushed towards Typhir, leaving molten footsteps in its wake. In addition to wielding potentially dangerous firepower, this Iraym''s agility also increased to another level as small fire sts urred at the soles of its feet.

    Almost immediately, Typhir reacted by moving his greatsword against his body.

    Bang!

    Typhir slid back over 10 meters after receiving the kick. Fortunately, the weapon given to him was durable, else that kick from the Iraym would have shattered a weapon on par with something like Apollo''s old Dark Cutter.

    Despite his sessful block, Typhir''s body still felt the effects of receiving the blow, driving him to wave it off.

    "Not a bad blow," Typhir chuckled with a faint nod. A savage gleam appeared in his eyes as Apollo received a message.

    ¡´System: Your Household Leader Typhir Estrada is invoking the first stage of his ?Infernal Destroyer? bloodline.¡µ

    ¡´System: Typhir''s Strength and Agility have risen by 10%.¡µ

    ¡´System: Typhir''s ?Aura of Destruction? is being utilized at the 2nd degree.¡µ

    Immediately, Apollo was surprised by the fact that the system revealed information on the actions of his demons. Then again, he felt it was to be expected considering Lv..6 broadcasted the hidden piece''s locations indefinitely.

 Chapter 437 - A Destroyer (II)

    ----

    On top of revealing the increase in Typhir''s stats, the system also revealed the name of Typhir''s bloodline, which seemed to be centered on destruction. However, Apollo expected as much since Fuhrer divulged Typhir''s identity as a berserker.

    This identity usually stemmed from one''s bloodline. And although Typhir wasn''t a demon, to begin with, the system instilled a bloodline that most agreed with the inherent traits of Apollo''s followers.

    However, one thing Apollo found interesting was the fact that Typhir''s bloodlinemanded the ability to activate his berserk tendencies in stagnated levels, which depended on the degree of his aura.

    Since Typhir wasn''t extremely irritated, the system determined his aura to only reach the second degree. But, after learning of this, Apollo became curious about the level of Fuhrer''s activation when he devolved to his Infernal ughterer state.

    Apollo also wondered about the highest degree an aura could achieve. As it was now, his Aura of Domination only reached the 3rd degree and was infinitesimally close to the 4th degree thanks to the presence of his bloodline.

    Meanwhile, once he activated this level of his bloodline, Typhir rushed forward. Arge portion of his Demonic Anima was sacrificed as he employed the Umbra Phantom Mantle to dodge the Iraym''s next rush.

    However, Typhir didn''t continue to dodge. He retaliated with a powerful sh after sessively dodging. Continuously dodging wouldn''t result in a victory, especially against an Archdemon who possessed at least two times the volume of Anima as he did.

    Not to mention, its Ira volume should be at least three times higher. If he wasn''t meticulous in his actions, Typhir could easily find himself in a precarious situation with the difference in their strength.

    Yet, Typhir wasn''t disturbed by this situation. Typhir even revealed an excited grin because of a simple fact¨Da berserker''s traits.

    There were three types of berserkers. Those who grew stronger the angrier they became, ultimately bing a force to be reckoned with. And those who grew stronger the more damage they received, finding joy in a perilous situation.

    Lastly, there was the hybrid¨Dthose who benefited from both qualities of a berserker.

    Based on his reaction, Typhir''s bloodline seemed to originate from the third option. Because not only was his anger brewing, but he was enjoying the difficulty of this battle. Hence, why Typhir refused to use Gram from the start.

    Yes, it would close the gap, but it wasn''t practical for Typhir. First, his Sin volume paled inparison to Apollo''s because of the difference in both theirpleted evolution and the source of their stigmata.

    Despite Apollo''s higher volume, Gram still left him in an unusually dismal state. Therefore, Typhir was sure that three swings of the weapon would be his limit. Afterward, he would be forced to retreat.

    Instead of experiencing that dilemma, he wanted to understand the depths of his power.

    ''I need to verify my worth as the leader,'' Typhir thought as his sword was just centimeters away from connecting with the Archdemon''s side. Regrettably, it wouldn''t be that easy for Typhir to damage the Iraym.

    Bang!

    The Iraym deflected the attack with a knee strike as its ws filled with a sweltering heat fueled by its aura. A sizzling noise urred as its ws dragged against Typhir''s sword.

    Typhir''s arms flexed, allowing his burst of strength to deflect the strike, only to realize the 4 rming marks left on the width of the sword.

    ''My sword!'' Typhir thought with a darkening expression. Although it wasn''t the best, it had been by his side since he became a demon. So, there was a bit of sentiment attached to this weapon.

    As a result, Typhir plunged deeper into his rage, provoking him to unleash an endless barrage of powerful shes. Each sessive strike experienced a marginal increase in strength as Typhir took a step forward.

    While the increase was considerable from Typhir''s standpoint, the Iraym still managed to fend off his attack with just its bare ws. Repeatedly, it unleashed a frightening attack in kind.

    Eventually, Apollo experienced another message from the system.

    ¡´System: Household Leader Typhir Estrada''s Health has dropped to 75%¡µ

    ¡´System: Household Leader Typhir Estrada has invoked the second level of the ?Infernal Destroyer? bloodline.¡µ

    ¡´System: Typhir''s Strength and Agility have risen by an additional 25%.¡µ

    ¡´System: Typhir''s ?Aura of Destruction? is being employed at the epitome of the 2nd degree.¡µ

    This time, Apollo showed little reaction to the expected notification, merely continuing to watch the battle as it unfolded.

    Now that Typhir experienced another increase in strength, the Iraym was finally forced to view him differently. ''What''s wrong with this demon? It''s only a Greater Demon, yet its power continues to grow?!''

    At this point, Typhir''s strength and agility had increased by almost 38%. Conversely, his defense was bing abysmal. In exchange for bizarre power, a berserker exchanged their vitality.

    The reason why berserk demons were otherwise known as Burst Demons. Meaning, they unleashed unfathomable amounts of destruction within a short timeframe. Oftentimes, that destruction included putting themselves in grave danger.

    Bang!

    Typhir unleashed a strike iparable to any before. The force behind it caused the Iraym''s body to obliterate the ground as he received it. A 38% increase to Typhir''s strength, which hovered around 2,400 with his stigmata activated, meant that each of his usual strikes now carried the power of an initial Archdemon.

    But, his aura couldn''t be overlooked. Since it reached the highest point of the second level, it increased the explosiveness of Typhir''s attacks by approximately 30%. So while the initial blow rivaled an Archdemon of the initial level, after factoring in his aura''s effect, its true might rivaled a primary Archdemon!

    Hence the reason behind the Iraym''s shock.

    The difference between Typhir''s damage at the beginning of the fight and now was iparable! Although it hadn''t reached absurd levels, it was enough to force the Iraym to retaliate wholeheartedly to avoid suffering damage.

    Although the Iraym blocked his strikes, Typhir didn''t let up. He vanished for a moment, drifting to the side of the Iraym as he executed a swift strike. The first one was easy to defend against, but Typhir started employing this technique at a hastening pace.

    The timing was also sporadic, with him sometimes appearing in the same ce, throwing off the Iraym. Eventually, Typhir''s tactic allowed him tond three strikes.

    Though they weren''t as deep as he would have hoped, they were still worthwhile injuries; enough to drive the Iraym mad with resentment.

    "ENOUGH!!"

    Suddenly, Iraym released a bestial roar followed by a strong surge of Ira. Until now, neither Typhir nor the Iraym weaponized their Ira. Seeing as they were both Iraym, unless they wielding their strongest form of it, it was useless to employ it.

    Simr to how Arleo fended off most of Apollo''s Ira attacks until he wielded Superbia alongside his Ira to produce an overwhelming effect.

    Typhir covered himself, but still suffered damage from the vast difference in their purities.

    "I will not entertain this foolishness any longer," the Iraym snarled. Instantly, the IRa under its control formed into a spiral spear thatunched at Typhir with astonishing speeds. Even his pupils constricted as he witnessed the iing attack.

    This Iraym had finally be serious!

    In response to the iing strong attack, Typhir only possessed enough time to perform a minor defensive measure. He lifted the blunt side of the weapon before him and braced for impact, except he did expect the Sin attack to his with such vigor.

    BANG!

    Typhir was immediately thrust back, mming into the wall as he continued to brace the weapon before his body. Conversely, the Iraym continued to push his hand forward with a ruthless expression, adding to the pressure of the Ira spear.

    As a result, Typhir''s body was forced deeper and deeper into the wall, producing a hole identical to the shape of his body.

    "Argghhhh!"

    Despite the vigorous attack, Typhir didn''t give in, roaring as he pushed back against the spear. His stigmata pulsated as smoky wisps of Ira evaporated from his body. Additionally, his long hair flickered with Hellfire as the muscles in his arms swelled as he took a single step forward before being thrust back into the wall.

    Cracks appeared in the center of his greatsword as both sides proved overwhelming for the weapon. The inevitable oue soon happened as the greatsword shattered into two pieces.

    During the short period, Typhir managed to move to the side, but not far enough as the Ira spear pinned his arm to the wall. It soon stopped spinning.

    Once it stopped, Typhir exhaled before revealing a bone-chilling smirk as he dropped the pieces of the greatsword. In the next moment, he gripped the spear with his free hand and pulled it out with a crushing grip!

 Chapter 438 - Destroyers Sacrifice

    ----

    Typhir''s grip around the spear impaling his arm tightened indefinitely. Despite the grueling pain produced by the ghastly heat searing his palm, the madness in Typhir''s eyes grew. While the sound generated by his grip was appalling to others, Typhir felt differently.

    The savage light in his eyes intensified as his body swelled with absurd levels of strength. The emissions from his body caused even Apollo to smile as he nced in Fuhrer''s direction.

    "It appears that Typhir''s bloodline isn''t the same as yours," Apollo chuckled.

    "Of course not. After all, I walk the route of suppression, whereas he travels the path of destruction. If I''m not mistaken, Typhir''s bloodline should belong to the Destroyer lineage," Fuhrer said with a deep expression.

    As Fuhrer''s mind was filled with archaic knowledge of the bloodlines, it took a moment for him to locate the bloodline which corresponded to the traits Typhir''s disyed. However, Apollo suspected Fuhrer possessed a deep knowledge of the bloodlines.

    Even though he spected as much, Apollo still praised Fuhrer''s vast knowledge surrounding the demons.

    "Correct. He carries the Infernal Destroyer Bloodline," Apollo admitted with a faint nod.

    This revtion initially came as a surprise to Fuhrer. Since Apollo''s time in the Rings was sparse, Fuhrer didn''t expect him to possess information regarding the many demonic bloodlines. Other than his own, the rest should be unknown to Apollo.

    However, it didn''t take long for Fuhrer to dispose of this assumption. Once he recalled Apollo''s link to all of his followers, it took little for Fuhrer to understand what happened. Apollo''s identity as their monarch gave him extra privileges.

    One of which involved receiving feedback regarding their strengths.

    "Correct. Now, let''s see what happens because if I''m not wrong, Typhir''s already entered the 3rd degree of this bloodline. Or, at the very least, he''s shattering that threshold as we speak," Fuhrer said with an invested expression.

    From fearing the oue, Fuhrer gradually became interested in finding out the depths of Typhir''s current power.

    Apollo felt the same way. Therefore, the two cut their conversation short and watched the development between these two Irayms.

    "Urghh¡­"

    A low gurgle exited from Typhir''s throat when he moved the spear an inch. The pain was iprehensible, but Typhir didn''t experience any change in expression aside from this small noise.

    Boundless fury undted from his body afterward.

    As a result, the wall encasing him crumbled as his aura unleashed in cataclysmic pulses. Soon enough, it allowed him to step back onto the ground. Once hended, he took steps that shook the earth as he advanced.

    Eventually, the spear piercing through his arm revealed cracks that spread at a ridiculous rate. Soon enough, it shattered with a sound akin to ss breaking while Typhir walked over its tattered remains.

    Afterward, he cracked his neck and walked towards the Iraym, "Quite a gruesome strike you delivered there, but I hold nothing against you."

    "Precisely, because it is your fault. I didn''t ask for your provocation. Besides, all is fair in war," the Iraym responded with an expression just as cold. However, his wrath paled whenpared to the one Typhir exuded.

    "I see," Typhir nodded casually. There was a brief silence between the two.

    Suddenly, Typhir''s body swelled to roughly twice its size, standing over 15 feet tall. In his current form, he easily towered above the Iraym.

    Subsequently, the information revealed by the system thoroughly shocked Apollo. Typhir was truly a berserker through and through! Partly because of the ridiculous boost, but mostly because of the actions he wasmitting!

    After receiving the spear, Typhir''s health dropped drastically, suffering damage equal to over 35% of his entire health. However, the act of pulling it caused sustained damage, which drained his health even further, but nowhere as fast as the damage suffered upon initial contact.

    Because of his bloodline''s effect, Typhir became increasingly susceptible to damage. So, the longer the fight, the higher the chance of suffering damage.

    Yet, Typhir''s freakish power continued to strengthen, every after falling to less than 50%.

    ¡´System: Household Leader Typhir Estrada''s Health has dropped under 40%.¡µ

    ¡´System: Household Leader Typhir Estrada has invoked the third level of the ?Infernal Destroyer? bloodline.¡µ

    ¡´System: Typhir''s ?Aura of Destruction? has reached the 3rd degree.¡µ

    ¡´System: Typhir''s Strength and Agility have risen by an additional 50%.¡µ

    ¡´System: The Infernal Destroyer Bloodline''s unique ability ?Destroyer''s Sacrifice? has activated.¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Destroyer''s Sacrifice? has sacrificed 15% Health. [remaining Health: 20%].¡µ

    In exchange for the sliver of health remaining, Typhir was granted destructive strength. In short, the Destroyer''s Sacrifice was a self-mutting ability that traded vitality for immense power.

    It was simr to Apollo''s Sacrificial Vigor he possessed while a Demi-Demon, except Typhir''s version was much stronger. Whereas the only purpose of Apollo''s Sacrificial Vigor was to turn his health into a consumable resource for techniques when his stamina didn''t suffice, Typhir''s was raw power.

    It converted 1% of his health into an identical amount of strength. And, since his bloodline''s innate increase already ballooned his power to at least 200% of what it once was, this additional amount truly pushed him over the edge.

    Simply put, with an over 250% increase in his strength and agility, Typhir''s power was more or less identical to this Iraym. In other words, Typhir has essentially leveled the ying for the time being!

    Boom!

    Typhirunched a frightening punch backed by his over 5,700 Strength. This strike reached the epitome of what an Archdemon could unleash as far as raw stats went.

    The Iraym could only respond in kind, throwing a simr punch. Although his body was much smaller, his blow forced both sides into a deadlock. At first, there was silence, but then their collision caused the ground within a 2-meter radius to experience unmatched destruction!

    Suddenly, Typhirshed out his leg.

    This time, the Iraym lifted his arm and blocked. Unlike the first blow''s circr obliteration, this attack destroyed the floor in a cone shape since the Iraym only defended.

    Though Typhir was a swordsman, he was skilled with his hands. After all, unless a true master of the sword, it was dangerous for a swordsman to lose their weapon. Therefore, Fuhrer also trained him in hand-to-handbat as a precaution.

    "Heh! Is this all you''re capable of? Where''s that Ira from earlier? Why don''t you use it?" Typhir said in a derisive tone before sping his hands together. In the next moment, he mmed his fists towards the Iraym.

    Its eyes widened as it lifted its arms to defend.

    BOOOM!

    An explosion of horrifying volume ensued as nearly half of the Iraym''s body sunk into the ground. Meanwhile, Typhir''s filled with delight as he forced the Iraym into a position under him.

    "That''s where your lowly existence belongs¨Ddown below."

    Bang!

    Typhir moved his hands and kicked the Iraym into the ground, causing a deep chasm extending as far as the Iraym slid. Typhir didn''t allow the Iraym to recover, before jumping explosively towards the chasm''s endpoint.

    Just before hending a strike, a fist wreathed in an infernal aura appeared from within the debris. It was too fast for Typhir to dodge, so the blow inevitablynded upon his chin,unching him into the ceiling above.

    The entire underground cavern trembled uncontrobly. With hisrge physique, it was enough to unsettle the entire underground chamber.

    Still, Typhir seemed unaffected by this strike as he dropped from the ceiling and rushed towards the Iraym with an excited grin. After all, it had once again weaponized its Ira. Typhir felt that unless it used this ability, then it wasn''t a real fight¨Dthe thrill would be missing.

    Meanwhile, the Iraym appeared from within the debris with a different appearance. There was a ming armor covering its torso while a crown formed from magma appeared around its forehead. Both its Ira and auraposed this aura.

    Evidently, this demon activated a bloodline as well.

    At this point, Apollo was surprised. With both sides revealing a bloodline, this fight would escte to another level. In fact, Apollo lifted his hand behind his back and pulled up, which formed a small collection of rocks to sit on.

    Such a sight was too entertaining to watch standing. Thus, he took a seat.

    In the meantime, afterying eyes upon this transformation, Typhir nodded.

    "Excellent! Let us conclude this matter!"

    Amidst his rush, Typhir extended his hand and snatched the weapon driven into the ground earlier.

 Chapter 439 - A Destroyer And A Sword Of Fury

    ----

    Since both Typhir and the Iraym decided to catapult the fight towards its end, Typhir picked up Gram. Unlike before, where he stopped to marvel at its power, Typhir simply continued his rush with a thrilled expression.

    "Only one of us will remain standing when this all ends!" Typhir bellowed, causing the entire hall to tremble. In his excitement, he unleashed the flood gates to his Ira reserves. Until now, only Anima powered all of Typhir''s attacks.

    This was all done while keeping Gram in mind. After all, Typhir understood that this was a fight he was incapable of winning without the usage of Gram. Even Apollo understood that. All his bloodline did was bridge the gap in their evolutionary state.

    There was still the difference in Sin Purity, and the fact that this Iraym had yet to unleash any terrifying techniques aside from the spear of Ira. However, with the appearance of this armor, it was now a different story.

    Now that it operated to its fullest capacity, this Iraym was a genuine threat.

    Though Typhir understood that Apollo wouldn''t let him die, that didn''t diminish from the fact that he wished to prove his worth as the Leader of the Household. Although it was a minor role, since the state of the household was iplete, it was still important to Typhir.

    In his eyes, the greatest victory would be to receive the position that Fuhrer held with the First Monarch¨Dthe right-hand man, otherwise known as the Grand General of the Dominus Army. not only was this the highest title within the household, but it was a role thatmanded respect in ancient times.

    No matter where Fuhrer went, as long as it didn''t involve the 9 Kings of simr strength, Fuhrer was looked at as an object of reverence. Though it paled inparison to the respect that Monarch received, it was still a shocking sight to witness many innately unruly demons worship someone outside of their leader.

    This was the position that Typhir aimed for. And this fight here would be his first step in proving his worth¨Dhis ability to im that right.

    Therefore, Typhir let it all loose. His eyes sharpened, and his aura zed, destroying everything in its wake. ording to his earlier assumptions, Typhir felt he could wield this weapon no more than three times, but that was before including his bloodline''s properties.

    As a bloodline of the Perfected level, the Infernal Destroyer Bloodline was more than enough to deter some of Gram''s voracious tendencies. After all, the Infernal Destroyer Bloodline stood at the apex of the bloodlines centered around wrath.

    And, as a sword of fury, Gram was a kindred item to Typhir. Therefore, a message appeared within Apollo''s view once again, except it differed from the earlier one.

    ¡´System: There is a high affinity between Household Leader and the iplete armament: Gram, Sword of Fury.¡µ

    ¡´System: Due to the resonance, the Infernal Destroyer Bloodline has reduced Gram''s consumption to 25% of its original value.¡µ

    ''Just as I expected. As a berserker, there is no better weapon than a heavy weapon, especially one forged from material found inside Purgatory, the epitome of wrathful ces,'' Apollo thought to himself while dismissing the notifications before his eyes.

    On the other hand, with the consumption experiencing such a drastic reduction, Typhir''s original estimation of 3 strikes instantly ballooned to over 10! If he couldn''t end the first within 10 strikes, then his current actions were simply biting off more than he could chew.

    Granted, it was Apollo who assigned this opponent.

    "Arggh!" Typhir roared. Despite being far away, he swung Gram, executing one frightening stroke. Approximately 10 percent of his Ira reserves were drained as an arc of dense Ira hurtled towards the Iraym.

    A sense of dread enveloped its mind as the arc closed on its position. Unlike before, where it summoned a single spear to pin Typhir to the wall, the Iraym conjured two¨Done in each hand. He aimed them at the iing arc with a sharp thrust.

    However, to his surprise, the Iraym was forced back, sliding endlessly as he roared and pushed against the arc.

    All of a sudden, a huge shadow appeared above the Iraym. Expecting Typhir to wait as it dealt with this attack was a foolish belief. While the Iraym tried to resolve the berserk nature of this attack, Typhir leapt high above.

    This time, he funneled twice as much Ira into the strike, condensing the aura of two attacks into one. It was faint, but the outline of a demonic beast appeared around Gram as he lifted it above his head.

    "Die!" Typhir roared. He unleashed a downward sh, causing an arc twice the size of the prior one to fly towards the Iraym at astonishing speeds. Because it was held in ce, the thought of dodging immediately left its mind. Not only was there no time to do so, but there was also no opportunity, either.

    After all, with Gram increasing the power of Typhir''s strike by 125%, his first strike rivaled that of an initial Noblesse with no increases from techniques or items. The prospect of skipping an entire realm of power, even if achieved with the help of an item, was simply mind-boggling!

    The Iraym''s pupil constricted as it watched the arce within a single meter of its body. Its rage brewed and all of its Ira seethed. A torrential burst of Ira billowed from its body, shattering the arc that held its body in ce.

    Once that happened, it lifted hands and fortified the Ira used to make its spears. A thick cluster of Hellfire enveloped the outer edges of the spears as it stabbed them towards the iing arc of frightening power.

    It was an immediate contest of strength, but the Iraym''s body was forced back a step after experiencing the absurd strength of this attack. This was the strongest attack it faced to date, and it couldn''t fathom how this Greater Demon could unleash something like this.

    Still, it wasn''t going to take this attack sitting down. If it was going to perish, it was going to do with a ze of glory!

    It started drawing upon all sources of strength¨Dbloodline, anima, and Ira¨Dto power the spear in its hands. As a result, it momentarily obtained the power to force the arc back to its initial position.

    But, before it could press the arc any further, an unsettling tremor urred not too far away.

    Typhirnded with a bizarre expression. Part of his body felt like it was falling apart, but because the Iraym had yet to perish, he didn''t allow himself to give in to the aftereffects of awakening the 3rd degree of his bloodline just yet.

    Slowly, Typhir lifted Gram before him. Wisps of crimson smoke emanated from his body as his stigmata burned through a frightening amount of Ira. The rest was utilized by Gram to condense over 5 strikes worth of Ira into onest stand.

    Because of Typhir''s stupefying actions, an image akin to some kind of frightening beast appeared behind him. Perhaps it was the original possessor of the bloodline, but from what Apollo saw, this thing seemed to be capable of untold amounts of destruction.

    ''Is this the manifestation of a bloodline''s creator? If so, will I be able to recreate the image of my father?'' Apollo wondered. However, he didn''t stay focused on this topic for long because this fight was too important to miss.

    Finally, Typhir stomped his foot against the ground. He appeared before the Iraym within an instant. Once he did, all of Typhir''s aura vanished. All of it remained at the tip of Gram as he smiled.

    "Thest one standing¡­ is not you," Typhir muttered. In the next instant, Gram stabbed through the Iraym''s core. A dreadful hole was burned through its body, as it turned to ash at a rate that allowed it to still speak.

    "What¡­ are you all?"

    "We''re the embodiments of the ancient times. The harbingers of the new era of greatness," Typhir replied. A momentter, he staggered, almost falling over. However, before he fell, Apollo appeared by his side and held his shoulder.

    "You''ve done well. You''ve shown exactly why I''ve named you as the leader. I''m sure no one else will want to fight with you after witnessing this disy. Am I right?" Apollo questioned with a faint smile as he looked back.

    "Oh fcck no! Are you kidding me? I''m okay!" Vc eximed instantly. Simr to his response, the others shook their heads as well.

    Meanwhile, the Iraym perish while looking into Apollo''s eyes.. There was no anger, it just understood that its sacrifice was an example.

 Chapter 440 - Greater Demons & Bloodlines (I)

    ----

    Apollo chuckled once he heard Vc''s response. Though it matched his character, it was simply a funny response to listen to. One thing he respected about his demons was that while they were all loyal to him, they each possessed a unique character.

    There was Vc, the troublemaker who, despite his childish attitude, was ready to assault anyone that imposed on his house. Furcas, the instigator and wise one who carried out the estimations of their nning. And even Jorgun, the oaf, who assisted in battle without a moment''s hesitation. While everyone possessed their faults, Apollo wasn''t asking them to be perfect.

    His wish was simple. And so, Apollo revealed a faint smirk as he looked around at the current members of his following. ''The Dominus Household will be many times stronger than it once was. I won''t allow it to suffer the same fate twice.''

    Gradually, Apollo turned his head back towards Typhir. Because he killed the Iraym, a message appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

    ''I didn''t expect it to be worth so much experience. Typhir has truly done well,'' Apollo thought. The amount of experience received from this one kill was almost double what the pool received when Apollo allowed his demons to clear the path back to Fuhrer''s cave.

    However, it was also to be expected seeing as the amount of resource a demonic vessel at the Archdemon could carry at that level eclipsed its Lesser version by many times over.

    ¡´System: Your follower has killed an Archdemon Iraym.¡µ

    ¡´System: The criteria of the defeat has unsealed a newponent.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your followers'' eliminations now reward 100% of the Experience value. However, you can choose how the distribution portioned between you and your followers is set.¡µ

    ¡´System: 5,500,000 Experience rewarded. [Added to the pool by default.]¡µ

    Since Apollo''s level was already at the cap of being a Greater Demon, it was impossible to absorb any more. Therefore, the experience received from Typhir''s kill went into the pool by default, but Apollo didn''t mind this at all.

    Because, one of the matters he needed to do was upgrading all of his Lesser Demons into Greater Demons. As of right now, 4 Lesser Demons remained in his possession¨DOuroboros, ia, Jorgun, and finally, Zarkath.

    Out of the four, Zarkath was the one closest to bing a Greater Demon, because he was originally an Archdemon that Fuhrer nearly killed. If it wasn''t for Apollo wanting him, Zarkath wouldn''t be alive right now.

    After all, out of all of the demons in his arsenal, Zarkath possessed the best defensive techniques. Although Ira is a Sin mostly used for attacking, Zarkath forged a tactic to turn it into a defensive technique that also imparted sustained damage.

    While the ability of the ramparts was limited, for now, Apollo felt that he could refine the technique further if he was to learn an aura and be exposed to even purer Ira.

    In total, the experience possessed just slightly over 10 million Experience. After all, absorbing Arleo, Xonnomor, and Gallmath into the household''s roster rewarded a small amount of experience. 75 percent of the value went to Apollo, whereas the remaining 25 percent situated itself in the pool.

    Thus, as Apollo check the pool, he was content.

    ¡´Current Experience Pool: 10,825,000¡µ

    As revealed by Typhir''s earlier upgrade, increasing their evolution meter at the Lesser Demon level required 110,000 Experience. Therefore, as long as the cumtive value of their upgrade was under 100 percent, then he would possess a householdprising only Greater Demon or higher individuals.

    "Zarkath, Jorgun, ia, and Ouroborose forth," Apollomanded while standing up from the stone he stood on. Although his tone was harsh and his demeanor indifferent, these four didn''t show any wariness, only respect.

    Especially Ouroboros who appeared before Apollo and slithered around his neck happily, "Massster~ Is it feeding time?"

    "I guess you can see it like that," Apollo chuckled softly. After all, a simplification of the sacrificial evolution was simply Apollo feeding experience into their body. Though it converted into whatever resource was needed at the time, it was still the same principle.

    "Yummmy! Borossss iss hungry," Ouroboros hissed while rubbing his cheek against Apollo''s cheek. In return, Apollo scratched the single pure amethyst scale on his head. Ouroboros continued to hiss happily while Apollo looked around.

    From what he sensed, Zarkath was the one closest to the next level, so Apollo started with him first. "You''ll all be moving to the next level as we move forward with our ns. Zarkath, you''re first."

    "I appreciate your blessing, my Lord," Zarkath said as he kneeled before Apollo respectfully.

    Immediately, the same string of messages from Typhir''s change appeared.

    ?System: The chosen follower possesses the potential to evolve. [Current Evolution: 92%].?

    ?System: Sacrificing 111,000 Experience is needed to raise the follower''s evolution 1%.?

    ?System: Do you wish to precipitate your follower''s evolution? [Y/N]??

    Of course, Apollo epted this, causing 880,000 Experience to vanish from the pool in an instant.

    Thick veins appeared around Zarkath''s body as the original transparent color of the experience change into crimson and ck streams, signifying Zarkath''s need for more Anima and an increased Ira purity.

    Once that was achieved, Zarkath''s body swelled while his hands and feet turning into hardened ws, reminiscent of magma, as did the two horns on his head. Instead of the typical two sets of horns received at this stage, Zarkath kept two horns except they grew until they were over twice the size it once was.

    On the other hand, all of his hair burned away, reced by naked yet rough skin, filled with dark marking. Additionally, his eyes turned a deep orange color as he lifted his head towards Apollo with a respectful expression.

    "I will cherish the blessing bestowed upon me by my Lord," Zarkath said as he soon lowered his head. Apollo didn''t respond for the time being cause he looked at the string of messages that appeared before him.

    ¡´System: The physique of follower Zarkath has been remade and purified.¡µ

    ¡´System: Zarkath has advanced into Greater Demon.¡µ

    ¡´System: Follower Zarkath has awakened a new title and bloodline due to their traits.¡µ

    Compared to when he fought him as an Archdemon, Zarkath''s current aura was many times purer. One reason being the appearance of a bloodline, but the other was because he awakened a true awakened Demonic Aura to match his bloodline.

    Moreover, Apollo took this time to truly explore the blessing of his upgraded authority.

    ¡¸Name: Zarkath [Follower]

    Race: Greater Demon (00.00%)

    Title: The Magma Overlord

    Bloodline: Perfected Ifrit (Aura of Incineration)

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 75,000 units

    Sin Volume: 7,500 units

    -----

    Strength: 2,050.0

    Agility: 2,000.0

    Intelligence: 1,950.0

    Vitality: 2,100.0

    Perception: 1,500.0

    ----

    Ira: Primary [Hellfire] ¡¹

    Apollo''s expression instantly changed as he read through Zarkath''s current information. He awakened the same aura that this Iraym who just perished possessed. Though it was weaker because of itscking degree, Apollo wasn''t pressed about that matter.

    It was simply a matter of experience, and/or the right conditions for Zarkath to advance upon it.

    Since Apollo possessed the ability to peer into their current conditions, Apollo moved on to his next target¨DJorgun. He recalled that Fuhrer once revealed that he possessed a special ability, so perhaps his next level meant morphing that into a suitable bloodline.

    Simr to Zarkath, Jorgun kneeled in the same ce, except his movement were much more clumsy, causing Apollo to chuckle eventually. "Perhaps we''ll be able to correct this matter as you approach the next level."

    Identical to his earlier actions, Apollo held his hand above Jorgun''s head. Unlike Zarkath, who only needed a small push, Jorgun''s evolution needed a much greater push. After all, up until now, his meter was only 70 percentplete.

    Thus, nearly one-third of the experience was exhausted because of his change.

    Fortunately, it was worth it because Jorgun''s change was just as momentous as Zarkath''s. However, because he was already a giant, there was no change in his height. Only his muscles were refined, turning him into an amalgam of pure brute force.

    Perhaps even Typhir paled inparison to the amount of strength Jorgun now possessed.

    The same string of messages repeated themselves, but as Apollo looked at Jorgun''s new information, he could only shake his head despondently. ''Perhaps me thinking this change would resolve his issue was too far-fetched.''

    The nature of Jorgun''s stats revealed that there was little change in the department Apollo wished for.

 Chapter 441 - Greater Demons & Bloodlines (II)

    ----

    Compared to Zarkath''s stats, Jorgun''s were much more unbnced. In Zarkath''s case, most of his attributes surpassed the entry-level of a Greater Demon by at least 25 percent. Typically, the system would ssify the beginning of the Greater Demon level with at least 1,250 stats inside each attribute.

    However, Jorgun''s stats appeared much differently.

    ¡¸Name: Jorgun [Follower]

    Race: Greater Demon (00.00%)

    Title: The Unstoppable Force

    Bloodline: Rampaging Juggernaut (Aura of Force)

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 100,000 units

    Sin Volume: 5,000 units

    -----

    Strength: 2,900.0

    Agility: 2,100.0

    Intelligence: 900.0

    Vitality: 2,500.0

    Perception: 700.0

    ----

    Ira: Primary [Hellfire] ¡¹

    Everything about Jorgun operated on one principle¨Dstrength! Instead of having bnced stats, the system assigned values that matched the baseline as a whole, but they were horrifyingly unbnced. However, that was just the state of HJorgun''s current body.

    Since he possessed the Aura of Force, his forte was unsurpassed strength. Even his title revealed that he revolved around being unstoppable. In this case, there was no need for stats that deal with his senses.

    After all, with his power alone, he could produce a scene of utter destruction! His strength wasn''t far from reaching the baseline of an Archdemon. Only the system knew just what type of monstrous strength Jorgun would possess when he evolved into an Archdemon.

    Although the reason for their drastic increase in strength was the appearance of bloodline boosting the parameters of their body, each of their bloodlines was only at the first degree. It would take some time to limate to the bloodline and understand how to invoke their power.

    Unlike Typhir, who was created by the system, both Zarkath and Jorgun were born as demons, so there was a certain instilled practice they were required to break before even thinking about reaching Typhir''s level of utilization.

    Eventually, Jorgun up and shook his head, "U-urgh. Thank you for the power, my Lord! I shall be an unstoppable defense for our household." After making this oath, Jorgun pounded his chest, causing a resounding echo to st for at least 20 meters.

    However, it didn''t affect Apollo in the slight as an air of dominance kept this force at bay. It even quivered before disappearing of its own ord. Admittedly, even Jorgun''s force understood that it was inferior to Apollo.

    Soon, Apollo nodded after receiving this pledge. While he believed that Jorgun would truly make good on his promise, there were others of simr or even greater strength that Jorgun would have to ovee to take that role.

    It wasn''t as simple as them stepping aside. Wars would undoubtedly appear in the halls of the Dominus Household once it came to assigning the true roles that apanied thepletion of the house.

    At that time, it would be up to each demon to assert their dominance and gain their ce. There was no favor in Apollo''s eyes anymore. If anyone wished to im power, they needed to fight for it.

    And, only when the time was right would Apollo present opportunities like this to upgrade their abilities. After all, the least he could be do was level the ying field and allow everyone a fair chance to obtain the ce they sought.

    Eventually, Apollo waved his arm, pushing Jorgun aside. He then turned his head towards ia who walked up to him slowly. When it came to both her and Vc, their progress was both the lowest.

    However, ia was better off since Apollo''s bloodlinepleted arge portion of the process for her. Apollo''s blood was unlike any other demon''s. It was unique since it could create a foundation for any demon as long as they were weaker than him.

    If this fact was ever made public, then there would be an endless deluge of demons aiming to experience the initial purification of their blood. Even Aztraval, his father, paled inparison in this department.

    After all, whereas Aztraval was a pure Demon, or rather the first demon, Apollo was an abomination created from one of the other 4 original races.

    "It appears you grow more stunning as time pses," Apollo nodded. Each of the three women by his side, Geneva, Sapphyr, and ia, possessed their own kind of beauty. Sapphyr, because of her abilities, possessed a beauty that plunged one''s mind into madness.

    Geneva possessed a zing appeal that incited a fire in the loins of who looked at her. However, ia was quite different. Because her powers centered around illusion, there was an ethereal air surrounding her.

    However, whenpared to the former two, there was still a faint disparity in their looks.

    "Thank you, my Lord," ia nodded while kneeling to hide the faint blush on her cheek.

    "E-eh?! W-where''s mypliment like that?" Sapphyrined with a face of discontent.

    In return, Apollo nced towards her with a callous expression that soon turned yful, "Did I notpliment you before? Wasn''t it also you who gave me that gift!~?"

    Sapphyr immediately quieted down once she recalled the gift Apollo mentioned. It was the one bold move she made and now she was being teased about it. Suddenly, Vc walked up to her and nudged her shoulder.

    "Eh? Eh?! What''s that gift? Tell us! We all want to know!" Vc said with a mischievous expression. Sadly, he was one who never seemed to learn.

    "Vc. FLOOR!" Apollomanded.

    BOOM!

    Vc was immediately forced to the ground as a frightening aura pressed on him. While that force kept him in ce, Apollo returned his attention to ia. Surprisingly, her progress was not that far away from Jorgun''s, only requiring Apollo to exhaust close to 4 million experience to facilitate her evolution.

    ?System: The chosen follower possesses the potential to evolve. [Current Evolution: 65%].?

    ?System: Sacrificing 111,000 Experience is needed to raise the follower''s evolution 1%.?

    As soon as Apollo epted, a torrential surge of dark and mental energy circled ia, forming a faint cocoon that shattered a few minutes after appearing. It started from the top as cracks cascaded downward, allowing the cocoon to drift away as motes of energy.

    Once ia reappeared, Apollo was pleased by what he saw. All of her demonic traits seemed to be refined as a silver gem-like rhombus appeared on her forehead. Although itcked whenpared to the amethyst embedded in Apollo''s forehead or Sapphyr''s chest, it emanated a strong mental signature.

    Without ncing at her information, Apollo knew that she would be a demon with stats directly opposing Jorgun''s. Whereas his body was his forte, ia''s mind was hers. As Apollo so be, he expected great things out of this foxy demon with a reserved temperament.

    ¡¸Name: ia [Follower]

    Race: Greater Demon (00.00%)

    Title: The Illusive Enchantress

    Bloodline: Nightmare Weaver (Aura of Illusion)

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 100,000 units

    Sin Volume: 5,000 units

    -----

    Strength: 1,100.0

    Agility: 1,200.0

    Intelligence: 2,750.0

    Vitality: 1,500.0

    Perception: 2,500.0

    ----

    Ira: Initial [Hellfire]

    Invidia: Initial [Eyes of Distortion] ¡¹

    "Very good," Apollo praised with a nod. As head read through her information Apollo started to get the feeling that the system generate title befitting of his own thoughts. After all, when Apollo saw Jorgun, the first thought that came to his mind was a juggernaut.

    Likewise, ia''s presence was the best for an enchantress. Her mind was strong enough to weave powerful illusions and conjure enchantments to ensnare one''s mind. The fact that her beautyplemented these abilities cemented Apollo''s thoughts even more.

    "Thank you, my lord," ia said while rising to her feet with graceful movements. Compared to the former two, she presented the best disy.

    "Showcase your ability," Apollo instructed.

    "But, they don''t work on you," ia responded with slight surprise. After all, Apollo''splete immunity would make it impossible for her corrupted mental strength to prate his mind.

    "Still," Apollo nodded. Even if it didn''t work, he was a good judge of strength.

    Inevitably, ia obliged. Her hands interlocked before pushing forward, hurtling a prism of mental energy that instantly shattered upon contact.

    As this happened, Apollo watched as almost 20 percent of his Anima reserves were exhausted. This disy gave him a good understanding of her current strength. Again, he dismissed her as his eyes fell upon thest target.

    "Are you ready, Boros? Let''s see how much of a change you go through," Apollo said while recalling an important piece of information.

    Apollo made some room between himself and the others, allowing at least 25 meters of space. ''Here we go.''

    With a thought, Apollo brought up the information surrounding''s change while still scratching his scale.

 Chapter 442 - Ouroboross Evolution

    ----

    Unlike the rest of his demons, Ouroboros didn''t actively train to grow stronger. There was no need to, because Ouroboros''s rare bloodline carried out all the strengthening that he needed. The only thing Ouroboros needed to do was fuel his bloodline''s power by devouring and falling into a dormant state that allowed its increased activity.

    Therefore, by just devouring and sleeping afterward, Ouroboros grew stronger at a rate that matched or even eclipsed his peers¨Dwhich were Apollo''s strengthened demons.

    Additionally, growing stronger meant that the byproduct of his absorption¨Dthe Fragments of Sin¨Dgrew both stronger and purer. As long as he experienced a sizable jump in power, it wasn''t far-fetched to say that Ouroboros could produce the next level of Sin Materia.

    Hence, the reason Azridan once revealed that this serpent before Apollo was an indispensable item to any uing Monarch. Ouroboros''s rare bloodline abilities enabled him to produce invaluable condensations of easily absorbed Sin.

    ''This little guy is truly more frightening than I expected,'' Apollo said to himself.

    Before beginning the evolution, Apollo checked Ouroboros'' information just to understand what would change after he evolved from this lesser state.

    ¡¸Name: Ouroboros [Companion]

    Race: Lesser Demon (74.94%)

    Title: N/A

    Bloodline: *Silver Umbra Serpent (Undefined)

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 1,000,000 units

    Sin Volume: 15,000 units

    -----

    Strength: 1,000.0

    Agility: 1,000.0

    Intelligence: 1,000.0

    Vitality: 1,000.0

    Perception: 1,000.0

    ----

    G: Primary [Endless Devouring]

    Avaritia: Primary [Unfading Appetite] ¡¹

    Since he was a Lesser Demon, Ouroboros''s battle stats weren''t overwhelming. However, Apollo immediately took notice of his absurd Sin Volume and Anima reserves. As a Lesser Demon, his reserves were ten times that of his household brethren!

    Its Sin Volume was even twice that of Typhir, who was arguably the strongest demon in Apollo''s possession, excluding Fuhrer. These numbers were simply absurd. However, when Apollo noticed the anomaly in Ouroboros''s stats, he pondered just what it could mean.

    ''Ouroboros''s current form is unsuited forbat since itcks basicbat techniques,'' Apollo muttered to himself. Thinking back to the times he depleted all of his Sin Energy and almost lost himself, Ouroboros merely served as a battery to recharge the exhausted Sin.

    And, when they fused to fight against Vc, Apollo was filled with boundless energy. Although his strength didn''t experience any shocking increase, his ability to sustain battle did.

    Fortunately, Vc didn''t outss him by much. Plus, he was the holder of the Aura of Domination, so it leveled the ying field even more.

    ''For now, the only role Ouroboros ys is that of our supplier,'' Apollo thought while my moving his finger away from Ouroboros''s scale. A momentter, he pointed forward, "Take on your true form Boros."

    "Yessss!" Ouroboros eximed happily.

    He slithered off of Apollo''s shoulder and flew a distance of roughly 10 meters. During his flight, from his tiny state of approximately 30 centimeters, Ouroboros grew to over 3 meters long, adopting his genuine appearance.

    Once that happened, Apollo smiled. ''He''s truly growing well. It must be lovely to possess a bloodline like that.''

    Not too long after, the same message appeared before Apollo''s eyes. However, there was an overwhelming number of notifications that appeared because of Apollo''s current actions.

    ¡´System: You''re choosing to assist in the evolution of a Soulbound Companion. There may be additional effects and costs toplete this process.¡µ

    ¡´System: Yourpanion is of an extremely rare bloodline! The awakening of this bloodline will require more than the current experience.¡µ

    ¡´System: Are you willing to convert your Sin Volume and Demonic Anima Reserves into Experience? [Y/N]?¡µ

    Gradually, Apollo''s expression filled with surprise. Admittedly, Ouroboros''s evolution differed greatly from the rest. Whereas the system randomly generated the most fitting bloodlines for the others, Ouroboros already possessed a dormant bloodline.

    However, awakening said bloodline seemed to be extremely difficult, requiring a generous amount of resources to sustain. In fact, Apollo was thoroughly appalled when he read how much more resources his evolution needed.

    [Additional Sin Volume Required: 15,000]

    [Additional Demonic Reserves: 150,000]

    While Demonic Anima Reserves were only 75% of Apollo''s capacity, the Sin Volume was another story. Because the system had yet to generate the exact number of his Sin Volume, seeing as he possessed 7 purified Vessels, the numbers made Apollo skeptical.

    ''How much of my capacity do these numbers cover?''

    Though skeptical at first, when he recalled the fact that Typhir possessed 7,500 units, Apollo relinquished his apprehension. Because, as the ruler, how could his parameters pale inparison to his subordinates?

    Hence, Apollo chose to ept the price.

    Almost 90% of all of his reserves were exhausted. However, Apollo realized that only 3 of his Sin Vessels were addressed in this absorption. ''Oh? That''s promising. Let''s see where things go from here.''

    After epting, the general message rted to evolution appeared before Apollo. However, there were some slight changes.

    ?System: The chosenpanion possesses the potential to evolve. [Current Evolution:~75%].?

    ?System: Sacrificing 500,000 Experience is needed to raise the follower''s evolution 1%.?

    ¡´System: Every 1,000 Sin Volume is equal to 600,000 Experience & every 10,000 units of Demonic Anima is equal to 50,000 Experience.¡µ

    ?System: Do you wish to precipitate your follower''s evolution? [Y/N]??

    Apollo''s eyes widened in shock as he read the disparity between the two resource conversion rates. Sin Volume was countless times more valuable than Anima, roughly 120 times greater.

    This gave Apollo a general understanding as to why demons who operated on Anima alone, such gargoyles and other simr demons, were so much weaker and basically inconsequential. Their root power source was simply beyondpare!

    After all, it was the ability to use Sin that gained the demons their position as an upper race, not the Anima.

    Nevertheless, Apollo instantly agreed to allow the system to sacrifice over 12.5 million experience worth of resources to facilitate Ouroboros change.

    Within the next instant of allowing the system to do so, Fuhrer''s pupils contracted! "Move back now!"

    Rmmmmmbbbbbllleeeeeee!

    The entire cavern started to rumble as Fuhrer stabbed Brynhildr into the ground, generating an extremely thick Wrath nket. However, when he noticed Apollo outside of the barrier, his eyes narrowed.

    "Young Lord! Come inside. Ouroboros''s change will be dangerous," Fuhrer warned, splitting a small opening inside the barrier of Sin.

    However, Apollo simply raised his hand and swiped it while shaking his head. The opening closed, which shocked Fuhrer. ''When did his control be this seamless? He can affect my barrier from that distance?''

    "No need," Apollo said in an indifferent tone as he watched a pitch-ck aura pulsate from Ouroboros''s body. It was extremely violent,shing about and destroying everything within a 50-meter radius, all except for Apollo.

    A small orb encased Apollo, which this the ck aura couldn''t breach no matter how much it bombarded it.

    Furthermore, destruction wasn''t the urate word to describe the scene. After all, the aura wasn''t destroying anything; it was all being drawn to Ouroboros''s body like a ck hole.

    Concurrently, Ouroboros''s eyes shed with several colors while his body trembled and thrash about uncontrobly.

    Apollo could hear a bestial roar filled with pain as he stared at Ouroboros. Because of this roar, Apollo''s earlier indifferent expression began softening as he relinquished the orb around his body and walked towards Ouroboros.

    With the orb gone, the aura tried to assail his body once again, only to be deflected the moment it touched Apollo''s body.

    ¡´System: The Supreme Demon Body''s ?Complete Immunity? has resisted the incursion of a fused Sin.¡µ

    ''Fused?'' Apollo internalized with an astonished look. At this level, fusing two sins should be impossible. Then it hit Apollo, ''Could this be the source of Ouroboros'' immense pain? If so, allow me to help.''

    Apollo raised his palm and ced it against the horn on Ouroboros''s head. He introduced a calm stream of his aura into Ouroboros''s body, which soon caused his thrashing to calm down. But, in return, the absorption process sped up ridiculously.

    ''So that''s what it was. His body fused G and Avaritia of its own ord, but his body has yet to mature, so it was beginning to devour itself. An absurd power to possess, but dangerous without control,'' Apollo thought.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''srge palm soon looked tiny as he watched Ouroboros grow at a shocking rate.

    5 meters¡­

    10 meters¡­

    25 meters¡­

    Eventually, Ouroboros''s body coiled around itself as he reached a shocking length of 50 meters! More importantly, two additional heads of identical size sprout from the base of his neck, resulting in a message.

    ¡´System: Your Soulbound Companion has evolved.¡µ

    ¡´System: Their dormant bloodline of the ?Immortal Sin Hydra? has awakened.¡µ

 Chapter 443 - The Demonic Bloodlines

    ----

    Apollo didn''t even think to nce at the messages in his view, because he was more shocked by the state of Ouroboros''s body. He was nearly 20 timesrger than he was before. On top of his baffling length, he also possessed two additional heads.

    Each one of them possessed a unique aura that seemed to be one-third of a whole. In other words, each of Ouroboros''s heads possessed a distinct power. And, after listening to the name of his bloodline, Apollo could infer just what those sensations were.

    ''Immortal Sin Hydra,'' Apollo thought with a content expression. The feeling that emanated from Ouroboros was his potent Sin signature. The left head possessed an ability linked to G, whereas the right head possessed an ability linked to Avaritia.

    However, the middle head, Ouroboros''s supreme head, possessed a new Sin altogether.

    "Boros," Apollo called out.

    Ouroboros''s middle head lifted immediately, staring directly into Apollo''s eyes, which remained calm throughout the entire process. Gradually, the pain in Ouroboros''s eyes subsided as the prior amethyst color changed into a deep crimson, nearly the color of fresh blood.

    "Master," Ouroboros hissed as he licked Apollo''s cheek.

    Two matters caused Apollo''s expression to change drastically. One, Ouroboros no longer sounded like a pure child. Although it was a tone that still belonged to a child, it one was that fit a 12-year-old rather than a toddler.

    Second, a notification appeared before Apollo''s eyes when Ouroboros licked his cheek.

    ¡´System: Ouroboros has replenished roughly 1% of your Ira Volume.¡µ

    Though the amount appeared inconsequential, Ouroboros didn''t intend to transfer any Sin to Apollo. If he did, the number within Apollo''s view would skyrocket at an abnormal rate.

    Still, Apollo ced his hand against Ouroboros''s head and chuckled once again. His transformation was truly leagues above the rest. This impression was further enhanced once Apollo examined Ouroboros''s new stats.

    ¡¸Name: Ouroboros [Companion]

    Race: Greater Demon (00.00%)

    Title: Creature of Legend

    Bloodline: Immortal Sin Hydra [Infancy] (Aura of Convergence)

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 3,000,000 units

    Sin Volume: 75,000 units (25,000 per head)

    -----

    Strength: 2,250.0

    Agility: 2,250.0

    Intelligence: 2,250.0

    Vitality: 2,250.0

    Perception: 2,250.0

    -----

    -[?Traits?]

    ?Infant Hydra Body?

    ?Endless Conversion?

    ?Seamless Assimtion?

    -----

    G: Primary [Endless Devouring]

    Avaritia: Primary [Unfading Appetite]

    Ira: Primary [Unknown] ¡¹

    ...

    Just the value of Ouroboros''s reserves tripled. Not to mention, each of his heads now possessed an independent Sin Volume, totaling 75,000 units! Furthermore, unlike the others, Ouroboros possessed something known as a Hydra Body, which supported Sin Vessel without a stigmata''s involvement.

    Aside from the midnight blue scales with a silverish tint all over his body, there were no other markings. Even the horn atop Ouroboros''s head merged into his body, creating several pointed scales.

    "W-What is that?!" Vc shouted suddenly.

    His eyes trembled as he stared at Ouroboros''s gargantuan form. Besides Apollo and Fuhrer, the rest were used to Ouroboros''s tiny form, so this change came as a shock.

    Hence, Vc''s exaggerated reaction.

    "That is the genuine form of this beast. A fabled creature, the mighty serpent with countless heads; an immortal creature born from Sin itself," Fuhrer responded with aplex expression.

    He had several run-ins with Ouroboros''s mother, but the emanationsing from Ouroboros eclipsed his mother''s bloodline. Whereas his mother possessed 7 heads, Fuhrer sensed a much greater power in Ouroboros.

    During their first meeting, Ouroboros''s mother only possessed two heads. Yet, Ouroboros awakened three during his initial awakening, which was the maximum number the infant stage of this bloodline could produce.

    This anomaly caused Fuhrer to pay close attention to their interaction. ''The young Lord is truly lucky. This bloodline should be on par with his.''

    Meanwhile, Apollo worried about another matter. "Are you able to return to your earlier form? This current state isn''t suitable for travel."

    "Return?" Ouroboros muttered before nodding slowly. "I can try."

    Suddenly, the cavern trembled as Ouroboros''s enormous body moved, slithering in a circle. Compared to before, the process was much slower, but Ouroboros reduced in size as he moved, eventually shrinking to a size of 1 meter.

    Though he still was muchrger than before, Apollo found this length sufficient. Apollo''s shoulders were broad enough to support Ouroborosfortably.

    "Come," Apollo said while lifting one hand.

    Immediately, Ouroboros flew towards Apollo, wrapping around his shoulders until his head pressed against Apollo''s neck. However, when he slithered up Apollo''s shoulders, the surface beneath his feet cracked.

    Whereas his length could be reduced, his weight couldn''t.

    Therefore, Apollo had to exert some strength to rectify the increase in weight. Soon enough, the cracks stopped spreading.

    "It appears you''ve be quite a hefty boy, huh?" Apollo teased. He also scratched Ouroboros''s top scale.

    "Stop! Don''t tease me, Master," Ouroborosined in response, even licking Apollo''s cheek, which caused Apollo to receive another small boost in his remaining Ira Volume.

    "Don''t worry. I prefer this form," Apollo said.

    Soon, a question popped into Apollo''s mind.

    Since every member of his household awakened a bloodline during their evolution, Apollo''s curiosity grew. ''I guess bloodlines must be paramount to the household''s sess.''

    Eventually, Apollo turned toward Fuhrer.

    "What is it, my Lord?" Fuhrer asked once he noticed Apollo''s inquisitive expression. It was clear that Apollo held some questioned that required addressing.

    "The bloodlines. What''s the information behind them?" Apollo asked.

    "Information? You mean regarding the hierarchy and importance?" Fuhrer questioned in response.

    "Correct. Everyone now possesses on, so it''s only right that I sift for information regarding it, no?" Apollo said with a soft chuckle. Ack of knowledge moving forward was simply uneptable.

    "Very well. First, you need to know bloodlines aren''t linked to a demon''s state unless revealed otherwise. They can awaken in varying degrees with differing utilizations. For example, Typhir''s bloodline is simply at the third degree," Fuhrer said.

    After a short pause, he then continued, "However, there are some anomalies to what I just disclosed. And, one such anomaly sits upon your shoulders as we speak."

    "I''m aware of that. Ouroboros''s bloodline is linked to his state and carries a unique ssification system," Apollo admitted.

    Unlike the other demons, the systembeled Ouroboros as Apollo''spanion. Apanion eclipsed the ranking of a follower based on the system''s categorization unless the follower possessed a special role, such as the Leader or Guardian position in the household.

    Still, the special privileges of these roles differed from the option granted from apanion rtionship. Because of this rtionship, Apollo received background knowledge during Ouroboros''s awakening regarding his bloodline.

    While the bloodline fell under normal ssifications, the awakening path didn''t. Instead of degrees, the bloodline only possessed four stages, and they were each linked to Ouroboros''s maturity.

    The infancy stage, also known as the first stage, was Ouroboros''s current stage. It allowed up to three heads to be awakened, which typically appeared at the end of the stage. However, because he had once tasted Apollo''s absurd bloodline and carried a fragment of his soul, Ouroboros''s bloodline was purified.

    The next stage was the adolescent stage, which allowed up to five heads. As a unique trait of the bloodline, each head possessed a single Sin and wasparable to an ancient Archdemon.

    Beyond the adolescent stage existed the adulthood phase. A maximum of seven heads could be awakened, and each of them wereparable to an ancient Noblesse. As mentioned before, Ouroboros''s mother attained this stage.

    A stage existed beyond this phase, but was a stage of legend. Even until now, there has never been a record of a hydra reaching this form. Hence, why it possessed the reputation of being a myth. Still, it was known as the stage of ascendancy.

    If achieved, it strengthened the bloodline to level on par with Apollo''s Conqueror bloodline.

    Outside of this unique situation for beasts, normal bloodlines were separated into four ssifications¨DMinor, Major, Perfected, and Pinnacle. In the current age, the highest bloodline awakening was at the Major level.

    As for Pinnacle Bloodlines, there were only five to be recorded in the history of the demons. And, two of them existed inside the cavern.

    Once Apollo received all the knowledge of the bloodlines, he was satisfied. For the most part, it was just as he suspected.

    ''So the bloodline and aura grades are linked. No wonder the system only judged Typhir''s aura once his bloodline activated,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Though a demon could awaken an aura without a bloodline, wielding it beyond the second degree was impossible since it required a bloodline as a catalyst to crystallize the Cardinal Sphere and contain the source of the aura.

    Eventually, Apollo moved his attention away from this subject, and back to the reason they came.

 Chapter 444 - Bountiful Ruin

    ----

    ''Now, let''s see what secrets rest behind these doors,'' Apollo thought before raising his hand. A burst of overwhelming power emitted from his palm, ultimately taking on the form of an enormous, dark w.

    The wtched onto the door, intending to wrench it open, but the sturdiness of the door surprised Apollo. Even after experiencing the depth of his dominating force, it didn''t budge in the slightest.

    Because of this development, Fuhrer approached his side, "Do you require my assistance? Some of these doors require an insane amount of force to open. But, I can just cut through if need be."

    "No need," Apollo said, declining Fuhrer''s offer. Although Ouroboros''s evolution sapped a substantial amount of his power, Apollo wouldn''t allow mere doors to restrict his advance.

    Instead, Apollo raised his other hand and summoned a second w of identical size and strength. It also grabbed hold of the doors and pulled, producing an appalling noise.

    Eventually, the noise grew into a vigorous rumble as Apollo''s actions opened a small crack in the doors. Suddenly, a burst of mystifyingly pure Ira sted from the door, shocking almost everyone present with the intensity of the surge.

    Meanwhile, Apollo continued with his actions uninterruptedly.

    Within moments, Apollo ripped the colossal metal doors from the wall and tossed them aside with a resounding ng. He gazed at them with aplex expression because, ording to what he sensed, these doors weighed just as much as Ouroboros, requiring all of his strength to remove them.

    "Wow! That''s a lot of loot!" Vc eximed with a shimmering gaze.

    Countless gems and metals of varying rarity and worth sat inside the vault. Some of them were familiar to Apollo and others were unfamiliar, but they followed the general usages of the materials found in Ashiraem.

    Apollo could sense that these materials were indispensable, especially if wished to increase the number of demons allowed to create a personal Armament before the system provided the increase.

    "Follow me," Apollo said with a wave of his hand as he entered the vault. Everyone followed behind him, but he stopped suddenly after sensing the increasing purity of the ambient Ira.

    Except for his time spent in the Trial of Rage, this was the absolute purest Ira Apollo has seen to date. Even the Ira signatures emanating from Saehtyn''s body paled whenpared to the current environment.

    After experiencing this sensation, Apollo made a quick decision. His aura red, causing the immense doors behind him to levitate. "Until every drop of Ira is absorbed, we''ll remain here. Is that understood?"

    "Understood, my Lord," Typhir nodded immediately. Without another word, he chose a suitable rock. Once seated, Typhir activated his stigmata, provoking a vast amount of Ira. It formed a whirlpool above his head before piercing towards his glowing stigmata.

    "Count me in as well!" Sapphyr eximed. She copied Typhir''s actions and activated her stigmata, creating an identical whirlpool.

    Soon enough, everyone within the Dominus Household endeavored to absorb all the Ira present. Apollo had everyone do this for a reason. There was only so much experience he could spare before it encroached on his progress. Therefore, the members would have to precipitate their progress as well.

    Just as everyone focused on their tasks, Apollo clenched his fists.

    Bang! Bang! Szzzzzzzzt!

    Both doors mmed against the wall, covering the entrance seamlessly as a cluster of Ira seared the hinges shut. Once it cooled down, Apollo removed his aura, yet the doors remained. Unless someone with acute senses inspected this ce, then finding any signs of the doors being opened was next to impossible.

    In the meantime, Apollo walked around the ruin''s storage vault before picking up an unfamiliar piece of metal resembling a stone. Simr to the Blood Amber, the item in his hand was a demonic material capable of amplifying a certain manic ability.

    ¡¸?Terronite Ore?

    Ranking: Archaic (Demonic Material)

    Effect: Infusing this ore in the forging process will give the equipment the ability to induce fear and amplify Ira-based abilities under the rank of this item.

    Description: A metal ingot birthed after being saturated by obscene amounts of wrath. Though it is unsuitable to be used in high amounts, it is a powerful addition for the process of equipment creation after its purification. ¡¹

    Apollo examined the ore in his hand. It was predominantly grey, with a hint of a reddish-orange imbued in the core. Since the grayish exterior carried all the impurities, it would disappear after purification and reveal the true beauty of its ingot.

    "There''s a good amount of items present. I suppose this further cements your decision to fight against Asteroth?" Fuhrer asked while ncing at the ore in Apollo''s hand. There were a variety of items present on par with this Terronite Ore. However, each of them required an overwhelming me to deal with them.

    In Xonnomor''s current state, his aura-less Hellfire was incapable of performing the task at the level Apollo wished. While Gram was a sublime weapon, it was far from reaching the level of a pseudo armament. A pseudo armament and iplete armament were twopletely different entities.

    An iplete armament meant there were too many impurities within the weapon for it to approach the level of being a true armament. Additionally, it almost meant the Sin structure inside the weapon was insufficient.

    If Gram''s Sin structure wasplete, then Apollo could adjust the consumption of his Ira used per strike. Even though his Ira was restricted to thete stage, it didn''t mean his control was insufficient. The issue remained with Gram, not Apollo.

    Apollo''s control was amongst the highest tier within his stage. There was no other demon with ate-stage purity that could manipte Ira at his level. He was simply one of a kind.

    Meanwhile, a pseudo armament was an entirely different story. Though it was still short of bing an armament, the state of the weapon wasn''t the issue. A pseudo armament, in the simplest terms, was an armament without a soul¨Dan empty husk.

    There was no need to purify the weapon because the wielder simply needed to partition their soul, creating a base for the weapon''s unique soul. After receiving the unique soul, the pseudo armament fulfilled the ultimate requirement. It became a genuine armament.

    "It does. Asteroth is a crucial piece of the puzzle. I don''t wish to waste my time learning theplexities of forging when I can use someone who has already mastered the craft for millennia," Apollo admitted.

    Fuhrer''s expression changed after listening to Apollo''s reasoning. For the first time, Apollo opted to not take matters into his own hands, which meant that his Sin of Acedia was showing signs of strengthening.

    Until now, Apollo alwayspleted the task himself. After all, only by performing the task himself could Apollo ensure that the job''s properpletion. Outside of a select few of his demons, Apollo understood that most of them were far from ready. None of them could handle the struggles of the demonic world.

    Which was one reason the system instilled bloodlines in the; to close the gap at a rapid pace. After all, it wasn''t the lower echelon within their targets; it was the upper echelon. But, conquering those folk required power beyond their current level.

    ''If they''ve excavated ruins of this level, although they aren''t on par with the ancient standards, I''m sure the Council''s leaders have all experienced some type of strengthening,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    "I see, but are you sure you''re ready? Once you expose yourself to Asteroth, that''s it. He''s known to be a beast that continues his hunt until his target is destroyed," Fuhrer responded while taking a seat.

    "I''d be lying if I said I''m sure. But, the stakes are too high for me to shy away now," Apollo replied before turning towards Fuhrer. Suddenly, a thought entered his mind.

    Fuhrer''s expression became awkward as he looked at Apollo''s expression, "What?"

    "Well, why not a friendly spar since we''re both Greater Demons for the moment?" Apollo suggested with a faint chuckle.

    "A spar?" Fuhrer muttered with a thoughtful expression.

    It was an entertaining idea, because Apollo''s growth until now was nothing short of substantial. Besides, Fuhrer was truly curious about how much Apollo''s strength increased after epting his true identity.

    Therefore, Fuhrer ultimately nodded. "Sounds good. Will it be with a weapon or no weapon?"

    "What does it matter? Anything and even nothing you touch bes a weapon, so we might as well allow them to level the ying field," Apollo said.

    Soon enough, Apollo caught a glimpse of Fuhrer''s terrifying stats after agreeing to have a small spar.

 Chapter 445 - Thorough Inspection

    ----

    Inside the Dakea Stronghold¡­

    Xonnomor held a piece of Purgatory Ore within his fingers, rotating it in ce. It wasn''t a piece that came from Apollo, but instead, was a sample gifted to him by the gargantuan demon standing before him.

    "So? Is it something you can forge with? Aside from your grandfather, there is no one else who possesses the required expertise," therge demon said before pacing back and forth inside of Xonnomor''s forge.

    Their eyes darted back and forth repeatedly as they scrutinized the area within the forge. Although Xonnomor conducted a thorough cleansing of the premises, he sensed the faint of material outside his knowledge.

    The demon didn''t address the anomaly for now, but he did spare Xonnomor and an odd look before moving around the room''s perimeter. He approached the mold used to forge Gram and touched the interior.

    ''A faint residue and lingering heat from two different me energies,'' the demon thought. Finally, he turned back towards Xonnomor with a meaningful expression, "Is there something you would like to reveal to me?"

    "Not particrly, Father," Xonnomor immediately replied. He didn''t even avert his gaze from the piece of ore within his hands as he thought of something. ''I didn''t expect another ancient material to be in their possession. And father has given it to me?''

    Therge demon before Xonnomor was his father, Xorgrah, who followed the path of pride. Therefore, his appearance was simr to that of a Suprana, except his skin possessed a tinge of ck, turning his skin a gray shade instead of the typical pure white.

    An indication that his Suprana Bloodline held impurities. Judging by the irregr skin color, his bloodline ssification fell into the Major Category.

    Generally, bloodlines such as the Iraym, Suprana, and other pure Sin Bloodlines fell under the Perfected category. For example, Zarkath''s Perfected Ifrit Bloodline was an inferior bloodline perfected by the system, granting it obscene upgrades.

    "Are you sure? Do you mean to tell me you didn''t recently forge an item using this rare mold as the foundation?" Xorgrah questioned with a narrowing gaze. With his sharp senses, he could tell if Xonnomor was lying to him.

    If he truly wanted to obtain an answer, he didn''t require proof to do so.

    "Hmm?" Xonnomor finally raised his eyes towards his father, who stood by the mold resting in the forge. Since he knew a tant lie was pointless, Xonnomor chose his words carefully.

    "Correct. I used that mold, but the oue was defective. Without materials like the ones used to forge Saehtyn''s axe, the inscriptions of the mold can''t experience a proper engraving."

    "I see," Xorgrah nodded.

    Though Xonnomor didn''t reveal the truth, his words originated from a true scenario that happened to more than just himself. Before he got his hand on this one, his grandfather had once tested the molds to see their value.

    The inscriptions embedded into the molds were too tyrannic for normal materials, causing their destruction within a few seconds of creation. Once activated, the influx of Ira corrupted the weapon instantaneously.

    Just the emanations from their inactive state cause the immediate corrosion of the weaponry. Without the proper material, it was an absolute horror to contain its energies.

    It was then that Xonnomor''s grandfather learned the molds existed to make a specific type of phenomenal weapon. This discovery catapulted his forging knowledge just by studying the inscriptions and was the event that precipitated the Council''s decision to excavate all the hidden ruins within the Nihilistic Rings.

    They were interested in uncovering the disparity between the ancient strength of the demons and their attainments today. Was there even aparison to be made?

    "How is Tirasha? You''ve juste from Suprenis, right?"

    "Correct. And she is in a far better state than you are. It won''t be long before she crosses the threshold and bes an Archdemon. As for you¡­ why has your aura stagnated like this? Have you experienced zero progress since myst visit?" Xorgrah asked with a disappointed look.

    In response, Xonnomor grimaced. He knew this question woulde up in their conversation. Apollo''s actions were difficult to recover from in a short time frame. Thus, in Xorgrah''s eyes, Xonnomor''s progress was at a standstill.

    Before being sent to Ashiraem a decade ago, Xonnomor was already an Archdemon.

    Therefore, Xonnomor''s identical state mystified Xorgrah. He knew it wasn''t a matter of talent since Xonnomor possessed an abundance of it since young. Thus, there was only one obvious answer to him.

    "Have you neglected your progress to chase your grandfather''s aspirations?"

    Instead of answering, Xonnomor''s expression changed drastically.

    "And Grandfather? How is he?" Xonnomor asked while putting down the Purgatory Ore. During their transmission, Xonnomor refrained from asking this question because of the news he revealed. Surely, asking his father any question after revealing terrible news was not the best idea.

    Although he wasn''t a demon of wrath, most demons possessed a nasty temper as a part of their innate being. Even if it didn''t rival on the brink of turning into a Sin, it was extremely vtile.

    Eventually, Xorgrah refused to address this matter. "It''s not something you should concern yourself with. Instead, you should study these materials to increase the chances of you forging the needed weapon."

    "What is this weapon for?" Xonnomor questioned with a deepening frown. He never appreciated how much the upper echelon of the Council withheld information. Even if he asked the other members of the Council, this was the answer he would receive.

    Despite his identity as royalty within the Council, the other demons didn''t honor his status. After all, both Xonnomor''s father and grandfather held two of the highest positions. So, if they ordered the others to conceal information, even Xonnomor couldn''t get them to reveal it.

    Still, he felt there was some knowledge that he should know. For example, the state of his grandfather and why his father came to him to forge some sort of weapon.

    "Think of it as a safety precaution. Until we find out the severity of the situation, let''s hope we''ll never have to use it," Xorgrah replied before ncing out the sole window inside the forge. His eyes fell upon the damaged tower with a solemn expression.

    ''That''s more damage than I suspected. I''m d I appeared here in person. Now that I''ve witnessed it with my own eyes, it''s even more reason for us to have a sit-down,'' Xorgrah thought.

    Meanwhile, Xonnomor expression remainedplex. Based on his father''s description, Xorgrah sought a weapon even stronger than Gram. However, Gram was at the crux of his forging capabilities.

    Nothing except pristine materials was used to forge it, yet it was still iplete. He knew it, and so did Apollo. Thus, if his father wanted him to forge something beyond that, it was impossible.

    "I might be unsuitable to aplish what you seek. As with all materials, there are some unwanted impurities. Unfortunately, they aren''t something I can smelt at my current power," Xonnomor said with a sigh.

    However, Xorgrah didn''t expect Xonnomor to be capable of this by himself.

    "Who said I expected you to do so alone? You will receive some help. I just need to request their support. I''m sure they''ll be more than willing to help," Xorgrah replied before once again circling the room.

    ''It''s difficult to sense, but there is certainly something obscure here. Something I''ve never sensed before, so I can''t identify it.''

    Whenever he passed a certain area within the forge, he sensed an aura that was beyond him. As Xonnomor failed to sense it all together, it was something he couldn''t erase. Though they were unaware, it was a piece of Apollo''s dominating aura, a principle far beyond Xonnomor.

    Fortunately, the Aura of Domination was something fabled and unrecorded in the annals of history. Aside from being the Monarch''s unique power, there was no other information surrounding this power; its sensation, color, techniques¨Dnothing.

    As a result, Xorgrah was left at an impasse as far as locating the owner went. But, it wasn''t a matter important enough for him to spare his undivided attention to. It was an inconsequential amount, ultimately losing value in Xorgrah''s opinion.

    Soon after, Xorgrah approached the forge''s exit. "Get all the damage done to this ce fixed. As an extension of the council, this ce should look immacte at all times."

    "Understood. Will the fixers be here shortly?"

    "Correct. In the meantime, I expect you to focus on deepening your familiarity with those materials. Until then, I''ll be paying the Lord of this ce a visit to discuss our actions moving forward," Xorgrah said, but then stopped.

    After a brief pause, he continued, "Once that is over, we should have the help we need to forge those weapons."

 Chapter 446 - A Truly Unknown Situation

    ----

    Inside Ashiraem''s Tower¡­

    Xorgrah stood before the massive hole in the tower''s side, peering out towards the vast city below. Although the scenery was a pleasant sight, the reasoning behind this gaping expanse in the wall wasn''t.

    With a grim expression, Xorgrah turned around and gazed at Saehtyn sitting on his throne. It possessed faint traces of damage from the blowback caused by Asteroth''s attack. But,pared to the rest of the ce, it was more intact.

    "I guess the battle was even worse than what Xonnomor thought," Xorgrahmented with an astonished expression. Thest thing he needed right now was for the situation to spiral out of further control.

    "You don''t know the half of it. You''d need to be present to understand the utter destruction that assaulted this ce. That demon''s abilities were beyond us," Saehtyn admitted with a slightly irritated expression. Remembering the situation put him in a sour mood because of his powerlessness.

    It was the first time in thousands of years that he felt uncertain about the ie of a battle. As the Lord of Wrath, Saehtyn found this situation to be uneptable.

    "I didn''t need to be present. I have a good idea about the destruction that took ce here," Xorgrah answered while continuing to scan the area. There were savage cuts throughout the room, but they seemed toe from a much heavier weapon than a sword.

    "Are the cuts caused by you?" Xorgrah asked.

    "Some of them," Saehtyn answered before following Xorgrah''s gaze. "Irzanach and Lucifer created the others by battling each other, amongst several other collisions."

    Suddenly, Xorgrah''s expression changed as the mention of Lucifer''s opponent sounded eerily familiar. "Irzanach, that''s the demon you brought to our attention years ago. Why have they made a move now of all times?"

    "I can''t give you an answer I don''t possess, but yes, Irzanach is the same individuals the Lords introduced to the council years ago. Except, he''s no longer the same demon. As you can see, he''s much stronger now," Saehtyn said before rising to his feet.

    Although Irzanach revealed himself countless years ago, he made no physical attempt on their lives or presented any intention of doing so. Because, during that time, Saehtyn sensed that Izranach''s power was identical to theirs.

    If he made a move on one of the Lords and failed to kill him, he risked the confrontation of all the remaining Lords. Although their rtionship was far from amicable, Estran tasked them with ensuring their mutual safety.

    Therefore, in the event of an imminent threat, the Lords worked together. Simr to how all of them engaged in a fierce battle against Irzanach''s entourage. The absence of any Lord''s presence would throw the bnce into disarray.

    Additionally, it was challenging to impart their power since it originated from a demon that eclipsed their power. It''d require a demon of equal strength to reappear and supervise the process for another Lord to take their ce.

    Unfortunately, there were no Daemos among the Council''s members.

    "There may be no need for one. The fact Irzanach chose now to strike meant there was an incentive for it. It must be linked to the establishment of that obscure household. Just what we don''t need¡­" Xorgrah frowned with a deep sigh.

    "How are the matters with the Council?" Saehtyn asked, "What about the Head?"

    "It''s¡­ unsettling," Xorgrah answered truthfully before turning towards Saehtyn. "It''s been three decades since we''ve heard any word from my father. I even suspect that he has died while trying to shatter the Noble Boundary barring thest evolution."

    "Three decades?" Saehtyn muttered with an astonished expression. He couldn''t believe that so many years had passed. ''Is shattering the boundary truly so difficult?''

    Except for the dying Estran, Saehtyn was unfamiliar with the power of a true Daemos. So, it was difficult for him to wrap his mind around the notion of a Daemos possessing such power. At most, he understood that Daemos held a great affinity towards any Sin rted to their origin.

    Aside from that fact, Saehtyn was in the dark. Besides, as a Lord, it was challenging to shatter the boundary. epting his current position came at an exorbitant price. After all, an imnted Sin Vessel produced a slight dissonance no matter how powerful the imnt was.

    That dissonance resulted in a drastic jump in advancement difficulty. A Lord would need at least twice the Sin toplete their evolution than an ordinary demon. Half of it was to correct the dissonance, and the other half drove the evolution''s extreme changes.

    Regrettably, it was hard to return the correct purity to the Nihilistic Rings without the Sin Source in their proper ces. So, in a sense, the First Monarch kept the demons at bay, and it was for an excellent reason.

    He knew all too well about the demeanor of a demon. The moment they tasted power, they would shatter all restraints towards creating mayhem. And, if too many strong demons rose and challenged Fuhrer''s barrier, then the Rings would be subject to an astronomical amount of danger.

    Suddenly, Xorgrah''s expression took a turn for the worse.

    "There''s something you need to know. In light of your revtion about a new faction of demon outside of the Lord''s control¡­ the Council has voted to file two motions," Xorgrah said with a conflicted expression.

    Evidently, he disagreed with the Council''s choice. However, he understood that it was a sound choice from a logical point of view.

    "Two motions?" Saehtyn muttered. Generally, nothing good followed the Council''s choice to expedite their decisions.

    "Yes. First, we''re exhausting all the ancient materials in our possession to forge weapons rivaling the ancient era. However, with my father missing in action, we''ll have to use a special method," Xorgrah answered.

    Immediately, a look of realization shed across Saehtyn''s face. There was only one such unique method, "You''re going to use Xonnomor''s forging expertise to fuel the creations of these weapons, but as an Archdemon, he''s far from strong enough. So, you want me to assist in the process."

    "Correct. That''s exactly the reason I came here. Of course, it won''t be free. We''ll anything you request with those ancient materials. However, you must see this process through until the end to receive it. Do you believe it is fair?" Xorgrah answered while looking at Saethyn with a calm expression.

    "It''s a fair deal. However, how long are we talking? Do I need to ce a liaison to carry out the tower''s daily measures while I assist Xonnomor?" Saehtyn asked.

    In response, Xorgrah thought about the answer before nodding. "You should put some matters in ce. With our current supply, we''ll be supplying every higher-up of the Council. If the sess rate is considerable, the supply will extend to the Lords as well. The tides are turning, and we need to prepare."

    "Very well," Saehtyn nodded before returning to the earlier focus, "And the second motion?"

    "The Royal Realm''s connection to the Nihilistic Rings will be sealed and presumably destroyed, depending on the severity of the future situation. It''s the Council''s decision, not mine," Xorgrah revealed.

    Saehtyn''s expression grew grim as he heard these words. Although he knew the Council was prone to hiding away when the situation became hopeless, Saehtyn didn''t expect the Council to make such drastic moves this early on.

    Then again, the Lords were their immediate line of defense. If they were incapable of resolving the situation, then without the presence of the head, it would force them into a dismal situation.

    "Isn''t it too early to make that decision? We should pool our resources to find a better solution, not hiding. Furthermore, our focus should be locating this new household to understand why its initial presence was the strongest we''ve ever seen," Saehtyn said.

    He disagreed with the Council''s passive actions. In fact, he agreed with Asteroth''s opinion.

    ''Their strength as demons continue to recede. The more they run and hide, the hard it will be to evolve. Perhaps this is why is it so hard. We''ve veered too far from the true path of a demon,'' Saehtyn internalized.

    "I agree that it is too early. But, the Council feels that a terrifying danger looms. Thest thing they want is for their location to be exposed. Thus, they''ve already begun to seal it."

    "And you?"

    "I''ll¡­ be staying outside of the realm. There''s no need for me to stay there. It''d be much easier for me to navigate the ring and monitor how quickly the situation devolves," Xorgrah answered.

    "At least one member of the Council has a backbone.. Good, let''s get this matter started then," Saehtyn replied before vanishing amidst a cluster of Hellfire.

 Chapter 447 - Unforeseen Order

    ----

    Inside the Dakea Stronghold¡­

    Xonnomor watched as both Saehtyn and Xorgrah appeared from inside a fiery portal. His expression was odd because of Saehtyn''s current pressure.

    Compared to before, when Apollo was still present, absorbing therge quantity of Ira in the deepest level of the tower, which was akin to an active volcano, allowed Saehtyn to heal in record time. From what Xonnomor saw, it was impossible to sense that Saehtyn had recently experienced a grave battle.

    "So? How long will we be upied?" Saehtyn questioned while ncing around Xonnomor''s forge. His attention instantly fell upon the mold used to forge Gram. Since it gave off a presence almost identical to his axe, it drew his attention seamlessly.

    ''Someone''s received a weapon on par with mine? Could they have already started the forging process?'' Saehtyn wondered before returning his gaze towards Xorgrah and Xonnomor.

    "At least one month. That should be enough to forge the weaponry needed. Let''s hope the sess rate is sufficient. Although there is a sizeable amount of material, the supply is finite," Xorgrah replied.

    Since the Council approved these drastic actions, they gave Xorgrah the entire reserve supply of ancient materials. Their safety was of the utmost importance, so the Council spared no expense at ensuring their safety.

    Eventually, Xorgrah ced an aquamarine ring on the ground. A subtle fluctuation urred, causing the ring to open up a small portal, roughly ten times its size. However, that was only the entrance.

    Both Xonnomor''s and Saehtyn''s expressions changed when they looked inside. They witnessed small piles of material categorized based on their effectiveness and possible equipment choices.

    "At the very least, we expect to see weapons, armor, and even essories capable of increasing the effectiveness of their respective Sin. While you''ll be handling the Ira equipment, I''ll be venturing around the rings to find a forger of a simr standard to forge the rest," Xorgrah revealed.

    "Why don''t you let me do it?" Xonnomor asked after averting his gaze from the substantial collections of items.

    "All you hold is Ira. We need forgers to work closely with a forger that can imbue the proper Sin without outside help. The assistance is only there to increase the item''s purity," Xorgrah answered.

    Although a forger didn''t need the corresponding Sin to make equipment to hold its power, Xorgrah refused to take any chances. The Council expected only the best gear from the valuable materials in Xorgrah''s possession.

    "True, but grandfather''s technique doesn''t rely on Sin Energy to forge. The energy of the Hellfire remains contained and only used for the purification process," Xonnomor retorted.

    A proper demonic forgerprised two abilities¨Dthe ability to forge the weapon''s mold, which was essentially an empty husk, until the second ability''s introduction, which was the ability to engrave demonic runes into weapons.

    It was the second step that genuinely made the equipmente to life. Depending on the set of runes used, the item needed a different Sin Signature. For example, the group of runes used on Gram allowed only Ira to flow through it.

    Because of these engravings, Gram couldn''t be used with other Sins outside of Ira. If the wielder tried, there was a chance of a heavy bacsh because of the rune''srge energy channels.

    "If you can convince them, I suggest asking the Lords for help. If you''re looking for equipment of the highest quality, then you should use the highest power avable. Granted, you''ll experience some headache if you take this route," Saehtyn said with a shrug.

    Although they didn''t get along, Saehtyn was confident that other Lords woulde back here at the request of Xorgrah, especially if they were offered a piece of equipment on par with Saehtyn''s axe.

    The only other demon with an item on par with his was Asmidia. However, it was a gift from Estran, who managed to retrieve it from Asmodeus, the Scious King. A ring that increased their lust tenfold, which was the reason for Asmidia''s incredibly scious behavior.

    Fortunately, no matter how much her behavior was affected, as a High Subus who kept her innocence, the Luxuria she produced was iplete, just like the others. Until she performed the act, her link to Luxuria would remain iplete.

    "That''s the n. If we don''t find any other forgers on par with Xonnomor, we''ll have to request the Lord''s presence," Xorgrah admitted.

    In response, Saehtyn nodded.

    He was sure that after experiencing Irzanach''s dangerous abilities, the perspective of the Lords would undergo some changes. Especially Lucifer, who loathed Irzanach''sments alongside Saehtyn.

    ''Fakes? ceholders?'' Saehtyn muttered to himself with a savage gleam in his eyes. The surrounding atmosphere boiled because of his anger. It wasn''t the fact that Irzanach belittled them; it was because he was right.

    That fight was an extreme eye-opener for the Lords. Just three individuals kept 7 of them at bay while suffering little to no damage. It was simply unheard of! They possessed over double the numbers, yet Irzanach neutralized their advantage in an instant.

    "Calm down, Saehtyn. We''re doing what we can to prepare. Maybe you should take the time to explore the possibility of collecting information about the Daemos Transformation," Xorgrah said, attempting to appease Saehtyn''s anger.

    However, he didn''t understand that their presence came at a price. A price that, until now, was never revealed because it was unneeded.

    "That''s quite impossible. We''d have to find the Primal Source of our Sin to entertain that thought. We Lords¡­ need a double cleansing," Saehtyn sighed with a defeated expression.

    After a moment, he disclosed the warning Estran gave them before imnting their power.

    "There are two extra rings?" Xorgrah uttered in shock.

    The Council was unaware of thesest two rings. Since these Rings were unrted to any Sin, they were, for the most part, uninhabited. Unlike the Lords, the Council didn''t possess ess to the tomes that listed the historical events of the demons.

    Therefore, anything beyond the creation of the Lords and the Council was a mystery.

    "So¡­ you guys need to find a realm that has gone missing for countless millennia? But, it''s a ce that summons you, not something that we can seek?" Xorgrah muttered in a mystified tone.

    He couldn''t believe what he was hearing. It sounded like a fable. While the Monarch was a widely known name, the Abyss Ring wasn''t, which was understandable. After all, it was a Ring created for the Dominus Household. Only those closely affiliated with the household were granted ess.

    "Correct. Now, should we get this process started? Unless the Ring mysteriously appears, I doubt us Lords will ever be Daemos," Saehtyn said as he summoned hispletely purified Hellfire. The core seemed to be overwhelmingly hot since it wasposed of Purgatory''s Blood.

    Part of the reason Lucifer said he would burn to death from the inside was because of this me. However, Saehtyn''s current vessel was strong enough to handle thirty percent strengthened Hellfire.

    Since he understood his limits, Saehtyn didn''t go beyond this number after his first attempt. Even a single percent caused him to feel a ridiculous amount of pain because of the uncontained Purgatory Blood.

    The additional percent caused his stigmata to go haywire, allowing some Purgatory Blood to flow through his body uncontrobly. It took a while for the rampant influx to subside and fall back under Saehtyn''s control.

    "Understood," Xonnomor nodded before sitting in front of the forge. He watched as Saehtyn injected a steady stream of Hellfire inside the forge''s pit. Within a few moments, the bottom of the forge''s melting pot emitted a white smoke.

    Once that happened, Xonnomor tossed in a handful of Dark Mythril.

    At the same time, Xorgrah waved his arm, causing four immense molds to appear. One was the mold for Saehtyn''s axe. Another was a slender longsword with an obscenely sharp de.

    Thest two were a longnce and a twin sword mold. Each of them were on par with Gram''s mold, except each of the other molds possessed a different Sin Presence. Whereas the heavy weapons focused on Ira, these others were of another Sin.

    After sensing those molds, Saehtyn smirked. "Lucifer would lose his mind if he discovered the existence of these molds. After all, he still hasn''t received a weapon."

    "We just received them recently. Speaking of which, that brings up another matter. We''ll have to speed up the process of excavating the ruins," Xorgrah said before pausing.

    He turned towards Xonnomor, "Prepare a team to enter that ruin early. We''ll need to fortify our collection for any unforeseen circumstance."

    Xonnomor froze for a second but then returned to normal with an imperceptible frown.. The situation just grew worse.

 Chapter 448 - Dominator Vs. Suppressor (I)

    ---

    Inside the Archaic Ira Ruins¡­

    Apollo''s expression underwent a drastic change after the system revealed Fuhrer''s information. At first, he thought it would only disy his current stats, but Apollo underestimated the use of the Demon Monarch System''s 6th level.

    He wasn''t aware of it, but the system was nearpletion because it only possessed eight levels. However, what followed the awakening of the 8th level was still unknown, just as the creator was.

    ''You''ve got to be kidding me. Are these the parameters of a Daemos at the zenith of that state?'' Apollo muttered in astonishment. His eyes widened as he marveled at the information of Fuhrer.

    ¡¸Name: Erus Fuhrer [*Follower]

    Race: Greater Demon (100.00%)

    Title: Infernal ughterer, Lord of the Tenebrous Sword

    Bloodline: Void Tartarean (Aura of Suppression)

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 3,000,000 units [10,000,000,000 units]

    Sin Volume: 50,000 units [750,000 units]

    -----

    Strength: 3,750.0 [125,000.0]

    Agility: 3,600.0 [120,000.0]

    Intelligence: 3,600.0 [120,000.0]

    Vitality: 3,450.0 [115,000.0]

    Perception: 3,600.0 [120,000]

    -----

    -[?Traits?]

    ?Phantasmal Daemos?

    ?Daemos Demon Body? [Sealed]

    ?Void Immersion?

    ?Tenebrous Assimtion?

    -----

    Ira: Late [wless] (???)

    Superbia: Late [wless] (???) ¡¹

    ...

    At most, Fuhrer could only draw upon 3% of his power, yet his statistics put the current demons in Apollo''s possession to shame. Not to mention, although he was an individual with a berserk bloodline, his attributes were bnced, with a slight favor towards strength and agility.

    However, that was to be expected since most berserk bloodlines used vitality as a source to amplify these twobat aspects.

    Without a doubt, Apollo knew a spar against Fuhrer could only be done while using a weapon. All of Fuhrer''s attributes were higher than his. Apollo''s stigmata were stronger than Fuhrer''s, but they consumed a constant supply of his Ira.

    Therefore, he nced towards Ouroboros. "Refill my Ira Reserves, Boross"

    "Yessss," Ouroboros hissed before sinking his fangs into Apollo''s neck.

    Immediately, Apollo''s eyes widened as they surged with a crimson glow. A stream of messages appeared within his view as his Diabolic Heart experienced a significant influx of Ira.

    Apollo didn''t expect the surge to be so quick because he didn''t know that Ouroboros''s bite increased the flow of his Ira to finish off the infusion within a short timeframe.

    Ouroboros retracted his fangs within seconds as Apollo''s body surged with Ira, indicating his refilled Sin Vessel. Apollo clenched his fist as his Iraym Form strengthened.

    In the next moment, his Infernal Ira Stigmata thrummed with power as Apollo created some distance between him and Fuhrer. "You don''t need to take it easy at all. Treat me as a genuine opponent."

    "Are you sure about that?" Fuhrer replied with an arched brow. Although he wasn''t nning to hold back, he wasn''t nning on treating Apollo as a genuine opponent, either. He merely wanted to gauge Apollo''s true strength.

    "Certain," Apollo nodded as a dark gold hue emitted from his spine. His Dauntless Vertebrae released a steady stream of Superbia throughout his body. Unlike before, his Cardinal Sphere pulsated just before the two Sins collided.

    Instantly, the pulse forced the Sins to remain in ce.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s form remained unchanged. It was neither his Iraym nor Suprana Form. Instead, it was a form that made Fuhrer''s eyes widen in shock.

    "L-Lord Astraval?" Fuhrer muttered but soon caught himself while shaking his head. It was a momentarypse in judgment, but seeing Apollo adopt the form that came with his bloodline overwhelmed Fuhrer for a moment.

    ''I should''ve expected that his original demonic form would return after awakening his bloodline,'' Fuhrer internalized while cing his hand on the hilt of Brynhildr.

    Simrly, Apollo raised his hand towards Typhir, which caused Gram to vibrate and shoot into his palm. "I''m ready."

    "Likewise," Fuhrer said as his body released a mysterious aura that blended with the void seamlessly. Now that Apollo was aware of Fuhrer''s traits, he understood what this aura was. It was Fuhrer''s Void Immersion that allowed his body to blend with the void with no faults.

    This trait was the foundation of his Void Shuttling technique.

    In spite of Fuhrer''s actions, Apollo immediately went on the offensive. Two majestic dragon-like wings unfurled behind Apollo''s back as he rushed towards Fuhrer at mind-boggling speeds. Compared to the earlier presentation of his wings, they were much smaller now since they weren''t suitable forbat in that state.

    Regrettably, by the time Apollo''s sword met Fuhrer''s possession, he only bisected a phantom image. Fuhrer had already stepped inside of the void, shuttling around on a circr axis.

    Fuhrer didn''t navigate far from his initial position since he was testing his perception. One thing Apollo needed to possess was overwhelming sharp sense. Thus, Fuhrer wanted to know how acute his senses were.

    But, Apollo didn''t use a conventional method to locate Fuhrer. He conjured a ck sphere in his palm before crushing it an instantter, sending an overwhelming aura spiraling outward. The aura found Fuhrer''s initial void entry location in an instant.

    A momentter, the aura burrowed into the void and caused the entrance to crumble at a visible rate. Since using his perception to find Fuhrer took too much time, Apollo opted for the method of brute force.

    ''Oh? Is the young Lord trying to crumble this void channel and force me out? Unfortunately for the young Lord, I have several ways of employing the void for my use,'' Fuhrer thought.

    Suddenly, many branching void channels appeared, forcing Apollo''s aura to spread over innumerable branching paths until its effect became minimal.

    Apollo realized this instantly since a link remained between his aura and the Cardinal Sphere. As long as it was within a specific range, it delivered feedback.

    Eventually, Fuhrer''s action caused Apollo to chuckle.

    A terrifyingly sharp aura billowed from Apollo''s body. He shed Gram horizontally, causing a colorless arc of demonic energy infused with an abnormal energy to surge toward the void''s entrance.

    Whereas his first actions only used his Aura of Domination, Apollo infused some of his Tenebrous ability into the Nether Severance, creating an attack with the ability to sever the void itself!

    Fuhrer''s expression finally changed as he ejected himself from the void with an amused chuckle, "Not bad. You''re bing more intuitive in your movements. Very well, I shall show you something." Ait''s just a shame that I''m

    Following Fuhrer''s word, Apollo sensed a change in the surrounding area. A number of void entrances appeared around him.

    "You said to treat you like a genuine opponent. So, I''ll show you the technique that made me feared on the battlefield," Fuhrer eximed before disappearing immediately after.

    When he reappeared, there were six other copies of himself, operating the second baleful step at maximum efficiency. Then, all of his mirages entered the void while their location shifted to form a perfect dome around Apollo.

    Apollo''s eyes narrowed once the positions of the voids shifted. ''What is he up to?''

    Regardless, Apollo readied himself by pointing Gram forward with a focused expression. Apollo pushed his perception to its limits as he tried to sense Fuhrer''s subsequent actions.

    Since Fuhrer was an opponent of unforeseen attack methods, Apollo had to tap into his imagination. His Languished Perception activated as his eyes shifted between the voids rapidly.

    However, although everything moved slower in his eyes, all Apollo saw was a ck sh when one of Fuhrer''s mirages appeared from within a void.

    Whoosh! Ting!

    Apollo stepped back, narrowly dodging a sh from the first mirage when a second one appeared, causing him to change the angle of Gram''s width. Although it was a mere mirage, the weight behind the attack felt real.

    After all, when pushed to its pinnacle, the second baleful step was a game-changer

    Fortunately, Apollo was beginning to realize this as he shifted his body at a ridiculous rate, yet still received damage from Fuhrer''s attacks.

    How was he supposed to handle this attack when Fuhrer''s mirages appeared from one void and disappeared into another after initiating a strike?

    Because of the speed and trajectory of the attacks, it felt like Apollo was dealing with 14 opponents and not 7.

    Consequenly, Apollo used the Umbra Phantom Mantle as well. However, the disparity in their mastery was immediately noticed. Whereas Fuhrer instantly summed 6 mirages, it took Apollo a few seconds just to summon 3!

    "Don''t worryd. I''m far from done!" Fuhrer chuckled.

    Boom!

    Apollo''s feet sunk in the ground as an overbearing pressure bore down on him, suppressing his movements.

    ¡´System Alert: Your Agility''s effects have decreased by 50%.¡µ

 Chapter 449 - Dominator & Suppressor (II)

    ----

    Apollo''s eye narrowed further when he felt the pressure of Fuhrer''s aura acting down on him. Not only was it a new type of pressure, but it was also the first time the system revealed the effects this aura had on his attributes.

    The first time Apollo experienced Fuhrer''s aura, it wasn''t this strong. Yes, it restricted the opponents'' movements; however, it never caused the ground beneath their feet to shatter.

    This effect went beyond the initial state of suppression Fuhrer used, a level beyond a mere aura. It was the point where an aura manifested into something much more significant.

    Fuhrer was invoking his genuine Dominion of super-suppression!

    Not only did this Dominion deliver a crushing force, but that force also acted upon its targets from all directions except up, producing a dreadful feeling of losing control.

    Fuhrer''s Dominion mixed both suppression and super-gravity to root his opponent in ce. Coupled with his free void movement, Fuhrer concocted abination tactic that overpowered his opponent in an instant.

    In Fuhrer''s former glory, the breadth of this Dominion could cover a battlefield, which is why his enemies feared his presence on the battlefield. Just imagining the horrifying scene of a battlefield riddled with void openings and an overbearing force slowing down the enemy made Apollo praise Fuhrer''s abilities.

    ''No wonder father appointed him as the Grand General of his shocking amount of followers,'' Apollo thought. The tactics at Fuhrer''s disposal were boundless, and his power allowed him to have a grasp over any battlefield he stepped foot on.

    Besides overwhelming power, the leader of an army also needed wless cognizance to remain vignt of all the movements taking ce on the battlefield.

    Still, Apollo wouldn''t just take this matter sitting down. If he did, how could he be the ruler of all these demons?

    Bang!

    Apollo moved his leg, causing a second deep footprint to appear on the ground. As a precaution, the Infernal Ira Stigmata released an undting wave of Ira that soon wrapped around Apollo''s limbs.

    Because of the significant disturbance, everyone focused on absorbing the Ira stopped and turned towards the match between Apollo and Fuhrer.

    "Whoa¡­ Fuhrer just activated his Suppressive Dominion? When''s thest time we saw that? More importantly, the Lord can still move!?" Vc guffawed as he witnessed the battle''s current events.

    "Well, the Dominion''s scope is still small. It''s not the same Dominion we remember from the past. Keep in mind, Fuhrer''s resources are minimal. Just activating this Dominion should be stressing his reserves," Furcasmented with a thoughtful expression.

    ''I wonder just how fast his Anima and Aura are being exhausted since he''s doing this as a Greater Demon,'' Furcas muttered to himself.

    Generally, a Dominion couldn''t appear from a Greater Demon because it required at least two prerequisites that were beyond a Greater Demon.

    One, it required an aura of the fifth degree to operate as the foundation of the Dominion. Without this core factor, the Dominion would crumble in seconds because of the insufficient power supply. After all, the simplest way of exining a Dominion was the evolved projection of one''s aura.

    Second, a Dominion required a potent perception to keep the projection activated. Additionally, the perception identified the target as well as the scope of Dominion. The requirement for this bled into the final prerequisite.

    A Dominion could only be employed once a demon melded their Cardinal Temple and Tainted Temple, which, as mentioned before, happened when one became a Noblesse. In other words, the earliest a demon could form a Dominion was as a Noblesse.

    Once a demon fulfilled all of those prerequisites, they were free to try forming a solid Dominion. However, this was only advised if their anima reserves wererge enough to support the monstrous expenditure of this demonic ability.

    Even for the weakest Dominions, the consumption was ten times that of using a Noble Art. Its obscene expenditure resulted from infringing upon a mass of individuals. If the effects were too weak, then the target could easily escape the coverage of the Dominion.

    Meanwhile, the surge around Apollo continued to condense as his muscles swelled after experiencing the increased exhaustion of his stigmata. Soon enough, a message appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

    ¡´System Alert: Your current Ira Purity is pure enough to unlock the Infernal Ira Stigmata''s second phase. Do you wish to activate it?¡µ

    "Unlock!" Apollo groaned through clenched teeth.

    Suddenly, a burst of Ira shot from this body in all directions as the glow of the stigmata switched from crimson to a ckened red, reminiscent of dried blood.

    ¡´System Alert: Your current Ira Purity is sufficient to activate the third phase as well.¡µ

    ¡´W A R N I N G: A Mature Demon Body is advised for the third phase of the Infernal Ira Stigmata. More Purgatory Blood will be produced.¡µ

    After reading this message, Apollo thought about it as he nced at the updated information of the Infernal Ira Stigmata.

    ¡¸?Infernal Ira Stigmata? (Second Phase)

    Rank: Abysmal*

    Purity: Absolute

    Vessel: Greater Demon Body

    Description: This stigmata is a part of a set perfected by the First Monarch, Astraval Dominus, to create a mobile vessel for the Primal Sins. In its current state, it is still far from reaching that intention.

    Effect: Harnesses Ira''s power to empower its wielder. Increases your Strength by up to 75%.

    Consumption: 500 units of Ira per minute.

    *Note: This stigmata can be further improved by deepening the bond with the Primal Sins. ¡¹

    ¡­

    From the initial number of 3,040, Apollo''s strength ballooned to over 5,300, which allowed him to move under the pressure of Fuhrer''s Dominion. However, he was far from done as Apollo spread his aura across the area of their battle.

    Simr to Fuhrer''s suppression, Apollo''s domination held a special effect. Moreover, Apollo used everything at his disposal to bridge the gap.

    ¡´System: The ability of the ?Monarch''s True Heir? title has activated. Aura of Domination effects increased by 50 percent.¡µ

    ¡´System: All of Erus Fuhrer''s attributes have decreased by 10%.¡µ

    ''Only 10%?'' Apollo thought with a frown. Even after experiencing a 50 percent boost, Apollo''s aura could only reduce Fuhrer''s stats by 10 percent! Whereas Apollo could reduce Vc''s attributes by 75 percent, he didn''t have this luxury with Fuhrer.

    However, Apollo then looked at it another way. ''The true strength of Fuhrer''s vessel is tens of times stronger than mine. So, a ten percent decrease isparable to rendering every demon on my team immobile.''

    If all of the attributes points that render null were summed up andpared to the other demons, Fuhrer''s reduction would still triumph over more than ten demons!

    Therefore, Apollo understood just how nonsensical a Daemos''s power was.

    Besides, Apollo activated the title''s effect for another reason. He smashed therge palm into the ground and covered himself in a cloak of this aura. As a result, the effects of the Suppressive Dominion vanished, but so did Apollo''s ability to move.

    If he moved and the cloak vanished, he would once again be susceptible to Fuhrer''s actions, which wasn''t the best.

    Unfortunately, there was a significant divide in the masteries of their aura. Although the Aura of Domination stood at the pinnacle, with the Aura of Suppression right under it, Fuhrer''s degree of activation made Apollo''s seem worthless.

    "Heh. Young Lord, you''ll have to do better than that," Fuhrer chuckled with a mischievous gleam in his eye.

    Shinnggg! Shinggg! Shing!

    The frequency of Fuhrer''s instantaneous void shes hastened. Each sh of absurd speed caused a portion of the cloak to vanish. Fuhrer''s damage rate was simply baffling, to the point that even Apollo nked.

    ''This is far from enough,'' Apollo thought as he switched his method. He braced himself for the effect as he deactivated the cloak. However, in the split-second granted by his actions, Apollo pped his wings, retreating from the small Dominion.

    And, just as he expected, the Dominion followed his movements, just slower.

    Still, Apollo was forced into a passive state as he constantly changed his flight trajectory to escape Fuhrer''s Dominion.

    ''Come on. Think! What else can you do?'' Apollo muttered to himself as he watched Fuhrer walk from within the void with a faint smirk.

    In the next moment, he shed Brynhildr downward, sending a surge of void energy towards Apollo. Although it possessed no presence, Apollo sensed it because he was all too familiar with this technique.

    Or, so he thought.

    Another immense collection of void portals opened up and swallowed the Phantom Millennia Strike.

    ''Don''t tell me!''

    Apollo felt it. A ridiculous number of shes were aimed at him from all angles. Because of this, Apollo stopped ruminating over the warning delivered by the system.

    "Activate!" Apollo bellowed!

 Chapter 450 - Absolute Eradication

    ----

    A burst of Ira surged from Apollo''s body when he activated the Infernal Ira Stigmata''s third phase. An overwhelming sensation of strength coursed through his limbs as heid eyes on the intangible arc emerging from the innumerable surrounding voids.

    Apollo''s expression sharpened as he clenched his hand, causing several shattering noises to ur. In the next moment, a heightened golden glow appeared from Apollo''s spine as his movements hastened alongside the assistance of the Umbra Phantom Mantle.

    The number of cracking noises continued to increase as minute cuts appeared on Apollo''s body. However,pared to the number of shes aimed at his body, the amount of damage received was inconsequential.

    Besides, unlike the two previous versions, the third phase of the Infernal Ira Stigmata was much different. Whereas the first two increased his strength by a controlled amount, the third phase''s increase wasn''t bound to a cemented limit. Depending on how much Ira Apollo sacrificed, he could continue to increase his power.

    Granted, it needed to stay within the limits of his vitality, which is why the system warned him to unlock his mature Demon Body first. The vitality of a Mature Demon Body outssed his current level by many times.

    Fortunately, the issues were only relevant if Apollo pushed his limits.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer gazed at Apollo, who was endlessly dodging the shocking amount of attacks aimed at him. Conversely, Apollo used his Dominator''s Clutch to block any of the strikes he failed to avoid.

    Fuhrer watched Apollo in awe instead of continuing his attack because of how fast his movements became over time. ''Oh? Thed is getting serious. Activating two of his stigmata at a higher level and pushing his aura to its current peak? No wonder he is shattering these shes.''

    Based on Fuhrer''s current estimations, Apollo''s ability rivaled at least primary stage Noblesse. Even Typhir''s extremely berserk state paled inparison to the sight Apollo disyed.

    However, that was to be expected.

    After all, Apollo''s repertoire of techniques and abilities put him on a level above the rest. Now that he had exhausted over 50 percent of his Ira Volume, Apollo nced towards Gram with a conflicted expression.

    ''Do I need to use you? You''re probably the only thing in my possession capable of overpowering Fuhrer''s suppression. Although my aura is purer, it''s not dense enough to shatter his suppression,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    The current situation wouldn''t trouble Apollo if his aura were at the fifth degree or higher, allowing him to form a Dominion of his own.

    By default, his aura''s higher caliber permitted the destruction of anything below him. However, to do so, his aura needed to be at least on par with the aura''s degree of utilization. If not, he was left in his current situation.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer dragged his hand against Brynhildr''s de with a faint smirk. "Young Lord. Would you like to witness the ability of a true armament?"

    This question immediately raised Apollo''s awareness. If Gram''s Infernal Marks could increase his damage by 125%, what would Brynhildr be capable of? Unlike Gram, Brynhildr possessed a genuine soul! That meant it had unique abilities capable of assisting Fuhrer.

    Although Fuhrer asked Apollo this question, he didn''t wait for a response. An abrupt gust of dark winds urred as a terrifying cyclone appeared around Fuhrer''s body. It was faint at first, but Apollo recognized an outline of a sort of dreadful entity.

    Eventually, the outline became evident, which allowed Apollo to understand what he saw. It was a gigantic phantom with deep green eyes surrounded by deathly winds. The ghost looked like a demon, but Fuhrer''s traits produced an enigmatic creation.

    When Apollo looked at the ground beneath Fuhrer''s feet, he noticed an increasing amount of marks appearing on the floor. However, the astonishing number of scars branching off from the initial cut is what caught Apollo''s eye.

    After learning of this matter, Apollo created some room by breaking the remaining attacks all at once. It exhausted a substantial portion of his strength, but it was worth it.

    "Don''t run, young Lord. After all, there is nowhere to run. Brynhildr''s scope is wider than you know," Fuhrer chuckled. A momentter, he raised a single finger and pointed towards Apollo.

    "Howl, Brynhildr," Fuhrermanded.

    Scrrrrreeeeee!

    An eerie noise urred as a cluster of the dark winds surrounding Fuhrer rushed towards Apollo. Fuhrer didn''t even wield Brynhildr. As an Armament, it possessed the ability to control its attack if Fuhrer permitted it. Since its soul originated from Fuhrer, it required his consent to act. Only when in grave danger could it override this stiption.

    Without a choice, Apollo held his hand towards Gram, extracting from the ground once again. The immediate sensation of having his Ira devoured appeared, but Apollo paid it no mind.

    At the same time, the imperfect triple mirage appeared around Apollo''s body as he swayed to the right, dodging most of the first cluster of dark winds. However, he was forced to unleash a monstrous Demonic Massacre Wave when he noticed how many more were iing.

    In response, Fuhrer released a burst of heartyughter. "Excellent! Now defend against more! Overwhelm, Brynhildr!"

    In the next instant, the winds howled as Brynhildr vibrated in Fuhrer''s hand. The previous tens of branches multiplied into hundreds as they honed in on Apollo''s positions.

    From Apollo''s point of view, the iing attack looked like an impossible wave of darkness. It was akin to being swallowed by the void. ''I understand why Brynhildr is a weapon made uniquely for Fuhrer. All of its attacks emte the void without entering it. Perhaps Brynhildr may be the source of the Phantasmal Daemos Technique.''

    As the wave of overwhelming attacks hurtled towards Apollo, Fuhrer looked at him with a peculiar expression, ''Resolve it, young Lord. This attack isn''t beyond you. w your way out of all situations.''

    While the attack didn''t leave a way out for Apollo, there was something that he needed to understand. It was the essence of being a demon of his standard.

    Gradually, Apollo''s expression darkened. Time seemed to slow even further while his heartbeat grew vibrant in his ear. The Ira within him churned, turning into a source for unbridled yet controlled rage, simr to how Saehtyn controlled the Sin.

    Though simr, they weren''t identical. After all, Apollo''s rage was funneled into something entirely different. A ruthless aura billowed from his body in droves as Fuhrer released a delighted grin.

    If this were a typical situation involving an enemy, Fuhrer wouldn''t be as excited. However, since Apollo was someone closely rted to him, this development delighted Fuhrer.

    The more Ira assimted with Apollo, the more a familiar feeling rose from within. Soon enough, he understood why this sensation was so familiar. ''I remember¡­''

    He had felt this once before, during the time he first went against Fuhrer. It was only for a moment, but Fuhrer released a feeling that went beyond the Demonic Massacre Wave''s savagery.

    Apollo''s abrupt understanding produced a notification from the system that he couldn''t ignore.

    ¡´System Alert: The Fourth Annihtion has been unlocked. The properties from Ira has been extracted.¡µ

    ¡´System Alert: Your desire has unlocked the brutality of the leader.¡µ

    At this very moment, all Apollo wanted was for this attack before him to vanish. And, to do so required a truly ruthless move.

    This strike didn''t require any Ira. Instead, it sapped all of Apollo''s remaining Aura of Domination to empower the ruthless desire of Apollo.

    Apollo summoned a w at least six times bigger than before above his head as he looked at Fuhrer with an indifferent gaze. It was as if the person before him was neither a friend nor foe, but merely something that needed to be destroyed.

    Just before Fuhrer''s attack touched Apollo''s body, the enormous w mimicked Apollo''s actions. He closed his hand, causing the w to shatter.

    "Absolute Eradication," Apollo muttered as a torrential purplish-ck sted expanded in a ring shape. Upon noticing this, Fuhrer conjured a dense barrier behind himself to ensure the safety of the others.

    After all, this technique was the most ruthless of all the Annihtions. It didn''t differentiate friend from foe. Everything within its path was a target.

    The st overpowered Fuhrer''s dark winds in a moment. However, Fuhrer didn''t allow it to spiral out of control.

    Towards the end, Fuhrer smiled as he shed Brynhildr downward. Fuhrer''s de produced a clean dissection of Apollo''s attack once he sheathed his weapon. From a spar, this battle turned into one that allowed Apollo to grow.

    "You''ve done it.. You should be more prepared for your battle against Asteroth."

 Chapter 451 - A Task For Valac

    ----

    "Oh, my damn!" Vc screeched as he braced himself. Although Fuhrer''s barrier dissipated most of the attack, it didn''t absorb the shock. Almost everyone within the barrier lost their footing when the terrifying attack bombarded the Wrath nket.

    Fortunately, Fuhrer sacrificed a substantial amount of Ira to fortify the barrier. Otherwise, there was a chance of it shattering because of the sheer force behind Apollo''s attack.

    As Fuhrer mentioned once before, each Annihtion grew progressively stronger. In fact, it was because of this technique that Fuhrer loathed battle against the Ruthless Queen.

    Since their powers were essentially equal, the Ruthless Queen could erase all of Fuhrer''s attacks with a ruthless move. Unless he was willing to expend his entire repertoire of techniques, it was difficult to im an advantage over the Ruthless Queen.

    Especially since she prioritized the power of Aura over Sins. Whereas a powerful demon could neutralize another''s Sin, it was challenging to do so with Aura. After all, Aura was a unique principle, and although some demons possessed the same aura, it wasn''t identical.

    It was based on a demon''s innate traits. So, while two demons could possess the same Aura of Destruction, that didn''t mean it would produce the same effects.

    Meanwhile, after unleashing that earlier strike, Apollo exhaled deeply. Although the usage of the technique apanied no pain, he noticed something odd.

    ''Who was that?'' Apollo muttered to himself. During the beginning stage of the technique, he felt a link to a dreadful entity. Though something unknown obscured their presence, Apollo was sure that this individual was familiar.

    However, he wasn''t sure if the image was from the past or present. All he saw was a scene of utter destruction, including a deste background with a solitary figure standing in the center of that destruction.

    ''Could that have been Asteroth? Is this a sign not to fight him?'' Apollo thought while taking a seat. He felt a small prick on his neck again as Ouroboros transferred anotherrge portion of Ira to replenish his exhausted reserves.

    Still in thought, Apollo scratched Ouroboros scale.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer appeared next to Apollo with a pleased expression, "I suggest you take the time to familiarize yourself with unleashing that technique. For now, you should turn it into your trump card against Asteroth."

    "You don''t think the Third Annihtion will be enough?"

    "If you were an Archdemon, maybe. But as of right now? No. He possesses the means to destroy your neb. As I said before, G is tricky to resolve, but it''s not impervious," Fuhrer answered truthfully, which made Apollo nod in response.

    Even he knew that although he possessed the Endless Devouring trait, his current neb had a finite limit. There were two ways to overwhelm. Either feed it more Sin than it could consume, which could also be done by overloading the absorption rate with a ridiculous sin volume in a short time frame, or shatter the neb with an overbearing force.

    Both methods wereplicated unless performed by an enemy with the corresponding abilities. In Asteroth''s case, the power he revealed inside the tower was more than enough for Fuhrer to draw this conclusion.

    Despite how little he could sense, Fuhrer gained a clear understanding once Asteroth blew the wall apart. To go against Asteroth, Apollo would need the Fourth Annihtion. However, until earlier, he was unsure of the best way to provoke the appearance of the technique.

    Luckily, Apollo requested a spar, which gave Fuhrer the idea of pushing him into a difficult situation. And, just as he assumed, a true demon thrived amid extreme adversity.

    Or, in Apollo''s case, he thrived when his desires escaped reason. A hidden trait of his bloodline was the ability to transform emotion into power, or the means to conquer if it was within his capacity.

    "I see," Apollo answered while turning towards the other demons. Most of them looked at him with a reverent expression after experiencing the unfathomable danger of hisst attack.

    On the other hand, Typhir was thoroughly surprised as hepared it against his strongest attack in his most powerful state. ''That attack was at least twice as strong as mine. And, it didn''t seem like he relied on Gram to aplish this effect.''

    Since the Fourth Annihtion was an aura-based attack and only possible with a select few auras, Gram couldn''t amplify the attack outside its base 125%. Still, that additional increase was one of the core reasons Apollo''s attack grew so monstrous.

    Gram was indeed a spectacr weapon.

    Apollo''s brows furrowed when he noticed none of the demons were absorbing the Ira in this ce. "Did I disturb you all?"

    "YUP! It''s your fault! So you can''t punish us!" Vc blurted. However, he instantly covered his mouth as he witness Apollo''s darkening countenance. "N-no¡­ My Lord! Please don''t!"

    Apollo ignored his plea and swiped his hand upwards. As a demon under Apollo''s Adamantine Servitude, Apollo didn''t need much aura to control Vc. So, even with his piddling amount of aura left, he drew Vc towards him.

    Once Vc floated before Apollo, he smirked. "Repeat that for me? I couldn''t hear you clearly."

    "I said, My Lord is magnificent. There is no greater," Vc muttered shamelessly.

    However, even Typhir shook his head. "He''s done. Everyone, get back to absorbing the Ira."

    While the others returned to increasing their purity, Apollo gradually relinquished the aura holding Vc in ce. "Sit."

    At first, Vc was surprised by this oue, but ultimately took a seat next to Apollo with a dubious expression. ''Am I not being punished?''

    "I need you to venture to Suprenis," Apollo stated suddenly.

    "W-wait what?! I can''t go back there right now. What about Tirasha?" Vcined. Although he overpowered her at first, it was a marginal win. Even he was surprised by Tirasha''s potential.

    And, now that she was given extra time and resources, Vc wasn''t sure just how strong she had grown.

    "Oh? Could it be true that you''re the household''s weakest link them?" Apollo teased, but it stimted Vc''s fury. Although he was shameless on the surface, Vc''s lead sin was Superbia. Thus, he couldn''t tolerate the tant insult.

    "W-weakest link!?" Vc sputtered with a baffled expression. "I am not! I am not the weakest link!"

    "Oh yeah? Then prove it to me. Go to Suprenis and report the current situation back to me," Apollo said again. Although he could order Vc to go, he didn''t feel like doing so. Instead, he wanted to test how helpful Vc could be.

    Eventually, Vc grumbled and nodded. "I will go."

    "Good," Apollo remarked, but then chuckled. "There''s no real danger, anyway. I could have let Fuhrer kill her, so she owes me already. You know what to do when you get there. But, if you cause trouble, I''ll allow her to retaliate appropriately.

    "W-whaaaat? That''s not fair. I''m your follower, not her! Be fair, my Lord!" Vc whimpered.

    Unfortunately, Apollo ignored his whining. "That is precisely why. Since you are my follower, how can I allow you to cause a mess if you don''t possess the power to resolve it alone? Discipline is what you require. So until then, the others are barred from helping you with any matters that you cause."

    Vc sulked, but didn''t voice any more disagreement. Because, Apollo''s words only stated that he couldn''t be helped if he was the source of the problem. Therefore, if the issue wasn''t a result of his actions, they were free to assist.

    "When do I have to leave?" Vc questioned.

    "You and Typhir will leave when we return to Firaria," Apollo determined after giving it some thought.

    After hearing his name, Typhir''s attention turned towards Apollo.

    "Me?"

    "Correct. And, you can take this," Apollo said as he handed Gram to Typhir. As long as he possessed this weapon, the chances of these two falling into danger were slim. Besides, if they genuinely experienced risk, there were still three options avable to resolve it.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer was surprised by this action, "If you give the weapon away, what will you use?"

    In response, Apollo merely smiled.

    Aside from tracking Tirasha''s movements, Apollo gave these two another task, "While inside Suprenis, I want you two to find Amduscias and gauge his strength."

    "Understood," Typhir nodded.

    After giving the matter some thought, Apollo turned towards Fuhrer. Then he turned towards Sapphyr and Geneva.

    "You two don''t need to absorb the Ira as much as the others. So, spar with Fuhrer and allow him to help you correct your weaknesses," Apollo said.

    Both of them nodded, which propelled the household into a period of training.. During that time, the other members of the household inside Ashiraem worked to devise a safe n.

 Chapter 452 - Truly Disappointed

    ----

    Inside the Dakea Stronghold¡­

    Xonnomor wiped the sweat off his forehead as he looked at the collection of useless weapons that failed the forging process. Although he seeded in making Gram on his first try using the mold, that didn''t mean his sess rate was a hundred percent.

    Even with Saehtyn''s extremely powerful Hellfire assisting in the melting process, when it came time to etching the engravings and hammering out the impurities even further, there was a high chance of failure.

    Fortunately, not only was there a lot of material to work with, each of Xonnomor''s failed attempts at making a new weapon deepened his knowledge of the craft. Continually, Xonnomor worked towards grasping the timing to finish the engravings and saturate them with Ira.

    However, the arduous forging process caused Xonnomor to experience severe fatigue.

    Thankfully, Xonnomor''s actions were not without benefits of their own. Besides deepening his understanding of the forging craft, Xonnomor also refined his Ira in the process since the material''s engraving required a certain threshold.

    "You should take another break because the amount of sessive failures has increased. It''s an indication of your exhaustion," Saehtyn remarked as he noticed Xonnomor''s listless expression.

    Evidently, the allure of his craft drove him to pursue it passionately. But, it was no use if most of his recent creations were all deemed failures.

    "True," Xonnomor nodded as he slowly ced therge forge hammer on the giant anvil before him. Afterward, he turned towards Xorgrah, who currently wore a peculiar expression. It was unknown if the forging was on his mind or something else entirely.

    But, it wasn''t long after Xonnomor had put down when Xorgrah looked towards him, then the neat row of sessful weapons. Most of them were on par with Saehtyn''s axe but just shy of reaching Gram''s quality.

    Regardless, they were all genuine iplete armaments. These three demons just didn''t know about this weapon ranking. After all, it was a weapon beyond the typical artifacts found in cirction in this current era.

    Even the weapons found inside the ruins were without background information. So, they were only aware that these weapons were astonishingly powerful and could bolster a demon''s power to new heights.

    In ancient times, iplete armaments were the weapons of noble demons. Those who were strong but far from being strong enough to give a weapon a genuine soul. Thus, iplete armaments were also known as Noble Artifacts.

    Likewise, theplete armaments were something restricted to Daemos. In other words, they were Daemos items. Only under certain rare circumstances could weaker demons wield an object of that caliber. However, that situation was almost unheard of.

    In fact, the number didn''t surpass three.

    Meanwhile, Saehtyn continued to gaze silently between Xonnomor and Xorgrah. From Xorgrah''s expression, Saehtyn couldn''t tell if he was pleased or displeased. After all, Xorgrah''s general disposition was stoic. Revealing any emotion outside of his usual serious expression was almost impossible.

    Of course, Xonnomor was unable to bear the tension building up in the room. Therefore, he asked the question on his mind. "Are these numbers to your liking?"

    Surprisingly, the answer wholly contrasted with Xorgrah''s current deadpan expression.

    "Thoroughly satisfied," Xorgrah nodded before ncing at the organized rows of settling weapons. "Your sess rate is above forty percent. So, there''s a chance that every four out of ten attempts yield a sessful product."

    "Good," Xonnomor answered with a faint smile.

    However, it seemed Xorgrah wasn''t done as he continued with a pensive look, "However, we can improve beyond this. As Saehtyn stated earlier, you''re exhausting yourself and thus making unwarranted mistakes. You should take even more frequent breaks and even work on your Ira Reserves during that time."

    Xonnomor took this advice seriously. After all, besides him, his father also spectated the forging of his grandfather. So, he was familiar with the steps but unfamiliar with the application of the technique.

    It was simr to a scientist concocting a theory but requiring another party to carry out the process because of their incapabilities.

    "I understand. I''ve noticed my mistakes as well and will work towards improving them," Xonnomor replied with a respectful expression.

    He didn''t forget to absorb some of the Fragment of Sin delivered by Apollo in his free time. Not only were theypatible with his current actions, but every time he emptied his reserves and used the fragments to refill them, it experienced marginal yet impressive growth.

    Because, the current rate of growth was roughly one-tenth of how fast Xonnomor was recovering his Sin Purity and volume. Therefore, it was only a matter of time until he recovered to his peak state.

    At that time, he would once again be helpful to Apollo for more than just forging.

    Everyone in the household should be capable of defending themselves, or else they didn''t deserve the right to be a member of that household. Only the strongest deserved to fall under the direct banner of the Dominus Household.

    In addition to taking this time to heal up as much as possible, Xonnomor also used this opportunity to address his father''s previous statement.

    "Father," Xonnomor said, causing his father to turn towards him with a slightly intrigued expression.

    "Hm?"

    "Well, you see. About thatment from before, you want me to prepare a team to enter the ruins, correct?"

    Xorgrah nodded in return. "That''s correct. I''d like you to form a team and send them into the ruins as soon as possible."

    "It¡­ might not be possible at all," Xonnomor admitted with a bitter smile. Part of the reason behind his smile was the state of the Dakea Stronghold. Not only was it damaged from the fight with Apollo, but the leaders were in a very peculiar situation.

    "Why is that so?" Xorgrah questioned with a deepening frown.

    Initially, Xonnomor thought of revealing part of the truth, but instead, he opted for another route. After all, the Council possessed a rather extensive collection of knowledge surrounding the ruins.

    "Well, didn''t you say that this particr ruin should be more valuable than the rest? And, it would require a team outfitted with Archdemons at the very least?"

    "Correct," Xorgrah nodded. But, he continued. "However, I fail to see the issue in your statement. We''ve personally seen to it that this stronghold has at least you and another Archdemon to hold down the fort. Assign them."

    Xonnomor''s expression changed as soon as he heard this statement. With thisment, he was forced to reveal more about the current situation, albeit not entirely.

    "We¡­ can''t muster those forces at the very moment. Arleo suffered a grave injury in thest excavation. Even more severe than we thought. So¡­ he''s devolved back into a Greater Demon," Xonnomor stated with an awkward expression.

    Just as he expected, Xorgrah''s eyes narrowed, and a dreadful pressure seeped from his body.

    "And you think this is the type of news you withhold from the superiors?! If you''d told us sooner, I could have made preparations before the disconnection from the Rings started!" Xorgrah barked.

    While Xonnomor expected this type of reprimanding, the situation was out of his hands. He would much rather receive this severe scalding than sell out the presence of Apollo. If he did, Xorgrah would undoubtedly summon forces from the other hidden assets.

    Eventually, Xorgrah clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Then just add Gallmath to the team and assemble the strongest underlings you possess."

    Again, Xonnomor revealed a conflicted expression.

    "Gallmath¡­ isn''t as strong as you think anymore. He, too, suffered a serious wound in that ruin. He''s been nursing his state ever since. At best, he''s mostly on par with me."

    Xorgrah trembled imperceptibly as a thick, throbbing vein appeared on his forehead in response to this answer. Though he seemed like he wanted to explode, Xorgrah did his best to keep it in.

    Soon enough, he exhaled.

    "Son¡­ Son, why do you disappoint me so? Do you truly have shit for brains? We are in a bind, yet you pull the rope even tighter?!" Xorgrah said with a slight groan.

    "My apologies. I have truly made a bad move," Xonnomor answered while lowering his head. However, there was a look of relief on his face as he ced his hand on his chest. "Shall we push back the ruins excavation date until this batch of weapons isplete? I''ll be happy to go afterward."

    Instead of replying, Xorgrah just sighed while turning towards Saehtyn.. Apparently, he had another n in mind.

 Chapter 453 - Contacting The Nautilus

    ----

    Because Xorgrah had yet to reply, Xonnomor grew tense. He even wondered about his father''s following thoughts. ''I can never get a read on this man. Just what is he thinking to do? Surely he wouldn''t venture into a ruin? Until now, there has been no reason for him to do so.''

    Until now, even the hardest ruin only required a peak Archdemon to subjugate it. Even if some odd opponents appeared, such as reanimated corpses or trapped demons, it only took numbers to overwhelm them as the lead member made the decisive finishing move.

    However, they didn''t understand that the ruin Apollo was inside would require more than a simple peak Archdemon to ovee. Just the first opponent was on par with a peak Archdemon.

    If not for Apollo''s entourage possessing an advantage when it came to the upgrade provided by the system, then only Fuhrer, Geneva, or Apollo would be able to defeat that opponent.

    What''s more, the Iraym that Typhir defeated would require a Noblesse at the very least because it required Typhir''s third-degree Perfected Bloodline and an iplete armament to overpower that foe, which equated to an initial Noblesse.

    But, even until now, it was unknown if Xorgrah possessed a weapon on par with Saehtyn''s. After all, there was no indication of any weapon on his body. Either he kept it hidden from sight, or he didn''t use weapons inbat.

    If thetter were true, then unless his stigmata was powerful and at least at Typhir''s grade, then defeating the Iraym would have been difficult, even for him.

    Finally, Xorgrah said something that allowed Xonnomor to release a relieved sigh that he subconsciously held.

    "How quickly can your people get in touch with the Nautilus?" Xorgrah questioned.

    He evidently didn''t intend to venture inside the ruin himself if he was seeking out the Nautilus. Instead, he would be hiring a helping hand to assist in the issue that his negligent son created.

    "We are in contact with them at all times. I can simply send a message back to the tower and have them request the Nautilus''s presence. What do you need?" Saehtyn asked whilezily resting upon his right fist.

    Shockingly, helping Xonnomor forge was even more boring than being idle in his throne room. Not to mention, the matter regarding Irzanach and his followers still weighed heavily on his mind, contributing to his rather negative mood. Anything cumbersome became even more trivial in his eyes.

    "Hired arms. Specifically, 4 Archdemons, 10 Greater Demons, and 50 Lesser Demons to excavate the ruins. I''d prefer if the Archdemons were above the primary stage and at least possess a Tier 5 Demonic Artifact to assist them inbat."

    When it came to Demonic Artifacts, the tier typically represented the amount of energy it could handle before either overloading or shattering. Since they weren''t armaments, they came with finite limits that were often very restricting.

    In this case, a Tier 5 Demonic Artifact could resist up to an initial Archdemon''s power. Furthermore, Tier 6 was the summit of the Demonic Artifact ranking, and it was able to handle up to a peak Archdemon''s strength.

    Additionally, it could augment their traits by quite a significant amount since the materials used to create were just below the old standard. Beyond that tier was the realm of the armaments.

    "So many hired arms? Although I don''t doubt your pockets, requesting over 60 demons to act at your whim will be costly," Saehtynmented with a tinge of interest in his eyes.

    The fact that Xorgrah required so many demonspelled Saehtyn to check out the situation regarding that ruins, simr to how Apollo''s past presence impelled Saehtyn to abandon his post for a brief moment.

    Once he was tempted, it was difficult for Saehtyn to resist acting upon his impulses. Although he was a Lord, the effect of the Sins was more impactful on him than on any other demon.

    After all, each of the Lords were forced to deal with frequent afflictions caused by Estran''s great Sin affinity. While it wasn''t enough to shatter the zenith ced upon most demons, it was the third-highest Astraval had ever seen, aside from Apollo and himself.

    However, unlike them, Estran didn''t possess a bloodline that increased the Sin''s desire for his vessel, yet he was able to cultivate an affinity that defied most other demon''s limits.

    "I''m aware of the cost. But, this is a price I''m willing to pay. The contents of the ruins are far more valuable than mere Fragments of Sin. They''re only material to strengthen ourselves, but the materials in that ruin can enrich our race''s chances," Xorgrah answered with a moment''s hesitation.

    "Well said," Saehtyn nodded. Shockingly, he quelled the desire to take a peek. Xorgrah''s response doused his unsightly desires and brought him back to hisposed self. Plus, hearing someone from the Council mention the safety of the entire race put Saehtyn in good spirits.

    ''If only the others held your point of view. We''d be much better off and possibly even thriving,'' Saehtyn thought. A part of him even suspected that they''d be on the verge of finding one of the two missing Rings.

    Although one was hidden for a good reason, the demons lost the other due to their tant neglect. After all, it was a Ring created for the "outcasts"; since they weren''t fortunate enough to wield the demon''s most significant power, those without a Sin were simply forgotten.

    "Since you deal with them all the time, what do you estimate the price will be?" Xorgrah inquired.

    As a result, Saehtyn fell silent as he rummaged through his memory. First, he recalled all the varying prices of the demons; then, he estimated how long Xorgrah would need to employ them. Once he possessed an adequate grasp of the situation, he came up with a final estimation.

    "Truth be told, I wouldn''t expect anything under 16,000 Fragments of Sin. Most of the costes from employing Archdemon. While they''re nowhere as expensive as requesting a Noblesse, they''re still steeply-priced," Saehtyn remarked.

    While it only cost 50 fragments to rent a peak Lesser Demons''s services, a Greater Demon was much more pricy, marked at 200 fragments. However, it still paled inparison to an Archdemon. Their starting price was 1,500 fragments! But, that was only the price for an initial stage one.

    The price continued to double for each progressive increase in their stage; hence, Saehtyn estimated the ultimate cost to be over 16,000 fragments. But, little did he know that the items within the ruins outweighed this value by at least ten times that amount!

    Xorgrah nodded after a short moment. "Very well. That''s within reason. Send on the request. Once you get in contact with them, have them meet outside the stronghold''s gates so I can brief them. While the Nautilus is a trusted entity, I would prefer for the information not to be leaked to the public."

    "Easily arranged," Saehtyn said as his amber eyes glowed with a crimson light. The tower in the distance emitted a light hum as he distributed the message to all of his followers.

    Instantly, they all worked towards delivering the message to the Nautilus.

    In the meantime, Xonnomor worked on recuperating before picking up the hammer once again. Once Saehtyn saw this action, he nced towards the forge, then at the unused molds.

    "When will you be venturing to the other Rings?" Saehtyn asked as a small cluster of Purgatory Blood gathered at his fingertip. Since Xonnomor was preparing himself, it meant it was time for him to resume work as well.

    "Not until the first batch is ready for distribution. I want to navigate the Rings without any interruptions. And, I can only do so by delivering enough items to appease the voracity of the Council."

    "Ah, I should have expected as much. Well, it won''t be long now. Xonnomor''s been at it for a few weeks, and the numbers are quite promising. You should be able to deliver the batch within a few weeks," Saehtyn said in a praising tone as he patted Xonnomor''s back.

    Part of Saehtyn''s reason for mentioning the progress was to ease the tension that followed Xonnomor''s irritating revtion. Fortunately, it seemed to have worked as the stressed expression Xorgrah presented dissipated significantly.

    On the other hand, Xonnomor smiled as he thought of an entirely different matter. ''I have it handled, my lord. The worst situation has been avoided.. Hopefully, this buys you enough time for you to execute all of your ns.''

 Chapter 454 - Into The Maw Of A Beast

    ----

    A dayter¡­

    Xorgrah tapped his chin outside the Dakea Stronghold as heid eyes upon the 64 demons he requested earlier. Not only did the Nautilus deliver on their standard of mercenaries, but each Demon before Xorgrah was also outfitted with equipment at the epitome of their current standard.

    The Lesser Demons were outfitted with Tier 4 Demonic Artifacts, allowing them to maximize their worth. If Apollo had fought against demons armed with these items while still a Lesser Demon, he would have had a more challenging time farming experience from the collection of weaker demons.

    Next, the Greater Demons were equipped with Tier 5 Demonic Artifacts. At the very least, they could improve their power by 25%. While it wasn''t as dramatic as the increase granted by Gram, thepounded increase from any techniques and their stigmata was enough to offset thecking increase.

    Lastly, the 4 Archdemons each possessed several Tier 5 and Tier 6 Demonic Artifacts that increased both their attack power and defense. With the presence of this equipment, there was even a chance of withstanding an attack unleashed by a peak Archdemon without receiving any horrifying injuries.

    The defensive items would allow superficial injuries at best. However, the ranking limited the number of times it could distribute protections. If the damage the demons received was too severe, then the equipment risked breaking.

    "What can we do for you?" One of the Archdemons asked as they scanned Xorgrah. They could sense that he was much stronger than them, which made them question their use. However, there were cases wherein numbers were much more significant than personal strength.

    Thus, the Archdemons kept their thoughts to themself.

    "It''s quite simple. I need you all to enter a ruin and extract the materials inside. The job will pay handsomely. Each of you all will split an additional 4,000 fragments on top of your initial payment from the Nautilus," Xorgrah said.

    If there was one thing he understood, it was that personal gain was the best motivator for demons. As long as he offered additional rewards while upholding his superiority, the chosen members would undoubtedly perform to the best of their abilities.

    "Such a generous bonus? Should I presume there will be dangers?" The same Archdemon asked. Although he was eager to earn a good day''s pay, there was nothing more valuable than his life.

    However, Xorgrah remained unperturbed in the face of this question. "As with all unknown ventures, there will be dangers. However, you will mitigate those threats if you all work together, which is the reason I have employed so many of you."

    As Xorgrah''s answer was sound, most of the demons present agreed with his answers. As for the rest, they didn''t possess any opinion. They were merely here for an opportunity that rarely presented itself.

    Still, the same demon, which seemed to be the leader for this particr event, continued to voice his skepticism. "What should we expect inside this ruin? Also, what''s to stop us from siphoning some of the loot?"

    At first, Xorgrah chuckled, but then his expression became grave. "Are you willing to make an enemy out of the entire Council? If so, then be my guest."

    Once they heard the mention of the Council, all of the demon''s expressions changed. Although the Nautilus revealed the employer as a renowned customer, they didn''t expect them to have such a terrifying background.

    None of the demons present before Xorgrah wished to make an enemy out of the Council. After all, when faced with countless Noblesse, a mere Archdemon was inconsequential!

    Instantly, the lead Archdemon quieted down as he listened to Xorgrah brief them on the setting of the ruin. ording to his exnation, there was a chance for each of them to increase their strength while also acquiring arge number of resources.

    After all, most ruins possessed an environment favorable for demons still in their growth phase.

    Soon enough, all of the demons were prepped and ready to depart for the ruins. However, before leaving, Xorgrah did something that others would find extremely shocking.

    He distributed the defective armaments amongst the team entering the ruin. Although they were defective, it was only because of the abnormal reaction towards Sin Energy. In the hands of a Noblesse that utilized a higher signature, the weapon wouldn''t be able to withstand the rapid influx of energy.

    However, for Archdemons and lower, these items were befitting of their standard. Thus, Xorgrah distributed these items to decrease the chances of any anomalies taking ce.

    Once those defective weapons touched their hands, most of the demons present marveled at the pristine appearance of the weaponry. They weren''t aware that these were merely failures, yet they eyed them as treasures.

    "If you produce satisfactory results, then these are yours," Xorgrah before waving his arm. "I''ve revealed all I need to say, so you may leave when ready."

    "We''ll deliver the results you seek," the lead Archdemon said as he turned towards the others and gestured to follow. In truth, the entire party came from a single stronghold, and this particr demon was one of their Vice Commanders, hence the obedience from the others present.

    Xorgrah indicated his understanding with a simple nod as he turned back around and entered the stronghold gates in the direction of the forge.

    In the meantime, one of the lower demons stepped towards the lead demon and whispered to them, "Vice-Commander Tanath, do you truly believe that guy is from the Council? Since when have they openly appeared?"

    "He''s undoubtedly from the Council. Did you not see the marking on his neck? That''s the symbol of the leading party. In other words, that person is of a direct lineage to the current Chairman of the Council," Tanath replied before turning towards the distance.

    ''A ruin that has caused us to receive a great upgrade. Surely it isn''t as simple as that demon made it seem. However, with substantial riskse glorious rewards,'' Tanath thought as he took his first step towards the ruin''s location.

    Regrettably, he wasn''t aware of the atrocity that existed within the depths of that ce.

    ¡­

    At the same time, Xonnomor peered at the equipment before hisp with awe. Unlike Gram, the greatsword before him took an odd shape. Only one side of the weapon was sharpened, whereas the other side was blunt. Meaning, the weapon was not just meant for shing; it could also smash as well.

    The modified greatsword was a weapon for a berserker in the truest sense. Different from the forging process of Gram, Xonnomor made minor tweaks to the mold by seeking Saehtyn''s help.

    Only after hours of super-heating the mold were they able to minutely tweak one edge of the mold, creating a unique weapon. After experiencing the fight between Apollo and the others, Xonnomor was aware of more than one brute in the party.

    There was the weaponless Jorgun and the vicious Typhir, who possessed a baffling rage that mystified Xonnomor. Never would he have thought that such a shocking bloodline existed.

    Though it wasn''t as severe as his fight with the Iraym, Typhir activated his bloodline to the second degree after realizing how gruesome the injuries Apollo received from Arleo''s attack were.

    If not for Fuhrer and Vc''s presence, there was a chance he would''ve activated the third degree right there and then.

    Xonnomor picked up the weapon and ogled it from different angles. This weapon was predominately amber, crafted for an astonishing amount of Blood Ambers. Just holding the weapon caused a wrathful sensation to bud in Xonnomor''s mind.

    ''This is a weapon for someone who feeds off fury. Although there is a sizeable amount of Dark Mythril, I''ve coated the exterior in a thinyer of Blood Amber. The ratio has heightened the effects of the amber and created something amazing.''

    After witnessing this weapon and how it even outssed Gram in some departments, Xonnomor contemted whether or not he wanted to deliver this to the Council. After all, it would be much better if it fell into other hands.

    And, he also needed to forge the equipment for Apollo. Since he was forced to forge for his father, it left little to no time for him to work on the equipment Apollo requested. Thest thing he wanted to do was disappoint his Lord.

    So, he nced towards Saehtyn with a peculiar expression.

    "As you can see, I''ve veered far from the intended path. This is a personal creation, so don''t reveal its presence to my father."

    "I suppose I can do so¡­ if you can veer far from the path with my item as well," Saehtyn replied with a chuckle.

 Chapter 455 - Increasing Irritation

    ----

    Xonnomor revealed a surprised expression after hearing Saehtyn''s chuckle. After all, he wasn''t expecting him to be so agreeable because most individuals of Saehtyn''s level were challenging to deal with, and their demands forpliance were exorbitant.

    Fortunately, Saehtyn''s worries were limited to deepening his strength and uncovering the culprit behind his diminishing authority. So, he ignored most matters that weren''t relevant to increasing his power. And, it just so happened Xonnomor''s actions existed outside his interests.

    Therefore, Xonnomor stashed the newly created weapon before going on another break.

    Right after he stowed the item, his father appeared within the forge doors. At first, he gave Xonnomor a peculiar look but then looked elsewhere. The odd expression wasn''t towards the item Xonnomor created; his earlier revtion still loomed over his father''s head.

    "We''ve acquired the forces, and they''re headed to the ruins right now. In the best case, we''ll hear from them in a few days'' time. At worst, it''ll be a few weeks. I hope the material in your possession will suffice until then," Xorgrah said.

    He didn''t pause at all as he reversed his steps and exited the forge while leaving a simple message. "I''ll be back within a few weeks."

    ''Hm?!''

    Xonnomor''s eyes widened when he heard this. The leading thought on his mind until now was getting his father away from the forge to create the household''s weaponry. Therefore, his father''s statement was music to his ears since he didn''t need to worry about that matter anymore.

    It appeared Xorgrah had other matters to tend to.

    "Are you meeting another organization inside Ashiraem?" Xonnomor questioned while lifting his head towards his father''s back.

    "I suppose you can say that. I''ll be monitoring Tirasha''s progress and supervising her transformation into an Archdemon. I''ll also be able to get in contact with Lucifer amongst other matters that need my addressing."

    He didn''t feel any envy towards Tirasha for receiving their father''s guidance. Since his father was a demon of pride, Xonnomor didn''t expect his guidance. Simr to how his father oversaw Tirasha''s progress, Xonnomor''s mother managed his earlier progress.

    However, after bing an Archdemon, he was listed as a mature power. Thus, there was no reason for his progress to be constantly monitored. An Archdemon was more than strong enough to fend for themselves, especially those like Xonnomor, who possessed a fair share of adequate equipment and a decent control of Hellfire.

    "Tell Tirasha I wish her luck. And, when she aplishes the evolution, I''ll forge aplimentary item for her," Xonnomormented as he recalled his sister''s traits and general equipment.

    "Noted," Xorgrah nodded before disappearing with a faint golden mist. Once he disappeared, Xonnomor turned towards Saehtyn. Since he needed to make sure Saehtyn remained quiet, Xonnomor feltpiling Saehtyn''s requests from now was best.

    Once Xonnomor gathered all of the information, he could form a piece of unique equipment for the demon.

    "Well, seeing as you have that axe, what else do you require?" Xonnomor asked. Except for a piece of defensive equipment, Xonnomor couldn''t fathom what else Saehtyn would desire.

    Another weapon? That was quite improbable. Outside of axes, Saehtyn didn''t fancy any other weapon type.

    A shield? Also unlikely. Saehtyn''s battle style didn''t incorporate defense in the slightest. Introducing a shield would only limit his maneuverability and weigh down his alreadyrge frame.

    So, Xonnomor didn''t even try to guess the answer.

    "I''d like an item simr to Asmidia''s or¡­ another axe, except better," Saehtyn said after giving the answer some thought. Amongst the Lords, Asmidia was the only one who possessed an item that significantly increased her Sin''s effectiveness. Though it came with some vast drawbacks, the benefits were worth the consequences.

    If he could get his hands on a simr item, then perhaps the oue of another fight with Irzanach and his entourage would yield a different result.

    "So¡­ you want an essory," Xonnomor muttered with a meaningful expression. Although his knowledge on the topic wascking, it wouldn''t take much for him to apply the forging process to this type of crafting sequence. Unlike creating a weapon, a small essory called for minimal amounts of material.

    Therefore, the margin for error was much less severe. With the reduced material usage, Xonnomor''s allowed failure increased unless the remaining material was sparse. Should that happen, then each attempt became precious.

    After all, he was almost positive the team sent into the ruins would return empty-handed. Though he wasn''t too familiar with Apollo''s behavior, Xonnomor understood that someone in his position would wipe the premises clean, leaving not even a speck for another party.

    "More or less. But, as I said, a weapon would suffice as well," Saehtyn replied before returning his attention to the forge. The earlier weapon made a deep impression because he felt Xonnomor''s understanding of the runes underwent a transformation.

    Compared to his first attempts, theplexity of the runes was1 at least thirty percent more refined. However, the trantion of developed understanding wasn''t as simple as increasing the weapon''s potential by thirty percent.

    Since the runes were a coreponent of the item that influenced all of its effects and principles, every aspect would receive a considerable boost, which summed up to more than a mere thirty percent increase.

    "Alright, that''ll work, I suppose," Xonnomor nodded as he closed his eyes to ponder the endless possibilities. Since Saehtyn wasn''t specific about the type of essory, Xonnomor was left with a wide array of choices.

    Until it was time to forge the item, Xonnomor kept the creation in the back of his mind. Instead, he worked on increasing his power as quickly as possible. After all, Apollo gave his time limit to regain his strength.

    It would take all of his focus to aplish that daunting task.

    ¡­

    While Xonnomor handled the creation of the iplete armaments, an umon situation took ce near the base of Ashiraem''s Tower. Since it was an area imperative to Apollo''s travel, Asteroth situated himself in the periphery of the tower''s territory.

    His sharp senses would give him the edge needed to sense Apollo''s presence as soon as it came near. For someone who was a part of the original Dominus Household, it was impossible to hide the presence of its emblem.

    Apart from recognizing the feeling, the old insignia would also emit a strange signal as if it was beckoning to the newly recreated household. While this information wasn''t public, Asteroth was confident in his personal strength.

    "Tch¡­ just what the hell is taking you so long? You should have appeared by now! How are you to reappear, yet be so slow in reiming the leftovers of our old power," Asteroth grumbled in annoyance as he punched his fist forward.

    A stone wall not too far away was destroyed from the pressure behind his attack, which was quite tricky to aplish, seeing as Apollo barely dented the stones found inside the outskirt of Firaria.

    Granted, he didn''t use his full power, nor was he empowered by his bloodline at the time. So aparison of his current capabilities was challenging to gauge.

    As indicated by his prior reputation, Asteroth wasn''t a demon famed for his patience, so the fact Apollo had yet to show himself made him even more irritable than normal. Although he didn''t know what to expect as far as the person went, since the intensity of the ripple was odd, it didn''t matter.

    Asteroth simply wanted to target to vent his deeply repressed frustrations on. As long as that target appeared, he was fine with whatever form they took.

    Therge raucous caused by the destruction of the wall caused many of the surrounding demons to avoid Asteroth. If just the aftermath of his effortless attack created this destruction, just what would he be capable of to them.

    While the core area of Firaria was predominately Archdemons, there were a sparse number of Lesser Demons exploring the area as well, and from what they saw, it was impossible for them to survive such an attack.

    Even the Noblesse would find it difficult to resolve this attack. After all, how could they easily resolve something that even a Monarch''s Candidate had trouble dealing with?

    During his episode of irritation, Asteroth also noticed the disappearance of Saehtyn''s aura. However, it wasn''t his business, nor would he intervene again. By no means would he risk missing the presence of the awaited party.

    ''Sooner orter, we''ll have a pleasant meeting,'' Asteroth thought as he nced up.allnovelfull

 Chapter 456 - The Dauntless

    ----

    A few hours after¡­

    Tanath and the other members of his stronghold looked around with an odd expression. There was a problem, the same issue that Apollo faced initially. The entrance to the ruin, as mentioned earlier, was nowhere to be found.

    Although Fuhrer blew open the entrance when they first arrived, he repaired it to its former state before venturing deeper. While he didn''t fear any confrontation, it was best to make it seem like no one had visited this ce to dy any unwanted confusion.

    Until now, it worked perfectly.

    "Vice-Commander Tanath, could that demon have yed a trick on us?" One of the lower members asked. After venturing all this way to a remote area, ying a trick was the only assumption this demon could make.

    Of course, Tanath thought differently. It wasn''t practical for a demon of Xorgrah''s stature to y such an absurd trick on them. Besides, there was another reason.

    "Do you believe someone would waste some many resources on a mere trick? Use your brain before you utter foolishness. It''s clearly a masked entry point," Tanath answered in a brusque tone.

    The demon who misspoke suffered an embarrassing change in expression, causing him to quiet down immediately. Tanath''s fair point made him rethink his earlier words since they were genuinely foolish. Nearly twenty thousand Fragment of Sins and several weapons were too significant to mark as a meager joke.

    Afterward, Tanath kneeled where he stood and ced his hand against the scorched ground. A momentter, a pulse of Ira emitted from his hand in an expanding ring. It wasn''t an attack but a method used for detection.

    This action was possible once one learned how to manipte their Ira for other usages outside ofbat. Gradually, Tanath searched for any dissonance in the surrounding Ira purity. Additionally, he also searched for any possible entry points.

    It took a few minutes of undisturbed focus, but Tanath managed to locate the entrance to the ruins. Regrettably, its location burrowed deeper under the surface than he expected.

    ''No wonder that demon distributed these items. It''d be quiteborious to reach this area without their help,'' Tanath thought before retrieving one of the items acquired from Xorgrah. It was a thin longsword with a dull grey exterior. Instead of crimson etchings, the markings on this de were a faint white color, symbolizing its iplete status.

    Regardless, it was more than enough for Tanath''s intended purposes.

    The weapon was encased in a vibrant crimson aura as Tanath lifted it above his head. The hue soon zed like a raging me. However, the longer the aura remained visible, the more changes it experienced. From its initial crimson color, it turned into a silverish-white with a faint crimson exterior.

    Furthermore, the heat signature of this current aura was many times more terrifying than its initial state. Once it reached its peak, Tanath unleashed it on the ground before him.

    An immediate scene of shocking destruction urred as a vast chasm opened up. The beginning was narrow but widened as the fissure spanned into the distance.

    As they watched this take ce, the others had a look of respect on their faces. After all, there was a reason this demon held the role of the Vice-Commander. Even though Tanath was an Archdemon, he possessed some powerful techniques in his arsenal.

    Be that as it may, the aftermath of his strike surprised even Tanath.

    ''To think he would simply give away such a great item. I wonder how deep the Council''s breadth goes. If they''re willing to give away these items, just what kind of monstrous items are at their disposal?'' Tanath wondered.

    However, although he was skeptical, Tanath didn''t allow his thought to interfere with the task at hand. He relinquished any thoughts guing his mind and peered over the edge of the chance.

    An ivory-white bridge made from bones appeared in his view. Though it was still far from the surface, it was an eptable distance.

    "Advance," Tanathmanded before jumping down. They followed directly behind him, gliding towards the bridge with the help of the dense ambient Ira. But, he couldn''t marvel at the sight before narrowing his eyes.

    His familiarity with battle allowed him to notice some immediate signs of battle. ording to his senses, they were pretty fresh.

    ''Could there be residual beings inside this area? Or¡­ could someone have beat us to this ce? If so, how could that be possible?'' Tanath thought before ncing around with more vigor.

    All signs pointed to a recent battle, putting Tanath on edge.

    In addition to Tanath, all the other Archdemons sensed this unusual predicament as well.

    "Tanath, I suggest we move with caution. As the employer said, they aren''t aware of the dangers that lurk in this ce. I''d like to avoid any dangerous situations if possible," one of the other Archdemons said.

    In response, Tanath gave a faint nod. He didn''t need a reminder to enact a n he intended to employ.

    Cautiously, all of the demons drew their weapons and advanced through the ruins. The first thing that entered their eyes was the motionless, reanimated corpse. But, itsplicated circumstances made it difficult to determine whether its death was recent or long ago.

    Therefore, this party slowed down their advance as they heightened their awareness.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Apollo opened his eyes with an intrigued expression. In preparation for his fight with Asteroth, he took the time to understand every technique in his arsenal. Despite the system''s ability to auto-cast any of the techniques he mastered, it wasn''t enough.

    The system''s auto-casting features was limited to Apollo''s current grasp of the technique. So, if Apollo didn''t master it, the system employed an imperfect technique. Aside from the Demonic Massacre Wave, every other skill in his possession was iplete.

    Especially Nether Severance and Devouring Neb. Both of them required an assimtion of Sin or Aura to perfect them. Additionally, the Umbra Phantom Mantle was only two-thirdsplete since Apollo could only employ the triple mirage.

    He was still far from effortlessly activating the Six Phantom Shifts.

    Before the aftershock of Tanath''s attack, Apollo spent his time practicing the techniques mentally. Ever since he became a Greater Demon, his Tainted Temple allowed him to emte scenarios in his mind, another feature of the intelligence trait¨Dthe ability to project his thoughts into a sort of virtual creation in his subconscious.

    Until now, he was making ample progress, but the presence of numerous unfamiliar individuals roused him from his state of focus. Since none of the auras were familiar, he felt it was best if he was alert.

    Besides, Apollo felt the gap between reaching the desired state was small. Just a little more, and he''d be more confident in going against Asteroth, precisely because he decided to upgrade his Dauntless Superbia Stigmata.

    Surprisingly, the effect of this stigmata was much different than Ira. It wasn''t linked to his strength attribute in the slightest, which was odd, since pride was a powerful trait.

    On the contrary, this stigmata increased his battle capabilities in a much different way.

    ¡¸?Dauntless Superbia Stigmata? (Second Phase)

    Rank: Abysmal*

    Purity: Absolute

    Vessel: Greater Demon Body

    Description: The dauntless demons are without fear, piercing through the shroud of fear''s veil. Thus, a demon following the fearless path strikes with unprecedented sharpness and overwhelming rigidity.

    Effect: Increases the pration force of all attacks utilizing an extreme force. +20% Critical Damage and +25% Critical Chance without fulfilling the requirements.

    Consumption: 900 units of Superbia per minute.

    *Note: This stigmata can be further improved by deepening the bond with the Primal Sins. ¡¹

    Once Apollo learned of its description, he understood why his attacks grew more fierce despite theck of change in his actions. This stigmata increased the chances of dealing critical damage.

    Although it was more of a hidden feature, critical attacks were indispensable in triumphing over foes of simr or even slightly greater strength. Because, a typical critical as seen in Apollo''s early stages could deal more than double his initial damage.

    Because of its baffling capabilities, this stigmata was a lot more demanding on his Superbia volume.

    Nevertheless, it was more than worth its price.

    Just as Apollo sensed the appearance of the new party, so did Fuhrer.

    "Do you wish for me to confront them? The others have yet to finish absorbing the Ira. Some of them have even arrived at a vital precipice after weeks of endless absorption," Fuhrer asked while remaining in ce.

    While he was eager for a stretch, Apollo''sck of action made him think about some things.

    "Nope, just let theme. They must''vee for a reason, and that''s something I''d like to find out," Apollo replied with a faint chuckle.

    It was excruciatingly slow, but the iing party gradually approached their position.

 Chapter 457 - Is It Worth Your Life?

    ----

    Tanath and his member crept towards the entrance that led deep into the ruins with a skeptical expression. The area was void of any loot because Fuhrer sliced off every ore deposit they encountered. Unbeknownst to these demons, it was all stored inside Apollo''s inventory after being thoroughly excavated.

    Regrettably, this situation was unfavorable for Tanath. If he were empty-handed upon return, not just the impressive weapon in his grasp, even therge number of Fragment of Sins would return to Xorgrah''s possession.

    Partaking in such a long journey only to have the payment stripped away was uneptable.

    ''I thought this information was exclusive to the Council? How could it already be excavated to this extent? Could the Council have already sent a team and forgot about it?'' Tanath wondered. The possibility of another unaffiliated party entering this ce was slim.

    After all, from what Tanath understood, the entrance was untouched. So either the people who entered this ce knew of a hidden door, or something was amiss with the ess.

    Either way, Tanath couldn''t understand how someone made it inside the confined of this sealed-off area, but regardless of the party inside, Tanath intended to see his given task through until the end.

    "Everyone, prepare yourself," Tanathmanded as he narrowed his eyes and continued forward. Although its presence was extremely sparse now, he could sense an increasingly pure source of Ira.

    This ce would be a beneficial area capable of producing significant progress in their Sin Purity. Still, the resource''s abundance seemed to becking. Thus, the chances of aplishing that progress were slim at best.

    Suddenly, one of his member''s remarks drew Tanath''s attention.

    "Vice-Commander Tanath, I''ve found something! It seems to be a path leading to a storage area. I supposed this ruin possesses a type of vault area."

    "Mm, now that you mention it," Tanath muttered with a slight nod. He averted his gaze from the wall before him and nced down the pathway with a faint red hue illuminating his eyes. He could see a dense gathering of Ira swirling in an area.

    However, its amount thinned at a rapid pace. It was only a matter of time until it vanished altogether. At that point, this ce would be useless.

    ''We should move. Either there are people actively absorbing this Sin Energy, or the materials here require the Sins'' continued sustenance, therefore exhausting it in haste,'' Tanath thought.

    In the next moment, he dashed towards the spacious clearing where Typhir battled against the Iraym. The others followed behind him but struggled to keep up as his expression became solemn.

    For reasons unknown to him, the exhaustion rate of the Ira skyrocketed without end. It was as if a ravenous beast had opened its maw to devour the nearby delicacy.

    Eventually, Tanath arrived before the two colossal doors barring entry from the vault''s interior. As he looked around, he found no signs of tampering even after scanning the doors thoroughly. However, this was an expected oue.

    How could a mere Archdemon sense the presence of the Aura of Domination? It was something beyond their understanding.

    Nevertheless, Tanath couldn''t allow the doors to prevent his entry. The same aura that opened the fissure, which revealed the ruin''s entrance, appeared once again. Except, this aura was much denser. From what Tanath understood, the fortitude of these doors outssed the stone covering the deeply embedded staircase outside.

    Thus, it required more force inparison.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Apollo scratched Ouroboros''s unique scale atop his head, "You can stop now, little buddy. We''ve caused them to appear faster."

    Evidently, the shocking increase in exhaustion was due to Ouroboros. Since Apollo felt their advance was far too slow, he had Ouroboros deliver some incentive by devouring arge portion of the Ira that the others weren''t interacting this.

    This way, Apollo achieved the oue he sought while the others remained unaffected by his actions.

    "How impatient, young Lord. They would have arrived here eventually," Fuhrer said with a faint chuckle. Although he said this, he felt they were too precautious as well. Before leaving the area, Fuhrer erased their presence, so the odds of Tanath sensing their presence was next to impossible.

    Yet, he continued to advance at a snail''s pace until Apollo intervened.

    "That may be true. But, a few worthwhile people are appearing. I''d like to understand just where I stand now," Apollo said in a calm tone. At the same time, he stood up from the stone he sat on and stretched his body.

    In preparation for battle, his wings unfurled but then closed. Until he was ready, they were in a dormant yet active state. Since his strength had already escaped the realm of a typical Greater Demon, he wanted to see how it fared against a genuine Archdemon.

    After all, 4,000 Strength was only on the precipice of stepping into the middle stages of the Archdemon stage. Fortunately for Apollo, evolution didn''t limit his growth.

    He could also devour stats from others as a courtesy of his unprecedented Sin variety.

    Suddenly, Apollo turned his attention to the door as a crimson me seeped through the tiny crevice in the middle. It was only a matter of time before Tanath''s attack breached the doorpletely.

    "They''re here," Apollo said with a pleased grin. Unlike his previous confrontations, he didn''t even touch Gram, leaving it embedded in the stone he sat upon previously.

    Bang! Bang!

    Finally, the two colossal doors fell, revealing a collection of over 60 demons staring at Apollo in shock.

    Immediately, Tanath frowned as he peered around the area, noticing a few demons actively absorbing the Ira in the ce. "Are you a part of the Council?"

    "Are you?" Apollo countered in a neutral tone.

    However, Tanath understood from Apollo''s answer that he wasn''t.

    "If you''re unaffiliated with the Council, then you shouldn''t be here. It was you who extracted all of the resources in this ce, wasn''t it? So, unless you wish to face the retaliation of the Council, I suggest you relinquish them from your possession," Tanath answered.

    Unfortunately for him, this demand didn''t affect Apollo in the slightest. All he did was give an amused giggle.

    "By all means, you''re weed to make me try," Apollo responded whilezily ncing at the demons behind Tanath''s back. ''Roughly 60 Demons on their side, but over 80 percent of them are inconsequential.''

    "I intend to," Tanath said before tightening his grip around the longsword in his hand.

    As a result, Fuhrer stood up, but Apollo stretched out his hand and shook his head before he could. "Nope. You make yourselffortable. Let''s see the fullest extent of all of this."

    Apollo''s appearance changed immediately as he activated both his Dauntless Superbia and Infernal Ira Stigmata. The Dual Form of a Suprana and Iraym immediately appeared, causing the opposing side to question what appeared before them.

    ''Some type of special demon? What is this form? He looks¡­ odd,'' Tanath thought to himself. However, he snapped his fingers, causing the other 3 Archdemons to present their aura as well.

    "A swollen confidence only contributes to an early grave. There are four Archdemons on our si. Are you sure this is something you wish to happen? I''ll ask again; give us the resource you obtained from this ce," Tanath warned.

    But, Apollo was sure of his choice.

    He grouped his fingers and shed downwards, causing all of the Archdemon''s eyes to widen as they split apart. A ghastly fissure appeared where they once stood as Apollo nced around.

    "Don''t worry about my decision. It isn''t me who is in danger," Apollo remarked before rapidly shifting his eyes towards the closest Archdemon. A giant ck w formed around their body as Apollo pulled his arm back, drawing this demon near him.

    Their eyes narrowed as they roared, attempting to shatter the w. However, Apollo didn''t summon this w to restrict their movement.

    Whoosh! Bang!

    Before the demon could break free from the w, Apollo appeared before its position andshed his leg out, kicking the demon into the wall with a terrifying echo.

    Still, Apollo frowned a bit. ''That demon''s strength should be in the same ballpark as mine. It was a clean hit, yet it didn''t deal as much damage as I had hoped. Hm?!''

    Apollo sensed danger and stepped back, splitting into three afterimages as he dodged an iing attack.

    "You''re making a grave mistake. Are these resources worth your life?" Tanathmented.

    In response, Apollo winked. "Are they worth yours?"

 Chapter 458 - A Battle Within Darkness

    ----

    Apollo''s nonchnt remark made Tanath''s eyes narrow. After all, there were over 60 demons on their side, and on Apollo''s side, he was the only individual to make a move. Essentially, the situation was a one against many!

    Yet, Apollo''s current disposition indicated that he was unfazed by this development. In fact, it was a situation that he weed! Although his level was locked again until he visited all of the Nihilistic Rings, there were other ways for him to gather strength outside of leveling up.

    The quickest and alternative to leveling up was to engage in arduous battle and catapult the techniques at his disposal to the next level. Therefore, the current situation was ideal for Apollo.

    Even Fuhrer felt this way since he sensed the type of aura Apollo''s body was emitting. Though it was far from bing a Dominion, Apollo''s title augmented his aura to a level just below that caliber.

    Thus, a notification appeared before Apollo''s view that made him smile.

    ¡´System: Your Aura of Domination had reduced your foe''s stats by 15%.¡µ

    ''The effect only applies to the Archdemons within my aura''s immediate radius, the other demons haven''t been affected yet, or the numbers would appear much greater,'' Apollo thought to himself as he shifted his gaze to one of the Archdemon iing rush.

    In response, Apollo raised his guard and immediately split into three afterimages as he pped his wings to dodge a crushing strike from therge Archdemon. Although its strength seemed higher than Apollo''s, his expert use of his attribute made Apollo a problematic opponent.

    Since young, he spent his time honing his instincts amidst challenging battles. So, when it came to perception and danger sense, Apollo''s current standard surpassed most entry-level Archdemons.

    "Tch¡­ what the hell is this technique? He''s like a scurrying rodent that you can''t hit!" The Archdemon scowled while shooting Apollo a hostile nce. Arge mace appeared in its grasp as its body released a strong wave of powerful Anima.

    A momentter, it mixed with the remnants of Ira that flowed towards its legs. After its muscles swelled, the Archdemon performed a rush backed by an excessive speed! However, Apollo smiled at this development and rushed forward as well.

    Amidst Apollo''s rush, the terrifyingly sharp aura of the Nether Severance appeared as he shed his arm horizontally. At first, the Archdemon thought of contesting this strike since a Greater Demon employed it; however, he changed his mind midway through his retaliation.

    Instead, he sidestepped therge arc of dreadful sharpness before resuming his rush towards Apollo.

    Regrettably, he didn''t realize that Apollo never intended to attack him. He was banking on the Archdemon dodging the attack, which exposed the position to his rear¨Dthe location of the helpless Lesser Demons.

    ''Predictable reactions, but I should be thanking you,'' Apollo thought with a slight chuckle. Once his attacknded, a generous addition to the current experience pool would ur.

    Unfortunately, his grin disappeared as he noticed a change.

    Whereas the Archdemon storming his current position failed to notice his intention, Tanath was a different story! After learning of the trajectory of Apollo''s attack, he immediately conjured a weakened version of the attack used to open the doors and intercepted Apollo''s strike.

    As a result, Tanath''s strike knocked the Nether Severance off its prior path and mmed it into a wall, causing a vigorous rumble. It was enough to stir the others awake from their absorption.

    "What the hell?!" Vc eximed with widened eyes as he saw arge number of unfamiliar demons. Shortly after, he saw Apollo inbat with at least two and immediately stood up to join in.

    However, Fuhrer raised his hand and stopped him in his tracks. "Leave it. It''s the young Lord''s orders. If not, do you think I would be standing by idly?"

    "B-but Fuhrer!" Vc eximed.

    Still, Fuhrer shook his head. Although he understood what Vc wanted to say, it was a request from their leader. And, unless it was a dire situation, Fuhrer wasn''t one to disobey direct orders.

    "That''s too many opponents for the Lord to face all at once! At least let me clean up the insignificant ones. They could interrupt the flow of the battle at any time," Vc said in an animated tone.

    While Lesser Demons were typically inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, that fact changed when there was an overwhelming number of them. Their insignificant strength added together then became a monumental problem for most individuals.

    "Says who?" Fuhrer answered with an amused chuckle while looking towards Vc. If there was one thing Fuhrer found exhrating, it was a battle with innumerable enemies, which was why he could understand Apollo''s desire.

    If it was him, and he wished to test his current limits, he would do the same. In fact, he had performed this action numerous times. Some were even done on the battlefield with Astraval, using the chaos of war to hone himself indefinitely.

    "Arghh! You''re just unreasonable," Vc groaned before nting his butt on the rock with a grumble. He couldn''t get past Fuhrer even if he wanted to, so Vc chose to take a seat without being forced.

    Simrly, Typhir''s eyes opened with a destructive glimmer that soon subsided. The Ira fluctuations from his body were much purer, indicating the increase in purity. And, it was also within his control, which was surprising.

    ''As expected of a Perfected Bloodline like his, his aura can conceal the Sin perfectly,'' Fuhrer thought before returning his attention to the battle before his eyes.

    Apollo extended his hand and formed another giant aura w that caught the rushing Archdemon''s mace and tossed it aside. Every time he used the Dominator''s Clutch, his familiarity with the technique rose tremendously, especially when the title''s effect amplified its effects and decreased the difficulty of increasing the skill''spatibility.

    Of course, the Archdemon didn''t appreciate being tossed around by Apollo''s attack. It used a second mace to crush the dark w around its dominant hand. Once free, he smashed the mace heads together, sending a demonic attack hurtling towards Apollo.

    At the same time, another Archdemon took Apollo''s nk while revealing a bow. Its slender amethyst design with a deep blue bowstring was shocking. But, that wasn''t what caught Apollo''s eyes.

    An arrow formed from deep blue mes appeared once the Archdemon drew on the bowstring. It didn''t seem to be Hellfire since Apollo failed to sense any Ira in the strike. Instead, a unique me and pure Anima mixed to form this attack.

    ''Is this simr to the Nether me within Xonnomor''s forge? I suppose demons can awaken unique qualities with the right conditions,'' Apollo thought. He then smashed his hand against the ground an instantter, sending a growing wave of darkness in all directions.

    After experiencing some of Destrys'' application of darkness, it spurred Apollo''s own utilization methods.

    Because of Apollo''s abrupt actions, darkness enveloped the surrounding area, and it was dense enough to restrict mostly everyone''s view. Yet, a pair of crimson gold and amethyst eyes zed with the darkness.

    "Tch. A futile attempt to remove our sight of the battlefield," Tanathmented before taking a step back. He looked towards Apollo''s earlier position before attacking directly across from it.

    Typically, an individual would use a smokescreen to cover their actions while rotating. However, Tanath was a demon familiar with the conventional battle tactics, so he was prepared for Apollo''s actions.

    Or, so he thought.

    "Is that so?" Apollo snickered.

    Suddenly, the darkness surrounding the demons morphed into individual void des hidden within the cover of the darkness. Except for the Archdemons and a few Greater Demons with sharp senses, the rest were unaware of the baffling change.

    Additionally, Tanath couldn''t provide cover because the Lesser Demons made a premature move, shifting away from their earlier.

    Within a few moments, a few notifications appeared before Apollo''s eyes as the void des reduced the numbers of Lesser Demons steadily.

    The screams of pain echoed in Tanath''s ear leading him to rush towards the sounds. However, how could Apollo allow him to render aid? Before Tanath could arrive at the correct position, Apollo raised his hand and aimed a ridiculous number of void des at Tanath.

    This forced him into a passive state while trying to defend against each de.

    Furthermore, Apollo learned a few things from his defense. ''Not just stronger than the rest, his application is leagues above. Not even a single de has slipped past his defenses.''

    Though Apollo praised his actions, Tanath still wasn''t able to stop the inevitable.

    By the end of Apollo''s attack, only six Greater Demons remained standing, whereas the Lesser Demons were simply annihted!

 Chapter 459 - Numerous Annihilations

    ----

    In a short few moments, Apollo reduced the initial number of over sixty demons to exactly ten while suffering zero damage in the process. It wasn''t because of Apollo''s overwhelming strength but because of his tactical usage of his arsenal. Instead of executing the expected reaction, Apollo used a nearly undetectable attack to shave off the needless enemies.

    Although the remaining ten were the strongest of the bunch, Apollo was still indifferent about their presence. As long as he monitored the Archdemons closely, then he didn''t fear suffering any brutal injuries.

    "Damn it!" Tanath snarled. Apollo''s attack wasn''t the principal source of his anger; it was because he lost so many members while under his watch. Even if he cinched all of the resources this ce had to offer, Tanath wasn''t sure that the price matched the losses already suffered.

    While this current team was only twenty percent of his stronghold''s martial force, every downed Greater Demon was a considerable loss for their stronghold. While the stronghold could rece Lesser Demons effortlessly, only one in every twenty Lesser Demons possessed the potential to be a Greater Demon.

    So, the chances of recruiting new members of that level were much slimmer than recouping the in Lesser Demons. Not to mention, Tanath would undoubtedly receive a heated reprimanding from his superior.

    Thus, Tanath decided to pull a savage move.

    "Move ruthlessly. Every Archdemon is to assail the area with your Sin. While they do that, the Greater Demons will lead the assault on the individual. Too many of our brothers have fallen to suffer another loss."

    "Understood!" One responded.

    "Roger!" Another answered.

    In seconds, a palpable surge of Ira appeared. The first thought in Tanath''s mind was to overwhelm Apollo by suffocating with a dense cloud of Ira. Not only would it disrupt his senses, but it would also interfere with any attacks he tried to muster.

    At least, that''s what Tanath believed would happen.

    Conversely, Vc shook his head with a delighted grin. He jumped up and hopped around with a giddy expression after sensing the foreign Sin signature.

    "They fucked up! They have royally screwed themselves! Ah hahaha! Why would they reveal so much Ira before the Lord? Don''t they understand he isn''t like that? Whatughably dull senses they have," Vc sputtered as he guffawed at Tanath''s chosen actions.

    "Shush, and just watch the show. Let me enjoy the scene instead of listening to your annoying babbling," Fuhrer groaned while waving Vc off. However, Vc was unaffected because the situation was too stimting for him.

    If there was one thing he enjoyed more than causing mayhem, it was watching as an individual''s foolish mistake plunged them into despair.

    Meanwhile, Apollo took notice of the change instantly. ''Oh? Let''s first entertain their expectations.''

    Without hesitation, Apollounched a haphazard attack, pooling a significant amount of Ira into a Demonic Massacre Wave. The sudden increase of Ira appeared on Tanath''s radar, causing him to grin.

    ''As expected, every demon feels a slight panic once exposed to so much Sin. It either means a terrifying iing attack or an enemy that truly surpasses their limits, which causes their hasty reaction,'' Tanath thought before extending his hand.

    He tapped the Archdemon who wielded two maces and gave a signal.

    In the next instant, the twin mace-wielding Archdemon mmed the weapons together repeatedly, creating a recurring wave that inundated Apollo''s position. Tanath simultaneously shed his swords toward the presence of the Ira surge.

    In addition to creating a pressurized atmosphere, Tanath also intended to reveal Apollo''s position since the darkness obscured his location. So it was within his expectations that Apollo''s current attack allowed them to pinpoint his position.

    But, what they didn''t understand was that Apollo was already on the move.

    The initial surge was merely a feint using a tactic he learned just a few days prior. It was a stationary Demonic Massacre Wave, which he continued to feed Ira remotely. It was an attack meant to divert their attention once again while he approached a convenient position.

    An explosion once the undting pulses from the Archdemon''s weapon touched Apollo''s nted Demonic Massacre Wave. However, the darkness was unaffected by the torrential winds of the collision.

    After all, the Tenebrous Dark Winds weren''t simply winds that could be affected through typical means, hence why it was so difficult to learn. It required a deep affinity for the demonic winds to interact with them.

    "It''s over!" Tanath bellowed after experiencing the aftermath of the explosion. Although he wasn''t damaged, he was intrigued. Why did the darkness persist after such a violent collision? Surely the culprit couldn''t withstand that oue unscathed.

    "Not yet. We still need to have some more fun," Apollo replied with a mischievous giggle.

    In response to the reply, Tanath''s eyes widened. It wasn''t because of Apollo''s bouncing voice; it was the fact that any signs of damage were missing from his tone!

    ''Could he have avoided all the damage entirely? Impossible¡­'' Tanath thought while scrutinizing the location of the attack. Despite his thorough scan, he found zero signs of Apollo suffering any damage.

    Tanath''s incredulous expression intensified once he noticed an identical surge of Ira appearing yet again, but that wasn''t the worst part. The palpable screen employed by the Archdemons on his side was thinning while various of Apollo''s signature continually appeared.

    Soon enough, Tanath thought of something dreadful.

    ''There''s no way that this demon possesses such a ridiculousbination? This person has revealed Ira and Superbia already, could there be a third Sin as well!? I thought it was impossible for that type of ability to ur,'' Tanath internalized with a deepening frown.

    Although it was foreign to Tanath, he understood just how awful going against someone who could destroy and sustain that destruction was, especially one who could convert other''s power into their own.

    While there was a limit, chances were that the opponent would always fall before approaching said limit unless it were against an unbeatable enemy.

    "Stop what you''re doing! You''re just feeding his actions!" Tanath eximed.

    Unfortunately, his warning came toote.

    Apollo had already created numerous Demonic Massacre Waves! And, they all zoomed towards their target after Apollo snapped his fingers. Their perfected states were not to be underestimated. As it was the first technique in his arsenal, it was the ability most familiar to Apollo.

    So, the destruction that followed the attack defied its low rating.

    Sssszttttt!

    An rming sizzling noise urred as faint traces of Hellfire were embedded within the Demonic Massacre Wave, leaving thorough burn marks on most of the Greater Demons. Finding an opponent within the Greater Demon capable of withstanding Apollo''s attacks was impossible with his current attributes.

    As a result, bloodied screams escaped the Greater Demons'' mouths as the attack burned them alive without end. Apollo was strong enough to infuse one drop of Purgatory''s Blood into each strike with his current Infernal Ira Stigmata.

    Purgatory''s Blood was something that no Greater Demon could defend against. Even though it was only a single drop, it was several times more destructive than an attack fueled by a Greater Demon''s entire Sin Volume, which is why the Council used it to imprison uncontrobly heinous demons.

    They would be burned out of existence if they so much as touched the bars crafted from pure Purgatory''s Blood.

    Because of Apollo''s horrifying attack, Tanath seethed. His eyes turned crimson as he clutched the longsword to the point its hilt emitted creaking noise. Unless he killed Apollo with his own hands, this bloodlust wouldn''t subside.

    Meanwhile, Apollo pped his wings and took to the sky while spreading his arms. The gathering of darkness followed before melding with his body. With the battlefield cleared of the obstructive darkness, Apollo got a good look at the oue of his attack.

    A pleased smirk appeared on his face as he nodded.

    Only the four Archdemons remained, and two of them received wounds from thest attack. While it wasn''t enough to render them unsuitable forbat, the injuries were sufficient to affect their battle power.

    At the very least, it allowed Apollo''s aura to reduce their stats further. The initial 15 percent increased to 25%, which meant they were more or less equal to Apollo''s base attributes without the augmentation of his stigmata.

    Regrettably, the Archdemons recharged Apollo''s Ira Volume, so he wasn''t even close to running out. In fact, because he absorbed their Ira, his reserves rivaled theirs. The winner in the battle of attrition would be challenging to determine.

    "Idiots," Vc snickered. Although Tanath finally realized the issues with their actions, it was far toote.

    Meanwhile, Apollo extended his palm, creating a powerful suction force.. The force extracted a massive cluster of essence from the demons and their corpses, causing a stream of notifications to appear before Apollo.

 Chapter 460 - Aura Of Slaughter

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    A stream of notifications appeared before Apollo''s view, indicating a rapid increase in his attributes. However, while it was immediate, it wasn''t as substantial as the increase he received from absorbing Xonnomor, Gallmath, and Arleo''s essence. All three of them were Archdemons at the time, so the growth was phenomenal.

    Meanwhile, after summing up the total number of attributes obtained from this bunch, it barely equated to the essence gained from Xonnomor alone.

    ¡´System: The essence of many Lesser Demons and Greater Demons has been absorbed. [Unable to increase Evolution Meter.]¡µ

    ¡´System: +7.5% Strength and +10% Demonic Anima Reserves.¡µ

    ''Compared to before, this is kind of underwhelming,'' Apollo thought. After all, the essence of over 50 demons didn''t even equate to 10%! That meant, on average, each demon only increased Apollo''s strength by 0.15%.

    Realistically, this was incorrect because the amount from the Greater Demons and Lesser Demons varied greatly. In fact, the amount of stats gained from a demon was equal to half of leveling up once in the stage.

    Nevertheless, Apollo didn''t fret over this insignificant matter. It was simply an addition to his actions. Perhaps if it were the only way to acquire strength, Apollo would feel otherwise. But, fortunately for him, it wasn''t.

    After the influx of strength, Apollo also noticed the changed momentum of the battlefield. Besides feeling Tanath''s palpable wrath, the other Archdemons showed signs of making a drastic move.

    Rather than expending their energy, Apollo felt a budding sense of danger from them, causing him to narrow his eyes while monitoring their actions closely.

    "Ilguk, Murth, Drurkal push now!" Tanath bellowed furiously as his weapon brimmed with a dreadful energy signature. Both Ira and generous amounts of Anima wreathed his sword as he turned into a crimson blur, drawing near Apollo''s position in the air.

    While these four were incapable of flight, at their stage in their evolution, they possessed an insane jumping ability. Whereas Typhir used a unique stepping technique originating from Fuhrer''s practices, these demons merely lunged at Apollo''s, closing the distance at baffling speeds.

    In response, Apollo stretched out his hand and swiped down, conjuring another massive w formed from his Aura of Domination. However, pressing down on four enemies proved difficult as he barely slowed their ascent.

    Though surprising at first, Apollo understood that it was far-fetched to believe he could suppress 4 Archdemons at once. And, if he focused his attention on a single opponent, then the others would move in on him unabatedly.

    At this point, Fuhrer moved his hand to his weapon while sending Apollo a message, "Do you require my assistance, my Lord?"

    Surprisingly, Apollo still rejected the offer and used his second to summon another Dominator''s Clutch. However, Apollo utilized this clutch differently.

    ¡´System Alert: It is possible to increase the pressure of your Dominator''s Clutch by sacrificing Demonic Anima.¡µ

    After reading this, Apollo pondered the opportunity. After gaining ess to all of the Sins, Demonic Anima was something he rarely used. Outside of the Demonic Massacre Wave and the Baleful Steps, Apollo''s other techniques required the use of Sin Energy.

    Still, Apollo collected more information about the option before making a choice.

    ¡´System: Based on your current opponents, it will require 1,000 units of Demonic Anima to increase the pressure of your Dominator''s Clutch by 1%. [This effect is only applied to one individual. Multiple targets cause the required units to multiply by the number of targets.]¡µ

    ''So all of them will require 400,000 units of Demonic Anima to double the pressure? Unfortunately, I can''t spare that many resources,'' Apollo thought. Afterward, he chose to focus on Tanath, since he was both the strongest and trickiest enemy to deal with.

    The unexpected surge of pressure caused Tanath''s eyes to widen as he was rendered immobile. A momentter, he started to fall towards the ground while Apollo relinquished the pressure on the other three.

    In exchange, Gram started to fly towards him as he grinned.

    He didn''t take the time to consider it until now, but the weapon in the hands of these demons presented an awfully familiar sensation. ''Xonnomor forged these, meaning his father must have sent these demons.''

    Though they paled inparison to Gram, in the hands of Archdemons, these weapons still posed a considerable threat. So, now that the Archdemons activated their power unrestrictedly, Apollo introduced Gram in this equation.

    As soon as Gram entered Apollo''s grasp, he shed downward, sending an immense Demonic Massacre Wave hurtling towards the iing trio. Despite how hastily prepared the retaliation was, it wasn''t an attack that they could ignore.

    At the very least, the wave would cause some damage.

    Therefore, the trio chose tounch an assault against the iing wave. Ilguk, the dual mace-wielding Archdemon, smashed his maces together, sending a ripple towards Apollo''s attack.

    In the meantime, Murth, the demon who wielded a bow, plucked his bowstring, firing an arrow with four afterimages spiraling around it. Soon enough, the spiral was set aze by a potent source of Ira.

    While Apollo could absorb Ira from attacks, that was only true when used as a simple application. In this case, if Apollo wished to absorb the Ira surrounding the arrow, he would need to do so before the arrow impacted his body.

    However, with its current velocity, the chances of Apollo seeding were slim. Not to mention, after learning that Apollo could devour their Ira, the Archdemons employed a minor precaution.

    Each attack was encased in a thin yet effectiveyer of Demonic Anima to contain their Sin until the attack made contact.

    Meanwhile, Tanath roared and struggled to shatter the pressure restricting his movements. His reddened eyes stared at Apollo and the other three. His anger seethed further when he noticed Apollo''s faint smirk.

    Did he think this situation was a joke?

    ''I''ll rip him apart!'' Tanath thought as an obscure aura bubbled from him. A single word repeated inside his mind endlessly as a savage aura burst from his body.

    Fuhrer looked at him in surprise before shifting his gaze between the two, "I suppose the young Lord may be in a bit of trouble."

    "What?! Why would you say that? Are you cursing the Lord?! Oh my gosh, how dare you!" Vc eximed.

    However, Vc''s senses weren''t as sharp as Fuhrer''s. So, he didn''t pick up on the change that took ce in Tanath. At least, he didn''t understand the importance of it.

    "Young buffoon, that demon has just awakened the Aura of ughter. Do you understand what I''m telling you? It''s an Aura of the precipice of bing a Perfected-level aura.

    "Seriously?" Vc gawked before looking back at Tanath. A shred of jealousy appeared in his eyes. After all, Vc''s aura wasn''t at the perfected level either. At best, it was within the Major Realm.

    If he could experience the purification of the system, then that was liable to change. But, he''d need to inch closer to the Archdemon level before Apollo entertained that thought.

    Meanwhile, Tanath shed his sword ceaselessly as he attempted to tear through the technique holding him in ce. After five strikes, his attacks made progress, opening minute tears in Apollo''s attack.

    Of course, the moment his technique suffered damage, the system alerted Apollo.

    At the same time, he was also surprised by the abrupt change. However, he didn''t have the opportunity to be astonished for long. He needed to make a quick choice, and so he did.

    A ckish-purple appeared in his palm as heunched it in the center of the Ilguk, Murth, and Drurkal''s position. A terrifyingly strong attractive force pulled them towards the orb as it expanded.

    Whoosh!

    Simultaneously, Apollo nearly teleported to Tanath''s position before executing a sharp horizontal sh.

    "You''re the trickiest one, so it won''t pay to save you forst. It''d only be a matter of time before you break this restriction," Apollo said.

    Bangggg!

    Apollo was forced back over a dozen steps as Tanath did the exact same. However, Apollo nced at his arm wielding Gram and noticed a few minor cuts on his arm. It wasn''t Tanath''s attack that damaged Apollo, but his aura.

    The savagery of the Aura of ughter created a small zone that inflicted damage upon any foreign being that entered within its circumference.

    Fortunately, the damage inflicted upon him disappeared instantly as the gem embedded in Apollo''s chest emitted a pulse of vitality.

    Before making another move, Apollo peered at Gram before raising it in front of his body.

    ''Behave,'' Apollomanded as his Aura of Domination flooded the weapon. Against Tanath, thest thing he needed was to run out of Ira early. So, he tamed Gram forcefully, unlike Typhir, who purposed the perfect bloodline for the task.

    Then again, Apollo''s bloodline was made for this exact practice. As a result of his actions, Gram''s unhinged consumption condensed until the zing aura only expanded one inch away from its de.

    Apollo had entered the perfect state for this fight.

 Chapter 461 - A Will To Survive

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    Apollo rushed towards Tanath again without a second thought. However, three phantom-like images appeared beside him as he charged Tanath. This technique perfectly replicated even Gram; however, each phantom didn''t unleash a force on par with the original.

    Each phantom was only capable of dealing twenty percent of Apollo''s damage. However, in most extreme cases, that additional sixty percent of damage could determine the oue of a battle.

    But, if Apollo could perfect this stepping technique, then he could more than double his damage, which was one core reason Fuhrer was undefeated. Combining the Phantom Millennia with the Six Mirage Shifts created a disastrous oue.

    In addition to an ungodly number of undetectable strikes, the endless damage was a torrent that most if not all demons alive were incapable of handling. This fact was something that inspired Apollo''s actions in this fight.

    Though he wasn''t privy to all of the events, Apollo linked some of the scenes recovered in his memories to Fuhrer''s actions on the battlefield. Although they didn''t appear to be his, it seemed Apollo''s father left him with additional memories to assist in his growth.

    Conversely, Tanath didn''t spare his reaction any thought. He simply responded in kind, unleashing a savage attack that split into four. Under normal circumstances, Apollo''s phantom would be ripped apart by these attacks, but it was a different story after activating his stigmata at his current level.

    When coupled with the effect of his title, which allowed Apollo to reduce the stats of demons in his general area, Apollo''s increased strength and Tanath''s decreased strength gave his phantoms the boost they needed to persist through Tanath''s attack.

    Still, repeatedly fending off Tanath''s was a difficult feat. Each attack caused the integrity of Apollo''s phantom to decrease drastically. After suffering the second attack, Apollo estimated they wouldn''tst after he deployed his next attack.

    Since Tanath''s aura became ruthlessly sharp, Apollo responded with a kindred attack.

    Both Apollo and his phantom emitted the razor-sharp aura of the Nether Severance, prompting Tanath to take a step back in preparation. If Apollo could potentially release it as quickly as he released the Demonic Massacre Wave, Tanath understood that dodging this attack was nearly impossible.

    Therefore, his only remaining option was to confront the attack.

    Tanath watched as the unimpressive-looking attack hurtled towards him. However, he didn''t allow the presentation to fool him. When it came tobat, the strikes thatcked the most visual disy were the ones to look out for because they were usually the most lethal.

    The Nether Severance arrived soon enough, and when it did, Tanath approached the strike head-on. He thrust his weapon forward, firing a rapid crimson beam towards the center of the Nether Severance''s arc, hoping to destroy it.

    Although he wasn''t sure if this was a weak point, most techniques possessed one. It was only a matter of locating the weak point.

    "Shatter!" Tanath howled. But, he also stepped to the side to be sage. Unlike the Demonic Massacre Wave, which usually appeared as a horizontal sh or multi-directional attack, the Nether Severance could only beunched from one orientation since it was meant to bisect its target.

    "Devour," Apollo muttered in response. A surprised attack appeared to Tanath''s left as soon as the Nether Severance contacted the crimson beam. Though it was a severe attack, Apollo only intended to use this strike as a feint.

    Aside from the Absolute Eradication, the Third Annihtion, the Devouring Neb was the strongest attack in Apollo''s arsenal. On top of inflicting a great deal of damage, the strike also absorbed damage up to a certain threshold, which was dependent on the amount of G Apollo instilled inside the technique.

    If he sacrificed all of his G, then even a Noblesse wouldn''t be able to shatter the neb in one strike. After all, every Annihtion existed as a part of a powerful technique. How could their potential be limited to what Apollo had showcased up until now?

    As mentioned before, each Annihtion fed off of a distinct power at the very least. For example, anyone capable of learning it could still refine the Demonic Massacre Wave after experiencing the fusion of two types of energies used to empower the attack.

    "It''s not so easy!" Tanath snarled. Without a moment''s hesitation, Tanath slid his de across his palm, opening a sprout of fresh blood. However, the actions resulted in an abnormal change in his aura.

    On top of the ruthless sensation, Apollo felt a faint sanguine impulse simr to when he cracked open the Blood Amber. But, that feeling was incapable of prating Apollo''s defenses as the Supreme Demon Body''s Complete Immunity fended off the intruding emotion.

    Still, Tanath''s action came as a slight surprise, especially when Apollo noticed the odd creation before his eyes. It resembled a sword, except it wasposed entirely of Tanath''s blood.

    Until now, this was the first time Apollo witnessed someone utilize their blood to form an attack. Even his Sacrificial Vitality didn''t allow this technique. Because, not only was this method risky, if one''s vitality wasn''t strong enough, they could potentially weaken themselves for quite some time.

    Furthermore, a particr type of bloodline was required to sustain zero damage from this action. However, Apollo had yet toe in contact with such a bloodline.

    ''Has he be that desperate¡­ or is this his true arsenal?'' Apollo wondered as he watched Tanathunch the immense blood sword towards the Devouring Neb. Watching this scene suddenly reminded Apollo of something in the past.

    ''Now that I think about it, isn''t this Aura of ughter the matured form of the aura that Krone once produced?'' Apollo thought. Azridan had once revealed after Krone unleashed the Scarlet Killing Strokes that the demons possessed an ability that was simr yet many times more refined than that technique.

    Evidently, the ability Azridan referred to was the Aura of ughter. Not only did it require an inextinguishable intent to kill, but it also required its wielder to have taken part in many gruesome scenes of murder.

    Seeing as Tanath awakened this aura, it was clear that obtaining his position as one of the Vice-Commanders of his stronghold was based on countless amounts of bloodshed.

    Meanwhile, Apollo didn''t wait for Tanath to resolve the attack. He advanced towards him rapidly amidst the pulling force of his previous attack. In fact, Apollo used the power to elerate faster than his usual speed.

    Though it required a greater portion of his strength to resolve the pressure acting on his body, it was still well within Apollo''s parameters. He arrived before Tanath and shed Gram in mere moments, prompting Tanath to shift his attention away from the Neb.

    "Fool! You''re in the range of your own attack," Tanath growled with reddened eyes as he shed against Apollo''s abrupt attack. However, he soon noticed that the effect the Neb had on Apollo was much weaker inparison.

    "That''s fine. As you said, it''s my own attack," Apollo chuckled as a faint green film appeared around his body. It melded with the dark color of the Aura of Domination producing a barrier against the neb''s pulling force.

    So, while Tanath''s attacks had a portion of their momentum sapped, Apollo waspletely unaffected by the neb. Apollo thrust Gram forward once he confirmed that the other three Archdemons were still busy resolving his other strike.

    The edge was aimed directly at the center of Tanath''s chest, intending to pierce through him. Although he had awakened a worthwhile aura and would be a considerable addition to the team, Apollo was curious about how much experience an opponent of this caliber would grant; moreover, the amount of stats.

    Even Xonnomor didn''t have an aura, so Apollo was confident that Tanath would reward significantly more experience.

    However, Tanath''s eyes widened with madness running rampant inside. He couldn''t believe that he was losing to a Greater Demon on all fronts inbat. If the others were present, he''d be aughingstock after endless years of building up his reputation.

    Therefore, he felt this predicament was uneptable.

    "You incorrigible heathen! Die! Die! Die!" Tanath screeched! Suddenly, his aura took on the shape of the earlier sword and shed towards Apollo.

    In response to this tactic, Fuhrer''s eyebrows rose, "An Aura Manifestation? No¡­ that''s wrong. It''s notplete. It''s more so a haphazard creation fueled by this individual''s will to kill. Nevertheless, it''s still quite interesting."

    In truth, the Dominator''s Clutch was also something that rivaled an Aura Manifestation. However, it needed a more prominent source to reach that ssification, hence why the system only graded it as a technique.

    As long as Apollo formed his Dominion and activated it, a new world of opportunities would open.

    Meanwhile, Apollo also made a drastic move.

 Chapter 462 - Crushing Archdemons

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    ''Even though I spent time familiarizing myself with this technique, it was something I didn''t wish to use so early on,'' Apollo thought as the surrounding atmosphere became still. The terrifying aura undting from Apollo''s body in waves even deactivated the Devouring Neb.

    But, Apollo''s Cardinal Sphere throbbed painfully, indicating a monstrous consumption of his aura. In his current state, even after activating the effects of the title and epting his bloodline, Apollo could barely support the overbearing expenditure of the Fourth Annihtion.

    In fact, the presence of these two advantages was the only reason Apollo could activate this technique as a Greater Demon. After all, aside from the first three Annihtions, every two subsequent Annihtions required an even higher evolution.

    Not to mention, unleashing the final two required at least a Daemonic Demon Body because those techniques existed at the pinnacle of destructive attacks. Even Fuhrer, in his prime, refrained from releasing those attacks too frequently because the expenditure was just that insane.

    In the meantime, Tanath trembled after feeling the abominable sensation emanating from Apollo''s body. At first, he couldn''t understand how a Greater Demon was capable of unleashing such a terrifying presence.

    ''Could I even reach that level at my peak? What type of opponent is this?'' Tanath wondered. Because of his temporarypse in his bloodlust, the colossal bloody sword in the sky threatened to shatter.

    After all, this wasn''t an attack that Tanath trained to use. It was sudden, so it required every iota of his focus to keep solid. If his anger wavered for even a second, the whole attack would copse, which would leave him a sitting duck against the pending Absolute Eradication.

    A massive w appeared above Apollo''s head quickly. Compared to his first usage, this w produced seemed more imposing, with a metallic exterior generated by his Aura of Domination. Once ready, Apollo threw the attack at Tanath.

    The aftershock from the collision of two gigantic attacks flung both Apollo and Tanath across the room. However, Apollo came to a skidding halt while watching the feud between his w and Tanath''s sanguine sword.

    Just a few moments after the sh, Tanath''s sword suffered a few cracks that were reflected in Tanath''s expression. Since his Cardinal Sphere was freshly awakened, it was in a fragile state. Thus, this forced Tanath''s body to mirror any damage done to his aura.

    This was the shoring of awakening anything mid-fight that didn''t allow them to win instantly. The unfamiliarity with the awakened trait produced some dissonances inbat that was hard to ount for.

    Still, Tanath wasn''t willing to give up easily. He released a deafening roar as he continued to exhaust every morsel of his aura. However, this was one department he failed to best Apollo in.

    His aura was something Apollo possessed since he evolved into a Lesser Demon. Hence, he was much more trained in wielding it. Not to mention, the volume of his aura was many times greater. All of these advantages quickly revealed themselves once the sh went on for more than 3 seconds.

    Although it seemed like a short amount of time, after reaching thisbat level, three seconds was ample enough time to conduct arge number of movements.

    Eventually, Tanath fell to one knee, cracking the ground beneath his feet as Apollo''s pressure crushed his body to the ground. Despite his desperate attempts to go against the force, Tanath failed marvelously.

    During this development, Apollo advanced step by step. He even made a mystifying decision and canceled the pressure on the other three Archdemons only to amplify the severity of the attack aimed at Tanath.

    As a result, the ground gave way at a much quicker pace.

    "Vice-Commander Tanath," Ilguk bellowed before kicking the wall next to him.

    However, Apollo had gained a thorough understanding of his strength by now. While it would still be challenging to win against Asteroth, the presence of these four was indeed a saving grace for him.

    "You''ll be my preparation as well," Apollo thought before waving his hand indifferently. A surge of Ira turned into countless Demonic Massacre Waves that continued to bombard Ilguk''s body, forcing his advance to a standstill.,

    Soon enough, he was also forced to retaliate against the iing waves.

    "Damn it! What the fuck is wrong with this demon?! Just what is this reserve volume? He''s been fighting four of us! How does he still have more Sin Energy to spare?" Ilguk bellowed in frustration as he continued to shatter as many waves as possible.

    Unfortunately, the torrent became more than he could handle as time went on. Because, Apollo once again infused the Demonic Massacre Waves with a drop of Purgatory''s Blood, molding them into horrifying attacks.

    Furthermore, dodging them was out of the equation because Apollo''s perception and special effect of his aura allowed him to control the trajectory of these attacks remotely. So, in addition to bing a walking turret, Apollo also turned his opponent''s unique signatures into homing beacons for his attacks.

    At this point, Ilguk regretted ever taking up this assignment.

    ''Damn me! I''m fucking foolish for always following Tanath''s lead. Now, I''ve followed him to his death!''

    Meanwhile, Murth and Drurkal were in a simr predicament. Apollo saved these three unique Demonic Massacre Waves for this moment. After absorbing their Ira, it gave Apollo enough Ira to umte more Purgatory''s Blood in secret.

    Although the other three were free to move nimbly, dealing with Purgatory''s Blood was a monumental task they were incapable of aplishing after expending a significant portion of their Ira.

    Even if they formed a barrier, the wave would simply burn right through it with its absurd properties.

    As that took ce, Tanath''s retaliation neared its end as the cracks littered the sanguine sword''s surface. Blood even seeped from Tanath''s eyes and nose as the pressure crushed his body continued to amplify.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer appeared before Apollo from within the void. "Kill the other three and keep him alive."

    "Hmm? But he''ll be useful to fuel the evolution of the others," Apollo answered. However, Fuhrer shook his head in response. While Apollo''s previous actions confirmed that his defeat could fuel the others'' progress, Fuhrer felt there were other uses as well.

    "How many of your followers possess the Aura of ughter?" Fuhrer asked while staring at Tanath being forced into the ground by Apollo''s attack. Although he could ease the pressure by countering Apollo''s attack with his Dominion, Fuhrer wouldn''t intervene if Apollo didn''t permit the suggestion.

    After all, just one subordinate wasn''t enough for Fuhrer to make a move. Outside of Tanath, the others were simply dogshit in Fuhrer''s eyes. On top of their Sin Volumecking for Archdemons, he felt their techniques wereckluster at best.

    "None," Apollo answered immediately. He understood what Fuhrer was hinting at because he had also entertained this thought earlier. But, the curiosity of the experience value was also weighing on Apollo''s mind, making it difficult to move away from his current choice.

    "Precisely, and if you remember, you walk part of the path of savagery as well. So, this particr demon would be better alive than dead. Don''t you recall what I mentioned about the Savage King and Ruthless Queen?" Fuhrermented.

    This reminder made Apollo pause and consider the possibility. As he stopped, the pressure bearing down on Tanath lightened, allowing him some breathing room. But, because Apollo hadn''t made up his mind just yet, the pressure was still ridiculous.

    "But, what''s the use if he''s iparable to them?" Apollo countered while looking towards Fuhrer. Though Fuhrer''sment held some sound logic, Apollo felt he had better things to do than to waste his time on a demon who barely equated to one percent of a King.

    "Then cultivate him like you do the others while fostering his aura. As it strengthens, spar with him often and familiarize yourself with the abilities of the savages one," Fuhrer answered with a shrug.

    Though he doubted that Tanath coulde close to a King, even the slightest preparation was beneficial in this case.

    "Ehh¡­ if you say so," Apollo muttered, but he didn''t cancel his attack. Instead, he nced towards the two running from the torment of the Demonic Massacre Waves. A secondter, a humongous shadow appeared above them causing them to look up in horror.

    "Oh¡­ you''ve got to be kidding m-..."

    Bang!

    The w smashed down on them before Ilguk could even finish his phrase, causing a few notifications rted to experience to appear before Apollo''s eyes. However, his gaze remained on Tanath.

    "Consider your life a gift from your superior," Apollo said before averting his gaze.

 Chapter 463 - Another Absorption

    ----

    Although Apollo granted Tanath leniency over his death, the pressure Apollo subjected him to caused his rity of mind to teeter on the edge of unconsciousness. So, aside from alleviating the force crushing his body, Tanath wasn''t aware of anything else.

    Still, Apollo turned his attention towards the three Archdemons in the clutch of his attack. Surprisingly, three Archdemons together couldn''t withstand the pressure that Tanath was resisting alone.

    The overwhelming attacks caused gruesome crunching noises to appear frequently, and Apollo neared the site of his destructions. When he sensed their mes of life were on the brink of extinguishing, Apollo canceled his attack.

    After all, he had a much better purpose than just outright destroying them. If he did that, the only thing he would receive was experience towards the experience pool. However, after such a challenging battle, would only receiving a superficial amount of experience be enough to justify the earlier difficulty?

    No, so Apollo chose to extract their essence. Though he could also do it if their death were recent, it wasn''t as potent as when they were still alive. Therefore, Apollo opted for the optimal situation.

    Three dense streams of demonic essence flowed from the demons'' withering bodies and into Apollo''s, causing a slight smile. Although the energy seemed tyrannic, Apollo found the absorption to be unusually unpleasant.

    ¡´System: Because your Ira Purity and Level have both been frozen, you''ve received an adjustment.¡µ

    ¡´System: All Experience gained from the corpses increased by 250 percent. Attributes will experience a ten percent intion as well.¡µ

    ¡´System: 3 Unique Archdemon''s Essence has been absorbed. [59.6 million Experience rewarded.]¡µ

    ¡´System: +30.8 percent Strength, +22.5 percent Agility¡µ

    ''Not bad,'' Apollo thought with a faint nod. Since his vessel was locked, expanding his Demonic Anima Reserves was impossible unless he could increase his Demon Body. After all, the Demon Body is what determines the quantity of both one''s Demonic Anima and Sin Volume.

    At the same time, the Demon Body also corrted to the chances of a demon evolving to the next level. Unless their potential was strong enough, the chances of evolving were slim, seeing as it required a qualitative upgrade from the coreponents.

    Meanwhile, Apollo wasn''t worried about evolving at this point. His primary focus was to level the ying field regarding the difference in their vessel power as much as possible. Thus, absorbing as many stats as possible was his primary concern. Once he felt sufficiently strong, then any wariness towards fighting against Asteroth would dissipate.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer teleported before Tanath''s battered body and estimated the damages.

    "Hmm, he''s in quite a terrible shape, I would say," Fuhrer muttered while cing his hand on Tanath''s forehead. An inconsequential power flowed through Tanath''s body, allowing Fuhrer to understand the damage inflicted upon his body thoroughly.

    "At least he''s not dead," Apollo shrugged indifferently beforepletely devouring the Archdemon''s body. ''Perhaps I''ll have some use for all the bodies in that dead space in the future.''

    As mentioned before, every demon with a high G purity possessed a vast independent space linked to their Sinful Organ. In Apollo''s case, the Voracious Tongue, while small, produced an overwhelmingly vast separate space. Even if Apollo could travel inside, it''d take at least a week to journey through the span of its coverage.

    "I suppose that''s true as well," Fuhrer chuckled amusedly before grabbing Tanath''s arm and tossing him towards Furcas, "You deal with his healing process."

    After hearing this, Apollo turned towards Tanath''s body in flight. "Before that, let''s finalize his addition."

    Apollo lifted his hand, leisurely sending a pulse of ck aura to encase Tanath''s body. It entered inside, running amok beforepletely overpowering any remnants of defiance within.

    As a result, another message appeared before Apollo''s view.

    ¡´System: An addition, ?Tanath?, has been introduced to the Dominus Household. [Current members: 15]¡µ

    "You''re all set to heal him now. There''s no chance of retaliation upon awakening," Apollo instructed before taking a seat on the rocks. While doing so, he also pondered a few other important matters that would be an issue eventually.

    Sapphyr realized this look and sat beside him with a curious expression, "Something troubling you?"

    "Not quite, but it''s been difficult to contact Xonnomor after learning of this newly made equipment. There''s been slight interference, so I suspect he''s in the presence of someone of a Lord''s caliber," Apollo admitted while tapping his chin.

    "And the issue with that is?" Sapphyr asked while revealing a tinge of confusion.

    "It''s not necessarily an issue; it just means that our items may suffer dys, which indicates an even deeper need for Asteroth''s presence. Besides that, this means the Council is also preparing," Apollo said in a solemn tone.

    Though it didn''t seem bad on the surface, the more the Council prepared themselves, the more difficult it would be for Apollo to dismantle them within the allotted timeline.

    "Well, just as they are preparing, so are we. It''s only a matter of who is faster, and when ites to this, I believe in you, my Lord," Sapphyr answered. As Apollo turned towards her, he noticed the genuine smile on her face and smiled back.

    "I guess you have a point. I shouldn''t worry needlessly. Growing stronger or bing more prepared only means that the Council is turning themselves into even juicier targets," Apollo said with an intense sensation of greed circting within his expression.

    "Exactly!" Sapphyr agreed. Afterward, she blushed slightly while Apollo patted her head and looked in a particr direction. "Soon from now, I''ll need everyone to handle specific tasks. Do you feel you''re up for the job?"

    "I am," Sapphyr replied without a moment''s hesitation. Not only was her belief in Apollo unwavering, but she was confident in her strength after going against the animated corpse and absorbing countless amounts of Ira from this ce.

    "Good. You and Typhir will apany Vc to Suprenis," Apollo instructed. However, Sapphyr gave a clueless look. Unlike the rest, she wasn''t privy to the name of familiar Rings. After all, she was one of the recently created demons. At most, she only knew about Ashiraem.

    Therefore, Apollo took the time to exin what he knew of Suprenis. Though his knowledge was sparse in some areas, he recalled any zone he visited thoroughly, especially the location bearing Tirasha''s stronghold.

    Once she received all the information, Sapphyr took a moment to digest it.

    "I''ll keep a watch over Vc, but you know there are no promises that he''ll behave," Sapphyr answered. But, Apollo chuckled at her response. He was confident that Vc would behave himself on this little trip.

    "That''s not something you should worry about. You''re more so back-up rather than a babysitter in this situation," Apollo responded. He then paused for a moment while ncing at Tanath''s body inside Furcas''s inscription circles.

    ''We only have a certain window before their employer begins to worry about their whereabouts. If we aren''t gone by that time, then we''ll most like be met with another party in search of their remains,'' Apollo thought. However, he wasn''t troubled by this matter.

    It would take quite some time for an ordinary party to excavate this entire ruin. So, there was still ample time before any wariness for their safety appeared. Until then, Apollo chose to remain in ce.

    If this party already possessed items crafted by Xonnomor, then the odds of him having any equipment for them were slim. So, returning to Firaria would only be redundant when they could remain in this beneficial environment for a while longer.

    In the meantime, Apollo chose to continue familiarizing himself with his arsenal because he intended to seek out Asteroth upon arrival. ''Fortunately, I ounted for being stuck inside this ruin for some time. Though it is advantageous, it still slows the timeline''s pace.''

    Suddenly, while looking at Tanath''s body, Apollo''s curiosity towards Arleo''s current state grew. Sadly, his body was still inside one of the stronghold''s huts, recuperating within one of the circles Furcas made.

    With his current ability, Furcas wasn''t strong enough to check on the conditions of people inside distance circles remotely. To do so, he''d need to recover some of his Archdemon abilities at the very least.

    Conversely, Apollo also thought about the connection between Tanath''s Aura of ughter and any future meeting with the Savage King. ''Reaching even one-tenth of their true power will be difficult, but I''ll ept the challenge.''

    At the same time, Apollo''s mind was two steps against his battle with Asteroth, ''From Asteroth we''ll attack Amduscias..'' Only then could he take the next major step in his journey.

 Chapter 464 - Their Return

    ----

    Approximately two monthster¡­

    Xonnomor sat before the forge with a contemtive expression while routinely ncing over to Saehtyn sitting by his side. Although his face didn''t disy his current thoughts, Xonnomor spent most of his time estimating the potential response time of his father.

    After all, it had been two months since he dispatched the excavation team. Although Xonnomor was aware that dealing with the issues inside the ruin would pose a considerable threat, he also knew that Apollo was still inside since he had yet to reappear.

    ''It''s best to assume that by now, the lord has disposed of them. The only question is when will father return and how will he handle this development?'' Xonnomor wondered.

    Although two months seemed like a significant timeframe, evolving to the next state became increasingly tedious. So, each progression evolution took a greater amount of time. Therefore, it wasn''t odd for Tirasha''s change to take so long, especially if she wasn''t at the precipice of the evolution prior to Xorgrah''s arrival.

    If so, Xorgrah would have to first cultivate her to the peak of the Greater Demon state before continuing with the evolution process.

    However, because he knew of her potential, Xonnomor felt his father would return within a week''s time at thetest. Unless he diverted his attention to another task before arriving, Xonnomor doubted there was much time remaining.

    During this time, hepleted all of the items for both Apollo and Xorgrah. Sadly, the delivery route to the Council was already sealed, meaning the only person capable of transporting the items was Xorgrah through special means granted to him by his position.

    Nevertheless, Xonnomor was slightly troubled by a dilemma that he didn''t wish to happen.

    ''I wouldn''t be so unlucky as to have them reappear at the same time, would I? Lord knows that''s a conflict I don''t wish to deal with,'' Xonnomor thought before resting his hammer back on the forge and turning towards Saehtyn.

    Noticing this change, Saehtyn looked up towards him with a questioning look before ncing deep into Xonnomor''s eyes, "Hidden troubles?"

    For a moment, Xonnomor was shocked. He thought he concealed his troubles quite well, but it appeared the experience and senses of Saehtyn were still well beyond his skill.

    "I suppose. We''ve aplished the task, but I''ve yet to develop a proper design for your weapon. As a person of my word, I can''t approve of my ineptitude," Xonnomor said, which caused Saehtyn to scan him silently for a moment.

    ''Is he this diligent, or is this just a ruse to conceal his real worries that he doesn''t wish to disclose? Either way, this situation isn''t my concern,'' Saehtyn thought before finally nodding.

    "Though the weapon is desired, we don''t need to expedite its creation. Take the time to mull out its design before moving onto the creation stage. Though the future is uncertain, a mere weapon doesn''t hold that much significance," Saehtyn answered.

    However, after he said this, he fell silent while turning his gaze towards the distance. ''It''s been quite inactive for quite some time, but now¡­ I sense much action.''

    Not too long after, Saehtyn turned back towards Xonnomor with a meaningful expression, "It would seem you have somepany."

    "Me?" Xonnomor muttered in reply before raising his eyebrows. He felt a tremble deep within as he started to fall to his knees. At first, he didn''t understand why this sensation overcame him, but soon enough, the reason became clear.

    Apollo stepped through the forge doors alone with his gaze lingering on both Xonnomor and Saehtyn. However, instead of addressing Xonnomor, he was more interested in Saehtyn.

    "That slumbering wrath of yours is far from under control; it''s merely dormant. If you can control your wrath and merge it with your aura, you''ll step into a new realm," Apollomented while scanning Saehtyn with an enigmatic gleam in his eyes.

    During the past two months, Apollo aplished something he''d been waiting for. The Unbound Eyes, which only partially awakened after absorbing Furcas''s essence, finished expunging any impurities in the link between his eyes and Tainted Temple.

    Because of this change, although it was rudimentary, Apollo could more or less gleam the flow of a Demon''s Sin.

    While Saehtyn''s Sin flow appeared exuberant, its foreign nature restricted him severely. In fact, Apollo could sense a repressed yet more closely assimted strength slumbering with Saehtyn. This dissonance made Apollo remember the truth revealed by the system and Fuhrer.

    ''Although these Lords are Estran''s creation, he''s left them a way toplete the transformation. Absorbing a new Sin isn''t the answer. What they need is toplete the fusion,'' Apollo internalized while approaching Saehtyn.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''sment resulted in Saehtyn viewing him differently. Not only that, but he also grew curious about Apollo''s transformation, ''He''s still a Greater Demon, but he has this inexplicable pressure to him. If I had topare it to him¡­ he seems simr to that odd demon.''

    Finally, Saehtyn couldn''t contain his curiosity. "Do you have any rtion to a demon who calls himself Asteroth?"

    Now, it was Apollo''s turn to be curious. "Any connection? I suppose I do. Though, I''d much rather confront him myself."

    Because the Demon Monarch System was now Level 6, Apollo had no reason to search for the members actively. As mentioned before, the system transmitted their location constantly. Apollo merely needed to visit their location if he felt he was ready to go against their power.

    In Asteroth''s case, he felt he was ready. After all, his past absorption caused a drastic change in his attributes.

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lv.6

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Greater Demon [100%]

    Title: Monarch''s True Heir, Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 18

    Level: 199

    Experience: 100%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 220,000 units

    -----

    Strength: 5,343.0

    Agility: 3,935.0

    Intelligence: 2,787.5

    Vitality: 2,668.0

    Comprehension: 308.8

    Willpower: 278.8

    -----------

    On top of his stats, the system also revealed the information behind the Unbound Eyes as well. However, Apollo was surprised to find that its presence wasn''t reliant on Furcas at all. He was only a catalyst that hastened its inevitable appearance.

    ¡¸Unbound Eyes - Special Trait

    Rank: Unique*

    Mastery: 0.00%

    Description: The Unbound Eyes are the unique eyes of the Dominus Bloodline, which stand at the precipice of the demonic world. All dark natures areid bare before the power of the Unbound Eyes.

    Effect: Allows you to detect confidential information on an enemy. (The higher the mastery, the moreplete the information you receive is).

    *Note: This ability''s effect varies on targets outside of the Demon Race.¡¹

    After a while, Saehtyn''s skepticism ballooned to a new height after continuing to observe Apollo for a few more moments. "How can you possibly be aware of my predicament and matters to resolve it? Doesn''t that make you even more suspicious?"

    "Perhaps it does, but do you really want to risk your safety over trying to find out my origins? Are you sure you''re able to handle a demonparable to Asteroth? If so, then you''re wee to turn me into a target," Apollo said with a slight chuckle.

    Once he heard this threat, Saehtyn''s expression changed considerably. Aside from Asteroth, the only other demon capable of resisting his strength was the demon that Lucifer ran into. Although their identity had yet to be confirmed, based on the stories Lucifer disclosed, the demon was at least on par with Asteroth.

    Of course, despite his wariness, Saehtyn couldn''t overlook the duty his position held. Whether Apollo was an ally or a threat to the race''s safety, it was something that he needed to find out. Especially after realizing the uncertainty of the race''s current situation.

    "How can I trust that you move in the interest of the demon race? The Council has already made drastic moves. Every day that passes, we grow more exposed to danger," Saehtyn said in a solemn tone while ncing in Xonnomor''s direction.

    Compared to before Apollo''s arrived, Xonnomor''s demeanor was much more reserved and subservient, indicating something that Saehtyn had yet to understand.

    "Trust?" Apollo said with a slight smile. He was silent for a moment as he pondered a few matters and then looked towards Saehtyn. "Trust isn''t something that should be given lightly. It should be earned, no? Even then, absolute trust can only be gained in the face of absolute danger."

    Saehtyn''s expression grew confused after listening to Apollo. He couldn''t understand how the two matters rted, but Apollo sensed this and continued.

    "You see, absolute trust is gained whenplete safety is secured. If you can guarantee and deliver safety while disying irrevocable power, then aside from fear, the only thing left to do is trust. So, Saehtyn, Lord of Wrath, do you understand irrevocable power?"

    Suddenly, a dense aura leaked from Apollo''s body caused Saehtyn''s eyes to widen.

    On the other hand, Apollo frowned in response.. It appeared his actions didn''t yield the results he wished.

 Chapter 465 - Armageddons Bestowal

    ----

    ¡´System: The chosen target''s vessel defenses are too high for your current aura to prate.¡µ

    ¡´System: The attempt to control the subject has failed. However, the subject will remain unaware of the intrusion.¡µ

    ''I should have expected as much,'' Apollo thought while shaking his head with a tinge of disappointment apparent in his eyes. Though the transformation of his bloodline heightened his powers by an immense degree, it wasn''t enough to ovee the chasm between his current ability and a Lord''s.

    After all, oveing a Lord meant that he possessed enough power to equal approximately seven percent of Estran''splete strength, which was incorrect. Estran was a demon that even Fuhrer had difficulty defeating. So, achieving just five percent of his true strength at the Greater Demon state was impossible, even if Apollo''s bloodline was brought into the equation.

    Still, from what Apollo sensed, it wouldn''t be long before his Sin reached the same potency as Saehtyn. At that time, he would be sure to pay him a visit. Because, Saehtyn and the others were required if he wished to restore the near-death Estran to his former glory.

    Meanwhile, while Saehtyn didn''t sense the intrusion of Apollo''s intention to dominate, he was appalled by the nature of Apollo''s aura. Even for a demon, the sensation was too overwhelming. In fact, it was an aura that he''d never sense before. Perhaps, he even questioned if such an aura could exist.

    Then, he thought back to the tablets that Estran brought them to. ''Is there a link between this person and the tablets? Also, what we hold is a mere manifestation derived from our creator. However, why does he carry a sensation nearly identical to them?''

    While asking these questions, another thought popped into his mind. ''Could it be that it wasn''t his rtion to Azridan that caused me to guarantee his safety, but something else? If so, then perhaps it isn''t my ce to thwart whatever he has nned.''

    Besides these thoughts, Saehtyn also focused on another curiosity, "You spoke of my aura as a separate power. I recall someone in the distant past mentioning the same thing. Is that the power this demon called Asteroth employed?"

    "Correct," Apollo admitted. After a momentary pause, Fuhrer took over the conversation. While Apollo could see the inconsistencies in Saehtyn''s body, there were some things he just didn''t understand due to his unfamiliarity with the subject''s intricate origin.

    "Because you are an artificial powerhouse, it will be many times harder for you to locate your aura''s true nature. Yes, there is boundless wrath located within you but is destruction truly the path you seek, or the one imnted within you?" Fuhrermented, which caused Saehtyn to fall into deep thought.

    While he pondered Fuhrer''s question, Apollo approached Xonnomor while scanning over the created equipment. Compared to the uniform set made for Xorgrah, the group designated for Apollo''s usage consisted of unique weaponry¨Da rapier, a spear, a longsword, a fine greatsword¨Devery weapon intimately employed by his personal entourage.

    Apollo picked up a weapon out of curiosity and flicked it, causing an ear-piercing ring to resound throughout the stronghold. Although it was made from the same materials that created Gram, these weapons were much more tempered because of Saehtyn''s powerful me.

    On the other hand, Xonnomor approached Apollo and kneeled before him. "My Lord, I suggest passing along your earlier weapon to your inmand."

    "Why do you suppose I do that?" Apollo wondered with an intrigued expression. Xonnomor wouldn''t suggest this action for no reason. Clearly, there was a more significant reason behind his suggestion.

    "Because I have greater something much greater, sufficient for your higher caliber," Xonnomor said. He waved his hand a momentter, summoning the weapon that served as the culmination of his forging knowledge.

    Once he presented the weapon, both Fuhrer and Apollo revealed some shock. After all, while the weapon was far from perfect, the internal framework seemed more thorough whenpared to Gram.

    "It''s without a name. Just as before, the wielder should be the one blessed with giving their partner a name," Xonnomor added.

    However, instead of answering immediately, Apollo continued to analyze the weapon, noticing its irregr shape. After a while, he came to a conclusion about this weapon.

    "It doesn''t fit my battle style, so it would be wasted on me," Apollo remarked. Afterward, he flung his hand upward, tossing the sword high into the sky. Simultaneously, he called out a name.

    A secondter, Typhir appeared and sensed the sword hurtling into the sky. At first, nothing caught his eye, but after scrutinizing the flying weapon, a fervent gleam passed through his gaze as he jumped into the sky, closing the distance separating him and the sword at a rapid pace.

    Within moments, Typhir''s palm clutched the hilt of the sword as a pleasant yet overwhelming sensation surged throughout his body. However, he couldn''t allow the weapon to overpower his will.

    So, Typhir retaliated with a brief surge of his bloodline power, resulting in a shocking resonance between him and the weapon. Apollo watched the whole situation from the ground and smiled.

    "See, there''s a much more fitting individual for that weapon. Look at that seamless bond," Apollo said.

    Typhirnded behind him with a colossal tremor by the time Apollo finished speaking, yet Apollo was unaffected by the shaking ground. Apollo merely looked at him while hended. "Have you thought of a name for the weapon?"

    "Name?" Typhir muttered before giving a savage smile, "Armageddon sounds fitting. The de of the destroyer."

    "Well, there you have it," Apollomented before pping his hands. As a result, everyone was summoned, but Apollo turned towards Vc. "Your task starts at this very moment."

    As soon as they heard this, both Typhir and Sapphyr stepped forward, which made Vc frown.

    "Both of them!? No, no, no, no, I said I would behave! I promised," Vc screeched.

    Unfortunately, Apollo would be foolish if he trusted Vc''s words. After all, the system wouldn''t deem him a troublemaker if that wasn''t the case. Moreover, sending a single follower to Suprenis wasn''t advisable either. The demons weren''t a united race, so there were a number of hidden threats present when a member moved in solitary.

    "While you have promised, I''ve already told you that Typhir would be following along," Apollo replied.

    "Yeah! But you didn''t mention her! She scares me," Vc muttered while avoiding contact with Sapphyr''s frigid silver eyes. However, Vc''sment caused Apollo to release a hearty chuckle.

    "Then, the answer is simple. I advise you don''t anger her."

    In response, Vc could only grumble continuously before releasing an unwilling groan. In the next few moments, his wings unfurled, marking an azure trail in the sky. Typhir also gave a brief nod before following behind Vc with a shocking set of Void Steps.

    ''His usage continues to grow more remarkable,'' Fuhrer internalized with a proud expression. However, it was only apparent for an instant before vanishing.

    In the meantime, Sapphyr approached Apollo with a serious demeanor, "I''ll watch after both of them, my Lord, specifically Vc. I won''t let trouble befall us."

    "I wouldn''t have entrusted this task to you two if I believed otherwise," Apollo said in response.

    Just as Sapphyr turned to leave, she leaned forward and nted a kiss on Apollo''s cheek. He didn''t show any reaction, but Geneva red at the both of them before letting it go. After all, Sapphyr''s disappearance meant that she would be unhindered by her presence.

    But, Apollo''s next word caused her to grumble in frustration non-step. "Everyone else will serve a purpose as well, and I expect it to be aplished without any hitches."

    Before the others could wonder what Apollo had nned, he snapped his finger, causing unique directions to appear within everyone''s mind except for Fuhrer. Aside from him, Apollo gave the rest missions, which to some came as no surprise.

    "Wait, are you sure you want me to do this?" ia muttered after reading through her task.

    "Correct. You and Geneva are a powerfulbination, so you should be able to aplish the task effortlessly," Apollomented.

    After some time, both ia and Geneva nodded, agreeing to follow through with their objective. Both of their bloodlines and titles should reduce the task''s difficulty tremendously.

    Finally, only Apollo, Fuhrer, Saethyn, and Xonnomor remained in the room.

    "Do you wish to go there now?" Fuhrer asked.

    "Correct, we can go now," Apollo answered.

    As a result, Fuhrer cut open a portal leading to boundless darkness but Apollo paused just before stepping inside. "If the others are in need of assistance, you''re free to grant it. And, it won''t be long before Arleo awakens."

    "Understood," Xonnomor nodded before watching the portal close before him.

    Thus, the Dominus Household moved to aplish different vital tasks.

 Chapter 466 - The Third Ring

    ----

    Inside the Void Portal¡­

    Fuhrer turned towards Apollo as they leisurely transversed the portal''s breadth. There was a nostalgic look upon his face because it had been quite some time since it was just the two of them.

    After all, except for Fuhrer, most of the team was left on Ashiraem to help guard the Dakea Stronghold while also furthering their strength. In the meantime, Apollo ventured elsewhere, to a ring utterly unfamiliar to his knowledge.

    "Are you sure it''s best to leave them there? Do you think they''re ready to be on their own?" Fuhrer asked after a moment of silence. Although Apollo decided to delegate tasks that would hasten their progress, Fuhrer wasn''t sure if it was the best time to do so. However, he also couldn''t stay behind to monitor the rest.

    While Apollo was strong, he was venturing to uncharted territory. There was no telling what would appear before his eyes. So, Fuhrer felt more at ease by being by Apollo''s side.

    "I believe so. I''ve given everyone equipment best suited to their bloodline and titles. Once they limate the increase in strength, they should be next to unstoppable," Apollo answered.

    Though the answer was sound, the spread-out forces of the household still troubled Fuhrer.

    "True, but you only sent Typhir, Vc, and Sapphyr to Suprenis. Shouldn''t you have sent Zarkath and Jorgun as well?" Fuhrer questioned.

    In response, Apollo nced at him with a pensive expression. At first, he was silent, but after contemting his choice for a moment, Apollo ultimately shook his head in disagreement. "No need. Vc has his second transformation, and this is the best time for Typhir and Sapphyr to form a connection."

    Once he heard this, Fuhrer''s expression changed significantly. "You don''t mean?"

    "I do," Apollo nodded with a faint smile. He then continued after a brief moment, "Just as my father had you and Estran as his most trusted members; I will create my own. And those are my two choices. So, they should learn to be in agreement."

    After listening to Apollo''s intentions, a genuine smile appeared on Fuhrer''s face because it stirred many of his pleasant memories. Many of them involved Estran standing at Astraval''s side, directing the flow of battle during their wars. In contrast, Fuhrer stormed through the battlefield, wreaking havoc throughout the expanse of the battlefield.

    It was indeed an enjoyable time. To think that those memories would be rebuilt caused a stir of emotion within Fuhrer. As such, he ced his hand on Apollo''s shoulder and nodded. "I''m sure your transformation would please your father. It just saddens me that he can''t witness it firsthand."

    Apollo froze momentarily as he thought about Fuhrer''s words. ''His whereabouts are unknown, and his death is also a mystery. I wonder¡­ was this all orchestrated to weaken the demons? But, could that be true?''

    Unfortunately, there was no way for Apollo to verify his spections. On top of barely understanding the history of that time, understanding the current events of the demon''s deteriorating power was even moreplicated.

    Regardless, Apollo was hellbent on deciphering the cryptic history of the demons.

    "True. So, are you ready to enter that ce?"

    "I''m always ready," Fuhrer chuckled as the void portal split open not too far away from their current position. "So, you''ve decided to enter the third Ring. The Ring of the Devourers, Guloria."

    Gradually, the other side of the portal became clear. However, heaviness saturated the space before their eyes as a dense mistprising two colors¨Da deep green that gave off the sensation of unmatched toxicity and a dense grayish-ck color reminiscent of miasma.

    Thebination of colors formed an atmosphere that produced a strange feeling in the pit of Apollo''s stomach. At the same time, a message appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

    ¡´System: Now that you have visited the G''s Ring, only four seals remain.¡µ

    Simr to Ashiraem, there was a colossal obelisk situated in the center of this Ring as well. However, unlike the blood-like color of the tower in Ashiraem, this tower matched the atmosphere. Therefore, it was hard to discern the tower''s presence.

    "Why does it feel as if the Ring itself is trying to devour us?" Apollo muttered while staring at his hand. He felt a powerful force trying to suck away the anima in his body. Luckily, his bloodline forbade the force from doing so.

    Additionally, the stigmata on his tongue emitted a signal that also kept the sensation at bay.

    "That''s because it is. It is impossible for a demon without the Sin of G to arrive in this ce unless they''ve reached a truly powerful state," Fuhrer replied. However, his expression was solemn as he expended a considerable amount of mental strength to create a barrier against this Ring''s force.

    Although the Demons suffered a decrease in power, the same couldn''t be said about the cores of the Rings. Since they were all linked to the Primal Sources that were hidden, their influence was undiminished.

    Once he learned of Fuhrer''s actions, Apollo narrowed his eyes before touching Fuhrer''s back. A thin yet obscenely pureyer of the G coated Fuhrer''s body. Shockingly, instead of devouring his power, the flow of energy was reversed.

    As a result, the two forces acted against each other, effectively neutralizing the suppression on Fuhrer''s body. This all came as a surprise to Fuhrer, causing him to look at Apollo with a quizzical expression.

    "Has your minute control grown this well to reverse the prity of Sin?" Fuhrer asked.

    But, contrary to Fuhrer''s expectations, Apollo shook his head.

    "I didn''t learn how to do this. It was just an innate feeling," Apollo responded, which caused Fuhrer to recall his bloodline.

    ''Ah, that''s right. How could I forget? All the Sin under his control can be molded at his whim as a result of his identity. Thus, it should be easy for him tomand the Sin to act against the atmosphere.''

    Because Apollo handled the matter, Fuhrer stopped consuming his mental strength. In the meantime, he nced around and then upward. There would be nothing wrong to the naked eye, but Fuhrer revealed a deep frown, indicating his immense displeasure and overall worry.

    "The atmosphere is eating away at this Ring''s defenses faster than the others."

    "Even faster than Ashiraem?" Apollo asked.

    ording to Fuhrer''s earlier revtion, because Ira was a hostile Sin, the barrier surrounding Ashiraem was being consumed rapidly. The Sin''s rampaging energy was burning through the introduced weakness in the barrier''s infrastructure.

    Yet, based on Fuhrer''s current tone, it seemed Guloria was suffering a far worse fate.

    "At least three times faster. Because that area is being burned, therefore ruining the integrity of the barrier, Guloria''s portion of the barrier sustains a weakened defense," Fuhrer said with a sigh. "Your transformation couldn''te at a better time. Otherwise, I fear for our race."

    "Likewise. That means we need to move quickly. So, unlike Ashiraem, we visit the source," Apollomanded before unfurling his wings. Unlike his first appearance within the demonic world, Apollo wasn''t focused on ying anyone in this Ring.

    Due to the nature of G, Apollo was confident the Lord of this ce didn''t possess the same mindset as others. Insatiable greed was a trait he could easily take advantage of as long as he didn''t mess up his words. A deal that was too enticing would arouse suspicion, which was where Irzanach failed tragically.

    "Ah, this should be fun. Targeting the Lord of this area? Are you sure you''re strong enough for that?" Fuhrer teased. But Apollo merely smirked in response.

    "Strength isn''t a part of this equation. At least, physical strength isn''t. In this case, I believe financial strength is much more alluring."

    A momentter, Apollo zipped through the sky while monitoring the action below. Compared to Ashiraem, the state of this Ring was nothing short of chaotic. It appeared that some sort of confusion took ce at every corner of the Ring.

    Furthermore, whereas Ashiraem only possessed Firaria, Guloria had a number of cities connected to the central city that housed the tower. Be that as it may, the current state of the Ring wasn''t of any importance to Apollo.

    Fuhrer followed behind but didn''t use his Void Shuttling technique. Instead, he took a page out of Typhir''s book and zipped through the sky using condensed void panels to support his mystifying speed.

    Although the Ring was massive, it only took less than half a day for them to move from the outskirts of Guloria to its central city.

 Chapter 467 - The Source Of Death & Anger

    ----

    Eventually, Apollo and Fuhrernded before the gates of Guloria''s central city, which, unlike Firaria, remained nameless due to the abundance of cities in this Ring. However, just like Firaria, there was an entrance fee. Except, the price of this particr ce was exorbitant even in Apollo''s eyes.

    The gatekeeper raised their hand, barring Apollo and Fuhrer from entering this ce. Unsurprisingly, Fuhrer saw this action as disrespectful. While he could tolerate being stopped due to the rules put in ce, he couldn''t ept the gatekeeper raising their hand to Apollo''s face.

    As a result, his hand subconsciously reached towards Brynhildr''s hilt. It was done so fast that the gatekeeper failed to sense Fuhrer''s movement despite being at the peak of the Archdemon state.

    Fortunately for this individual, Apollo was feeling uncharacteristically reasonable. But, that was only to a certain extent as a yful smile appeared on his face. "Would you repeat the entry fee once again? It seems my hearing has been failing me these days."

    The gatekeeper shook his head with a sneer on his face as he listened to Apollo''s words. "Tch, so young yet your body is already deteriorating? What a shame! As I said before, it''s 300 Fragments of Sin for the two of you to enter."

    Compared to the entry price of 6 Fragments of Sin required to enter the city of Firaria, the asking price for this Ring was fifty times greater! It was simply highway robbery for any demon familiar with the pricing of other Rings.

    Therefore, Fuhrer felt this price was uneptable, as did Apollo.

    "Are you sure that''s the price you wish to keep? I''m sure there''s a way for you to lower the cost, no? After all, how can a mere Greater Demon manage to offset that much Sin?" Apollo said in a calm tone. But, there was a murderous intention brewing within his gaze.

    However, as an Archdemon, the gatekeeper felt no apprehension towards Apollo''s gaze. On the contrary, his Sinpelled him to ask for even more. "If this price is unsuitable for you? Then, how about we up the ante to 360 Fragments of Sin?"

    A disgusting grin appeared on the gatekeeper''s face while he hiked up the price, but Apollo paid him no mind. Instead, he nodded to Fuhrer. "You can act as you please."

    "With pleasure," Fuhrer said. In the next moment, a trickle of dense green blood flowed down the gatekeeper''s neck as his eyes widened.

    He didn''t even detect the movement of Fuhrer''s de sliding across his neck. Although Fuhrer''s de barely grazed his skin, it was enough to clear up the greed in his mind. Unfortunately, these two weren''t as forgiving as the gatekeeper hoped.

    A collection of miniature void portals materialized around the gatekeeper, with each one producing a sharp sensation. Evidently, each portal held a lurking de deep within.

    "While it is fine for a demon to draw power from a Sin, falling victim to its temptation means you''re unfit to possess it, much less someone of your stature. Perhaps you''ll ponder your choices in the afterlife," Fuhrer said lightly before slowly cing Brynhildr back in its sheath.

    Once the click of his weapon attaching to its sheath sounded, a vortex of undetectable shes tore the gatekeeper''s body apart. Greed sustained his life, yet that greed was also the source of his end.

    All of the demons in the vicinity watched with awe and fear as Apollo and Fuhrer stepped over the mutted body and sauntered within therge gates of the city. However, by the time they disappeared, so did the gatekeeper''s body.

    "Quite delicious. It seems absorbing the Sin Energy, and Essence from demons of this orientation quells that lingering hunger," Apollomented.

    "I would assume so since you''re feeding your G," Fuhrer agreed.

    Meanwhile, a raucous formed at the city gate since one of the gatekeepers were missing at the western entrance. All the demons seeking to visit the city flooded towards the gate. Naturally, the frantic influx of eager demons was noticed by the tower''s staff immediately.

    As a result, a recement was dispatched. However, by the time the stand-in reached the area, the source of the predicament was long gone. Both Apollo and Fuhrer ventured through the city while taking note of itsndscape and the locations of essential powers.

    "I wonder if the Lord of this ce is free," Apollo muttered while looking towards the tower.

    "Who cares? If they aren''t, then we''ll simply have to make them free," Fuhrer shrugged. In his eyes, there was nothing more important than their agenda. Besides, he was sure that the Lord of this ce was busy engorging himself. Though he wasn''t familiar with the Lord''s behavior, after sensing the inconsistencies in Saehtyn''s power, the Lord here shouldn''t be much better off.

    The influence of their irregr Sin should influence a generous portion of their actions.

    "You sound like more of a tyrant than I do," Apollo said in a joking tone. However, Fuhrer smiled in response. But then his eyes narrowed as he looked towards the tower. "It would seem we have their attention already."

    "Oh? That makes our job easier," Apollo responded.

    After learning of the Council''s actions, Apollo moved with less restraint. If the Council destroyed the link to their headquarters, it was impossible to restore its functionality in a short amount of time. So, even if Apollo caused untold levels of mayhem, the only ones able to respond would be the Lords.

    However, as long as Apollo limited his tyranny to a small sector of the Rings, the chances of invoking the other Lords'' appearance were abysmal.

    ....

    Inside the peak of Guloria''s Tower¡­

    "Who are these damned people? Unfamiliar and causing a disturbance? I should eat them," Belphegor snarled while throwing a fit in his throne room. Unlike Saehtyn''s area, which was in a pristine state before the destructive battle, Belphegor''s area was inplete disarray.

    However, based on his outward appearance, this was to be expected. As a glutton, the odds of his quarters being orderly were nonexistent.

    While grumbling and spitting everywhere, his attention turned towards the opening door, which presented two people. Naturally, it was Apollo and Fuhrer.

    A look of disgust appeared on Apollo''s face as he nced around Belphegor''s quarters. ''Even worse than I assumed. However, it''s a rather useful depiction of what to expect from this individual.''

    "The Lord of this ce, I presume?" Apollo said, causing Belphegor''s odd look.

    "The name is Belphegor. I go by that and nothing else," Belphegor replied.

    However, instead of answering immediately, Apollo continued to scan the condition of the room he stood in. There were traces of G everywhere, and some were strong enough to sustain a link to whatever dead space the glutton''s absorptions were linked to.

    "I understand that you''ve recently fought against some enemy that went by the name of Irzanach?" Apollo stated. Anger instantly seethe in Belphegor''s eyes as he heard this name. After all, it was because of this person that he was in his current state.

    While it wasn''t apparent at first sight, arge gash on his stomach that healed at an rmingly slow rate caught Apollo''s attention. Perhaps it was due to Irzanach''s irregr Sin signature, but a tricky energy reduced his healing factor to a fifth of its usual speed.

    "Are you rted to him!? That damned scoundrel. He is a gue that needs to be ripped apart and eaten!" Belphegor scowled indignantly.

    Meanwhile, Apollo saw this as an opportunity. If he confirmed that Belphegor loathed Irzanach to this extent, he could capitalize on this opportunity. All he needed to do was point him in the right direction.

    "If I were to locate his position, would you like to assist me? I''ll even allow you to consume him once I''m done with him," Apollo offered. But although it sounded like a good deal, Belphegor looked at him skeptically. Only now did he sense Apollo''s current strength.

    "A Greater Demon? Locate him? Are you ying around with me right now? That person resides at a state above a Noblesse! How exactly can you possibly do something we couldn''t?"

    "Asteroth could," Apollomented.

    Simr to Saehtyn, Belphegor nked before giving Apollo a bizarre look. He couldn''t believe that Apollo held any rtion to Asteroth. After all, Apollo''s power was concealed entirely by his bloodline. Unless he wished to disclose the abnormality of his strength, then outside of those on his father''s level, no one could sense it.

    "You¡­ want to use him?"

    In response to the question, Apollo gave an enigmatic grin.

 Chapter 468 - The Nautiluss Influence

    ----

    "Why is that grin on your face so disturbing? It''s eerie," Belphegor muttered with a deep frown. Apollo''s silent answer left him ufortable since he was an individual that preferred concrete solutions over mysterious ones. After all, his character was centered around devouring the tangible.

    Therefore, statements with no answers left Belphegor uneasy, especially since he couldn''t get a read on Apollo''s intentions nor his affiliations. That incapability to match Apollo''s presence to an existent partyplicated Belphegor''s willingness to cooperate.

    However, the perk of Apollo allowing him to devour Irzanach''s body once finished with him enticed Belphegor beyondpare. Absorbing just one of the Sins within Irzanach''s body that was agreeable with Belphegor''s body would give him a boost in the right direction as far as correcting their iplete bodies went.

    After all, while nearly inconsequential, Irzanach possessed a fragment of Astraval''s power left behind to empower the Demon Race and propel them from their destitute condition.

    "I find it hrious that you ask an obvious question. Do you need assurance at every step and turn? If so, how did you manage to be chosen as a Lord?" Apollo responded with a slight smile, which caused Belphegor to be stunned.

    To receive such brusque words from a demon outside of the Lords was an extinct situation until now. Belphegor was sure how to react aside from being shocked.

    "Y-you¡­ I¡­ What do you mean?! I am just asking the intention of a demon previously unheard of! Why can''t I sense your Sin at all?!" Belphegor howled in response. His instinctive action after receiving Apollo''s statement was to sense his actual state.

    After all, some demons released auras that betrayed their true strength to keep it hidden from inspection. So, Belphegor thought this courage originated from a power that was at least on par with his own.

    Unfortunately, inspecting Apollo yielded zero results since Apollo''s bloodline blocked his perception from analyzing anything about Apollo. Aside from his appearance and perhaps his age, Belphegor was in the dark about any other information rted to Apollo.

    "Simply because I don''t want you to," Apollo responded with a shrug. Of course, Belphegor didn''t appreciate Apollo''s carefree attitude, but Fuhrer''s presence raised innumerable rms in his mind.

    This impression made Belphegor unsure if he would remain safe if we to fight against Fuhrer. Besides, the slow healing would didn''t help the matter either. Still, when hepared Apollo to the terror he sensed from Asteroth, Belphegor didn''t put Apollo on his level.

    But, he didn''t voice this matter since he felt it was unrted to him. Contrarily, he pointed his focus back to Apollo''s earlierment.

    "So, how can you guarantee that I''ll be able to devour a portion of Irzanach''s power," Belphegor muttered while taking a seat back on his throne. While doing so, he knocked aside a cluster of bones strewn across the left handrest.

    "I can guarantee it because I don''t need it, but the same can''t be said for you Lords. If I''m not wrong the power coursing through Irzanach should be more than capable of mending the issues that gue you all," Apollo answered.

    Instantly, Belphegor''s eyes zed with interest. After fighting against Irzanach, the first to be affected by emotion were Belphegor, Beelzebub, and Mammon. As the Sins centered around strong desires towards another''s possessions, these three werepelled to absorb or at least draw inspiration from Irzanach''s power.

    Their powerless state disgruntled Saehtyn and Lucifer too much to acknowledge this desire.

    "Enticing, but as of now, your offer is a simple pipedream. It might sound alluring to the ears, but it isn''t straightforward to actualize. I estimate there''s less than a one percent chance of you aplishing your ims," Belphegor responded while shaking his head.

    At the same time, the fervent light in his eyes lost some vigor. Clearly, he didn''t believe in Apollo''s ability to support his words. Even if the individual beside him felt like a threat, Belphegor didn''t forget that there were three more such individuals by Irzanach''s side.

    The odds were just too slim in his eyes.

    "It''s useful for me to try and persuade you with mere words, just wait patiently for the future to unravel. I promise the events will mystify you. In the meantime, you should find a way to resolve that issue," Apollo said with a chuckle.

    Afterward, he nced towards Fuhrer, who shook his head.

    "I advise against it. I should tell you now that thend of the devourers isn''t a ce that possesses gratitude. While iparable to the sphemousnd of the envious, it''s not beneficial to go out your way," Fuhrermented.

    Apollo nodded after hearing Fuhrer''sment. Apollo pushed the thought to help Belphegor resolve the injury to the back of his mind. On top of being unsure about whether he could even help, Apollo felt it was useless if it didn''t yield any favors.

    However, this cryptic conversation drew Belphegor''s curiosity and slight infuriation.

    "What do you mean this sphemousnd? Are you ashamed of your brethren?!" Belphegor shouted with widened eyes.

    "Brethren?" Fuhrer parroted with an amused expression. After a short pause, he continued, "You all are far too young to be called my brethren. Many of my brethren have fallen while protecting this race. What you are is a sorry excuse for what we could be."

    A tinge of disappointment appeared in Fuhrer''s eyes as he continued, "A Noblesse, yet your Aura is undetermined. At the very least, you could''ve extracted the Aura of Oblivion from the power given to you, but even that is asking too much."

    Once Belphegor heard Fuhrer mention the Aura of Oblivion, all of his anger disappeared and was reced by shock. "You¡­ you''re familiar with the Aura of Oblivion?"

    While not entirely familiar with this matter, Belphegor recalled a mention of this on the tablet he received his power from. However, there was no description to reveal the process of learning it. So, just the fact Fuhrer mentioned it caused him to feel some hope.

    Unfortunately, Fuhrer''s answer led to even more questions.

    "The purest devourers are meant to visit oblivion. So, until you visit that point, you''ll nevere to know its aura," Fuhrer answered.

    "Argh! That''s no help, dammit! That''s precisely what the tablet said! But I don''t even understand how to visit this so-called oblivion," Belphegor snarled while smashing his fist against the handrest.

    The throne trembled, but Fuhrer remained unaffected by the outburst. He expected as much since Estran was never one to spoonfeed those he chose to lead. Even in the past, most under Estran''s tutge experienced frequent episodes of frustration due to the inability to grasp the essence of his enigmatic words.

    However, that''s how Astraval taught both of them. They were forced toprehend any technique or question on their own after watching Astraval demonstrate it once.

    "Then perhaps you should take the time to understand what happens when you use your power. Stop mindlessly devouring power and start tracking the events that take ce during that time," Fuhrer said while clicking his tongue in annoyance.

    "Who would have thought that a moderately strong demon would be a worse student than Typhir," Fuhrer groaned while shaking his head.

    Suddenly, Apollo waved his hand and interrupted the two. "Does the influence of the All-seeing Nautilus stretch this far?"

    Belphegor was silent for a moment but ultimately nodded. Just as Apollo''s suspected, the All-seeing Nautilus wasn''t an organization limited to Ashiraem. Its information was far too intricate to be limited to Ashiraem.

    In fact, Apollo started to question what that tavern within Ashiraem was.

    ''Surely that''s isn''t the headquarters. Perhaps it''s just the headquarter for that section of information? If so, where would the main headquarter be?'' Apollo wondered. A mere Archdemon running the entirework was too nonsensical.

    With the extent of the All-seeing Nautilus''s information-gathering capabilities, it''d require a number of powerful demons to support the collection. After all, well guarded couldn''t be extracted unless a powerful individual was involved.

    Otherwise, a weak demon would just crumble while facing those who guarded the secrets.

    "May I have the location of their base in this Ring?" Apollo asked.

    In response, Belphegor''s eyes narrowed. Typically, the Nautilus was only employed or contacted when matters of great secrecy ensued. Thus, Belphegor was skeptical. Just what could these mysterious demons want with this Ring?

    Nevertheless, Belphegor answered. "You''ll find a run-down shack in the middle of the city. However, I''ll warn you now, the staff in that ce are...unusual."

    "Understood."

 Chapter 469 - The Trios Arrival

    ----

    Inside Suprenis¡­

    A split opened up at the base of Suprenis''s Tower, allowing a cluster of demons inside the area. Since the tower''s staff ced a fee on this unique link usage, there was no need to be charged a second time. After all, both sides received an equal share of the material fee attached to the portal''s usage.

    "Dammit, why are you two with me?!" Vc grumbled. As soon as he stepped forth through the portal, Vc was irritated by the presence of Typhir and Sapphyr. To him, they felt like parents watching over a naughty child, although he promised to be good.

    The fact that Apollo didn''t trust his words hurt Vc''s feelings. But, he expressed in the only way he knew how¨Dby throwing a tantrum. Sadly for him, neither Typhir nor Sapphyr was affected by his childish disy.

    Typhir simply nced at him for a moment before scoffing, "Maybe if you show you''re trustworthy, the Lord wouldn''t feel as if you require a babysitter."

    "Exactly. Actions speak louder than words. And by your actions, your words are fabrications," Sapphyr agreed. With both of them hounding him, Vc was unable to retort. He could only stare with widened eyes filled with indignation as he shifted his gaze between the two rapidly.

    "T-this is unfair! I won''t have this! You two are ganging up on, and I''ll tell the Lord about it! Hah, I bet he''ll show some sympathy after I tell him how torturous you two are!" Vc scowled.

    However, both Typhir and Sapphyr looked at each other with amused smirks.

    "Are we thinking of the same Lord? The one that pummeled you into the ground and almost imed your life? Sure, let''s report how torturous our behavior is," Typhir chuckled.

    Vc sputtered in response after recalling the events of that day. Gradually, his face started to pale. If he were honest, the pain he felt that day remained in his top three most painful experiences.

    "Dammit! I don''t have to take this abuse! We came here for a reason, so let''s get to it!" Vc snarled while storming off. Since they were at the heart of Suprenis, the journey was essentially nonexistent. Granted, there were quite a few tasks on their schedule.

    While trailing Amduscias remained at the top of their list, other essential tasks remained on their list. Besides, they weren''t in a rush to find Amduscias because the system''s ability to transmit the location of the hidden pieces continuously was transferred to them for the time being since Apollo gave them this mission.

    As a result, there was no hurry to track down this individual''s movements.

    The two shrugged in response to Vc''s. They allowed him to spearhead their actions since this was, in fact, his operation. They were only here as additional support in the event of an emergency.

    So, while Vc walked ahead, Sapphyr suddenly tapped Typhir''s shoulder.

    "Hm?" Typhir muttered.

    "I''ll be the one to be second inmand," Sapphyr stated. Though her tone was light, there was resolve within her words. Even if she wasn''t chosen to be the Lord''s empress, she wished to be held in high regards, such as the Grand Commander of the household''s illustrious army.

    After sensing the me in her eyes, Typhir didn''t turn her down. Instead, he revealed a genuine smile. "I look forward to thepetition. However, you should remember that there are two sides to every coin."

    "Two sides...to every coin?" Sapphyr muttered with a puzzled expression. She didn''t understand what he meant, but it was clear that Typhir didn''t intend to reveal the meaning behind his words based on his appearance.

    "Enough of that. Do you suppose we should visit this stronghold before moving on to the other matters?" Typhir asked. While it wouldn''t be his or Vc''s first visit to this particr stronghold, it was Sapphyr''s first visit.

    However, Typhir recalled Apollo''s warning. There was a chance that there was an obscenely strong demon on the premises. Therefore, Apollo advised them to tread with caution.

    Fortunately, Apollo could sense imminent danger to his followers no matter how far the distance that separated them. So if this trio were to face terror beyond their capabilities, Apollo would undoubtedly remove them from the citation.

    While it was unknown if Apollo could summon himself to his follower''s location, he could easily perform an immediate summons. Compared to before, when the system was only Level 3, Apollo''s summoning speed was tens of times faster.

    In most cases, the current dy in summoning was nonexistent.

    Thus, Typhir wasn''t wary of perishing. Besides, he was interested in how much more powerful Tirasha became. ording to Xonnomor, she would have undoubtedly evolved by the time they arrived.

    Even if Vc wasn''t her match anymore, Typhir was curious to try his hand. After all, the increases from his bloodline were noughing matter. At the very least, Typhir felt he was much stronger than Vc in that state. However, it had yet to be confirmed.

    After all, Vc still possessed his second transformation, which was a unique ability granted to the original members of the household. That rivaled the abilities of a Perfected Bloodline awakened to a high degree.

    Suddenly, Vc stopped at turned around. "Oi! Why are you two so far behind?! Are you ashamed to be seen with me? Or¡­" Vc''s expression became mischievous. "Could you two be bonding and thinking of naughty things~? Ooooh! I''m telling-!!

    Vc''s eyes widened as soon as he witnessed a sharp arc of extremely dark energy hurtling towards him. Out of instinct, he unfurled his wings and pped them, narrowly dodging the attack.

    "Crazy woman! Are you trying to kill me?!" Vc shrieked while holding his chest. Unsurprisingly, the issuer of the attack was Sapphyr, who was clearly incensed by Vc''s earlier words.

    "Choose your words carefully. May I remind you that the Lord permitted us to punish you?" Sapphyr said in a frigid tone, causing Vc''s frightened frown to deepen. The more he looked at her, the more he understood that this individual was not one to be trifled with.

    ''Tch¡­ so crazy! That attack was dangerous!'' Vc thought to himself while shaking his head. Though Apollo did indeed give them the okay, Vc didn''t expect to experience so much danger from a single attack.

    Perhaps their strengthening was more extensive than he gave them credit for.

    "Fine¡­ fine! Just no moreughing psychopathic attacks! I''d like to live to see tomorrow''s beauty, thank you very much. I believe I have a lot to live for," Vc said while continuously nodding his head in a pompous manner.

    However, both of them paid him no mind. On the contrary, Typhir walked past Vc with a stern expression, "We''re going to visit Tirasha''s stronghold first."

    "W-what? Wait... what?! Why there first? Didn''t you hear the Lord? There''s a chance her father is still there! I just said that I have a lot to live for," Vc shouted.

    As a result, many nearby demons turned towards him with disdainful expressions. Though the atmosphere of the Nihilistic Rings was usually hectic, the nearby demons felt he was causing a needless raucous since it seemed to be one led by fear.

    In the Ring of the Dauntless, they found this trait uneptable and detestable.

    However, as shameless as Vc was, he didn''t acknowledge their disdain the slightest. Instead, his expression seemed as if he wanted to egg them on. Sadly, Typhir''s deadpan gaze extinguished all thoughts of causing mayhem.

    "Okay, okay! You win! We''ll go to that damned ce. But if we get thrashed, that''s on you, and I take ZERO ownership in the matter," Vc eximed while throwing his hands up.

    Afterward, he changed the direction of his steps and did aplete one-eighty. His initial n was to locate the Nautilus if possible and gather in-depth information on any characters of interest.

    Amduscias and the other pieces weren''t the only individuals inside Suprenis that were of interest to Vc. While highly tricky to locate, Vc was ted by the idea of locating so of his earlier aplices. Unfortunately, without the Nautilus''s extensive information-gathering array, it was impossible to identify them.

    ''Such a drama queen. Shut up and grow some backbone," Typhir grunted. In the next moment, he disappeared into a vanishing shadow as he utilized his Baleful Steps that drew inspiration from his Tenebrous Sword practice.

    As a result, a shadow of Fuhrer''s famed movement peered through his actions, which caught Vc off-guard. ''Err¡­ there''s no way that he''s advancing this fast, is there?''

 Chapter 470 - Billowing Resentment

    ----

    Because most of the demons in the Dominus Household were focused on increasing their Sin Purity while inside the storage area of the ancient ruins, Vc wasn''t privy to howrge of a power increase Typhir received after deepening the connection with his bloodline.

    Not to mention, besides all the followers created through the system''s assistance, Typhir was the only one whose stats didn''t get revealed. Or rather, Apollo didn''t check them after the system''s authority increased to Level 6.

    Compared to the others, Typhir''s stats were on a level that betrayed his current evolution stage, which was further exaggerated by his new weapon, Armageddon.

    ¡¸Name: Typhir Estrada [Follower]

    Race: Greater Demon (77.66%)

    Title: Tenebrous Sword''s Sessor,

    Bloodline: Infernal Rampager (Aura of Destruction)

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 155,000 units

    Sin Volume: 27,500 units

    -----

    Strength: 3,945.0

    Agility: 3,666.0

    Intelligence: 2,950.0

    Vitality: 3,100.0

    Perception: 3,500.0

    ----

    Ira: Primary [Hellfire]

    Superbia: Primary [Fearless Spirit] ¡¹

    Aside from Apollo and Fuhrer''s nonsensical stats, Typhir was one of the only demons toe close to the baseline of an Archdemon''s stats while still possessing ample room for growth. Typically, in the current age, a Greater Demon''s attributes should cap at around 2,800 stats. However, Typhir''s strength easily eclipsed that norm. Even his weakness stat, Intelligence, surpassed the avable cap for his current evolution.

    Hence, the reason Vc was so shocked by the disy of power and understanding from Typhir''s effortless usage of his rudimentary technique. At the very least, the method shouldn''t be usable until he was an Archdemon.

    Though both powers were avable to Typhir as a Greater Demon, the act of merging techniques was typically a matter employed by Archdemons since it required a solid mental strength to keep the fusion constant.

    Only once an individual perfected the fusion could mental strength be removed from the equation. Unfortunately, reaching such a state required years of practice and tens of thousands of Intelligence.

    After all, Intelligence and Strength fused to create Fortitude, a hidden stat that doubled as both a physical and mental attribute. The higher a demon''s Fortitude, the harder it was to receive extensive damage that weakened theirbat power.

    On the mental front, the higher one''s Fortitude, the slower the consumption of the mental strength. Furthermore, the meager amount could be stretched beyond its standard limit when in danger of being over-consumed.

    Though it was hidden, based on the amount of pain Apollo''s demons endured, their Fortitude should all be rtively high. If not, absorbing the copious amount of Ira inside the ancient ruin would have taken a much longer time.

    Suddenly, Typhir stopped in his tracks while narrowing his eyes. He turned towards the right and continued to intensify his gaze. At first, he didn''t detect anything amiss, but as his vision stretched into the distance, he noticed a grim look staring back at him.

    Instinctively, Typhir ced his hand on Armageddon''s hilt. The chances of someone presenting that type of gaze and having no foul intentions were slim. Therefore, Typhir prepared himself for battle.

    Meanwhile, Vc shivered. "W-we''re being watched!"

    "Oh really? I couldn''t tell," Typhir scoffed. Part of his annoyance originated from how Vc continued to state the obvious, but the other was the fact that Vc was so odd. Despite being a demon possessing the Sin of Superbia, Vc was spineless. Unless angered, Vc approached every situation with fear these days.

    Compared to their first meeting, Typhir felt something had changed. Perhaps Vc''s courage came from the fact that he was initially stronger than the others. But, now that everyone experienced growth at a rapid rate, he felt vulnerable. As a result, his original mischievousness was reced by fear.

    Additionally, Typhir noticed something else after monitoring the hostile gaze for some time. ''Is it me¡­ or does this gaze seem awkward?''

    To test out his spections, Typhir moved to the side while creating space between him and Sapphyr. However, while he traveled on the same x-axis as Sapphyr, he left Vc behind to conduct some tests.

    After a while, Typhir was able to confirm his suspicions. The gaze wasn''t focused on their party. It was directed exclusively at Vc, indicating this individual should be familiar with Vc. Or, at the very least, there was some bad blood between the two parties.

    "I guess this person is here for you," Typhir said with a faint smirk. ording to their orders, they didn''t need to render aid unless the situation was dangerous and if Vc wasn''t to me for the conflict. However, Apollo never addressed matters rted to past events that Vc''s involved himself in.

    Technically, even if it was in the past, since Vc was the one to me, these two didn''t need to help out immediately. So, Typhir gradually removed his hand from his weapon and stepped aside to see how the situation would progress.

    A momentter, a rhythmic tapping entered their ears as the individual grew close. However, the singr tap sound evolved into a cluster of footsteps that caught everyone by surprise.

    ''There''s no way he''s generated enmity with so many people, right?'' Sapphyr wondered. Based on the number of footsteps she sensed, at least fifteen people were advancing towards them.

    Regrettably, these two underestimated the chaos that Vc caused in the past for the Ring of Suprenis. It wasn''t just individuals that were after him; even the administrative staff, such as the official guards of the tower, were after him.

    Fortunately for Vc, many within the Ring were unaware of his true childish form, aside from a select few. His middle-aged facade was only employed to cement his image of strength. After all, who would take an individual that looked like a child seriously?

    Not too long after, an organized collection of demon aligned themselves in rows before the three. Afterward, the ranks split open to reveal a demonic beauty with purplish-red hair and soft armor clinging to her curves.

    Her cold violet eyes gazed at Vc with scorn. Clearly, these two knew each other. But, both Typhir and Sapphyr showed some surprise as they revisited the image in their mind. Apollo didn''t send them to Suprenis blindly; he imnted a model of the target in their mind.

    So, the appearance of this female caused a slight reaction. Needless to say, the neer was one of the reasons foring to this ce. It was the princess of the Royal Faction, Tirasha.

    "I knew it was you that I sensed. Do you know how long it has taken me to restore order to the stronghold after suffering from your chaotic order? And you have the gall toe back to this Ring?!" Tirasha seethed.

    The spear attached to her back vibrated as a faint ripple of Superbia emanated from her body. Just as Apollo warned, Tirasha hadpleted her evolution. Based on the force of her Sin, she was a bonafide Archdemon!

    Not to mention a sufficiently strong one since she was assisted by one of the strongest demons in the Council.

    "Woah! Hey! Hey! Calm down! I gave it back, didn''t I? How about we let bygones be bygones? No reason to cause any damage, right?" Vc said with a wry chuckle. After sensing the spear on her back, Vc desiredbat even less.

    If he wasn''t mistaken, the weapon on her back was only slightly weaker than the weapon in Typhir''s possession. Although he received an iplete Armament as well, Vc didn''t have any time to practice with it, whereas it seemed the weapon given to Tirasha was special.

    However, that was to be expected since Xonnomor promised to give her a unique present as congrattions for evolving. It wouldn''t be considered extraordinary if the weapon he gave his little sister was generic.

    "Bygones? I''m sorry, but we''re a little too far past that point. Or, did you forget what you did what you first came to the stronghold?" Tirasha said. Her voice grew overwhelmingly icy towards the end. Evidently, Vc must have done something unforgivable for her to harbor this kind of resentment.

    "Oh,e on! It wasn''t even that back. All I did was forcibly steal your position and lock you and anyone else who revolted inside the abandoned underground cer," Vc responded.

    Sadly, it seemed that this wasn''t the matter she was speaking of since her gaze grew even more enraged. Her hand even more towards the spear on her back slowly.

    "Oi! I''m sorry. I apologize. I shouldn''t have broken your limbs and left you all down there unattended for three months!" Vc screeched.

    Hearing this, both Sapphyr and Typhir looked at Vc. Their eyes seemed to agree on the matter.

    "You deserve what you get. A takeover is fine, but that''s just disturbing to leave some down there for so long and in a helpless state is just¡­ absurd," Sapphyr muttered. She then turned towards Tirasha and gave a faint nod.

    "We''re here on the orders of Apollo, but you also have permission to return the torture you faced as a show of our willingness to associate with you," Typhir said.

    Tirasha froze for a moment as she recalled the individual that fought Vc and ultimately freed them from his bizarre leadership. However, she couldn''t believe that Apollo managed to mature his influence to this extent in under two years.

    ''He has even more Greater Demons under his authority already? Then how strong has he be?'' Tirasha wondered. Simultaneously, she removed the spear from her back, which caused it to ze with a purplish-gold me.

    "I don''t care about torturing. I just believe we deserve the long-awaited rematch where there are no ambushes, don''t you think?"

    "Errr¡­" Vc grimaced while his eyes darted about. Unfortunately, arge hand grabbed his wing before he could protest and threw him towards Tirasha.

    "By all means, have all the officialbat you''d like."

 Chapter 471 - Tirasha Vs. Valac (I)

    ----

    Whereas Vc prepared to voice hisints, Tirasha dashed towards Vc''s hurtling body while tightening her grip on her spear. Since Typhir had given his okay, her wrath wouldn''t dissipate unless she unleashed copious amounts of pain upon Vc.

    As a result, Vc''s pupils constricted the size of needles as he narrowly dodged a lethal pierce from Tirasha''s spear. Though the attack didn''t make contact with his body, Vc could sense the appalling power behind her blow.

    Based on what he sensed, he wasn''t sure if he could withstand suffering an extensive array of those attacks. While it was nothingpared to the attack Apollo revealed during his first dual transformation, it was still an attack fueled by a genuine Archdemon''s essence.

    Therefore, it wasn''t something Vc could take lightly. Still, after sensing her attack, Vc was even more reluctant to fight.

    "Tirasha, spare me, please! We can just talk our problems through!" Vc eximed. Unfortunately, his words did not affect Tirasha''s decision. Or rather, they posed an adverse effect because Tirasha''s expression became more severe after listening to Vc''s pleas.

    "Do you deserve mercy? What about those who stood in the same position, yet you ignored them? It would be best if you learned to suffer the same punishment you dispensed," Tirasha scoffed.

    In the next moment, a golden light zed, and Tirasha disappeared sight, leaving a trail of golden wisps behind. Because of how fast she was, it was difficult for Vc to track her movements.

    ''What the hell? Just evolving once has made her so strong? What type of movement technique is this?!'' Vc wondered as he kicked his foot against the ground, intending to separate himself from Tirasha.

    Regrettably, a chill on the back of his neck caused Vc to pause abruptly¨Dan action that essentially saved his life. A scar opened up in space just centimeters away from the back of his neck as Tirasha''s stunning figure materialized from within a cluster of golden mes.

    It was easy to see she was displeased by the discontented scowl on her face. ''Those rodent-like senses continue to save his life at the most desperate moments. He should''ve been tracking the Deception ze, yet he responded to my weapon.''

    However, Tirasha didn''t know that after suffering from Apollo''s punishments and entering the Adamantine Servitude, Vc received a minuscule portion of Apollo''s perception.

    While it didn''t help in most cases, the particr portion he received was limited to extreme conditions such as imminent death. Since his original Sin and power revolved around creating chaos, the system''s greatest priority for Vc was ensuring his safety.

    But, the sensation wasn''t asplete as Tirasha thought it was. While it did protect Vc, it required almost all of his focus to sense it. So if he were too enamored inbat, he would fail to notice the faint warning.

    "Tch, the more I see you, the more I detest how lucky you are," Tirasha spat. Afterward, she lunged forward, stabbing her spear relentlessly. At first, her stabs took ce at a manageable rate, but after the first few, Vc noticed the gradual eleration of her attacks.

    Simultaneously, her horns glimmered with a ckened light.

    ''Am I seeing things? Or is this woman growing faster?'' Vc muttered in shock. The amount of time he witnessed a demon''s horns react to their power usage didn''t number more than ten.

    Because that usually meant a demon was burning through either Sin or Anima to empower themselves without using a stigmata. However, doing so came with huge drawbacks.

    The change in one''s horns meant their physique was emitting a substantial amount of power to keep their body from breaking. However, from what Vc saw, there was something unusual about how Tirasha''s horns were glowing.

    Meanwhile, Sapphyr and Typhir looked at each other with simr expressions. Both of them were making subconsciousparisons to Tirasha.

    "Do you think you could take her without suffering extensive damage?" Typhir asked while rubbing his chin in thought. Though it was difficult topare her to the reanimated corpse inside the ruins, Typhir felt Tirasha was more or less a match for it.

    However,pared to back then, Sapphyr had made some advances in her strength. While defeating the corpse effortlessly was still out of the question for Sapphyr, it shouldn''t require nearly one hundred percent of her resources and techniques.

    "Errr, maybe? I still feel like she''s hiding more methods. There''s no way that she''s an Archdemon yet doesn''t use any special demonic techniques. If they''re strong, then she may be able to defeat me," Sapphyr admitted.

    But, from Typhir''s reaction, it was clear that he thought otherwise.

    "Don''t forget that you have a special bloodline and a wide variety of Sin choices. If you y your advantages, then the ying field should be pretty much equal," Typhirmented.

    After listening to his exnation, Sapphyr''s expression changed slightly. "Then¡­ do you think you can be her?"

    "Undoubtedly," Typhir answered without pause. It wasn''t overconfidence but rather the truth. There were only two factors Typhir needed to cinch victory¨Dspeed and power. And, once his bloodline activated, he possessed both of these factors in an abundance.

    Therefore, unless Tirasha could find a way to match Typhir''s power and speed miraculously, her chances of winning against Typhir were slim to none. Not to mention, the inclusion of Typhir''s void techniques turned him into an even more colossal monster.

    In response to Typhir''s answer, Sapphyr frowned slightly. ''I guess remaining by the Lord''s side had given him the right to this confidence. But, I promise I''m not that far behind.''

    Suddenly, Typhir raised his hand, "Shh, it''s getting good. It appears she still has more to reveal, as you said."

    Gradually, the armor covering Tirasha''s body filled with a deep golden as the horns on her head connected. While the appearance resembled a crown, it was too small to be considered a full-fledged crown.

    Still, horns in the form of a crown were an indication of a demon bing a Noblesse. However, Vc was certain that Tirasha was exceptionally far from touching the boundary of that state. So the current situation didn''t make any sense to him.

    ''What is going on? This was almost impossible even during ancient times. There''s no way she could have skipped an entire stage, right?'' Vc inwardly thought. Despite the impossibility of that happening, Vc prepared himself by creating extra distance.

    Once he was far enough, he took up a stance that braced his spear against his arm and back with the tip pointed in Tirasha''s direction.

    "Before you came to this stronghold, you were unaware of my identity. The first thing you should''ve done was collect information on the background of this ce instead of acting on a whim," Tirasha said all of a sudden.

    Immediately after, the armor covering her body underwent a change. Just as a demon''s body possessed a stigmata, the engravings on her armors shifted about until it took on a shape eerily simr to a stigmata.

    This came as a surprise to both Vc and the other two watching as well. Even Apollo had never performed something like this, so this was a first for all those present. Fortunately, Tirasha was feeling generous as she revealed the secret behind her actions.

    "You see¡­ the Royal Council wasn''t created from seemingly nowhere. Just as there were the seven Lords, there was an eightth creation. We know of them as the first Head of the Council but our family knows of them as the vessel," Tirasha said.

    In addition to separating his power into seven parts, before falling into his powerless slumber, Estran split his power once more. However, unlike the rest, it wasn''t the power of Sin; instead, it was pureprehension¡ªa vessel with an unmatched affinity forbining capabilities.

    However, what happened if that vessel was broken down and stored as fragments. A forger could use it to give items the potential to learn methods that were exclusively avable to demons.

    One such fragment was infused into the armor Tirasha wore, which was a treasured item passed down in the family. As a result of the infusion, this particr item could emte the presence of a stigmata without conflicting with a demon''s initial stigmata as long as they were of the same Sin.

    This was why Vc felt as if Tirasha''s pressure resembled a Noblesse. The superimposition of two stigmata generated a massive increase in her pressure.

    As soon as this appeared, Tirasha released a stunning smile while stabbing her spear into the air. "You will be repaid."

    BOOOM!

 Chapter 472 - Tirasha Vs. Valac (II)

    ----

    Arge explosion took ce seconds after Tirasha stabbed her spear. Vc couldn''t dodge the strike and was rendered immobile when he felt the sharp aura of her attack pass by her cheek.

    All hearing in his right ear vanished as his ear that was once there disappeared. When Vc turned to the side and tapped the right side of his face, he felt the warm texture of blood seeping down his face while watching the scene of utter destruction on the ground beside him.

    ''W-what?!'' Vc thought to himself. Tirasha''s spear strike burrowed through the once sturdy ground while appearing as if it was cut using a precision item.

    Its perfectly circr shape and extremely smooth texture like Vc appalled.

    ''Would I even survive if that was aimed at my body? This isn''t the work of her power alone¡­ it''s that damn armor assisting her. Was she recently given this crap,'' Vc grumbled internally.

    Meanwhile, Tirasha appeared disgruntled. Only iming Vc''s ear was not her intention. She wanted him to pay dearly, but the overwhelming recoil from her attack was beyond her expectation.

    As a result, her attack veered off its intended path. However, the irritation vanished almost instantly as her aura spiked once again, indicating another usage of that attack.

    "I won''t miss this time," Tirasha said in a cold tone. She paused for a moment before continuing, "It''s funny how the tides turn. It was you who was unreasonable at first, but now you''re powerless and even worthless in the eyes of others."

    Listening to Tirasha''s words, Vc started to tremble. The whole reason behind his chaotic behavior was to attract attention, which in turn gave him a sense of worth. Therefore, Tirasha mentioning him being worthless struck a nerve in his heart that not many could tickle.

    "I-I am not worthless," Vc muttered as his eyes trembled frantically.

    However, Tirasha disagreed with him. "Yes, yes you are. You''re as worthless as theye because you know nothing about loyalty or decency. At least the savage demons have their nonexistent intelligence to me, but you, on the other hand, don''t. You squander your intelligence!"

    Again, Vc started to tremble even more. This time, he went back to the words Apollo shared with him right before giving this task to him. ''I am not the weakest link¡­ and I have strengths to offer! I do!''

    Meanwhile, as Vc''s mind went haywire, Tirasha''s power continued to surge until its presence became tangible. There was a mix of golden and greyish-ck colors present that didn''t attempt to blend as one. While their signatures were agreeable, controlling this armor was beyond Tirasha at the moment.

    If she tried to, Tirasha would expend a substantial amount of her mental strength. If that happened, how could she enjoy this long-awaited revenge?

    All of a sudden, Typhir turned towards Vc after inspecting his bodynguage closely. "Hmm? Vc''s in a precarious state."

    "Yeah. I remember seeing this before. Wasn''t it right before he gave in to the Lord?" Sapphyrmented. However, Typhir felt this presence was different. It didn''t appear as if Vc wanted to give in.

    On the contrary, Typhir felt a wave of hidden anger rising. But, he didn''t mention it just yet because he wasn''t sure what woulde of it. He wanted to understand what use this reaction had.

    Could it mark a new beginning for Vc? Or, would it just symbolize his reverting to his old methods?

    In the meantime, Tirasha finished preparing her attack and pointed it towards Vc once more. "I can''t kill you because that would be stepping upon Apollo''s toes. But I can very much return the same pain and embarrassment you gave me!"

    Zweeeeee!

    Tirasha''s spear emitted a shrill cry as he stabbed it forward. Unlike herst strike, she adjusted her angle while ounting for the monstrous recoil. As a result, a focused beam hurtled towards Vc''s chest without remorse.

    Yet, Vc presented zero reaction towards the iing strike. Thisck of response nearly caused Typhir to move as he ced his hand on Armageddon''s hilt, but a sudden change caused his hand to freeze.

    Because he returned to Suprenis, Vc was currently in his middle-aged form. But, his body started to condense out of nowhere while remaining suspended in mid-air.

    Gradually, Vc lifted his head, allowing a pair of fiery azure-colored eyes to appear in ce of his previous amethyst eyes. At the same time, his soft-feathered wings were reced by a hardened metallic texture, which possessed azure veins that carried violent mes towards the tip of his wings.

    Lastly, two azure-colored ws appeared around his hands as he raised his right one.

    Bang!

    Tirasha''s attack met Vc''s w the moment he raised it. Initially, the collision forced him back, even mming his feet into the ground while sliding endlessly. However, despite being pushed back so far, Vc''s savage eyes remained locked on Tirasha.

    Vc had activated his Second Transformation in a fit of anger, butpared to the one used against Apollo, the current appearance of his second form originated from ancient times.

    In short, this was his genuine transformation. Unfortunately, using this power came with an issue. The madness that apanied this form was too overwhelming for Vc''s current stage, which was why he abandoned it once before.

    It was the influence of this form that caused his heinous actions in the past. So, the reappearance of this form made Tirasha tremble subconsciously. Although she was much stronger than before, her fear of this transformation prevented her immediate reaction.

    Thus, it was difficult to bury her reaction in a short amount of time.

    Meanwhile, Vc''s momentum gradually slowed as a cracking sound echoed from the beam in his palm. "You see me as weak, but I see my actions as safe. I know what I''ve done in the past, and it is terrible. I have tried to take other routes, but it seems the past is something we can''t escape."

    Crrck!

    Finally, Vc clenched his hand, shattering the beam altogether.

    "But, if you can beat me, I will apologize thoroughly for all that I have done. I serve a Lord, and their opinion of me isn''t great. So, I''d like to change that."

    Though his words were genuine, Tirasha remained skeptical. After all, Vc was an individual with a reputation that preceded him. He was seen as a troublemaking trickster throughout Suprenis.

    Still, Tirasha was willing to hear him out, seeing as he had yet to advance towards her despite shattering her attack.

    "Is that a promise? Could you finally be stepping away from your distasteful ways?"

    "Perhaps," Vc nodded.

    "If that is true, then I ept," Tirasha answered.

    As soon as she agreed, Vc vanished from his position. A wave of heat assaulted Tirasha''s cheek, causing her to swipe her spear upward. As a result, the echo from shing metal rang out.

    However, a violent spiral of azure-colored mes coated Vc''s spear, inciting Tirasha to retreat and collect herself. Unfortunately, while Vc agreed to an upfront battle, that didn''t mean he would allow her time to recollect herself.

    Vc advanced the moment she retreated, revealing a shocking spear-wielding style that shocked even Typhir and Sapphyr.

    ''I suppose this is the true skill of the ancient demons,'' Typhir thought to himself. Every pierce, lunge, and sh performed by Vcpounded into a flurry of attack with difficult-to-read angles.

    At the same time, an intense stream of Sin was weaved into every simple attack, turning a simple pierce into an attack reminiscent of technique. Tapping into their ancient pool of methods was an ability only granted to them now that Apollo epted his identity.

    Aztraval didn''t just inflict this limitation upon just Apollo. The members of the Dominus Household could only draw out their full power when a genuine member of the bloodline held the seat of the ruler.

    Now that the condition was filled, the ancient demons could enter their Second Transformation as long as they fulfilled all of the criteria. Fortunately, this was only avable to those who epted Apollo.

    If a demon such as Asteroth were to have ess to their Second Transformation, then Apollo wouldn''t be able to go against him with his current strength.

    In the meantime, Vc kept up the pressure yet didn''t invoke any of the techniques in his possession. From what he saw, Tirasha''s spearmanship revolved around simplistic strikes taken to the extreme.

    So, Vc wanted to respond in kind, because he was rated within the top ten of the entire ancient Dominus army when it came to the spear.

 Chapter 473 - Tirasha Vs. Valac (III)

    ----

    Despite Vc''s sudden revtion of shocking spearmanship, Tirasha''s superior strength and speed allowed her to counteract most of Vc''s advancements. As a result, her initial fear of Vc''s current form dissipated greatly.

    However, one thing that left her shocked was Vc''s stamina. Even though he unleashes upwards of a thousand strikes, he showed zero signs of fatigue. Since all of his attacks consisted ofpound movements, not consuming a substantial amount of energy was impossible.

    Thus, Tirasha could only question what she saw.

    ''Is this really the stamina of a Greater Demon? Something is wrong here. I couldn''t even do half of what he''s doing at that level. To me, he seems like an Archdemon who has spent decades mastering their art of the spear,'' Tirasha thought.

    Theirst caused a faint numbness in her right arm, but she wasn''t willing to concede just yet. Even if it wasn''t apparent right now, Tirasha was sure that an opening in Vc''s attack would surface. Once that happened, all she needed was one strike to turn the tides.

    Meanwhile, Vc continued to roll his shoulder while ncing at his spear. Although it looked like he possessed the upper hand in this fight, his body was rapidly umting fatigue that he did his best to suppress.

    Unfortunately, the sudden explosive movement was too much for his body to handle. Even activating his stigmata didn''t absorb enough of the insane momentum. Thus, the joints in his shoulder, elbows, and fingers felt as if they were on the verge of tearing.

    ''I truly need to evolve again¡­ but this damn seal is so annoying,'' Vc thought. Unlike the rest, 95% of all Sin and Anima he absorbed was sapped by the seal ced on his body. So, whereas the others advanced at a steady pace, Vc''s progress moved at a snail''s pace.

    However, this slow progress allowed him the needed time to refine his mechanical skill, such as spearmanship and extracting every ounce of effect from his attributes. This was also why despite having a lower evolution stage than the others, he was still able to be one of the higher-ranked members of the Dominus Household.

    Nevertheless, Vc estimated he had no more than fifty moves left before his arm was entirely out ofmission based on how much paid was umting in his spear-wielding arm. But, he wasn''t sure if this was enough to emerge victoriously.

    After all, Tirasha managed to withstand hundreds of blows and had yet to fall. In fact, the golden armor surrounding her body was extremely stable.

    ''Who made this item? Its weak points are difficult to determine, almost as if they''re constantly moving,'' Vc thought. Initially, Vc focused on the weak spots in the fight, intending to end the battle as soon as possible.

    However, after experiencing a few strikes in a certain area, the weak spot on the armor shifted. In a sense, Vc felt the armor was partially alive. If not, how could an item possibly change its weak spot?

    "This armor protecting you is quite the item. You should probably give it to me," Vc chuckled. However, a mischievous gleam circted in his eyes as he gazed at the armor. Though his armor was nearly identical in worth, it didn''t possess this unique ability.

    "As if. This is a treasured heirloom of the royal faction. Only those who wish to seed the head seat are worthy of wearing this item," Tirasha scoffed. Afterward, both her hands tightened around the shaft of her spear, causing a golden spark to flicker at its tipping.

    It gradually becamerger until the entire spearhead was covered in a raging golden me. ording to the vibrant fluctuations, Vc could sense that Tirasha was growing impatient.

    "Are you trying to end this now?" Vc questioned.

    "I believe so. This fight has gone on long enough. It''s time to decide a clear winner once and for all," Tirasha responded. Besides her waning reserves, there was another reason Tirasha was another reason she wished to end the battle soon.

    While her grey hair hid it well, there was a ck bruise on her neck spreading at an rming rate. A sign that the armor was drawing far too much Anima and Sin Energy from her body at a rapid rate. Not to mention, all of the excess resources were sent back into her body.

    The sh of the two opposing flows of energy produced a raging tide in her body. Although it wasn''t dangerous if it went on for a few moments, it would undoubtedly lead to extensive damage once prolonged.

    "Fine by me," Vc nodded.

    Suddenly, a savage look appeared on Vc''s face as all the muscles in his body tensed, causing a surge of turbulent dark air to surface around him. A momentter, faint azure sparks crackled around his body as two wicked shadows appeared to his left and right.

    ''Hmm? Is this Baleful Step or something else?'' Typhir wondered. After all, the appearance was too simr to the Triple Mirage that Apollo used. But, there were also slight differences because the two shadows didn''t have a form as of yet.

    Immediately after appearing, the shadows shifted to Vc''s back, taking on the form of a colossal shadowy figure. However, even Typhir felt a slight bit of fear while witnessing this unknown shadow.

    Evidently, Vc''s actions went beyond a simple technique. Since they agreed to settle for onest attack, he condensed everything he had into a single strike, resulting in a manifestation of something disastrous.

    Shockingly, Tirasha didn''t present much of a reaction as a fearless expression crept upon her face. In the next moment, a golden storm was kicked up around her body as the golden sparks condensed into a rigid orb that emitted an unusually sharp aura.

    A turbulent atmosphere formed as a result of both sides putting everything they had on the line. In fact, anyone who neared the battle vacated the premises because of the horrifying emissions of energy.

    Just advancing too close to the battle put their safety in jeopardy. So, while witnessing the battle was entertaining, it was too dangerous for anyone weaker than an Archdemon.

    Although Tirasha was the first to gather her energy for thest strike, Vc was the first to move. It was unknown if his gathering speed was faster than Tirasha, but he was the first to release his strike.

    The manifestation behind his back surged into the spear, turning all of Vc''s momentum into a shadowy spear. However, amidst his shocking rush, he coughed up a glob of coagted ck blood.

    ''Damn it¡­ not now! Just three seconds longer,'' Vc snarled internally. Because he was pushing his body to his limits, the seal ced upon his body activated, which caused an adverse reaction to his internals. The unsightly blood was the result of him resisting the seal''s suppression.

    In the meantime, Tirasha''s expression grew calm as she watched the iing spear attack. Although the image evoked a cluster of fear in the pit of her stomach, the golden orb cut through the emotion, allowing her to keep a sound mind.

    Tirasha remained in ce for a few breaths longer, waiting until Vc advanced at least one hundred meters. Once that happened, Tirasha reigned in all of her aura and took a step forward.

    Everything around her turned quiet before being submerged by a sh of golden light. In the next moment, Tirasha elerated a speed that caused both Sapphyr and Typhir''s eyes to widen.

    Aside from a streak of energy, they couldn''t even sense her body!

    ''What a dangerous attack! Exploding one''s energy to experience a spontaneous increase to one''s eleration? If Vc gets hit by that, there''s no telling the oue. Her attack is just as fearsome as his,'' Sapphyr thought.

    She extended her wings in preparation for the collision, but Typhir lifted his arm and shook his head. "I''ll protect you."

    At first, Sapphyr was taken aback by his im, but she ultimately nodded because she was curious about Typhir''s method to ovee the aftershock.

    Finally, the collision between Tirasha and Vc took ce. As expected, the initial crash resulted in a standstill. Tirasha''s golden smashed against the Vc''s dark spear.

    However, cracks started spreading throughout the golden orb. The sight made Vc grin triumphantly. "I guess this is my win!"

    Even the others felt it was the case because Vc''s aura seemed to swallow Tirasha. But, the focused look didn''t disappear from Tirasha''s face. A slight grin even entuated it!

    "Is that what you believe? Have you forgotten your greatest tactic in the past? Deceive your opponent by appearing weak yet emerging stronger!"

    Crrrrrrrck!

    Suddenly, the shattering orb brokepletely, turning into a cloud of golden mist. But, it consolidated into a beam in the next moment and tore through Vc''s strike in one go. A clean hole shone through his attack as Vc stared at Tirasha nkly.

    All he saw was a sh of golden light, and in the next moment, his attack was eviscerated. However, while a trickster, if he made a deal, he abided by it. Therefore, Vc bowed and looked down, "It appears it''s your win. Allow me to apologize for your misdeeds."

    "Rather than your words, I prefer repayment through your actions. I''ll only ept your apology after you''ve proven that you''re a changed demon," Tirasha said.

    Surprisingly, Vc agreed. Not only was his answer because of her win, but it was also because of her actions during thest strike. Tirasha changed the trajectory of her attack after breaking his attack.

    Otherwise, her attack was more than strong enough to pierce his body directly.. In other words, Tirasha chose to be merciful with his life.

 Chapter 474 - Alluring Offer

    ----

    Although the fight ended, Typhir was left in shock after digesting what he had just seen. Both sides delivered a strike that rivaled a power near his own. On top of that, the amount of destruction caused by their actions was simply absurd.

    The mutted ground entuated the gaping hole left by Tirasha''s golden pierce that Vc''s manifestation created. All in all, the aftermath of the battle made it seem as if two peak-level Archdemons fought to their death.

    Instead of fear, Typhir felt an indescribable joy. After all, Fuhrer had once exined that the deteriorating condition of the demons would only put them in more danger. Thus, the slightest sign of the race''s power threshold rising was enough to delight Typhir.

    Not to mention, this also meant more worthwhile enemies could appear, resulting in rapid growth for himself.

    Suddenly, Typhir approached the two weary demons and looked back and forth before crossing his arms. "Have you let all the wrath out of your hearts?"

    "Eh heh¡­ I was never angry. Take that up with her," Vc said while dusting himself off. While he was grateful that he was still alive, his inherent behavior wasn''t something that could change in a matter of seconds. It was a gradual task.

    However, theck of explosion was already a good indication of his willingness to change. Apollo''s presence and the disappointment that he usually sensed from Apollo incited this desire to change.

    Perhaps his position as a mere president wouldn''t remain for much longer. Once he evolved, Vc''s power would be more than enough to escape that trivial ranking. Perhaps even the title of a Demonic Earl wasn''t too far-fetched.

    While Vc picked himself up, the golden luster of Tirasha''s armor faded as she experienced a bout of powerlessness. Fortunately, the ck bruise inching up her neck started receding the moment she stopped funneling energy into the armor.

    Still, her condition wasn''t optimal for movement, so she rested against one of the fragmented buildings while catching her breath. At the same time, she looked towards Typhir with a faint nod.

    "I''m content. However, do forgive me for prying, but why are you here? Also, I don''t sense Apollo anywhere nearby. What brings you here?" Tirasha questioned.

    However, instead of answering immediately, Typhir held out his hand towards Tirasha. "You should worry about recovering before wondering about our reasons for being here. Though, I can tell that you''re one of the reasons we''vee here. I''d like to talk with you."

    Tirasha looked at Typhir curiously after listening to his words. ''I''m one of the reasons they''re here? I don''t think I''m of much use in the current situation.''

    "Could this have something to do with the Council? If so, I''m sorry to tell you that I can''t assist you," Tirasha said. The first thought on her mind was that Apollo and the others wished for an audience with the Council''s members.

    However, seeing as the entrance to the headquarters was already sealed, that was impossible. Therefore, Tirasha felt guilty that their visit to Suprenis was uneventful. At least, that''s was her thought on the matter.

    Despite admitting that she was of no help, Typhir experienced no change in expression. In fact, he showed a faint smile while pulling her up.

    "On the contrary, we''re not the slightest bit interested in the Council. We have our tasks with a much greater purpose. My question to you is, do you wish to hear about it?" Typhir responded.

    For a moment, Tirasha was stunned. She looked at Typhir wordlessly while attempting to get a read on him. ''What purpose could I serve if they''re not interested in the Council? Sure my potential is exceptional, but there''s several demons with even better potential.''

    Eventually, Tirasha couldn''t bottle her curiosity, causing her to fish for more information.

    "If not the Council, then why do you need me?"

    "Well, for one, your brother has already joined us, so it''s only right that we extend an invite to you as well. Secondly, the Lord has taken a liking to you. So rather than be forceful, he was confident that your reasoning was sound," Typhir admitted.

    Hearing that her brother joined these two came as a shock because, unlike her, Xonnomor was much more robust and possessed a different personality. Although he devoted most of his time to forging, he was loyal to the Council because of his bond with his grandfather.

    Therefore, Tirasha had a hard time processing what Typhir had just told her. "X-Xonnomor joined you guys? Are you sure?"

    In addition to her shock, Tirasha also felt a sliver of fear budding inside of her. She wondered if Apollo''s strength could rival a full-fledged Archdemon. If so, then he was truly terrifying and a force to be reckoned with.

    Despite evolving, Tirasha was certain that Xonnomor was nearly twice as strong as she was. However, whileparing her power, she recalled another individual that she overlooked.

    ''That old man¡­ I could never understand his power. So perhaps there''s something unusual about him? Perhaps he''s the reason behind my brother joining them?''

    Suddenly, Typhir''s voice sounded, pulling her from her pensive condition.

    "That weapon in your hands; if you join us, there''s a much better one in store for you in the future. Also, I can tell you the story behind your brother joining us if that''s what you''d like," Typhir offered.

    Eventually, Tirasha agreed. Learning more about Apollo''s strength would enable her to make an educated decision. Because she didn''t believe Apollo was amassing power for his benefit, she could tell there was a deeper reason when he came to fetch Vc.

    There were a bunch of demons on the premises, yet Apollo chose only two. The rest were cast aside as if they were unworthy. Obviously, Apollo decided to choose the best soldiers avable.

    Before delving into the story, Tirasha invited the trio back to the stronghold''s territory. While she wasn''t afraid of danger within the Ring, one shouldn''t address overly sensitive topics outside safe areas.

    If one wasn''t careful, hinting at their wealth could invite catastrophe to their doorstep. One thing a demon craved was power. No matter the Sin, there was always lust for more power. It was the carnal desire from which demons were born from.

    Not too long after, Typhir, Vc, Sapphyr, and Tirasha settled inside a room. Whereas Vc sat to the side, cradling the wounds on his torso, Typhir and Sapphyr sat next to each other before Tirasha.

    "So, how did you do it?" Tirasha asked immediately.

    "In truth, it initially happened by force. Yes, we expected a fight, but we didn''t expect to find out the deeper ties. After learning of them, Apollo changed his original ns," Sapphyr said, interjecting just before Typhir could answer.

    She allowed Typhir to take the lead until now, but now that they were in closed doors, Sapphyr felt it was better to have this talk woman to woman. After all, they could sympathize with each other much better than Typhir could.

    "So¡­ my brother was hurt then?" Tirasha muttered with a deepening frown. Despite her displeasure there was no change to her aura. On top of herck of power at the moment, Sapphyr''sst statement hinted that Xonnomor was just fine.

    "Not necessarily. Someone else was wounded. For the most part, your brother was given a new purpose. His understanding of ancient material advances by leaps and bound as he continues to fiddle with pristine items. If you join us, I''m sure we can find something suited to you as well," Sapphyr offered.

    At the same time, a sparse pinkish energy emanated from her body. Not even two seconds after sensing this aura, Typhir created room between him and Sapphyr. Although her Sin had minimal effect on him because of his role, the Sin of Luxuria was ufortable to be around.

    Meanwhile, Tirasha trembled as a feeling of dizziness overcame her. However, it was only for a brief moment before returning to normal. While Luxuria was effective as long as the user had enough charm, it usually produced the best effects on the opposite sex.

    Still, the momentarypse caused by the sudden dizziness was enough for Sapphyr to nt the seed that would grow into a favorable fruit.

    "W-what was that?" Tirasha muttered while shaking her head to dispel the faint grogginess inflicting her mind.

    "A glimpse of what you could be if you join us. Apollo is the reason for my current situation. And he can be the reason for you as well. In short, Apollo seeks to save the demons," Sapphyr said.

    Afterward, she blew on Tirasha, causing a haze to appear before Tirasha. Her eyes went nk as she experienced the sensation of power that Sapphyr felt. As a result, a tinge of desire appeared within Tirasha''s gaze.

    Once that appeared, Sapphyr inhaled the desire.

    However, before answering, Tirasha posed a question. "What¡­ does he wish to save the demons from?"

    "From the curse of weakening. Apollo seeks to restore the glory of the demons. And, there''s a seat at the table for you. You can be a pir of unholy greatness," Sapphyr answered as an alluring smile crept across her face.

    As a result, Tirasha fell into deeper thought.

 Chapter 475 - Truth About Conquering

    ----

    ''Could it be as this woman said, or is she just promoting an idea that is nearly impossible to grasp ahold of? Sure, I felt something unique from Apollo, but what proof do they have that their words are authentic?'' Tirasha thought to herself.

    However, it soon dawned upon her that aside from Vc, she didn''t know anything about these two people before her. Despite Typhir''s presence during Apollo''s first visit, he never gave an introduction.

    Therefore, before making a drastic choice, Tirasha turned towards these two. "How can I join you and ce my trust if I have no idea who you are? Introduce yourselves; let''s at least lighten the atmosphere."

    Taking her suggestion into consideration, Typhir nodded. "That''s easy to do. Though I''m sure you know my name, I''m Typhir Estrada, Lord Apollo''s second inmand."

    "Ah?! Who said you''re the second inmand? That hasn''t been made official yet! For all you know, it could be me that ends up as the second inmand. In fact, I believe it has a greater chance of happening," Sapphyr retorted while shaking her head repeatedly.

    While both of them sought the position, neither of them realized that Apollo sent them on this task for a reason. In short, their bickering was needless, but they didn''t understand that just yet. Before they could realize that, it appeared they''d have to settle their differences first.

    "Unlikely. We share a bond only found between brothers. Therefore, it''ll be me to take the role of his second inmand. I was willing to die for our Lord, can you say the same," Typhir said with a proud smirk.

    Though the pain of dying was something he didn''t wish to forget, he didn''t forget how Apollo''s view of him changed due to this action. From a rash brute to a loyal brother, Typhir felt the change was worth it.

    Meanwhile, Vc lifted his head between the two and shook his head, "Brothers are nice, but they can''t keep your bloodline going. So, you both have a fair chance unless a childes into the picture, bwahaha."

    "It still isn''t the same. The child would be the heir, not the second inmand. The ipleteness of your brain truly baffles me. Do you ever think before you speak?" Typhir questioned with a disappointed expression.

    For a moment, Vc was wordless, but he jumped to his feet. "Oi! Oi! You wanna say that again? We can go right now!"

    "Oh?" Typhir muttered with an intrigued expression. He didn''t stand, but he ced his right hand on Armageddon and flung it towards Vc. An oppressive and savage aura appeared around the de in flight, growing more fearsome as it neared Vc''s body.

    Eventually, Vc''s eyes widened after sensing the power within the seemingly ordinary throw. While it wasn''tparable to Tirasha''s strike, Typhir''s effortless movements generated at least sixty percent of the force she used, making Vc question how high the strength Typhir concealed was.

    ''No way¡­ has his strength already stepped into the threshold of an Archdemon?'' Vc wondered. However, since he started this scuffle, he didn''t wish to back down. He withdrew his spear and pierced towards the center of Armageddon''s edge.

    As a result, a small shockwave urred following their collision, but Vc didn''t budge from where he stood. Nearly all of the muscles strained as he pushed against the sword.

    Fortunately, whereas he was a body that could continuously unleash his power, the throw was a single movement done without the assistance of mental strength. So, aside from the initial burst of momentum, the sword''s vibrant force petered out quickly.

    Still, Typhir aplished what he intended to do. Extending his hand, he recalled Armageddon while shaking his head, "You''re not quite my match despite your expertise with the spear. On top of strength, I also understand the sword because of Fuhrer."

    Afterward, Typhir turned towards Tirasha. "This disy is a portion of what following Apollo''smand could reward you, but don''t take my word for it. There''s her as well."

    Typhir pointed at Sapphyr towards the end of his sentence, who stood up slowly and released a dense cloud of darkness. Although it was iparable to the realm of darkness Apollo employed against Tanath, it still left Tirasha in awe.

    The dense darkness blocked everyst one of her senses, even reducing her perception to less than one-tenth of what it truly was. She couldn''t sense Sapphyr or Typhir despite sitting 3 meters away from him. These continuous disys of their power made Tirasha question how strong they would be once they evolved into Archdemons.

    "And your name?" Tirasha asked.

    "Sapphyr. Just, Sapphyr. I''ve abandoned who I was once before, so there is no other name attached, Sapphyr answered, which caused Tirasha to look at her differently.

    "Are you saying you weren''t always a demon? In other words, you''re one of the turned ones?" Tirasha muttered in shock.

    "Yes, why?"

    There was a shred of skepticism in Sapphyr''s voice as she asked this because of Tirasha''s expression. Clearly, learning that Sapphyr wasn''t born as a demon came as a shock. Because, Tirasha couldn''t wrap her mind around the current situation.

    "Well, you see¡­ How should I say this? Demons who are turned into demonster in life usually present signs of being turned. However, you don''t possess any of the signs. To me, it seems as if you''re as authentic as theye," Tirasha answered truthfully.

    In most cases, a turned demon would take ample time to locate the Sin that best agreed with them. Then, they''d need to spend even more time just learning to channel it at the basic level, which is the reason why most turned demons began as a Lesser Demon of the lowest level.

    But, the system expunged all of Apollo''s followers and reced their bodies with a genuine Demon Body. So, instead of being turned, it was more fitting to say that all of Apollo''s followers were reborn and given an optimal starting point.

    Of course, hearing this came as a surprise to Sapphyr, but not Typhir. This was a subject he and Fuhrer visited once during training. Fuhrer frequently mentioned how lucky they were to serve someone of Apollo''s bloodline.

    As the single most unique blood of the demon lineage, even calling it treasured was an understatement.

    "Well, if you follow Apollo, perhaps you can experience the effects of the enticing unknown. I can vouch as well; I was once a human," Typhir said.

    Suddenly, Tirasha''s eyes widened, "HUMAN!? Did you just say you were a human?! As in the race that we send our underlings to conquer?!"

    "I suppose so? I didn''t know that the demons send their underlings to conquers?" Typhir said with a bit of shock in his tone. Though Apollo mentioned that they would start their adventure by conquering, he thought it was limited to the Demons.

    However, based on Tirasha''s words, it seemed that Apollo had other ventures in mind as well. Even though it came as a surprise, Typhir didn''t think much of it since he looked forward to venturing to areas unknown.

    "Yes, but it''s more so the household and strongholds that do the conquering¡ªoperating on the resources of the demons aren''t enough. We have to absorb power from outside sources to continue to reign supreme over the lesser individuals," Tirasha admitted.

    After learning of this, both Typhir and Sapphyr grew silent. Eventually, Sapphyr asked the gnawing question. "Why is that?"

    "Unfortunately, I don''t know. Even with my background, I''m unable to learn the reason why. It seems to be a tightly guarded secret of the higher-ups of the Council," Tirasha said with a defeated sigh.

    Simr to Xonnomor, she wished to have the answer to questions but couldn''t receive them. Fortunately, they were in luck. After all, Vc wasn''t in the same situation as the rest. He was a genuine ancient demon. So, there were matters he knew about that the others didn''t.

    "It''s not a secret. They just don''t understand why they need to do it. But, it because of the state of a demon''s power," Vc revealed

    Sadly, his answered was too vague for anyone to understand. It stillcked the important bits to settle their minds.

    "What about it?" Tirasha asked. "If you truly want your image to be changed, you can start here. Start by telling us what you know. The truth is something that can empower us all."

    "That''s just it. We have to do it to empower ourselves. Take a look at our power and our home. Do you know the other name home this ce?"

    "The realm of the demons?" Sapphyr muttered. But, Vc merely shook his head in response.

    "Well, our home will beplete once all of the rings ovep and return to their original position. The Corrupt Neb, the gathering ce, also known as Hell itself, will rise once again," Vc answered.

    Contrary to what he expected, the three just looked at him with a mystified expression.

    "Sheesh! I''m trying to tell you that we conquer to fuel the Rings. Their absorption isn''t strong enough to fuel every demon alive without creating new pools of Sin to suck dry."

    "So what you''re saying is¡­"

    "The =Primal Sources of Sin fuel us, and we help fuel the primal sources.. As long as Sin remains in this world, our power is inexhaustible. This is the reason we create chaos!"

 Chapter 476 - Lightning Killer

    ----

    The room was pin-drop silent following Vc''s shocking revtion. Although every demon understood that their likeliness to cause chaos was linked to something beyond their control, never would they believe that their actions were double-sided.

    In addition to upkeeping their actions to sustain their strength, they were supporting their world as well. So, a substantial reason for the demon''s current deterioration was due to theirck of conquering.

    After all, invading other worlds became far more difficult after the relocation. Not to mention, Fuhrer''s barrier made teleporting beyond the Ring harder as well. Unless an abnormally pure Sin sustained the technique, there was a chance of the invasion portal being off.

    Though floating around aimlessly in the neb wasn''t dangerous for higher-level demons, the same couldn''t be said for Lesser Demons, Greater Demons, and even some of the earlier demons because the neb consisted of various types of energies.

    Just as there was Sin, there was Virtue Energy, Mandate Energy, Arcane Energy, and much more. Resisting the corrosion of these other energies required a strong Demon Body. In most cases, an Archdemon''s mature Demon Body wasn''t enough unless it reached thest stages.

    At that point, their Sin Vessel should be mature enough to counteract the various opposing energies found in the neb. Only then did the Council allow stronghold and even the sparse households to dispatch their forces to other worlds.

    Unfortunately,pared to the siege team that could once effortlessly fell worlds, the Council was lucky if they could amass a joint group of ten thousand demons to y worlds. While they could create arge amount of Sin Energy, it wasn''t enough to fuel the current Rings.

    Hence, its current decline.

    "Are you telling me that¡­ our home depends on us just as we depend on our world? If so, why hasn''t my father told me about this? I''m sure it''d serve as a decent motivator," Tirasha answered in response.

    However, Vc just chuckled at her naivete. "You think exposing this to the current demons would change anything? They aren''t even aware of the standard that Ipare them to. Releasing this information would only cause every demon to turn on each other."

    "How so?! I don''t think that''s the case. There''s definitely a number of demons who love their home and would hate to see it disappear!" Tirasha argued. Despite the inherent actions of the demons, Tirasha had faith in a few.

    After all, most of the demons from her stronghold were originally an unruly bunch. However, after countless hours of drilling order into their mind, Tirasha managed to change their outlook and cleanse all of the corruptive behavior Vc exposed them to.

    "I don''t doubt what you say," Vc said while shaking his head. He paused for a moment before continuing, "I just doubt that the number is enough to be of any worth. At least, not without some extra assistance."

    "In other words¡­ you believe we should ce our faith in Apollo," Tirashamented with aplex expression. It wasn''t anger or frustration that she felt, but rather shock. She couldn''t understand how Apollo fostered such deep devotion from these three.

    Despite sitting here for less than 10 minutes, Tirasha listened to these three individuals vouch for Apollo countless times. Though she understood that it was typical in a conversation of coercion to repeat the offer, she understood the look in everyone''s eyes was genuine.

    They truly believed that Apollo was the answer to all their issues. And truthfully speaking, the belief was rubbing off on her as she continued to switch her gaze between the three. Just then, Vc spoke up with a faint smile.

    "You''d want to ce your faith in him if you knew who he was. Unfortunately, I can''t reveal that without the Lord appearing in person. We want to avoid any security issues, even if the Council is inactive and unreachable."

    "What¡­ does that mean?" Tirasha questioned while looking at the others. Unfortunately, she could tell that none of them would answer the question based on their questions.

    Perhaps if the Council revealed more to her, then she''d be able to guess what their words were rted to. Still, outside of demons familiar with the sensation of a household''s creation, no one knew that another household had appeared or instead reappeared.

    On the other hand, Tirasha didn''t intend to ask her father about it because she was tired of receiving dodgy non-answers. She preferred to find out the truth herself, even if it involved taking unknown risks.

    "Fine. I''ll take this one risk and side with Apollo. So, what happens now?" Tirasha asked.

    However, instead of receiving an answer, the others smiled. At first, it was unsettling, but then Vc stood before Tirasha.

    "Next¡­ you meet the Lord because while we can get you on the same page as us, we aren''t the one who can give you the same identity as us. That requires the Lord''s personal touch," Vc said.

    As a result of his words, Tirasha''s confusion grew. "I-If you can''t let me join now, then what''s the purpose of you visiting me? Wasn''t this whole conservation useless?"

    "Nope, not unless at all. It very much has a purpose. It saved you from any forceful means that would have needed to be employed. I''d hate for anyone to suffer the same fate as Arleo. Because just like him, you''re a fresh Archdemon," Sapphyr interjected, which caused Tirasha''s jaw to drop.

    ''Arleo? Wasn''t that one of brother''s vicemanders? Are they saying that something happened involving Arleo''s evolution? There''s no way. He''s an Archdemon of dual Sins and should be quite difficult to damage! Should I be worried?'' Tirasha wondered.

    Eventually, her worries were unable to be kept back. However, she didn''t get a chance to voice her question before Typhir interjected, answering her concerns before she could ask.

    "The answer is yes. Something happened to Arleo. As a result, he is now a Greater Demon instead of an Archdemon. However, in my opinion, he''s lucky to be alive. I feel that im on my Lord''s life to be intolerable."

    Tirasha''s eyes constricted after hearing this. However, another question arose in her mind. Besides her worry for Arleo''s safety, she couldn''t help her curiosity about another matter. "Was it¡­ Apollo who delivered the punishment?"

    "Correct," Typhir nodded. "None of us would so bold as to rob our Lord of the pleasure of inflicting punishment personally."

    Again, Tirasha fell silent as her fear towards Apollo''s progression deepened. ''Strong enough to punish an Archdemon alone? While I''d like to think that it was rted to equipment, Arleo''s gear was quite strong as well. Meaning¡­ Apollo should be able to handle Archdemons quite easily.''

    Finally, Vc cleared his throat while waving his hand. "Aside from this, wee because of another matter. As a person of the Council, you should possess a special connection with the All-seeing Nautilus, right?"

    "What about it? Don''t you have a contact inside the Nautilus as well? Or¡­ did you do something to burn that bridge long ago," Tirasha said with a faint smirk that caused Vc to choke. He had indeedmitted a backstabbing deed that caused his connection at the Nautilus to be burned.

    In fact, he didn''t even want to show his face seeing as his actions caused one of their prime information gatherers to be killed. Even now, he was sure that his name was still on their Most Wanted List. However, after years of going unfulfilled, the attention surrounding it was bound to diminish.

    Be that as it may, Vc still wasn''t sure if his sudden appearance would reignite that buried passion.

    "Listen, that''s besides the point! Just answer yes, or no?"

    Before answering, Tirasha gave Vc a nasty re. "Tch, how couldn''t you extract an answer from my earlier response. What business do you have with the Nautilus anyway?"

    "Information. We need some information on Amduscias amongst a few other things.

    "Sorry, did you just say Amduscias? As is the same Amduscias that is famed in this Ring as the Lightning Killer?" Tirasha blinked.

    "Hoh, hoh, hoh?! The pretty boy has gotten quite famous, I see! That''s him, alright. So why exactly is he famous?" Vc said while rubbing his chin. During ancient times, Amduscias was one of the strongest Noblesse on the team because of his oddbination of powers.

    In addition to his high affinity with Superbia, he possessed the shocking ability to control dark lightning. Not only was it strong, but it was unmatched in speed and piercing ability.

    Therefore, he switched between two special weapons¨Da spear and a rapier.

    "Well, did you not hear his name? He''s known as the Lightning Killer. Not only are all of his kills lightning quick, but he uses this horrifying lightning. He''s a hired hand for all that can afford him."

    "And, how strong is he?" Vc questioned with even more intrigue. While they could determine the piece''s position and their general difficulty by the dot''s intensity, the system didn''t reveal much about how much power was at their disposal.

    "Err, that''s unknown. It isn''t easy to gather information on him. Even the Nautilus fails because anyone who pries is left with a warning char," Tirasha said in a grim tone.

    In response, Vc could only sigh while shaking his head.. ''The Lord is really up for some fun with this one.''

 Chapter 477 - Extreme Narcissist

    ----

    Whereas Vc showed a shocked expression, Typhir seemed unaffected by Tirasha''s warning. After all, he felt that his Lord should be rtively confident if he tasked them with surveilling Amduscias'' actions and learning of his connection.

    Then again, he also wasn''t as intimately aware of Amduscias'' power as Vc was. So once he noticed Typhir''sck of worry, Vc looked at him in shock. "OH?! I didn''t know you had such vim and vigor! Did you know that Amduscias is slightly stronger than Asteroth?"

    "And?" Typhir questioned with an odd expression while watching Vc''s hrious behavior.

    "And, we''ll be the ones who have to follow him! Do you not understand what I''m hinting at? Try to remember what Asteroth did to the tower wall, dammit. I cherish my life," Vc eximed.

    However, Typhir shook his head in response. "The Lord''s orders are at least three times more valuable than your life. Besides, are you that scared of Amduscias? Didn''t you call him a pretty boy?"

    "Tuh," Vc scoffed in response before narrowing his eyes. "That pretty face hides savage behavior befitting of his powers. I''m not surprised that they''ve dubbed him the Lightning Killer. It sounds just about right for that fellow.

    "Oh really? Is that the case? Then shouldn''t the terrible duo experience a warming reunion?" Typhir said yfully. Still, the mere thought of reuniting with Amduscias caused Vc to shiver.

    ''Damn this curse! I''d be no weaker than either of them if I could just assimte with the sealed power perfectly. Life is unfair!'' Vc screamed out internally. Meanwhile, he released a reluctant sigh in the real world.

    "Fine, fine. So what are we going to do? Lurk in the shadows while we watch him?" Vc asked while holding his head. Despite his words, he continued to shake his head in reluctance.

    ''Terrible idea. Bad idea. An absolutely horrifying idea. That''s it. I''ll run at first sight of danger! Wait, no¡­ I said I would change. Ugh,'' Vc groaned internally as he presented a troubled appearance.

    "Not at all. From what you told me, snooping around this fellow would only irritate him. So, we''ll approach his residence upfront, I suppose," Typhir shrugged.

    However, contrary to the expected reaction, Vc looked at him, ck-jawed. "You want to do what!?"

    "Oh, I''m with Vc on this one. Knocking on his door is worse than lurking since he takes it as a sign of disrespect. It''s akin to announcing your courage to receive an attack from him. At that point, he''s bound to unleash something terrifying."

    "What the¡­" Typhir blinked winked incredulously. What options were left if they couldn''t lurk to learn more about him and they couldn''t approach him openly? ''Perhaps we should just take the risk of lurking in the off-chance that he''s unable to detect our presence?''

    "That''s what I was telling you before! This is a truly annoying situation. Under normal circumstances, I''d opt for silent surveince, but that''s almost impossible. He''d probably sniff me out in a heartbeat."

    "In other words, he''s extremely familiar with your aura?" Typhir said with an intrigued expression.

    "Precisely."

    "So, then you''ll just stay here with Tirasha while Sapphyr and I visit the premises," Typhir ordered. At first, Vc thought to agree without any hesitation. But he froze just before giving his consent.

    While frozen, he contemted a few things that weighed heavily on his mind. ''I can''t do that. This was a mission given to me by the Lord. These two are only here for assistance. If I allow them to take it on by themselves, then it''s as if I''ve failed to fulfill the Lord''s orders. I''m certain he''ll sense that then I''ll be in trouble. Even if he doesn''t, there''s also the chance that Amduscias tells him after he joins us.''

    Once he realized this, Vc released an exaggerated sigh and shook his head. "I''lle along. We''ll just have to mull through whatever happens, that''s all."

    "Are you sure that''s a reasonable choice? Sapphyr can transform into a nearly undetectable state, whereas I have the Tenebrous Practice on my side. At best, you have the Baleful Steps, but even then, how far does your proficiency stretch?" Typhir retorted.

    In response, Vc fell into deep thought and recalled his recent progress. After a while, he nodded. "It should be fine. I''ve mastered the First Steppletely and only require inspiration to advance with the Second Step."

    A look of surprise appeared on Typhir''s face after listening to Vc. ''I thought Fuhrer''s teachings of the void would give me an advantage, but it seems Vc isn''t far behind in learning this movement technique.''

    While surprised, Typhir didn''t think much else of Vc''s progression. He didn''t feel envy, nor was he threatened by it. In fact, Typhir felt pride towards Vc advancement. ''The stronger we get, the stronger the Lord bes.''

    All of their progress contributed to their singr goal. So, if the weakest link made ample progress, that meant the household was moving forward as a whole.

    "So¡­ do we go now?" Sapphyr asked all of a sudden.

    As a result, Typhir and Vc looked at each other before rubbing their chins pensively. They could easily receive the location from Tirasha and visit the area, but they weren''t sure if they should conduct any other business inside Suprenis before aplishing the main task.

    Because, they had to tread with the possibility of their journey ending early. After all, their preparation was a makeshift precaution filled with uncertainty. What if Amduscias''s sense were acute enough to pierce their concealment techniques?

    It''d render their action useless and turn them into vulnerable targets. In that scenario, they''d have to rely upon Apollo''s help to extricate them from the situation, which is why these three didn''t even think of bringing Tirasha along.

    Since she wasn''t a part of the household, she couldn''t be summoned. In other words, she''d be left powerless and alone if Apollo were to pull them out of the situation suddenly.

    "You know what, I say we just go," Sapphyr decided amidst the silence. Eventually, the other two nodded along. They were only tasked with judging Amduscias''s strength, not to capture him. So, treading with so much caution could also hinder their objective.

    "Fine, but you''ll take the lead with Vc traveling behind us. Perhaps thebined effects of our technique could help conceal Vc''s presence better. If not, then we fight as long as we can I suppose," Typhir shrugged.

    "Agreed," Sapphyr nodded.

    Afterward, Typhir turned towards Tirasha, who revealed the location of Amduscias. However, she also announced that she possessed a blueprint of theyout they intended to visit. Because of a past job, shemissioned the Nautilus to draw up a rough draft of the area.

    Unfortunately, the mission rted to the blueprint was unsessful. Amduscias was just too terrifying. In fact, Tirasha was lucky to have escaped with her life after revealing her identity. Although Amduscias was a savage killer, he was able reasonable.

    Having the entire Council hunting him down was something he couldn''t afford, especially when he learned that there were a few beings inside the Council who imed that particr state between a Noblesse and a Daemos.

    Although he was strong, ording to his understanding of that extraordinary power, he was no match. The others didn''t know it, but his power didn''t recover like the rest. In order for Amduscias to recover spent dark lightning, it required a unique conversion process that supercharged his dark tendencies and pride to produce more dark lightning.

    However, it was a long process that took at least one year toplete. The chances of the Council failing to locate him within a year were slim. Therefore, he wasn''t willing to risk his safety while awaiting the others.

    "Wait, wait, wait¡­ did you just say that he''s inside a shrine-like construct?!" Vc eximed in shock while analyzing the blueprint. Just as Tirasha exined, Amduscias was holed up inside a construct resembling a cross between a temple and a shrine.

    "Correct. But, why does that matter?"

    "Oi¡­ it seems hisplex has deepened," Vc frowned and scratched his head in frustration.

    "Hisplex?" Sapphyr muttered with a confused look. Initially, she thought thisment was rted to the building itself, as if it was built from Amduscias''s energy, but that wasn''t the case.

    "Yes, an aftereffect of his lightning powers is a perverse mutation of his powers. While viewing the Lord as his master, he also views himself as some sort of deity. He vowed before that he would erect a ce of worship for his sole worship," Vc revealed.

    In response, Sapphyr and Typhir looked at each other with baffled expressions. What kind of absurd situation was this?

    "So what you''re saying is that Amduscias is just an extreme narcissist?" Tirasha blinked.

    "HAH! What a gross understatement that only covers the shallow exterior. He draws power from this behavior. So, even if his evolution has fallen¡­ I''m willing to guarantee that his lightning hasn''t. That''s the absolute worst of his abilities!" Vc yelled frantically.

    "Meh, we''ve already decided on our course of action. We''ll just have to deal with it or avoid it. Now, let''s go," Typhirmanded before waving to Tirasha. "If possible, we''ll revisit you. I''d love a small battle."

    "Possibly," Tirasha agreed before silently observing Typhir''s steps. Signs of extensive training showed through his moments. Despite a leisure gait, she found no openings to take advantage of.

    Eventually, Tirasha realized a harsh truth. ''It''d be even more difficult to find an opening in battle. And there''s no indication of how fast he is. But if I remember right, he wielded Hellfire in the past. So, at the very least, he''s like Arleo.. A mix of Ira and Superbia.''

 Chapter 478 - A Unique Situation

    ----

    It wasn''t long after Vc revealed the perverse nature behind Amduscias''s power that the trio decided to set out regardless. However, they had all agreed to monitor the situation thoroughly before making any sudden moves.

    Still, there was quite a distance separating Tirasha''s stronghold and the makeshift shrine-like construct that Amduscias inhabited. Therefore, Vc and the others continued to hash out the details of their ns while advancing through the walkways of Suprenis.

    "So, it''s settled, right? Our top priority is remaining hidden rather than collecting information, right?" Vc muttered while looking at two before him constantly. There was a shred of wariness in mind after learning of Amduscias''s location. In the odd case that his power was even stronger than before, then there was a chance that they''d suffer fatal damage even before Apollo could intervene.

    Hence, Vc made sure to double and even triple-check their intention. Although he sought power and respect as well, throwing his life away was beyond the price he was willing to pay to see that happen.

    "Yes, Vc! How many times are you going to ask the same question? This is the fifth time already," Sapphyr eximed in frustration while ring at Vc. However, he merely threw his hands up in response.

    "Hey! Don''t me me for being thorough! We''re dealing with something extremely dangerous here. It would be best if you appreciated my attention to detail that''ll mostly end up saving our lives," Vc retorted with a scoff.

    After listening to his words, Typhir ced his hand on Sapphyr''s shoulder and shook his head. "Just leave him be. As the one with the most familiarity with Amduscias''s behavior, we should take his preparation as a warning."

    "I understand that, but his excessive behavior is starting to make me love focus! There''s a point where attentiveness turns into fanaticism," Sapphyr responded in which Typhir nodded to as well.

    In this situation, he acted as the mediator that kept the situation in the best state possible, which showed his talent as a leader. Being capable of managing both sides to reduce conflicts was a trait that was either acquired naturally or after years of practicing passive mediation.

    In Typhir''s case, it was a mix of both.

    "Both of you, you''ll jeopardize the mission if your actions continue to grow out of hand. Besides, we''ll be arriving at the point of interest within a few moments. It''s time to raise our guard and on alert," Typhir said while looking into the distance.

    ording to Tirasha''s description, the ground looked to be abandoned, but the building was in superb condition. It looked this way because while Amduscias could care less about the surrounding state, his ce of worship needed to be in the best of conditions.

    Once he saw this, Vc shuddered. "Eugh, it''s just as I assumed. He sees himself as the pivotal point of everything. Despite everything around this ce dying, his area is filled with vitality."

    "Wait," Typhir said all of a sudden before ncing around. There was an unsettling sensation in the atmosphere that caused a slight chill to slide down his back. Because of this sensation, he took extra precautions.

    Typhir bent down and picked up a pebble before narrowing his eyes. ''Is this where the feeling ising from?'' He wondered. The unsettling feeling was most substantialpared to anywhere else, approximately ten meters in front of him.

    After a short pause, Typhir tossed the stone forward and waited for a reaction. Even after crossing five meters, there was nothing. However, once the pebble traveled ten meters, it stopped.

    Motionless, the rock floated in the air. But, it was different in the eyes of Vc, Typhir, and Sapphyr.

    "Well, that''s new. And, Tirasha didn''t mention anything about this," Sapphyr muttered while watching the rock turn to ash at a gradually increasing pace. Soon enough, the damage was apparent to anyone who gazed at the small levitating stone.

    "No, no. It''s to be expected," Vc said with a troubled expression. After all, he was very familiar with what was happening. Even in the past, Amduscias cordoned off his personal quarters with a fence made of dark lightning that was invisible unless provoked.

    Even then, the visibility of the fence after activation was dependent on the force acting upon it. And, because Typhir threw the pebble with barely any strength, it was difficult to sense the arcs of dark lighting currently destroying the rock.

    "It''ll be difficult to advance any further without resolving the issue of this fence. However, we also can''t just brute force it. The stronger the momentum, the fiercer the dark lightning bes," Vc warned, causing both Typhir and Sapphyr''s to change.

    "If that''s the case, why didn''t you bring this up earlier? It''s clear you''re familiar with this," Typhir said while turning towards Vc.

    "It slipped my mind, dammit! You try to remember everything from countless years ago while under pressure and see if you could do it!" Vc snarled in response. However, instead of continuing with the me, Typhir sighed.

    "Tell me what you know about this fence."

    "Well, judging by how thin it is, it''s not being controlled by Amduscias personally. He must have injected a certain amount of dark lightning within a special runestone and built a defensive formation because his lightning possesses a finite limit," Vc said after judging the fence.

    Out of curiosity, Typhir approached the fence with a stoic expression. ''If that''s the case, how strong is this lightning?''

    A momentter, Typhir stuck out his finger, pressing it against the arcs of lightning. At first, he felt nothing, but the sensation grew potent the more he pushed against the arcs of dark lightning.

    At the same time, the thin arc of lightning thickened the moment Typhir introduced his finger. ''So, the amount of dark lightning and the ferocity of it rises in proportion to the intruder. However, I''ll onlyst three seconds if I attempt to walk through.''

    After two seconds of pressing his finger on the fence, an unbearable pain appeared as he watched the skin on his finger being scorched without end, which was odd, seeing as his fire and burn resistance were extremely high as a result of his species.

    Suddenly, Vc tapped his chin with a mischievous smile. "There may be a way, but it will undoubtedly alert Amduscias of our presence. We''ll have to gamble on whether or not he''s in the middle of producing dark lightning. If so, he''d be immobile for the moment."

    "And?"

    "And so, that''ll give up to hide in a position nearby as he tries to track us," Vc eximed with a giddy mischievousness in his eyes.

    "You know, for someone who happens to fear Amduscias, you seem awfully happy about intruding," Typhir said with a skeptical expression.

    "Obviously! Amduscias can''t be interrupted during the conversion process of his lightning. If he is, then he won''t be able to restart the process for three days on the lightning will bacsh against him," Vc eximed while happily pping his hands.

    "That''s perfect and all, but how do we confirm that he''s in the middle of converting dark lighting?!" Sapphyr shouted in return.

    In response, Vc covered his mouth. "Shhh. Besides, this will all depend on you. Don''t you have a special individual in your presence? It''s time you use him. As an Arcana, that thing should be resistant against Amduscias''s lightning. Hasn''t he received the blessing of a powerful Arcana?"

    Intrigued, Typhir turned towards Sapphyr. He had forgotten that Sapphyr was unique because she possessed a Spirit even now. But, the fact that Vc called it an Arcana signified that it was an individual on par with their race.

    With both Vc and Typhir looking at her, Sapphyr released a reluctant sigh. "Fine."

    Afterward, a shadow crept up behind her. Gradually, Xezym''s body appeared, but his appearance came as a shock. His physique resembled a demon''s as his muscr figure appeared through his shadowy cloth armor that emitted endless embers.

    "My Lady? It has been quite some time since you called on me. Do you require my help?" Xezym questioned while bowing before Sapphyr.

    "I didn''t mention this Arcana because well¡­ I''m sure you heard of the situation from our Lord before. Aside from the Dark Primordial, the rtionship of the Demons and Arcana''s aren''t very good. Even if they''re unaware of the history, the Sins themselves feel malice," Vc said.

    "So that''s the reason," Sapphyr muttered while ncing behind at Xezym. "However, I trust Xezym with my life, so there''s no reason for me to abandon. And, I don''t think Apollo would like me to either."

    "I''m aware," Vc nodded. "After all, he''s instrumental in this situation. Arcana, can you enter that fence and tell us if the individual inside is taking part in any unique actions?"

    "Unique actions? Such as?" Xezym questioned while also approaching the fence. Since he could sense that this was Sapphyr''s intention as well, he moved forward without hesitation.

    "They''d be in a trance-like state with a sea of dark lightning surrounding them."

    "Understood," Xezym answered before approaching the dark fence.. At first it appeared that it would stop him, but then some thing shocking took ce that made Vc grin.

 Chapter 479 - Prism Of Dark Lightning

    ----

    Unlike Typhir, whose body failed to bypass or destroy the dark lightning fence, Xezym''s situation was much different. His clothing zed with potent shadowy mes, enabling him to drift past the arcs of dark lightning without suffering any damage.

    Even Sapphyr showed slight surprise as she witnessed this. ''Could Xezym have continued toprehend more of Destrys''s power while sealed up within my mind? If so, his understanding of the expanding darkness should outss mine as well.''

    Though Sapphyr and Xezym were introduced to the same techniques, Xezym was more receptive to Arcanic Arts as a genuine Spirit. Therefore, giving him the slightest bit of time allowed him to understand more of the legacy that Destrys bestowed upon him.

    Afterward, the shadowy embers recollected into his muscr figure hidden by loose-fitting shadowy robes befitting of a master assassin.

    "There''s something odd about this lightning. It''s like a perfect fusion of the elusiveness of darkness yet the danger and sudden power of lightning. Though, if I''m being honest," Xezym said with a faint pause as he touched one of the arcs.

    "There''s something else to it that I can''t describe. Almost as if this lightning teeters on the edge of bing sentient," Xezym muttered before withdrawing his hand. While there were zero signs of Sin being introduced to his body, Xezym could more or less sense the irregr pride emanating from the lightning.

    ''Oh? Can this spirit sense Amduscias'' remnant pride that circtes through the lightning? His senses are more acute than I thought. That usually isn''t sensed until the lightning invades your body and causes indescribable pain,'' Vc thought before turning his gaze towards Xezym.

    "Although your concealment surpasses anyone here, and you''re a Heroic Arcana, I would suggest exercising caution. Now, proceed inside that building and tell us what you find," Vc said.

    In response, Xezym gave a wordless nod before disappearing from where he stood. A cluster of shadowy embers dissipated gradually, which revealed a collection of dark scorches on the ground.

    Once they realized this, everyone looked amongst themselves. After all, those scorch marks were identical to the earlier one. In other words, it wasn''t Xezym''s shadowy mes that caused these marks, but the lightning from the fence.

    "Is¡­ the lightning passing through him without causing any apparent damage? If that''s the case, didn''t he reach an incorporeal state that''s impervious to physical damage?" Typhir questioned in shock.

    However, Sapphyr immediately shook her head, denying Typhir''s assumption.

    "Not at all. Yes, it''s passing through him. But he''s not impervious to damage, and that technique can only be used a finite number of times. I remember ncing past this technique in the legacy gate. It''s known as the Umbra Film, but itsprehension was beyond me."

    In short, the Umbra Film was a technique unique to Dark Spirits that allowed them to make a mirage copy of themselves, but it couldn''t be separated from their body. Instead, the mirage acted as a thin armor that diverted attacks to their intended target without harming the technique''s user.

    In other words, the Umbra Film turned the user into an elusive target. Instead of canceling after receiving a set amount of damage, the Umbra Film could only guard against ten attacks equal to half of the user''s defenses.

    Fortunately, the lightning fence didn''t operate at total capacity because of the second technique Xezym used, Shadow Strafe. Compared to his understanding of this technique in the past, his application was leagues above; its usage wasn''t just limited to his body.

    "I see. But there''s another question on my mind. What do you intend to do if Amduscias is in the middle of channeling his dark lightning?" Typhir asked while ncing in Vc''s direction. Although they were here to collect information, it seemed that interrupting Amduscias'' process came with dire consequences.

    "Mmmn, I''ll just y with him a little," Vc said with a mischievous chuckled. At the same time, he began nodding his head with a devious smirk. ''Hehehe, I hope you''re in the middle of doing so. Then I can give you some payback!''

    Slowly, Sapphyr approached Typhir and whispered into his ear. "Errm, is this okay? Vc''s smile suggests he''s up to something. And, the Lord''s orders were to not render aid if he''s the one to start problems. Does¡­ this also count?"

    "I''m not quite sure," Typhir answered honestly. A momentter, he rubbed his chin in thought. "Thought, it would be quite interesting to see whates of their meeting."

    Sapphyr''s eyes widened after hearing this. "HEY! Not you too! We''re here for a strict reason, not to see Vc make a huge fool of himself."

    "Oh? Isn''t it the household''s job to watch Vc make a fool of himself? He''s the household''s main source of entertainment. I don''t think that will change even if he matures. It''s just a part of who he is," Typhir said while shrugging.

    As a result, Sapphyr sighed in defeat. But, then she thought about another matter while looking at the dark lightning fence''s perimeter.

    "Even if he''s in the process of converting lightning, what will we do about this fence? If any of us other than Xezym tries to bypass it, it''ll just end up inflicting more damage. Besides, I''m uncertain about how much Xezym''sbat strength has increased."

    "Mmm, I doubt he''s a match for a former Demonic Duke. Receiving a title like that isn''t easy. We can easily view him as Asteroth''s counterpart. Speaking of which, I wonder what type of Aura this guy would have," Typhir muttered curiously.

    Conveniently, Vc overheard their conversation and turned towards them with a freakish smile. "If you''re curious, we''ll have you bust open the fence. Isn''t that just satisfactory?"

    In response, Typhir gave a nk look that soon turned into a look of disappointment. "I''m not sure if your brain doesn''t work, but did you not see the properties of that fence? Or, do you just want to see me be a seared demon?"

    "Now that you mention it¡­ I know a perfect sauce to go with that," Vc chuckled yfully. However, Typhir seemed unamused as his expression grew stoic, causing Vc to click his tongue in frustration.

    "You''re not the slightest bit of fun! Anyway, what you tried was to use your body. In the next attempt, let''s shift towards using your Aura of Destruction at a high level to disrupt the fence," Vc suggested.

    For a moment, Typhir was silent. But, as he nced at the gate, he felt foolish for not thinking of this oue himself. Still, he turned towards Vc with a narrowed gaze. However, before he could say anything, an angered voice sounded next to Typhir.

    "Why did you just now suggest this solution? We could''ve done so without sending Xezym within those walls. You have exposed him to needless danger!" Sapphyr seethed.

    Yet, Vc remained calm while shaking his head. "Nope, I haven''t because we can''t use this method without verifying that Amduscias is currently busy. This method produces a lot more mor than you think."

    "Not to mention, using Aura against this causes an unusual reaction that alerts Amduscias. Did you really think that powerful demons weren''t sensitive to other strong demons? Especially your power. Do you understand what I''m insinuating?" Vc said while giving Typhir a particr look.

    After a while, Typhir nodded in understanding. Although Vcpared Amduscias to Asteroth, their rtionship couldn''t be seen as amicable. In fact, there was always conflict when the two met because Asteroth''s rebellious nature couldn''t stomach Amduscias'' narcissistic ways.

    So, if an Aura of Destruction were to bombard his lightning fence, it''d immediately raise red gs that Asteroth was on to him. After all, Asteroth was famed for doing irrational things. Despitecking a source to draw power from in this Ring, Asteroth had once gone on a rampage inside Suprenis and even other Rings.

    "So what you''re saying is that I could be mistaken as Asteroth and cause a heated response?" Typhir questioned.

    "Precisely," Vc nodded. But, he then continued a momentter. "However, we don''t need to worry about his unmanageable reaction if he''s already in a peculiar state. Once that happens, we can even call on our Lord!"

    Finally, both Sapphyr and Typhir''s eyes widened as they understood Vc''s intentions. He intended to obscure Amduscias''s resources before summoning their Lord to possibly overtake him in battle!

    Suddenly, a ripple of darkness fluctuated in the atmosphere as Xezym materialized slowly. His cid expression was challenging to decipher, but Sapphyr gave a faint smile after receiving a message from Xezym.

    "It seems we can move forward," Sapphyr revealed.

    Directly after, Xezym also revealed what he saw. "There''s only a single person inside. It was difficult to get close to see their appearance, but I saw enough to tell you that a prism of mirrors surrounding an individual, which continually reflected golden energy."

    "After a while, that energy should have turned sharp and ck in color, right?" Vc interjected.

    Ultimately, Xezym nodded his head, confirming Vc''s suspicions. Once Xezym confirmed Amduscias'' actions, Vc turned towards Typhir with a giddy expression. "I believe it''s up to you big guy. Let that fence have it!"

 Chapter 480 - Intended Confrontation

    ----

    A low grunt exited from Typhir''s lips as he looked at Vc. Although Xezym confirmed that Amduscias was upied, he felt Vc was far too excited about this matter. Not to mention, it seemed as if he was happy to shove the task onto another individual. Of course, Typhir understood that this was something Vc was prone to doing.

    Still, it was a trait that Typhir felt he needed to fix. Nevertheless, since they had agreed on it beforehand, Typhir stepped before the fence while readying himself. However, the closer he got to the gate, the more response he felt from it, forcing him to think about another matter.

    ''Vc suggested the highest level of my Aura of Destruction, meaning that I''ll have to activate my bloodline powers. The issue with that is¡­.'' Typhir thought to himself while looking around at the sparse yetpletely noticeable foot traffic on the street.

    Revealing a bloodline linked to wrath inside of Suprenis was akin to painting a beacon on himself because it suggested that he was a demon of at least two Sins. Else, he wouldn''t be able to stay in this Ring, let alone activate his bloodline.

    However, Vc seemed to notice Typhir''s afflictions and still waved at him, "Come on,e on. Hurry it up! We don''t know how long he''ll be upied with the conversion. We need to take advantage of this window now. Forget the outsiders."

    "Tch," Typhir replied, clicking his tongue in annoyance. He knew that Vc only urged him to do this because it could deliver entertainment. Be that as it may, Typhir conceded and started to activate his Infernal Rampager Bloodline.

    Though Apollo knew about Typhir''s boost, the numbers were still a mystery to Typhir as he didn''t possess the system. But, he didn''t need them to understand that each time he activated his bloodline, not just his Aura, but the strength he could wield ballooned to a new height.

    But, with so many onlookers, Typhir wasn''t willing to reveal his limits from the jump. Therefore, he started off with the second stage of his bloodline, causing his body to swell to the point that he rivaled a lower-level Titan''s size.

    Once ready, Typhir picked up Armageddon and mmed it against the dark lightning fence without dy. However, his expression changed the moment his sword made contact with the wall. The rampant discharge caused by the strike produced scorch marks everywhere that even appeared on his arm.

    ''It''s this difficult to shatter the dark lightning even with a second degree utilization of the Aura of Destruction? If that''s the case, how strong is the lightning that Amduscias controls personally?'' Typhir wondered.

    Because of his initial failure with one strike, Typhir gradually increased the amount of Aura that seeped from his body and the intensity. Eventually, the dark lightning found it difficult even to reach Typhir''s body, especially once his Aura broke past the threshold of the third degree.

    The lightning revealed signs of disintegrating, which bought Vc boundless joy. However, just as it brought him delight, an adverse situation took ce within the shrine-like building.

    A demon with an alluring face and dark violet hard opened his opaque white eyes that circted with ck sparks and looked towards the doorway. ''Hoh!? Aura of Destruction? Has Asterothe to seek me out after all these years? If so, his timing is rather disgusting. Can''t he see that I''m here? What an insufferable brute.''

    Arcs of dark lightning swam around Amduscias as he contemted on the course of action he should take. However, halfway through his contemtion, his gaze sharpened as he looked in the fence''s direction once again.

    ''Hmm? That was over five minutes? It took over five minutes just for him to shatter that intermediate fence? No, wait a moment, that Aura....'' Amduscias thought while closing his eyes and extending his perception beyond his body.

    Soon enough, he caught a wisp of the residual energy spiraling around the weapon and individual that broke his fence. Once he measured it, a look of disdain appeared on Amduscias'' face. "Tch, that isn''t Asteroth''s Aura. It doesn''t even touch upon the fifth degree. There''s absolutely zero chance of his power regressing that far.

    "Meaning¡­ someone else managed to awaken the Aura of Destruction in this day and age? Though it is still budding, it could be quite troublesome if they''re looking to be my enemy. I should kill them and be done with it," Amduscias decided with a quick nod.

    Afterward, his usual sneer appeared on his face as he listened to the many approaching footsteps.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Vc continued to move forward with caution.

    "It makes no sense to hide our presence, but make sure to move with caution. I''m not sure if he decided to cancel the conversion process, but Amduscias undoubtedly knows we''re here after you shattered his lightning."

    "I already know that. I felt a prying eye the moment I broke that fence. It seems he was monitoring its state much more closely than we assumed. Regardless, it makes no difference to our task. We''re here to collect information," Typhir answered.

    "Sure, sure, collect," Vc nodded while continuously waving his hand, which caused Typhir to re behind him.

    Fortunately for Vc, Sapphyr ced her hand on Typhir''s shoulder and shook her head. One aftereffect of Typhir''s bloodline activation was that he became highly irritable afterward. Thus, it was best to tread carefully and listen to his instruction until he became level-headed once again.

    Sadly, this situation didn''t allow any time to readjust himself, nor was Vc one to listen unconditionally, even more so when it involved a matter of seeking payback. If there was one thing that made Vc act out of character, or rather made him return to his prior ways, it was the thought of receiving euphoric revenge.

    Suddenly, everyone stopped except for Vc, who continued to think about the numerous ways he would torment Amduscias for his current situation. Not only did a sudden pressure cause them to be on edge, but a motionless individual at the end of the passageway bearing a faint smirk unsettled them.

    Finally, after a few moments, Vc also stopped and looked up,ying eyes upon a slender individual dressed in a sharp suit. While it was primarily ck, there were tinges of a blood-red color on the buttons and cuffs of the suit. Yet, despite this attire looking like a suit, something told Typhir someone made it to withstandbat.

    "Look at this crap! You look like someone''s help! Ugh, you just never change! What is this unpleasant taste in attire?" Vc scoffed. However, Amduscias, on the other hand, looked at him with an icy gaze.

    "Is that who I think it is? The one who begged me to teach him the ways of the spear? The one who sulked in myp when the others teased you?" Amduscias said in a teasing tone.

    As a result, the room filled with pin-drop silence as the others behind him looked at Vc with mouths agape. They were truly curious if Amduscias'' ims were legitimate. If so, they were interested to know what happened that caused Vc to hate him so much.

    Meanwhile, a tinge of blush appeared on Vc''s cheek as he snapped his neck towards the others, who looked away while whistling.

    "Oi! Why are we speaking about my newborn days in the household?" Vc snarled.

    "Because I regret ever teaching you. If it weren''t for you cozying up with Asteroth and teaching him the weakness of my spear style, that freak would have never defeated me. So, as far as I know, you''re not wee here; GET OUT!" Amduscias seethed, which caused a sea of dark lightning to crackle around.

    Yet, Vc remained rooted in ce while ring at him. "You seemed to have the information twisted. I gave you both information on each other''s styles. Or, does your narcissistic mind not remember that?"

    There was indeed a time when Vc yed both sides, but the ultimate reason behind his behavior was to obtain enjoyment. At that time, aside from when he caused chaos within the household, he was bored.

    Therefore, he incited chaos at every turn. And, the feud between Asteroth and Amduscias was one of them. Of course, after experiencing some of the ancient memories, Apollo was aware of this feud and the reason behind it, which is why Apollo chose Amduscias as the target and chose Vc as the one to "greet" him.

    Furthermore, Amduscias'' eyes widened at Vc''sment, and there was a solid reason why. "I remember the past well. You indeed traded information, but that wasn''t until he managed to beat me. Yes, you were a top-notch trickster because I didn''t understand how it was possible until Asteroth flew into a rage.

    "Now, I''ll say it once again. GET OUT!" Amduscias roared with a cold gaze.

    Regrettably, Vc shook his head once again, refusing to leave. "Not at all. You can''t make me either."

    "Oh?! Interesting!" Amduscias said with a slight chuckle. A momentter, he flung his arm, causing a colossal spear made of dark lightning to hurtle towards Vc, exploding upon contact.

    Two immense wings with azure mes flowing through the crevices guarded Vc''s body when the smoke cleared.

 Chapter 481 - The Terrifying Amduscias

    ----

    Vc''s substantial figure was revealed once the giant cloud of dust cleared. However, the size of his body shrank rapidly as he red at Amduscias through the small gap in his two wings. Both of his wings presented signs of deep burns, but Vc didn''t acknowledge the pain, merely scoffing as his wings opened with a stormy gust of wind.

    Meanwhile, Typhir and the others were taken aback after watching Vc fend off that violent strike. Compared to the lightning in the gate, the one fired towards Vc was at least three times more violent. Thus, it should''ve produced much more damage than it did.

    The fact that Vc was rtively unscathed left Typhir with some questions. His gaze shifted between Vc and Amduscias before revisiting the moment before the attacknded on Vc''s body.

    ''It was tiniest of windows, but I believe I saw Vc''s azure mes form a thin screen just moments before the dark lightningnded. Does that mean his me can negate some of that damage from Amduscias'' dark lightning? If that''s the case, then perhaps we should see where this leads us,'' Typhir thought to himself before crossing his arms.

    At the same time, he released his grasp of Armageddon, returning it to his back. Although it was for a second, Amduscias'' severely hostile gaze turned towards him when he drew his weapon.

    It didn''t appear like it, but Typhir understood that Amduscias was prepared to unleash another simr strike at any given moment. The only issue was that Typhir''s gathering speed for Sin and Anima failed inparison to how rapidly Amduscias could prepare his attack.

    Based on what Typhir sensed, it would take at least three times longer for him to prepare an attack that could overwhelm the lightning from moments before. Even then, it was grasping at straws because Amduscias unleashed that attack too effortlessly.

    If given the same time, Typhir was confident Amduscias would reveal something mind-blowing, which Typhir wanted to avoid at all costs, at least until he figured out Amduscias''s weakness aside from his overly finite supply of dark lightning.

    "Tch, still a little rat doing anything to resist, I see. I''ve given you a way out in respect of our origin. I''m sure you''ve heard about my reputation. There aren''t many who walk in here and leave in one piece. Yet, all I did was expel you, and you don''t take my kindness? How foolish to disregard my kind," Amduscias said with an annoyed click of his head while continuing to shake his head with more vigor.

    The more he thought about the situation, the more enraged he became, which was revealed by his rapidly changing expressions. Clearly, he was bing impatient after a single attack and telling Vc to leave once.

    However, Vc looked at Amduscias while tightening his grip on his spear. This was an inevitable battle and one he looked forward to, even though he had other more important reasons for taking this fight.

    "What makes you think I''ll listen to you now when I didn''t listen to you then? I''m a being of free will unless it involves my master. And,st I checked, you weren''t my master, nor were you in the situation to heavily damage me," Vc said with a severe expression.

    For a moment, Amduscias was silent, but after looking at Vc''s face, he released a peal of heartedughter. "Really? Is that so? That was the case in the past, but after thousands of years and no signs of the Monarch, do you think I''ll refrain from teaching you a true lesson?"

    "I don''t care what you think,e~. Asteroth is still more fearsome than that pretty face of yours," Vc sneered.

    Instantly, Amduscias'' expression changed at the mention of Asteroth and how he felt more fearsome. Amduscias''s aura raged as arcs of violent dark lightning about like snakes of destruction.

    Still, Vc gazed at Amduscias with a faintly amused smirk. "Yep, more fearsome. Compared to the destruction he causes, these arcs of lightning look like child''s y. As if they''d tickle at most."

    Vc''sment was thest straw because Amduscias'' expression lost all signs of rage, bing exceedingly cold. Since Vc was trampling upon his pride, Amduscias had no more time for words.

    In the next moment, he disappeared with a terrifying thunderp following after. A streak of scorch marks and destroyed rubble appeared as Vc''s pupils constricted to dots. He didn''t expect Amduscias to move so fast.

    Even if his strike didn''t possess as much power as Asteroth, his current speed would turn his attack into a lethal blow just based on the obscene momentum alone. Therefore, Vc took a quick step back, creating enough room to stab his spear forward.

    However, a numbness traveled up his arm a secondter as the veins in his eyes thickened from the pain traveling through his arm rapidly. It felt as if the insides of his arm were sizzling.

    In the meantime, Amduscias'' body wreathed in dark lightning appeared. Contrary to what Vc expected, Amsducias didn''t move his spear while in motion; he arrived before Vc in less than a second, and once motionless, he stabbed his spear towards Vc.

    From the other''s perspective, they couldn''t even read Amdsucias'' attack. But, to him, it felt as if he was moving in slow motion as he moved his spear towards Vc. Amduscias'' realm of speed was on another.

    Aztraval once suggested that he take on an assassin''s path, but he rescinded that suggestion once he learned of Amduscias wielding dark lightning. Though his speed more than reached the requirement for that path, the presence of his dark lightning was too conspicuous.

    The task of an assassin was to reside in the shadows for the most suitable time to strike. But, Amduscias'' lightning was too shy to hide once he activated it. Preparing for a single strike would ruin the element of surprise he worked hard to cultivate.

    Thus, Aztraval decided a thin yet forceful weapon that could be wielded with lightning-fast movements suited him best. Following that moment, Amduscias'' power ballooned after finding the weapons that agreed with him.

    Meanwhile, after the tip of their spears collided, Amduscias revealed a disdainful smirk. "Have your spear skills regressed? It was too easy to read the path of your spear, and what is this meager force? Time is truly a ruthless individual."

    Bang!

    Amdusciasshed out his legged, delivering a swift kick to Vc''s torso that made him slide back while clutching his right arm. At first, it hung limply, but azure veins appeared, flowing through his arm, down to his fingertips.

    Eventually, they twitched as Vc regained power in them. Regardless, he looked at Amduscias with a hostile yet cautious gaze. ''This guy is still as dangerous as ever. He''s like a predator. Not only does he have overwhelming, but his aura and even his lightning produced a painful, paralyzing effect.''

    Suddenly, Vc spat on the ground while maintaining eye contact with Amduscias. "What is that? Are you trying to tickle me? I more than remember the effects of your power. Do you think you can still paralyze me? Think again. After all, I know your secret."

    "What secret?" Amduscias asked with a curious expression.

    "Simple. You''re one of the demons who don''t have a Second Transformation. This is as strong as you get!" Vc eximed before rushing towards Amduscias. Though he was slower than Amduscias, Vc closed the distance at a rapid rate.

    However, when he arrived three steps before Amduscias, he felt a horrifying shiver down his back as he gazed at Amduscias, who looked at him with a murderous.

    "You poor foolish child. Is that what you believed? I guess you can say that is true. After all, I''m not the one who possesses a second form. Would you like to learn something you never knew of in the past?" Amduscias said with a smile that wasn''t a smile.

    Simultaneously, he pressed his palm forward, causing eight shocking spears of dark lightning to fly towards Vc, converging at a single point. Compared to before, this strike seemed to be even worse.

    Vc wanted to sidestep the attack, but it was done so close that he wasn''t given time to react aside from withdrawing his spear to brace his body.

    Boom! Boom! Boom!

    Numerous explosive collisions resounded as Vc''s tumbled back from inside a cluster of ashes. Meanwhile, Amduscias stepped through the cloud of debris with a cold smile.

    "Let me show you what I mean."

    Afterward, Amduscias snapped his finger, summoning an absurd amount of dark lightning. Though it was a vast amount of lightning, the rest assumed that this didn''t even touch upon half of his reserves from how quickly it was summoned.

    Conversely, while kneeling over, Vc revealed an almost sinister smile. His ns were alling together effortlessly due to Amduscias'' narcissism and his great pride. This method wouldn''t work with any other demon because they would dispose of Vc when they saw their superior power.

    Regrettably, the same couldn''t be said about Amduscias. He felt a need to address Vc''sment. As a result, the sense of lightning condensed repeatedly until it took on a form that made Vc tremble with fear.

    ''O-oh¡­ On second thought, I don''t think this is worth it. I didn''t think rumors were true!''

    With a hint of terror in his eyes, Vc turned towards the three behind him with a wry smile that said one thing: Help?!

    In response, the other looked at each other before turning their eyes back to the mystifying sight before their eyes. Whereas the other two only felt dread, Typhir felt his battle lust stir.

    ''Is¡­ that sentient or is it for Amduscias?'' Typhir wondered.

 Chapter 482 - Reality Of Powerlessness

    ----

    The sea of dark lightning condensed before everyone''s eyes, forming an entity that resembled Amduscias. However, the two hollow pits in the skull shone with a nefarious light, which was why Typhir was curious whether this technique summoned a conscious entity or the sensation was just that overwhelming.

    Whichever option rang true, it wouldn''t be matter because both situations led to a disadvantageous position.

    Meanwhile, Vc released an audible gulp as he looked at the shape of the lightning before his eyes. ''Although I''m aplishing what I set out to do, I didn''t expect the rumors to be true. His regr usage of his dark lightning is just a prelude to its true transformation.''

    Unlike some of the other demons inside the Dominus Household, Aztraval confirmed that Amduscias wasn''t given a second transformation. That''s because Aztraval found more power within the dark lightning than Amduscias'' body. In other words, Aztraval didn''t bestow additional power upon Amduscias''s Sin Vessel but to the source of his lightning.

    As a result, Amduscias could choose whether he wanted to unleash the full ferocity of the lightning or keep it at bay and utilize the unimpressive initial form. Regrettably, for Vc, his instigation led to Amduscias summoning the form.

    In truth, there were two ways of controlling the current form of his lightning. Amduscias could control the summoned dark lightning figure remotely while keeping a thorough understanding of the battlefield, or he could do something that only those who walked through thest battlefield of the Dominus Household knew about.

    Since he wished to teach Vc a severe lesson, he chose thetter. Because of this decision, the back of the dark lightning figure opened up as the inside became hollow enough to walk inside.

    With a faint smile, Amduscias stepped inside the dark lightning armor. The moment he did so, it closed, and millions of tendrils drilled into his body, yet Amduscias didn''t utter a single sound of pain. On the contrary, he smiled.

    However, the dark lightning armor covering his body made the light smirk seem menacing.

    "It''s surprising that until now, no one was able to correct that unsightly behavior of yours. But no worries. That will change today, and I will make sure of it. Even if I''m punished in the afterlife by the Monarch, I''ve had enough of your deceitful and mischievous conduct," Amduscias said.

    He lifted his hand before his body a momentter, causing numerous arcs of dark lightning to flicker. A tiny cut opened in the space as a relentless aura pooled into the center of his palm, forming a metallic spear.

    A singed spiral flowed through the spear as a demonic beast resembling that of a dragon opened its maw around the spear''s de, creating a breath-taking sight.

    Despite how amazing the scene was, Vc nched. "H-how can you still have that weapon from that time?! I don''t even have mine. The only one who has theirs is¡­"

    "Wrong," Amduscias interjected. "All of the Dukes and higher should still possess their weapon since we can merge them with our Demon Bodies during the nurturing period. Of course, your lowly ranking didn''t allow you to receive a special weapon like this one."

    "Shut your mouth," Vc snarled with resentful eyes. Just as mentioning his defeat to Asteroth was his sore spot, speaking of his inferior position was Vc''s trigger.

    Of course, with the power Amduscias held, he could not care less.

    "Whatever you say. I''m only here to aplish one thing now. Since you have triggered your Second Transformation, let''s see just how long youst," Amduscias said with a slight chuckle.

    Afterward, Amduscias took a single step, but his body seemed as if it burned through space with the way his dark lightning shrouded his body and singed space. A sense of danger assaulted Vc''s mind as he witnessed this movement. However, he didn''t have time to take a step back as Amduscias appeared before his eyes.

    Time stalled as the two met eyes, but then Vc felt the world blur, followed by a heavy impact as Amduscias gently pressed the tip of his spear against Vc''s torso. At least, that''s how it appeared to the others.

    The actual events happened faster than anyone could sense. Just after Amduscias''s spear pressed against Vc''s torso, it sped up to a nonsensical velocity, which caused a crater the size of Vc to appear in the center of the worshipping area.

    For a while, Typhir was shocked beyond words. After all, when someone was typically smashed into the ground, it formed a circr crater due to force distribution. However, the size of the hole was identical to Vc''s body, indicating that all of the force applied to the strike was focused on him without a shred of it spilling outside.

    Eventually, a thought crossed Typhir''s mind. ''Could Amduscias be a master of the Aura of Force? If so, it makes sense. He wouldn''t need to gather any momentum. He could gather all the power he needed by manipting his Aura.''

    In the meantime, Vc crawled out from the pit he was buried inside. But, there was a noticeable difference when he appeared from in the hole. Arge portion of the demonic armor covering his torso was gone.

    Though Amduscias''s strike didn''t pierce through Vc''s body, it seemed as it did because both sides of armor were missing identical chunks.

    At the same time, judging by the erratic rhythm of his chest, it seemed as if Vc had a hard time breathing. Based on the signs, he might have received internal damage from a single strike.

    Regrettably, Vc was a demon without a solid Aura. So, even if he was stronger, he was already at a disadvantage. The advantage of having an Aura when going up against an upper race was considerable. After all, every one of the upper races possessed an auxiliary power of the same caliber.

    Still, hisck of Aura didn''t stop Vc from rising to his feet once again. Additionally, there was a frustrated look upon his face as he looked at Amduscias. Conversely, Amduscias revealed a disappointed one.

    "Are you serious? After all these years, you still haven''t developed a unique Aura? Though I suppose that''s about right, seeing as you can''t even choose who you are. One without self is one with power," Amduscias said with a disappointed sigh.

    In response, Vc gnashed his teeth and dashed towards Amduscias without a second thought. Rather than move, Amduscias stood still, watching as Vc''s spear appearedrger in his view.

    He continued waiting until it was close enough that Amduscias felt Vc''s power emanating from the spear. Once it was that close, he raised his finger and flicked the spear upward, followed by a sharp kick to the exposed area of Vc''s torso.

    A series of disturbing cracking sounds were heard as Vc''s froze. At the same time, his spear was frozen just above Amduscias''s head. Two secondster, a trickle of blood seeped down the corner of his mouth as signs of dark lightning infiltrating his body appeared on the wounds.

    Vc was absolutely powerless in this fight! On top of that, he wasn''t sure how much dark lightning he made Amduscias consume. If it wascking, then he was confident that his actions were for naught.

    Suddenly, a robust figure appeared between Vc and Amduscias. They stared eye to eye with Amduscias before ncing to his side, "That''s enough. He''s already severely injured. Any further injury would be unnecessary."

    "Unfortunately, that''s not for you to decide. I am the master of my actions, and your suggestions are pointless," Amduscias said before taking a step forward. However, he was stopped as Typhir extended Armageddon, cutting off his path.

    "I meant what I said. You will not injure him any further. As much as a headache as he is, I was still tasked with ensuring his safety. Therefore, if you move forward, I will be your opponent," Typhir said.

    At the same time, Sapphyr removed Vc from battle while assessing his injuries. After a few moments, she was sure that she would be of no help. They needed someone specialized in healing like Furcas to assist with this situation, except he was back on Ashiraem.

    Because of Typhir''s words, Amduscias was intrigued. ''Hoh? Has Vc joined them already? In other words¡­''

    Amduscias grinned beforeshing out his spear without another word. The moment he moved, Typhir prepared for the collision, activating his Aura of Destruction at the peak of the second degree.

    A powerful st urred after the two auras met, but Typhir was only forced four steps back before recovering. Still, his eyes narrowed as he noticed something. ''That force is outstanding! Then, was I right?''

    "Oh? So you''re the boy with the power of destruction, I see. Though, if I must say, it''s trulycking. Allow me to show you a real Aura."

    BOOM!

    The dark lightning surged everywhere as Amduscias'' sensation climbed. Eventually, it settled at a state that even overwhelmed the degree Typhir unleashed against the Iraym. Amduscias had revealed an aura at the fourth degree!

    At first, it was stifling but left with no other choice Typhir pushed his Aura to the third degree while activating the first level of his bloodline. The massive surge of power and the partial canceling properties of his destructive power allowed Typhir to stand rtively unaffected.

    Once Amduscias noticed this oue, he smirked. "What Aura do you believe I have?"

    "I''ve figured that out. You use the Aura of Force," Typhir answered.

    However, a pained groan sounded behind Typhir, followed by a shocking set of words. "T-that''s wrong. He''s beyond a normal Aura. He uses a variant of that Aura; Amduscias uses the Aura of eleration!"

    Whoosh! Bang!

    Typhir''s eyes widened as he received yet another of Amduscias'' attacks. This time, it felt as if the power of the strike was disced. Although he blocked it, it felt like some of it broke past his sword and met with his Aura.

    Fortunately, his Aura served as a protective screen, unlike Vc, allowing him toe out unscathed.

    ''This guy is terrifying,'' Typhir thought with reddening eyes.. Without a choice, he continued to activate the following levels of his bloodline.

 Chapter 483 - An Absurd Hand

    ----

    Amduscias''s eyebrows jumped in response to Typhir''s change. Truth be told, he didn''t expect to see any signs of a powerful bloodline appear before his eyes, yet it happened. And from an unknown opponent nheless. Because of this discovery, a faint battle intent stirred inside Amduscias as he smirked.

    His grip around his spear tightened as he advanced a step, taking in all of the changes that took ce to Typhir''s power. At first nce, his Aura appeared to have skyrocketed to at least the middle of the third degree.

    At the same time, there were signs of exuberant strength billowing from Typhir''s body that flowed into the weapon in his hand perfectly. It was then that Amduscias realized that the weapon in Typhir''s hand could possibly be an Armament.

    However, once he noticed theck of any soul fluctuations emanating from the weapon, he understood that it was just an empty husk as of right now. In other words, the weapon in Typhir''s hand was iplete.

    Be that as it may, there were still apparent signs of the weapon''s body bing a threat. Therefore, Amduscias chose to treat Typhir with caution. After all, although his Aura was at a high level and he hadn''t released it all, Amduscias was aware that Typhir''s Aura of Destruction could disrupt at least one degree of his Aura.

    Simply put, as it was now, their Aura was only simr levels. In fact, Amduscias was sure that Typhir''s Aura was the one superior. Granted, Amduscias''s Aura only posed its usages and heightened power while in action.

    During the time Amduscias was motion, his Aura lost at least half of its imposing nature. However, this was information that Typhir wasn''t aware of. Despite activating his bloodline continuously, he was still on edge, holding his sword in a position that allowed him to attack or defend in the shortest time possible.

    When it came to speed, he understood that he was sorelycking against Amduscias; this was even when his bloodline boost was taken into ount. All attacks performed by Amduscias while using his Aura of eleration were extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Typhir to track.

    Regrettably, it appeared Amduscias wouldn''t stop his actions without Typhir stepping in. Thus, he was left with no other choice. Besides, the overwhelming difficulty of the fight caused Typhir''s blood to roil, which triggered the berserk nature in him that went beyond his bloodline.

    "Come," Typhir said in a deep voice as his severe gaze locked onto Amduscias.

    Amduscias chuckled in response but reacted nheless. The sound of a lightning strike echoed in the room as Amduscias moved, leaving a dissipating surge of dark lightning behind.

    Before he could even sense Amduscias''s position, Typhir executed a wide horizontal sh with Tenebrous Energyced with. An expanding arc hurtled forward as Typhir looked for any discements in the attack.

    Even though Amduscias was moving faster than he could track, Typhir''s first thought was that he could use his attack as a sort of beacon to broadcast his position. He didn''t believe he was moving fast enough to avoid a strike that covered was what essentially the entire width of the room.

    Sadly, the reality of the matter was much worse than Typhir assumed. Even now, Amduscias was simply toying with him as he had yet to reveal any of his techniques aside from this shocking change with the majestic dark lightning armor.

    Suddenly, the middle portion of Typhir''s attack disappeared as Amduscias''s body flickered, appearing before him with a sh of lightning. In the next moment, Typhir witnessed as a frightening spear top grewrge within his view.

    His first thought was to dodge, but he decided not after sensing the stored energy inside the strike. On top of estimating that this attack doubled as more than a mere physical risk, Sapphyr and Vc were directly in line with the attack behind him.

    Dodging that attack would put them as well as Xezym in jeopardy. Despite activating his bloodline, his defenses were still superior inparison to the others. Therefore, Typhir was confident in receiving the attack.

    He lifted his sword high above his head and shed downward, causing an unsettling silence to ur. Their weapons shing and causing this oue reminded Typhir of another event. While recalling that time, his eyes narrowed as he increased the strength behind his attack to another level.

    As a result, the ground beneath his feet crumbled. Unlike Typhir, Amduscias was in the air since he leaped forward before unleashing the pierce. Simultaneously, a sh of dark light urred as Typhir''s pupil constricted.

    He experienced the same sensation as Vc did, but it was only for a fleeting moment as his Aura of Destruction retaliated against the invading Aura. This development immediately highlighted the benefits of having a developed Aura within fights like these.

    Vc opened his eyes with a pained groan in the back as he watched the rapid exchanges between Amduscias and Typhir. The turbulent fluctuation of Aura caught his eyes, but he also understood that Typhir failed to gain the upper hand with each attack.

    "It''s only a matter of time before he falls. The most we can ask for is that he stalls long enough for Amduscias to release a powerful attack," Vc muttered while slowly sitting up to brace himself against a pir off to the side.

    "We understand as much, but I must say, he really did a number on you. Wasn''t that less than five hits? I wonder just how powerful it is," Sapphyr replied while showcasing a curious expression.

    However, Vc didn''t respond. Though he made aparison after receiving that first attack, he didn''t voice it at all. The pain he felt wasparable to when Apollo inflicted heavy punishment on him. Yet, it was achieved in much less time.

    All Vc hoped was that Apollo had grown enough to handle an opponent of this caliber. If not, this would have been done for naught.

    Meanwhile, Typhir stabbed Armageddon into the ground to stop himself from sliding back too far. Conversely, he extended his left hand, firing a cluster of Hellfire towards Amduscias.

    Though he didn''t expect any results of this attack, he aimed to buy time to recover his proper footing. After receiving the attack firsthand, in addition to the information collected from Vc''s brief fight, Typhir understood more about this Aura he was up against.

    ''It''s just eleration, but it''s done at such a high level that feels to be his natural speed. Not to mention, the increase is so drastic that it''s a challenge to discern the moment of activation. I''d need at least the next level of my bloodline to post any viable threat,'' Typhir thought.

    Despite his estimation, Typhir readied himself once again. This time, arge amount of Ira surged into Armageddon, which caused a ruby red eye with a golden and purple elliptical pupil to open just above the hilt.

    Once it opened, a nefarious sensation permeated the air surrounding Typhir. Whereas Apollo''s weapon directly increased the power of his attacks, Typhir''s unleashed different stages of empowerment. At this level, the first trait to experience an increase was his bloodlust.

    In return for amplifying his bloodlust, each of his attacks possessed a chance to inflict cuts that couldn''t be healed unless the obscure bloodlust was expelled from one''s body. Additionally, each sessful attack allowed Typhir to store one percent of the damage inflicted. In the most extreme cases, this umted damage could be released in the form of a brutal attack befitting of a berserker''s reputation.

    Once this supportive effect was activated, Typhir''s attack patterns became more erratic. A portion of it was due to the exhrating strength flowing through him, but the real reason was that he determined it was best to overwhelm Amduscias with a flurry of attacks that robbed him of all windows to gather his Aura.

    At least, that''s what Typhir believed. He thought Amduscias required a short window to gather the Aura needed to elerate to excessive speed. He found out the hard way that this assumption was far from the truth.

    All Amduscias needed was a single movement to initiate the process. In other words, whether it be attacking or defending, he could elerate either of them. Though his increase was sizable, Amduscias unleashed something that made Typhir freeze for a moment.

    Whoosh!

    An even more horrifying billowed from Amduscias''s body in droves as he gazed at Typhir. A momentter, he stabbed his spear forward, except six spear images condensed into one.

    By the time it hit Typhir''s body, he was rendered immobile despite defending as a bizarre force flowed through him. Eventually, his face strained as a stream of blood flowed down both corners of his lips.

    "The fifth degree is something beyond you. While your valor for sticking up for yourrade ismendable, he''s undeserving. Also, you should learn to understand when an opponent is too much for you," Amduscias said.

    Afterward, he twirled his spear around his body before gathering arge amount of dark lightning. "Allow me to teach you both a lesson simultaneously! You''ll do well to appreciate my teachings!"

    Fwoom!

    Amduscias''unched a massive beam of dark lightning towards the two, but a gigantic ck hand grabbed it, stopping it, as a portal opened beside Typhir. A confident voice sounded from inside; however, there was a touch of anger brimming within their tone.

    "Oh? These are my people. So, tell me. Why do you believe you retain the right to teach them any lessons of now? Perhaps I should teach you a lesson instead."

    After hearing the voice, Amduscias''s eyes narrowed because of the cracking noisesing from his attack. Therge hand was on the verge of shattering his spear beam!

 Chapter 484 - Amdusciass True Strength

    ----

    Before reacting, Amduscias stared at Apollo silently. Since the portal behind him didn''t close, Amduscias wondered if someone else was stepping through its opening as well. Still, after a few seconds, the space gradually closed, soon bing too small to fit even the smallest of demons.

    Once he confirmed the portal closed, Amduscias turned towards Apollo with an awkward gaze, looking him up and down. ''This attack used to defend against my spear beam is rather... odd. While it feels like he used an Aura, it also feels as if he didn''t. Not to mention, this familiar sensation.''

    Suddenly, a light shed in Vc''s eyes as he stared at Apollo''s back. But, that light soon vanished as he realized that Amduscias seemed far from tired. ''Was it all for nothing? I don''t even know if I was capable of leveling the ying field. I''ll take the me if anything happens! Also¡­ where''s Lord Fuhrer?''

    Surprisingly, Apollo didn''t appear with Fuhrer by his side, which was odd. Although it was one of Fuhrer''s portals that allowed Apollo toe to this area, Fuhrer didn''t tag along. Or rather, Apollo didn''t allow him to tag along.

    Now that he had battled with quite a few of the Lost Council, Apollo was familiar with the rules set in ce. None of his followers were allowed to interfere in matches of dominance. If he wished to gain a new follower, it needed to be done through his brute strength.

    Therefore, Apollo decided to put Fuhrer''s presence and power to better use. He didn''t remain inactive while inside Guloria; he was still with the Lord of Gluttony, devising a n based on the information gathered from the All-seeing Nautilus within that Ring.

    Besides that, Fuhrer also revisited Ashiraem to monitor the situation. Surprisingly, although Xorgrah didn''t return to Suprenis, he visited Ashiraem to collect the weapons Xonnomor created.

    Though Fuhrer and Xorgrah met, it was pretty awkward. Because of Fuhrer''s bizarre techniques and the weapon on his waist, Xorgrah understood that this was a demon who concealed his strength well. At the very least, he was an individual that Xorgrah didn''t want to interfere with if it was unneeded.

    All of a sudden, Amduscias raised his hand slowly with his palm facing upward, "Who are you? Are you some face that''s taking on the appearance of my Lord?" While Amduscias''s tone was light as he asked this question, anger flickered in his eyes as he looked at Appollo.

    Since he was unaware of Apollo''s birth, he thought this was an impostor who was trying to reassemble the lost household after receiving a portion of the Monarch''s powers from the inheritance site.

    Regrettably, he couldn''t be further from the truth.

    "Amduscias, the 7th Demonic Duke of the Dominus Household with the power of Supercharged Superbia as well as the Dark Lightning," Apollo answered in a calm tone, tossing aside the earlier question.

    As a result, Amduscias''s eyes narrowed, inspecting Apollo cautiously. The ranking system of the Dominus Household was something that no current demon should understand or be aware of, much less knowing the exact rankings.

    A momentter, Apollo continued, but his words triggered Amduscias. "Tell me, when did a Duke have the authority of acting as a proxy for the Monarch? As I recall, there were only nine individuals with this authorization, and you weren''t one of them."

    "Tch, what do you know? I can do as I please since the Monarch has long since forgotten about us and has been forgotten. In other words, I am an untethered existence free to do as I please," Amduscias retorted with a click of his tongue.

    Instinctively, Vc turned towards Apollo but was surprised by hisck of response. After all, Vc was sure that such words were enough to trigger his Lord. However, he noticed that Apollo was uncharacteristically cold, as if unaffected by the opinions of others.

    "On the contrary, you''re not free. You''re mine, and that''s how it will be until the end of time," Apollo responded. A strong pulse emitted from his right eye while focusing on Amduscias. On top of the mind control abilities that were attached to his Sin of Luxuria, Apollo''s Aura of Dominance seeped into the power, bringing its effectiveness to new heights.

    Regrettably, he found that his efforts were useless as the dark lightning circling Amduscias''s body zapped all of the iing Sin. Only the Aura of Dominance was rtively unaffected by the incursion of the dark lightning.

    Nevertheless, just the fact Apollo''s Aura was able to resist his lightning came as a shock to Amduscias. Though it wasn''t at the precipice of his power, it was more than sufficient to deal with all enemies under the Archdemon level of ancient standards.

    Hence, Amduscias prepared to increase the quantity and intensity of his lighting, but Apollo extended his hand before he could do so.

    "Before you begin, I have a question; do you wish to do this the easy way or the hard way? The choice is yours. Just as a friendly reminder, the former means you submit of your own free will whereas thetter means I will beat you into submission to remind you of your ce in this family," Apollo said with a slight smile.

    Again, Amduscias narrowed his eyes, ultimately shaking his head at Apollo''s offer. "Your confidence, whilemendable, doesn''t convince me. I''d rather be on my own than follow someone I know nothing about."

    "Wrong answer," Apollo said.

    Suddenly, a surge of darkness expanded from Apollo''s body as he zipped towards Amduscias while simultaneously drawing Gram. After sensing the battle that took ce earlier, Apollo understood that Amduscias was by no means an enemy that he could take lightly.

    Hence, on top of drawing his weapon, Apollo also entered the unique fusion state while activating both his Infernal Ira Stigmata and Dauntless Superbia Stigmata in tandem. Instantly, Apollo''s pressure surpassed an Archdemon, moving well into the zone of a Noblesse.

    However, such a drastic increase came with an excessive expenditure. This wasn''t a battle that Apollo could drag out in the slightest.

    Meanwhile, Amduscias''s dark lightning crackled with power as the shocking arcs of lightningshed against everything in its perimeters. Amduscias''s lighting was personally destroying his esteemed ce of self-worship, yet he didn''t mind this issue.

    In his eyes, Apollo''s current Aura was much more troublesome as he had only seen it once before. This alone made Amduscias question whether Apollo''s presence was genuine. Be that as it may, even if Apollo''s existence was genuine, he still needed to confirm if Apollo was worth following.

    After all, the leader should be stronger than his subordinates in some way, no? This is what Amduscias believed!

    The first sh happened a few momentster as Apollo''s sword met Amduscias''s dark lightning spear. The horrifying explosion that followed caused everyone to cover their ears and retreat in fear of being damaged.

    At the same time, arge pir was blown to dust as both sides were forced back an equal number steps. Truth be told, this oue shocked Apollo slightly as he thought that all of his techniques should have at least put him above Amduscias in general stats.

    However, once he recalled the information given about Amduscias, Apollo''s expression changed. ''That''s right. His Aura isn''t exactly normal. He flourishes in fights that focus around strength since he can increase the force behind his attacks at any given moment.''

    Since that was the case, Apollo threw his hand forward, summoning an overwhelming attractive force from his palm that drew Amduscias in at a rapid speed. Unlike the others that experienced this technique, he smiled as he neared Apollo.

    Just as he reached within arm''s length of Apollo, he shed down. However, Apollo didn''t intend to attack head-on. Thus, the attackunched against him mmed against the ground, opening a sizable fissure.

    Almost instantly, Apollo appeared before Amduscias, executing a sharp sh to his ribs. At first, Apollo felt the blow connected well when he saw Amduscias blown back into a pir as it copsed on top of him.

    But, when he looked down at Gram and saw a nket of dark lightning covering the exterior, Apollo knew it was otherwise. Yes, the attack connected well, but the result was not what Apollo expected.

    Boom! Boom! Rummmmbleeeeeeee!

    The ground shook as Amduscias knocked aside therge chunks of the pir thaty on his body. Standing up, he cracked his neck side to side while looking at Apollo.

    "I give it to you. You''re much stronger than either of these two. You hit harder, and you travel much faster through the use of dark techniques. But, my praise ends there because you are still far from being deemed a worthy opponent," Amduscias said.

    Not even a secondter, the pebbles around his body levitated gradually as the Aura surrounding Amduscias underwent a shocking change. From the fourth degree, it jumped all the way to the fifth before cementing itself at the sixth degree.

    Furthermore, despite being far away from Amduscias, each rock flickered with dark lightning that gave Apollo an unexpected surprise.

    ''Oh? So Amduscias possesses a Dominion?''

 Chapter 485 - Phantasms Vs Lightning (I)

    ----

    Although the outward appearance of Amduscias'' dark lightning didn''t experience much change, Apollo could tell at a nce that he had just activated a Dominion. After all, this wasn''t the first time he was in the presence of an active Dominion.

    While Fuhrer reduced the effects significantly, Apollo experienced the greatness of a Dominion firsthand. So, he realized Amduscias''s actions the moment he performed them. Besides, he felt the Aura he released before the Dominion was more than sufficient to power one.

    The only issue now was that Apollo was unfamiliar with this type of Dominion. At times, it felt like his skin was being burned or pricked, whereas it felt like it was being pierced through as other times.

    Be that as it may, the dark lightning never made direct contact. Seeing this, Apollo stayed still for a moment while he analyzed everything that had happened up until now. Additionally, he dissected Amduscias''s original Aura to determine the possible effects of this Dominion.

    In the mostmon cases, a Dominion was simply an extremely powerful manifestation of one''s Aura. However, there were also cases where the Dominion adopted properties that agreed with your power but weren''t directly linked to its current effects.

    Fuhrer''s case was thetter. His Dominion suppressed all within its range and did so relentlessly. Luckily, because of his expertise and baffling control, Fuhrer randomly selected the Dominion''s effect targets.

    Apollo could tell Amduscias didn''t possess nearly as much control over this Dominionpared to Fuhrer''s disy. Violent arcs of dark lightning even assaulted Amduscias''s body as well, but unlike the rest, he was immune to the effects of the dark lightning because of the dense amount covering his body.

    "Quite an interesting Dominion you have here. Care to reveal its purpose? I can''t tell," Apollo said while shrugging. At the same time, his eyes darted around, attempting to find a weakness in the Dominion or a tell-tale sign that would give him enough indication of uing attacks.

    Unfortunately, the chaotic pattern of the dark lightning arcs made it challenging for Apollo to guess the trajectory and timing of the attacks. Not to mention, as the seconds passed, it was bing increasingly harder to sense Amduscias''s body.

    "It''s simple, actually. Normally, one wouldn''t disclose information about their Dominion unless they were talking to their trusted allies. However, disclosing information surrounding my Dominion wouldn''t assist in battle because it''s sometimes beyond my control as well," Amduscias said.

    ''I suspected as much, but it is still interesting to experience nheless,'' Apollo thought to himself before raising his gaze towards Amduscias. There was a brief silence between the two that Amduscias finally broke.

    "Simply put, you''re within my Sea of Dark Lightning, also known as the Dominion of sh eleration," Amduscias said in a tone that seemed as if he was cherishing the sight of his own power. He lifted his palm, gently cing it upon a snaking arc before his eyes.

    However, this gentle action possessed a severe intention behind it. Once the lightning touched his palm, Amduscias flung his hand towards Apollo. A shocking scene urred as what seemed to be a horizontal lightning strike shed, appearing before Apollo in an instant.

    Since he wasn''t prepared for this situation, the lightning strike hit Apollo''s strike with perfect uracy. He took a step back as a searing pain appeared on his sternum, but both the jewel embedded in his corbone and the Infernal Ira Stigmata thrummed with power.

    While the jewel healed the roasted skin, the Infernal Ira Stigmata burned the residual dark lightning left behind after the abrupt attack. Apollo''s expression remained the same despite the surprise attack as he slowly glided his finger across his chest.

    ''Is everything inside of this Dominion elerated, or is there a requirement for the eleration to activate?'' Apollo wondered. The attack happened faster than he could respond, which was shocking, seeing as his bloodline refined his mind first of all things, allowing his reaction speed to undergo qualitative upgrades.

    Yet, he was unable to respond to Amduscias''s attack in the slightest. Even a Noblesse would find it difficult to overpower Apollo in his current state. On top of the slight boost for his Iraym and Suprana From, the double activation of his Stigmata provided a shocking increase to his current attributes.

    Since he failed to react, Apollo judged himself harshly. ''I believe I''m still too weak. Suffering against a subordinate means I''d die within a few hits from someone of the upper races, nor am I strong enough to go against Irzanach.''

    Although it seemed like Asteroth was much stronger than Irzanach and the rest, that wasn''t the case. In fact, his original attributes paled inparison to Irzanach and even Saehtyn. However, the mastery of his Aura and its ability to negate most attacks through destruction allowed him to bypass attacks thatcked Aura.

    Therefore, neither the Lords nor Irzanach was a match for his relentless onught with their attacks that sorelycked the empowerment of an Aura. Of course, Apollo wasn''t aware of this matter, so he judged his strength harshly.

    Inadequate strength was uneptable in his eyes if he were going sh against individuals famed for their power. How could he assert his dominance if he was weaker? If he lost against them, with their personality, Apollo would be reduced to aughing-stock.

    Admittedly, Apollo was d that he ran into Amduscias before Asteroth. Although Vc warned that Amduscias was stronger, Apollo begged to differ. From what he saw, the only reason Asteroth lost to Amduscias was because of this Aura.

    It moved too fast for him to destroy and the dark lightning was tiny enough to pass through the crevices of his iplete Dominion at that time. But, after all this time, even if his power dipped, Apollo was confident that Asteroth''s mastery of his Aura advanced to another level.

    If not, he wouldn''t be worthy of his title as a Duke. After all, it was the second strongest echelon of demons within the Dominus Household aside from the Kings. Their power was in a league of their own that was onlypared to Fuhrer, Estran, and the Monarch themselves.

    "Heh heh, you like that feeling? If so, there''s more of where that came from. I didn''t activate this power for no reason, it''s time to put its abilities to use," Amduscias chuckled before flicking his finger towards Apollo.

    A few arcs of dark lightning straightened into needles before zipping towards Apollo. This time, a sound reminiscent of a thunderp apanied the movement of the needles as they shed towards Apollo.

    As soon as he sensed how dangerous the attack was, Apollo closed his eyes while picking his Gram to defend his chest. Regrettably, before he could raise Gram, four of the lightning needles pierced past his defense, lodging themselves within Apollo''s shoulders and biceps.

    Noticing the cement of these needles, Apollo realized something. ''Is he trying to make my arms useless? In other words, he''s trying to tear my defenses to shred. Interesting, that''s quite a brutal way of battling. Severing one''s control of their body to reduce the difficulty of battleter on.''

    Sadly, Amduscias didn''t know that Apollo possessed something that other demons didn''t. Once again, the jewel in his chest released a ripple of vitality, except the surge seemed twice as strong this time.

    The needles stuck inside Apollo''s body was repelled as the holes caused by their puncture closed almost instantly.

    Meanwhile, Amduscias''s eyebrows rose in surprise. Although Apollo dealt with the direct attack earlier, he didn''t expect him to deal with four lightning needles so quickly. After all, dark lightning was much worse than regr lightning. Once it entered someone''s body, it sent a tyrannical energy to their system, disabling their power channels with haste.

    If the recipient of the attack was too weak, then the dark lightning could also paralyze them instantly. Yet, Apollo seemed unaffected by these effects. Of course, even if the dark lightning wasn''t expelled, Apollo had other ways of dealing with its aftereffects, such as his Complete Immunity.

    Since dark lightning was technically a byproduct of Sin mixed with unique emotions, Apollo''s Complete Immunity also worked on this power. There were multiple stages and variations of corruption; the temptation of Sin wasn''t the only one.

    ''This won''t do,'' Apollo thought. Afterward, a gush of ck Aura seeped out from Apollo''s body, turning his body into a half-corporeal state. Next, his figure split into two then three, and even four.

    By now, there were slight signs of strain on his face as another afterimage appeared. ''Come on. We spent all of that time training to perfect this technique. As a technique made by your Father, it''d be hrious if I fail to properly perform it!''

    Whoosh!

    Finally, six phantasms with a figure identical to Apollo appeared around him. He had finally revealed the mastered version of the Umbra Mantle¨Dthe Six Phantom Shifts.

    However, just as he revealed a technique capable of increasing his movement, Amduscias grinned. Following his smile, a maelstrom of dark lightning appeared, flickering with a faint blue glow.

    "Don''t you know the best property of lightning is how fast it moves? Now you get to experience its greatness firsthand! Hahaha!"

 Chapter 486 - Phantasm Vs Lightning (II)

    ----

    After sensing Apollo''s drastic increase in speed, Amduscias was tempted to outdo him by all means. Hence, he stopped holding back the effects of his dark lightning, allowing its properties to show thoroughly. His body movement became erratic as the dark lightning flowed in an unpredictable pattern.

    Finally, Amduscias dashed towards Apollo, leaving nothing but a streak of dark lightning that sounded oddly simr to recurring lightning strikes as Amduscias bounced around the room. His initial movement was still within the realm of Apollo''s perception, but Amduscias soon elerated beyond what Apollo could handle.

    Soon enough, even the sea of dark lightning couldn''t hide the fact that Amduscias''s movements created a visual distortion simr to a ck. Because of how fast he was moving, it seemed like he simultaneously created the lines since he moved fast enough to make a second one before the first lightning discharge could adequately form.

    In fact, by the time the lightning discharge consolidated into a tangible outline, Amduscias was already three steps ahead of that creation! Apollo''s frown deepened after noticing this issue. He understood that relying solely upon his sight to track Amduscias was impossible.

    ''Tch, I guess I''ll to step this up a notch,'' Apollo thought to himself as a mysterious aura enveloped his body with a soft presence. Eventually, the aura seeped into his eyes as ancient demon characters appeared in Apollo''s pupils.

    At the same time, the world continued to slow down from Apollo''s point of view until it seemed like it was moving at a crawl. Of course, while the world seemed that way, Amduscias was still moving at an excessive speed despite Apollo''s Languished Perception.

    Since his Acedia wasn''t the purest it could be in terms of evolution status, it didn''t slowly Amduscias down by nearly enough to allow Apollo the time to track his movements precisely. Fortunately, that wasn''t what Apollo was aiming for.

    ''Although there''s no direct pattern to the ces he is stepping, there is a definite pattern in the timing of his footsteps tapping the surface of where hends and his usages of that bizarre eleration. As long as I can mirror this activation, perhaps it''s possible to strip him of his advantage,'' Apollo thought.

    Apollo acted on his observations in the next moment, dashing towards Amduscias but suddenly changing his direction as his eyes shifted around endlessly. Although his mental capacity was great, it took Apollo a moment to absorb everything happening before his eyes before he could change to the following location.

    Despite the difficulty, Apollo continued to shift his travel point, and with each shift, he grew closer towards Amduscias''s location. At least, that was Apollo''s widened his eyes abruptly and momentarily fused with one of the phantasm shifts attached to his body, creating a brief burst of speed.

    It wasn''t supplied to support an attack, but rather Apollo performed this action to dodge an attack. After moving, a deep fissure caught his attention as he witnessed dark lightning crackle within the fissure until it dissipated.

    A momentter, Amduscias appeared with a smile as he stopped moving just long enough from Apollo to get a grasp of his facial. However, instead of focusing on Amduscias''s expression, he was more curious about this technique he was employing.

    His rapid movements resembled lightning strikes themselves. Apollo was sure that if he were to recover to his former power, the movement would most likely be on par with lightning shes themselves.

    Then again, this thought also made Apollo wonder how strong or fast he could be after all of the powers in his arsenal matured. The exhrating thought made Apollo smile, which made Amduscias misunderstand the expression.

    He raised his eyebrow with slight signs of irritation present. "Are you mocking my technique with that smile of yours?"

    "On the contrary," Apollo said, retaining the same smile. "I''m not mocking it; I find it very powerful. But I''m also curious how will fix this ring weakness I''ve noticed?"

    "What weakness?" Amduscias answered while blinking dumbfoundedly. He was at a loss over Apollo''s words since he couldn''t see that weakness that Apollo did. Or rather, he had nevere across an individual who pointed it out.

    After all, when he was at his full power, Amduscias employed this technique as he pleased, bing one of the most difficult opponents to face, shing around the battle. At his pace, aside from power on par with a Daemos, he was virtually untouchable.

    Meanwhile, instead of announcing the w, Apollo simply smiled. Thebined usage of his Unbound Eyes and Languished Perception gave Apollo all of the vital information he needed to formte a solution to this issue, known as Amduscias''s overwhelming speed.

    The consumed phantasm reappeared approximately two secondster as Apollo''s body rippled, releasing a seemingly harmless wave. However, inside that ripple contained a mixture of different energies that werebined.

    There was his Aura of Domination concealing the entire attack. There was Anima to fill in the gaps left by theck of fusion. Finally, there were Acedia and Tenebrous Winds interspersed throughout ripple for a good reason.

    Since he felt this attack was harmless, Amduscias merely thrust his arm, firing a collection of dark lightning at the ripple. However, just as the lightning was centimeters from making contact, the ripple split apart, providing an opening for the lightning st to pass through.

    Once it passed, the ripple condensed into an orb that disappeared into the void, impossible to trace.

    "Since it''s difficult to track your movements, why not introduce you to a technique that''s impossible to trace. I mean, I''m sure you''re strong but nowhere near strong to enter the void forcefully since that requires Tenebrous Energy to embrace, am I right~?" Apollo chuckled.

    He didn''t wait for a response, immediately following up with a Demonic Massacre Wave of insane proportions. After mastering this technique, Apollo moved on to unleashing stronger versions of the same attack within record time.

    At first, it was a failure since he was limited to a predetermined size as per the system''s support. Though instant casting had its absolute pros, there were ring cons. One of which included the fact that it was cemented to mastered usage.

    So, for Apollo to create a wave of this proportion, it required him to ignore the system''s aid. First, he worked painstakingly to reach the same level of instant casting without the system''s assistance. Once he aplished that, he then moved on to operating with gross amounts of Anima and Ira.

    As the purest Sin in his arsenal, it wasn''t challenging to work with at all. All it required was the grit to withstand the pain of sparse amounts of Purgatory Blood gathering inside him as he performed his actions.

    Ultimately, he arrived at his current state. A master of the Demonic Massacre Wave, who know sought to master the Nether Severance in the same way. Sadly, he didn''t have enough time to focus on this matter as he also divvied up his time training to understand the Absolute Eradication technique.

    Nevertheless, Amduscias could sense the tant danger emanating from the iing Demonic Massacre Wave. So unlike before, he intended to dodge this attack. However, just as he moved, Apollo grinned before snapping his finger.

    The orb before Amduscias shattered, revealing another power hidden within. The Endless Devouring of Apollo''s G! In this case, the G wasn''t put there to devour; instead Apollo ced it there to have the attractive force counteract Amduscias''s speed, even if for the smallest window.

    Judging by the shock on Amduscias''s face, Apollo knew that it worked. At least, for the most part. Though Amduscias stopped, the Demonic Massacre Wave didn''tnd a clean hit. Amduscias defended with his spear at thest second while being driven back from the power embedded inside the Demonic Massacre Wave.

    While being driven back, Amduscias looked at Apollo oddly. ''Aside from Ira and Superbia, there''s also Acedia and G. In other words, this boy has every Sin at his disposal? If that''s so, then¡­''

    Amduscias grinned all of a sudden as the lightning armor surrounding his body delivered a pulse of dark lightning that neutralized the Demonic Massacre Wave before him. Afterward, he released a chuckle.

    "You are truly full of surprises. Not only was that orb meant to slow me down by manipting my energies through Acedia, but you used G as an extra precaution to hold me in ce for a moment," Amduscias said.

    He paused for a moment until the look in his eyes changed. "Unfortunately, while my doubts towards you lessen, what can truly contain my lightning?!"

    Whoosh! Crrrck! Cck! Cccklee!

    The lightning surrounding Amduscias constantly snapped as they all converged on Apollo. Though Amduscias felt that Apollo was perhaps as genuine as he said, that didn''t mean he''d give up and follow blindly.

    While on his own, Amduscias developed a liking to being on his own, surrounded by his solefort. In his eyes, there was no one quite like himself or Aztraval. Aside from these two people, Amduscias didn''t see himself lowering his standards in the slightest.

    "What can contain lightning, you said?" Apollo smiled. As he did so, the rocks and even the shrine started to tremble. Apollo''s body exuded an extraordinarily pure Aura of Domination, but that wasn''t the most shocking part.

    The phantasms surrounding him split apart into six images that were next toplete, and what''s more, each of them unleashed an Aura of Domination as well. The events mystified everyone who witnessed the development.

    ''Since when can a technique unleash an Aura? I thought that was limited to the individual!?''

    However, as Fuhrer said once before, Apollo''s birthright and bloodline was one of a kind.. It was capable of all kind of shocking feats, Apollo simply needed to unearth them.

 Chapter 487 - Phantasm Vs Lightning (III)

    ----

    Amduscias''s eyes narrowed as he watched each of Apollo''s phantasms release an Aura slightly inferior to his own. Even he felt surprised because he had only witnessed a handful of demons unleash an Aura through a medium while simultaneously activating one themselves.

    Not only did aplishing this feat require ample amounts of focus, but the consumption of mental fortitude was also quite severe. After all, funneling Aura through mediums also required the usage of one''s Tainted Temple in addition to their Cardinal Sphere.

    Unless one was a perfected Noblesse where one Sphere and Temple melded as one, it was extremely difficult to pull off, yet judging by Apollo''s expression, it didn''t seem to be quite taxing for him.

    Furthermore, Amduscias also paused while he analyzed the aura seeping from Apollo''s body. ''It possesses a presence even more terrifying than the Aura of Destruction. I can only assume that this is theuded Aura of Dominance that possesses the innate power to overwhelm all.''

    Contrary to what he expected of himself, Amduscias grinned with excitement once he realized the origin of Apollo''s Aura. Although he experienced the Monarch''s power countless times in the past, he had never gone up against it. So, the fact that he could battle with someone possessing identical powers excited Amduscias beyond belief.

    At this point, the purpose of the fight shifted from Apollo proving his superiority to Amduscias to Amduscias wondering how far his power extended. Therefore, Amduscias''s expression became solemn. Setting aside his current discoveries, he also realized another matter.

    ''As far as I know, the Monarch never traveled without Lord Fuhrer. If that''s the case, where is he? I''m certain he''s alive because that boy wields his swordsmanship. If I were to damage this child too severely, I''d probably suffer the wrath of Lord Fuhrer,'' Amduscias thought.

    He didn''t understand that the other ancient members of the Dominus Household were forbidden from retaliating against anyone that Apollo battled against to gain dominance. Thus, some would be like Amduscias and act cautiously once they unearthed the true identity of Apollo.

    Meanwhile, Apollo was intrigued by Amduscias''s sudden motionlessness. "All that momentum, yet you stand still? Are we continuing this battle or not?"

    Amduscias remained silent for a moment before taking a step that caused the ground to shatter while flying in many different directions. Since his dark lightning was brought to peak performance, it also possessed a faint destructive quality.

    Finally, Amduscias lifted his gaze and looked Apollo in the eyes while speaking in a deep tone. "I''ll continue only if you can guarantee while safekeeping from Lord Fuhrer''s wrath due to what is toe."

    In response, Apollo chuckled. "That''s what worries you? First, I doubt you can inflict as much damage as you assume. Secondly, Fuhrer is neither here at the moment nor is he interested in retaliating against the other members of the Household. This was simply a task given to me that I must fulfill to rightfully seed the throne."

    Although Apollo''s words sounded overconfident, it was the truth. The jewel embedded in his chest emitted too much vitality for any injury suffered to jeopardize his life. Unless the attack came from someone of Destrys''s standard, then recovering was always a possibility.

    "Understood," Amduscias said in a lightening tone. Since his worrying thought dissipated in an instant, his demeanor changed in a snap of a finger. In addition to the change of his conduct, the lightning began raging as winds appeared as well.

    However, it wasn''t any natural winds. It was the reason behind the darkness embedded in the lightning. Although it paled inparison to the rest, Amduscias was skilled with Tenebrous Winds!

    Once the Tenebrous Winds merged with the violent arcs of dark lightning, even Apollo took a step back as he stared at Amduscias standing in the middle of all the chaos. It was then that he understood why this individual was known as the Dark Lightning Duke.

    ''A named befitting a worthy demon,'' Apollo thought. In the next moment, a small orb of Hellfire with a core formed from Purgatory''s Blood appeared in Apollo''s right hand. Apollo closed his eyes and pressed the sphere onto Gram''s surface instead of unleashing the attack as a projectile.

    As a result, numerous runes on the surface of the weapon illuminated with a blood-red light. Afterward, a torrent of Ira spilled from Apollo''s body. Since Amduscias pulled out all of the stops, Apollo reciprocated by sacrificing an absurd portion of his Ira to Gram.

    Gradually, the manifestation of a dark dragon raging in mes appeared behind Apollo. Although it seemed iplete and wasn''t asrge as the manifestation Fuhrer summoned, the sensation of the beast was stifling nheless.

    Even Typhir, who excelled in strength, trembled and inevitably fell to one knee after experiencing the pressure that rolled off the body of this manifestation. Besides the boundless rage, he felt from this manifestation, there was also an overbearing air of dominance.

    Admittedly, Typhir sensed this manifestation was partly linked to the origins of Apollo''s bloodline. While there was no proof of this assumption, it was hard not to think so as the image possessed trait nearly identical to Apollo.

    Boom!

    After sensing the terrifying power behind the manifestation, Amduscias didn''t wait any longer. Something told him that this creation would be dangerous and perhaps even threatening if he allowed Apollo to continue funneling Aura and Sin within this creation.

    Amduscias arrived before Apollo with a sh of lightning while sweeping his arm towards Apollo. A collection of dark lightning trailed Amduscias, gathering momentum and size as it inched towards Apollo''s face.

    However, just before the attacknded, the rightmost phantasm performed an upward sh. Though it seemed powerful, it was incapable of knocking away Amduscias''s attack, which forced Apollo to control the second phantasm.

    It performed the same movement, hitting Amduscias''s wrist and forearm. Unlike the first attack, this one shifted the attack''s trajectory slightly. Once he sensed this matter, Apollo snapped his fingers and the manifestation finished the job, swiping its terrifying w at Amduscias.

    If one looked closely, they''d realize the w of the manifestation was an empowered Dominator''s Clutch! In other words, activating the technique through Gram producing a few interesting effects.

    Apollo couldn''t rx despite sessfully thwarting the attack because his instincts told him that even more danger followed. As the attack was knocked away, Amduscias twisted his body,unching a kick towards Apollo''s left side.

    The edge of his dark lightning armor''s shoes sharpened, resembling the shape of a de as it pierced the air, moving without restrictions. Apollo once again moved to thwart the attack, but unlikest time, the force of this attack was much more significant, and it possessed a focused point, whereas the previous was merely a cluster of lightning forming the shape of a beam.

    Thus, it was many times more difficult for Apollo to stop this attack. The first phantasm and second phantasms were punctured easily, but Apollo didn''t move from his position.

    Instead, he felt that Gram was ready to be wielded, so he shed towards the iing kick. Needless to say, with the power embedded in each of their strikes, an explosion of mes and lightning urred.

    Whoosh!

    The area was deluged by the aftershock of their attack, causing Typhir to move before the rest of them while stabbing his sword into the ground. A destructive aura appeared, shielding them from the st but notpletely.

    Approximately halfway through dealing with the st, Typhir roared in pain as the screen made of destructive aura presented signs of crumpling. It wasn''t because his Aura was too much; Typhir had simply consumed too much of his Aura during his brief fight against Amduscias.

    Simply put, he was running on fumes. Noticing this cry of pain, Apollo nced towards the others before flinging his arm. A shadow zoomed towards Typhir, which soon changed in his eyes. It wasn''t a shadow that was thrown towards them, it was Ouroboros!

    During his flight, Ouroboros''s body started expanding. Once he wasrge enough, he coiled around Typhir and the others, using his massive body to protect them from any future sts. At the same time, his body emitted a soft crimson mist that empowered their Ira.

    ''Now that is taken care of¡­'' Apollo redirected his attention towards Amduscias. However, he hadmitted a mistake. Taking his eyes off one of the fastest demons within the ancient household was a mistake!

    Boom!

    Apollo''s head was knocked back as Amdsuciasnded a kick that sent Apollo stumbling backward.

    While it was a clean hit, Amduscias looked at Apollo in surprise. ''He¡­ wasn''t sent flying back?! I elerated at the perfect moment, it should have been more than enough to jolt his body.''

    Meanwhile, Vc''s eyes widened as he watched this scene. Despite hiscking view, Vc watched the events through a small space in Ouroboros''s ovepping body. As he watched the kicknd, he shook his head while inhaling sharply. "Oooooooh~! You probably shouldn''t have done that!"

    Apollo''s head gradually angled downward as he spat blood on the ground with a sharpened gaze. "Clean hit, but it was more a tickle. I''ll return the favor!"

    Fwooom!

    A frighteningly sharp aura appeared on Apollo''s sword as he swung it downward. Amduscias instinctively dodged the attack, but when the dust cleared, he realized the half of the building was split in half!

 Chapter 488 - Two Ultimate Strikes

    ----

    In addition to Apollo''s attack shocking Amduscias momentarily, he was also appalled by the fact that half of his shrine disappeared. After all, he spent quite a lot of resources to im this ce since it was rumored to be highly durable, yet Apollo''s strike eviscerated the building within one hit.

    Granted, it was an Annihtion, so the power behind the attack was absurd, especially while the presence of his Stigmata was amplifying his strength and explosive power.

    ''M-my building¡­'' Amduscias thought while staring wordlessly as half of the building toppled over. It felt like his heart was being crushed as he watched half of the unblemished mirrors shatter as a result of Apollo''s attack.

    Besides spending countless hours trying to find someone capable of burning away all the impurities inside the ss to create a piece of pristine smoothness, it was challenging for Amduscias to find a piece of ss with the properties needed to conduct the simultaneous transfer of the dark lightning.

    Eventually, Amduscias''s fury ballooned. The dark lightning surrounding his spear grew out of control as an image of a winged beast with terrifying amounts of dark lightning billowing around its body appeared behind him.

    In his rage, Amduscias tapped into his manifestation as well, except his manifestation seemed at least three times clearer than Apollo''s. Be that as it may, Apollo remained unperturbed by the worsening situation.

    In fact, Apollo lifted his hands, calmly swinging them together, which caused two huge ws to m towards Amduscias''s trembling body. After reaching his tipping point, Amduscias''s blood started to roil, bing supercharged by the dark lightning as well.

    Boom! Boom!

    The two ws made direct contact with Amduscias''s body, producing a nerve-rattling explosive noise. However, throughout the impact, Apollo merely frowned. While it was confirmed that the attack was a direct hit, Apollo sensed that something was amiss with the impact.

    Apollo soon understood the amiss feeling as he watched the debris clear from the collision. The armor surrounding Amduscias underwent a bizarre change! The spear in his hand fused his with the armor, turning both of his arms into spears that crackled with obscene amounts of power.

    Furthermore, the armor seemed to sharpen as what appeared to be numerous spearheads protruded from his elbows, toes, knees, shoulder all of Amduscias''s joints were turned in weapons.

    Once this happened, Amduscias looked towards Apollo with a savage gleam in his eyes.

    "Kill," Amduscias uttered.

    Suddenly, a dangerous burst of dark lightning surged towards Apollo, forcing him to dodge as soon as possible. Apollo''s wings unfurled, dripping with sweltering mes as he moved to the side.

    However, despite moving, Apollo froze for a moment as he stared at the destruction that followed Amduscias''s attack. Whereas his attack left smooth traces due to its unmatched sharpness, Amduscias''s attack merely sted any obstacle apart.

    Finally, thest structure to get him was filled with countless holes, as if the lightning st was created from numerous small lightning spears.

    ''Interesting¡­ has he infused his spearmanship into his armor, effectively turning his armor into a terrifying means of attack? If so, I can see why my father chose his lightning over his spear. This effect is absolutely phenomenal,'' Apollo thought as an excited grin gradually appeared on his face.

    Compared to the other enemies Apollo faced to date, Apollo was confident that Amduscias''s power was far more terrifying than the rest.

    Sadly, Apollo didn''t have any time to marvel at Amduscias''s abilities as he dashed towards Apollo once he realized that he managed to dodge the attack without suffering any damage.

    Amidst his dash, Amduscias snapped his fingers, which caused tens of lightning spears to detach from his armor and zoom towards Apollo after experiencing a bout of eleration. This caused Apollo''s eyebrows to jump.

    After all, these spears appeared to be faster than Amduscias as the point of focus was much smaller, allowing for a higher eleration rate. Thus, Apollo was forced to weave back and forth, attempting to dodge this set of attacks.

    However, just as he sessfully dodged the projectiles, a quick session of three more snaps followed. Needless to say, Apollo''s view was deluged by a wall of dark lightning spears converging on his body.

    Left without a choice, Apollo inhaled while impaling Gram into the ground. Afterward, two dense collections of Ira appeared on his palm with faint traces of Purgatory''s Blood appearing. Once that happened, Apollo mmed his hands together, sending a shockwave of pure Ira hurtling towards the spears.

    A contest of power took ce as the shockwave of Ira and the wall of lightning spear shed against one another. Unfortunately, Apollo estimated that his attack wouldn''t hold for a long, especially after sensing Amduscias transfer another set of supercharged Superbia into this attack.

    Therefore, Apollo moved first, generating a cluster of Ira atop Gram. Before releasing an attack, Apollo leaned towards the de and whispered. "I know you''re iplete, but I believe you have the makings to be an excellent weapon. So, I need you to prove to me that your assistance is above all.''

    Almost as if the sword reacted to Apollo''s words, the runes on the de trembled as a message appeared before Apollo.

    ¡´System: Congrattions, your weapon, ?Gram, The Sword of Fury? is experiencing its first cleansing with the help of your Purgatory''s Bloodline. In return, a temporary effect has appeared.¡µ

    ¡´System: The consumption of ?Gram, The Sword of Fury? has been halved while the increase of your attack power has increased to 200% for two minutes.¡µ

    Although the change wasn''t permanent, Apollo was satisfied by the notifications that appeared. After all, he found it strange that a weapon formed from Ira didn''t sap his Purgatory''s Blood. At first, he thought his Purgatory''s Blood quality was inadequate, but then he recalled how Fuhrer cherished Brynhildr and realized there was no bond between him and his weapon.

    If he continued down that road, then it would take forever for Gram to generate a soul. First, the material needed to be primed for the presence of a soul. Once that happened, the runes needed to attune with his soul in order to be in the state required to receive a fragmented soul.

    Meanwhile, Apollo understood that his Ira was at an all-time low. At most, he felt his Ira would suffice tounch three more strikes even after the consumption of Gram was halved. The constant use of his fused form and the stigmata put a considerable strain on his vessel.

    Therefore, Apollo cleared his throat and looked towards Amduscias. "Let''s settle this now. We''ll dere the winner with these next set of attacks."

    "There''s no need to specte. The winner of this scuffle will be me, but I have no desire to kill you. I will just let you know that I''m the one who''s still superior," Amduscias responded.

    A momentter, he took a step forward, turning into a stream of dark lightning that bounced around the shrine room unpredictably. Due to the speed of Amduscias''s movement, Apollo was unable to catch a trace of Amduscias''s presence even after fusing the power of Languished Perception and Unbound Eyes.

    However, Apollo didn''t focus on Amduscias. Instead, he first sacrificed all of his G to form an immense Devouring Neb in the center of the room. Its attractive force was so strong that everything in the room was pulled towards the center of the room.

    Even Ouroboros was forced to form a small space utilizing an opposite attractive force. ''Master''s G is slowly growing stronger than mine. Whoa!''

    At times, Amduscias''s body stopped moving when he grew too close to the Devouring Neb in the center of the room. He even entertained the thought of blowing up therge orb but decided against it after recalling the incidents centered around demons who traveled the path of G in the past.

    Destroying a neb yielded one of two results: either the neb copsed and resulted in a burst of energy the devouring in an expanding ring, or the destroyed neb enveloped a huge radius in a mysterious power linked to nothingness, which inevitably trapped the absorbed contents in an unreachable space.

    Amduscias wished to experience neither of these oues, but he also knew that these two scenarios required a high purity to aplish. Thus, he aimed his attention at Apollo while gathering his energy for thest attack when suddenly his expression fell.

    ''There''s no way this is all the dark lightning I can muster. I just refilled arge portion of it!'' Amduscias thought to himself. Despite wielding arge amount of dark lightning, Amduscias felt it was inadequate whenpared against the healing ability of Apollo.

    Recalling the events that led up to this moment, Amduscias shook his head. ''I took on too many battles. Or rather, I expended needless energy. It seems I''ll have to do that.''

    All of a sudden, Amduscias'' expression grew calm and sharp as the armor covering his body receded. Within seconds all of the dark lightning was channeled into his spear, creating a terrifying scene.

    On the other hand, Apollo''s sword zed with ck and red mes rampaging through the skies. Each side had prepared one of their ultimate strikes to deal with their opponent!

 Chapter 489 - The Outcome

    ----

    At this point, the violent fluctuations from the gathered energy of both sides caused a raucous sorge that even the individuals deeper within the Ring of Suprenis noticed the disturbance. However, they decided against checking out the incident once they realized the point of origin.

    It was the home of the Lightning Killer! Trespassing on his turf was akin to iming a death wish. Therefore, no one was willing to throw away their life meaninglessly. Whoever was foolish enough to intrude upon his territory were as insane as theye and they didn''t intend to join the lot.

    Meanwhile, Apollo and Amduscias finished preparing their attacks as their Auras shed against one another,ing to an immediate standstill. Since Amduscias wascking in dark lightning, the effectiveness of his Aura and Dominion reduced drastically, and it did so at a rapid pace.

    Even Apollo could sense how quickly Amduscias''s advantage was dissipating. Be that as it may, he understood that this wasn''t a sign to be nonchnt. He understood that even in his weakest form, with his knowledge ofbat and his superior vessel, Amduscias was a worthy opponent.

    Still, Apollo wanted to take advantage of the opportunity granted to him. The raging inferno surrounding Gram condensed further as a dense coat of mental energypressed the exterior.

    When it came to mes, the more condensed they became, the more explosive power they retained. Against something like dark lightning, Apollo needed all the assistance possible to level the ying field. In a sense, dark lightning was even more terrifying than Hellfire and perhaps when brought to its most extreme, even on par with Purgatory''s Blood.

    Finally, both sides reached a point wherein it was impossible to contain their energies any longer. Thus, both sides dashed towards each other with a solemn expression. Despite grazing the ground ever so slightly, Apollo''s sword opened a fissure of magma as it passed over the ground.

    Conversely, thick arcs of lightning reminiscent of snakes slithered across the ground, appearing like a stream as Amduscias drew near Apollo. Each side was terrifyingly strong, so much so just the residual power seeping from their attacks was sufficient enough to change the terrain they battled upon.

    A sign of extreme power was being able to effortlessly change one''s surroundings with the effects of battle. When he first appeared, Apollo couldn''t dent a wall from a building in the center of Ashiraem.

    Granted, he used an average punch and not a technique. Still, his punch at that time was empowered by the energy coursing through him. So while slightly different, it was close enough to disy how much he had changed in a rtively short period of time.

    Given enough time, Apollo could undoubtedly be an unchallenged monster. It was just a shame that his circumstances didn''t allow time to be on his side. After all, the protection of the Nihilistic Rings were crumbling and there was still the threat of the Monarch''s Candidates that Apollo faced.

    At this point, he wasn''t sure what he''d do with them when he made contact. Sure, Azridan wanted revenge, but what came next? After achieving revenge, what would be their next move? This was a question that loomed within Apollo''s mind even though he barely paid that situation much thought.

    The dire circumstances were simply strong enough to influence his thoughts.

    Nevertheless, Apollo shook his head, regaining peak rity. He was just moments away from making contact with Amduscias. ''It''ll all end with these attacks. The question is¡­ what will be the oue?''

    The two attacks met as this thought crossed Apollo''s mind. Shockingly, it wasn''t as simple as one strike against one strike. In fact, there wasn''t even an explosion. The power gathered around Gram as Apollo swung his de continuously, reacting against a torrents of absurdly thick lightning arcs.

    The exchanges between both sides happened at a speed that Vc and the others couldnt''t even track. The only sign that their battle escted to its peak was the dyed booms that followed each of their collision.

    Prior to each loud boom, Apollo''s sword shredded through the arcs of lightning as the condensed mes surrounding his sword waned. Although he tore through Amduscias''s attack, the sheer concentration of dark lighnitng was shocking!

    Apollo was certain he dealt without two thirds of the lightning just by swinging his sword, yet he couldn''t see an end. Because of this, Apollo''s expression nched as he overdrew on his Ira, sapping it dry.

    In return, thergest Demonic Massacre Wave he had every executed appeared above Apollo''s head. Apollo swiped his hand down the moment it finished forming, causing it to descend at speeds rivaling teleportation.

    Sensing the danger from the enormous iing wave, Amduscias''s gnashed his teeth and pped his hands against each other before pressing against the ground. The dark lightning gathered together, forming a thick wall before Amduscias.

    Though it was done with haste, it was one of the sturdiest barriers Apollo had witnessed to date. If given enough time, Apollo was sure that Amduscias could form a barrier that even he wasn''t capable of prating within a small amount of time.

    Unfortunately, this barrier was made with recycled lightning that was lost at least fifty percent of its potency. While it withstood the initial impact of the massive Demonic Massacre Wave, countless cracks spread throughout the exterior of the barrier.

    A few momentster, it shatteredpletely, exposing Amduscias''s near defenseless body. Since he sacrificed his armor to empower hisst attack, which was a never-ending barrage of lightning attacks, his defenses were at an all-time low.

    However, the body of a member from the Dominus Household, especially that of a Demonic Duke, wasn''t one to look down upon. Just as Amduscias''s barrier shattered, the constant pressure acting against the wave caused it to lose arge amount of dreadful energy as well.

    So, it was only a shadow of its initial form by the time it reached Amduscias.

    He confronted the attack with his body, clutching the edges of the attack while sliding backward. The momentum of his slide came to a grinding halt as the wave soon dissipated into motes of crimson and ck lights.

    "Quite a strong attack," Amduscias said after a deep groan. The blow crushed over eighty percent of his ribs, yet he remained standing, looking at Apollo with an obscure expression.

    It was only for a moment, but he could sense Apollo''s current state during hisst attack.

    ''Hmm, he''s in an odd state somewhere between a Greater Demon and Archdemon yet wield power at the top of an Archdemon''s old standard? Truly a seconding of the Monarch. I can see why Vc followed this guy,'' Amduscias thought.

    Eventually, the remnant dark lightning disappeared, flowing back into Amduscias''s body. As this happened, his crushed torso healed at a visible rate. In fact, the rate of Amduscias''s healing was no less than Apollo''s when the jewel assisted his recovery.

    "It took everything I had. If that wasn''t the case, then I might as well crush all of my dreams right now," Apollo replied while falling to one knee. Although he could have revealed his trump card, the Fourth Annihtion, it wasn''t the right time in this fight.

    Besides, the information he possessed on Amduscias wascking. So, Apollo preferred to use his body so he could thoroughly understand the scope of Amduscias''s power. Needless to say, after this fight, his judgment was clear.

    ''I''d say he''s as strong as Asteroth; their strengths are just focused on two different fronts. It''d be a battle of wits and how to apply one''s strength that would determine the victor between these two. Overall, I''m pleased,'' Apollo nodded with a faint smile.

    Meanwhile, Ouroboros shrank as he slithered through the air,nding around Apollo''s shoulder. A steady stream of Ira flowed into Apollo, replenishing his dried-up Ira at an incredible pace.

    "So, are you reestablishing the Household of the Monarch?" Amduscias asked while crossing his arms. Despite his weakened state, his confidence remained. Still, his curiosity surrounding Apollo''s action was more significant than his confidence.

    In response, Apollo gave a silent nod. However, Amduscias''s question didn''t do Apollo''s desire justice. Not only would he reestablish the Household, but Apollo also wanted to create something much more substantial. To do so, he needed to add to the core foundation of the Household.

    "Who do you have so far?" Amduscias questioned once again. Until now, whenever Apollo defeated a demon, they merely joined the team; however, that wasn''t the case with Amduscias. This was Apollo''s first time interacting with someone of Amduscias''s caliber, so he understood the same strategy wouldn''t work.

    "In truth, not many. The old members are far too spread out for me to acquire them in a short time. For now, I''m focusing on the ones with abilities crucial to our sess," Apollo admitted.

    For a moment, Amduscias was silent, but then aplex expression appeared, " Crucial abilities? If that''s the case, I suppose you''re going after Asteroth next?"

    "Correct," Apollo answered.

    "Very well. I suggest you handle the battle in a different way. Direct confrontation is the worst way to go up against him.. Nevertheless, I''ll join you," Amduscias said, causing a notification to appear before Apollo''s eyes.

 Chapter 490 - Amduscias Joins

    ----

    ¡´System: Congrattions, the Demonic Dark Lightning Duke Amduscias has agreed to return to the Dominus Household. [One of the qualifications to upgrade the level of the household has been achieved.¡µ

    ¡´System: Because of the restriction ced upon you by the system, all of the rewards except for the purification of your Superbia and an increase to the Experience Pool shall be put on hold.¡µ

    ¡´System: Since the household possesses a character with a sealed title of a Duke, all of the lower level hidden pieces can be acquired without battle by using the proper methods.¡µ

    Aside from thest message, Apollo pretty much expected the oue. After all, the message was simr to when he acquired all of the other pieces currently in his possession. However, as the only piece with the most substantial title by far, excluding Fuhrer, of course, Amduscias''s presence produced some extra quality of life effects.

    Apollo could acquire them through other means instead of wasting time battling the lower-level demons that maintained a certain level of importance. Presumably, this means had something to do with his title as the true heir.

    Moreover, Apollo estimated that the lower-level mentioned in the notification only included those at the Demonic Earl or lower. At that level, all of the demons were essentially much weaker than Apollo, so it shouldn''t take much effort to overpower them with strength regardless.

    Meanwhile, the faded insignia of the Dominus Household located on Amduscias''s chest returned to its former glory as he felt the power of the household authority return to him. While his authority was stillckingpared to Typhir since he was without a proper role at the moment, Amduscias still smiled.

    "Furcas¡­ Old Man Fuhrer and Vc, the rest are all unfamiliar to me," Amduscias said as he stared at Apollo. Based on what he felt, he could tell that the household members all possessed an odd power signature, proving that each member had a unique bloodline tailored to their abilities.

    ''How could he get so lucky? Even the weakest of these demons possess a Major Bloodline. I believed them to be on the decline, yet this young Lord managed to find so many with a bloodline like such?'' Amduscias thought to himself.

    As mentioned before, not only was the caliber of the demons on a steady decline, but the presence of powerful bloodlines was also. So, while Minor Bloodlines were easy to find, Major Bloodlines were much harder to locate, and Perfected Bloodlines were essentially impossible to find.

    So, Amduscias''s shock was to be expected. Even he didn''t possess a bloodline surpassing the Major level. However, despite having a bloodline, he was an individual who rarely used it because it appeared before he awakened the dark lightning, so it didn''t agree with the power.

    Suddenly, Apollo gestured for him toe over. While doing so, an obscure aura appeared at the tips of Apollo''s fingers. A portion of it seemed identical to the Aura of Domination, but the other half was in fact his bloodline, which Apollo learned to be a strong influencer of the system.

    It was required when he wanted to move forward with any problematic actions, such as altering the foundation of an ancient member. Though he wasn''t sure if he was at the level, Apollo wanted to test if he could heighten the physique of a member that surpassed the others by leaps and bounds.

    Answering the beckon, Amduscias sauntered over before Apollo and stood face to face with him. "Is there something else we need to address?"

    "In fact, there is," Apollo answered with a faint smile. He then thrust his arm into Amduscias''s chest without any indication of performing this action. Despite the scene, Amduscias didn''t flinch at all.

    It was true that Apollo moved suddenly, which would usually rouse suspicion, but Amduscias sensed zero dark intentions. Therefore, he let Apollo be.

    Conversely, Apollo nced at the notification before his eyes, sitting on the edge of his seat.

    ¡´System: The system is estimating the best scenario for this member. The result shall appear momentarily.¡µ

    Although the system said it would appear momentarily, seconds soon turned into minutes, but Apollo didn''t fret. Instead, his grin deepened as he watched the loading bar inch towardspletion.

    While it wasn''t a confirmed assumption, Apollo realized the duration of the system''s processing time usually hinted at the strength of the change it was estimating. In Amduscias''s case, there were too many factors that contributed to a long time.

    There was his robust physique, his understanding of Aura utilization, the presence of apleted Dominion, and finally, his higher title. So, while there was a chance that a proper upgrade was iing, there was also the possibility that the system just needed more time toprehend his power thoroughly.

    Apollo waved his hand during this time, causing Typhir and the others to walk up to him. Apollo turned slightly, allowing his eyes to fall upon Vc alone. "Come."

    Since his tone was calm, Vc wasn''t sure of the reason for his summons. As a result, a shred of nervousness entered his mind as he stepped towards Apollo. "Y-yes, my Lord? Do I do something wrong? Oh, please no! I was good. I''m telling the truth!"

    "Not particrly. I just want to know why a fight took ce so fast? I dispatched you all not too long ago, yet I received ring signals that you all were in trouble. If you behaved, how is that so?" Apollo questioned.

    In response, Vc choked and stuttered over his words. After all, the reason behind the confrontation was his past conduct, not his present one. So, in a sense, it was his fault regardless. Vc just hoped that Apollo didn''t see it this way.

    Releasing a defeated sigh, Vc dropped his head and revealed the reason behind the confrontation. Off to the side, Amduscias was surprised by the development. From what he knew, Vc wasn''t one to lower his head and admit to his wrongdoings without someone having to torture him endlessly.

    However, not even a hand was raised to him, and Vc spilled the truth. It was indeed a sight! In Amduscias''s memory, only four individuals were capable of invoking this type of fear within Vc.

    ''Does this new Lord invoke fear on the level of Old Man Fuhrer, the Savage Queen, the Ruthless King, and finally our Monarch? If so, then this shall be an exciting next set of years,'' Amduscias thought to himself. Unlike the others, he had yet to witness Apollo''s wrath firsthand.

    Only once that happened would he understand that Apollo traveled a path either on par or far worse than what Amduscias had seen in the past. After all, Apollo''s strength could be seen as the culmination of all demons who followed him.

    The system prepared Demonic Conduct to give him a sense of the demons who drew strength from a power separate from Sin.

    Suddenly, a message appeared before Apollo''s eyes as a voice sounded within.

    "Have you seeded young Lord? Did you manage to im that proud boy?" Fuhrer asked. His tone seemedzy as if he was sauntering around or rxing rather than his normal poised demeanor.

    "I did," Apollo replied. After a moment, he continued. "It was difficult, but not as difficult as I estimated. ording to Vc, he appeared here on purpose to expose himself to Amduscias''s anger, which in turn, exhausted arge amount of his energy."

    "Oh? What a shrewd boy. In a sense, he rendered you aid without breaking the restrictions ced upon us by the Monarch. Interesting. I''m sure he''s unaware of the restrictions since only I was made aware, but Imend him nheless," Fuhrer answered.

    "Ah, by the way, it is done. I have aplished what you''ve asked of me. Though, if I''m being honest, I was quite heavy-handed. So I''ve imed three strongholds for you in this Ring. You can manage them as you see fit when you return," Fuhrer added.

    A look of surprise appeared on Apollo''s face but he just chuckled afterward. ''It seems that everyone shows their eagerness for chaos when I''m not present. Well, it has given the desired results so I have no issues with it.''

    Next, Apollo shifted his attention to the notification before him.

    ¡´System: Absorbing the Demonic Duke Dark Lightning Duke as one of your summons has resulted in a slight change to your attributes.¡µ

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lv.6

    Name: Apollo Kaiser

    Race: Greater Demon [100%]

    Title: Monarch''s True Heir, Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 18

    Level: 199

    Experience: 100%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 220,000 units

    -----

    Strength: 5,343.0

    Agility: 4,919.0

    Intelligence: 2,787.5

    Vitality: 2,668.0

    Comprehension: 308.8

    Willpower: 278.8

    -----------

    [?Traits?]- 8

    ?Supreme Demon Body?

    ?Unbound Eyes?

    ?Gluttonous Soul?

    ?Vacant Soul?

    ?Eye of Mimicry?

    ?Eye of Desire?

    ?Intrepid Mind?

    ?Tempting Corruption?

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 5

    ?Demonic Imposition: Adamantine Servitude? [Partially Awakened]

    ?Demonic Providence: Domination? [Sealed]

    -----------

    [?Sin Margins?]

    Ira - Late [Infernal Hellfire]

    G - Primary [Endless Devouring]

    Avaritia - Initial [Boundless Desires]

    Superbia - Late [Adamant Will]

    Invidia - Initial [Covetous Eye]

    Luxuria - Initial [Corrupted Eye]

    Acedia - Initial [Languish Perception]

    ...

    ''I guess I should expect as much from someone who specializes in pure agility,'' Apollo thought.

    At the same time, Apollo pressed his palm against Amduscias''s forehead, opening an expansive menu with more options than Apollo thought was possible!

 Chapter 491 - Immense Possibilities

    ----

    ¡´System: Based on the number of simtions while considering the affinities of the individual, there are five possible choices when ites to strengthening the power of this individual. All of the present options survived a strict elimination process.¡µ

    ¡¸List of enhancing opportunities:

    1. Bloodline Awakening

    2. Unsealing the Duke''s Dominion

    3. Sin Purification

    4. Noble Demon Body

    5. Dark Lightning Limit Expansion ¡¹

    Apollo grew quiet after reading through the list of avable options. After all, each of the present options possessed a certain amount of allure. While some of the choices were focused on long-term benefits, others focused on immediate returns.

    For example, unsealing Amduscias''s Dominion produced more benefits now than it didter. Yes, it was already quite strong, but the unsealing wasn''t linked to its strength but rather the scope it covered.

    In other words, unsealing Amduscias''s control over his Dominion would liberate the scope of his Dominion, possibly expanding its coverage to at least five times of what it was prior. Hence, if there were any uing brutal battles, this could work well if it enhanced the team''s synergy.

    Not to mention, there was also the chance that unsealing the Dominion would give it the ability to transfer its power to allies. If that was the case, then it could be one of the household''s hidden weapons! Should they ever find themselves in a predicament where the opponent''s speed outsses them on a whole different level, Amduscias''s Dominion could be game-changing!

    Next, there was also Sin Purification. It was just as it sounded; the system would generate enough resources to purify Amduscias''s Sin, virtually catapulting him to the next level of Sin Energy. However, this option was the least alluring of all the possible choices.

    For one, Apollo doubted that Amduscias''s Sin needed any purifying at this very moment. Even if he wasn''t sure, Apollo had a feeling that Amduscias''s original power was too far from mastering his sole Sin. Left with enough time, Apollo was confident Amduscias could purify the Sin himself.

    As a result, Apollo immediately dismissed that option, leaving four remaining. Despite how simple the unsealing sounded, it still held Apollo''s interest. He wasn''t willing to overlook that choice just yet. In fact, before making this decision, he intended to consult with Amduscias.

    After all, despite the benefits being in the household''s best interest, it was ultimately Amduscias''s decision since it involved his body. ''I don''t want to be that ruler who doesn''t take into ount the wishes of his subjects. Sure, I can control them, but that isn''t the best route in every situation.''

    Simr to the Sin Purification, Apollo also looked at the Noble Demon Body option and instantly dismissed it. Like Sin Purification, this was a process that happened when a demon evolved, so it was inevitable. Apollo didn''t want to waste the system''s strengthening on an option that was bound to happen.

    Apollo preferred an option that possessed a next to impossible chance of taking ce through natural events. So, in his eyes, there were only thest two that were genuinely intriguing.

    ''If we expanded the limit of his dark lightning, then we can essentially expand every other piece of his power, seeing as it all originates from this. Additionally, he''ll be able to activate its second state longer while within his Dominion,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Gradually, this option sat on the same level as the unsealing in Apollo''s mind. However, he''d be lying if he said the Dominion didn''t hold more allure to him. Just the thought of having everyone inside the household benefit from one person''s advancement excited Apollo.

    Lastly, Apollo took a gander at the most enticing option on the list¨DBloodline Awakening. Everyone, save for the ancient member who was either next bestowed one or just didn''t possess the right physique to ept one, possessed a bloodline within the Dominus Household.

    Therefore, Apollo felt it was only fitting that someone like Amduscias possess one as well. Based on what he estimated, it was a possibility that providing Amduscias a bloodline could potentially achieve the effects of all the granted choices simultaneously.

    However, Apollo understood that it''d take an exceptionally powerful bloodline to achieve all of the desired effects. It was even possible that the required level fell just shy of his own.

    ''Would we need a Perfected Bloodline at the very least? I mean,pared to the others, Amduscias''s power is much higher. A low-tier bloodline wouldn''t increase his power at all. We need one that is guaranteed to amplify his power,'' Apollo thought.

    After weighing the options, he felt only three were viable, so he posed them to Amduscias. "I have a question for you, Amduscias."

    Amduscias turned towards him with a raised eyebrow in response to Apollo''s statement, "That would be?"

    "If you had a choice between unsealing your Dominion''s original power, receiving a Bloodline Awakening, or expanding the limits of your dark lightning, which would you choose?" Apollo asked.

    The question came as a huge shock, so Amduscias was shocked for a moment. Before answering, he turned towards the others and analyzed their bodies. Except for Vc, everyone seemed unaffected by Apollo''s question, which indicated this was something that had happened before.

    "Then¡­ my Lord, are you hinting that you''re able to give us bloodlines? Is that why the others are the way they are now?" Amduscias questioned in return. His curiosity was piqued, so he needed confirmation before making a drastic decision. After all, he was sure a weighty decision like this was something that couldn''t be reversed.

    "Correct. I am the reason behind this household''s abundance of demons with bloodlines, and you can join the ranks as well. This is one of the reasons the race fell. If our members possessed this power in the past, then we could have stood our ground by letting the power of the bloodlines flow through us," Apollo answered with a passionate gaze.

    This reaction came from the fact that more unfamiliar and daunting memories awakened each time his strength advanced. While the system never mentioned the original owner of these memories, Apollo could gleam from the point of view that memories belonged to his father.

    However, watching these memories merely made Apollo question the events even more. ''If it''s true that father couldn''t bestow bloodlines despite the unfavorable circumstances, how am I able to do so? More importantly, could father really be the creator of this so-called system if the scope of his power surpasses that of his own as well?''

    This question boggled Apollo''s mind for quite some time because no one was present to give him the answers. Thus, after a while, he pushed his curiosity to the back of his mind. Once ready and sufficiently powerful, Apollo determined he would seek out the answer then.

    Meanwhile, Amduscias finally answered. "In my opinion, it''d be most worthwhile for me to receive a rewritten bloodline. My current bloodline is unusable," Amduscias said before performing an action that shocked everyone present.

    A spear created from a block of crystalline ck ice appeared above Amduscias'' palm, levitating and twisting as he focused his attention on the creation.

    "So, your bloodline is centered around this type of ice? Why do you find it unusable?" Apollo questioned as he approached the spear, injecting a gentle stream of energy within the spear.

    Unfortunately, the moment Apollo introduced this energy, the spear Amduscias created shattered, leaving Apollo at a loss for words. ''It''s that delicate?''

    "This is why it is unusable. It can''t withstand that slightest bit of energy, and attacking is also impossible. While it lethal against Lesser Demons and some Greater Demons, it''s far too brittle to be of any use at my level," Amduscias said with a defeated sigh. He didn''t understand why he possessed a lowly bloodline despite his immense potential.

    It felt unfair. Luckily, Apollo posed his earlier question, which ignited hope within Amduscias¨Dthe yearning to grow stronger with the help of a power that was previously fabled not to exist.

    "I understand," Apollo nodded. Afterward, he continued, "I suppose this is the best choice. A weak bloodline could turn into an issueter on if we don''t erase it right now."

    Though he said this, Apollo was also concerned as well. ''Is it possible for the system to cleanse bloodlines? I''ve only heard of it bestowing bloodlines, not cleansing them. That means we''ll be leaving this up to chance. However, we can''t be scared because we miss all of the opportunities we don''t address.''

    After building his courage, Apollo lifted his hand towards Amduscias''s forehead once again. This time, he uttered Bloodline Awakening while doing so. As a result, a new list appeared before Apollo, except there were only three options with brief descriptions.

    ¡¸Possible Bloodline Awakenings:

    1. ck Phantasm Bloodline - Increases the darkness present in the individual. Helpful in strengthening the concealment and fear properties found within the dark lightning.

    2. Lightning Fiend Bloodline - Increases the effects and limits of any wielder of lightning. The destructive force and snap eleration of lighting is increased dramatically.

    3. Lightning Tundra Bloodline - Allows the user to wield supercharged conductive ice. Increases the effects of all lightning-based attacks in addition to doubling the impact of fused attacks.¡¹

    Reading through the options, only one thought came to Apollo''s mind: "Whoa."

 Chapter 492 - Choosing A Bloodline

    ----

    Each of the following bloodlines appeared to go through a meticulous selection process that chose the few bloodlines that agreed with Amduscias most. From what Apollo estimated, each of the choices should be at the Perfected level. On top of being one of the highest possible bloodline levels, another factor made it easy to determine the magnitude of a bloodline.

    When it came to Perfected Bloodlines, a clear indication that a bloodline reached this level was the fact that it boosted the individual''s primarybat abilities to the highest level possible. In Amduscias''s case, the bloodline bestowment could enhance three potential strengths.

    One, there was his lightning in general, which is where the Lightning Fiend Bloodline came in. It enhanced all factors of his lightning usage, allowing it to step into a new ce, whether it be destructive power, the speed at which he released the lightning as well as how fast each of his lightning creations could travel.

    Once all of these factorsbined into one, it gave birth to the perfect situation for Amduscias''s lightningbat, hence why Apollo believed these bloodlines to be at the Perfected level.

    Meanwhile, a Pinnacle Bloodline meant that not only would the user be able to exhibit their highestbat power, but that power could seep down to others as well. So, in a sense, a Pinnacle Bloodline was simply a Perfected Bloodline with a mass ability.

    However, a mass ability was rare, which was why Apollo''s bloodline was the only Pinnacle Bloodline present in the history of demonic records.

    Even Fuhrer wasn''t sure whether bloodlines of that level existed outside of Apollo''s body. While it wasn''t confirmed, Fuhrer was willing to bet that the origin belonged to a separate upper race''s genealogy if it did. Just as Demons could awaken bloodlines, the other blessed races could awaken bloodlines unique to their physiques as well.

    It simply operated under different principles since they weren''t demons like the others.

    Next, Apollo nced at the first bloodline while rubbing his chin in thought. He had a feeling that there was an untapped power in Amduscias''s lightning. Yes, it possessed the power of corruption and was very difficult to track, but Apollo felt it wascking in this department for some reason.

    After reading the summary of the bloodline, he understood why. ''So, there''s inherent darkness melded with the lightning; however, Amduscias tends to treat the lightning as if it''s normal when it''s in fact not. Judging by this bloodline, there seems to be a lot of untapped potential he isn''t utilizing.''

    Apollo felt that the lightning could be even more devastating if Amduscias could capitalize on the concealment properties of the dark lightning. If he could train the obscurity of the dark lightning to its peak, then Apollo was confident that Amduscias could develop into one of the most frightening assassins due to his monstrous speed.

    Even after reaching over 4,900 Agility, Apollo wasn''t confident in overtaking Amduscias in this department. Thepounded increase of his innate speed and ability to elerate to baffling speeds chipped away at Apollo''s confidence.

    Granted, this was only for now. Just because Apollo wasn''t confident didn''t mean that it would stay that way. Apollo estimated that all he needed was one year at the most to be Amduscias equal without the activation of his stigmata or the usage of any Iplete Armaments.

    Apollo believed his raw power would be enough to bridge the gap given enough time.

    Lastly, Apollo nced at thest bloodline¨Dthe Lightning Tundra. Truth be told, it sounded more like a title than it did a bloodline. However, Apollo couldn''t disparage the bloodline''s effects. In fact, it was an obscene improvement upon Amduscias''s current bloodline.

    And, from what Apollo read, it was simr to the Lightning Fiend Bloodline. It was just that this bloodline more so focused on the boost around the ice rather than the lightning.

    Despite that fact, Apollo was sure that the bloodline could be just as valuable as the previous two; it''d also give Amduscias the included benefit of possessing a variety of attacking abilities.

    However, Apollo was silent as he didn''t know which of the bloodlines Amduscias preferred. As mentioned before, this decision was Amduscias''s since it was linked to his future. Besides, any of the three were viable, allowing Apollo to be indifferent about Amduscias''s decision.

    After weighing his option, Apollo presented them to Amduscias, who fell into a deep silence while pondering the best choice for himself. Immediately, his attention fell on the Lightning Fiend Bloodline since most, if not all, of his attacks included his lightning.

    Without his lightning, his power would be more than halved because the core properties of his Dominion operated on the strength of his lightning as well. So, the temptation of increasing his storage limit intrigued Amduscias greatly.

    On the other hand, the Lightning Tundra Bloodline also interested Amduscias as well. It''d give him a chance to relearn the usages of his original ability. Thus, Amduscias was left at an impasse as he scrambled to choose the answer.

    Noticing the difficulty stered across his face, Apollo ced his hand on Amduscias'' shoulder.

    "Don''t think so hard. Any pick of the given options is a good decision. Each one of them allows you to either hone your style or make it more powerful. Just choose the option that best fits the future you see for yourself."

    "The best fit for my future¡­" Amduscias muttered while staring at Apollo for a moment. This was the first time anyone told him to look to the future. Most demons lived day by day, not worrying about the future, so Amduscias didn''t possess the foresight to look that far.

    Fortunately, Amduscias''s mind was as quick as his body was. Eventually, he turned towards Apollo with a cunning smile. "In your opinion, which of the three options would be best for me?"

    This time, it was Apollo''s turn to be shocked. He gave the decision to Amduscias, yet he was once again asking for Apollo''s input. However, Apollo didn''t make a bigmotion about this. Instead, he presented his opinion on the matter while addressing that each choice possessed an issue that required ample training to resolve.

    "Truth be told, I''d advise you to take the Lightning Fiend Bloodline, but I can also tell you it is incredibly short-sighted amongst the three. While it''s true that your lightning will experience a huge power-up, you should ask yourself if the upgrade is something inevitable," Apollo said.

    Thisment made Amduscias think hard about his decision. It was true that he could quickly increase his limit by returning to his former power while also empowering the core of his Dominion. Hence, the Lightning Fiend Bloodline wasn''t as crucial to his sess as he believed it to be.

    Not epting this bloodline merely meant that his progress would be slower than the instant gratification produced by the system. However, taking into ount his personality, Apollo knew that Amduscias was the type who preferred to acquire his strength through his means.

    Self-indulgent training was the easiest way for Amduscias to feel proud of himself, which inevitably contributed to his ballooned narcissism.

    Therefore, Amduscias shook his head repeatedly. "You''re right. This isn''t the choice, but neither is the first one. I''ve always neglected the dark aspect of the dark lightning, so receiving a bloodline like that is counterproductive. Though, listening to the description is quite interesting. I''ll visit thatter."

    "So it''s settled then?" Apollo answered while slowly lifting his hand. As this decision was final, there was a brief silence between the two before Amduscias finally agreed, cementing his decision.

    ¡´System: You have chosen the Lighting Tundra Bloodline for the Demonic Dark Lightning Duke, Amduscias. [This is an irreversible choice. Do you wish to continue? [Y / N] ?¡µ

    Before finalizing the decision, Apollo nced in Amduscias''s direction. A scenario yed out in his mind where the utilization of this bloodline could open new doorways for Amduscias''s application prowess. Thus, Apollo gave the only usible answer.

    ''Yes.''

    Suddenly, a burst of mystical power burst from Apollo''s palm, injecting itself within Amduscias''s body. Every inch of his body was prated by this aura that radiated a signature beyond Amuscias''s knowledge.

    As the power permeated his body, icy blue veins sprouted up Amduscias'' pale body, originating from his Sin Vessel, Infernal Nucleus and Tainted Temple. The power altered the nature of each power station as the icy blue veins expanded.

    However, they didn''t remain icy blue. The color shifted between four distinct shades numerous times¨Dfrosty blue, pale gold, light purple, and ck. Out of the four shades, the icy blue appeared the most, indicating the most significant alteration.

    Eventually, the process finished, and Amduscias gasped in pain, releasing a frigid breath. Due to Apollo''s acute vision, he could even see the crystal suspended in the small frost cloud.

    ¡´System: Congrattions, your follower has assimted perfectly with a Perfected Bloodline tailored to achieve their highest potential.¡µ

    Meanwhile, Apollo pulled up the information on Amduscias and received the biggest shock since learning of Fuhrer''s true attributes!

 Chapter 493 - Amdusciass Affliction

    ----

    ''No way,'' Apollo thought to himself with widened eyes as he stared at the state of Amduscias''s attributes. On top of the system highlighting the changes that took ce in his attributes, it also revealed that Amduscias possessed several traits not found in the other members of the Dominus Household.

    ¡¸Name: Amduscias [Follower]

    Race: Archdemon (99.99%) [Restricted]

    Title: Demonic Dark Lightning Duke, Lightning Killer

    Bloodline: Lightning Tundra (Aura of eleration)

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 625,000 units

    Sin Volume: 37,500 units

    -----

    [?Traits?]-

    ?Frigid Soul?

    ?Over-vain?

    ?Hyperconductive?

    ?Inverse Fusion?

    -----

    [?Attributes?]-

    Strength: 6,150.0 [18,450.0]

    Agility: 8,000.0 [28,000.0]

    Intelligence: 7,950.0 [16,500.0]

    Vitality: 6,100.0 [16,000.0]

    Perception: 7,500.0 [20,000.0]

    ----

    Superbia: Late [Dark Lightning] ¡¹

    ''All of his actual stats are insane as well. I assume this is the benchmark of a Noblesse? There''s no way this type of strength is achievable as an Archdemon. Not to mention, his current state isbeled as restricted. I wonder what that''s all about,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Soon enough, he looked towards Amduscias and asked the inevitable questions gnawing at his mind, "Are you aware that your evolution has been restricted? Did this happen before or after the household was forcibly disbanded?"

    Amduscias shuddered faintly after hearing his words. Apollo''s seemingly harmless question triggered Amduscias''s memories, which resulted in a helpless frown. "I''m aware of this restriction. I was once a Noblesse, but the great war led to some injuries that I''ve been unable to heal."

    Amduscias''s defeated expression piqued Apollo''s interest. What type of injuries could restrict him from returning to being a Noblesse? What''s more, Apollo wanted to know just what sort of absurd speed he was capable of if his current capabilities amounted to no more than a quarter of his prior abilities.

    "What injuries?" Apollo finally asked. But, there was a brief silence before Amduscias nodded.

    "Since you wish to know, I shall disy it," Amduscias said. A pained groan escaped his throat as a gash formed on his torso. A few momentster, the incision opened up, revealing the state of Amduscias''s Infernal Nucleus.

    Half of the nucleus appeared crushed as the other half seemed decayed. It was unknown just what kind of power he was attacked with to deteriorate his internal strength to this degree, but Apollo was rmed by what he saw.

    Meanwhile, after disying the injury, Amduscias posed a question, "Are you aware of the requirements to be a Noblesse?"

    "Not entirely, but what''s more important right now is for me to learn more about who did this?" Apollo replied.

    "It wasn''t done alone. At my peak, I wasn''t too far from fulfilling the requirements to be a Daemos. Therefore, it took abined attack of a high-ranking Tytaen and Angulus to render me to my current state."

    "So, the Angulus is the reason for the decay and the Tytaen is the reason for your nucleus being crushed?"

    "Precisely," Amduscias admitted.

    However, Apollo''s expression grew confused as he examined the injury. ording to what he knew, the Angulus operated on a power known as Virtue, which was a direct opposite of the power of Sin that the Demons wielded, yet the injury possessed an air of death.

    ''Could he have been attacked by his own kind?'' Apollo wondered. But, Amduscias sensed the skepticism on Apollo''s face and continued the story.

    "You must be wondering how an attack from an admittedly holy race is capable of this, right? It''s because of the adverse effect that appears when either of our races mortally wound one another. Whether it''s a demon wounding an angel or vice versa, the result is a corrupted aura due to the conflict of powers," Amduscias revealed.

    Apollo''s expression lightened after listening to this exnation. ''No wonder we''ve beenbeled mortal enemies. If someone were born strong enough to escape the curse of this type of injury, they''d essentially be a monster, and the bnce broken.''

    The more Apollo thought about the reasons behind the war, the more he realized that the fear of the upper races ran deeper than any other lowly. Only those who have tasted power and wielded its glory could understand the fear of losing it.

    "Now, back to my earlier question regarding the transformation into a Noblesse. This injury is the source of my restriction. Because my nucleus is essentially on the border of death, I can''tplete thest step of forming a Noble Demon Body," Amduscias said with a troubled expression.

    After listening to this dilemma, Apollo finally understood why the system offered a Noble Demon Body as one of the upgrades! If he epted that offer, then Amduscias''s weakness would have disappeared.

    Unfortunately, Apollo wasn''t aware of this issue before he made this decision. If he were, then he would have presented this choice to Amduscias. Be that as it may, Apollo didn''t feel any regret.

    If Fuhrer said it was possible to give Azridan a body again, then it was possible to heal an Infernal Nucleus from a near-death state. In fact, Apollo felt that the medallion in his possession, which also doubled as the key to the household''s fabled blessednd, held the secret to rehabilitating Amduscias''s injured nucleus.

    Hence, Apollo wasn''t too troubled about the predicament. On the contrary, Apollo was grateful because he received early information on the method to be a Noblesse. He wasn''t sure when, but Apollo was confident that the system would lose effect sooner orter.

    At that time, it''d be up to him to continue his progress.

    "Without my nucleus in perfect condition, the fusion of the Sin Vessel and Infernal Nucleus, even before assimting with the Demon Body, would result in a devastating explosion. Because of that reaction, I''ve decided not to attempt it at all," Amduscias.

    While confident in his ability, Amduscias was far from brainless. He wasn''t willing to throw his life away for a horrifyingly tiny chance at achieving more power. Besides, he wasn''t the only one with diminished powers.

    Despite his being the result of a gruesome injury, his power more or less fell in the range of his peers after experiencing their gradual decline over time.

    "I understand," Apollo said. Afterward, he chuckled softly. "Though it shouldn''t worry you at this very moment. I can confirm that not many will be your match with your current powers."

    "You were," Amduscias countered. However, this remark made Apollough even more.

    "My predicament is unique, and after joining me, I''m sure you know why. If not¡­" Apollo paused before cing his hand above Amduscias''s head. An ethereal energy passed through his palm, causing Amduscias''s countenance to change over time.

    Soon enough, it became one of utter shock. "T-The Lord''s actual child?!"

    "In the flesh," Apollo said.

    As a result, Amduscias fell to his knee with a repentant expression. "Please pardon my unsightly behavior. I didn''t know the link to the Monarch ran this deep. My actions were disrespectful."

    Shockingly, Apollo brushed off the reaction. "No need. Trust and respect are things gained through one''s effort. Borrowing on the reputation of my father will only make me growcent. I''m beginning to understand why my progression was designed this way."

    After another bout of inevitable apologies, Amduscias rose to his feet with aplicated expression. "I recall you saying that you intend to go up against Asteroth now?"

    "Correct. On top of that, there are other matters that I need to attend to as well," Apollo said. Recounting the number of demons under his authority Apollo grinned faintly. ''I should have to required number as soon as I bring Asteroth under my wing.''

    Although he was strong, Apollo didn''t feel his current numbers were sufficient for leading an expedition across worlds. After all, the upper races weren''t the only powerful races or worlds out there.

    Apollo could be in for a rude awakening if he visited a world with the notion that all of their inhabitants were bugs.

    "Ahem, does that mean we can return now? BECAUSE I DON''T WANT TO BE HERE ANYMORE," Vc screeched while ring at Amduscias.

    "Why would I be in such a hurry to leave? Now that I''m here, shouldn''t I finish up what you started," Apollo answered with a meaningful smirk.

    "Whaaaaaat? Are we going back there? But we just left," Vcined while shaking his head repeatedly. "At least send me back to Ashiraem!"

    "No need. From what I sensed, you should have already received your punishment. I doubt Tirasha will beat you again."

    "Nope! I''m afraid I have to disagree! I put nothing past that deranged woman!" Vc shouted back.

    Suddenly, Vc shuddered as he noticed Apollo''s unusual smile. "S-she''s right behind me¡­ isn''t she?"

    Just as Vc finished speaking, a cold voice echoed behind him, sounding as if expressed through a clenched jaw. "I''m sorry¡­ what did you say about a deranged woman?"

    "Ahhh!! Mercy! My mouth has diarrhea, and it is explosive. You know I can''t control the bullshit that spews from it. If I could clench it shut, I would!"

    In return, Tirasha just scoffed while shifting her attention towards Apollo, then Amduscias.. The change she sensed from Apollo made her tremble and stand with her mouth agape.

 Chapter 494 - Unknown Presence, Household Expands

    ----

    Noticing Tirasha''s odd expression, Apollo turned towards her with a faint smile apparent on his face. "Is there something wrong? Why do you look as if you''ve lived through your worst nightmare? Has Vc troubled you that much?"

    "N-no! That''s not why!" Tirasha stammered while trying to recover from the earlier shock. However, it was too much for her to bounce back in this little time. She continued to look at Apollo with a shocked gaze until Apollo picked up on the reason why.

    "Oh? If that''s the case, could it be me? Have I done something to you? If so, allow me to apologize," Apollo said with an odd smile. A light fluctuation appeared around his body as the mist of Luxuria seeped from his eyes and surrounded Tirasha.

    Rather than invade her core, Apollo only allowed the Luxuria to circte her body, giving him gradual bits of information. ''Oh? Well, that''s interesting. I didn''t expect her senses to be so keen. Her reaction stems from the fact she can sense the subtle change in my aura that I''ve kept hidden.''

    Until now, Apollo hadn''t run into anyone capable of sensing his hidden aura, much less someone weaker than him. So, Tirasha''s ability to do just that took Apollo by surprise. In fact, Apollo started to wonder if this was possible because of some power or trait that Tirasha possessed.

    If that was true, then her worth was more than Apollo estimated previously.

    ''It''d be best to confirm my suspicions to develop more concrete ns for the future,'' Apollo thought to himself while beckoning for Tirasha toe closer, which she did.

    As she stepped closer, she felt a distinct tingle down her spine. Once she entered within two meters of Apollo, it felt as if she had stepped into murky waters, which wrested away control of her body. Unbeknownst to Tirasha, she was experiencing the effects of Apollo''s title.

    After seeing her visibly tremble, Apollo paused and observed her once again. He could sense the emotion that emanated from her body in droves¨DTirasha felt genuine fear as she stood before Apollo. Consequently, Apollo grew curious about this development.

    At least, his curiosity grew until the system alerted him of the situation.

    ¡´System: A demon within close proximity is experiencing the adulterated effects of the Monarch''s True Heir title and Abysmal Conqueror Bloodline.¡µ

    A look of understanding appeared on Apollo''s face as he scanned the alert before his eyes. While Apollo was aware of its effects, he didn''t think that its impact amplified indefinitely on demons that weren''t under his control.

    After all, this was the first time that a demon outside of his household stood before him face-to-face, so it was an unfamiliar event. However, it came as a pleasant surprise.

    ''If the effects are this great, then there may be a few uses for this in the future. For the time being, let''s continue to experiment on the extent of this ability,'' Apollo internalized.

    A few momentster, he leaned forward, smiling at Tirasha with a mischievous look. "Why are you trembling like a scared kitten? Do I scare you?"

    Despite wanting to answer, Tirasha couldn''t. All that escaped her lips was an audible gasp as she made eye contact with Apollo''s unusual eyes. The dense Sin palpitating from her eyes caused her heartbeat to synchronize with the pulse.

    A faint feeling overtook her mind as her knees weakened with each passing breath. Finally, Apollo ced his hand behind her waist, bracing Tirasha''s limp body. At the same time, he was satisfied by what he witnessed.

    ''So this is the effect of my bloodline mixing with the reverse effect of Ira while being augmented by Luxuria. However, I''m not sure the effect will be as intense on males as it is with females,'' Apollo assumed.

    Since he received a thorough enough answer, Apollo allowed the effects to subside before gradually continuing with his terse questions. However, he allowed Tirasha to answer his first question.

    "I''m not scared," Tirasha answered after finally regaining herposure. Be that as it may, she couldn''t make eye contact despite her confident tone. Of course, Apollo noticed this, but he didn''t tease her about it.

    Contrarily, Apollo favored his current attitude. It reminded him of a conversation that he and Fuhrer once conducted. ''A forgotten Sin, right? Perhaps she could be one to awaken it with this type of behavior. If my memory serves, then awakening that Sin wouldn''t sh with any present powers.''

    Meanwhile, as Apollo was silent amidst his thoughts, Tirasha summoned the courage to look him in the eyes after realizing that all signs of the previous sensation had vanished. Although she still felt as if she was in the presence of the monster, there was also a faint amicable presence thatforted her.

    Once she felt secure, he nced up at Apollo and asked the question which continued to trouble her, "How¡­ did you grow so strong in this short period of time? It hasn''t been more than two years since we''ve met."

    The standard rate of a demon''s growth was approximately a twenty percent leap in evolution progress every three years. So, to find out that Apollo not only evolved into a Greater Demon but felt like he was on the precipe of bing an Archdemon mystified Tirasha.

    Not to mention, she felt small whenparing her progress to Apollo''s.

    Nevertheless, Apollo peered in Tirasha''s direction with a meaningful grin. "Be mine, and I''ll let you know the answer."

    Immediately, a deep blush graced Tirasha''s cheeks as she heard Apollo''s response. As a woman in her position with the background she possessed, it wasn''t often that a demon was confident enough to approach her with bold words of bing theirs.

    Granted, Tirasha didn''t realize that she misconstrued Apollo''s word due to his poor choice of words. Therefore, she once again failed to make eye contact with him as she looked away and continued sputtering.

    "T-that¡­ I don''t think it is possible. You¡­ haven''t even met my father. How can I be yours?" Tirasha said. Her voice fell to a murmur the longer she talked. Despite her usually unwavering confidence, before Apollo, she couldn''t draw upon that confidence in the slightest.

    "You misunderstand me," Apollo said while shaking his head. "This isn''t a romantic rtionship, but a beneficial one. You offer your loyalty and support while I reciprocate with resources and guaranteed power. All other thoughts are irrelevant at this time because we don''t have that luxury."

    For a moment, there was disappointment in Tirasha''s eyes. "Why not?"

    "You''re aware of the reason," Apollo said in a firm tone. These words forced Tirasha back into a rational state of mind as she recalled the demon''s current situation. Not only did the Council cordon off their primary space, but they also revealed to every rted party that the world was in danger.

    However, what Tirasha didn''t understand was how Apollo was aware of the current situation. Even she was just made aware of the particrs. ''Could Xonnomor have told him about it? Then¡­''

    Silently, Tirasha turned towards Typhir and Sapphyr with a solemn expression. ''Their words were true. Xonnomor has truly joined their side. There''s no way he''d reveal such sensitive information unless he were wholeheartedly devoted to their cause.''

    Upon realization of this matter, Tirasha released a deep exhale before speaking in a confident tone. "I''ll join you."

    "I never had any doubt. I believe you to be just as, if not smarter than your elder brother," Apollo said with an amiable expression. Of course, Apollo wasn''t an altruistic person. He learned from his past experiences thatpliments tended to smoothen this entire process, especially when it involved a woman.

    "So what happens next?" Tirasha asked. This was a situation that she wasn''t familiar with at all.

    "Nothing major, just rx as my power does its job," Apollo said. Immediately after, a pulse of energy encapsted Tirasha''s body as a loading bar appeared above her head. In addition to assessing her current limits, the system carried out its usual methods of identifying the mostplimentary promotion for the newest member.

    In truth, Apollo weed any archetype for their newest members since their current line-up included all positions outside of heavy defensive characters. Although Jorgun sported high physical prowess, it leaned more towards outrageous strength rather than improved defenses.

    However, Apollo also understood that there was no chance of Tirasha receiving this type of bestowal. Herbat style opposed defensive movements greatly. She''d benefit most from receiving Amduscias''s teaching.

    Finally, a chime sounded in Apollo''s ears as he towards the distance with an odd expression. ''What is that?''

    ¡´System: An addition has been made to the Dominus Household. Due to their feelings towards you, a unique evolution has taken ce.¡µ

    Unfortunately, Apollo couldn''t spare any attention to the notification as it was vested in therge energy signature approaching rapidly. ording to his perception, this neer appeared to be at least on par with Amduscias, yet the system didn''t indicate the rtionship as friendly.

    ''Could our battle have alerted strong demons nearby?''

 Chapter 495 - Bad Blood From Ages Ago

    ----

    Based on the fluctuations of the iing aura, Apollo felt their destination was none other than the ce they stood. The aftershock and violent waves caused by their battle stretched far beyond the boundaries of the building, possibly attracting some unwanted attention.

    Usually, Fuhrer was on standby, containing any signs of battle taking ce. However, he wasn''t present, so it was impossible to limit the area affected by the exchange of their strong blows.

    Nevertheless, Apollo wasn''t frightened by the fact that others were alerted. Though he was caught off guard by the immensity of the approaching aura, it wasn''t severe enough to turn into fear. After all, there weren''t many existences that were capable of instilling fear in Apollo as assimting with his Conqueror Bloodline.

    Be that as it may, he also couldn''t look away since the speed at which the aura traveled was on par with Amduscias''s elerated speed. Eventually, he turned towards Amduscias, who until now took the time to assess the changes in his bloodline.

    An icy blue crystal spiraled over his palm while flickering with arcs of ck lightning. Although the shard was no bigger than a thumb, Amduscias''s expression revealed his deep focus. As a foreign power, it''d take some time for Amduscias to utilize this ability on a uniquely effortless level.

    "Amduscias," Apollo said all of a sudden. Because of the sudden call, the crystal shattered as he shifted his gaze towards Apollo, who looked towards the distance.

    "Mm?" Amduscias uttered while gradually turning his focus towards the same ce as Apollo. Even without receiving any information from Apollo, his expression grew severe within a few moments.

    ''Quite strong,'' Amduscias thought while witnessing a dot grow more prominent in the distance. Soon enough, his expression changed once again as he realized there wasn''t one but three dots growingrger at an exponential rate.

    What''s more, one of the aura''s seemed bloodthirsty as if they were on an injured prey''s trail.

    "Is this unexpectedpany some of your friends?" Apollo questioned while lightly snapping his fingers. In the distance, Gram vibrated before flying towards Apollo''s sword. He didn''t wield the weapon just yet, allowing it to float idly by his side.

    In the meantime, Apollo continued to scratch Ouroboros''s scale. Not only was the action to appease Ouroboros, but it also augmented Apollo''s Sin recovery rate.

    "With a reputation like mine, the notion of possessing friends is impossible," Amduscias answered with a shake of his head.

    But, Apollo chuckled while returning a shake as well. "Oh no, this is a loose term. Who said anything about amicable friends? Perhaps they''d just like yourpany."

    "Oh?" Amduscias replied with a meaningful expression. A cold grin appeared on his face as he connected the dots to the bloodthirsty aura. ''Could someone be bold enough to attempting while believing me to be in a weakened state? Sadly, they''ll be in for a rude awakening if that''s the case.''

    Meanwhile, Vc stumbled to his feet while cradling his ribs. Although his Sin Vessel was saturated with Sin, his body was still in shambles after receiving extensive injuries in the fight against Amduscias. The slightest movement caused several jolts of pain to surge through his body.

    However, he was too curious about Tirasha''s transformation. Not only did he need to confirm his suspicions, but Vc also wanted to know if she was possibly stronger than him now.

    "Lord¡­" Vc muttered, attempting to draw Apollo''s attention. Sadly, he didn''t receive the response he wished for.

    "Not right now," Apollo said while raising his hand. There wasn''t any time to exin before arge quake urred, followed by arge cloud of dust. Fortunately, a screen of ck energy appeared before Apollo, forming a small dome that prevented the dust from breaching his personal space.

    On the other hand, Amduscias swiped his hand horizontally, splitting the dust in half with a dense arc of dark lightning. As he did so, the colossal figure of three demonic silhouettes peered through the thin smokescreen.

    For a while, there was silence as neither side exchanged greetings or any words for that matter. Instead, Apollo analyzed the other side, feeling a faintly familiar power from one of the individuals. ''Who¡­?''

    Conversely, while Apollo observed the other side, Amduscias sneered while revealing a general dislike for the other side. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your freakish existence? And you''ve bought your two brainless sidekicks."

    "What was that?!" A gruff voice responded. A secondter, a giant hammer wafted through the smoke revealing a behemoth of a demon spouting enraged eyes. Moreover, a bloodthirsty aura continued to spew from his body as he clenched his hammer.

    Despite the reaction, Amduscias continued to give a teasing smirk. It seemed Apollo''s guess wasn''t too far off, seeing as they engaged in banter as soon as Amduscias recognized the owners of this enormous pressure.

    However, before the neer could act on his impulse, the middle individual raised their hand and shocked their head. "Calm yourself, Rargith."

    "But¡­ Lucifer, this fool is making a mockery of me!" Rargith retorted. However, Lucifer didn''t utter another word as he spared Rargith a meaningful look. Judging by that look, it appeared Lucifer would take necessary action if Rargith didn''t oblige.

    Hence, Rargith reluctantly took a step back but kept the same menacing expression.

    Meanwhile, Apollo continued to watch this strange part with an odd look. ''Lucifer? This sounds familiar; is the same Lucifer that Saethyn spoke? If so, then our battle alerted the current Lord of this ring? I didn''t expect the ripples to extend this far.''

    Not only did Apollo and Amduscias''s scuffle alert the Lord of Suprenis, but he even brought the two strongest enforcers of the tower. Based on this action, there had to be another reason to check on the situation within this area.

    This question was something that bothered Apollo, causing him to lean towards Amduscias for answers. "Is there some past rtionship with you and this Ring''s Lord?"

    "Not quite," Amduscias replied before smirking tauntingly. "It just so happens that I almost killed that angry brute in the past when his boss tasked him with getting me to serve him. Obviously, he isn''t someone influential enough for me to pledge my allegiance to."

    Hearing this remark, Rargith once again clicked his tongue, threatening to take a step forward. However, Lucifer''s hand remained in ce, blocking him from moving in the slightest.

    On the contrary, Lucifer was the one to step forward with a displeased expression. "Oh? I see that mouth of yours hasn''t changed despite me allowing your freedom. Do you believe that you are a truly untouchable existence? I merely had better things to do rather than fool around with you personally."

    "Yet here you are," Amduscias retorted, causing Lucifer''s gaze to narrow. Despite this reaction, Amduscias continued in the same carefree tone,pletely disregarding Lucifer''s position. "Since you''re here, I guess you no longer have anything better to do. Therefore, your argument is void."

    Subsequently, Lucifer clicked his tongue in annoyance before momentarily shifting his attention to Apollo. "Judging by the remnant aura and the current condition of this ce, it''s safe to assume that a battle took ce here. What I want to know is who your opponent was."

    "And why would that matter to you? This area could be considered a demilitarized zone. In other words, it''s a ce where your jurisdiction doesn''t extend. So, I''m not obliged to satiate your curiosity. However, you''re more than wee to see yourself out," Amduscias remarked in a snide tone.

    Regrettably, Lucifer didn''t react to his instigation. He silently shifted his gaze between all those present, starting with Vc, who presented the most tant signs of injury.

    ''He undoubtedly battled with this unorthodox individual, but considering his injuries, he wasn''t the slightest match, so there''s no chance those counter-attacks came from him.''

    Next, Lucifer turned his attention to Typhir, who was still recovering from the damage he received in battle while rtively less injured. Once again, Lucifer immediately removed this person from the list of potential enemies. Besides, he felt Typhir''s demeanorcked the same impression the earlier attacks presented.

    Therefore, Lucifer shifted his gaze to thest possible person¨Dthe individual standing right next to Amduscias. However, Lucifer didn''t understand how Amduscias could stand next to someone willingly despite recently engaging in a heated battle.

    It didn''t make any sense until Lucifer realized something that angered him greatly. "I recall you saying something earlier about pledging allegiance? Could it be that you''ve done just that with this child who seems to be wet behind that ears?"

    Though his voice was calm, Apollo could sense the cold malice brewing under Lucifer''s cid expression. Evidently, his gargantuan pride was peeking through hisposed demeanor. There was no telling whether he was a ticking bomb waiting to explode or worse.

    ''Surely, he''s not thinking of making a scene, is he?'' Apollo wondered.

    Unfortunately, Amduscias belonged to a trio of otherwise rambunctious-mouth fiend in the Dominus Household?

    "Why? Is the little man feeling inferior?" Amduscias chuckled, resulting in Lucifer finally dropping hisposed demeanor.. A raging golden storm appeared around him with tinges of dark shades interspersed within the swirl.

 Chapter 496 - Heated Quarrel

    ----

    With the sudden change in Lucifer''s aura due to Amduscias''s instigations, Apollo''s eyes narrowed while estimating how strong the pressure felt. While the Sin inside the force was powerful, it wasn''t sufficient to make Apollo hopeless anymore, which clearly indicated that he''d grown immensely since his first visit with Saehtyn.

    Be that as it may, Apollo couldn''t disregard the sheer size of Lucifer''s aura. In some cases, it felt evenrger than Saehtyn. After all, while Saehtyn''s power was very destructive, Lucifer''s power could be seen as more dangerous.

    Under the right conditions, there was a chance for his power to balloon past Saehtyn. Granted, that scenario didn''te without considerable costs.

    "Repeat those series of words again, I dare you," Lucifer threatened. At the same time, a sh of light urred under his palm as arge spear appeared within his grasp. At a nce, the weapon seemed to be iplete, but Apollo immediately noticed Amduscias''s odd reaction.

    "What''s the matter?" Apollo questioned while turning towards the now silent Amduscias. Rather than looking at Apollo or Lucifer, his attention was vested in the weapon between Lucifer''s palm.

    ''I know I''m not mistaken. This forgery, this design¨Dit''s something I''ve requested yet was turned down. How could it be in his possession?'' Amduscias wondered while gradually lifting his gaze to Lucifer.

    Compared to before, the animosity seething within his eyes bolstered to new heights. Evidently, witnessing the weapon in Lucifer''s possession had a significant effect on Amduscias.

    "Where did you get that weapon?" Amduscias asked in a grim tone. An aura almost as terrifying as Lucifer''s appeared alongside a sh of ck and icy blue energies circting in his eyes.

    "Heh, what was it you said? That''s right¡ªsomeone as inferior as you doesn''t deserve the right to know. I''m not obliged to answer," Lucifer retorted with a disdainful smirk.

    As a result, Amduscias gnashed his teeth before ncing in Apollo''s direction. A mental message was passed between them, causing Apollo''s to widen in surprise. ''Really now? That weapon has such a history?''

    The spear in Lucifer''s possession was none other than Estran''s prized possession. Aside from Amduscias, he was the undisputed master of the spear within the Dominus Household. Although his talents extended beyond the spear, it was his favored weapon, because he developed a unique style after studying every weapon in existence.

    It was rumored that it was useless to wield a weapon when he disyed the fighting style because Estran developed this unique technique to neutralize attacks from all iing weapons.

    Of course, while it was a fabled technique rumored to be without w, nothing could ovee insurmountable power. Nevertheless, Amduscias had begged Estran to study the spear because a secret floated about the household''s halls.

    The method''s intricate secrets were said to be engraved on the shaft of the spear! However, only after being acknowledged would the information be revealed to the wielder. In other words, the weapon was a full-fledged Armament with special conditions applied to it.

    One could see why Amduscias''s reaction was so great.

    Meanwhile, Apollo was stumped because he heard from Xonnomor that Saehtyn was the only individual with a weapon nearing the Armament. If that''s the case, where did Lucifer receive this spear?

    Perhaps Lucifer''s presence was critical in awakening and revitalizing the slumbering Estran. Unfortunately, Apollo knew this wouldn''t be an easy task because, like the others, Lucifer was another demon with an issue that needed resolving. The astronomical pride he possessed wouldn''t let him serve anyone.

    Not only did he believe it to be under him, but there was a desire hidden within Lucifer that he concealed very well.

    "Enough of your drivel!" Amduscias snarled. "Tell me where you found that weapon. This is not up for discussion."

    "Sadly, you''re not enough of a threat. While I''m interested in you, I''ve be aware of existences more frightening than you. However, with this spear in my possession, I don''t believe those existences will be my match any longer," Lucifer answered.

    Listening to this response, Apollo came to a sudden realization. ''That means he recently acquired that spear. Wait a minute¡­.''

    Suddenly, Apollo''s eyes released a mystical ripple that escaped the perception of everyone nearby. With the Unbound Eyes active, a notification appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

    ¡´System: The mastery of your Unbound Eyes is increasing slowly due to your attempts to peer into a high-level instrument.¡µ

    While the notification didn''t reveal anything amiss, Apollo''s mind told him otherwise. After all, his mastery of the Unbound Eyes was extremely low, so the chances of them picking up on information regarding a weapon of that spear''s caliber were next to impossible.

    Mindful of this fact, Apollo waited as the loading bar above the weapon drew near the end. Onceplete, another chime sounded in Apollo''s ear, causing a slight chuckle.

    ''So that''s how it is,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    ¡´System: Analysisplete. The analyzed item has been confirmed to be an excellent replica.¡µ

    The spear within Lucifer''s possession was a replica! After finding out this information, Apollo ryed the info to Amduscias, which caused him to release the same chuckle followed by a sigh of relief.

    ''Tch, I got so worked up for nothing. It''s just a replica. However, such a seamless copy means that it was at least created by someone with great knowledge of the original. But, as far as I know, there''s no amicable rtionship with the forger of that great weapon,'' Amduscias thought while rubbing his chin in a pensive state.

    Apart from Asteroth, there was no one else with the proper knowledge of this spear.

    ''Unless¡­''

    Amduscias''s expression turned odd as he pointed at the weapon in Lucifer''s possession. "Just like you, that weapon is a figment of true power, befitting of someone in your possession. I almost fell for your facade. Tch, great weapon, my ass."

    "What?!" Lucifer bellowed. His golden eyes filled with a tinge of crimson as he took a step forward, creating a deep indent in the floor. The entire building rumbled in response to a single step.

    Because of the simrities in tone, Lucifer was reminded of his recent blemish on his otherwise spectacrbat record. The tant disdain disyed by Irzanach ovepped with Amduscias''s current attitude causing a sudden outburst of pressure.

    Suddenly, a figure dashed between the two opposing sides with their arms extended.

    "Wait, wait! I don''t think this is the time for this situation to spiral out of control. Don''t you agree, Lucifer?"

    Surprisingly, instead of continuing with his raging aura, Lucifer nced at the individual with an unusual expression. "The little belle of the Council. Why are you here of all ces?"

    "Err, curiosity, I suppose," Tirasha responded.

    However, Lucifer didn''t ept that as the truth. He noticed Tirasha constantly ncing in the direction of thepletely unfamiliar demons by Amduscias''s side. This alone told him that it was more than a simple curious endeavor.

    "Oh? Is that right? Then howe your father told me that you''d be confined to the stronghold and training. Doesn''t quite seem like it to me," Lucifer said while eventually crossing his arm with a disbelieving expression.

    As far as he knew, Tirasha wasn''t one to disobey her father''s instructions. So, this current situation was quite odd indeed.

    "Ahem, that was the original n. But the stifling atmosphere in that ce can be quite boring. It seemed pretty interesting over here. Even you thought so, isn''t that right?" Tirasha said with a mischievous smile.

    For a moment, the current situation stunned Apollo and Amduscias. They didn''t expect Tirasha to not only attempt to mediate the hostile atmosphere but even drag Lucifer into an awkward spot.

    After all, it was true. The considerablemotion is what attracted his attention to this ce. With that being said, Lucifer was still a sharp individual. Tirasha''s guilements were enough to confuse him.

    "That may be true, but that doesn''t exin why you interfered in this situation. It''s of no rtion to you," Lucifer countered. His remark left Tirasha scrambling for an excuse that would also hide the true nature of her connection to Apollo.

    Though she felt he was strong, this opposing side was not just a genuine Lord, but two Noblesse as well!

    "WHOA! Wait just a moment, sir! I''d have you know it very much of rtion to her. Don''t you know I once stole control of her stronghold? It must have been my involvement that drew her here," Vc said while sticking out his proudly. However, he was trembling on the inside since his body felt as if it were ready to fall apart.

    Meanwhile, Lucifer was amused by Vc''s deration because it made him recall a piece of information. "Now that you mention it, you look eerily familiar to a famed troublemaker in the Ring. Several demons want your head. Perhaps I should alert them."

    "Ooof! Uhh¡­" Vc nched before looking towards Apollo for assistance. Fortunately, Apollo was feeling nice.

    ''I''m in need of your assistance,'' Apollo thought.

    A momentter, arge portal opened right before Apollo.

 Chapter 497 - Display Of Superiority

    ----

    Initially, the portal materialized before Apollo, but after a while, an ominous buzzing noise escaped from inside, followed by footsteps that grew more audible as a presence neared the exit. Because of this change, Lucifer shifted his attention away from Tirasha, pushing her reasoning to the back of his mind.

    After all, the sensation emanating from the portal was one of the worst he had ever witnessed. If this was the product of the little demon boy before him, then Lucifer felt he should reassess his earlier opinion of this individual before him.

    If he could call upon a demon of magnitude, then he was by no means a minor character. However, Lucifer was also troubled by the fact Apollo was so unknown despite possessing this authority. What''s more, he found himself questioning the origin of the demon stepping through the portal.

    ''Don''t tell me this boy is like Irzanach, possessing a power outside the realm of known powers. If that''s the case, we Lords truly need to achieve a firmer understanding of what''s taking ce under our noses,'' Lucifer thought while tightening his grasp around his sword.

    In the next moment, Fuhrer''s aged yet sturdy appearance popped through the portal with an imposing pressure. Although he still emanated the known signature of a Greater Demon, there was another reason for the mysterious force rolling off his body in droves. Brynhildr was in a semi-active state!

    The blood-red eye atop the sword''s crossguard undted with a fearsome ripple. It appeared the power sealed within threatened to erupt at any given more. Additionally, a spiral of extremely dark energy circted the de, with each tendril piercing deep into the void.

    "There should be a solid reason for me being summoned here so suddenly. Could it be that you have the gall to threaten my Lord?" Fuhrer questioned while directing his murderous gaze towards Lucifer. While there was no indication, Apollo could sense from Fuhrer''s current demeanor that his disposition had devolved back into the realm of the Infernal ughterer.

    If the provided reason wasn''t sufficient, Apollo was confident that a gruesome scene was bound to unfold.

    "Tch," Lucifer clicked his tongue in annoyance. Although he understood that Fuhrer possessed a fearsome pressure, Lucifer was tired of being pushed around and disregarded as a meager existence. First, it was Irzanach, then Asteroth, followed by Amduscias, and finally, Fuhrer.

    Unlike the usual respect his title warranted, these four ignored him. Therefore, Lucifer was quite furious and teetered on the edge of exploding.

    Of course, with his extensive experience, Fuhrer was aware of this. In fact, an amused smirk appeared across his lip as he pointed the tip of Brynhildr towards Lucifer. "Are you confident that is a sound decision? I''m more than fine with turning this rundown area into a ruin of devastation."

    "You¡­! How dare you disrespect the Lord of this Ring, the highest existence in Pride''s ne? I will stand by it no longer!" Rargith said with an indignant expression. A momentter, he moved, dashing towards Fuhrer explosively while wielding his colossal hammer.

    Despite Lucifer''s orders to remain in ce, Rargith couldn''t withstand the tone Fuhrer used. As a consequence, Rargith didn''t realize what he subjected himself to.

    A faint chuckle escaped Fuhrer''s lips as his free hand clenched, causing a subtle vibration with hurtle outwards in a ring shape. However, in the next moment, the ring''s direction reversed and copsed after colliding against itself.

    Just as that happened, Rargith''s previously momentous rush was canceled as hisrge hammer remained motionless right before Fuhrer''s face. Fuhrer lifted his de with a leisure action as he witnessed this, bringing it to Rargith''s throat.

    "The foolish always rush to their demise. Why is it that the freestmbs are often the most monotonous to kill? All that bellowing, yet you amount to nothing," Fuhrer said with a disappointed sigh.

    Shockingly, he didn''t lob of Rargith''s head. Instead, Fuhrer withdrew his de before delivering a terrifyingly sharp kick to Rargith''s neck.

    Boom! Booom! BANGG!

    Rargith was sent flying back at a bizarre speed, eventually into a giant pir that failed to diminish his high speed in the slightest. As a result, he smashed into countless pirs, finallying to a stop a whileter.

    Meanwhile, Tirasha was taken aback by what she saw. ''No way¡­ that was a Noblesse, but he was powerless against a simple kick? Wait¡­ was it that simple?''

    From Tirasha''s perspective, she couldn''t sense the abnormal pressure that held Rargith in ce. Because of Fuhrer''s expertise in a Dominion''s utilization, he tweaked the output so that it only targeted one individual.

    As a result, the effects were significantly amplified. If one converted an action meant to affect several into a focused attack, it was only reasonable that the impact would experience the samepressed result.

    Be that as it may, Fuhrer didn''t drop his defenses at all. While the standard of demons may have lowered a lot, it was hard to degrade a demon''s true power¨Dtheir Demon Body. As a Noblesse, a Noble Demon Body could handle bizarre attacks, especially a physique like the one he just hit.

    "Urgh." Rargith released a pained groan as he snapped his dislocated jaw back in ce after pushing aside a pir that pinned his body to the ground. His gaze towards apprehension as he looked towards Fuhrer.

    ''Such a small body, but that blow was devastating. I don''t think this guy just hit me with raw power. He attacked a weakness on my body,'' Rargith thought while analyzing the contact point.

    Fuhrer''s didn''t just unleash a ruthless kick. He aimed his foot at the soft connection between Rargith''s jaw and skull. Usually, a heavy attack on that sensitive area was enough to put any demon out ofmission.

    However, Rargith''s jaw was approximately three times thicker than the average demon. Consequently, his two bottom teeth at the forefront of his mouth resembled tusks with how wide they were.

    "I was unprepared, but I won''t be retaken by surprise," Rargith said as a dense collection of Superbia escaped from his body, forming an armor. It was simr to Jorgun''s appearance except that it felt at least tens of times more potent. Such was the difference between a Greater Demon and a Noblesse.

    "Empty words until proven otherwise," Fuhrer replied. At the same time, Fuhrer turned his gaze towards Lucifer with an indifferent expression, as if he was saying that he was disappointed in him, allowing his subordinate to pick a fight he was no match for.

    Nevertheless, Fuhrer didn''t feel it was worth it to voice this opinion. He could merely disy his take through his actions.

    "Tch, old man, don''t be so overconfident," Rargith retorted before revealing a vicious smirk.

    Suddenly, a shadow was cast over Fuhrer as another huge figure moved before him at a pace akin to teleportation! It was unknown when it happened, but the second individual moved away from Lucifer''s side.

    Unlike Rargith, this demon''s frame was the reverse. Whereas Rargith''s upper body was packed with obscene-looking muscles and his lower body average, this new demon possessed an average upper body but monstrous legs.

    ''I suppose they''re used to attack in unison given their tacit movement,'' Apollo thought as he observed the scene from behind Fuhrer. But, this thought didn''t mean he assumed this surprise wouldn''t affect Fuhrer, and he was correct.

    "Tolron, take off this geezer''s head, or at least shut his mouth!"

    At first, the surprise attack appeared to be on the brink of sessfully connecting, but towards the end, Fuhrer''s gaze shifted toward Tolron as if he couldn''t care less. Seconds before the attack could connect, Fuhrer bent his elbow and held Brynhildr in a vertical position.

    Tinnkkkk!

    Tolron''s metal boot and Brynhildr collided, causing a quake. Aside from the quake, there was no other aftershock because of an action taken by Fuhrer. After receiving the blow, he redirected arge portion back at Tolron.

    Therefore, he bore the brunt of his earlier attack, widening his eyes as the force ran amok in his leg. Fuhrer single-handedly dealt with two Noblesse who were otherwise famed for the power and unified attacks despite not moving a single step.

    What''s more, Fuhrer didn''t give Tolron a chance to recover before driving the butt of Brynhildr into the pit of Tolron''s stomach. Simr to Rargith, shot back in a scene reminiscent of a shooting star.

    "Is there a need to go any further? If so, while it would pain my heart to weaken our race further, I will do so if need be. I''m sure a better recement will rise in the future," Fuhrer stated in an indifferent tone.

    Aftering to terms with how easily Fuhrer dealt with these two, Lucifer understood that it was up to him to avoid a disaster. Still, he couldn''t discard his curiosity.

    "Who¡­ are you all?"

 Chapter 498 - All Sides Return

    ----

    "Who are we?" Fuhrer repeated with a cryptic smile. He looked Lucifer in the eye before silently looking towards Apollo behind him. While confident in his strength, Fuhrer wouldn''t do something as thoughtless as revealing their n this early on.

    After all, there was no telling if the Lords were Demons who were easily influenced. If their resistance were too strong, then it''d be pointless to introduce their goals to these few while Apollo''s power of dominance was still in its nascent stages.

    Therefore, Fuhrer allowed Apollo to take the lead in the answer, which he did. Apollo took a few leisure steps forward, folding his arms behind his back as he gazed at Rargith and Tolron''s current condition.

    ''I didn''t expect this development. It seems Fuhrer continues to recover his battle conduct as time passes. Though, his evolutionary state remains stagnant, meaning that this change in his conduct must be linked to me. If that''s the case, fulfilling the given tasks don''t just empower me, but my followers as well.''

    Although Fuhrer revealed deft usage of his Dominion before, it was never to the point where he overwhelmed a powerful opponent in one hit. He usually took the gradual approach, allowing his Dominion to chip away at the endurance of his opponent steadily.

    For example, even during the "lesson" Fuhrer gave Apollo, he didn''t utilize his Dominion to the highest degree. If he did, there was a chance that Apollo would be rendered motionless as well. Regardless of how high in the hierarchy of Aura his Aura of Domination was, it didn''t mean anything in the face of an insurmountable chasm generated through arge disparagement in experience.

    "Who are we, you ask?" Apollo said as well with a slight chuckle. However, unlike Fuhrer, Apollo continued to talk soon after. "I suppose you can see us as a group who cherishes the wellbeing of the Demon Race. The one''s who shall expunge the cancerous roots nted by vile individuals who cower behind their sense of inferiority."]

    By the end of his words, Apollo''s eyes were filled with malice while thinking about the reason for the Ring''s current state. On top of the ancient war, there were seeds of betrayal sown into history that escaped the notice of the Lords. After all, Azridan wasn''t defeated through normal means.

    The chains used to bind him during the inheritance process originated from the Angels! In other words, Irzanach had betrayed his race bymunicating with the Angels through unknown means.

    The only reason the Nihilistic Rings had yet to face invasion was the sturdy barrier shielding it from ambush. Unfortunately, that barrier was no longer stable, and it was a direct result of pawns put in ce to locate the links to the Nihilistic Rings indirectly.

    Fortunately, Saehtyn and the others revisited the teachings of their corrupted tomes granted by Estran, who foresaw the future to a certain extent. Moreover, the fight against Irzanach alerted the Lords of a ring issue¨Dall of the wounds suffered from Irzanach took far too long to heal, indicating the presence of an unsettling power.

    Had Amduscias been present at the time, he would have identified the power without fail. Be that as it may, Irzanach also decided to hide the unusual presence after Asteroth''s appearance. For one, he didn''t possess enough of the Angel''s concentrated power to inflict a grave injury upon Asteroth.

    Arge portion of it was used to injure the Lords.

    Meanwhile, despite receiving a response, Lucifer''s frown deepened. These words didn''t reveal anything about the individuals that stood before him! In fact, Apollo''s remark only left Lucifer with more questions.

    "Isn''t that the aim of all sentient Demons? Why would we contribute to our demise unless our minds are ipetent," Lucifer said with a disdainful expression. Although they chose to stop fighting, Lucifer couldn''t overlook the disgruntling situation.

    "Is that so? So why has the Council cordoned off their connection to the Nihilistic Rings instead of taking this time to cultivate as much allies as possible. I''m sure they have gathered an extensive wealth over the years, especially from the number of ruins they''ve visited," Apollo countered.

    The truth in Apollo''s words left Lucifer unable to respond for a while. Furthermore, his eyes widened as he looked over to Tirasha. "Have you revealed the entire situation of the Council to him?"

    "Nope, it wasn''t me," Tirasha answered truthfully. After all, she wasn''t the source of his information.

    "Tch, I don''t believe i-"

    "It was my brother," Tirasha continued, which caused Lucifer to be dumbfounded.

    ''His grasp extends that far? Wait a minute¡­ if she''s admitted that her brother is the source, then¡­''

    A look of realization appeared on Lucifer''s face as he presented a faint grin. "The Council has been infiltrated, and they aren''t the wiser. Tell me, how far does your influence flow inside the Council?"

    "Nowhere," Apollo admitted. "Because they aren''t my target. Those who run and hide instead of making preparations of war aren''t worthy enough to appear on my radar, nor will they be considered for the future."

    ''Hoh? What is this feeling this boy has,'' Lucifer wondered. While Apollo''s words sounded overconfident, Lucifer could feel the pride inside his words was backed by the intent to materialize his goals. What''s more, Lucifer had this odd premonition that this boy could perhaps realize his dreams.

    "If that''s the case, what are your ns for this Ring? With that old man by your side, I doubt many can trouble you," Lucifer said.

    "That''s incorrect because there are countless people who are more than strong enough to put us in grave danger. We are nowhere near strong enough, and we all understand that. Once you understand how small your existence is all well, you''ll open yourself to a new realm of power," Fuhrer said all of a sudden.

    Simr to Apollo, Fuhrer could sense the overall issue that gued each Lord''s Sin Vessel. In Lucifer''s case, it was his inability to ept his powerlessness. As seen earlier, whenever one mentioned him being inferior, it triggered a spirited response.

    If this were a typical battle between two powerhouses, that weakness could be easily exploited. Once that happened, the chances of Lucifering out on top plummeted dramatically.

    "Lord, shouldn''t we be moving soon?" Amduscias asked suddenly. Ever since he learned that Apollo''s next target was Asteroth, he couldn''t contain his excitement. If there was one thing he wanted to see more than anything, it was Asteroth being beaten senseless.

    Besides that, Amduscias also wanted to acquire more time to familiarize himself with his bloodline powers.

    "I suppose we do need to get going," Apollo said after giving the matter some thought. In addition to the system rying Asteroth''s position at all times, Apollo received constant feedback from those left on Ashiraem.

    "Leave?" Lucifer muttered while ncing at the state of ruins the building was currently in. ''Could they really be leaving after decimating this building? Meaning, the only reason they came here was for Amduscias?''

    "Correct. Leave," Fuhrer said before suddenly executing an upward sh. An immense portal opened up with a clear impression of what was on the other side. Lucifer could make out the image of Ashiraem''s crimson tower.

    ''Splitting the fabric between the Rings with such ease? What level of expertise does that take? Even we Lord need to expend a generous amount of energy to perform this feat, yet this old man performed it effortlessly.'' Lucifer thought in a slight state of shock.

    At most, Saehtyn and the other Lords could perform instant movements throughout their respective Rings. However, moving between Ring required focus before locking on to the intended location. Hence, it was no surprise that Lucifer was shocked by Fuhrer''s earlier feat.

    While the portal opened, Amduscias walked up to Lucifer while eyeing the spear in his grasp. "There maye a time where you experience the grandeur of that weapon''s true presence. Once that timees, you''ll understand why I said what you said is a mere figment."

    "It''s not mine, to begin with. This spear simply appeared after I recovered. I supposed the source of my power sensed the worrying change in my power and gave me this weapon to supplement my weakened strength," Lucifer said while also looking down at the spear.

    Right before he was given the weapon, the tome in his mind thrummed with a message. Until now, he didn''t understand its meeting. But, after meeting Apollo and his entourage, Lucifer gradually pieced together the meaning of the message.

    ''Is this the great change in an unsuspecting package that the message mentioned? Unfortunately, I can''t ce my hope in someone or something unfamiliar. Before I entrust my future to him, I''ll have to witness this so-called great struggle firsthand. In the meantime¡­ I must search for a way to grow stronger,'' Lucifer internalized before gesturing to Rargith and Tolron.

    The two shook off the earlier damage upon noticing the gesture before returning to Lucifer''s side with tense expressions. Neither of them voiced it, but both of these demons wished to leave as soon as possible.

    The amount of bloodlust they were subjected to just before being attacked was almost enough to injure their minds, and this wasing from two demons who achieved a Noble Demon Body.

    One by one, the members of the Dominus Household entered the portal, but Apollo stayed behind and looked towards Tirasha with an uncertain look. "Would you rather tag along or remain in the Suprenis? As you know, Ashiraem doesn''t possess a source to support your Sin."

    "I need to stay here. It''s only a matter of time until my father returns. Until then, I''llb through the stronghold and deliver a list of suitable demons. Besides, I need to deal with this new power you''ve given me," Tirasha said.

    "Very well," Apollo said with a faint smile. "I look forward to learning the extent of your unique transformation.. After all, you''re the only one traveling towards the path of that forgotten Sin."

 Chapter 499 - Disgruntled Individuals

    ----

    Inside Ashiraem, outside the walls of the Dakea Stronghold¡­

    Apollo was quite surprised that Fuhrer opened a portal linking directly to the Dakea Stronghold upon return. After all, locking on to this specific location while countless miles away was challenging to do. Beyond that, opening a portal here reduced Apollo''s workload by at least fifty percent.

    Not only was the Dakea Stronghold within close proximity of Ashiraem''s Tower, but Apollo also wanted to consult with Xonnomor on his progress with his return to power and monitor Arleo''s state.

    Due to his injuries, Arleo was an asset that had yet to be utilized. If trained properly, he could adopt the ways of Fuhrer and Typhir since he possessed the same set of Sin. While their battle style might not necessarily agree with his inherent behavior, learning their Sin application would be beneficial nheless.

    Meanwhile, Amduscias gazed at the Dakea Stronghold silently, soon presenting a nostalgic expression. "The geezer Furcas, I can sense him nearby. I wonder if he''s still attached to that pipe of his."

    "What do you think? You know that hobby isn''t just for show. Furcas''s pipe is linked to his abilities," Vc replied with a scoff. Having Amduscias apany them back to this ring caused conflicted emotions in Vc.

    On the one hand, he was delighted that Amduscias was near, potentially allowing Vc to learn more about the spear. On the other, Amduscias''s general presence left him in a foul mood.

    ''Damn it¡­ I hope the Lord doesn''t favor him more than me. Yes, he is strong. But I''ve been with you longer, so I''m by far more dependable!'' Vc thought to himself with a deepening frown. Eventually, he started grumbling incoherently while kicking the wall before him constantly.

    "Whoa, what''s with the attitude? Is it not you who pleaded for me to train you once before," Amduscias responded in a teasing tone. Since he knew it would infuriate Vc, Amduscias continued to tickle that sensitive spot.

    "Damn you! Shut your mouth! Why don''t you find a nice cave and create some ice mirrors to stare at yourself all day long. It''d be befitting of your disgusting, narcissistic mug," Vc spat.

    In response, Amduscias merely chuckled before walking away with a sentence. "My spearmanship is better than yours."

    Meanwhile, as their bickering took ce, Apollo looked over towards Fuhrer, "Walk with me. You can fill be me on the specifics that took ce in Guloria while we do."

    "My pleasure," Fuhrer replied, walking beside Apollo. Since they''dpleted their task, Apollo allowed both Sapphyr and Typhir some rest. Besides, there weren''t any tasks that needed tending to at the moment.

    Not to mention, Apollo felt they earned their right to rx after receiving Amduscias''s beat-down. While Sapphyr didn''t join in the battle, she was mentally exhausted from the high-strung state she was forced to stay in.

    After all, Amduscias''s dark lightning possessed a wide range. So even the attacks that weren''t aimed at her usually ended up in a too close position forfort. Thus, Sapphyr had to remain conscious of Amduscias''s lightning at all times.

    Apollo focused on gathering as much information as necessary while everyone parted ways. He started by asking the most critical question.

    "Out of all of the Dukes and higher, how many possess a Dominion?" Apollo asked.

    "All of them," Fuhrer answered. He didn''t spare the question any thought because one of the requirements to be Demonic Duke was to possess a Dominion. Fortunately, there seemed to be more to it.

    "However, not every Duke has mastered their Dominion to the same extent. Amduscias should fall somewhere in between or even at the higher end of the spectrum."

    "Interesting. And how about Asteroth? Where would his ranking fall amongst the Demonic Dukes?" Apollo questioned.

    "Approximately fifth. But, it would be best to remember that it''s unknown whether Asteroth deserves this ranking. Amongst the Dukes, he''s one who rarely used his Dominion," Fuhrer said with aplicated expression.

    A Dominion created from an Aura of Destruction typically evolved into something catastrophic. If utilized wrong, then it could potentially eradicate all within its vicinity, even if this wasn''t the intended oue.

    Apollo fell silent while listening to Fuhrer''s exnations. ording to Fuhrer, Asteroth''s first usage of his Dominion required one of the King''s involvement to neutralize its effects. It was a Dominion that was far beyond his control.

    Luckily, this was an event that took ce far in the past. During that time, Asteroth was a freshly evolved Noblesse. Most of his experience was limited to his Aura alone; he wasn''t ustomed to managing a Dominion.

    Therefore, a significant disturbance urred at the time.

    "Are all of the Dominion created from the Aura of Destruction like that?" Apollo asked. Although his expression didn''t show it, listening to Fuhrer''s story made Apollo worry about Typhir''s progression. When it came time for his Dominion, could the same mishap arise?

    "Depends. The vtility of that type of Dominion relies upon the density of the Aura and one''s mental state. As I told you before, Asteroth can only be described as extremely reckless. So it''s to be expected that his Dominion would be something unreasonable," Fuhrer answered in an indifferent tone.

    "I see," Apollo muttered while gradually digesting all of the information he gained from the conversation. Unlike with Amduscias, Apollo was warier of Asteroth''s ability.

    ''I''ll have to be careful of Asteroth activating his Dominion. If possible, I''ll have to find a way to restrict him from using it altogether. Regrettably, I''m not sure if that''s possible for me right now. I have zero authority over his actions since he is one of the pieces with a rogue nature,'' Apollo internalized.

    It''d be troublesome to receive more damage than the crimson jewel embedded in his chest could handle. However, it was pointless to mull over the possibilities any longer. At most, it would only lead to Apollo doubting his current strength.

    Hence, Apollo shook off his thought before walking inside Xonnomor''s forging room. Upon doing so, Apollo received a faint shock. The sight of Xonnomor mediating his hammer with dense Ira palpitating from his body entered Apollo''s view.

    The hammer levitated in the air, rotating as if it was a spinning top. Every time it levitated, a pure strand of Ira entered the cloud of Sin surrounding Xonnomor''s power. This scene was the product of Xonnomor pondering Saehtyn''s weapon.

    Compiling Saehtyn''s strength and analyzing the properties of all the materials forced Xonnomor into a unique state of highly productive thoughts. Unexpectedly, Saehtyn remained in the forge, quietly watching Xonnomor as he continued with his actions.

    His eyes drifted towards Apollo and Fuhrer as they noticed their entrance. Saehtyn revealed a faint smile while pointing towards Xonnomor. "It appears you''ve chosen a capable forger. I''ve never seen someone adore their craft so much that it attunes with their power."

    "It''s elementary butmendable," Fuhrer said while remaining unaffected by what he saw. In truth, Fuhrer felt it was unimpressive afterparing it against all of the wonders he witnessed in his extensive lifetime.

    In his eyes, this state was only worth praise if it could be maintained for more than a day, which was something he had witnessed countless times before. After all, creating an Armament was tedious work.

    It wasn''t created in one sitting. Creating a prime Armament required continual forging of materials. For example, it took 66 days to forge Brynhildr''s base. What''s more, producing the soul and nurturing it took over six years.

    "I suppose not much would surprise you based on that calm tone of yours," Saethyn said with a wry chuckle. Aside from a brief nce, Fuhrer didn''t give much of a response, which doubled as an answer in itself.

    "Anyway, you came to talk with him, but I doubt he''ll be ready for conversation anytime soon," Fuhrer said.

    "Yeah, I doubt he will as well," Apollo agreed. Since he couldn''t get Xonnomor''s attention, Apollo focused on Saehtyn. "Have you been here since we left?"

    "Correct. Seeing as I was offered an item of choice, it''s only right that I show this matter my undivided attention," Saehtyn said while suddenly leaning forward after noticing Apollo''s odd expression.

    "A promise? Speaking of which¡­" Apollo paused before looking towards Xonnomor, "When does his father return? From what I heard, he won''t be taking shelter within their special area?"

    "Nope, he wants to surveil the Rings and monitor their condition, but I don''t think he''ll visit them all in one go. Not only is that not practical, but he''ll need to refill his expended Sin continually. Also, have you run into that annoying individual recently?"

    "Before more specific. I''m sure annoying individuals are abundant amongst the Rings," Apollo replied with a smirk.

    "The most annoying one of them all, Lucifer. I sense faint signs of his presence on you, Saehtyn replied. His tone was akin to a grumble since the mere thought of Lucifer''s insufferable behavior left him disgruntled.

    "Ah, that''s right. We had a small run-in with him. Just as I advised you, my trusted follower also advised his progress.. I suggest you all search for those solutions with haste as I will do the same."

 Chapter 500 - Unexpected Visit

    ----

    Saehtyn grew quiet after listening to both Apollo and Fuhrerment on the actions that he should take. If even Lucifer received some of the same knowledge, then it was bound to have some sort of truth to it. Otherwise, Saehtyn felt these two wouldn''t even bother addressing the matter.

    At least, that''s what Saehtyn gathered from their personalities. They didn''t appear to be the type who wasted time on useless minutiae that amounted to pure nonsense in the long run. Every piece of advice Fuhrer imparted usually contributed to a significant change in that individual.

    For example, with the help of his guidance, Azridan could be a monster capable of single-handedly triumphing above all of the Monarch Candidates. It''s just a shame that his untimely demise was brought about by using underhanded means.

    If it were a proper fight, it''d be no chance of him losing at that time.

    Eventually, Saehtyn agreed to follow through with Fuhrer''s suggestion to see if there was any truth to what he was saying. After all, the best yielder of results was one''s action. Without experimenting, Saehtyn wouldn''t be able to verify the worth the knowledge he received.

    Besides, the new presence within the Dakea Stronghold didn''t avoid Saehtyn''s senses. Although it was faint, he could tell that this new presence possessed some tant simrities with Asteroth. Since that was the case, Saehtyn understood that these two demons before him weren''t fabricating the truth about their connections.

    ''They''re really affiliated with that rambunctious fellow? Then¡­ are they all like that? Capable of such baffling destruction?" Saehtyn wondered. Because he wasn''t familiar with the abilities linked to Aura and their many variations, Saehtyn didn''t understand that every demon possessed different skills.

    Asteroth being capable of untold destruction didn''t mean the others were as well.

    "So, what will you all do now then?" Saehtyn questioned. Even without his direct monitoring, the situation within Ashiraem was rtively calm. Compared to days of chaos where conflict roamed the streets, the fact it was confined to taverns and other indoor constructs left Saehtyn pleasantly surprised.

    However, he also recalled that Apollo imed to soon battle with Asteroth. If he was also a character of simr strength, then Saehtyn understood that the destruction that would follow should be tedious to repair.

    Be that as it may, there was a faint gnawing within Saehtyn''s mind that coaxed him into sponsoring this battle. After all, Apollo''s strength was something he wanted to witness firsthand.

    "Now¡­" Apollo said beforeing to an abrupt stop. During this time, he weighed his current options. At the top of his list was Asteroth, but there were also other matters that he needed to take care of.

    For example, there were many loose ends within Astarat that he wished to address. Some people would make fine additions to his roster, but there was also the matter of the Absorbeyns, otherwise known as Terrors on that world. Until now, he had yet toe in contact with a single one, and he was pretty curious about their power.

    ''ording to Fuhrer, their power is something along the lines of absorption and corruption. However, their corruption is eerily simr to conversion seeing as they were able to convert at least twenty-five percent of a into an environment of agreeable levels.''

    Although Apollo wished to aplish things as quickly as possible, there was an order in which he needed to erect his authority so that it operated autonomously without his presence.

    Only once his household could operate at the level would Apollo be free to transverse areas as he pleased. Until then, he''d need to essentially bring the greater part of his household with him.

    "I suppose¡­ now I just continue to expand," Apollo said with a faint smile while ncing towards Fuhrer. A question bothered him, but he didn''t ask it yet because of the individual in their presence.

    After all, most of the proceedings linked to Apollo were sensitive. He couldn''t allow just anyone to learn of the particrs surrounding his identity or its matters. He wasn''t frightened by any threats amongst his race; it was the threats that Azridan announced to him.

    The moment he made his presence known was when the other race spared no effort in shattering the protection of the Rings. Because, from what Azridan understood, Irzanach was in contact with at least one high-ranking angel!

    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have gotten his hands on the Resplendent Binding of Condensed Virtue. In short, this binding was simply a dense chain forged from the materialized power of an Angel who was at least on par with a Daemos. This was the level of energy needed to render Azridan immobile at the time.

    "I will only warn you to remain careful in doing so. The Council isn''t the only organization alive. There are also some shadow organizations that exist as well. They consist of those who didn''t wish to be bound by the Council''s invasive hand," Saehtyn said.

    It was expected within the Nihilistic Rings for organizations to arise when backed by influential individuals. For example, the All-seeing Nautilus was an organization that ran parallel to the Council. They operated outside of its control, even forcing the Council to sometimes call upon their assistance.

    "I see," Apollo replied with a curious expression. While he expected a few such organizations to exist, he didn''t imagine it was at the level of requiring Saehtyn''s warning. If that was the case, then perhaps it was worth seeking out these organizations.

    ''I wonder¡­ could it be possible that some of these organizations are in fact headed by the very same people that I''m looking for?'' Apollo thought to himself. It was possible since most of the shadow organizations were staffed by individuals rtively unknown or covertly hidden from the Council.

    Until now, the only demons who fit the bill were the ones who originated from the Lost Council. They possessed enough strength; it was only a matter of cultivating their influence to match.

    Even Vc had used his power to take over Tirasha''s stronghold once. So Apollo didn''t put it past the other members who wanted to retain their sense of superiority. The easiest way to do so was to assert their dominance by rising to the food chain once more.

    "Lord, we havepany," Fuhrer said while turning his head to the door. A significant presence neared the door, but luckily there was no animositying from it, or Fuhrer would have drawn his de without hesitation.

    Meanwhile, Saehtyn followed their gaze and extended his perception as far as possible. While doing so, a deep frown appeared on his face. Evidently, he was displeased by the sensation that followed.

    ''It''s deteriorating at an increasing rate with each passing day. Soon enough, my perception will be limited to a normal Noblesse''s range. Although it wouldn''t be crippling, it''s disheartening, to say the least. To think someone of power would unknowingly be reduced to this state,'' Saehtyn internalized before releasing a defeated sigh.

    Unless they found a way to interfere with the change taking ce in their sources, the Lords were headed for a bumpy road.

    A momentter, Xonnomor''s eyes shot open as he felt the many presences around him. However, he remained still because a prominent figure of simr features walked through the door at that very moment.

    At a nce, one could tell that this individual was indeed Xonnomor''s father, Xorgrah. The moment that he was dreading was upon him, and Xonnomor was powerless to change it. The only thing he could wish for was that there was no conflict.

    Unfortunately, he knew that both sides were unyielding and possessed simr personalities. And, a sh of simr personalities usually yielded one of two results. Either they melded well or reacted explosively from the initial meeting.

    "Oh? There usually sparse area is pleasantly upied. And who might you all be?" Xorgrah asked while raising his head and looking between Fuhrer and Apollo. Afterward, he noticed their posture beside Saehtyn, indicating their prior conversation.

    ''Possibly friends of his? However, I''ve never heard of individuals like these. Additionally¡­ why do I get the feeling that something is amiss with them,'' Xorgrah wondered with narrowing eyes.

    His gaze scrutinized Apolo and Fuhrer. But sadly for him, he couldn''t gain anything from his analysis. Not only was their power was wholly concealed, but Xorgrah also couldn''t get a read from their stoic expressions.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s thought process was entirely different. ''Oh? Xonnomor''s father appears to be much stronger than those two beside Lucifer. I wonder how far he''s advanced in in the Noblesse stage. Furthermore¡­''

    Apollo turned towards Fuhrer, whose expression seemed surprised as well. Eventually, Apollo sent a mental message.

    "Do I sense a budding one from him?"

    "You do. Although it is still germinating, I believe this is a demon closest to developing their own Aura. Regrettably, the nature of it is still concealed. Nevertheless, he''d be a tricky opponent to face since we also need to remember he''s Xonnomor''s father," Fuhrer replied.

 Chapter 501 - Horrendous Situation

    ----

    Apollo''s expression grew surprised as he listened to Fuhrer''s confirmation. After all, until now, finding a demon with a developing Aura was next to impossible. Even the Lords didn''t have this luxury because of their unique circumstances, yet Xorgrah disyed faint signs of this power awakening.

    Of course, Apollo would feel surprised over this matter. Because of Fuhrer''s analysis of the current situation, Apollo was under the impression that opening a demon up to the possibility of creating an Aura required the assistance of the system. Apollo believed this power could prosper only prosper once the system erased the impurities from a demon''s physique.

    However, Apollo''s assumption appeared to be wed, judging by this current situation.

    ''Perhaps the training he experienced was rigorouspared to other demons. Otherwise, how could his situation be so different from the rest? Based on what I''m sensing, he''d be a sufficient challenge for the Lords if he were to be serious. Is this why he''s able to travel the Rings unhindered?'' Apollo thought to himself.

    In addition to his identity as a high-ranking member of the Council, Apollo previously felt there were other reasons for Xorgrah''s confidence in traversing the Rings while remaining untouched. Now, Apollo''s suspicions were confirmed. If it was a known fact that Xorgrah had reached this level, then the chances of being confronted were abysmally low.

    Not many wanted to risk their safety to satisfy their ego. Besides, Xorgrah wasn''t a pushover in the slightest. Based on Xonnomor''s stories, he possessed a headstrong and confident demeanor. Such a disposition wouldn''t allow him to suffer disrespect and standby idly. If it was within the realm of his abilities, he was bound to retaliate.

    Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Xonnomor''s forging room grew tense as both Fuhrer and Apollo remained quiet. Granted, they were only silent on the surface. In truth, they were passing messages back and forth through their mental connection.

    "If you had to make a safe assumption, what would you estimate his Aura would be based on the current signs? Destruction? Suppression? Surely it should be something linked to this unyielding attitude," Apollo questioned.

    At the same time, he rubbed his chin in thought while recounting all the information on Xorgrah to see if it was possible to draw any sound conclusion. Unfortunately, Apollo realized his knowledge outside of the trivial amount of information Xonnomor delivered was severelycking.

    ''It''s not enough to conclude a promising option. At least¡­ it''s not enough for me. But if it''s someone with a tremendous amount of experience, then perhaps it is possible,'' Apollo inwardly thought while fixating his gaze on Fuhrer.

    "Assuming an Aura? Although it sounds effortless, countless factors need to be ounted for when calcting the numerous possibilities. The major one is their source of power. If there are any unknown variations in their power, then there''s a chance our theory could be in direct opposition of the truth," Fuhrer responded with a calm expression.

    All the while, Fuhrer continued to look at Xorgrah before showing a faint smile. "Of course, we could always verify the spection ourselves. While we may not want to hurt the fellow, a friendly spar is permissible, no?"

    "Friendly spar? Are you sure something like that falls within the confines of his patience? What if there are some sort of mishaps and one of the sides bes overly heavyhanded? I''m sure traces of enmity will arise at that point," Apollo countered.

    In response, Fuhrer was silent for a moment as he pondered the chances of said scenario taking ce. While there was a decent chance of this happening because of the unfamiliarity between both sides, Fuhrer felt it was still a risk worth assessing.

    At most, they''d make Xorgrah of their existence. After all, the Council that backed him were all sheltered inside a closed-off area. There was next to no chance of them rendering aid in time of crisis.

    Setting aside their decision to guarantee their security by forgoing their roles, there was also the fact that there was no word from Xorgrah''s father in over thirty years. Because of this lengthy period without contact, there were rumors of a takeover festering about the Council wanting to assign a new Chairman.

    Should that happen, the Council would undoubtedly revoke the status of royalty Xorgrah, and his family possessed. In addition to the Council acting lethargically to ensure his family''s safety, they would just use their immense resources to cultivate a new powerhouse in the ranks, one they could adequately control.

    Finally, Xorgrah couldn''t take the silence as a thick vein pulsated on his forehead as he tapped his finger against his forearm. "Oh~? Isn''t it kind of rude not to address a question? I thought I was being pretty amicable with my question?"

    "That is true; we feel no disrespect emanating from your question. But, you must also understand that not everything is as simple as it seems. Just because you ask for our identity doesn''t mean we''re obliged to give it to you," Apollo answered indifferently.

    A momentter, he continued, "Besides, it''s not like you formerly introduced yourself either, no? Perhaps you should lead by example, and we can take it there."

    At first, Xorgrah was surprised by the response as his eyebrows jumped slightly. ''It seems the youth are cultivating unprecedented gall. When was thest time such a young demon was bold enough to stand before me and talk calmly while uninfluenced by my pressure?''

    Of course, Xorgrah wasn''t aware that Apollo''s Aura of Dominance possessed the unique trait of reducing the effects of all iing pressure by approximately fifty percent. So, the pressure Apollo was subjected to remained well within the confine of his stats.

    Although he wasn''t wholly unaffected, it wasn''t substantial enough for Apollo to present any signs of difort. Although, Apollo wouldn''t show its effects even if that were the case. One thing Apollo vowed not to do was show weakness before any Demons.

    How would he be able to germinate his reputation of a Demon Monarch if he were to lower his head to lesser members of his race? He was destined to be their controller, so there was no room for doubt to arise in their minds.

    "How interesting," Xorgrah chuckled. Afterward, he gave a faint nod after admiring Apollo''s confidence. "I like that confidence of yours. Make sure not to lose it, or at least have the power to always back it up. I mean, you do have that, right?"

    Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room grew tens of times heavier as a condensed surge of power burst from Xorgrah in undting waves. While everything within 50 meters was affected by this dense aura, the individuals within the room bore the brunt of the aggressive pressure.

    However, Saehtyn waved his handckadaisically, erecting a ming barrier that exempted him from the pressure of Xorgrah''s presence. Not only was he a part of the matter, but he couldn''t be bothered to partake in whatever this would escte into.

    Meanwhile, Xonnomor''s eye widened as a cold sweat seeped down his back. If it weren''t for the image he needed to uphold, he would be in a corner nervously biting his nails while wracking his brain to solve this seemingly horrendous situation.

    ''Dear lord, don''t let their ballooned egos sh. There are too many precious items in this ce. Some of them are even delicate! Oi oi oi!'' Xonnomor thought to himself while ncing back over at the escting situation.

    Contrary to what he believed, Xorgrah didn''t relieve his pressure after a few moments. Instead, he gradually increased his power output, allowing it to reach a level where some of the items within the forge emitted creaking noises as they started to rattle, resulting in Xonnomor panicking much more.

    Evidently, Xorgrah''s pressure was too much for some of the weaker items in the forge.

    Be that as it may, Apollo continued to stand rtively unaffected as he looked Xorgrah in the eyes. His gaze never once faltered as a faint smile appeared across his lip. ''I didn''t expect his pressure to be this terrifying. Sadly¡­ he''s aiming it at the wrong person.''

    Despite being at the Greater Demon level, the effects of the Supreme Demon Body weren''t to be underestimated since it was a technique known to be the culmination of demonic power. The effectiveness of the body''s resilience alleviated a substantial amount of pressure. After all, it was a technique that was only possible because of Apollo''s bloodline''s incredible abilities.

    Without the presence of his bloodline, the chances of suffering an injury skyrocketed. Not to mention, it''d be impossible to invoke the Supreme Demon Body in the first ce; just simultaneously containing all seven Sins required an absurd amount of resilience that only the Supreme Demon Body could reward.

    A momentter, a chuckle came from behind Apollo after he made an almost indiscernible gesture. A simrly monstrous, if not more horrifying aura, smashed against Xorgrah''s pressure, causing him to be momentarily stunned.

    "If this is the course of actions we''re taking, I''m more than happy to oblige," Fuhrer said with a callous tone.

    With the addition of Fuhrer''s overwhelming aura, every item within the room threatened to shatter after experiencing the pressure of two opposing mights.

    In the meantime, Xonnomor''s heart was on the verge of shattering as he witnessed the precarious state of the items in the room. His emotions peaked by the moment.

    ''M-my precious things!!''

 Chapter 502 - A Shriek Of Pain

    ----

    It wasn''t long before arge tempest urred inside the forging room as Xorgrah and Fuhrer''s aura contested one another. Of course, Fuhrer could always introduce his Dominion and amplify the oppression baring down on the room tenfold, but he didn''t do so.

    Instead ofmitting to this little show, Fuhrer decided to test just how far Xorgrah''s power went. And, from his initial observations, Fuhrer understood that his power far surpassed an average Noblesse. After all, Fuhrer made quick work of two Noblesse, rendering them useless in a single hit.

    Contrarily, Xorgrah seemed to be faring quite well seeing as there were no apparent signs of strain surfacing. Even his expression remained calm as he continually augmented to amount of pressure billowing from his body.

    At this point, even a Greater Demon would be crushed by the overwhelming oppression being released by both of these figures. In fact, if this were to take ce in public, then chances were that no one would stick around to see the oue, because having the gall to do so meant they didn''t treasure life in the slightest.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer tapped his finger against the crease of his elbow, sending a pulse of energy that increased in quick intervals. By the time it reached Xorgrah''s body, the force was so potent that it caused him to take a step in retreat while presenting a surprised look.

    ''This old man is this strong? Could that Greater Demon state be a facade? How could a Greater Demon ever force a Noblesse to take a step back? No¡­ that''s the most worrying matter. It''s the effortless control of this energy¡­ It was unleashed by a finger!'' Xorgrah thought to himself.

    Fuhrer''s disy of strength made Xorgrah question what frightening power this ancient demon wielded when he held his sword in hand. In truth, this was a curiosity that Xorgrah didn''t wish to address.

    The fact that he had failed to grasp an upper hand despite unleashing his energy for so long told Xorgrah that Fuhrer''s reserves were absolutely monstrous. Additionally, he sensed an eerie sensation from the sword at Fuhrer''s waist, as if it possessed a life of its own.

    Until now, he had never experienced a weapon containing a soul. Therefore, Xorgrah remained wary of that sword. Whether or not he needed to retreat depended on the chances of that weapon being drawn.

    As a result, Xorgrah wondered if he should retract his aura or continue with his disy of presence. ''Is it worth it? I understand that one''s pride must be defended, but one''s pride is never more valuable than one''s life. Conviction must not be mistaken with foolishness.''

    Eventually, Xorgrah made his decision, releasing a sigh as he retracted his powerful aura. Unfortunately, the damage of their actions was permanent. The forging room was in ruins as many items shattered the moment Xorgrah retracted his aura.

    The abrupt change in pressure caused a chain reaction. Just as the items shattered one by one, Xonnomor felt his stomach clench with each sessive cracking noise. "Oh no!!! My work! My precious work!"

    Xonnomor fell to his knees while clutching his head as he witnessed the scene of horror unravel before his very eyes. It was just as he expected¨Dthe fated meeting between two sides resulted in a terrible oue. Although the price of the meeting wasn''t the loss of lives as Xonnomor estimated, he felt something far more precious was robbed from him.

    As a forger, his creations were almost as precious as his own life. So, to witness the destruction of such precious items came as a heavy blow. After all, some of the items in his forging room were the result of receiving guidance from his grandfather.

    Therefore, some of these items possessed unmatched sentimental value since his grandfather''s whereabouts and condition were unknown.

    Meanwhile, Apollo watched Xonnomor''s breakdown silently before ncing towards the shattering items. Every time an item broke, Apollo observed the process. Soon enough, he noticed a pattern to each of the items breaking.

    ''Oh? They''re all shattering from their ws first. In other words, these were imperfect creations that Xonnomor cherished. Although it''s unfortunate, perhaps there''s a way to avoid emotional anguish,'' Apollo thought.

    The first solution that came to mind was to contact Furcas who specialized in all kinds of demonic circles. While there was no proof that Apollo''s spections were true, Apollo felt it was possible that a demonic circle existed that could be of use.

    ''If Furcas can heal someone as injured as Arleo, surely he can fix the issues with these shattered weapons as well. Regrettably, I don''t have any concrete answers, so I can''t make any promises,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer withdrew his aura as well while turning his head to the side as Saehtyn disabled his barrier. An unusual look appeared on his face as he shifted his gaze between Xorgrah and Fuhrer repeatedly.

    ''I didn''t expect Xorgrah to be this strong. If I had to make an estimate, then he''s one of the few demons nearing the level of us Lords. I wonder how''d he fare against Lucifer. As for this old demon¡­ he''s even more dangerous than that rambunctious individual. There''s a calm to his power that signifies a greater depth¡­ I''d hate to be his enemy,'' Saethyn thought to himself.

    Obviously, Saehtyn was referring to Asteroth as the rambunctious individual. There was a tant difference in the sensation Fuhrer and Asteroth emitted. Despite revealing an unprecedented amount of destruction in the tower room, Saehtyn felt Asteroth''s power paled inparison to this old man.

    For one, Saehtyn felt Asteroth was using at least eighty percent of his power to deal with Irzanach''s unusual strength. Conversely, Saehtyn possessed an eerie feeling that Fuhrer hadn''t even tapped into ten percent of his true power.

    ''Truly scary,'' Saehtyn thought as his expression grew increasingly solemn.

    Finally, Apollo broke the silence with a calm chuckle. "I assume we can settle down now? As you see, we''re more than capable of defending ourselves. So, why don''t we take the reasonable approach?"

    "Understood," Xorgrah nodded in agreement. He, too wished to settle for the reasonable choice after experiencing how fearsome Fuhrer could be. After a brief pause, Xorgrah continued. "I am Xorgrah of the Demonic Council."

    Apollo acknowledged the introduction before returning one of his own, "I am Zethroz, and the one you went up against is known as Old Man Fuhrer, one of my extremely trusted aides."

    "An aid?" Xorgrah muttered in surprise before giving Apollo and Fuhrer another look. He didn''t expect the rtionship to be one of master and servant. And, if he did, he thought the roles would be reversed with Fuhrer being the one in charge.

    Nevertheless, listening to Apollo''s introduction made Xorgrah sure of one thing. ''This youth muche from some affluent family or organization. However, is there really something like that? ording to my knowledge, there''s no organization with such an old monster and I''m not aware of any families since they all banded to form the Council.''

    Of course, Apollo''s introduction was part of his n. Instead ofpletely taking the Nihilistic Rings by storm, Apollo decided to ease his way into the grand scene since the Council separated themselves from the fate of the Rings.

    The easiest way to ease his way into therger picture was by expanding his clutches. In other words, Apollo had his eye on Xorgrah after learning of his strength. If he could bring this entire family under his wing, then he could form the gateway to walking directly in the Council''s realm.

    Since acquiring his true residence was beyond him at the moment with the Kings being confined to that area, Apollo sought a suitable area to start an official branch. Once the foundations were set he would then link the branch back to the main source in the Abysmal Ring.

    Sadly, Apollo had no set timeline for this action because of the precarious situation guing the Nihilistic Rings.

    "Correct, I serve the Lord to guarantee his progress," Fuhrer said while making direct eye contact with Xorgrah. His piercing gaze caused Xorgrah to fall silent. Despite his gaze seeming normal, Xorgrah felt more vulnerable than when they shed earlier.

    ''This man is not to be trifled with,'' Xorgrah thought as he released a heavy exhale. He could sense the aura of protector undting from Fuhrer when he uttered those. It was clear that this youth before him was of utmost importance in his eyes.

    In fact, Xorgrah felt the look in Fuhrer''s eyes meant he was more than capable of razing an area to the ground to ensure Apollo''s protection.

    Suddenly, while the two continued to talk, Xonnomor emitted a blood-curdling shriek as he watched thest of his creation shatter!

    "Eeeyyahhh! My weapon! Dammit! Dammit! What did you all do? What will I do now? This is my identity, my worth! My name will be dragged through the mud without proof of my credibility," Xonnomor shouted.

    Amongst the shattered items, Xonnomor''s gaze fell on one in particr¨D a blood-red sword that seemed simr to Armageddon and Gram.

 Chapter 503 - Resentful Emotions

    ----

    The blood-red sword that Xonnomor kneeled before was a special prototype made during his first attempts of emting his grandfather''s forging style. It used Gram''s mold as well as high-quality materials, giving it the ability to rise to the standard of those weapons.

    However, the weapon wasdened by Xonnomor''s countless mistakes, which prohibited the sword from reaching that standard. Nevertheless, the sentimental value of the weapon was off the charts since his grandfather personally guided his actions.

    While he didn''t deliver physical assistance, Xonnomor''s grandfather orated the process. Otherwise, the chances of the weapon achieving even its current faulty state was an abysmal likelihood.

    Thus, the meaning behind this weapon shattering resonated with Xonnomor more than any other item in his possession.

    ''Mm? When was thest time I''ve seen my boy so passionate about an item? There was only one moment when this happened¡­ Perhaps¡­ is this sword that item?'' Xorgrah wondered as he watched his son cradle the shattered pieces in his hands.

    Following the creation of this blood-red sword, Xorgrah watched as Xonnomor exhibited a reignited passion. Although his potential was ample, Xonoomor was alwaysx when it came to training. Unlike most demon''s he didn''t seek power because he found no use for it.

    After all, Xonnomor spent his adolescence witnessing the passivity of the Council firsthand. Despiteprising more than eighty percent of the Demon Race''s power, it yed a passive role in resolving any conflict that arose.

    Therefore, Xonnomor felt it wasn''t worth it if that was the cost of having power¨Dliving in fear of losing grasp of that power. In his eyes, it wasn''t just the weak that possessed many fears, but those at the top did as well. The only difference was the source of their fears was in direct opposition.

    One feared losing their lives at every turn whereas the other feared losing their power. The internal struggles of the weak and strong didn''t vary as much as one would assume.

    Meanwhile, Xorgrah rubbed his chin in thought as he shifted his gaze between the weapon and his son. Xonnomor''s touch was delicate as if he were frightened to inflict any more damage upon the already destroyed item.

    "Is this the creation from that time?" Xorgrah asked while stepping towards Xonnomor. Until now, he didn''t pay much attention to Xoonnomor because of hisck of desire towards evolving to be stronger.

    However, when it came to creation, Xorgrah always kept a keen eyes on Xonnomor''s progress. Because the special method of his father didn''t mandate the forger to possess boundless strength, it could be borrowed from others.

    For example, Saehtyn fueled the process while Xonnomor carried out the refinement and molding process. By utilizing Saehtyn''s strength, Xonnomor created items at the peak of his expertise. Such results were only possible through the special style employed by these two individuals.

    Granted, the style Xonnomor''s grandfather used wasn''t unique. It originated from an ancient technique in which Asteroth, the head forger of the Dominus Household, mastered. It wouldn''t be surprising if these molds were the fruits of Asteroth''sbor.

    Then again, Asteroth disyed zero reaction towards the colossal axe Saehtyn wielded, so it was difficult to ascertain whether he was truly the origin.

    Eventually, Xonnomor managed to pull himself together while continuing to hold the weapon. "Yes¡­ this was my first true attempt at bing a master forger. It was grandfather who guided me and not a day goes by that I don''t reminiscence about those times."

    "I understand," Xorgrah replied before cing his hand on Xonnomor''s shoulder. His expression was remorseful as he felt responsible for his son''s current. No matter what disposition he disyed on the surface, Xorgrah''s main focus was his family.

    If it weren''t, he wouldn''t have decided to remain outside of the Council''s quarters. Severing all contact with his family was something Xorgrah couldn''t do. Furthermore, he felt it wasn''t worth it. Being confined to the insides of the Council''s headquarters would grow stale.

    "If you understand then why couldn''t you set aside your pride and not challenge them?" Xonnomor shouted in response. Although he calmed down, he couldn''t let go of the fact that the sword was no longer in one piece. Not to mention, his repressed displeasure with his father''s attitude was seeping through.

    Because the floodgates to his emotions had been damaged, there was no way for Xonnomor to contain. While Apollo could do so with his absolute control over his subordinates, he felt interfering in family squabbles was something he should refrain from doing.

    On the other hand, Xorgrah was taken aback by Xonnomor''s shout. Despite it being true that he was to me in this matter, he wasn''t the only one who indulged in the behavior.

    Xorgrah''s gaze shifted towards Apollo and Fuhrer for a moment before gradually returning to Xonnomor''s with a curious expression. "Why am I receiving all of your anger? Why don''t you direct some of it towards that duo as well?"

    "Because it is you who initiated the conflict! Everything said by them was the truth. You never introduced yourself yet demanded an introduction from others. That type of attitude is the reason I despise those who make up the Council. Self-indulgent fools with no essence," Xonnomor spat.

    His view of the Council wasn''t the greatest, especially after he learned about the Council''s conduct following the announcement of his grandfather''s status. Everyone in a seat of power pushed the situation aside and decided to settle upon locating a new figurehead to put as their leader.

    It wasn''t the fact that they wished to rece his grandfather that incensed Xonnomor. After all, it was an inevitable oue. The top spot was a temporary title as none of these demons were capable of eternal life. At some point, they would perish.

    The reason for Xonnomor''s irritation was the tant dismissal of his grandfather''s safety. Above all else, Xonnomor felt the Council should manage themselves better.

    "There is some truth to your words, but understand that I am your father. Some tones are better for you not to take," Xorgrah responded. Although he was remorseful at first, his expression grew stern as he spoke.

    He couldn''t ept his son''s animated response. Sometimes the truth could be viewed as being disrespectful, which was understandable. Unfortunately, Xonnomor didn''t see it this way. His father''s response only added fuel to the fire as Xonnomor narrowed his gaze.

    "No. I think you need to learn to abandon that false notion of requiring respect wherever you go. The Council isn''t as luxurious as everyone believes it to be. There are some who possessed an inherent aura of authority. Those inhabiting the Council do NOT fall into this category," Xonnomor said in return.

    After listening to these words, Xorgrah''s eyes immediately widened. It wasn''t until now that Xorgrah learned just how much Xonnomor despised the Council. What''s more, it appeared that Xonnomor was referring to someone or something when he uttered hisst few words.

    ''Based on his words, it''s clear that this boy follows someone else. His opinion of them is much greater than his opinion of the Council. While I admit they are often wed in their decisions, every member of the Council possess an undeniable ability. They''ve just grown inactive over the years,'' Xorgrah thought to himself.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s expression becameplex as he made eye contact with Xonnomor. He shook his head subtly to give Xonnomor the message that they shouldn''t reveal their connection just yet.

    Although Fuhrer was confident in battling against Xonnomor, a true battle would result in too many sacrifices being made. Therefore, Apollo decided that until he could conquer Xorgrah without question, then it was best that their connection remain a secret.

    With that being said, Apollo also realized he needed to devise a n to conceal Tirasha''s sudden transformation. After all, her transformation was unique. Xorgrah would have to be blind in order to not notice the tant differences.

    Chasing the Forgotten Sin was a path that not even Fuhrer had heard about. So there was bound to be some changes down the line that Apollo needed to prepare for. Nevertheless, Apollo wasn''t scared. At most, it''d just be a tedious endeavor.

    It wasn''t long before Xorgrah sighed and looked towards Xonnomor once more. After revealing his feelings, Xonnomor''s expression lightened greatly. Be that as it may, Xorgrah was left with a heavy heart.

    "I guess your impression of the Council has truly deteriorated over the years, and I understand why. It is my fault. My absence has fostered feelings of resentment in you, so I won''t press your heated word," Xorgrah said.

    After a short pause, he then continued. "I, too, feel that the Council isn''t what it once was. When it was founded, we all possessed drive. Now, they all live with the looming fear of bing meaningless. In light of that fear, they''ve driven a wedge with all that truly matters. I just hope that you choose the right people to follow."

    "I''m confident in my judgment. When I find those to follow, they''ll be ones that have thoroughly earned my respect," Xonnomor responded.

    In response, Xorgrah nodded. At the same time, he also felt that his assumptions were wrong.. ''Perhaps I was wrong about him joining a side."

 Chapter 504 - Knowledge Of Angels

    ----

    Despite the fact that Xonnomor had already joined a side that went far beyond a faction, he used cryptic words to disrupt his father''s assumptions after receiving instructions from Apollo. Although he didn''t go into great detail, Xonnomor understood that Apollo didn''t wish to make their connection known just yet.

    As his follower, Xonnomor felt it was of utmost importance to respect Apollo''s wishes. Hence, the current situation of following up his earlier words that hinted towards joined a new part with words that debunked the hints.

    Apollo smiled after Xonnomor recovered the situation. However, he held other feelings for the disy that took ce earlier. It had been quite some time since Apollo brooded over the absence of parental care, but the argument between Xonnomor and Xorgrah sparked those hidden emotions.

    ''I wonder if the rtionship between me and father would be simr if history were much different,'' Apollo wondered. After all, the reason for his current situation was partly his father''s doing. What was supposed to be a training regiment to erase the needlesspassion from Apollo''s true soul turned into an extended nightmare.

    Before that, however, there was a particr memory that Apollo awakened, making him wary of the rtionship between him and his father. Surprisingly, despite his reputation as the strongest demon to walk the Nihilistic Rings and the most ruthless leader, the depiction of Aztraval was different in Apollo''s memories.

    Up until he could begin training in demonic practices, Aztraval doted upon Apollo, or rather Zethroz, keeping him in the care of the Kings and Fuhrer at all times. Unfortunately, memories of his mother were still hazy in Apollo''s mind, so he wasn''t aware of her origin or even her name for that matter.

    However, what Apollo did understand was that his rebirth was impossible without the assistance of his mother. After all, demons didn''t carry the ability to tamper with life and death. Their domain was Sin and Infernal Darkness. As long as the situation involved corrupted behavior, it was their specialty.

    But, once the topic transversed out of that domain, the demons were powerless. Under normal circumstances, Aztraval wouldn''t be able to acquire anyone''s assistance, but his circumstances were far from normal. In addition to being a strong leader, Aztraval possessed unmatched charisma as well as the ability to adopt a form simr to a human if need be.

    Aztraval utilized this ability to capture the heart of a woman that at the very least, possessed a status equal to his own. What''s more, she carried the unique power to control reincarnation to a certain extent. Regrettably, that action was the cause for the Great War of the Upper Races. Which inevitably led to Apollo''s condition.

    Luckily, Apollo was fortunate enough to make out from that endless pit of darkness and assimte with his current body.

    Recalling this information, Apollo turned towards Fuhrer and passed a mental message. Listening to the contents of the message, Fuhrer was stunned for a moment before returning a look of surprise.

    "You wish to learn about the unique power of the Upper Races?" Fuhrer questioned while rubbing his chin. In truth, this information was something that Apollo would have to ultimately learn. If not, he''d be walking into a situation while beingpletely unaware of his opponent''s ability.

    Theck of information was one of the gravest mistakes one could make when heading into battle. Therefore, Fuhrer decided to inform Apollo of all the abilities known amongst the higher-ups of the Upper Races.

    "Well, I won''t delve into the powers of us Demon as you''re aware that it involves four crucial aspects¨DSin, Demonic Anima, Aura and finally, Dominions. Outside of these four, there aren''t many other abilities that a demon can utilize because they''re all derived from one of these aspects," Fuhrer said.

    For example, Amduscias''s Dark Lightning was derived from his Sin mixing with a potent trait. Without his Superbia undergoing a mutation, wielding the Dark Lightning would be impossible since it wouldn''t exist. In fact, the number of demons with this special power numbered less than ten. And this was during the time of Amsduscias''s birth.

    As for right now, the numbers were unknown. It was even possible that Amduscias was the sole user of this ability.

    "Let''s begin with our nemesis race¨Dthe Angel. They operate upon a power known as Virtue. Just as we have Ira, Superbia, Invidia, Luxuria, G, Avaritia, and Acedia, the Angels have seven distinct groupings as well. In a sense, each distinction is a direct counter of our own."

    For Ira, there was its counterpart, Patentia. Angels of this distinct typically used passive-aggressive battle styles to infuriate their opponent into attacking with greater fervor. When paired against a demon of wrath, the oue was unusually disastrous once the demon snapped.

    When it came to Superbia, its counterpart was known as Humilitas. Angels of this distinction usually utilized defense battle styles without assaulting their opponent. Or, they redirected their opponent''s attack back towards them with a sturdy defense.

    Next, Invidia''s counterpart was known as Humanitas. Of all the Angel''s distinctions, this was the most aggressive as from Fuhrer''s knowledge, most of the Angels who used this power took control of the battlefield''s tempo, unleashing a flurry of "passionate" attacks.

    Castitas directly opposed Luxuria since they utilized a reserved battle style and generally held on to the idea of protecting themselves as well as allies. What''s more, it was usually the strategist who traveled this path since they were rumored to possess great wisdom and knowledge of battle and behavior.

    G was opposed by Temperantia. The Angels of this ssification utilized their great holy power to defend against most attacks. Whereas G was known to devour, Temperentia was known to resist. It was one of the only powers that could resist the absorption force of G.

    The next group of Angel was overwhelmingly scary because of their tendency to forgo defense while unleashing terrifying attacks. They were known to generally sacrifice themselves willing to ensure all expectations. Thus, the Angels of Caritas directly opposed Avaritia''s selfish nature.

    Lastly, was the Angels known to spearhead all assault. Diligentia, the Angels with the undisputed strongest power, boasted the most substantial reserves as they were withstood the most assaults with their unrelenting diligence.

    Apollo''s expression grew colorful as Fuhrer exined all of his experience.

    "Oh? It counters one another?" Apollo muttered with great interest. While he understood that the rtionship with the Angels was an inconsble topic, he didn''t expect that their core powers opposed one another this much.

    "Theoretically, it does. However, achieving perfection is truly difficult. The cancetion that should ur oftentimes doesn''t. Because, the counter that we expect means that it can inflict grave damage upon both sides simultaneously. Hence, most battlese down to equipment and maintaining a certain range," Fuhrer answered.

    "That''s understandable. If that''s the case, I suppose weaker Virtue can''t overwhelm Sin and vice versa. Truly a worthy opponent," Apollo muttered.

    "Heh, if you think that''s bad. Then wait until I tell you about Radiance. It''s simr to our Auras, except that Radiance is the overwhelming condensation of Sin. Even in the past, once an Angel used their Radiance, a Demon without an Aura was bound to die," Fuhrer said in a grim tone.

    Once again, he imparted a few more stories to Apollo. Just as Aura sometimes took on unforeseen attributes, Radiance experienced the same situation. The only difference between an Angel''s Radiance and a Demon''s Aura was that the demon performed their power by understanding their Sin on a greater level.

    The Angels were different. Their radiance was determined by an item that the Angulus Race protected at all times. Only once an Angel reached the Archangel level could theye in contact with the fabled stone so that it could judge their Radiance.

    Although it seemed like the stone granted the Radiance, in truth, all it did was quantify an Angel''s dedication to their Virtue. The stronger their dedication the stronger their Radiance. In short, the stone determined the amount of faith an Angel had towards their Virtue.

    "I see," Apollo responded while nodding repeatedly. The abundance of information left Apollo baffled for a moment. Initially, Apollo thought there was a hierarchy to the strength of the Upper Races but based on Fuhrer''s description that didn''t seem to be the case.

    After all, the Angels possessed powers directly on par with Demons. Although it wasn''t confirmed, Apollo felt the same should ring true for the Titans, Celestials, and Spirits.

    "Also, you should note that the Angel possesses an equivalent to Demonic Anima and Dominions as well, but we''ll refrain from talking about the Dominions equivalent for now since you have yet to reach that level. While it''ll serve as a good motivator. We should also address the other races, what do you think?" Fuhrer suggested.

    At first, Apollo wanted to nod, however, ncing towards Xonnomor and Xorgrah, Apollo decided against it. There was ample time for him to learn about this matter. For now, he needed to move forward without something more pressing.

    ''It''s about time.. We should begin preparations."

 Chapter 505 - A Forceful Appearance

    ----

    "When you say begin making preparations, you mean¡­" Fuhrer muttered while looking towards Apollo in slight disbelief. Although he knew Apollo wished to expedite his actions, he didn''t expect him to move at such a hastened rate. After all, there was only one thing Apollo could possibly prepare for.

    "Correct, we''ll be meeting Asteroth. After receiving a portion of Amdsucias''s strength, I''m confident in my ability to at least fight him to a standstill," Apollo said. While he made a vague estimation, this guess didn''t include the usage of the Fourth Annihtion.

    In addition to his shoddy mastery over the technique, its drastic consumption made it so Apollo could only unleash the attack once. At the very least, the initiation of the technique consumed at least one hundred thousand units of Demonic Anima. Following this usage, Sin and Aura came next.

    Fortunately, the requirements weren''t as stringent because the requirements depended on the status of Apollo''s current power. The extent of the Annihtion''s consumption was based on the purity of Apollo''s Sin as well as the degree of his Aura. As long as both of these factors exceeded the baseline of the technique, the technique would exhibit decreased exhaustion.

    Nevertheless, Fuhrer''s expression becameplex as he found it difficult to agree with Apollo''s decision. Unlike the battle involving the Lords and Irzanach, Asteroth was on the hunt for Apollo. Meaning, he wouldn''t hold back in the slightest if Apollo were to appear before him.

    In other words, Apollo would be walking into a truly dangerous situation, especially since it involved a demon with a firm grasp over the Aura of Destruction.

    Be that as it may, Fuhrer also couldn''t overlook the fact that this fight could serve as a fundamental fight for when Apollo came in contact with the Kings. Each one of the Kings, while not entirely hostile towards the Monarch''s disappearance, possessed knowledge of Apollo''s existence.

    So, unlike the other members of the household, they immediately understand the significance of Apollo appearing before. However, what woulde of this understanding was the uncertainty that Fuhrer didn''t look forward to. Even more so if this took ce while they were all in one ce.

    "Do you understand the ramifications of taking this battle this early one? At the very least, we could wait until you evolve into an Archdemon," Fuhrer suggested. Truth be told, this was part of the original n, to im Asteroth once he ensured his influence spread throughout the Rings without fail.

    But, after learning of the convenience attached to summoning as well as reverse summoning his followers, Apollo decided that his presence wasn''t needed at every step of the n. When it came to securing strongholds in the Rings, as long as Apollo could im a demon of the respective Sin, he could simply send a Duke-level character to aplish his goals.

    For example, when he was unneeded, Apollo could simply station Amduscias within Suprenis to assist Tirasha in any critical ventures. Conversely, should he acquire Asteroth, he could also leave him to monitor Ashiraem alongside some other individuals.

    As for his personal movements, Apollo didn''t need that many to apany. As long as his entourage consisted of Typhir, Sapphyr, and Fuhrer, he felt it was more than sufficient to aplish any of his goals.

    Granted, this only target the rtively small ones as culling worlds that possess shocking strength would require more than just these four. At least, doing so with this small party was impossible until they stepped into a realm of absurd power.

    Admittedly, with the system''s assistance, it seemed as if this realm in question wasn''t the Daemos State, but could possibly appear earlier. The influence of a strong bloodline and Aura was by no means inconsequential.

    Thus, Apollo looked Fuhrer directly in the eye and nodded. "I understandpletely. But, it is a risk I''m willing to take. Without taking risks, my progress wouldn''t have been as rapid as it was."

    While talking, Apollo recounted his early experiences after receiving the system. The number of battles wherein the risks were aplenty numbered more than he could count. However, just as the risks were substantial, so were the rewards. As a result, he who possessed ate start grew at a pace that outssed his peers.

    "Very well. Since you understand the risks, I shall trust your judgment. Do you wish to go now?" Fuhrer asked. Immediately after, space rippled before Fuhrer as the thin indication of a portal opening appeared gradually.

    "I have no reason not to," Apollo said. His demeanor was calm as he watched the portal erge until it was suitable enough to fit him and Fuhrer. Since everyone had been sent to rest, the only ones aware of Apollo''s actions were the ones currently in the room.

    Since this ability came as a surprise to Xorgrah, his expression was the most absurd of everyone present. ''He''s capable of ripping through the Nihilistic Ring''s spatial fabric without exhausting himself?! It''s absolutely impossible for a Greater Demon to aplish this feat.''

    As this was his first time witnessing such an event, it took a while for Xorgrah to return to normal. Even then, his gaze carried apparent apprehension as he looked at Fuhrer and his sword. ''Judging that man by his outward appearance is a dangerous mistake. I think I understand why that gnawing feeling kept me from continuing with my earlier behavior.''

    While Fuhrer''s body didn''t radiate boundless strength, Xorgrah understood there was more to battle than just strength. When it came to experience, it wasn''t a stretch to say that Xorgrah didn''t even amount to one percent of Fuhrer''sbat knowledge and battle experience.

    Finally, Apollo and Fuhrer stepped through the portal, leaving Xorgrah, Saehtyn, and Xonnomor with baffled expressions.

    "D-didn''t they just get here? Why are they leaving already?" Xonnomor muttered while rubbing his chin in thought. Amongst the household member, Xonnomor''s knowledge of Apollo''s actions was the worst. Outside of crafting and recovering his strength, he wasn''t given any other objective.

    Meanwhile, Saehtyn''s eyebrows rose in surprise as he felt a subtle tingle. Instinctively, he turned towards the tower while closing his eyes. Although his jurisdiction shrunk with each passing day, the tower was his domain. Therefore, Saehtyn was aware of all neers.

    And from what he sensed, two new individuals appeared before the base of the tower, causing Saehtyn''s curiosity to be piqued. ''What business do they have at the tower-... WAIT!''

    Suddenly, Saehtyn''s eyes widened as his hand braced his jaw. ''There''s no way¡­ Ain''t no way. I just managed to schedule repairs for the throne room, the tower doesn''t need any more damage!''

    After sensing the neers, Saehtyn became antsy. From what he understood about these two, they held no qualms with causing destruction. After all, Xonnomor revealed the truth about the extensive damage the stronghold suffered. Of course, only Saehtyn was privy to the truth as Xorgrah remained in the dark about this scuffle.

    ¡­

    Outside of Ashiraem''s Tower¡­

    Apollo and Fuhrer stepped through the portal while observing the base of the tower. Since the system transmitted Asteroth''s location at all times, Apollo knew just where he was. Unsurprisingly, aftering to this tower, Asteroth made zero movements.

    Aside from his brief visit to the tower''s top floor, Asteroth generally stayed at the base of this tower because it housed the Link to other Towers in neighboring Rings. In Asteroth''s opinion, this was a vital tool needed to aid in the travel of his target.

    Hence, why he chose this ce as his squatting ce. Contact would be inevitable if his so-called target needed to venture to another Ring.

    "This tower is trulyvish up close," Apollomented while ncing through the extravagant area. Soon enough, an individual caught his eyes. Even without the system''s assistance, Apollo could tell at a nce that this individual had to be Asteroth.

    Different from the rest, this demonzed around on a stone bench while tossing arge weapon into the sky and catching it just before it hit the ground. However, every time the weapon returned a wave of brutal energy surrounded it.

    Shockingly, the wave surged into Asteroth''s palm upon contact. Not a single drop of this energy leaked from his palm, which intrigued Apollo. ''That control is quite shocking.''

    Regardless of theckadaisical nature of Asteroth''s actions, the action he performed wasmendable. Because, from what Apollo sensed, the severity of that aura was on par with a Demonic Massacre Wave unleashed at full strength.

    Instantly retracting energy of that magnitude was easier said than done, much less doing so without paying it any mind.

    Nevertheless, Apollo didn''te here to marvel at Asteroth''s control or his power. He came with a purpose, thus it was time to aplish it. However, almost as if a dog sniffing a simr scent, Asteroth''s eyes widened and filled with fury.

    "This is the familiar smell I''ve been looking for!" Asteroth bellowed while stamping his foot.

    BOOOOOM! Rmmmmmmmmbleeee!

    The benched he previouslyid upon shattered as Asteroth sprung to his feet. However, Apollo moved even faster, wasting no time in unleashing his dual form. At the same time, a huge w appeared before Asteroth as Apollo gestured towards Fuhrer.

    Within moments, a portal opened beside Asteroth''s body. Apollo didn''t give Asteroth a chance before using the Dominator''s Clutch to grab his head and toss him inside the portal.

    Because he was familiar with Asteroth''s behavior, Fuhrer closed the portal faster than usual while creating an opening elsewhere simultaneously.

    Zwoop!

    A portal opened within an area of ruins and from within, Asteroth''s body was expelled with great force, mming into the ground repeatedly as Apollo appeared soon after.

    "Unfortunately, we can''t fight within the Tower as it''ll expose my power as well as damage something that is in truth my possession," Apollo said with a slight smirk. "Excuse my heavyhandedness, but I''ve learned that you''re not a very polite individual."

    Instead of words, the entire ruins rumbled as a disastrous aura billowed from within a recently formed crater!

 Chapter 506 - Odd Attack Method, Destructive Impacts

    ----

    The rumbling of the floor intensified as Apollo descended towards the ground while watching the crater expand. Towards the center, therge boulder crumbled at an rming rate as Asteroth appeared while surrounded by a terrifying aura. Everything within 3 meters of his body faced decimation as a result of this aura.

    At the same time, Fuhrernded beside Apollo with a faint smirk. "That was quite an entertaining arrival, I must say. I never pictured you using that technique in this fashion. Though, if I''m being honest, your actions are extremely provocative."

    "Oh?" Apollo replied in response. He nced towards Fuhrer for a moment before moving it away. There was no need to question Fuhrer''sment because Apollo experienced the reason behind them within a few seconds.

    "Argh! Dammit! Who the hell do you think you are," Asteroth bellowed. His anger swelled continuously as he felt disrespected by Apollo''s earlier actions. To be taken by surprise and forcibly dragged to some unknown area, Asteroth felt this action was truly uneptable.

    It had been countless years since he failed to withstand someone''s forceful approach. Unfortunately, Apollo amplified the amount of power funneled through the Dominator''s Cluth by activating a portion of his bloodline. Once activated, many demons would have a difficult time withstanding the effects of his Aura of Domination.

    Unfortunately, it wasn''t an action that Apollo could sustain. At most, it could only be used for surprise attacks since it required a sudden burst of absurd amounts of his Aura and bloodline power.

    In fact, just that single usage depleted his bloodline reserves by nearly twenty percent! However, Apollo felt it was worth it since it kept the tower from receiving further damage. If their origin was truly linked to the Primal Source of the Seven Sins, then Apollo felt the state should be preserved.

    Perhaps there was even a chance that he could reinstate its former abilities after locating those hidden sources.

    Regardless, this wasn''t a matter Apollo could about at the moment. For now, he required every ounce of focus he could muster.

    Whoosh!

    Suddenly, a huge hammer flew towards Apollo at incredible speeds, causing his eyes to widen in shock while raising Gram to defend. Despite never taking his eyes off of Asteroth, he didn''t even sense the initial movement, almost as if the start-up sign of all attacks were absent from Asteroth''s attack!

    ''Even Amduscias had to pause before moving this fast, so how is this weapon moving at a speed on par with Amduscias''s eleration from the start?'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Sadly, he didn''t have time to specte over this matter as he was sent flying back after receiving the full force of this hammer''s impact. Although his feet didn''t leave the ground, Apollo couldn''t stop the hammer from dragging him backward and mming him through countlessrge rocks.

    Afterward, a burst of boisterousughter sounded from within all the debris. Although they sounded enraged, there was also a tinge of mirthced within their boomingughter.

    "Hahahaha! Do you like how that feels dammit?! How dare youunch a surprise attack on me without thinking of receiving identical treatment. Damn bastard! Haaach puut!"

    Asteroth spat on the ground, clearing his mouth of the remnants of blood dripping from his lip. ''Tch, that hurt more than I''d like to admit. I guess it was true after all. Some damn individual wields this perverse power.''

    Of course, the perverse power he mentioned was the Aura of Domination. After all, there weren''t many who could break past his defenses even if they weren''t raisedpletely because Asteroth''s Aura resulted in a nonsensically resilient Demon Body.

    Although it was unclear if it was Mature or Noble Demon Body, his defenses far outssed either of these options. Aside from this aspect, there weren''t many other traits that surpassed the general threshold of either of these physiques, hence the confusion behind Asteroth''s current state.

    "Urgh."

    A groan sounded far in the distance followed by a heavy thud as the hammer bearing on Apollo''s body dropped to the ground, causing a deep indent in the floor. At the same time, Apollo nced at his right arm, noticing it bent at an odd angle.

    ''What a destructive power,'' Apollo thought to himself. Though his arm, beginning at his elbow, was bent at a gruesome angle, Apollo didn''t even wince in pain. Instead, Apollo smacked his arm against a boundless, resetting its position while shattering the rock in the process.

    Straightaway, the jewel in his sternum released an abundance of vitality, which healed his damaged tendons at a rapid pace. If it were anyone else, their viscera would have beenpletely destroyed by Asteroth''s attack.

    Be that as it may, Apollo didn''t regret receiving this attack. Even if it didn''t alert him of every important bit of information, it gave Apollo a clear idea of Asteroth''s behavior. ''He may be even more unhinged than the rumors hinted. At least Gram fared well against that attack.''

    Despite the stupendous force behind Asteroth''s attack, Gram didn''t shatter. Granted, most of the blow''s force passed through the de and hit Apollo directly, hence his injured arm.

    Suddenly, theughter stopped as it was reced by a bbergasted expression. "Well, I''ll be damned! Is that Old Man Fuhrer right there? Are my eyes deceiving me? So you didn''t perish?"

    "Your eyes are still well. Time hasn''t assaulted them just yet," Fuhrer responded while remaining in his initial position. Since blows were exchanged already, he couldn''t interfere in the slightest.

    "Ehhh?! Speaking of assault, you''re on my list as well. I think we should have a little talk after this is over," Asteroth shouted. However, Fuhrer merely spared him a partially disinterested look.

    "Oh? Is that right, young man? Have you grown to believe that you are my match?" Fuhrer said. A dangerous gleam appeared in his eyes as an oppressive simr to a wild beast seeped from his body.

    Simr to the behavior of a normal predator in the presence of an apex predator, Asteroth scoffed before averting his gaze. "Tch¡­ if not you, someone will experience my rage."

    "Understood," Fuhrer replied before shifting his head to Apollo''s position. "I wish you luck."

    "Gee, thanks," Apollo said before narrowing his gaze on Asteroth. The earlier reyed in his mind as he noticed the odd oscition of energy taking ce before the hammer. Regrettably, he didn''t understand the principle behind what he was seeing, so Apollo couldn''t formte a counter just yet.

    Conversely, he also couldn''t keep receiving damage from those attacks to learn the operating principles of Asteroth''s attack. Therefore, Apollo decided on what to do. He cracked his neck, relieving the built-up pressure before smirking.

    A thought passed Apollo''s mind as he looked towards the hammer for a moment. ''That''s right, this should be his disadvantage for the moment.''

    Since Asteroth was weaponless and seemingly at a temporary disadvantage, Apollo immediately activated the Umbra Phantom Mantle, drastically increasing his Agility while dashing towards Asteroth. Since Asteroth was an opponent that Apollo couldn''t underestimate, he intended to capitalize on all opportunities that presented themselves.

    In this case, it was Asteroth''s actions of using a long-range attack that required him to let go of his weapon!

    Regrettably, a creepy grin appeared upon Asteroth''s grin the moment Apollo rushed towards him.

    "Oh? Do you think increasing your speed will help you? You don''t know how long I''ve been waiting to release the weight of this resentment I bear. A mere boost won''t stop me from getting my hands on you," Asteroth said.

    In the next moment, his body disappeared with a frightening boom as he charged towards Apollo at a lightning-quick pace. Again, the odd oscitions of energy appeared before Asteroth''s body, yet didn''t interfere with his movement.

    On the contrary, it assisted Asteroth!

    Nevertheless, Apollo didn''t cower. The aura of the Demonic Massacre Wave appeared around Gram as Apollo held it horizontally. A secondter, he unleashed a relentless barrage of waves at Asteroth.

    If any other individual were faced with this shocking number of waves, they were bound to freeze up and stare in horror as they assess the odds of surviving or oveing this attack.

    However, Asteroth just smiled as he rushed directly into the center of the barrage. As soon as he reached there, he pped his hand causing a burst of destructive energy to expand in arge sphere.

    Every wave touched by this wave was disintegrated. What''s more, Asteroth didn''t stop his rush as he executed this counter. As a result, he arrived before Apollo within moments.

    Left with no other choice, Apollo resorted to using a simple sh empowered by the Nether Severance''s power.

    "Sharp," Asteroth sneered in a teasing tone. "But, no use in being sharp if it can''t hit anything!"

    Asteroth dodged this strike before retaliating by extending his arm and using his half-closed arm as an anchor to lift Apollo''s body and m him into the ground, resulting in an explosive rumble.

    Without sparing any moment for Apollo to recover, Asteroth extended his arm, causing his hammer to interact with his desires. As an item near the level of a genuine Armement, the hammer hurtled towards Asteroth''s grasp.

    Once in his possession, Asteroth raised it above his head before mming it into the ground. In addition to a deafening noise appearing once again, there was also a metallic collision, which prompted Asteroth to strike down the hammer once more, burrowing their bodies deeper into the ground.

    "Whahaahaa! That''s right, you''ll be the ragdoll upon which I vent all of my frustrations upon," Asteroth said throughout his maniacalughter.

    In the meantime, Fuhrer''s hand moved towards his chin as he eyed the exchange between Asteroth and Apollo. ''Although he is at a clear disadvantage, I''ll withhold judgment until they bring this fight to the next level

 Chapter 507 - The Arms Of A Conqueror

    ----

    The cataclysmic tremor from Asteroth''s strike lingered for quite some time as he continued tough boisterously while ostensibly standing above Apollo''s body. A surge of delight flowed through him as he felt the weight of his grudge slip away with each hammer strike he aimed at the ground beneath his feet.

    However, a deranged look entered his eyes as he nced down. "This isn''t enough! Although it feels good, it''s far from enough. You need to know the meaning of true suffering; you need to know how it feels to run without purpose after facing peril!"

    Boom! Booooom! BOOOOOM!

    Each sessive strike Asteroth released grew at an rming rate. By the time Asteroth finished his rage-filled words, a crater at least 300 meters deep was burrowed within the ground. Even Fuhrer felt some surprise as he witnessed this scene.

    "Oh? I didn''t expect you to be so passionate about that matter. Out of all the demons, I would''ve expected you to care the least with your demeanor. But, I guess my assumptions couldn''t be more incorrect," Fuhrer said while watching as Asteroth floated up from within the deep hole.

    Despite the considerable alteration to the terrain resulting from his rampage, the rage on Asteroth''s face didn''t dissipate in the slightest. On the contrary, he felt even more incensed.

    "What is this?! Why is this damned fool so weak? How will I feel relieved if this is a one-sided beatdown?! Old man, just what have you brought before me? This is simply a disappointment!" Asteroth snarled.

    Asteroth''s disappointment resulted from the expectations created after witnessing Apollo''s Aura of Domination. This power immediately convinced Asteroth that he was in for a delightful, one where he could vent his repressed anger. Yet, from what he had seen thus far, it appeared that he wouldn''t even get the chance to unleash any of his more significant attacks.

    However, Fuhrer merely chuckled in response before creating more distance, "You put too little faith in the bloodline of the Monarch and his special Aura. I suggest you take a moment to realize what you''ve done."

    "Tch¡­ I already understand what I''ve done. I''ve put down a toothless wolf. While he may bear the appearance of a beast, he is without the essence of one. I''m thoroughly disappointed," Asteroth replied with a derisive scoff.

    He lifted his hammer above his head in the next moment, collecting a dense cluster of destructive Aura. Once it grew it to the size of a basketball, it floated to the forward-pointing face of the hammer while taking on a faintly ck tinge.

    "You should''ve just sent Amduscias in ce of this guy. At least he would''ve given me a challenge since he caused me to develop an application of my power that countered his own," Asterothmented.

    Despite Asteroth''s disrespectfulments, Fuhrer remained silently, simply shifting his gaze to the pit underneath Asteroth with a delighted smile. As he crossed his arms in anticipation, a single thought appeared in his mind. ''And so the real fight begin.''

    Suddenly, a cold voice sounded from within the pit. But, shockingly, aside from the voice, there was ack of any presenceing from the deep hole. "You know¡­ you talk a lot for such light blow. That inted ego seems to have sapped arge portion of your strength. Is this truly the power that gave birth to all those rumors?"

    Just as Asteroth was about to respond, his pupils constricted as he tilted his head to the side, narrowly dodged an iing weapon. However, three breezes followed after the weapon, producing an eerie feeling, simr to a cold chill brought about by a phantom.

    Soon enough, those three breezes took on the form of Apollo''s phantasms, which then condensed into his actual body as he snatched Gram out the air before it flew too far. All this was done in a fraction of a second as Apollo''s back was close enough to touch Asteroth.

    Be that as it may, there was something extremely odd about Apollo''s current appearance. It was neither a Suprana nor an Iraym. In fact, judging from the enigmatic presence undting from Apollo''s body, Fuhrer drew an almost instant conclusion.

    ''Oh? Using his original demon form? I wonder where he''s going to take this. There are many options avable for this particr form. I suppose we''re in for a good show after all.''

    Meanwhile, a notification shed within Apollo''s eyes as he spat a bit of violet blood, clearing the metallic taste from his mouth.

    ¡´System: You have entered the first stage of the ?Abysmal Conqueror''s Bloodline?. All techniques linked to Domination or Darkness will experience a 25% increase in their effects.¡µ

    This notification was the source for Apollo''s ghastly movement. Increasing the Second Baleful Step''s effect by 25% propelled it to a level that was nearly on par with the rudimentary stage of the Third Step. Therefore, it was only logical that Apollo''s Agility experienced a sizable increase.

    Granted, since it was a technique, the boost was only active when Apollo during moments of action. Because he was motionless while standing against Asteroth''s back, Apollo''s Agility reset to its former level.

    "Oh? You think just because you''ve be faster, your confidence is allowed to r-"

    Initially, Asteroth wanted to continue with his rowdy words, but Apollo wasn''t in the mood to entertain his folly. Thus, Apollo wrapped his right arm around his torso, sting Asteroth away with a thick beam formed from a dense amount of Ira.

    Asteroth mmed into the ground near the pit; however, his trail wasn''t long as he hit the hammer into the ground, bringing his momentum to an abrupt halt. After experiencing this attack, a look of excitement appeared on his face.

    "That''s what I''m talking about! Fight back! Make this fight worth it," Asteroth bellowed. His excitement was derived from the fact that the previous attack was by no means something a Greater Demon could muster. At the very least, it would require all of a Greater Demon''s Sin Reserves to unleash a Sin st of that magnitude.

    Unfortunately, Asteroth once again couldn''t enjoy the delight flowing through him as Gram hurtled towards him. This time, a thick pressure encapsted the de that dominated the atmosphere surrounding it.

    Although the iing strike wasn''t frightening in Asteroth''s point of view, he froze for a moment. After all, the application behind this attack was simr to the principles of the two attacks he used not too long along.

    ''Is this just a coincidence?'' Asteroth wondered while narrowing his gaze on the iing weapon. Just before it made contact, Asteroth shifted half of his body on an axis and caught Gram''s hilt before spinning around and returning the weapon at a more incredible speed.

    Afterward, he performed a rush that decimated the ground, following close behind the greatsword. If Apollo chose to deal with the attack, the window between Gram reaching Apollo and Asteroth closing the distance was almost nonexistent.

    Thus, Apollo was left with two decisions; either deflect the first attack and risk receiving a gruesome attack from Asteroth or avoid Gram and ce all of his attention on Asteroth. Unfortunately, this option meant that Gram would end up an unknown distance away.

    Judging from its current speed, Apollo wouldn''t be surprised if it flew tens of kilometers away.

    Apollo didn''t even flinch as he extended his left arm before him despite the difficulty. In what seemed like an instant, an enormous appeared in the space right before Apollo. His gaze then shifted to Gram for a moment, "Forgive me for my harsh actions; I will be sure to make it up to you."

    Apollo swiped his hand down following his words, causing the colossal w to smash down on both Asteroth and Gram. needless to say, Apollo chose the first option as Gram was forced towards the surface below, impaling the ground directly until the top of its hilt.

    On the other hand, Asteroth swung his hammer, tearing apart the giant w as a reddish-ck Aura appeared around him. He felt forced to use his Aura for the first time, granted it was only at the fourth degree for now.

    ''Tch¡­ I hate to admit it, but this boy is growing stronger. That w is much different from the one that initially thrust me to this ce,'' Asteroth thought to himself. Eventually, the hammer underwent a change as numerous holes appeared.

    Once the holes appeared, Asteroth''s Aura flwoed through the weapon unabatedly, following a number of spikes formed purely from Asteroth''s Aura.

    ''Hmm? That''s a first,'' Apollo thought to himself. Until now, he had never seen a weapon change the appearance of a weapon so greatly. Then again, he also remembered that Asteroth was an extremely talented forger, so it should be expected that his weapon existed at the epitome of his craft.

    Though the new appearance of the weapon was rming, Apollo couldn''t ignore the feeling coursing through him. Both of his arms transformed as he activated the special techniques rted to Ira, but during the process, Apollo received an astonishing alert.

    The previously bulky arms received a shocking upgrade as they slimmed down and shifted from a crimson color to a predominantly ck color with sparse ents of silver and crimson. Overall, it fit Apollo''s current pitch-ck hair profoundly dark eyes.

    ¡´System: The ?Infernal Arms of Damnation? has mutated due to the activation of the ?Abysmal Conqueror''s Bloodline?.¡µ

    ¡´System: This technique is now known as the ?Conqueror''s Arms?¡µ

    ''What a befitting name,'' Apollo thought to himself as he brought up the information linked to this technique to confirm any change in the effects of these arms.. Besides the apparent increase to his crushing power, Apollo needed to make sure he could make full use of what this technique had to offer.

 Chapter 508 - Forceful Exchanges

    ----

    Apollo''s gaze scanned the information rted to the Conqueror''s Arms, acquiring all of the information required to prepare several applications for this particr technique.

    ¡¸Technique Name: Conqueror''s Arms

    Technique Rank: *Unique (Bloodline Art)

    Effects: When used as a medium, empower all dark techniques that pass through them.

    While the Conqueror''s Arms are active, the Dominator''s Cluth experiences a 33% boost to its crushing power and oppressive pressure. This technique also enables the ability to ovep the Dominator''s Clutch. *(This effect can only be used a number of times before the Conqueror''s Arms shatter.

    Consumption: Using the boost consumes 1% of Aura Reserves and 0.5% of Bloodline Reserves every three seconds. *(Using the ovepping ability increases the consumption by ten times.) ¡¹

    ''So, this is just a temporary state,'' Apollo thought to himself after dismissing the information panel. Based on the information given, the Conqueror''s Arms were prone to shattering after a set usage in their current state. While Apollo was unsure if this issue would disappear once his power rose, he knew this was a limiting factor for the time being.

    In fact, the possibility of shattering made Apollo question whether these arms could go up against an Armament, which wasuded for their absurd durability. Eventually, Apollo''s attention shifted to the hammer in Asteroth''s hand as he clenched his fist.

    ''Specting won''t help. In this case, it''s best to test out my theories in person,'' Apollo thought to himself. In the next moment, he once again utilized the Umbra Phantom Mantle at the Triple Mirage level, creating two other phantasmal images of himself.

    During his rush, each of the phantasms executed a strong smash simultaneously in which Asteroth countered by unleashing a ferocious swing. A st of destructive energy collided against Apollo''s smash. If one looked closely, they''d realize the destructive energy possessed numerous spikes siumr to Asteroth''s hammer.

    It was only for an instant, but a standstill urred before being followed up by a gradual cracking nose. Besides Apollo''s actual body, each of the phantasms showed signs of fragmenting as a ghastly fume leaked from their body.

    However, Apollo didn''t flinch as he used this fume to create a screen of darkness. The screen obscured Apollo''s movement, but it was only for a short while as it couldn''t bear the onught of Asteroth''s destructive method.

    Nevertheless, the screen served its purpose. By the time Asteroth blew away the smokescreen, Apollo''s true figure was no longer in from Asteroth but at his back. Once he arrived there, Apollo immediately tested out the Conqueror''s Arms first effect.

    Apollo summoned a miniature version of the Dominator''s Clutch, except there was a condensation before the knuckles as it formed into a fist. Understanding that Asteroth''s reaction speed was unusually rapid, Apollo didn''t waste any time inunching the attack.

    A horrifying sound urred as the miniaturized w smashed into Asteroth''s back, sending him flying. However, there was no impact on the ground, which caused Apollo''s eyes to narrow.

    ''That attack was stronger than anything I''ve unleashed thus far, yet he managed to alleviate the force of the attack by the time he neared the ground? How so¡­'' Apollo wondered while cracking his knuckles with evident excitement apparent on his expression.

    Although Asteroth proved to be a difficult opponent, Apollo had noints. After all, in fights like these, he made the most advancements. For example, he had alreadye across one of the techniques affiliated with his bloodline.

    Meanwhile, Asteroth brandished his hammer while looking at Apollo with a toothy grin. "That technique you just usedes from your bloodline, doesn''t it? So do those arms because I am quite familiar with them. Except, in my memories, they were much more dangerous."

    "Unfortunately, I am far from the level that exists in your memories. However, we both know I''m not the only one," Apollo said with a faint smile. As a result, Asteroth''s cheeky grin disappeared.

    The effects of time was something even his Aura of Destruction couldn''t resist. Without the proper means to maintain his power, Asteroth was well aware that his power diminished steadily. Be that as it may, it didn''t mean he enjoyed Apollo pointing out this matter.

    "Tch, what do you know? You don''t know the half of my original or even that old man by your side. At most, you know the shared stories; you don''t know the firsthand experience," Asteroth said. Afterward, he lifted his hammer in front of his body before tracing a circle half the size of his torso.

    A ring of zing fire appeared, followed by Asteroth''s menacing grin. "Since you''re revealing more of your abilities, I shall do so as well. At the very least, I hope you fare well."

    Suddenly, the crimson ring of mes adopted a ck color as it condensed. Soon enough, it was the same size as the face of Asteroth''s hammer. Once it reached this size, Asteroth rotated his body and mmed the hammer against the dreadful ring, propelling it at a frightening momentum.

    The speed of the ring was absurd, but that wasn''t the worst of it. After traveling a distance away from Asteroth''s body, it experienced anotherpression series. It happened so far that Apollo wasn''t able to react to it as the ring ignited with zero indication.

    The ignition caused a vast sphere of destruction to take ce while the zing mes reflected in Asteroth''s eyes. "Ahahaha! Surely that wasn''t enough to deal with you. It was simply fire with a dash of destruction, nothing too overwhelming."

    Despite the appearance of the st and the scene of fiery carnage that ensued, Asteroth noticed a standing figure within the floating ashes. Besides the figure, Asteroth also noticed a ck mass that was hard to see through the dark smoke.

    Conversely, Apollo''s dark eyes gleamed within the ash as two sped ws spread apart, revealing his heavily burnt body. Although he quickly summoned two colossal ws to defend against the iing st, it happened quicker than he expected.

    ''Even my Languish Perception wasn''t enough to sense that st in time. Just what is this eerie principle behind all of his attacks? Even if he controls the power behind the attack, they ur at a bizarre pace. Is Amduscias really the master of eleration?''

    In Apollo''s opinion, Amduscias''s Aura of eleration didn''t hold a candle to what Asteroth performed. At least in Amdsucias''s case, Apollo could track his movements due to the linear pattern and the almost imperceptible dy before his great burst of speed.

    Yet, in Asteroth''s case, none of his attacks revealed signs of sudden eleration. It was almost as if the attacks teleported before him at the rate they were going.

    "Ah, you survived. But, my friend, you look a little charred! Ahaha! How can a demon with the power of Ira flowing through their veins suffer injuries from mes? Tsk tsk, what a shame. That purity must really becking if that''s the case," Asteroth said.

    From his tone, it was clear that Asteroth enjoyed his current situation. Nevertheless, Apollo merely looked down at his scorched arms as they healed at a visible rate. ''More¡­ this is far from enough.''

    Suddenly, a surge of darkness appeared around Apollo as he lifted his head, five phantasms phased from his body followed by a tempest of dark winds as Apollo activated the highest level of the Umbra Phantom Mantle¨Dthe Six Phantasm Shifts.

    However, Apollo''s actions didn''t stop there as he exhaled a turbulent stream of condensed steam. It was almost as if his insides were boiling by how dense the mist was. The two colossal ws resonated with Apollo in the next moment as they condensed repeatedly while floating toward his arms.

    The ck and silver ents on Apollo''s eye-catching arms expanded as they assimted with the ws, creating a different environment around Apollo. A feeling of dread and domination permeated the atmosphere, which caused Asteroth to stopughing.

    "Eh?"

    Asteroth rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn''t seeing things because the current form of Apollo''s Conqueror Arms were the ones in his memories! In other words, the effects of this technique could turn out to be potentially lethal!

    "Surprise surprise! This little boy is full of joyous surprises!"

    Asteroth performed an explosive dash towards Apollo, stopping him from reveling in the power produced from this ovepping. Since he was unable to enjoy the feeling, Apollo scoffed before taking a step back.

    Just as he performed the step, Asteorth arrived before him, unleashing a relentless swing. However, confidence filled Apollo,pelling him to smile as he swung his arm to the side.

    At the same time, crimson lines appeared on Apollo''s body, symbolizing the activation of his Infernal Ira Stigmata, which in turn increased Apollo''s strength by a considerable amount. The end result was something that even Asteroth hadn''t estimated!

    Bang!

    Apollo swatted Asteroth out of the air, punching him into a boulder not too far away. Unlike the previous strike, Asteroth didn''t have time to destroy the force before his face was nted into a rock.

    Be that as it may, Asteroth immediately sprang from the debris as if he hadn''t received any hit.

    "Whoa! I didn''t expect such a heavy blow.. Let''s y some more little boy! I can''t seem like a wimp who can''t take a punch. Take one as well!"

 Chapter 509 - The One To Blame

    ----

    "Unfazed by my attack?" Apollo muttered in a questioning tone as he gazed at Asteroth in the distance. Despite the heavy blow, Asteroth seemed more excited than before rather than suffering any injury. While Apollo understood that Asteroth''s resilience was nothing short of baffling, he was pretty confident in his previous attack.

    After all, even a Noblesse would find it challenging to handle the amount of strength pooled into any strike unleashed through Apollo''s abnormal arms. At the very least, Apollo felt the attack should have easily surpassed a Noblesse''s initial threshold.

    Therefore, Apollo began questioning the mysterious limits of Asteroth''s Demon Body. ''Could him experiencing destruction at all turns have bolstered his defenses by this much? It''s feasible, but everyone has a weakness. I doubt he can continue receiving these attacks without disying signs of injury or fatigue.''

    Sadly, Apollo didn''t preserve the luxury of processing the battle for much longer since Asteroth didn''t hesitate as he burst forth from within the collection ofrge rocks and returned a forceful kick.

    Despite the feeling behind the iing attack, Apollo chose not to dodge this blow as he crossed his arms and blocked it. However, Apollo''s eyes widened as he felt a significant shockwave surge from his back and obliterate everything within a 15-meter radius.

    Although the oue was surprising, it wasn''t the cause for Apollo''s sudden shock. The Conqueror''s Arms were the reason for his stupefaction because they expanded and contracted during the impact and discharged the force behind Apollo, effectively neutralizing all damage aimed at him.

    However, Apollo realized that a considerable portion of his Bloodline Reserves evaporated in doing so. It went without saying that defending against one of Astertoh''s blows required immense power, which in this case turned out to be consuming a considerable amount of Apollo''s bloodline power.

    Upon noticing this oue, Asteroth grinned before unleashing a flurry of blows. But, he didn''t stop there as the strikes were far from ordinary. Each strikepounded into a more frightening momentum as Apollo sensed Asteroth''s Aura bubbling up.

    Nevertheless, Apollo continued to defend against Asteroth''s blows sessfully while narrowing his eyes, ''This¡­ is the fifth degree of his aura, isn''t it?''

    Unlike before, Apollo felt a constant itch on the outeryer of his skin. But, the feeling didn''t remain constant as the irritation developed into a searing pain, as if the atmosphere was enveloped in a strange heat. The only possible exnation for this heat was the ck and crimson wisps circting Asteroth''s body.

    At times, the wisps crackled with power and caused an unsettling feeling within Apollo due to Fuhrer''s warning floating around his mind at all times. Apollo paid close attention to any signs of Asteroth activating a Dominion throughout the fight since the activation could result in a catastrophic situation.

    ''Even though Fuhrer said it was during a time of instability, I can''t overlook the possibility of Asteroth possessing a terrifying Dominion. In fact, I wouldn''t be surprised if it became worse as he mastered its power,'' Apollo thought to himself.

    Suddenly, Asteroth smirked while noticing Apollo''s attention slip. Ironically, Apollo fell victim to deep analysis while paying unusually close attention to Asteroth''s movement. He didn''t realize that, for an instant, his focus on Asteroth''s actions slipped.

    Consequently, Asteroth capitalized on this opening by summoning his second warhammer and executing a frightening spin that kicked up a destructive energy storm and released it directly at Apollo''s chest.

    Since his evolution, this was the first time an attack was aimed at Apollo''s chest, specifically the jewel that rested there. After experiencing the healing strength of this jewel, Asteroth understood that he needed to deal with this item to limit Apollo''s chances of withstanding his attacks.

    Thus, he aimed his horrific attack at this area. By the time Apollo noticed this, the two hammers were already before him, and he was helpless to alter the oue.

    However, Asteorth''s expression grew solemn as he jumped back suddenly. The jewel didn''t crack when he hit it as Asteroth expected it to. On the contrary, the jewel released a baffling tide of vitality mixed with infernal energy.

    Asteroth''s solemn expression appeared precisely because of this mix of energy. ''Is this what the hell I think it is? Only one beast mixes this type of infernal energy with unmatched vitality. Don''t tell me this boy already possesses one of our household''s treasured items?!''

    Until now, even Apollo wasn''t sure about this jewels origins despite having spent so much time with it. After all, it underwent its first change when it absorbed the essence of the wyvern in the blood pit, followed by a second change when Apollo evolved into a Greater Demon.

    The longer he faced the tide of vitality, the more severe Asteroth''s expression became until he could no longer suppress his curiosity. "Young boy! Tell me; why do you have a fragment of Bahamut''s Heart?!"

    As mentioned before, only the 9 Kings, Fuhrer, and Estran were aware of Apollo''s true identity. Although Asteroth concluded that it was no coincidence for Apollo to possess so many of the Monarch''s abilities, he thought it was a situation simr to the individual he met within the tower, except it was on a much grander scale.

    Evidently, his assumptions were incorrect. There was something irregr in Asteroth''s opinion. There was no way that the Monarch was this generous in distributing treasured items. Even the high-ranking members of the Dominus Household were forced to work arduously for their rewards.

    From what Asteroth observed, Apollo was too young to have been in contact with the Monarch who had disappeared for countless years now. So, how did hee across these cherished items and techniques?

    For a moment, Apollo was silent as he gazed down while experiencing the turbulent winds of vitality. ''Bahamut''s Heart? A fragment? Why does this all sound so familiar?''

    Eventually, Apollo linked Asteroth''s words to the familiarity in question. The realization made Apollo''s thoughts speed up indefinitely. ''That weapon! ording to Fuhrer, Bahamut is a dragon who represents the epitome of darkness, destruction, and demonic tendencies. If that''s the case, how in the hell is its heart in my possession?!''

    Suddenly, Fuhrer''s voice sounded within Apollo''s mind, providing an answer. "That dragon possesses more than one heart. In fact, from what I remember, it possesses five. One supreme heart with four auxiliary. In your possession is a fragment of one of its auxiliary hearts."

    "So¡­ you knew of this all along?" Apollo asked in return.

    "I had my spections. Based on the effects of this jewel, I estimate the fragment in your possession originates from the heart that carries Bahamut''s vitality. Though, if I''m being honest, the fragment is inconsequential," Fuhrer answered.

    Apollo fell into silence upon receiving this answer, whereas fury seethed within Asteroth''s eyes. Despite waiting patiently, his question had gone unanswered, which was admittedly his worst aspect.

    "Damn it! Are you ignoring me? I asked why you have a fragment of Bahamut''s Heart which was a part of the Monarch''s treasured possessions. Tell me, just who are you?!" Asteroth snarled.

    Apollo found this behavior amusing, ultimately looking at Asteroth with an intense gaze before smirking soon after. "You wish to know who I am? I will tell you who I am; my name is Zethroz Dominus, son of Aztraval Dominus and inheritor of the Dominus Household. Do you understand now why I wield many of the strengths of the Old Monarch?"

    Rather than disying a reaction, Asteroth froze with a growing tremor as he returned Apollo''s gaze. ''His son? The Monarch had a child? This boy is the child of our Monarch? As much as I want to refute his word as falsehoods, he knows information that would be lost in this era¡­ If that''s the case, then that means¡­."

    All of a sudden, Asteroth started huffing as his eyes reddened. "IT WAS YOU! THE REASON FOR EVERYTHING WAS YOU!!"

    "Pardon?" Apollo said with a raised eyebrow. All he did was reveal his identity to Asteroth, yet it seemed all of his repressed anger bubbled over instantly! Apparently, Asteroth carried more resentment than Apollo ounted for.

    "It was you! The reason behind the war between the races, for the Monarch''s sudden disappearance¨Dus being abandoned; the crumbling of our household and fall from grace¨Dit was all because of your existence!"

    Until now, Astreroth had always wondered about the reasoning behind the war. Although the rtionship between the upper races was never the best, they had coexisted for countless years without going to war despite their inconsble differences.

    So, Asteroth could never wrap his mind around the facilitator of that dreadful war. Now, he knew just who to me¨Dthe boy before him.

    "How could I have been so stupid? I shall have realized the moment your presence appeared. It was before my eyes all this time. Your power may pale inparison to the Monarch and possess some stark differences, but that''s because you''re an abomination formed from more than one great power!" Asteroth roared.

    In the next moment, the atmosphere seethed as countless popping noises urred around Apollo''s body. Arge sphere of ominous energy encapsted a diameter of 300 meters as Asteroth looked at Apollo with a hostile gaze.

    "I don''t care about your rtion to my master; you are to be med for me being abandoned; therefore, you deserve to be punished!"

    Witnessing this scene from afar, Fuhrer frowned as he realized the dangers of this activation. ''It is worst than I assumed¡­ this boy must have gone to great lengths to achieve control over this treacherous dominion.''

    As soon as the ominous aura appeared, Apollo noticed a piece of his leg suffered immediate damage and disyed signs of breaking downpletely. Fortunately, the tide of vitality surged into Apollo''s leg, but that didn''t stop his expression from worsening.

    ''Just standing in this Dominion causes so much damage? Is this the true power of destruction?'' Apollo wondered.. At this moment, Apollo didn''t know if he possessed anything in his arsenal capable of withstanding the onught of this Dominion.

 Chapter 510 - Meaningful Talk, Unprecendent Action

    ----

    Apollo understood that matters had already taken a turn for the worse the moment Asteroth lost control of his emotions and unleashed the full force of his terrifying Dominion. In fact, it wasn''t long before the pain escted into severe difort as more parts of Apollo''s body suffered noticeable damage.

    ''Is this what Fuhrer warned me of? This is the extent of his me? So much resentment,'' Apollo thought to himself as he inevitably fell to one knee while losing all feeling in his right leg. His current situation involved the worst pain he had felt until now, seeing as he could no longer retain hisposed demeanor.

    Meanwhile, Asteroth took heavy steps forward, shaking the ground with each sessive movement. With each step, Asteroth smashed the two warhammers together, creating a dangerous spark, which threatened to ignite his entire Dominion.

    All signs of reason had left his mind as Asteroth''s eyes turned to bloody-red color, simr to the color of a berserker. The only difference between his appearance and a berserker was that his power didn''t grow in proportion to his fury. On the contrary, Asteroth''s fury simply bled into previously debilitated energy channels, resulting in the sudden resurge of his power.

    Although it was unknown if those feeble channels could handle the surge of shocking strength, Asteroth''s fury caused him to ignore all consequences. His primary objective was to have Apollo suffer the same pain he felt after wandering the Nihilistic Rings aimlessly, without a home, for years toe.

    "I don''t know how it''s possible for you to exist after all this time, but you inevitably know the anguish of abandonment," Asteroth said while gazing at Apollo kneeling on the ground. Despite the jewel feeding a copious amount of vitality into Apollo''s body, it seemed his Demon Body wasn''t resilient enough to withstand the destruction, causing the jewel''s healing to grow insufficient.

    If things continued in this way, then Apollo stood no chance in acquiring Asteroth at the very moment. Understanding this issue made Apollo wonder how the disparity in strength could be so great. After all, only one ranking separated Asteroth and Amduscias on the Duke''s Tablet, yet it appeared Asteroth''s strength far surpassed Amduscias.

    Apollo''s pain continued to escte, but he soon lifted his head and gazed into Asteroth''s furious eyes. For some reason, this look seemed to anger Asteroth as he roared and smashed his hammer against Apollo''s chest, smashing against a thick boulder.

    Surprisingly, the boulder didn''t shatter when Apollo smashed against it. Instead, his body formed a deep imprint as his intense gaze remained locked on Asteroth. Those weren''t the eyes of someone with a will on the verge of breaking.

    From what Asteroth saw, Apollo''s resolve seemed unhindered. In anger, Asteroth once again raised his hammer towards Apollo. "It this still not enough to break you? Are you telling me I need to be more ruthless?!"

    Asteroth couldn''t understand why his actions exhibited little to no results besides damaging Apollo''s body. He had already ounted for how much the fragment of Bahamut''s Heart could heal Apollo''s body and raised the output of his Dominion ordingly to ensure Apollo''s body remained in a constant battle of being damaged and healed.

    This type of torture would be enough to drive any demon insane after a few cycles. Yet, Apollo had already resisted tens of these cycles without disying the slightest sign of giving in or "confessing" to his sins.

    Eventually, Apollo''s grating voice sounded in Asteroth''s ear. "No matter what you do, you can''t break me."

    Unbeknownst to Asteroth, there were a few reasons for Apollo''s current words. One, Apollo''s entire existence revolved around treacherous days. Perhaps if this torture were inflicted on someone else, it would be sessful, but the events of Apollo''s past caused him to grow inured to suffering.

    Furthermore, Apollo was the prime example of understanding abandonment. After all, the mishap with Apollo''s soul forced it to drift through the boundless darkness for countless years before finding sce in the intended body. Thus, Asteroth''s words did not affect him.

    However, that was only on the topic of breaking Apollo''s will. On the contrary, Asteroth''s actions caused Apollo''s anger to brew into a horrifying storm. Just as his anger threatened to topple over, a voice sounded within his mind.

    "Control yourself. A leader must exercise restraint and retain a sense of understanding, so don''t kill that young boy. His feelings are within expectations as he was one of the young members who cherished all of my teachings. My disappearance should have been unusually hard for him given that there was no outlet for him to use."

    Apollo recognized the voice speaking to him. However, he didn''t understand why someonebeled as the most ruthless demon ever to walk the Rings possessed a voice with suchpassion. What''s more, the frequent appearance of this voice caused Apollo to question its actual whereabouts.

    "Before all of that¡­where are you? Why did you leave everyone and leave me to bear the me now that I''ve announced my presence? I''m the one experiencing the me when you were the perpetrator behind the action that led to this situation," Apollo responded.

    For a time, the voice was silent, but then it gave a bitter chuckle. "I suppose you are correct. I am the one to me, but leaving this problem to you is a means of bestowing your inheritance. Lastly, do you think I willingly walked away from my family? Absolutely not."

    "If so¡­ then where are you?!"

    "Unfortunately, that is something I can not tell you. Just know, Fuhrer isn''t the only one protecting the Nihilistic Rings. All four of us made sacrifices to obtain a chance at breaking the curse guing the upper races," the voice answered.

    Following the question, Apollo noticed the vigor within the voice disappearing at a rapid rate, almost as if it was sacrificing a deal of strength to interfere with Apollo''s current emotions.

    "Curse? Sacrifices? Also, what do you mean by four?"

    "Four¡­? Of course, there''s me¡­Old Man Fuhrer¡­your mother¡­and finally, Estran. Sacrifices were made after we resolved ourselves to protect you¨Dthe hope of everyone. Thus, I believe you know the answers.

    Apollo wanted more answers, but the voice had fallen to a whisper around the time they mentioned Apollo''s mother. Fortunately, the voice mustered enough strength to provide a message to Apollo.

    "You''re¡­ on the right path. So, continue¡­ Zethroz."

    Afterward, Apollo''s attention returned to the real world as his link to the voice was severed. However, once he returned, the anger within Apollo had subsided. Evidently, the talk with his father''s extremely distant voice had cated the emotions arising from the thoughts linked to his past.

    Sadly, the same couldn''t be said about Asteroth as he continued to grow more irritated. In response, the Dominion grew chaotic.

    "Argh!" Asteroth roared in rage, causing everything within the domain to turn to molten rock as it levitated around Apollo. Due to the sudden increase in the disastrous environment, Apollo was subjected to more pain as a significant portion of his skin peeled away, revealing the sinewy muscle underneath.

    Despite wanting to crush Asteroth, his father''s voice resonated with Apollo as a rumbling grew in his chest as he breathed. ''I am on the right path¡­ it''s an ambiguousment, but it can also double as guidance.''

    Gradually, Apollo turned his head towards his arms while clenching his fist after great difficulty. Asteroth sensed this movement and unleashed a relentless barrage of hammer smashes upon Apollo''s body.

    Unlike before, even after creating another huge crater, Asteroth showed zero signs of stopping. He thrashed Apollo''s body into the ground, dragging him along as he experienced the rapid increase in heat.

    The deeper Asteroth dragged him down; the faster Apollo remembered the presence of a valuable item buried in the depths of Ashiraem. Be that as it may, Apollo didn''t believe he was in the correct state to entertain the idea of touching Purgatory''s Blood.

    Meanwhile, Fuhrer bit his finger nervously as he frowned. ''Was I wrong? Is the boy not ready to go up again Asteroth and dissolve his anger? After all, Asteroth is sort of unique; if there was one individual who idolized the Monarch, it was him. So, Asteroth will be an invaluable subordinate if he gains his trust.

    Initially, Asteroth traveled the path of Ira. However, the Monarch hinted at the best route for his future after awakening his Aura. Therefore, the Monarch''s disappearance came as a considerable blow for Asteroth, shown by his current behavior.

    In the meantime, Apollo closed his eyes as he felt each of Asteroth''s impacts radiate through his body. Apollo''s mind drifted towards his aplishments thus far, allowing him to soon find what his father referred to when he said he was on the right path.

    Once he realized the answer, Apollo''s eyes suddenly mmed open. His voice was nearly gone, but Apollo found the opportunity to speak with Asteroth, "You weren''t abandoned; you were remembered."

    "Shut your mouth! I don''t want to hear from you!" Asteroth snarled.

    "That''s the thing. It isn''t about what you want. As I said before, I am the son of your Monarch. Thus, you are mandated to listen to me despite how you feel, whether it be by force or willingly. I understand your pain, but that doesn''t mean I''ll forgive your actions."

    "Tch, you speak as if you''re enough to defeat me," Asteroth sneered before lifting his hammers above his head. In the next moment, he mmed them down, intending to thoroughly finish Apollo, and send him into the core of Ashiraem.

    However, something unprecedented happened as Apollo lifted his arms and caught the hammer fueled by an absurd amount of destructive power.

    ''I''ve never tried this before, but heh¡­ there''s a first for everything right?''

    An instantter, an overbearing ck energy signature pooled from Apollo''s body as an alert appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

    ¡´System: You have entered the second stage of the ?Abysmal Conqueror Bloodline?. [Aura of Domination temporarily raised by one degree, strengthening your Demon Body.]¡µ

    Although the strengthening didn''t seem all that great, Apollo hoped it was enough as one by one, seven distinct colors illuminated his body.

 Chapter 511 - A Difficult Decision, Placing Ones Trust

    ----

    Apollo attempted to utilize his powers at a level he had never done before for the first time. Aside from his Superbia and Ira, the rest of his Sin Purity was severelycking to the point where they were essentially insufficient in sustaining the usage of his other stigmata. After all, with the unprecedented caliber of Apollo''s Stigmata, they required an obscenely pure source of Sin to power them correctly.

    A Sin Purity of the Initial grade was barely enough to engrave them, much less activate their abilities. Hence, Apollo had only used his Infernal Ira Stigmata and Dauntless Superbia Stigmata thus far. Although he borrowed some of the strength from his Deluging Luxuria and Voracious G Stigmata, it wasn''t on the level of activating their abilities in full force.

    Since this was uncharted territory for Apollo, he was skeptical about the sess of activation. Apollo didn''t know if he was ready to bear the ramifications of activating all of this power despite his father''s reassurance of his traveling the correct path.

    Granted, Apollo also understood that with his current attributes, there was no chance of him grasping an opportunity to gather enough power for the Fourth Annihtion. And even if he managed to secure a chance, Apollo wasn''t sure how effective the Fourth Annihtion would be when pinned against Asteroth''s destructive force.

    Therefore, Apollo possessed no other choice than to ce his faith in the capabilities of the Supreme Demon Body, despite how immature itspleteness was.

    One by one, radiant colors beamed from Apollo''s body, starting with a ring crimson light as his hands continued to grip Asteroth''s hammers. Shockingly, the pain present from before disappeared instantly as the various streams of power flowed through Apollo''s body.

    Unfortunately, the blissful feeling coursing through Apollo''s body was fleeting. The sensation was soon reced by immeasurable pain as Apollo''s eyes widened and his expression contorted in pain.

    At the same time, a tide of warnings well within his expectations appeared before Apollo''s eye.

    ¡´System: W A R N I N G! The simultaneous actuation of all 7 Stigmata surpassed the integrity of your Supreme Demon Body. It is rmended for your Demon Body to reach the peak of the Matured caliber before attempting this power.¡µ

    ¡´System: The possible disastrous consequences of your actions has triggered the system''s safety protocol. Your consent is needed if you wish to continue with your efforts.¡µ

    ¡´System: All activities will be terminated if an answer isn''t received within 10 ten seconds. [Time Remaining: 9.57 seconds.]¡µ

    ''Disastrous consequences?'' Apollo thought to himself as he watched his stigmata swell with immeasurable might. Although activating a single Stigmata wasn''t dangerous, utilizing multiple is a different story altogether. At most, Apollo had only utilized two simultaneously, and even then, he used his Aura to keep them from colliding.

    An internal collision between two Sins could lead to catastrophic consequences if Apollo weren''t careful. So, just the thought of seven simultaneous shes urring inside his body terrified Apollo enough to consider terminating this activation.

    Even if he wished to continue, he wasn''t sure if the third-degree control of his Aura was enough to maintain a stable suppression of the Sins. Doing so would mean that he''d need to set up seven screens, effectively dividing his focus into seven parts.

    What''s more, they couldn''t be equal since each of his Sins possessed a varying force. As Superbia and Ira were his most substantial Sins, they''d require a significant amount of focus to contain. The more Apollo thought about it, the more he felt it wasn''t possible.

    Soon enough, another message appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

    ¡´System: Five seconds remain until your actions are forcibly terminated.¡µ

    Apollo''s options were quickly running out as the timer decreased rapidly. At this point, it appeared his only choice was to resign himself to the system''s suggestion. One thing he couldn''t risk now was inflicting irreparable damage upon his body. Too much was on the line for his progress to take a devastating blow.

    Eventually, Apollo closed his eyes and exhaled as he analyzed his choices. There were only three options avable to him right now: Risk his body''s integrity and increase his chances in acquiring more of his ancient member to assist him on his journey, stop his actions and admit defeat which would allow Fuhrer''s intervention, or find a way to circumvent the dangers within the remaining time.

    Out of the three options present, the second was the easiest, but it would also damage his reputation if the other members caught wind of this incident. How could they follow a leader who couldn''t defeat their subordinate? There was no demon alive who was willing to follow a weak leader who could not guarantee their safety.

    Once Apollo understood this, he gnashed his teeth in anger. ''You told me not to kill him, and I assume you don''t wish for me to kill myself either. But, I also tell from your words that you don''t want to give in either¡­ if that''s the case, then what do I do?!''

    Truth be told, Apollo questioned why his father asked him not to kill Asteroth because, from his perspective, he didn''t even have the power to do so! Up until now, Apollo was on the losing end throughout the entire fight.

    Suddenly, Apollo released his grip on Asteroth''s hammer as the Conqueror''s Arms began fading. Asteroth wasn''t sure if this was an expression of admitting defeat or Apollo''s power waning, but he didn''t wait to receive an answer.

    Asteroth gathered an immeasurable amount of power before smashing Apollo towards the center of Ashiraem. After unleashing the attack, Asteroth kicked his foot and flew out of the bottomless pit,nding on the side while gazing at Fuhrer.

    When Apollo didn''t reappear despite a few seconds passing, Fuhrer''s eyes narrowed while looking at Asteroth. "What did you do?!"

    "I drove him to the center of Ashiraem," Asteroth answered in a brusque tone.

    "You did WHAT?! Do you understand what''s down there? That is the purest deposit of Purgatory''s Blood, responsible for at least sixty percent of the Ira generated by this Ring? How do you suppose he survives that with his current Demon Body?" Fuhrer snarled.

    At the same time, Fuhrer''s left hand instinctively moved to the hilt of Brynhildr as his fury soared. If Apollo didn''t survive this, then Fuhrer had no qualms with sending Asteroth to that ce as well.

    "Tch, this is something he deserves. How can he im to be the Monarch''s son but only unleash this bit of power? Not to mention, he is the reason the Monarch chose to abandon us. After all, what''s more important than one''s child? Nothing else matters once they''re involved," Asteroth said sourly. It was clear that a shred of jealousy seeped into his heart, which was understandable given the history of his experiences with the Monarch.

    "That boy has trained for less than four years to reach his current position. You think he is weak, but he has just been born. Furthermore, you are correct. Once it pertains to your children, nothing else matters! How do you think the Monarch would feel about your behavior?"

    Asteroth clicked his tongue and gave Fuhrer a vicious gaze. "Hypotheticals are useless! Countless years have passed without the Monarch returning, so your question is irrelevant. After this, we will go our separate way, and I shall locate my own path."

    Fuhrer merely snorted before ncing at the pit with an obscure look. ''You are his son; therefore, I believe in you. Reveal a scene powerful enough to destroy this boy''s resentment.''

    ¡­.

    Meanwhile, deep inside the pit¡­

    Apollo watched as the timer reached the final second before his eyes. Once that happened, time seemed to slow to a bafflingly slow rate, allowing Apollo to perceive as each millisecond on the timer vanished.

    During this time, Apollo''s thoughts raced while his heart rate hastened rapidly. The higher his heart rate grew, the more distinct the surrounding heat became. Even breathing became difficult since his body was coated in a thickyer of Purgatory''s Blood.

    Nevertheless, being surrounded by this material inspired a significant change in Apollo''s thought process. ''Blood¡­ it''s all about blood. Since I am his son, I am the only one capable of withstanding the consequences of all these Sins. There is no reason for fear as long as I understand my position!''

    Thump! Thump Thump! Thump Thump Thump!

    Like when the pendant absorbed the wyvern''s blood, Apollo''s reacted the same way as he bathed in the Purgatory Blood. Once rity returned to his mind, Apollo made his decision.''

    "Abort the termination," Apollomanded.

    ¡´System: Decision granted. Continuing with the activation of all seven stigmata.¡µ

    His decision became irreversible after giving themand as the system would no longer interfere in his actions. However, Apollo counted on this oue as he stimted the Abysmal Conqueror Bloodline.

    ''This is what you were hinting at, right? I need to trust my bloodline if I wish to dominate the Sins.''

    A momentter, a blinding light escaped Apollo''s body as he roared in pain. Despite the stimtion of his bloodline, the pain he felt continued to skyrocket at a frightening pace. At the rate it was going, he wouldn''tst more than three seconds before losing consciousness. But, how could Apolloe all this way to give in now?

    ''Come on,'' Apollo thought to himself. As his fading Conqueror''s Arms returned in full, followed by the appearance of each Stigmata manifesting as a physical inscription. Upon witnessing this phenomenon, Apollo marveled at each one before tapping a finger against each of their surfaces.

    Followed by the tapping, each stigmata turned in a metallic armor matching the Conqueror''s Arms. However, each armor fragment that resided upon a stigmata''s location possesses a unique color flowing through it.

    Consequently, Apollo felt all remains of his bloodline reserves evaporate along with his Demonic Anima. Even his Sin Volume drained at a monstrous rate causing another warning to appear.

    ¡´System: Due to the current consumption of your internal resources, this current technique possesses a finite duration. [Estimated Time Remaining: 30 seconds.] ¡µ

    ''30 seconds? It''ll have to suffice,'' Apollo thought before rushing to the surface with an explosive sonic boom.

 Chapter 512 - Exceeding Expectations (I)

    ----

    Although Asteroth''s actions disgruntled Fuhrer, his expression returned to normal almost immediately as he sensed a significant disturbance originating from. If it wasn''t Apollo''s doing, what else could it be? Besides, Fuhrer could feel Apollo''s unique energy signatureced within the disturbance despite its unusual condition.

    '' Hmm? Why does this presence feel so odd? It''s quite familiar but also unfamiliar at the same time,'' Fuhrer thought to himself. The familiarity stemmed from the fact that Aztraval wielded this power at all times in the past, so Fuhrer had be ustomed to its overwhelming presence.

    However, the unfamiliarity was due to two reasons. One, the power Fuhrer felt didn''t even amount to one percent of the genuine strength granted by this simultaneous usage. Secondly, Fuhrer didn''t expect Apollo to risk using all seven Stigmata simultaneously, given his Demon Body''s iplete.

    ''Surely, this body hasn''t done what I think he has, right? Then again, it''d be difficult to survive down there if he didn''t take the necessary drastic precautions,'' Fuhrer thought to himself while focusing on the bottomless pit''s opening.

    It was barely audible due to the depth of the hole, but Fuhrer could make out a sonic boom urring followed by the bubbling of excess amounts of Purgatory''s Blood. Still, despite the bubbling of the Purgatory''s Blood and how close Fuhrer stood to the pit, he remained in ce.

    Evidently, the presence of Purgatory''s Blood didn''t frighten Fuhrer in the slightest, which was understandable, seeing as he was a demon who mastered the path of Wrath. He could wield arge amount of Purgatory''s Blood alongside his Void abilities in his prime.

    Simrly, Asteroth sensed something amiss once he felt the growing tremors deep beneath the surface. As a result, his eyes narrowed as he intently scanned the pit''s depths. Unfortunately, no matter how deep he sent his perception, it was obscured by the bizarre power Purgatory''s Blood possessed.

    In short, Purgatory''s Blood was the epitome of destructive existence. In addition to existing beside Ira as one of the purest sources of power, it was also influential in assisting many demons to purify their Auras in the past. Granted, it was only effective if the demon walked the path of destruction.

    Any other power would not withstand the rampant destruction brought about by this destructive me.

    Finally, an immense geyser of Purgatory''s Blood erupted from the bottomless pit, followed by a small figurepared to the geyser''s magnitude. Be that as it may, the presence of the small figure amidst the geyser was more distinguishable than the geyser itself.

    ''So he did do it¡­.'' Fuhrer muttered to himself as he analyzed the armor wrapped around Apollo. At a nce, he understood that the unique colors on the armor ovepped with the cement of each Stigmata, indicating the activation of every avable Stigmata.

    Meanwhile, Apollo shifted his gaze to Asteroth. He was silent for a moment as he gritted his teeth. Although the system estimated that his body would hold out for 30 seconds before falling apart, the appalling speed granted by this armor caused pain beyond Apollo''s expectations.

    It took a moment for him to adjust to the bacsh before he could move once again. Of course, his stoic expression didn''t reveal this issue, which made Asteroth''s impression deviate from the truth.

    ''Vengeance? I know those eyes; those are the eyes are someone who wants payback. Tch, you think you''re enough for that kid?'' Asteroth thought to himself. Correspondingly, Asteroth''s pressure red alongside his anger as he raised his hammer towards Apollo once again.

    "Come if you have the guts," Asteroth snarled.

    As a result, a burst of coldughter sounded as Apollo indifferent raised his hand and clutched the space before him before pulling back. Like pulling on a bowstring, once Apollo released the area before him, an endless barrage of Void des hurtled towards Asteroth.

    This sudden action surprised Fuhrer as he rubbed his chin in fascination, ''The simultaneous activation of each Stigmata should have given him ess to exceptional control over his environment. The Old Monarch called this Infernal Supremacy if I''m not mistaken.''

    When wielded by the Old Monarch, Infernal Supremacy represented the effortless usage of a permanently active Dominion. However, it was different in Apollo''s case because the scale was rather underwhelming.

    However, Apollo understood this because the system alerted him of this matter as soon as the armor finished forming.

    ¡´System: The scope of this power Infernal Supremacy has been restricted a level within the capabilities of your body. Therefore, only techniques already learned by you are affected by this ability.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have been granted the temporary fusion ability: Boundless Conversion. [Due to your current attainments, this ability is limited to Ira and Superbia.]¡µ

    Although the information seemed ambiguous, the system injected the necessary knowledge directly into Apollo''s mind, giving him a thorough understanding of what he was currently capable of.

    Nevertheless, Asteroth didn''t just stand around and allow countless Void des to assault his body. His arms turned into a whirlwind as his hammers iled about, smashing all of the iing Void des before burning them to ashes with the help of his Dominion.

    "Is that all you''ve got? If so, you''ll end up back inside that pit once again," Asteroth roared through a fit of boisterousughter. Although he felt Apollo''s attack possessed more strength, it wasn''t anything he could handle.

    Besides, Asteroth was sure that Apollo''s current appearance possessed a time limit. Once that time limit passed, it''d be his turn to unleash hell upon his opponent. And this time, he''d make sure that his actions were thorough.

    Conversely, Apollo smiled. "Do you think I endured all this pain to unleash this meager attack? Watch closely. You will understand that you''re destined to follow under my banner."

    Apollo snapped his finger in the next instant, creating a miniature ck hole before his chest. Once it finished forming, it was the size of a tablet, and Apollo swallowed it with ease, or at least that''s how it appeared.

    The moment Apollo closed his mouth, his cheeks swelled as the surrounding atmosphere vibrated. Asteroth took notice of this phenomenon and felt something was amiss. The attack was formed from G judging from the emanations of the ck hole, so it shouldn''t be able to react within an environmentposed of Pure Ira.

    Under normal circumstances, that would be the truth, but the temporary ability granted by this simultaneous activation allowed this abnormality to take ce. With the help of the power, Apollo could unlock one ability linking G, Ira, and Superbia together since they were his three most vital Sins at the moment and the only ones that facilitate the process.

    Apollo suddenly opened his mouth, emitting a loud bellow as a sizeable crimson beam with green and gold energy spirals coating its exterior fired towards Astertoh. The excessive pressure of the ce took Asteroth off guard.

    "Isn''t this the fusion of three Sins? That''s¡­ outside of my expectations," Asteroth muttered with widened eyes. Despite his surprise, he didn''t freeze as he snatched his hand, converting a portion of his destructive Dominion into a destructive shield.

    However, Apollo revealed an unsettling smile when Asteroth performed this action.

    "The power of the Monarch is unstoppable even before the face of destruction. If you don''t believe me, then allow me to show you," Apollo said. Suddenly, Apollo lifted a single finger towards Asteroth, creating a small orb once again.

    The only difference was that while the previous one focused on G, Apollo created this orb from the sparse remnants of his bloodline reserves as well as Aura. Apollo then flicked the sphere towards the center of the earlier beam, watching as it pierced through it like butter.

    Eventually, the tiny orb mmed against the destructive shield causing an odd result. The center of Asteroth''s shield decayed at a rapid rate as Apollo took a deep inhale. Although the center appeared to break down due to the presence of the orb, that wasn''t the case.

    The reason for the deteriorating was Apollo linking the power of the beam and orb followed by reversing the energy channels. This allowed Apollo to convert the destructive energy within Asteroth''s power into pure fuel.

    After experiencing the deterioration of his shield, Asteroth frowned. "It''s that damned perverse powers!" At this point, Astertoth had zero doubts about Apollo''s identity. While G could absorb Sin, no matter how pure the Sin, it couldn''t do anything against a fully formed Dominion since it existed on a higher ne of power.

    However, the Monarch''s perverse powers allowed him to manipte the properties of Sin as he saw fit. Granted, this was only possible if the degree of Aura existed within two levels naturally. Thus, since Apollo''s Aura was forcibly elevated to the fifth degree, if Asteroth could wield his aura at the seventh degree once again then Apollo would be powerless the Dominion.

    Fortunately, Asteroth''s control was no longer that high, granting Apollo the chance to redeem himself. Even then, Apollo understood that in a situation where they utilized both of their base powers, Apollo fell short of being Asteroth''s opponent.

    Nevertheless, Apollo didn''t mull over his powerlessness. Using every power at his disposal still counted as his own strength.

    All of a sudden, Asteroth growled before smashing his hammer against the ground. Numerous geyser erupted and spewedva on the ground while some of it floated around Asteroth. Judging by his actions, it seemed Asteroth grew tired of holding himself back.

    At the same time, the hole in his Dominion repaired itself. "Though perverse, the scale of your power iscking. Meaning, there isn''t much time remaining until you be powerless. I just need to stall you for that long."

    "Only a fool would listen to your intentions and allow you to actualize them," Apollo responded. No one understood his situation better than Apollo did, thus he decided to exhaust himself as quickly as possible.

    A burst of darkness appeared as the number of phantasms surrounding Apollo exceed six! ''I may not have the Sin Reserves or such to defeat him, but I have my trusted techniques.''

 Chapter 513 - Exceeding Expectations (II)

    ----

    Gradually, the phantasms surrounding Apollo''s body dispersed into a ghastly mist that spiraled around Apollo, turning his presence into something extremely difficult to discern. Evidently, the presence of his bloodline entering the second stage precipitated a change within this technique.

    The change was great enough to catch Fuhrer''spletion as a faint grin appeared across his lips. From what he observed, this technique could no longer be considered the second step. After all, the Second Step only covered the creation of phantasms by manipting a nket of darkness to elerate the user''s movement.

    What Fuhrer witnessed now went beyond utilizing a nket of darkness. The created phantasms appeared to break down and turn into a type of screen capable of distorting Apollo''s image. Beyond this ability, Apollo''s presence continued to lighten as mysterious took ce around him.

    During this time, the system alerted Apollo of the situation at hand.

    ¡´System: The influence of your Abysmal Conqueror Bloodline has stimted arge change in your technique Baleful Steps: Phantasmal Daemos. As a result, your actions exist on the precipice of unlocking this technique.¡µ

    An intrigued smile appeared on his face as soon as Apollo read this message. Almost unlocking the Third Step had truly exceeded his expectation, seeing as they were set low from the beginning. After all, Apollo vested most of his avable time in understanding the Fourth Annihtion, so there wasn''t much time left for him to explore the intricacies of Baleful Steps.

    Fortunately, it appeared he was closer topletion of the Second Step than he thought. Aside from learning the Six Phantom Shifts, he didn''t realize that most of his phantasms, when created, possessed an unusual ability not typically found in users of the Second Step.

    The phantasms would sometimes disappear unexpectedly, but Apollo would still be able to see their forms clear as day. While others were unaware of their presence, it was as if nothing had changed for Apollo. This matter was something he intended to look into but didn''t spare enough attention for it.

    Thus, this current development took Apollo by surprise. Nevertheless, after revisiting the properties of his phantasms, Apollo had a pretty good idea about theprehensiveness of the skill. Granted, it was still untested, so Apollo didn''t know the true extent of the skill just yet.

    Nevertheless, Apollo didn''t worry about this issue since it would only be a matter of time until the system generated the information rted to the technique. The system merely required Apollo to finish unlocking the technique before quantifying the number rted to its usability.

    Meanwhile, Asteroth narrowed his eyes as his destructive power permeated the constant eruptions, gathering the energy into a huge ball of molten mes high up above his head. Numerous streams appeared from the ball as Asteroth''s Dominion supplied copious amounts of Aura into this attack.

    Although he witnessed Apollo pierced through his aura firsthand, Asteroth understood this a power beyond Apollo''s current control. It wasn''t an ability that he could use endlessly to prolong or prematurely end the fight. Therefore, Asteroth estimated that unleashing an overwhelming amount of Aura would overpower Apollo''s ability to neutralize it.

    Even Apollo understood this fact as he faze upon the immense sphere of destructive orb with slight apprehension. ''Just how much of his Aura remains? I can''t deal with it the same way I did the shield since my bloodline power ispletely consumed. Will I have to explore the power of this armor in the little time left?''

    Because his bloodline reserves were severelycking at this moment, Apollo entertained the idea of utilizing the armor shielding his body, despite the numerous dull areas. The dull area symbolized the weakness in the rted Sin as well as the armor''s inability to process it properly.

    Meaning, any attack unleashed through the dull areas of the armor would fall short of its true power. Be that as it may, as a technique that existed above the Daemonic level, even the slightest boost granted by this armor should amount to something worthwhile.

    Hence, Apollo chose to take the risk as the phantasms surrounding his bodypleted the assimtion process. Once it finished, Apollo felt as if a new world had opened up to him as all of the information rted to the skill flowed into his mind. The first thing that caught Apollo''s eye was the absurd difference between the Second and Third Step''s agility boost!

    ¡¸Technique Name: Third Baleful- Formless Phantasm

    Rank: *Archaic Art (Unique)

    Mastery: 1%

    Information: As the third step within the Baleful Practice, it includes aprehensive upgrade of the power that preceded it. By empowering one''s self with sacrificial phantasm, the seamless blend of man and Tenebrous Winds appears. The more phantasms that are sacrificed, the stronger the empowerment bes. However, fair warning: imminent danger arises when one overestimates themselves and epts the unabated corruption of the entities created by Abyssal Tenebrous Winds.

    Description: Every assimted phantasm increases Agility by 20 percent. (It isn''t rmended to exceed 6 phantoms with your current Demon Body.)

    Consumption: 25,000 units of Demonic Anima per the creation of each unique phantasms.

    *Note: Consumption and limitations are bound to lift as your mastery over the technique increases. ¡¹

    Since Apollo created six phantasms from the beginning, his Agility experienced a sizable increase, ballooning it past 10,000 points. For reference, each of the evolution possessed a general guideline for the average demon in each stage. Needless to say, this guideline didn''t involve the inclusion of items, it was only judged using a demon''s raw power.

    As such, a Lesser Demon generally possessed anywhere from 125 to 1,200 stats. A Greater Demon possessed a strength roughly two times greater than that, ranging from 1,500 to 3,200 stats. Inparison, Archdemon''s were much stronger with initial stats exceeding 3,600 and ending around 7,400.

    Following an Archdemon, a Noblesse received aprehensive upgrade in power, possessing an approximation of 9,000 stats upon initial transformation and by the time it was time to attempt their evolution into a Daemos, their strongest stats averaged 20,000 points.

    Therge disparity in strength was the reason most demons who fought against Apollo were unusual. Although they didn''t possess any concrete item to quantify their strength like Apollo did, it was basic knowledge that each sessive transformation was stronger than thest.

    However, Apollo obliterated this knowledge by utilizing unprecedented techniques and immacte items. Once Apollo Agility broke past 10,000 points without the inclusion of his Stigmata, his speed had steeped into the realm of a Noblesse.

    The exhrating feeling excited Apollo, giving him the impression that he could finally go toe to toe with Asteroth. ncing at the corner of his eyes, Apollo noticed the timer had fallen to twelve seconds. Once those twelve seconds psed his fate was sealed.

    Therefore, Apollo didn''t waste another second as he stomped his left foot, creating a terrifying dark tempest as he was formless. One of the reasons the third step was dubbed the formless phantasm was because each movement was apanied by a dark tempest potent enough to remove one''s form from battle.

    While inside the dark tempest, Apollo zoomed past Gram and snatched it from the ground. Afterward, his eyes narrowed as he focused on the immense sphere suspended within the air. A sharp aura appeared around Gram as Apollo held it horizontally but at the same time, a Devouring Neb appeared in the palm of his right hand.

    A green light shimmered from his tongue as it flowed directly into the core of the Devouring Neb, amplifying its properties by at least three times over. As expected, the amplification of the armor shielding his body was not to be underestimated. Despite its iplete state, it improved the Devouring Neb by three times!

    Even Apollo felt the attractioning from this attack, which usually ignored his presence. This was a clear indication that its power was on the verge of escaping his control. Before that could happen, Apollo hurled the Devouring Neb at the center of the sphere beforeing to a sliding halt as he ced both hands on Gram''s hilt.

    The atmosphere surrounding Apollo stilled as the overbearing sharpness surrounding Gram increased by at least 5 times. Since the armor interacted with Apollo''s Superbia better than it did G, the increase exceeded thetter.

    Soon enough, even Asteroth sensed the change in Apollo''s actions. ''Oh? This boy isn''t using the same means? I guess it''s safe to assume that it''s no longer at his disposal. Haha! But, because it''s gone, does he think he''s enough to go against my own attacks?''

    "Laughable! No matter whose child you are, there is a vast difference between our attacks!" Asteroth said through uproariousughter.

    "That''s what you think. As for me, I have faith in the techniques of the Monarch; the same techniques that allowed him to remain undefeated throughout the history of the demons," Apollo responded.

    After his response, Apollo released the monstrous Nether Severance the moment the Devouring Neb made contact with Asteroth''s destructive sphere. Following his attack, Apollo didn''t wait around as he created an immense distance between the two in an instant.

    Apollo was sure that the bacsh of these attacks colliding would not be small, especially since he injected Ira into the Nether Severance without a medium to contain it. Granted, this was Apollo''s aim all along. To increase his confidence in the sess of his attack, Apollo replied upon the disharmonious nature of the Sins.

    Not to mention, after being bolstered by the presence of this armor, not even Apollo would want to suffer a direct hit, despite the fragment of Bahamut''s Heart he possessed. In fact, Apollo felt it was possible that the result wouldn''t be far from perfected Sin explosions!

 Chapter 514 - Unmatched Stubbornness

    ----

    Whereas Apollo chose to create distance from the ensuing explosion, Asteroth looked up with a hostile gaze as sweltering mes quickly coated his hammers. Within seconds, the sweltering mes grew into a raging inferno that rivaled the sensation of the sphere above.

    "Unlike you, it doesn''t cost all of my resources for me to unleash an attack of this caliber. I can replicate them as I please, and that is where you lose," Asteroth said with a snarl.

    A momentter, Asteroth performed an explosive rush, charging directly at the space between the two attacks. Just before the attack could collide, Asteroth''s Dominion vanished. For a moment, Apollo was baffled because he knew it wasn''t his doing. After all, his strike wasn''t strong enough to forcibly terminate Asteroth Dominion, which meant this was a willful move.

    ''What is he up to?'' Apollo wondered as he gradually came to a stop and watched Asteroth''s following actions. Sadly, he had to shield his vision as a blinding light appeared when he stopped moving.

    Despite Asteroth rushing between the attacks, the impact was inevitable. However, the blinding didn''t carry the energy signature that Apollo expected. In fact, he felt an unusual warmth that rivaled on the edge of bing a pure me.

    Additionally, Apollo recognized a familiar presence from this light. ''Isn''t this the signature of Asteroth''s Dominion? So, he didn''t cancel it but instead channeled it elsewhere?''

    This was the usible exnation since even Asteroth couldn''t activate his Dominion within a split second after canceling it. Therefore, Asteroth should have instilled the power into another medium, for example, his hammers.

    Upon realizing this matter, Apollo''s eyes narrowed. ''I should have noticed that wasn''t a simple me appearing around those hammers. He must have condensed his Dominion into a wieldable weapon. Though, I didn''t know that was possible.''

    Eventually, the blinding light subsided, and Apollo could make out a figure in tattered clothing floating within the remnant of the dissipating st. Aside from his tattered appearance and wildly fluctuating aura, Apollo didn''t notice any ring signs of injury, which caused a disappointed frown to appear across his face.

    ''Just how could hee out unscathed from that?!'' Apollo internally roared. Even if Asteroth''s resilience surpassed a typical Noblesse, Apollo couldn''t believe that he could emerge uninjured from an explosion that rivaled an all-out attack delivered by a Noblesse.

    Thus, Apollo''s thought shifted in another direction. ''Something is amiss. The only way to emerge unwounded would be if he managed to redirect the force of the explosion. However, judging from his appearance, Asteroth didn''t do so perfectly.

    Soon enough, Apollo felt Asteroth''s appearance was just that¨Dan appearance. The idea of him being uninjured was a facade. If Apollo were to get any closer, he''d realize that Asteroth''s grip on his hammers was trembling.

    After all, dealing with the explosion required seventy percent of Asteroth''s unique application ability. The remaining thirty percent resulted in a direct hit, manifesting as the trembling in his arms.

    Since the horrendous atmosphere cleared rapidly, Apollo sped towards Asteroth before he could recover full mobility. After the incredible resilience he disyed, Apollo wouldn''t be surprised if it took no time at all for him to heal properly. Granted, this was only the recovery of movement and not the recovery of any hidden injuries.

    Regardless of how fast he could recover, Apollo would be foolish to give him that chance. ''You decided to take the attack head-first, so any response I choose is admissable,'' Apollo thought.

    Not too long after, Apollo executed a downward sh towards Asteroth''s head. However, Asteroth raised his head suddenly with a dangerous gleam in his eyes. An eerie smirk appeared on his lips as he ducked, followed by a sudden spin.

    Apollo didn''t expect Asteroth''s abrupt reaction, which caused his attack to miss. During the small window that followed his missed attack, Asteroth retaliated bynding a harsh kick on Apollo''s jaw.

    As expected, the blow sent Apollo flying, but Asteroth kicked the air chasing behind Apollo, intending to unleash yet another powerful attack. But, just as Asteroth recovered quickly, Apollo recovered from the daze of the kick and instantlyunched several Demonic Massacre Waves towards Asteroth.

    By the time Apollo unleashed the final wave, his feet had touched the ground, allowing him to resume his rush towards Asteroth once again. Since his techniques seemed to have little to no effect against Asteroth''s highly mastered Aura of Destruction, Apollo resorted to the method he knew best¨Dphysicalbat.

    At the same time, the Infernal Ira Stigmata underneath the armor pulsated with a radiant hue as both Apollo and Gram were empowered by an absurd surge of strength. Apollo was stunned as he nced at the center of his armor for a moment. Since it was his central power, the Ira Stigmata took up thergest; however, it also presented the most extraordinary assistance as well.

    The empowerment ted Apollo, driving him to rush even more frantically. Apollo arrived before Asteroth in an instant before shing Gram once again. Unlikest time, this was a purely physical attack utilizing every ounce of strength Apollo could muster.

    Still, the collision of their weapons surprised Apollo. ''So heavy? Although I felt it was the case when I received many of his blows earlier, it feels even more fearsome. Is this the effects of condensing his Dominion into his weapons?''

    While the abnormally heavy attack surprised Apollo, he didn''t pause after the initial exchange. As a result, a relentless series of blows were exchanged back and forth as Apollo''s expression grew grim. Despite the noticeable tremors of Asteroth''s hands, Apollo still failed to gain the upper hand.

    At first, Apollo didn''t understand why. But after their numerous exchanges, the reason became apparent. ''Heins about a perverse power? His power is absolutely perverse for anyone weaker than him!''

    The issue with Asteroth''s power was that he could manipte the output and focus of his destruction after mastering it to this extent. For example, Typhir could use the Aura of Destruction to improve the power of his attack, thereby inflicting more danger.

    However, Asteroth took the usage to an entirely different level by destroying all attacks at their core. The absurd eleration of Asteroth''s attacks was the byproduct of his aura crushing all restrictive principles, such as the atmosphere. This type of power would be crippling for any opponent below the Archdemon level since it wouldn''t withstand an instant of Asteroth''s Aura.

    Fortunately, Apollo''s power was protected by the Aura of Dominance, which existed at a higher echelon, thereby granting innate protection against lower Auras, albeit partially for now.

    "What''s the matter, can''t handle the pressure?" Asteroth said with a teasing smirk.

    "Worry about yourself; you resemble an old man with all that shaking. Can you even grip your weapon properly? That''d truly be a shame for your significant other, now wouldn''t it?" Apollo retorted with a simr expression.

    "Damn you!" Asteroth roared in a fit of rage after understanding the meaning of Apollo''s words. "You still have the room tough? Good, good! Then I assume you''ll appreciate this very much!"

    Suddenly, Asteroth mmed one hammer against the ground, inverting the flow of the geysers. As a result, the eruptions formed a wave of infernal energy that threatened to burn them both out of existence.

    As a precaution, Apollo flung his arm and conjured a Wrath nket; however, the scant preparation amounted to a shoddy barrier. Nevertheless, it gave Apollo the time to retreat from within the attack radius.

    At the same time, Gram''s Infernal Marks illuminated alongside the appearance of Apollo gathering for his Fourth Annihtion. As of now, only 4 seconds remained on the timer, which meant Apollo''s time wasing to an end.

    Subsequently, Asteroth paused for a moment in the air as well. ''What the¡­ not now dammit. Listen here, body; you betterst until this over. I will not lose to a damned brat!''

    There was one miscalction Asteroth made on his part. Before charging into the midst of the explosion, he forgot that he had forcibly activated his Dominion''s mastered form. This decision precipitated the elerated bacsh. Hence, the signs of his body failing appeared rapidly.

    Like Asteroth, Apollo also winced from a sudden deluge of pain.

    The aura surrounding Gram flickered as Apollo struggled to maintain control over his power. The same phenomenon appeared on Astertoh''s hammers as well.

    "Surrender, you fool! This power is beyond you," Asteroth bellowed.

    "Oh, you care? How sweet of you. But, I will never surrender. I WILL have you join my side," Apollo answered with an unwavering gaze. In spite of his deteriorating strength, Apollo trudged on, finally unleashing his attack.

    "Absolute idiot, that''s what you are!" Asteroth shouted. One of his arms went numb, forcing him to drop his hammer, but he continued with his attack, using his remaining good arm to retaliate against Apollo''s attack.

    Naturally, the oue of the collision was a st that sent both sides tumbling backward, but that didn''t stop either of them from once again walking up to each other. At first, there was only silence, but then Apollo threw the first punch.

    Boom!

    "Join me!" Apollo insisted.

    "Never. You shall not have my forgiveness!" Asteroth refused, returning a punch of his own. Unfortunately, Apollo''s stubbornness knew no bounds. He returned another blow, turning the fight into a back and forth exchange of resounding blows.

    Eventually, Apollo''s armor faded away, and Asteroth''s hammers returned to his body as the two continued to exchange one hit after another. While this happened, Fuhrer approached them with an unusual expression.

    ''These two are more alike than they give themselves credit for. Nevertheless, this is quite an amusing scene that I don''t get the chance to see often. I should cherish this time.''

    "Are you ready to give in now, you damned twerp?" Asteroth huffed. However, Apollo merely shook his head in response.

    "I haven''t received the answer I''m looking for!"

    At this point, both sides'' blows had lost all vigor. Each punch was akin to a tickle, but the pain remained constant because of their injured state. Finally, Asteroth grew interested in this boy who refused to give up.

    "Why¡­ should I ever join you? My master disappeared and forgot about me because of your creation."

    "You should follow me¡­ because I was created with all of you in mind. The Monarch didn''t forget you all¡­ he merely changed the character in charge of looking over you all. Follow me and I shall prove that none of the members of the Dominus Household have been forgotten," Apollo answered.

    Because of his response, Asteroth froze while looking at Apollo. However, contrary to Apollo''s expectations, arge fist grew wider in his sights.

    Bang!

    "You think tugging on my heartstrings will earn my loyalty that easily? I''vee to learn that words are empty!"

    However, as he said this, tears streamed down Asteroth''s face. Evidently, Apollo''s words aplished more than Asteroth cared to admit.

    Apollo rose to his feet and sighed through pain as he closed his eyes momentarily. Once they reopened, rity unlike no other appeared. "Are you sure? As I remember, a scene like this in the past caused you to follow me once before. Could my memories be mistaken?"

    Asteroth was baffled by the sudden change in Apollo''s tone, causing him to look at him skeptically. ''What? Is all this pain causing my ears to y tricks on me? If I weren''t the wiser, I''d think it was my master standing before me!''

 Chapter 515 - Unexpected Move

    ----

    The sudden change in Apollo''s demeanor took Asteroth by surprise, causing him to freeze up as he stared at Apollo in disbelief. No matter how long his separation from the Monarch was, he''d never forget the disposition and tone of the Monarch. As a result, Asteroth lifted his trembling finger towards Apollo and spoke in a manner one wouldn''t expect of him.

    Unlike his usual headstrong andbative nature, Asteroth sounded meek as he continued to tremble. "Y-you¡­ you abandoned us. So how can you be here? And through him? Do none of us matter as much as he does? If this was possible¡­ couldn''t you have done this in the past to appease all of our worries?"

    Listening to Asteroth''s words, Apollo was silent for a moment, which Asteroth took as an admission of guilt. At least, that was how he felt until Apollo took a step forward and ced his hand on Asteroth''s shoulder.

    Although it was a simple movement, both Asteroth and Apollo felt a world of pain from this simple touch. After all, both their bodies were battered beyond an average level. Even the slightest tap felt as if someone was unleashing hell upon them both.

    Nevertheless, Apollo kept his hand on Asteroth''s shoulder as a disy of trust. "I''m sure he has conveyed my message once before. Therefore, I''ll reiterate for the young boy. While there are some things that can''t be mentioned right now, what you need to understand is that you all were not abandoned, but protected."

    "How is this protection if our leader went missing? I believe it was more torturous experiencing your unforeseen absence than it was experiencing the horror on thatst battlefield. Do you know how many of us went on without purpose?" Asteroth muttered as untold amounts of hurt appeared in his eyes.

    His words were genuine as even the destruction caused by thest battle where many of his brothers lost their lives failed topare against the anguish he felt when he learned of the Monarch''s disappearance.

    "I understand your feeling; however, I also kept them in mind. This boy, who stands before you know, is the reassurance I created for you all to once again find your way. So, for me, would you step under his mantle and allow him to return the Dominus Household''s name to what it once was?"

    After a short pause, Apollo then continued, "Without members of your caliber it''d be absolutely impossible to aplish this goal. Thus, it is dependent on you, whether or not we can ever meet again."

    Before giving an answer, Asteroth bit his lip until it bled as his emotions were in turmoil. He had already made a promise to walk a path alone, but he''d be lying if he said these words didn''t move him. If what Apollo imed turned out to be true, then there was a chance he coulde face to face with the Monarch once again!

    Eventually, Asteroth settled the intense feelings raging inside himself as he lifted his head. "Is this the truth? Will my joining truly pave the way to finding you once more?"

    "Undoubtedly. After all, this was all nned to unravel this way. Once my descendant improves your powers and gives you the medium to restore yourself, I believe it''d be time for us to meet once again."

    "Fine¡­" Asteroth muttered, followed by a deep sigh. However, before giving aplete answer, Asteroth scanned the area of destruction caused by the fight between him and Apollo. ''Although I was harsh, this boy indeed that the potential to exceed us all. He''s only a Greater Demon, yet he was able to fight me to this extent after gaining ess to noteworthy abilities.''

    After scanning the battlefield, Astetoth finally returned his attention to Apollo and nodded subtly. "I will join you; however, I will let you know now. I am not like the others. I trust the Monarch, not you. For me to do so, you have to prove that you''re worth my wholehearted trust."

    Hearing these words, a grin appeared across Apollo''s face. But, he didn''t be overexcited as it vanished soon after, reced by aposed expression. "That''s understandable. I''d expect nothing less of you; allow him to prove his worth. I''m sure you won''t be disappointed."

    With this, a notification appeared before Apollo''s eyes.

    ¡´System: Archdemon Asteroth of the original Dominus Household is willing to join under the mantle once again. However, due to their unique power and state, the effect of Absolute Authority is ineffective.¡µ

    Part of Apollo was surprised by the ending of the notification, but another part of Apollo felt this was to be expected since Asteroth warned him that he wasn''t like the rest. After all, it took an irond will to achieve the level of resilience required to withstand the constant torture of his devastating Aura.

    The byproduct of that resilience was an ability on par with Apollo''s resistance traits, except that Asteroth''s ability was geared towards his mind, which was why Asmidia''s presence had no effect on Asteroth whatsoever. In fact, reading through the notification made Apollo curious about the limits of this trait.

    As per Apollo''s curiosity, the system generated the rted information, giving Apollo a general understanding of his limits.

    ¡´System: Because of Asteroth''s tenacity and monstrous willpower, you only maintain basic control over the subject. If Asteroth adamantly refuses to perform an action, it is liable to result in failure.¡µ

    ''So, the most he is against something, the more likely it is to fail, understood. This means I''d be more beneficial to either improve my own power to a level that granted impervious authority or develop a way to deepen my trust with the fellow,'' Apollo thought.

    Either way, both options required constant work since Apollo only managed to acquire Asteroth through unusual tactics. As for growing stronger, he still needed to visit 4 other Rings before hepleted the requirements to evolve.

    Suddenly, both Apollo and Asteroth staggered, threatening to fall out since their energy reserves and vitality dipped dangerously low. If it weren''t for Asteroth''s resilient body and the fragment of Bahamut''s Heart embedded in Apollo''s chest, both of these demons would have long since fainted.

    However, before they could fall, Fuhrer appeared between them with a faint smile. "Although it wasn''t necessarily a win, since you managed to reim his presence, I''d say that it was overall a victory."

    "Heh, I suppose so. I guess this what you call the ends justifying the means," Apollo said with a pained smile. Just a small chuckle caused his body to rattle in pain. Not to mention, the bacsh of simultaneously activating all of his Stigmata appeared as well.

    At this point, Apollo''s vision was hazy just as his consciousness was. Simrly, Asteroth had already fainted over Fuhrer''s shoulder, causing him to pick up therge fellow while also shing his hand.

    A portal five meters wide opened up right before them as Fuhrer returned his attention to Apollo. "Are you able to walk, or do you need to be shuttled like this guy as well? I''m sure your condition is no better, if not worse. You should rejoice over your fortune to possess that item."

    "I think I''m stable enough to walk now," Apollo said in a hoarse voice. The fragment of Bahamut''s Heart directed all of its vitality towards healing the sites of his Stigmata. If it didn''t so, the repressed power would bubble over and cause irreparable damage to the core of Apollo''s body.

    Therefore, Apollo''s body healed unusually slow. However, Apollo preferred to slow but thorough healing over leaving hidden wounds.

    Meanwhile, after confirming that Asteroth had fainted and waspletely unresponsive, Fuhrer turned towards Apollo with a curious expression. Although it may have fooled Asteroth, who at the moment, possessed chaotic thoughts, it was a much different situation with Fuhrer.

    "Was that truly the Monarch assimting with you back then? Although it seemed like a seamless copy of the Monarch, there were some ring differences with the impression. For example, the Monarch''s demeanor was a tadzier, if I had to put it in words.

    Suddenly, Apollo grimaced while shaking his head. "Correct, it wasn''t the Monarch but an impression I used to resonate with Asteroth the best."

    "Heh, what a trickster. I''m sure if this fellow was conscious, he''d be throwing a fit right now. I''m sure mimicking the Monarch would be sphemous in his eyes, even if that actions were performed by his child," Fuhrer said with an amused chuckle.

    While he felt something was amiss the moment, Apollo''s demeanor underwent a sudden change, he didn''t expect him to adopt such a tactic. Nevertheless, it aplished the goal Apollo sought.

    "Well, although it was an impression at that very moment, it doesn''t mean I''ve never spoken with the Monarch. Otherwise, how would I know some of his idiosyncrasies? After all, he''s the source of many of my changes."

    "Wait¡­. Are you hinting that you''ve been in contact with the Monarch? If you''re privy to this information, then tell me, where is he?" Fuhrer asked after pausing suddenly. While it wasn''t as apparent as it was with other demons, Fuhrer desperately sought Aztraval''s location.

    Sadly, there were no hints of his whereabouts or wellbeing.

    "Unfortunately, that is information I don''t possess. Furthermore, it will most likely be quite some time before I can even think of contacting him once again. Wherever he is, it seems that all of his power has been exhausted during ourst conversation, and I''m not sure how quickly he can regenerate his power."

    "If what you say is true, then the environment must be disastrous. Unlike us, Aztraval was known to draw power from anything."

    All of a sudden, Fuhrer turned towards Apollo with a grim expression. "It appears all our luxuries have disappeared. From this point on, we stop at nothing to increase your power."

    Evidently, learning of Aztraval''s potentially perilous environment ignited Fuhrer''s drive.. Perhaps even the system wouldn''tpare to a former Daemos''s incentive to gain power.

 Chapter 516 - Incorrect Assumption

    ----

    It wasn''t long after Apollo and Fuhrer''s conversation that they stepped through the portal and arrived on the other sides. Immediately, Fuhrer carrying Asteroth''s unconscious body took everyone by surprise, especially Saehtyn who continued to look at it in awe.

    Part of his awe was due to the fact that he didn''t know whether it was Apollo or Fuhrer who "defeated" Asteroth. After all, neither of them presents an evolution remotely close to Asteroth''s power. Granted, Saehtyn understood that Fuhrer could unleash bursts of absurd power, he didn''t feel it was sufficient enough to defeat Asteroth.

    After all, Saehtyn felt there was a finite limit to the amount of power Fuhrer could muster while maintaining his Greater Demon presence. What''s more, Saehtyn felt it would be even more bizarre if the culprit of Asteroth''s unconscious body ended up being Apollo.

    Unlike the member of the Dominus Household, who were privy to the rules ofbat linked to the ancient members, Saehtyn was clueless. He didn''t understand that it was up to Apollo to independently conquer his subordinates. Even if he were aware of it, there wasn''t much guarantee that he''d believe it.

    Not only was this madness in Saehtyn''s eyes, but just thinking about it caused a shred of fear to creep into his mind. ''There''s no way a Greater Demon can be that strong right? At the very least, it''d take a Noblesse, and a very strong one at that, to defeat that individual. Are you telling one of these two is as strong as my assumptions?''

    Of course, Saehtyn also didn''t ignore the fact that both of them could''ve fought with Asteroth simultaneously. However, once he remembered that both of these individuals revealed Sins of Superbia in the past, he immediately dismissed the idea.

    One of the main characteristics of a demon possessing this Sin was that they''d rather lose inbat than ept help from another, especially as the Sin became purer since it had a greater impact upon one''s character.

    Eventually, Apollo noticed Saehtyn''s silence and unusual expression, causing him to look in his direction. "Is something the matter?"

    "Not necessarily," Saehtyn responded with a sudden shake of his head. His expression returned to normal soon after but he couldn''t help but voice the thoughts on his mind. "I just didn''t expect you to seed. I mean, I witnessed his power firsthand. The walls of the tower aren''t something just anyone can destroy."

    Because of the valuable material used to craft the towers, their durability was off the charts. Not even an all-out attack from a Noblesse could damage the walls, yet Asteroth aplished this effortlessly. Granted, Saehtyn didn''t understand that Asteroth''s powerpromised the fundamental integrity of the walls, allowing him to destroy it with ease.

    Without his Aura of Destruction, even Asteroth would find it difficult to cause untold damage to the sturdy walls of the tower.

    "Once doubt enters your heart, fear follows. Even if you don''t travel the path of Superbia, I suggest you adopt some of its traits to help you in the future. In fact, operating on a single power, while it''s true you can grow faster, it''s best if your draw inspiration from other Sins," Fuhrer said suddenly.

    Needless to say, he spoke from experience, because many of Fuhrer''s techniques were formed after drawing inspiration from the other sins. Although his fundamental Sin was still Ira and Superbia, he could still emte the effects of other Sins to a certain extent.

    For example, the technique he wished to teach Apollo originated from countless years of studying G. However, there were some minute differences between the ability grated by the pure version of this Sin and the ability that Fuhrer wished to teach Apollo.

    In truth, the ability in Fuhrer''s hand wasbat-based whereas Endless Devouring could be used in any situation. Simply put, the technique Fuhrer wanted to teach Apollo was known as Autonomous Absorption. As long as the resources were correct, such as an agreeable Sin and Demonic Anima, the energy channels linked to the Infernal Nucleus remained in a dormantly active state.

    In this state, it could continuously absorb small amounts of the targeted resource, allowing the user to replenish a significant portion of the exhausted resource once this technique was mastered.

    However, instead of teaching Apollo the technique, Fuhrer spent the time constructing a method of merging the principles with the Endless Devouring ability in Apollo''s possession to empower his endurance in battle.

    After all, Fuhrer had a feeling that an absurd reserve would be needed once Apollo moved forwards with his ns, especially if he wasn''t strong enough once the invasions of the upper race began.

    As of now, the looming question was no longer if they would invade the Nihilistic Rings, it was a when will this inevitable invasion take ce. Even now, Fuhrer could sense the deterioration of the protective barrier hastening. ''I wouldn''t be surprised if the invasions appeared as growing waves instead of an overwhelming insurgence of enemies.''

    In addition to blocking their presencepletely, the barrier protecting the Nihilistic Rings also possessed ayered seal. When eachyer was broken, it revealed the presence of the demons starting from the weakest. The process was designed to give the stronger demons time to grow even stronger.

    Simrly, as the lower demons would be exposed, characters of a simr level would no longer be barred from entering the Nihilistic Ring''s territory. Despite the insignificance of those characters, their worth as scouts couldn''t be overlooked.

    "You want me to study the other Sins¡­? Why exactly would I do that? I don''t see the worth in doing so," Saehtyn muttered with a skeptical expression. Despite Fuhrer''s knowledge and experience, Saehtyn couldn''t picture himself studying a power that belonged to the likes of Lucifer. He''d sooner rather perish than good through that type of torture.

    "You don''t see the worth? Then, tell me, what is the worth in your Noble Demon Body burning to ash once you try to absorb even one more percent of Purgatory''s Blood? That''s right, I can see the limitation guing your power," Fuhrermented while also cing Asteroth down.

    While he did so, Fuhrer gestured for Xonnmor toe closer and handle his body. Once Xonnomor was close, Fuhrer gave a thoughtful expression before passing a message to Xonnomor.

    "Truly?!" Xonnomor yelped in surprise. Evidently, whatever message Fuhrer passed along had truly excited Xonnomor to that point that he couldn''t contain his outburst.

    "I speak no falsehoods. That man in your person is responsible for the de in my hand. I''m sure the urge to study its intrinsic properties has passed through your mind. But, I have a better option; just coerce the creator to pass along the knowledge," Fuhrer said with a faint smirk.

    On the other hand, Apollo shook his head. He doubted that Asteroth would be willing to pass along any of his practices. It''d most likely required absurd amounts of trust before Asteroth even entertained the idea.

    However, Apollo also felt that Asteroth would be willing if the Monarch asked. Unfortunately, Apollo knew that once Asteroth recovered he would no longer be able to use that ruse once again. If he was of sound mind, the chances of him seeing through Apollo''s facade were extremely high.

    Apollo wasn''t willing to jeopardize the shaky rtionship between him and Asteroth. The system had already warned him of the chance of failure.

    Thanks to Fuhrer''s input, Xonnomor handled Asteroth with care, bringing him to his individual quarters while also requesting Furcas''s services. However, Furcas''s jaw dropped when he witnessed the unconscious Asteroth.

    "He actually seeded?! If he looks like this, then what in the hell does the young Lord look like? My goodness! I should have expected this oue. I mean, neither side was the type to give in, so it''s only expected that the battle would be concluded by unconsciousness," Furcas muttered before taking a deep inhale of his pipe.

    A momentter, he released a dense cloud of smoke that altered quickly, soon forming a formation. Once finished, the formation ovepped Asteroth''s body, as six pupils activated in Furcas''s eyes, with a seventh threatening to peek through.

    Apparently, Apollo and the others weren''t the only ones practicing. In his free time, Furcas put all of his attention on increasing the current capabilities of his eyes. The six-pupil form was far from his strongest state.

    Meanwhile, Apollo''s ears perked up as he heard the rhythmic tapping of heels on the ground behind him. Afterward, a sweet scent wafted into his nose causing his eyebrow to jump. However, aside from this, there weren''t many other reactions from him as the system delivered a message.

    ¡´System: Your Complete Immunity has negated the effects of the Luxuria nearby.¡µ

    After seeing the message, Apollo didn''t need to turn around as there was only a select few demons capable of wielding Luxuria within Ashiraem. However, contrary to Apollo''s expectations, he waspletely wrong about the individual standing behind him.

    "You know, you look pretty tasty~ Much tastier than those other boys and you smell better too~. Shall you give this older sister the time of her life~?" An alluring yet unfamiliar voice sounded next to Apollo''s ear.

    ''Mm?''

    Apollo turned towards the voice''s owner with an unusual expression.

 Chapter 517 - Speculations Of Relations

    ----

    Apollo''s curiosity towards the voice continued to grow as he turned his head towards the neer with the assumption that they were one of his own. However, after learning of their appearance, Apollo knew at a nce that this was an unfamiliar character.

    But, though they were unfamiliar, that didn''t stop Apollo from scrutinizing their appearance with pinpoint precision. He noticed the watery gloss covering her sparkling amethyst eyes as well as the sparse clothing with ayer of pink fabric lings the exposed areas of flesh that were typically seen as sensitive.

    Moreover, this woman had an appearance that outssed even phenomenal beauties such as Tirasha or Sapphyr. Although Apollo remained unaffected by the atmosphere of Luxuria that surrounded her, her appearance was more than enough to catch his attrition.

    Be that as it may, he also noticed Saehtyn''s look of disgust from the corner of his eye, leading him to question the identity of this woman. "A friend, or even an adversary, I presume?"

    "Neither," Saehtyn answered in a brusque tone. At the same time, his eyes never left Asmidia as he wondered if the others would soon follow behind. After all, there had to be a good reason behind her sudden appearance. And, if she appeared now, the odds were that the other Lords would soon follow.

    In the meantime, Saehtyn continued. "I wouldn''t call her a friend, but she''s also not annoying enough to be an adversary. She''s simply the embodiment of clingy lust that moves with no sense of direction. Simply put, she''s the Lady of Luxuria, Asmidia."

    "Mm? No sense of direction?" Apollo muttered before once again scanning Asmidia. However, Asmidia presented a coquettish expression after feeling his gaze, followed by nonstop squirming.

    "Hey~ Don''t you know it''s not good to stare. You should excite this older sister like that~! And Saehtyn, you can''t just go around revealing people''s identities without their consent!" Asmidia shouted while cing her hand on her hip. Though he tried to sound serious, the coquettish nature created by the influence of Luxuria had already seeped into the deepest fibers of her being.

    "I do as please," Saehtyn answered in a huff before averting his gaze from Asmidia. In the meantime, Apollo tapped her shoulder with a now indifferent look. All effects of her riveting appearance had disappeared after he understood the situation at hand.

    "Tch, such a grumpy man~ This is why you Lords are no fun. You never want to y!" Asmidia responded in displeased tone while also clicking her tongue in annoyance.

    However, Apollo interjected in their back and forth. "Can you remove your hands from my body now? I don''t believe we''re close to engage in any form of skinship, much less with someone who''s been deeply affected by the corruption of Luxuria."

    With his Unbound Eyes, Apollo was able to see that Asmidia''s behavior originated from her Luxuria. However, in Apollo''s opinion, this situation indicated that her condition was just as severe as Saehtyn''s. Although Saehtyn''s issue was more geared towards a physical predicament, Asmidia''s was essentially mental.

    Nevertheless, the differences didn''t mean their situation varied greatly. Both oues could lead to unsatisfactory results. Whereas Saehtyn''s body could suffer destruction from an overwhelming collection of Purgatory''s Blood, once the effects of Luxuria altered Asmidia''s mind beyond the point of return, her original self would be lost.

    In other words, all of the Lords faced an issue that gued the use of their power. Although Estran was aware of this matter when he imnted this power in them, he foresaw these seven oveing the problems, or at the very least, a character capable of rectifying their appearance when they were in need.

    Unfortunately, thetter option, while usible, would take some time to bring to fruition. After all, the number of people who could change Sin Paths rted to Estran''s power numbered less than five, and even then most of them were no longer amongst the current demonicmunity.

    Suddenly, Asmidia released dramatic gasps as she looked at Apollo with apparent hurt in her eyes. From her expression, you''d expect that these two had known each for years and she was hurt by Apollo''s coldness. Of course, this wasn''t true. She was neither familiar with Apollo nor was he hurt by his request to move away from him, this was just her personality.

    "Dammit! Just say the reason you''re here and leave!" Saehtyn snarled after bing annoyed by Asmidia''s disy. Despite how inconspicuous she tried to be, both Apollo and Saehtyn sensed the gradual increase of the Luxuria in the atmosphere. Only one individual present could influence it in such a way.

    Evidently, Asmidia was in a yful mood, but these two didn''t reciprocate those feelings. Nevertheless, Asmidia acted as if they hadn''t said a word and walked forward, tracing her finger against Saehtyn''s chin.

    "Now, don''t be so rude~ After all, I''m here because of someone''s rude behavior," Asmidia said with a small chuckle. Afterward, her gaze returned to Apollo as if he was the target of her words.

    "Why are you looking at him once again? I don''t believe he''s rted to you. And what rude behavior? People seldom travel to the Ring of Lust, so how could you experience disrespectful behavior?" Saehtyn questioned.

    Out of the 7 Nihilistic Rings, the Rings of Luxuria was the least popted area. Although a number of powerful Subus and Incubus were born in that ring, the number as a whole paled inparison to others.

    "That was true up until now. But, to my surprise, I found a new character snooping around my Rings. At first, I thought it was rted to that detestable man that started issues with us, but then I learned from the source that wasn''t the case. Isn''t that right?" Asmidia said with a faint smile. From her gaze, it was clear that her words were directed towards Apollo.

    However, Apollo just smiled in return. While it was confirmed that he sent Geneva to the Ring of Lust after sending her to acquire information from the Nautilus, Apollo wouldn''t just admit to it. After all, he wasn''t even sure that Asmidia knew his real identity, and Geneva wasn''t the type to openly reveal it.

    This meant Asmidia either used her abilities to extract information from Geneva, or she was simply phishing to verify her spections. Either way, Apollo wouldn''t admit to anything until it had already been exposed with zero options of redirecting the me.

    Meanwhile, Saehtyn became silent as he analyzed Apollo''s unaffected countenance and Asmidia''s prodding gaze. Eventually, he assumed that even Asmidia wasn''t sure about her ims. Then again, he also couldn''t doubt the authenticity of her words seeing as he managed to do what Saehtyn felt to previously impossible.

    "Ahem, it appears you''re suspecting me of something? Pretty bold, seeing as we arepletely unfamiliar with one another. Are you even aware of my name? What if I''m the wrong person and you''re seeking someone else?" Apollo said while crossing his arms.

    However, this action didn''t deter Asmidia''s suspicions in the slightest. In fact, she released a gleeful giggle as she stepped closer once again. "You know~ Over the years, I''ve be quite skilled with understanding feelings that surpass the basic version of lust. For example, when this new Infernal Subus whose beauty was enough to catch my eyes talked about her leader, stars sparkled in her eye."

    "At first, I didn''t understand, so I sought Saehtyn for some help! But, who would have thought I''d pick up traces of a Sin Signatureing from you. Meaning, you''re more rted to this new Infernal Subus than you''re letting on. So, tell me, what''s your name? Surely you have some ability if you''re able to affect such a rare line of Subus," Asmidia said.

    After listening to what she had to say, Apollo understood just what happened. Just as Saehtyn was sensitive to Ira Signatures, the same rang true from Asmidia with Luxuria Signatures. Therefore, it was understandable that she sensed Geneva''s presence on Apollo.

    After all, the system only hid his own aura and not the individuals rted to him. While it was possible for others to learn of him, if they didn''t know how strong he was, the odds of them attacking or causing issues reduced dramatically.

    For example, up until now, the only one with enough gall to attack Apollo was Lucifer. Even then, his subordinates were effortlessly defeated, causing him to reconsider deepening any fleeting animosity between the two sides.

    "My name? That''s quite a simple request¨Dit''s Zethroz. I already know yours since Saehtyn spilled it upon your arrival. Now, tell me, why are you so interested in my link to this Infernal Subus?" Apollo questioned.

    "That''s quite simple as well," Asmidia responded with a slight grin. A momentter, she continued while bracing her ample chest with her forearms. Although it was a seemingly subtle move, Apollo noticed it immediately. Sadly, she didn''t understand that her usual behavior had no effect on Apollo. It was as if she were standing before Saehtyn or Lucifer, seeing as they were the only two who retained mental rity while in her presence.

    Nevertheless, Asmidia continued despite her fruitless actions. "I just want to know more about the man who could smite the heart of a Subus.. I need to know if he can im mine as well~ Besides, I was also asked toe here on some official business."

 Chapter 518 - Deepening Curiosity

    ----

    After learning of Asmidia''s so-called official business, Saehtyn''s eyes narrowed, whereas Apollo disyed a look of surprise. Until now, Apollo was under the impression that the Lord rarely appeared in the other Rings due to the unfavorable environment and the strife between the parties.

    However, if it was true that Asmidia p[ossessed official business within Ashiraem, then perhaps the rtionship wasn''t as far gone as Apollo presumed. Granted, Apollo also realized that Asmidia''s personality was by far one of the most unusual he experienced. Thus, Apollo also had to decide whether to ept or ignore some of the things Asmidia mentions.

    Be that as it may, Apollo couldn''t help but wonder about the alleged official that she was called here for. Fortunately, Saehtryn''s expression delivered some of the answered Apollo needed. ''I suppose her im of official business must be true then. If it weren''t I doubt Saehtyn''s expression would be this sour.''

    Meanwhile, Asmidia noticed Apollo''s pensive expression and Saehtyn''s disgruntled frown, causing her to giggle yfully. "Boys, boys~ Why so serious~? We get to spend time together! This handsome boy gets the chance at sniping my heart and you get some eye candy Mr.Saehtyn~ How is this deal not in your favor?"

    "Damned wench. No one outside of Belphegor enjoys your presence. In fact, why don''t you pay him a visit? I''m sure he''d be more than happy to entertain yourpany," Saehtyn grumbled before turning his gaze towards the empty forge.

    ''Tch¡­ A small part of me regrets the ample sess this boy has had with his forging process. I''m willing to bet that this matter is closely linked to Asmidia''s presence. After all, only a single faction with the Council has been supplied with items. It was only a matter of time before the other factions pressured Xorgrah to deliver the other weapon types,'' Saehtyn thought to himself before releasing a deep sigh.

    The realization of the inevitable facts hit Saehtyn simultaneously. There was no avoiding Asmidia''s presence seeing as there was no other demon with a Sin Signature as pure as hers, especially when it came to items capable of increasing one''s mental influence.

    Aside from Invidia, which possessed some simr abilities under unique circumstances, Luxuria was the only Sin with the main ability to control one''s mind by empowering their lust to the power that it because the corrupted individuals'' sovereign emotion.

    In a battle against individuals of simr strength, the ability to influence the mind was a treasured ability because it could provide the needed windows to gain an upper hand in any long battle of attritions. What''s more, when brought to the extreme, it could end a battle before it had even begun!

    This possibility enticed the Council enough to have Xorgrah seek out the Lord of Luxuria before any of the morebat-oriented Lords. Given the usual behavior of the Council, it was understandable that the notion of influence and control was more alluring than physical might.

    "Let me guess, Xorgrah, the Council''s Envoy has reached out to you to participate in the ongoing forging process. However, I''m guessing it''s not weapons that they''re after this time. At least, not weapons that take on a typical form," Saehtyn said before locking sights with Asmidia.

    For a moment, Asmidia was partially shocked as her left eyebrow jumped before returning to normal quickly after. Saehtyn''s guess was correct, but that wasn''t the reason for her surprise.

    At first, she overlooked their presence, but Asmidia was forced to perform another scan of the room as her eyes fell on Fuhrer. ''That''s strange¡­ I scanned this ce before entering, why didn''t he appear within the initial screening? What''s more, he''s still not appearing despite me looking at him. Just who is this old man?''

    Eventually, Asmidia took a step forward while slowly rubbing her lip in thought. She continued to examine Fuhrer until her questions became uncontainable. "Excuse me, but who do I have the pleasure of meeting~? Could you be someone from Saehtyn''s side that I don''t know about?"

    Instead of a straightforward answer, Fuhrer spared Asmidia a hostile gaze while rhythmically tapping his finger against the side of his forearm. While it didn''t seem like it on the surface, Fuhrer was more than familiar with some of the perverse abilities rted to Luxuria.

    Therefore, Fuhrer decided to thwart all attempts before they progressed any further. "Listen, little girl. I''ve been alive much longer than you have and I''ve witnessed all there is to see when ites to us demons. So, it will do you no justice to attempt to influence my mind. Not only will it be fruitless, but you''ll soone to realize that it could be dangerous as well."

    Afterward, a thin beam fired from Fuhrer''s fingertip as he flicked it,nding on Asmidia''s forehead. Although the action seemed insignificant, Asmidia''s focus disappeared for an instant as her eyes nked.

    Fortunately for her, Fuhrer didn''t intend any harm. He just understood that when it came to demons of this caliber, a demonstration proved more effective than empty words. Hence, Fuhrer disyed his ability to affect the Lords as he saw fit.

    Granted, the duration of these effects was unknown, but in this type of situation where neither side showed signs of inconsble hostility, it was more than enough to suffice.

    Approximately three secondster, Asmidia''s gaze regained focus as her body trembled visibly. Apprehension appeared in her eyes as she observed Fuhrer with high alert. ''That''s not an ability avable to Saehtyn. The oppressive power to affect one''s mind? Saehtyn doesn''t wield that ability. Then, if not him, it must be¡­.''

    Gradually, Asmidia''s defensive gaze fell upon Apollo. If her spections were true, then she wondered if the feelings of the Subus she met earlier were genuine or if it was the result of the boy tampering with their mind. Either way, she was on guard with this boy now.

    Even her earlier coy demeanor diminished greatly as he was unsure if disying that much vulnerability was safe around this unknown duo. Nevertheless, despite reeling in most of her coy actions, there were certain behaviors that Asmidia couldn''t cease. They had be a fundamental part of her daily life.

    Seeing as the atmosphere had be quite tense following Fuhrer''s disy, Apollo took it upon himself to lighten the mood. After all, one of his main goals were to either gain the trust of the Lords or be strong enough to force them to his side.

    However, seeing as he allowed Fuhrer to deliver advice, it appeared Apollo opted for the former over thetter. Although he doubted any of them had a will on par with Asteroth, enabling them to go against some directives, Apollo couldn''t overlook the fact that these beings were the result of Estran''s actions¨Dan individual whose power resided directly under the Old Monarch.

    "Ahem."

    Apollo cleared his throat, gathering the attention of everyone present. "There''s no need to be on such heavy guard. My friend here just dislikes anyone trying to tamper either of our minds. Granted, you''d be hard-pressed to aplish that effort. In the meantime, Asmidia was it? Can you tell me more about this Subus? What was your impression?"

    Apart from sending Geneva to the All-seeing Nautilus to gather information on that Ring, he also had her lull many leaders of strongholds into bing subservient. Because he was only one individual, he couldn''t waste time trying to conquer small powers when he could utilize the tools at his disposal to make matters easier.

    In this case, one such tool was Geneva''s gorgeous appearance coupled with the alluring of a ravishing Subus. Not many would be able to withstand the intoxication of her wordsced with the presence of Luxuria. Once it prated deep into their mind, the unfortunate soul unlucky to experience Geneva''s temptation would be reduced to a mindless follower¨Da moderately powerful being robbed of their free will when Geneva felt it was befitting.

    "My impression?" Asmidia muttered before falling into deep thought. After a while, she gathered her thoughts and spoke truthfully. "If I were to ever lose my power and title as the Lord of Luxuria, she''d be a befitting recement. The rate at which her Luxuria grew before and her beauty already fulfills the prerequisites to take this action. Of course, I won''t just amicably abdicate my throne."

    In response to herstment, Apollo chuckled yfully. "Be at ease. She has no intention of taking up that title because she is destined for something much greater. After all, she is one of my people. I can''t allow her to take a role with unknown continuity."

    Suddenly, Asmidia harrumphed while crossing her arms under her chest with a hostile re. "What do you mean unknown continuity? I have held this title for thousands of years. Is that not enough continuity for you?!"

    "That was then, this is now. There were no looming threats during the time of your reign. Now, there are an unknown number of threats. For example, the loss of your powers and the obscure state of each Ring. These are threats we must all deal with in the foreseeable future¨Dif we are to preserve our life that is," Apollo countered.

    As a result, Asmidia''s jaw dropped while she turned towards Saehtyn. "You told him about the state of the Nihilistic Rings!? Are you insane? Who''s to say that this little handsome fellow doesn''t have loose lips? The entire race could learn about the dangers that gue us."

    However, Saehtyn shocked his head with a defeated expression as he looked at Asmidia. Although he mentioned it once before, based on Apollo''s reactions at the time, it was clear he was already privy to this information.

    "It''s unusual to admit, but this boy knew about the matter long before us," Saehtyn admitted.. Again, Asmidia gave Apollo another look, except this time her curiosity deepened.

 Chapter 519 - Another Guest, Speculative Questions

    ----

    Not too long after Asmidia''s curiosity escted to new heights, a number of questions circted in her mind. Truth be told, learning of Apollo''s preexisting knowledge made her restless. She started to question the reason behind Apollo''s presence, who until now was unknown to the masses.

    ''If he knew about it¡­ could he be a co-conspirator? Although it might be a reach, gathering answers are difficult as well since our resources have been effectively cut in half with the exclusion of the Council,'' Asmidia thought as her eyebrows furrowed. Despite her outer appearance, Asmidia wasn''t as trusting and familiar as she emted.

    Out of the Seven Lords, she wasn''t within the most untrusting. In fact, the only one who was more on guard against threats was Lucifer, since he rarely trusted anyone aside from himself. Even the other Lords didn''t have the luxury of gaining his trust. He felt it was too valuable to give away.

    To earn it, it would take a ridiculous event, and even then, there was no guarantee that Lucifer''s trust would remain longsting. The more his Superbia interfered with his disposition, therger the chances of it taking over his characterpletely. While it wouldn''t be a terrible situation, it''d most like turn him into an existence incapable of relying upon others.

    Under extreme circumstances, the inability to rely upon others could ultimately result in a perilous oue. Finally, Asmida looked towards Fuhrer who stood beside Apollo. Throughout the entire experience, aside from his initial words of warning, Fuhrer didn''t participate in the conversation.

    At first, it felt unusual seeing as his presence was the most prominent within the room. However, given that he usually spoke from Apollo or that Apollo''s word generally aligned with his behavior, Asmidia gained the impression that Apollo was the one in control.

    Aftering to this assumption, Asmidia frowned slightly. "Is it true that this boy is the one calling the shots and not the old man who seems unusually dangerous?"

    "Perhaps," Saehtyn shrugged indifferently. Of course, he was nearly one hundred percent that the one in charge was the younger individual because he had once heard Fuhrer address Apollo as Young Lord. This was only possible if the old demon looked up to the young one.

    Be that as it may, Saehtyn didn''t feel as if verifying Asmidia''s suspicions would gain any benefits. Instead, Saehtyn thought it''d be better for her to confirm her own suspicions. After all, a Lord should be confident enough to explore the depths of any uncertainties present before their eyes.

    "I don''t like that answers, it''s too evasive~!" Asmidia grumbled as her brows progressively furrowed until a deep crevice formed in the center of her brows.

    Meanwhile, Apollo couldn''t help but chuckle. Despite his presence, she didn''t include him for any answers, which he found odd. ''There''s no way that I overwhelm her to the point she''s unable to seek answers from me, right? Nevertheless, it wouldn''t hurt to check.''

    "Ahem, you know, you can always turn to me for the answers that even Saehtyn does not possess. Perhaps you''lle to learn that my information channels are not inferior to any of your own," Apollomented while making a small gesture to Fuhrer.

    Fuhrer immediately answered bymunicating through their mental connection. ''What is it, my Young Lord?

    ''Am I mistaken, or does it seem that the Lord''s powers are deteriorating to that of a normal Noblesse''s ne of power. Wasn''t it said that they far surpassed a Noblesse at their peak?'' Apollo questioned.

    Although both Asmidia and Saehtyn were still powerful, Apollo noticed some discrepancies after Asmidia. In addition to her admitting that Geneva''s Sin Purity was pure enough to catch her attention, Apollo also didn''t overlook the fact that Asmidia''s Sin Purity seemed to have some unexpected blemishes.

    While Apollo wasn''t privy to the state of her Luxuria Haze prior to the change in the Nihilistic Ring''s foundations, Apollo was sure that her haze should be free of any impurities, especially since all of the Lords carry an imnted perfected Sin Purity.

    ''That is correct my Young Lords. As I exined before the Primal Sources are falling into a dormant state now that they''re no longer in the presence of the Towers or imnted into a created vessel. As a result, the amount of power the Rings are able to draw from their source is finite,'' Fuhrer answered.

    Because of the method Estran employed to create the Lords, their powers were directly linked to the amount of Sin Reserves avable to the Nihilistic Rings. Meaning, any decline in the atmosphere of the Nihilistic Rings would result in the hasty decline of a Lord''s ability.

    Fortunately, Estran provided a few failsafe measures so that in the event of this happening, their power wouldn''t return to what it was before the imnt. At most, they''d be normal Noblesse.

    However, the reversal of the atmosphere''s decline would automatically reverse the Lords'' issues without further intervention.

    ''I see,'' Apollo responded. However, Apollo''s thought became tangential as he thought of a few scenarios he could take advantage of. While the decline of the Lords was extremely disadvantageous for the Nihilistic Rings given that they were the only line of defense now, Apollo felt his agenda could easily resolve any issue that may arise by acting upon his impulses.

    If the Lords were to decline to a power weak enough for him to wrest control of them, then Apollo felt it was worth it once their power was restored or even amplified. Granted, Apollo didn''t know the extent of the repercussion that would follow nor was he aware of the oue that would follow the interaction of Estran''s ability and the system.

    Thus, Apollo once again questioned the creator of the system. ording to his knowledge, there was no way a demon could create such an intricate thing. If that was the case, then perhaps his father, Aztraval weren''t the creator, but the one who supplied the information to store within the system.

    If thetter were the truth, then Apollo had even more answers to search for. For example, were there beings stronger than Monarch-level existences within the upper races? And, if they existed, could this be rted to the disappearance of the Monarch and his currently unknown status?

    All of these questions flooding Apollo''s mind caused him to bite his nail in silence. Matters weren''t as simple as he made it seem. There were too many unounted-for details that Apollo thought about as he continued to grow stronger.

    After all, as Apollo grew stronger, so would the scope of the issues he faced.

    "Fine, if you''re so willing to tell the truth, then tell me; are you in any way rted to that distasteful bastard we met in Ashiraem''s Tower? Surely if you''re aware of the state of the Rings, you should be privy to the events that took ce in the tower, no?" Asmidia questioned while cing her hip with an interrogative gaze.

    Despite a gut feeling telling her that this boy before had the Ring''s best intentions at heart, she didn''t know if her instincts were sufficient enough to trust anymore, which was understandable since that too was linked to the condition of the Ring she possessed authority over.

    "Which one?" Apollo chuckled softly. As a result, Asmidia fell silent while blinking her eyes. She had overlooked the fact that booths individuals within the room at that time could be seen as insufferable.

    Therefore, Asmidia was forced to change her wording.

    "I mean, are you rted to any of them! Do you have something to do with them appearing suddenly?" Asmidia said with an exaggerated pouting while stomping her foot.

    "Well, yes and no," Apollo responded, causing Asmidia''s expression to grow harsh. These were the type of evasive answers that she detested the most. Luckily for her, Apollo was far from done.

    "You see, I am indeed rted to both of them but, not in the way you think. After all, theye from differing sides as well as differing agendas. The rambunctious fellow is simply someone who was unable to control his anger whereas the original culprit is someone dangerous to our race altogether," Apollo said while crossing his arms.

    ording to Azridan''s exnation, Irzanach was undoubtedly in cahoots with the Angels. If not, he wouldn''t be in possession of their most cherished ability and once originating from an extremelyrge character.

    In the meantime, both Saehtyn and Asmidia''s expressions changed. Although they had conducted this conversation within the walls of the Ashiraem Tower once before, it was just pure spection at that time, But, judging by Apollo''s confident demeanors it was apparent that his words possessed at least a semnce of truth.

    "We expected as much, but we can''t understand why someone of our race would conspire with another upper race, much less one that has been inscribed as an inconsble enemy. Don''t our powers even conflict with each other? If that the case, how would he be alive right now?" Saehtyn questioned with a pensive expression.

    At the very least, wielding the power of the Angels for a single second should have resulted in irreparable damage down to Irzanach''s power system. However, from what Saehtyn remembered, there wasn''t anything necessarily wrong with him. In fact, he seemed rtively unaffected by the usage of the power.

    For a moment, there were no answers passed around but Fuhrer soon intervened with a possible reasoning. "Perhaps he was given the means to iste the power from running amok in his system. However, that would be a difficult thing to manage, therefore giving him an extremely limited time window."

    Suddenly, another presence arrived in the room, causing the others to direct their attention to them. "Are we conversing about enemies? Well, let me join dammit!"

 Chapter 520 Discussing and Coercing

    Chapter 520 Discussing and Coercing

    ----

    Since all of their attention was directed towards Apollo and Asmidia''s conversation, the others didn''t notice when a few more individuals approached the room. At first, there was only one person, but soon after the number grew to be more than 4 people. While Apollo was familiar with some of them such as Vc, as well as an oversized glutton that he recently ran into, the other faces werepletely unfamiliar.

    However, at a nce, Apollo could tell from the unique fluctuations in their Sin Signature that they were identical to Asmidia and Saehtyn. In other words, some of the neers were Lords as well.

    Be that as it may, the one who grabbed their attention was Vc as he walked into the forge. Despite his bandaged body and wounded face, he gave a cheeky grin after learning of the topic of the conversation. If there was one thing he wanted to do, it was locate some enemies and release some of his frustrations.

    Granted, Vc also understood that some of their enemies were beyond reach for the moment and it was for their protection. Although he was stubborn, oftentimes brazen, and even impulsive, Vc''smon sense was by no meanscking. After all, if he were to be acking individual, he would have never fit Aztraval''s criteria to join the original household.

    "Enemies?! I''m all for going on a hunt Master! We can do so right now¡­ Wait¡­ huh?!"

    Suddenly, Vc''s eyes widened as he turned his attention towards Asmidia. Despite having been in the presence of demons like Tirasha, Sapphyr, and Geneva, Vc had to admit that this female demon was a step above the rest. Until now, he had never been smitten with someone just by looking at them.

    Although the women within the Kings were on another level as well, their strength created an imprable barrier. While it wasn''t an animate barrier, the pressure of their strength deterred all demons froming close to them. After being thoroughly frightened, none of the members were foolish enough to grow close to them.

    Not to mention, because of demonic culture, none of the demons wanted a female mate who was much stronger than them. In their eyes, it was sphemous for the women to be the one to provide protection in dire situations. It stripped the males of their confidence, resulting in them openly seeking partners who were weaker than them.

    "You should close your mouth. With your tongue hanging out like that, you look like a dog," Apollo chuckled while shaking his head with an amused smirk. Truth be told, he expected such a reaction from Vc given his past animated responses. After all, even he had to take a moment tomend Asmidia''s beauty, so he doubted that Vc would bepletely unaffected.

    "A-Ah¡­ Urf¡­ Ahem," Vc sputtered and choked before wiping the drool from his mouth. Afterward, a mischievous smirk appeared across his face as he suddenly appeared by Asmidia with a tentative gaze.

    "So, do you find our Lord to be satisfactory? I''m sure he finds you to be. You are an absolutely stunning demon! If he doesn''t fit the bill, then I''m sure we can work something out-"

    Bang!

    Apollo grabbed Vc''s head before he could finish and forced into the ground while returning an indifferent yet slightly apologetic gaze to Asmidia. "Don''t mind this blubbering buffoon. Due to some mental defects, he''s unable to control the nonsense that spews from his unsightly mouth."

    "Mm~? But, I found nothing wrong with his words though," Asmidia said with a small giggle, causing Apollo to be stunned for a moment. It appeared his assumptions were far from reality.

    ''Has the Luxuria influenced her so much that even Vc''s nonsense doesn''t bother her? Even Tirasha wanted to rip him to shreds after listening to his folly,'' Apollo thought to himself while giving Asmidia an incredulous look.

    Meanwhile, the forge room rumbled as the glutton took a step and cleared their throat, attempting to gain everyone''s attention. As a result, everyone turned towards that direction. Once he received all of their attention, he revealed a grotesque grin with many oversized teeth.

    "Now, I''ll have you know that this fine Lady will be all mine. She can only know true pleasure in the arms of one who devours for all eternity," Belphegor said with a toothy grin.

    However, a disgusted look crept upon Asmidia''s face as a cluster of pink haze threatened to weaponize at a moment''s notice. "Speak nonsense again and your tongue will no longer allow you to devour. Instead, you''ll be searching for its whereabouts for eternities toe."

    Once again, in the presence of Belphegor, all signs of Asmidia''s previous coquettishness vanished without a trace. Evidently, her detest for this individual was much greater than the influence of her power, resulting in the temporary resurgence of her original personality.

    "Tch, how inappropriate. I always receive absolutely terrible treatment. Nevertheless, I didn''te for you. I came because I was summoned and promised," Belphegor grumbled before turning towards Saehtyn and giving the room a brief sniff.

    "You''ve been using your mes here. I assume there''s a good reason, such as assisting that boy in forging some eyes? Then, are we to report to you for our rewards and such?" Belphegor questioned.

    However, before Saehtyn could provide an answer, another individual walked into the room, except this time, they were apanied by Xonnomor. "Correct, I have summoned you all here to address the need for quicker production. Sadly, production can''t be elerated unless you all are here."

    "I''ve understood this already because I''ve long since expected this to happen," Saehtyn responded indifferently before summoning another collection of Sin. "Are we going to resume production this instant because I am more than ready."

    "No, give it a moment. Before we begin, I need to know that you all can set aside your differences to fit a timeline. If so, then not only I, but I will also make sure that the entire Council is indebted to you all," Xorgrah professed.

    Despite his promise, Saehtyn remained unmoved by his words. Naturally, every Lord present was more than familiar with the behavior of the Council. The odds of Xorgrah''s wordsing to fruition were abysmal since the Council seldom returned favor.

    Fortunately, the Lords didn''t care for the favors of the Council. The sole reason for their attendance was the promise of an item, which couldn''t be negated since all the material was already in the presence of Xonnomor.

    Besides, advancing in progress would be impossible without them, so Saehtyn''s wasn''t worried about the promise going unfilled. What''s more, the promise didn''t originate from the Council''s members, but from Xorgrah himself, who by default was a trustworthy individual.

    "As long as I get some in return that is able to curb the sensation that gues me everyday, then I''m more than happy. In the meantime, you have some grub? This big ol'' belly won''t fill itself. Point me to your rations!" Belphegor bellowed while pping his stomach, causing a hollow echo to st through the room.

    "I concur. I''m willing to help as well despite already possessing an item. One more wouldn''t hurt~" Asmidiamented, giving Xorgrah a pleasant smile.

    Next, Xorgrah looked towards Apollo will an obscure expression. After their run in, he was sure that these two would have something to offer to the items he intended to create. Sadly, he understood that he was in no position to request anything of these two individuals. Be that as it may, he still had to try.

    After all, he was quite curious about the extent of their powers and just how strong it would be if it could be condensed and imparted onto a weapon. Would those weapons still fall within the categorization of the weapons that they''d establish or would something much greater be forged?

    The curiosity was overwhelming, leading Xorgrah to take a step forward. "I know my words may be misced here, but is it possible for you to assist in this process as well? I know we may not have established a rtionship on the best footing, but I overheard that your interest is in protecting the Demon Race. I believe this will be of great assistance."

    For a moment, Apollo was silent while giving Fuhrer a meaningful look, as if he was requesting his input. Once he understood the look, Fuhrer opened his eyes and gazed at Apollo while shaking his head. But, not for the reason he previously. After learning of the reason, Apollo delivered the message to Xorgrah.

    "I''ll have to decline. While I believe it will be of great assistance as well, our power can''t be wielded by a normal demon. So, it would be pointless to assist, at least directly. If you''re willing to be indebted to be without limitations, then perhaps I''d be willing to work something out with an individual who''s extremely talented with the hammer. But, the oue is beyond my control."

    Needless to say, the person Apollo mentioned was Asteroth. However, given the warning of the system, he wasn''t sure if it''d be sessful. Hence, why Apollo first made Xorgrah vow to be indebted despite the rate of sess.

    Surprisingly, Xorgrah nodded with a solemn expression, "I''m willing."

 Chapter 521 Advancing the Discussion

    Chapter 521 Advancing the Discussion

    ----

    The room grew silent following Xorgrah''s unexpectedly quick answer. Based on his expression, it was apparent that this wasn''t an impulsive decision. While it was true that both he and Apollo had gotten off on the wrong foot, which also meant there was a very high chance that the early stages of a possible rtionship were spoiled, Xorgrah wasn''t one to mull over a negative situation.

    After all, his position within the Council wasn''t given to him solely because of his rtion to its Chairman. While that was the case for most individuals presiding within the Council, Xorgrah''s circumstances were different. Contrary to normal means of acquiring a position, Xorgrah earned his standing by presenting the capacity to aplish all missions given to him with ster results.

    Therefore, after cultivating his mindset and amassing an abundance of experience, it wasn''t difficult for Xorgrah to shift his perspective to understand where Apollo''s ideal came from. Not to mention, his sh with his son also served as an eye-opener. It was the first time that Xonnomor had vehemently chastised him and it had arge effect on Xorgrah''s attitude.

    Perhaps it was time to abandon the methods of the Council and adopt more flexible outlooks.

    Nevertheless, the answer despite Xorgrah''s demeanor, still came as a surprise, causing even Apollo and Fuhrer to fall silent. They exchanged looks but not words as the messages conveyed through their gazes were quite easy to decipher.

    Eventually, Apollo turned his attention back towards Xorgrah while rubbing his chin with a contemtive expression. ''Has he truly considered the disadvantages of this deal? He''s far too smart to not realize the uncertaintyced within my words. This type of dodgy deal is typically the type one should avoid.''

    Even Saehtyn felt it was premature of Xorgrah to readily ept this deal. "Ahem, forgive my intrusion as I mean no disrespect to you, but are you sure it''s in your best interest to trust another demon so thoroughly? As you know, it isn''tmon for our kind to renege on their promises and defect to another side when more favorable circumstances present themselves."

    Because of Saehtyn''s word, Xorgrah was forced to reconsider his decision. And despite thebative words of Saehtyn, Apollo took no offense to them. After all, Apollo''s thought process was simr if not identical. Thest thing he wanted to be was a hypocrite after passionately voicing his concern for the fate of the Demon Race.

    Sadly, while Apollo''s response was tame, the same couldn''t be said about his followers. Vc immediately sprang to his feet and pointed his fingers towards Saehtyn, "Oi! Are you openly doubting my master? If he has given his word, then he is to be trusted without any shred of doubt!"

    "Sadly, no one is to be trusted indefinitely. No matter what you im, you should understand that nothing is impossible, the so-called impossible is in fact improbable but still possible. Therefore, you should always guard your rear," Saehtyn retorted while shifting his gaze to Vc.

    Despite the disrespectful act of Vc, Saehtyn didn''t react with hostility. For one, he didn''t want to have a falling out with the old demon by Apollo''s side. Based on hisx demeanor and the ease with which he pinpointed the issues with his power, it was clear that a victory was uncertain.

    Besides, Saehtyn learned from earlier events that Vc was the type of individual whose mouth moved before his mind could catch up. Thus, it was pointless to try and argue with someone like that.

    Regrettably, Vc was someone who only needed his voice to argue, it didn''t matter whether there was a recipient of his argument or not.

    "I don''t want to hear what you have to say! Do I have to open your ears myself for me to get my point across? I will dly do it so that you understand the loyalty we have towards our Lord," Vc said with narrowing eyes.

    At first, Apollo moved to silence Vc but after listening to his argument, Apollo decided against doing so and removed his hand. Learning of Vc''s loyalty delighted Apollo enough to even consider exhausting some of the experience pool to elevate Vc''s evolution.

    However, he couldn''t do so now as he recalled Fuhrer mentioning something about a curse. He wasn''t sure if it was strong enough to prevent the system from performing its essential actions, but more importantly, it wasn''t the setting to use that type of power.

    Apollo had no doubt that if he revealed this type of power before three Lords he''d fall under extreme scrutiny. He may even have to risk being monitored when entering every Ring. While it wasn''t exactly restrictive, it could hinder the pace Apollo had in mind.

    "I understand that you''re loyal to fault, but you must also realize that not everyone is obligate to feel the same way you do," Saehtyn said. Whereas Vc spoke from the influence of the system as well as Apollo''s special abilities, Saehtyn spoke from experience. After all, the Lords had witnessed their fair share of corruption over the years, so it''d be difficult to make them believe otherwise, even if the individual in question hailed from unknown origins. In fact, that made it that much harder for the Lords to ept Apollo''s words as genuine truths.

    Be that as it may, Xorgrah shook his head with a solemn expression. "While your words hold some truths to them Lord Saehtyn, there are times when we must set aside our skepticism to ce the race''s benefits at the forefront of our motives."

    "Precisely! Even this guy gets it, and I don''t even know how he is!" Vcmented, aggressively nodding his head while pointing towards Xorgrah. While doing so, he continued, "You all should learn from him. A flexible mind begets a flexible body and that is the only way to attract a mate¨Dwith a flexible body."

    Suddenly, the room grew silent as everyone looked at Vc with a nk expression. Once again, his words traveled the route of foolishness, which caused Apollo to consider pping his face. However, he had to admit that Vc oftentimes provided a certain amount of amusement.

    And, given the atmosphere of the forge room that appeared after mentioning this topic, perhaps the room was in need of some lightening. Thus, Apollo decided to refrain from making any hasty moves and allow Vc to keep the momentum of the room.

    Nevertheless, even Xorgrah paused for a moment as he looked at Vc with an incredulous gaze. "It astounds me how lighthearted you can be despite the looming peril we must face. But, while it is somewhat unnerving, it could also be considered a blessing."

    "My very existence is a blessing. Even my Lord admits it; I am quite the amusing one. When times are hard, you can count on me to soften them. That is, unless your a appreciator of hard things," Vcmented.

    Towards the end of his words, Vc''s gaze fell back towards Asmidia with a scious girin. However, unlike Belphegor who received treatment befitting of his disgusting appearance, Asmidia gave Vc a seductive wink.

    Of course, with her dense amount of Luxuria lurking around her in his ear.

    22:04

    "I may have allowed you to keep the attention, but if you keep going body, the wink was enough to make Vc''s heart flutter. Sadly, that fleeting me of happiness was doused by Apollo''s cold voice echoing in his ear.

    "I may have allowed you to keep the attention, but if you keep going on such a perverse tangent, then I''ll have to remove you from y," Apollo warned.

    An audible gulp echoed within the room as vc gave a strained nod. After all, he was well aware of the harsh punishment that Apollo was capable of inflicting, and truth be told, he didn''t feel like being subject to that pain at this time. Therefore, Vc took a step back while pinching his lips.

    In the meantime, Asmidia pursed her lips in frustration. "That''s no fun~. An entertaining fellow has appeared in light of your uptight behavior and now you silence him~? No fun at all!"

    "Forgive my inability to support your banter. But, I''ve appeared to speak of serious matters, not to joke around with those who should be doing everything in their power to correct the instability in their powers. Maybe we can visit this topic once everything is resolved, but for right now, our primary objective would be to create irond rtionships," Apollo responded before averting his gaze from Asmidia and turning towards Xorgrah.

    After a slight pause, Apollo continued talking, "As I said before, the deal I propose has somecking content, but that is just to show you how honest I am being with you all. Although there''s a chance that my side may fall through, I''m leaving it up to your discretion to choose whether you believe the future possesses the same instability or if you''re willing to put your faith in your fellow demon."

    "Faith?" Saehtyn muttered. "Since when have we demons operated on faith? Wouldn''t it be more reasonable for you to ask us to operate upon what we see now? If you want faith, perhaps you''re addressing the wrong race."

    "No, perhaps he is right. Faith may be the one thing that is needed to consolidate the shaky rtionships of the powerful demons. With that being said, why don''t you tell me about the intrinsic uncertainties and certainties of your offer?"

    "With pleasure," Apollo said with a faint smile before stepping forward.

 Chapter 522: Outlandish Request?

    Chapter 522: Oundish Request?

    ----

    After taking a step forward, Apollo sped his hand before guiding his hand towards Xonnomor. "At our current rate, Xonnomor won''t be enough to supply the forces in question for when mayhem runs rampant through the Nihilistic Rings. So, with that being said, I would like a propose an assistive alternative."

    "Assistive alternative? In other words, you''re suggesting that we acquire another forge on par with Xonnomor''s skill. As much as I''d desire to do so, I fear it''d be impossible to find someoneparable to him," Xorgrah admitted. However, after a moment of silence and processing the intention of this conversation, to begin with, Xorgrah linked Apollo''s intentions.

    Regrettably, it wasn''t Xorgrah who revealed what he understood. Xonnomor gasped excitedly as his delight manifested as stars in his eyes. "Are you going to ask Asteroth to assist us directly?!"

    "That was the intention, but as I said before, it''s a long shot. I''m sure you all are quite familiar with Asteroth''s conduct. If he is against supplying his assistance, then this is a moot option because once his mind is made up, it''d be nearly impossible to change," Apollo said. He used a frank manner so as not to obscure their deal''s contents.

    "You said nearly, but not entirely. As long as there is a sliver of a chance, I suggest we gamble on the improbable. Besides, I''m sure you can coerce him in one way or another, no?" Xorgrah insisted. At the same time, his eyes shifted towards Fuhrer, giving an unspoken message.

    However, Apollo shook his head in response. "Force is not an option with this individual." Although it pained him to admit, Apollo was not Asteroth''s opponent at this time. Not to mention, he couldn''t use that earlier technique for quite some time as all of the hidden injuries caused by its former usage would take a while to heal.

    If he were to agitate those injuries, it would only extend the healing period and potentially worsen the extent of the injury. As of right now, only his Sin Vessels were targeted, leaving them in a fragile state. Another usage would cause the damage to permeate his Demon Body as well.

    Despite the resilience of the Supreme Demon Body, this wasn''t a chance Apollo was willing to take. Therefore, if the reasoning was enough to convince Asteroth to help, Apollo felt he''d have to find another way to amplify Xonnomor''s crafting abilities.

    "Understandable. Not everyone can be dealt with in the same way. Nevertheless, let''s recount the deal and assess some faults that I feel can be ironed out. Is that agreeable to you?" Xorgrah questioned.

    His respectful manner stupified Xonnomor, causing him to blink repeatedly while in utter disbelief. "Hello? Father? Is that truly you? I can''t believe what I am witnessing! The Council''s most aggressive negotiator is taking a passive stance? The world ising to an end!"

    "Quiet boy! This is an important conversation taking ce," Xorgrah growled, firing his son a hostile gaze. As a result, Xonnomor cleared his throat while scratching his head before stepping aside. No matter how old he became, he would always fear his father''s hand provided that he remained much stronger.

    "What did you have in mind?" Apollo asked suddenly, breaking the atmosphere between the father and son. Although he understood their rtion, Apollo couldn''t remain idle as one of his followers was reprimanded. Of course, this intention was sessfully disguised as enthusiasm, which kept the true nature of their rtionship hidden.

    While Apollo chose to negotiate with his fellow demons openly, he wasn''t foolish enough to expose his actions of establishing force right under their noses. If this fact were toe to light prematurely, it could potentially sour the deal he was making.

    Even if it wasn''t the end of the world, Apollo wanted to avoid any losses as much as realistically possible. Perhaps one missed chance was inconsequential, but when the number started to amass into a greater volume, the insignificance of the missed opportunity became substantial.

    "Well, the uncertainty of you being able to fulfill your side of the deal is rather rming. So, I wondered if we can reciprocate the first contents of the deal but instead of receiving your favor, could we include the one beside you?" Xorgrah requested.

    Naturally, the individual besides Apollo was Fuhrer. Xorgrah couldn''t conceal his interest in Fuhrer. Compared to Apollo, Fuhrer seemed to be the one who would provide a better value to the deal. Thus, instead of requesting a favor from Apollo directly, Xorgrah opted for receiving a favor from Fuhrer.

    However, Apollo didn''t return the answer immediately. As a being of free will, Apollo allowed Fuhrer to make all of his choices. Save for guaranteeing Apollo''s safety; Fuhrer possessed a decision if the matter pertained to something else.

    "You want to receive a favor from me? I must warn you, asking a favor of an archaic bag of bone over this exemry boy beside me would be a foolish mistake. After all, it would be best if you learned not to let your eyes deceive you and the past influence you too severely. With that being said, are you sure I''m the one you wish to receive the favor from?" Fuhrer answered calmly.

    Prior to Fuhrer''s input, Xorgrah''s mind had already been made up. However, the fact that Fuhrer mentioned this before verifying his decisions made Xorgrah revisit his assumption.

    ''Is there something I''m missing here? Sure, I understand that he follows the young boy, but his words specte the possibility of the boy growing stronger than him. Unfortunately, the issue isn''t the possibility of that happening, but the time frame needed. Even now, we''re unsure how long it will be until the Lords loseplete control of the Rings. I can''t risk my decisions on what-ifs¡­ Not now¡­''

    Xorgrah''s expression grew solemn as his conflicting thoughts deepened. Perhaps if his daughter were here to reveal the absurdity behind Apollo''s growth, Xorgrah''s decision would be different. Still, as of right now, he released a deep sigh before finalizing his decision.

    "Seeing as you follow by his side, I feel receiving your favor is just as valuable. So, yes. I am sure that is your favor that I wish to receive in return," Xorgrah voiced.

    In return, Fuhrer acknowledged his statement with a subtle nod. "Very well. You have my word. Should this deal go through, you''ll possess a voucher to request one favor of me. I suggest that you don''t squander it by asking for assistance with a meager task. Treat it as if you''d just required a lifesaving favor."

    "Understood!" Xorgrah nodded earnestly. Afterward, Apollo changed the topic, which furthered Xorgrah''s interest in what he had to say.

    "This next piece is about the abandoned ruins littered throughout the Nihilistic Rings," Apollo said.

    Immediately, Xorgrah''s eyes scanned the room to find the culprit responsible for revealing valuable information. Aside from a few stragglers who were always contained within the ruins to prevent word of their existence from seeping out, there weren''t many aware of the ancient ruins.

    Thus, Xorgrah thought there was someone with loose lips amidst his presence. However, outside of this perception, Xorgrah didn''t fear the mention of these ruins. After all, he was in the middle of forming a rtionship with this party. And with the Council removed from the fray, the consequences were essentially nonexistent.

    Be that as it may, Fuhrer grinned. "No reason to suspect anyone present. His knowledge of these ruinses from my presence. After all, someone as old as me is bound to possess intrinsic knowledge of my home. Isn''t that right?"

    "Correct. It should be no other way. Now, what about the ruins interest you?"

    "The Dark Mythril and Purgatory Ore specifically. These are two items I need in mass. In exchange for offering some advice free of charge, I''d like to requisition a 3:7 split, with my cut being thetter," Apollo said.

    At a nce, the request seemed oundish. Apollo would im seventy percent for nearly no cost at all. In their eyes, they were suffering too much of a loss in this deal. But, before Xorgrah or even Saehtyn could refute the absurdity of the bargain, Apollo gave Fuhrer a meaningful signal.

    A secondter, a highly oppressive cluster of energy appeared in his palm, dancing between his fingertips. Xorgrah''s expression changed the moment this energy appeared.

    "This interests you, does it not? The advice I''ll be providing is linked to this power. After all, if you all are to be the guardians of the Nihilistic Rings, then the standard of the strongest needs to change."

    Due to the enticing offer on the tablet, the room grew silent. The previously oundish offer didn''t seem so distasteful after all. Just Xorgrah alone felt a connection with this power as if he was on the precipice of developing his own. So, it possessed an indisputable allure.

    Meanwhile, Saehtyn analyzed the power with awe while fear crept into Belphegor''s mind. ''T-This doesn''t seem like something I''m capable of devouring.''

 Chapter 523: Favorable Display

    Chapter 523: Favorable Disy

    ----

    The excitement within Xorgrah''s eyes grew at an exponential rate as he continued to observe the power within the palm of Fuhrer''s hand. It was a type of ability that escaped the realm of his knowledge and teetered on the precipice of enrapturing Xorgrah.

    Luckily, Xorgrah was astute enough to retain his wits before the presence of others. An expected outburst could sully his image in the eyes of others, forging the false pretense that an item or technique of interest was enough to move him and gain his cooperation.

    Even if it were the truth, it was always best to keep one''s true intentions hidden lest one be easily taken advantage of. Thus, Xorgrah cleared his throat and recovered his former calm appearance while continuing to gaze at the source of power within Fuhrer''s palm.

    Not too long after, Xorgrah gave a subtle nod. "At a nce, I can sense that it''s a very powerful ability. However, how useful is it inbat? What''s more, are you suggesting that you''ll teach the stronger demons how to wield this power?"

    "How useful is it inbat?" Fuhrer parrotted with a faint grin. "Surely, you remember the events of our initial confrontation? I didn''t use any pressure aside from what''s before your eyes, and that alone was enough to deter you from taking further actions. So, you tell me, is that sufficient enough forbat?"

    "Yes," Xorgrah admitted. But, from his unsettled expression, it was clear that he had other questions on his mind as well. "But, we can''t overlook that there are other matters rted to overwhelming someone in battle. I don''t think it''s safe to assume that the same force will deter everyone. There may be some with resistance to this pressure."

    "Perhaps," Fuhrer answered with an indifferent shrug. "Which is why I want you to know that the power manifests differently in everyone. So, it isn''t safe to exin in such a direct way. Rather, I''m just offering the guidance that will point you down your correct path."

    Learning about this matter intrigued Xorgrah, and even Saehtyn tapped Xorgrah''s shoulder. "What''s this initial contact he speaks of? Is this not the full scope of that unusual power in his possession?"

    "Not even close. He''s able to create something akin to arge sphere of this power. It shed against my Sin without faltering in the slightest. In fact, it was me who found myself wavering quickly," Xorgrah replied.

    Xorgrah''s admittance only served to deepen Saehtyn''s interest in Aura further. After all, his eyes were opened ever since he witnessed Asteroth nonsensical strength that surpassed the realm of Sin rted to his evolution state.

    "Can we have a small presentation of your specific power inbat?" Saehtyn wondered. Although he didn''t doubt Xorgrah or Fuhrer, he wanted to witness firsthand the difference in Asteroth''s and Fuhrer''s application of this power.

    Because of this request, not just Saehtyn but even Asmidia, Belphegor, and Xonnomor chimed in, wanting to watch the disy. However, Fuhrer didn''t provide an answer until he ran the possibility by Apollo.

    "Should I do so?" Fuhrer asked. Though it seemed like a simple request, revealing the power at his disposal could be considered an act of exerting his dominance. If Fuhrer disyed this power and overwhelmed those before him, the immeasurable gap previously underestimated would cause them to tread carefully.

    In some cases, that would be beneficial, but it could turn out to be overly detrimental in other attempts.

    "Do it," Apollo nodded. However, the rest of his message was delivered mentally since an alternative agenda was attached to allowing Fuhrer to perform this action. ''Use this opportunity to convey how important it is for the demons to chase after this power. After creating the demand, we can manipte the proceedings in the way we see fit.''

    ''Duly noted. I will ensure that their desire for this power is at an unprecedented high. You have my word,'' Fuhrer responded.

    ''I expect nothing less of the former Grand Marshal,'' Apollo said with a faint grin. Afterward, Fuhrer took a step forward with his hand on Brynhildr''s hilt. The moment he performed this action, his aura skyrocketed to monstrous levels.

    "Keep in mind; this is by no means a hostile attack. With that being said, I wee all of you to approach me at once so that you receive a proper understanding of this power''s breadth," Fuhrer said.

    In response, Xorgrah''s brows furrowed. "All of us? There are at least 4 of us that''d be willing to make a move."

    "Correct, and four is more than enough to generate the needed response. Now, no more dallying; COME!" Fuhrer said. A violent shockwave emitted from his body towards the end, pushing back all of the Lords and Xorgrah.

    Following this shockwave, Fuhrer stepped outside to avoid the forge suffering extensive damage. The others followed, creating a persistent trail of power leading from the forge.

    Meanwhile, only Apollo and Xonnomor were left in the forge. Seeing as how Apollo felt this demonstration wouldn''t take long, he felt no reason to leave this ce when they would all soon return. On the other hand, Apollo continued to brief Xonnomor on the matters rted to forging.

    ¡­

    Above the Dakea Stronghold, roughly one thousand meters in the air.

    All of the involved parties levitated in the air while silently mustering their power. It wasn''t hard for them to remain suspended in mid-air at their stage in strength. It merely required a unique Demonic Anima emission to neutralize any downward forces.

    "We begin," Fuhrer said suddenly, drawing his de at a speed that nearly escaped everyone''s perception. This was the first time they witnessed a master of the sword with such a frightening quickdraw. However, the speed of his draw was far from being the most terrifying aspect of Fuhrer''s attack.

    Each of the Lords and Xorgrah could sense an attack moving towards them rapidly. From the sensation emitted by the attack, it was clear Fuhrer was utilizing the same power from earlier. Granted, there were a few differences in the attack.

    For example, there was an enigmatic presence that none of the Lords could quite put their finger on. Naturally, this power was the power of the void, in other words, the Tenebrous Way, which was a lost practice in this day and age.

    The first to deal with their attack was Saehtyn; however, he was immediately forced to use his full-fledge Iraym Form and spew endless amounts of Hellfire to deal with the attack. Contrary to his expectations, the attack grew exponentially more fearsome the more he pushed against the attack.

    Meanwhile, Belphegor wracked his mind to figure out a way to devour the attack before. Still, whenever he made progress, the attack seemed to mutate into something much worse, as if there was an endless supply of the energy used to facilitate the act.

    However, Xorgrah fared much better than the others, given that he had prior exposure to this power. Still, his condition was much better than the others because Fuhrer gave them zero time to adjust before wholly unleashing his Dominion.

    The surge of oppressive force nearly forced all of the demons out of the sky, but right before that could happen, they all managed to steady themselves, earning Fuhrer''s surprise.

    "You know, I''ve been gradually cultivating this power back to its former magnificence, so the fact you can withstand the initial impact ismendable," Fuhrer said. Sadly, he didn''t conceal his mischievous grin as he clenched his first, condensing the Dominion continuously.

    "Oh, great heavens! What is this damned pressure~?!" Asmidia screeched while clutching her chest. The rapidpression of Fuhrer''s Dominion made breathing difficult, even causing frequentpses in her power.

    On the other hand, Saehtyn looked at Fuhrer with a peculiar gaze, "Does this power span even further than what you are presenting? I feel as if you''re own revealing enough to overwhelm us but know topromise any hidden techniques."

    "Perhaps, but the real question is, are you strong enough to handle the ramification of the power at my disposal?" Fuhrer countered.

    In response, Saethyn''s expression grew firm. "I believe so."

    "What?! Speak for yourself! I want nothing more to do with this power. It hurts¨Dterribly if I may add!" Asmidiamented. Fortunately, Fuhrer took into ount everyone''s tolerance levels before proceeding.

    "Very well," Fuhrer answered. Without a second''s hesitation, the Dominion surrounding everyone underwent a transformation with specks of silver interspersed throughout the grayish sphere.

    Following the change in the Dominion, Fuhrer shed his sword relentlessly, unleashing a barrage of attacks originating from the Dominion itself, and they were all aimed at Saehtyn. Since he was the one who asked for it, Fuhrer chose him as the sole recipient of the attack.

 Chapter 524: Overwhelming Power of the Dominions

    Chapter 524: Overwhelming Power of the Dominions

    ----

    Saehtyn''s expression changed drastically as soon as he sensed the sudden monstrous change within Fuhrer''s attack. While he expected the old demon to ack quickly on his promise, he didn''t expect the delivery to ur so rapidly. Therefore, Saehtnyn gave a grim look as a humongous axe appeared in his grasp.

    Sweltering mes encapsted the weapon as magma spewed from the edge of the axe''s de. Compared to his prior usages, it was clear that Saehtyn held nothing back as he sensed the dire threat of the iing attack fueled by Fuhrer''s Dominion.

    Saehtyn met every attack with an unrelenting swing of his axe in the next moment. At first, his auctions seemed promising, effortlessly shattering some of the iing des. However, Saehtyn quickly realized that his satisfaction was misced.

    ''What a disgusting attack,'' Saehtyn thought to himself with a frown. He was in disbelief as witnessing the horrifying restoration of each de with a mere flick of Fuhrer''s fingers. Evidently, his control over this power was much more troublesome than Saehtyn presumed.

    "What''s the matter? Are you not the fellow who imed he could handle this power? If that is the case, I suggest you pull out all of the stops lest you suffer injury. Granted, there is no animosity between us, so I will not allow it to escte that far," Fuhrer said, causing Saehtyn to gnash his teeth in anger.

    It was true; he had brought this predicament upon himself by overestimating his ability. But, as a Lord who sat at the highest teau of power within the current Demonic power infrastructure, Saehtyn felt he had something to prove. Thus, the surrounding atmosphere underwent a bizarre change as dreadful sparks flickered around his body.

    The sparks were entirely different from Amduscias''s Dark Lightning because they weren''t rted to lightning in the slightest. Instead of an energized sensation, these sparks contained a dreadful he that Fuhrer was quite familiar with. Admittedly, Fuhrer''s power had forced Saehtyn to make a dangerous move¨Dopenly wielding Purgatory''s Blood.

    Despite the numerous confounding consequences of utilizing this power, Saehtyn felt he needed to understand his most desperate straitspared to Fuhrer''s strength. Could he push his back if he put everything on the line? This curiosity drove Saehtyn tomit to his decision, increasing the amount of Purgatory forming around him by at least three hundred percent.

    From specks of Purgatory''s Blood, the sparks grew into clusters of mes resembling the crimson color of fresh blood, except there was a hint of dark and silver shadows interspersed throughout the crimson blood-like me.

    At the same time, the magma spewing from Saehtyn''s axe adopted the same appearance, releasing a terrifying that even Fuhrer had tomend.

    "That is quite the serious move you''re making this. I guess you''re taking this more seriously than I expected. However, there is something I need to ask you¨Dwhat about your allies?" Fuhrer questioned.

    "What about them?" Saehtyn responded, giving Fuhrer aplicated expression. Evidently, Fuhrer was aware of something if he asked this question. After all, this question wasn''t geared towards the rtionship of his allies but the safety of the individuals nearby.

    "No reason to hide it. That power is destructive to both ally and foe¨Dit doesn''t distinguish between the two. This is why even demons of the distant past were reluctant to use it unless they fell into a dangerous situation with no other choice. Of course, this was only applicable to Demons of the Noblesse status and below," Fuhrer answered.

    "I''d like to believe my control is impable when ites to an amount well within my limits," Saehtyn readily responded. Although many uncertainties gued his mind, his ability to control this power wasn''t one of them. His extreme limit was a thirty percent factor of the Purgatory''s Blood destructiveness, but right now, it was only be used a twenty percent.

    Hence, Saehtyn felt it was within reason to employ this tactic. After voicing his concerns, Fuhrer didn''t address them again. He gave a simple nod before appearing before Saehtyn with a vanishing shadow trailing behind his figure.

    However, Fuhrer''s appearance possessed a stark difference when he reappeared. For starters, he appeared bulkier, as if his armor expanded twice as much as before. Additionally, another set of horns appeared on his forehead as a thin crimsonyer coated Brynhildr.

    "Then, let''s test out your endurance with this ability," Fuhrer said in a deep voice before unleashing a heavy strike.

    In response, Saehtyn retaliated with a double-handed downward swing of his axe, meeting Fuhrer''s de right above his head. Upon collision, a massive shockwave of condensed heat spread outward, nearly reaching the zone of the Dakea Stronghold below.

    Fortunately, the shockwave''s momentum dissipated just before reaching any of the buildings. This event was Fuhrer''s doing as he suppressed the speeding shockwave by clutching his hand.

    ''I''ll have to admit, his ability to keep the Purgatory''s Blood from escaping his grasp even after a collision is excellent. Let''s see what other matters he''s capable of,'' Fuhrer thought to himself as a pleased grin gradually crept onto his lips.

    On the other hand, Saehtyn''s eyes widened in horror, ''What is this sturdiness? He didn''t move an inch despite my attack from above. Usually, that''d be enough to at least disce or disorient the enemy. I suppose I underestimated his raw strength; that sudden transformation wasn''t just a ruse to hide his age. I fear he has genuinely amplified his power.''

    Nevertheless, Saehtyn didn''t allow Fuhrer''s change to disrupt his momentum. He delivered another attack just moments after their first collision, except this time, the strike included a more intricate usage of Purgatory''s Blood. The me possessing liquid properties hardened around the de of Saehtyn''s axe as he shed it forward, igniting several tiny sparks.

    Some of them were strong enough tond upon Fuhrer''s armor, creating a prolonged sizzling noise which he surprisingly dismissed after a nce.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer thrust his sword forward, prompting a considerable change in the Dominion surrounding them. Four dense tendrils originating from each cardinal direction detached from the Dominion''s wall and fired towards Saehtyn the moment Fuhrer began his counterattack.

    This multifaceted attack required all of Saehtyn''s focus, as he analyzed the best way to avoid or defend against this attack. In the end, he concluded that evasion was almost impossible judging by the rapid changes in the attack''s angle. Fuhrer would simply readjust the attack''s trajectory to track his new position if he dodged.

    Not to mention, Saehtyn''s wasn''t sure about the highest speed this attack could muster. Saehtyn was forced to power through the attack with all the missing information, delivering an unrelenting barrage of shes.

    Not only did this sap his stamina at an rming rate, Saehtyn soon learned that attacking these tendrils caused his movement to slow and his body to increase in weight gradually. Since Fuhrer''s power was the ability of Suppression, touching his Dominion meant that the moment within would suffer indiscriminate pressure.

    "Don''t worry, boy. Losing isn''t the end of the world. Besides, this demonstration shows you the power that the old demons had ess to. With the right training, this power could be at your disposal as well. Isn''t that exciting?" Fuhrer said with a slight chuckle.

    Unfortunately, Saehtyn didn''t wish to hear this right now. In response to his waning momentum, Saehtyn chose to increase the me''s purity to twenty five percent. Although this was a hazardous move, he wanted to prove that this power wasn''t omnipotent and could be ovee.

    Sadly, his defiance made Fuhrer chuckle, followed by another snap. With this movement, the number of tendrilshing against Saehtyn increased from four to ten. However, the destruction they unleashed didn''t improve in the same linear fashion.

    After witnessing this, all of the Lords and even Xorgrah were forced to give up and watch from the sidelines as Saehtyn desperately defended against the overwhelming number of tendrils. But, the inevitable soon came as Saehtyn was on the verge of losing control.

    ''No¡­ This power has to have some type of weakness. Even if it doesn''t, there should be some factor that''s able to limit the worth of it,'' Saehtyn thought. Truth be told, the reason for him being against the power of Auras and Dominion was linked to his inability to grasp one until now.

    What''s more, if he was unable to grasp it until now, then perhaps it was a power that was fated to elude his grasp. The realization that another demon could master this power and assume his role bore into Saehtyn''s mind.

    Once he noticed this, Fuhrer teleported before Saehtyn and flicked his forehead, canceling all of the abilities present. However, he didn''t lose consciousness. "With the signs that are presenting themselves, I believe this demonstration is over."

    "It was a decent fight, but you must understand when to admit defeat. This is a quality that both you and that other Lord share. Perhaps this is why your rtionship is so sour. You two are more alike than you care to admit," Fuhrer said.

    "Simr? I doubt that. I am my own person; there is no reason topare me to Lucifer," Saehtyn said as the axe in his grasp disappeared.

    "I disagree, but you''ll learn what I mean in the future. Just remember to keep an open mind to my earlier suggestion. If you truly want toplete your power, then you''ll have to supplement the weaknesses in your current ability," Fuhrer reminded.

    Afterward, he teleported back to Apollo''s side, with the Lords following shortly after.

 Chapter 525: Deals Finitude, Good and Bad News

    Chapter 525: Deal''s Finitude, Good and Bad News

    ----

    After Fuhrer appeared, Apollo turned towards him with a casual look. "Is it safe to assume that you''ve aplished the task beautifully?"

    "I believe so," Fuhrer said before smiling. "I''m certain the disy served its purpose. It should have created more than enough allure seeing as I employed it at the highest possible level. Sadly, it''ll be a while before I can reveal that level of Dominion again."

    "That''s fine. I''m confident in your recovery rate. It''d be ready by the time we set out, correct?" Apollo answered while ncing above. He could sense Saehtyn and the others nearing the conversation. Meaning, this conversation would need to be cut short.

    "Undoubtedly. It shouldn''t be too long. Perhaps a week shall be enough to umte the needed resources," Fuhrer admitted before falling silent immediately after. Needless to say, the others arrived in the nick of time.

    Out of the four, the first to speak was Xorgrah. Although he tried his best to conceal his curiosity towards Aura, Fuhrer noticed all of the signs without fail. Conversely, Saehtyn remained silent as he mulled over Fuhrer''s earlierment. He couldn''t see how Fuhrer thought he and Lucifer were simr.

    Not to mention, theparison infuriated him. Hence, his continued silence with a disgruntled expression.

    "You said¡­ any demon can learn this power and it manifests differently in every individual, correct?" Xorgrah asked, seeking to confirm the truth.

    "That is correct," Fuhrer nodded. But after a faint pause, he rified. "However, just because every demon CAN awake the power, doesn''t mean they''ll be able to do so. The weaker the Demon Body and Cardinal Sphere, the more difficult the awakening will be."

    Xorgrah''s expression grewplicated as he heard this. Perhaps his expectations were too high. How could such a strong ability be easy to grasp? "Are those the only two limiting factors?"

    "The two worth mentioning. Thest factor is something rather inconsequential. Rather than a limiting factor, it is an alleviating one. Of course, it is someone difficult to find currently," Fuhrer responded.

    "Which is?"

    "Something that is known as a bloodline. If you possess one with a dominant trait, your Aura is more inclined to adopt the same power signature as that bloodline," Fuhrer revealed, causing everyone presents aside from Apollo to go silent. After all, the matter of a bloodline was something that demons barely acknowledged.

    "But, don''t let that deter you, as I''m sure you felt it before. You are on the precipice of forging your Aura, you simply need to instill the determining qualities toplete the process," Fuhrer said, reassuring Xorgrah of his progress. As mentioned before, Xorgrah was the single most demon closest to awakening his Aura.

    Unlike the others, he simply required a small push in the right direction toplete the progress. As a result, Xorgrah gave a subtle nod while looking towards the other Lords who seemed to have little to no opinion regarding this matter. Evidently, the demonstration left a meaningful expression on them.

    Rather than refute its existence the Lords began questioning ways to im this power. Should they aplish this feat, the chance of them losing control of their Rings would decrease drastically. Even if the connection with the Tower was lost, their current strength coupled with the usage of a worthwhile Aura would elevate them to another level.

    "You said a 70:30 split, was it? Is there a way to negotiate that value? Despite the allure of this power, the circumstances don''t allow for singr greed. I believe strong items would be just as beneficial as learning this ability," Xorgrah said suddenly after giving the matter some thought.

    "You''re correct, it isn''t the time to disy one''s greed. That''s why I''ll be willing to suffer a loss and trade Fuhrer''s knowledge for a 50:50 split of the materials extracted from the ruins. Furthermore, I''ll send one of my people on each expedition led by your people. Satisfactory?" Apollo responded.

    For a moment, Xorgrah was silent. Truth be told, Apollo''s immediate and willing concession stunned Xorgrah because he didn''t expect it you happen smoothly. Typically, these types of discussions required prolonged amounts of back and forth onlying to an agreement after painstakingpromises.

    However, what Xorgrah didn''t realize was that Apollo never intended to im seventy percent of the materials. He simply presented an oundish request to make his following request much more reasonable, which appeared to achieve its desired effect as Xorgrah contemted agreeing to this deal.

    It wasn''t a bad deal. After all, the items Xonnomor would only circte to the demons worthy of receiving one, just like the technique. So, his argument as the technique being equally beneficial was another statement that Apollo could exploit if Xorgrah decided to haggle the split lower.

    Apollo could argue that equal value should beget equal rewards, removing Xorgrah''s ability to y that card. Granted, it was unknown if Apollo truly desired the materials that much. While it required an obscene amount of materials to forge the Hell Bringer weapon as well as repair the lost territory, Apollo understood that it''d take countless visits to amass the needed items.

    Rushing now would only expose his expiration.

    "Understood. I''ll be willing to ept this deal provided that you train us as soon as possible," Xorgrah said while clearing his throat to gain the others'' attention. "Is that alright with you all? Will you like to enter Fuhrer''s tutge as soon as possible?"

    "It''s the only reasonable solution. There''s no other choice as pleasant as this one," Saehtyn answered. However, despite being in agreement with the decision, his expression remained sour.

    "That power is quite scary and I have little to no way to get around it, so the only choice would be for me to learn its usages," Belphegor answered while tightly gripping his chin. He could still feel the odd sensations of the Dominion locking his jaw in ce, removing his ability to open his mouth to begin the devouring process.

    Simrly, Asmidia gave a nod while clutching her chest. Although the Dominion''s pressure was long gone, she could still feel its presencepressing her chest. It was a frightening experience to withstand.

    "If that''s true, then we can consider this deal sealed. In exchange for receiving many pointers in learning Aura, we''ll receive fifty percent of the proceeds from the ruins. By the way, the old man is able to detect the approximate amount of resources left in each ruin, so try not to skimp. However, if there''s an uneven number you''re allowed to receive the offsetting majority," Apollo stated.

    Xorgrah nodded in response, looking towards Fuhrer with even more apprehension. Although he possessed extensive knowledge regarding the ancient ruins, Xorgrah didn''t expect Fuhrer''s ability to estimate the materials.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer pped his hands. "If that''s the case, follow me. I''ll take you somewhere to receive your first set of pointers. If you all are going to awaken this power, then we''ll need to expand your minds to go beyond the breadth of your Sin. Don''t let your mind be limited because Aura is independent of Sin."

    In the next moment, Fuhrer shed his hand down, opening a portal linked to another deste area. However, it wasn''t the same one as earlier since there were zero signs of damage. Besides, Fuhrer wouldn''t send the Lords there because the higher Apollo''s Aura grew, the more difficult it was for Fuhrer to remove its remnants. In other words, approaching that ce now would run the risk of exposing Apollo''s Aura.

    Granted, its ability would still be unknown, but the fact he possessed one already would transmit amongst the Lords.

    While Fuhrer gathered the Xorgrah and the Lords, leading them inside the opened portal, Apollo first nced at Vc before looking elsewhere. ''I should pay Furcas a visit. After all, I need to know how long it''ll be before we set out on our first goal.''

    Apollo motioned for Vc to follow as he left Xonnomor to his devices within the forge room. Since Saehtyn was with Fuhrer, this meant Xonnomor could take a much needed break to digest what he learned in his past forging attempts.

    ¡­

    Soon enough, Apollo arrived in a remote area of the Dakea Stronghold housing 3rge residences existed. Naturally, this was Xonnomor''s and Gallmath''s residences. However, two of them were usually vacant whereas Gallmath spent most of his time recuperating his long strength.

    Meanwhile, Arleo''s residence became Furcas''s exclusive practice area to exercise his demonic inscriptions. As soon as Apollo appeared, he noticed tworge circles with unusual writings etched along the exterior. Laid within the middle of the circles were two bodies.

    On the left rested Asteroth''s damaged body and on the right, the noticeably better Arleo. However, if there was something worth mentioning, it was that his body seemed to be at least twenty percent smaller than before.

    Admittedly, removing arge portion of his Sin Energy and essence caused a significant decline in his physical prowess. Aside from that, he appeared healthy.

    "Status update?" Apollo asked, looking towards Furcas. But, a pronounced frown appeared as soon as he asked.

    "Although the recovery process has started recently, it appears that Asteroth''s body is in worst shape than I previously estimated. His internals is coated in a denseyer of destructive energy; while it is dissipating at a steady rate until it disappearspletely Asteroth''s recovery will continue at a severely mitigated rate."

    "How severe are we talking? How long before he is able to wield his strength once again?" Apollo questioned.

    Before answering, Furcas scanned Asteroth''s body before rubbing his chin in thought. "It''s hard to ascertain. Could be days, could be weeks and it could even be months. Nevertheless, I do have some good news. The one besides you is due to wake up."

 Chapter 526: Awakening and Delay

    Chapter 526: Awakening and Dy

    **This chapter won''t be fixed until an hour after the daily reset due to some mistakes and mishaps while writing it. Until then, this chapter will be a duplicate. Thank you guys for being understanding and I will release it in a prompt manner.

    ----

    After Fuhrer appeared, Apollo turned towards him with a casual look. "Is it safe to assume that you''ve aplished the task beautifully?"

    "I believe so," Fuhrer said before smiling. "I''m certain the disy served its purpose. It should have created more than enough allure seeing as I employed it at the highest possible level. Sadly, it''ll be a while before I can reveal that level of Dominion again."

    "That''s fine. I''m confident in your recovery rate. It''d be ready by the time we set out, correct?" Apollo answered while ncing above. He could sense Saehtyn and the others nearing the conversation. Meaning, this conversation would need to be cut short.

    "Undoubtedly. It shouldn''t be too long. Perhaps a week shall be enough to umte the needed resources," Fuhrer admitted before falling silent immediately after. Needless to say, the others arrived in the nick of time.

    Out of the four, the first to speak was Xorgrah. Although he tried his best to conceal his curiosity towards Aura, Fuhrer noticed all of the signs without fail. Conversely, Saehtyn remained silent as he mulled over Fuhrer''s earlierment. He couldn''t see how Fuhrer thought he and Lucifer were simr.

    Not to mention, theparison infuriated him. Hence, his continued silence with a disgruntled expression.

    "You said¡­ any demon can learn this power and it manifests differently in every individual, correct?" Xorgrah asked, seeking to confirm the truth.

    "That is correct," Fuhrer nodded. But after a faint pause, he rified. "However, just because every demon CAN awake the power, doesn''t mean they''ll be able to do so. The weaker the Demon Body and Cardinal Sphere, the more difficult the awakening will be."

    Xorgrah''s expression grewplicated as he heard this. Perhaps his expectations were too high. How could such a strong ability be easy to grasp? "Are those the only two limiting factors?"

    "The two worth mentioning. Thest factor is something rather inconsequential. Rather than a limiting factor, it is an alleviating one. Of course, it is someone difficult to find currently," Fuhrer responded.

    "Which is?"

    "Something that is known as a bloodline. If you possess one with a dominant trait, your Aura is more inclined to adopt the same power signature as that bloodline," Fuhrer revealed, causing everyone presents aside from Apollo to go silent. After all, the matter of a bloodline was something that demons barely acknowledged.

    "But, don''t let that deter you, as I''m sure you felt it before. You are on the precipice of forging your Aura, you simply need to instill the determining qualities toplete the process," Fuhrer said, reassuring Xorgrah of his progress. As mentioned before, Xorgrah was the single most demon closest to awakening his Aura.

    Unlike the others, he simply required a small push in the right direction toplete the progress. As a result, Xorgrah gave a subtle nod while looking towards the other Lords who seemed to have little to no opinion regarding this matter. Evidently, the demonstration left a meaningful expression on them.

    Rather than refute its existence the Lords began questioning ways to im this power. Should they aplish this feat, the chance of them losing control of their Rings would decrease drastically. Even if the connection with the Tower was lost, their current strength coupled with the usage of a worthwhile Aura would elevate them to another level.

    "You said a 70:30 split, was it? Is there a way to negotiate that value? Despite the allure of this power, the circumstances don''t allow for singr greed. I believe strong items would be just as beneficial as learning this ability," Xorgrah said suddenly after giving the matter some thought.

    "You''re correct, it isn''t the time to disy one''s greed. That''s why I''ll be willing to suffer a loss and trade Fuhrer''s knowledge for a 50:50 split of the materials extracted from the ruins. Furthermore, I''ll send one of my people on each expedition led by your people. Satisfactory?" Apollo responded.

    For a moment, Xorgrah was silent. Truth be told, Apollo''s immediate and willing concession stunned Xorgrah because he didn''t expect it you happen smoothly. Typically, these types of discussions required prolonged amounts of back and forth onlying to an agreement after painstakingpromises.

    However, what Xorgrah didn''t realize was that Apollo never intended to im seventy percent of the materials. He simply presented an oundish request to make his following request much more reasonable, which appeared to achieve its desired effect as Xorgrah contemted agreeing to this deal.

    It wasn''t a bad deal. After all, the items Xonnomor would only circte to the demons worthy of receiving one, just like the technique. So, his argument as the technique being equally beneficial was another statement that Apollo could exploit if Xorgrah decided to haggle the split lower.

    Apollo could argue that equal value should beget equal rewards, removing Xorgrah''s ability to y that card. Granted, it was unknown if Apollo truly desired the materials that much. While it required an obscene amount of materials to forge the Hell Bringer weapon as well as repair the lost territory, Apollo understood that it''d take countless visits to amass the needed items.

    Rushing now would only expose his expiration.

    "Understood. I''ll be willing to ept this deal provided that you train us as soon as possible," Xorgrah said while clearing his throat to gain the others'' attention. "Is that alright with you all? Will you like to enter Fuhrer''s tutge as soon as possible?"

    "It''s the only reasonable solution. There''s no other choice as pleasant as this one," Saehtyn answered. However, despite being in agreement with the decision, his expression remained sour.

    "That power is quite scary and I have little to no way to get around it, so the only choice would be for me to learn its usages," Belphegor answered while tightly gripping his chin. He could still feel the odd sensations of the Dominion locking his jaw in ce, removing his ability to open his mouth to begin the devouring process.

    Simrly, Asmidia gave a nod while clutching her chest. Although the Dominion''s pressure was long gone, she could still feel its presencepressing her chest. It was a frightening experience to withstand.

    "If that''s true, then we can consider this deal sealed. In exchange for receiving many pointers in learning Aura, we''ll receive fifty percent of the proceeds from the ruins. By the way, the old man is able to detect the approximate amount of resources left in each ruin, so try not to skimp. However, if there''s an uneven number you''re allowed to receive the offsetting majority," Apollo stated.

    Xorgrah nodded in response, looking towards Fuhrer with even more apprehension. Although he possessed extensive knowledge regarding the ancient ruins, Xorgrah didn''t expect Fuhrer''s ability to estimate the materials.

    Suddenly, Fuhrer pped his hands. "If that''s the case, follow me. I''ll take you somewhere to receive your first set of pointers. If you all are going to awaken this power, then we''ll need to expand your minds to go beyond the breadth of your Sin. Don''t let your mind be limited because Aura is independent of Sin."

    In the next moment, Fuhrer shed his hand down, opening a portal linked to another deste area. However, it wasn''t the same one as earlier since there were zero signs of damage. Besides, Fuhrer wouldn''t send the Lords there because the higher Apollo''s Aura grew, the more difficult it was for Fuhrer to remove its remnants. In other words, approaching that ce now would run the risk of exposing Apollo''s Aura.

    Granted, its ability would still be unknown, but the fact he possessed one already would transmit amongst the Lords.

    While Fuhrer gathered the Xorgrah and the Lords, leading them inside the opened portal, Apollo first nced at Vc before looking elsewhere. ''I should pay Furcas a visit. After all, I need to know how long it''ll be before we set out on our first goal.''

    Apollo motioned for Vc to follow as he left Xonnomor to his devices within the forge room. Since Saehtyn was with Fuhrer, this meant Xonnomor could take a much needed break to digest what he learned in his past forging attempts.

    ¡­

    Soon enough, Apollo arrived in a remote area of the Dakea Stronghold housing 3rge residences existed. Naturally, this was Xonnomor''s and Gallmath''s residences. However, two of them were usually vacant whereas Gallmath spent most of his time recuperating his long strength.

    Meanwhile, Arleo''s residence became Furcas''s exclusive practice area to exercise his demonic inscriptions. As soon as Apollo appeared, he noticed tworge circles with unusual writings etched along the exterior. Laid within the middle of the circles were two bodies.

    On the left rested Asteroth''s damaged body and on the right, the noticeably better Arleo. However, if there was something worth mentioning, it was that his body seemed to be at least twenty percent smaller than before.

    Admittedly, removing arge portion of his Sin Energy and essence caused a significant decline in his physical prowess. Aside from that, he appeared healthy.

    "Status update?" Apollo asked, looking towards Furcas. But, a pronounced frown appeared as soon as he asked.

    "Although the recovery process has started recently, it appears that Asteroth''s body is in worst shape than I previously estimated. His internals is coated in a denseyer of destructive energy; while it is dissipating at a steady rate until it disappearspletely Asteroth''s recovery will continue at a severely mitigated rate."

    "How severe are we talking? How long before he is able to wield his strength once again?" Apollo questioned.

    Before answering, Furcas scanned Asteroth''s body before rubbing his chin in thought. "It''s hard to ascertain. Could be days, could be weeks and it could even be months. Nevertheless, I do have some good news. The one besides you is due to wake up."

 Chapter 527: Genevas Experiences

    Chapter 527: Geneva''s Experiences

    ----

    Meanwhile, within the Ring of Luxnia¡­

    A curvaceous demon sat at a luxurious bar while sipping from a small cup as she scanned her surrounding within a crowded tavern. At a nce, she listed a number of targets capable of making it onto Apollo''s radar. However, most of these individuals fell into two archetypes of demons¨DSubi and Incubi. But, that was to be expected seeing as she was within the heart of Luxnia.

    ''It''s been quite some time since I''ve seen my young Lord, but he sent me here for a reason¡­ I''m to locate as many demons of temptation as possible to enforce the next phase, but it''s harder than he made it seem,'' Geneva thought to herself with a small pout.

    Despite her ster appearance, Geneva found it difficult topletely tempt most of the demons present in this Ring for two reasons. One, as they lived within this rings fulled to the brim with Luxuria, they held a certain resistance to its effects, increasing the difficulty of Geneva controlling their mind. Not to mention, the continual fantasizing about Asmidia made general temptation even more difficult.

    Secondly, most of the demons present were moved by physical acts. However, Geneva vowed to herself that no one besides her master was worthy of her physical contact. Thus, Geneva was forced to think of another way to acquire their attention.

    Initially, her n worked, allowing her to gain the attention of Asmidia. But, after one visit, they never met again. While Geneva had the impression it was rted to her, she didn''t press the matter. After all, she noticed a considerable change within Asmidia when they met.

    Her coquettish nature disappearedpletely to be reced by passive-aggressive hostility. While no open attacks were made, her words seemed targetted at hidden desires she kept to herself and never voice. At the same time, it seemed as if Asmidia kept her at arm''s length, causing Geneva to feel a watchful eye on many asions.

    ''Am I being paranoid?'' Geneva wondered while taking another silent sip of her drink. Although it was difficult to sense at first, she felt an intermittent prying gaze continually peering in her direction. At first, she wasn''t sure if this was linked to someone taking up an interest in her or her past spections.

    Either way, Geneva knew she couldn''t stay in one ce too long lest she attracts unwanted, especially since the area she chose to focus on was littered with Archdemons as well as asional Noblesse.

    Of course, she wasn''t afraid of a fight. When it came to individual strength, Geneva was within the top fivebatants of the Dominus Household, so she was more than capable of holding her own if a situation turned bleak. Be that as it may, just because she was capable of defending her didn''t mean she was openly seeking trouble.

    Eventually, Geneva tapped her figure against the counter while sliding her change back. In the next moment, a few Fragments of Sin were left on the counter as Geneva vanished from sight.

    Not too long after, a slender demon approached the area she previously sat and scanned their surrounding with a pink hue radiating from their eyes. Within seconds, an eerie grin appeared across their lips as they picked up a unique scent.

    ''Oh~? A unique Sin Signature I''ve never sensed before? I wonder what type of taste they possessed? Now that it''s piqued my curiosity, I''m inclined to find out,'' the individual thought. Simr to Geneva, they vanished with a dispersing pink haze, except there were faint tinges of lc interspersed throughout this particr pink haze.

    Evidently, the individual who Geneva attracted was no simple person. It appeared there were a number of abilities mixed with their Luxuria.

    Roughly five minutester, Geneva stopped moving before crossing her arms under her bust without turning around. Despite how faint the presence was, it couldn''t fool her who had been on high alert since leaving the crowded tavern.

    "Tell me, how long are you going to continue following me without presenting yourself? Isn''t that cowardly of you~? Or, perhaps has Lady Asmidia put you up to trailing me from the shadows? If so, I''ll have to tell you that you''re doing a very poor job," Geneva said in a mocking tone, intending to disgruntle this neer.

    Unfortunately, Geneva''s mockery didn''t achieve the desired result, merely earning an amused chuckle as a slender demon materialized behind Geneva. Aside from their sharp jawline and faint signs of a defined physique, it was difficult to discern the gender of this individual.

    Be that as it may, it didn''t take away from the fact that their above-average appearance was enough to incite scious thoughts from any demons affected by the influence of Luxuria. Whether it was male or female, the atmosphere surrounding this individual was odd.

    Even Geneva was forced to put up ayer of defense to avoid the effects of this atmosphere. Nevertheless, Geneva could tell that this odd presence wasn''t an Aura but a unique ability birthed from unknown circumstances.

    "Calm yourself, littledy. You have intrigued me, that''s all~? I''ve been wondering ever since I''ve caught wind of your scent. Why are you so alluring? Perhaps you should reveal your appearance instead of hiding it under that hood of yours," the individual said.

    "Sadly, I''ll have to reject that request. There''s no reason for me to reveal myself, much less to someone who is coveting me when I have no intention of mingling with any of you demons," Geneva replied in an unusually cold tone. At the same time, the pinkish haze surrounding her churned, turning into a tempest while a violent pink light zed within her eyes.

    Needless to say, Geneva was prepared to attack if this person overstepped their boundaries. Yet, despite Geneva''s actions, the individual took a step forward ignoring Geneva''s word entirely. In fact, Geneva hadn''t realized the person had stepped so close until she could see their features close.

    Even then, this person seemed androgynous as best. Luckily, there was giving that the neer was a male, their Luxuria carried a flow opposite of Geneva''s, which was only found in the opposing gender. In other words, the individual before Geneva was Incubus, but a rather odd one seeing as Geneva was unable to taunt or deter them.

    "You said something about Lady Asmidia? Don''t worry, I''ll conquer her as well, because all things of beauty deserved to be conquered by a man of befitting stature. But, before all of that, give me that power of yours; for I desire it!"

    Swoosh!

    Suddenly, the individualshed their hand out, grasping at Geneva''s throat with a lightning-quick grasp. Fortunately for Geneva''s her reaction speed was adequate. A pair of remodeled phoenix wings, matching that of a demon unfurled from her back, allowing her to retreat quickly.

    ''So quick¡­'' Geneva thought to herself with a frown. At the same time, a rapier with pinkish veins and a silver gem embedded on the crossguard appeared in Geneva''s palm. Although this was her first incident sinceing here, Fuhrer had warned her that there were individuals within Luxnia that would stop at nothing to absorb the Luxuria of other demons.

    Should that happen, Fuhrer informed her that she should fight her hardest because there was arge chance that they would have performed this action countless times. At the very least, their Sin Purity would be obscure. What''s more, this behavior was usually employed by Noblesse-level characters.

    Immediately, Geneva''s zed with a pink me as her Ira and Luxuria Stigmata''s red. Thanks to her bloodline as an Infernal Subus, she could use these two Stigmata in tandem without suffering a bacsh. It simply cost an absurd amount of Luxuria to avoid the bacsh.

    But, the consumption of her resources was better than suffering the bacsh of conflicting powers.

    A momentter, Geneva held her rapier before he body while taking up a fencing stance. At the same time, her hood fell, revealing her ster appearance, which was heightened by the presence of her haze.

    Once it fell, a sinister cackle was heard from the other side. "As expected of something carrying such a desirable type of Luxuria, that appearance is nothing to scoff at. It should even be on par with Lady Asmidia. Now I want to taste you even more!"

    Woosh!

    Numerous tentacles formed from Luxuria hurtled toward Geneva, attacking her from all angles. If one looked closely, they''d realized a number of small teeth on the edge of the tentacles. Not only were these tentacles used to employ attacks, but this was also how the individual absorbed Luxuria from others.

    A sense of danger washed over Geneva''s mind as she instinctively evaded and deflected the iing tentacles, oftentimes using her wings to knock away some of the tentacles moving at an irregr.

    "Oh,e on now~! Don''t make this more difficult than it has to be. You should just resign yourself to the inevitable and ept this fateful event," the individual said with a cackle.

    "Unfortunately, I have no intentions of doing so. In fact, I should say the same to you."

 Chapter 528: Fears and Worries

    Chapter 528: Fears and Worries

    <strong>Fears and Worries</strong> ---- 0

    ----

    Despite the sudden change in her opponent''s presence, Geneva didn''t seem frightened by the power. In fact, her wings emitted an odd energy ripple before filling with a mix of Luxuria and Ira. At the same time, her body underwent a change, with her curves bing more apparent. By spontaneously activating one of her bloodline abilities, Geneva caused the individual to momentarily freeze.

    "Oh~? Well isn''t this a pleasant sight? Tell me, where were you hiding all of those curves with that scant clothing? Is there something about you that even I''m not aware of?" The individual questioned while rubbing his chin with ascivious expression.

    At this point, he was unable to conceal his desire to Geneva in every way possible. Unfortunately, Geneva wasn''t an easy target. Her eyes shifted towards the rapidly moving tentacles before pping her wings.

    They too, underwent a transformation, taking on the appearance of some type of devilish swords to help Geneva deal with the issue of the numerous tentacles. Within moments, the tides turned, growing to a standstill as Geneva''s wings worked in tandem with her rapier to sever all the tentacles.

    Shockingly, once they were severed, the tentacles dissipated into pinkish motes of unusual runes. Instead of permeating the atmosphere, however, these pinkish motes were reabsorbed by the neer''s body.

    "Oi, all these futile attempts at resolving my attacks are bing quite annoying. You should act like the others and ultimately be docile before a power that''spletely beyond you, especially some wench who has merely reached the Archdemon level," the individual snarled with an annoyed undertone.

    Evidently, he wasn''t one of those people who enjoyed when their meal put up a fight. It didn''t increase the pleasure of conquering, it simply prolonged the inevitable in his eyes, which waspletely uneptable.

    Meanwhile, Geneva started to frown even more as she noticed this person''s power change once more. It grew more fearsome by the minute,pletely surpassing an Archdemon''s power threshold and stepping into a Noblesse. With that being said, their Sin Purity elevated to the next level as Geneva pursed her lips.

    ''This isn''t good at all. Why did I have to attract the attention of someone like this? I''ve never once gone up against a Noblesse. Is it even possible?'' Geneva wondered while tightening her grasp around her rapier. Although Fuhrer and Apollo had experienced their fair share of run-ins with Noblesse level characters, the same couldn''t be said about Geneva.

    After all, the role typically assigned to Geneva was to collect information by tempting her targeting into exposing secrets and vital data. Even though herbat prowess was by no meanscking, Geneva remained skeptical about her ability to battle with those beyond her evolution level.

    Even if the system created demons much stronger than the typical caliber, Geneva had no way of knowing this without experiencing it firsthand or Apollo making her privy to this information. Had Apollo filled her in beforehand, perhaps her reaction would be different.

    Then again, Geneva also didn''t forget that Apollo made a promise to her. He assured that''d he appear before her if she were to ever fall into grave danger while in a distant environment. Unfortunately, Apollo''s current condition would make interference different.

    He had just started the healing process with Furcas and sending Fuhrer was also out of the question because, in addition to imparting vital knowledge to Xorgrah and the Lords, his Dominion was essentially tapped out. If he were to employ his Dominion in its current state, it would only amount to a mere fraction of what it was truly capable of then.

    Should that happen, Fuhrer wasn''t sure if he''d be able to overwhelm a Noblesse, much less one who operated on Luxuria, a power that was known for its ability to corrupt andplicate the applications of abilities. Fortunately, as a demon who was of a higher level than the rest, her interaction with the system was more thorough.

    While Geneva wasn''t aware of the full situation back in Ashiraem, she could sense that something was amiss. Hence, her tumultuous state of mind. Although it had yet to be confirmed, Geneva felt that she would be put in a precarious situation if she didn''t invoke her power to the fullest extent.

    As that happened, she would also take the time to try and contact Fuhrer. If Apollo wasn''t reachable, the next best option would be to have Fuhrer remove her from the situation without furthering the fight.

    From what she sensed, this opponent operated strictly on Luxuria with another power that was unrted to a second Sin Signature. In other words, if she were to run to another Ring, the chances of being followed were abysmal. Be that as it may, this was only true if Geneva managed to escape before the situation deteriorated further.

    Suddenly, the individual snapped their fingers, disrupting Geneva''s thoughts as another few tentacles, each twice as thick as the previous set, sped towards her positions with viscous pinkish liquid dripping from the fangs attached to the tentacles.

    Geneva immediately dodged while attentively watching as the spot she stood was obliterated by the impact of the tentacles. In addition to bing twice as thick, it seemed the destructive power of the tentacles increased ordingly. Learning this made Geneva fear that the suction of the tentacles increased as well.

    As a result, Geneva moved cautiously, shing her rapier against the nearest tentacle. To her surprise, the exterior of the tentacle was now akin to stone! Her arm trembled faintly after retaliating against the tentacle.

    ''Not good at all,'' Geneva thought with a grimace. She massaged her wristed while locking eyes with the individual before her. This change was truly outside of her expectation. After all, she wasn''t aware of the stark contrast between an Archdemon''s and a Noblesse''s power.

    Under normal circumstances, it was impossible for an Archdemon to beat a Noblesse without pristine equipment. For one, the difference in Demon Bodys equated to a fifty percent increase in resilience and power. Thus, Geneva was forced to exhale quietly while closing her eyes.

    In the next moment, a tempest of Ira was kicked up, spiraling around her body with a dangerous sensation. Part of the sensation originated from her Stigmata, but the other came from the fact that the aura surrounding her weapon continued to condense.

    As one of the most lethal Sins with the strongest attack power, Geneva''s first thought was to saturate her weapon in Ira to increase the explosiveness of her attacks. While the oue was still unknown, Geneva felt her confidence increase as he stigmata continued to deliver strength throughout her body.

    ''No, there''s no need to doubt my ability to ovee this situation. I hail from the Dominus Household, we aren''t allowed to feel peril from nameless individuals. It''d be unbing of me to allow this man to make me feel hopeless,'' Geneva thought to herself as her gaze grew colder. Soon enough, she returned to her earlier calm as her wings pped subtly.

    A gust of infernal winds surged around her body as a screen of darkness appeared within the pinkish haze. As a member of the Dominus Household, she had ess to the Baleful Steps. Until now, she just hadn''t utilized them as there was no reason to.

    "You must feel very big after targeting people who are presumably weaker than you. However, I''m here to tell you that appearances are not to be trusted as this will not be as easy as you believe," Geneva said in a harsh tone.

    The mischievous smirk vanished from the individual''s face as they clicked their tongue in annoyance. "That''s the issue with demons like you. You always believe that you can make your way out of any situation. I''ll have you understand that this isn''t the case."

    The atmosphere underwent an odd change as the area became heavy and flooded with a stifling lust. A small opening appeared behind the individual in which an unsettling demonic eye appeared, shing with an rming presence. The tentacles surrounding the individual also shifted from light pink to a pink appearing to be bathed in blood.

    Despite her intentions to move, Geneva froze. For some odd reason, watching the tentacles slither about invoked fear in her. After noticing that his technique ensnared Geneva, the individual revealed a malicious grin.

    Suddenly, they extended their left arm, and all of the tentacles fired towards Geneva in a straight line. Midway through the attack, the tentacles merged together while spiraling, forming one obscenelyrge tentacle with absurd fangs.

    Right before contact, Geneva''s pupils constricted to the size of needless. Reflexively, Geneva''s wings closed to protect her, but the impact of the attack was much more terrifying than she could have predicted.

    Bang!

    Upon contact, Geneva was forced back while also suffering countless ribs of the tentacle continued to press against her wings, soon smashing into the wall behind them.

    "Ugh," Geneva groaned while peeking through the opening in her ovepping wings. Her assumption that her opponent used their full strength before was incorrect. The sudden increase in strength shattered Geneva''s confidence to beat this opponent.

    As a result, Geneva wondered whether this was the end for her. If Apollo or Fuhrer had yet to appear despite the damage that she suffered, then chances were that they wouldn''t appear.

    However, an impish giggle followed by a disappointed sigh sounded from above both Geneva and this individual.

    "Now, now. What drove you to antagonize a lovelydy to this extent? You should truly be ashamed of yourself. As expected of a defective race such as you insufferable wyrms."

 Chapter 529: The Assistances Unexpected Link

    Chapter 529: The Assistance''s Unexpected Link

    <strong>The Assistance''s Unexpected Link </strong> ---- 0

    Immediately, both Geneva and her opponent''s attention was drawn up above, where an individual floated in the sky. At a nce, Geneva could tell it was someone unfamiliar as theycked any familiar aura. Not to mention, the voice didn''t belong to the likes of Apollo or Fuhrer, or any of the known Dominus Household members, for that matter.

    Furthermore, it was hard to discern their features since the Ring''s brightest star cast a gleaming light over the individual. It was difficult to judge their stance based on their expression, but based on the changes in the opponent before her, Geneva sensed animosity between the two.

    ''Although they may now be an ally, an enemy of an enemy is bound to be a helpful party in this situation,'' Geneva thought before taking a step back to create room before her and the supposed wyrm before her.

    However, her opponent''s attention quickly returned to her as she made that move.

    "Where do you think you''re going? Don''t even dream of escaping just because a neer has arrived. I, Azrin, have no reason to fear this person despite their scornful words," Geneva''s opponent said before expanding the tentacle to create a vast mouth.

    But, before it could swallow Geneva, another chuckle came from above.

    "Confident? It would be best if you had been born in Suprenis with that unsightly confidence. Sadly, it is wasted on you as your birthright doesn''t align with this trait. Now, vanish from my sight, vermin."

    Following their words, the individual swiped their hand down, creating a pink tempest of Sin Energy followed by a massive flood, whichbined to create an even more frightening attack. Even Geneva was left in awe as she sensed the impending devastation that would arise from this attack''s aftermath.

    ''Another Noblesse? Or could it be something or someone even stronger?'' Geneva wondered while cradling her torso. Even though she used a light touch, she winced since the fresh wound left her ribs tender. Fortunately, it seemed she wouldn''t need to suffer another simr blow.

    Meanwhile, Azrin dodged the iing flood, which destroyed the alleyway and buildings when it contacted the ground. In terms of destruction, it was even more frightening of thebined power of Azrin''s irregr tentacles.

    Of course, Azrin didn''t appreciate the fact that this neer''s effortless attack outssed one that required a considerable portion of his focus. Be that as it may, Azrin didn''t immediately align this oue with the opponent being many times stronger than him. Instead, Azrin believed that this neer had made the necessary preparations since his appearance tounch the attack.

    Thus, Azrin chose to retaliate by immediatelyunching an attack at this neer. The tentacle, which previously targeted Geneva, switched directions and hurtled towards the neer while also piercing through the tide of Luxuria Sin Energy.

    At a nce, the iing attack seemed frightening, but the individual merely shifted their down towards the injured Geneva with an obscure look. Now that they were closer, he could sense that his interference wasn''t a mere coincidence. He felt a subtle attraction towards this demon but didn''t understand the extent of the appeal or the reason for this situation.

    Quietly, the demon rubbed their chin in thought before shifting his attention back towards Azrin as well as his iing attack. ''I''ll have to get rid of this nuisance before getting to the bottom of the bizarre connection.''

    Secondster, the neer extended their forefinger and pointed to the center of therge approaching tentacle. A pink marble appeared suddenly, followed by a rapidly growing presence as pink spark appeared around the marble along with turbulent winds.

    Once the winds reached their peak, the demon grinned. "Fire."

    Bang!

    The minor attack sped forth with an unassuming presence, which caused Azrin to ignore the existence of the attack. In fact, Azrin even focused the tentacle''s opening on absorbing the small orb.

    Witnessing this decision, the demon released a slight chuckle. "Well, well, well. As I expected, what a simple wyrm you arm."

    Finally, the overly carefree attitude of this neer rmed Azrin, but it was already toote. The tentacle absorbing the small orb was irreversible as it didn''t possess the ability to regurgitate ingested Luxuria unless it was in the form of Azrin performing another attack.

    At that moment, the tentacle expanded continuously right before everyone''s eyes, until finally, it exploded. What was left was a misty haze of unsettling Luxuria that the tentacle could not absorb. However, this neer''s attack didn''t stop there.

    The misty haze condensed into a razor-sharp sword, which the demon then controlled telepathically to bisect its target. Fortunately for Azrin, he managed to evade the attack for the most part, but not without suffering a gruesome injury in the process.

    The right side of his body, limited to his arm and leg, was a step away from being severed from the rest of his boy. As a result, he was forced to withdraw from battle with a sour expression.

    ''Recycling the same Luxuria to form an even stronger attack? How exactly is that possible? No, the better question would be to ask just how strong this person is! If he''s protecting her, then it''s not worth it to intrude even,'' Azrin thought to himself before narrowing his gaze.

    "This is far from over. I''m simply making a tactful withdrawal because of your surprise attacks," Azrin snarled before scurrying away.

    Meanwhile, the individual shrugged off Azrin''s empty threat before descending next to Geneva, who bore a surprised expression.

    "Are you not going to chase him down and finish him off?" Geneva questioned while maintaining her shocked look.

    "Why would I do that? It serves no purpose. It''s already rare for a Demon at the Noblesse level to appear; there''s no reason for me to reduce the number further. Besides, I''m much more interested in you; may I have a moment of your time?"

    Geneva didn''t immediately answer and instead remained silent as she examined the individual before. Surprisingly, this individual didn''t possess the androgynous appearance that most male demon wielding lust did; their facial features exhibited an air of bestial masculinity, as did the dark feathered wings attached to his body. The wings appeared to belong to that of a dark hawk at a nce.

    Nevertheless, Geneva remained conflicted. Although it was true that he had indeed saved her, she also couldn''t overlook the fact this person was an unfamiliar existence. Not to mention, she also understood that she wasn''t in the position to decline.

    After all, this person had already disyed their ability to overpower a Demon at the Noblesse level while simultaneously concealing a great deal of their arsenal. As a result, Geneva gave a faint nod.

    "Delightful. I''m known as Forcalor, a wandering demon as of now. However, I was drawn to you while passing by," Forcalor said, revealing the truth of his identity. But, Geneva didn''t understand the significance of the person before her.

    After all, he was one of the Dukes of the previous Dominus Household! In other words, he was a character who was on par with both Asteroth and Amduscias. However, unlike those two, he didn''t possess a disagreeable attitude.

    "You were drawn to me?" Geneva muttered while immediately raising her guard. While Apollo sent her to this Ring to acquire information, amongst other matters, she wasn''t looking to bond with any demon aside from Apollo. As her Master, Geneva felt an embedded obligation towards Apollo.

    Hence, Geneva gave a wry smile. "I don''t feel the same attraction, nor am I looking for one."

    Forcalor sensed the change in the atmosphere before sheepishly scratching his head after realizing that Geneva misconstrued his words. "Pardon my inability; I''m not usually one to approach others. I''m not attracted to you, but something within you. Specifically¡­"

    Suddenly, Forcalor waved his hand, causing a floral scent to waft into Geneva''s nose. An immediate reaction took ce as the Dominus Household''s insignia appeared on her body, informing Forcalor of the situation at hand.

    "So, it is true. Our home has appeared once again. May I ask you an invasive question¨Dwho is the ruler of this household? While there are some simrities, the power embedded in your insignia is¡­irregr," Forcalormented.

    "Apollo," Geneva answered in a dazed state. Shockingly, Forcalor''s Luxuria influenced Geneva''s mind without a hitch.

    "Apollo? What''s an Apollo? That doesn''t sound like a name belonging to a demon at all. Are you sure that is correct?" Forcalor questioned further while taking a step closer. Afterward, he pressed his forefinger against Geneva''s forehead.

    Correspondingly, the influence became greater.

    "He¡­ has another name¡­ but, how can I trust you with this information? We were warned not to reveal anything pertaining to our Lord to unrted parties," Geneva muttered while attempting to resist Forcalor''s power.

    However, instead of bing more forceful, Forcalor smiled approvingly. ''Even under the influence of my mental contortion, she refused to divulge any information. This ruler must be quite capable at instilling unwavering loyalty.''

    A momentter, Forcalor presented the back of his palm, in which a nearly identical insignia appeared, except the energy was much more domineering than Geneva''s since it had yet to be rewritten.

 Chapter 530: Forcalors Proposal

    Chapter 530: Forcalor''s Proposal

    <strong>Forcalor''s Proposal</strong> ---- 1

    Even though the energy surrounding Forcalor''s insignia outssed the one in Geneva''s possession, her intellect allowed her to realize the evident simrities at a nce. Aside from the embedded energy, there was essentially zero difference between the two insignia.

    As a result, Geneva silently scrutinized Forcalor, recording every detail. Part of her even intended to touch the insignia to see to confirm any interaction between the two. Still, she retracted her just and refrained from doing so¨Dan action that Forcalor found intriguing.

    "Is there something you wish to voice, or even something you wish to discover? If so, you''re more than wee to inspect my insignia. Truth be told, it''s in an inactive state," Forcalormented while extending his hand before Geneva.

    Gradually, her gaze fell back to the emblem while digesting Forcalor''s words. "Wait¡­ inactive? Does that mean these insignia possess abilities?"

    "Of course! Are you¡­ not familiar with the usages of a Household''s Insignia? Has your Ruler not informed you of the properties embedded in these special runes?" Forcalor responded with an incredulous expression.

    After all, the first thing most rulers did after granting the insignia was brief their members on its usages. In extreme cases, it could even be a saving grace. However, this was only true if the household in question possessed a residence to nt the core.

    Unbeknownst to Geneva, the insignias were inactive without a household territory to bind the insignia''s signature. So, in a sense, Geneva''s emblem was partially dormant as well. Aside from serving as proof of identity, it didn''t provide additional convenience.

    "No, we haven''t received that information just yet. It seems some matters are hindering our progress," Geneva admitted with a visible frown. Subconsciously, she had revealed one of their setbacks without realizing it. It seemed that her guard wasn''t as extreme as it was before after learning of Forcalor''s insignia.

    Although it was sparsely talked about, Geneva recalled something Apollo said in the past. This wasn''t a Household created from the ground up, but instead, it was one experiencing a revival. In other words, there may be countless members outside of Geneva''s knowledge hidden throughout thend of the demons.

    "If that''s the case, then there must be two limiting factors: either your Ruler isn''tpetent enough to disclose this information at the earliest possible moment, or even they are unaware of its functions due to ack of territory. Either way, if your insignia hasn''t revealed any hints, then you''re merely a household in-name for the time being," Forcalor said.

    A momentter, he retracted his hand while continuing to examine Geneva.

    ''She''s an Archdemon, but her utilization of her Sin is rudimentary. From what I saw, there was far too much expenditure when transforming and attacking, which indicates ack of formal training,'' Forcalor inwardly thought while gradually rubbing his chin.

    Eventually, Forcalor''s expression grew pensive as he noticed several Sins circting throughout Geneva''s body as well as the stigmata etched on parts of her body. ''Aren''t those¡­''

    "Do you wish to learn techniques to wield your Luxuria better? Perhaps it may even pave the path to refine your control over the rest of your Sin. However, you''re free to decline my offer as well, as my intrusion could be rming," Forcalor said.

    After sensing her stigmata, Forcalor was confident that a member rted to the household''s ruling family assisted in the engraving process. If not, Geneva wouldn''t possess a stigmata rivaling the intricacy of the Kings.

    Aside from the Ruler, only two other beings possessed stigmata refined to this level. But, Forcalor hadn''t received news of their survival, nor had he felt their presence, leading him to assume that they no longer walked the Nihilistic Rings.

    While Forcalor believed that would be devastating if true, he also felt that recements would rise to fill any discrepancies present. After all, this happened in the past when many demons fell and the upper echelons of households were forced to fill their vacant positions with fresh blood.

    Nevertheless, Geneva took the time to consider the benefits of having a proper teacher. Until now, she relied upon the information imparted by the system, but even then, it only covered the basic Sin activation process.

    Soon enough, Geneva decided to ept the practice, giving a faint nod.

    "Good answer, because it''s not often that a peak Noblesse skilled in Luxuria offers to train someone. However, you must know that the training will be extensive; as such, we''ll have to move to a secluded ce."

    Contrary to Forcalor''s expectations, Geneva frowned instead of bing excited. Although she agreed to go through the training, the mention of this training taking an extensive period made Geneva hesitant. After all, Apollo had alerted everyone that it wouldn''t be long before a significant move. While Apollo could merely summon her, Geneva was uncertain whether her tardiness would bother Apollo.

    Since her frown continued to deepen, Forcalor noticed it immediately. "Is something wrong?"

    "Well, if the training is truly as extensive as you say, I''m afraid I might have to reject it. I have a time limit to be here, and I can''t overstep the allotted time," Geneva said with a wry smile.

    But, instead of being annoyed, Forcalor revealed a faint grin as he nodded lightly. "I guess your Ruler is morepetent than I gave him credit for. But, I can say with certainty that you won''t overstay your wee because I will personally escort you back to the ce you came."

    Once again, Geneve fell silent as she looked at Forcalor in shock. A personal escort back to Ashiraem? Based on his earlier abilities, Geneva was confident that Forcalor was more powerful than the top five percent of the demons present within Ashiraem.

    As a result, Geneva sighed thankfully and continued to nod. At the same time, she didn''t dismiss the fact that Forcalor escort meant he had a second agenda in training her.

    ''It was only a matter of time until she returned to the Ring she came from because all of the Sin, save for Luxuria, will experience steady consumption. Sooner orter, she''d need to refuel, so I might as well address my curiosities in the process,'' Forcalor thought before grasping Geneva''s hand and vanishing from where he stood with a gust of violent wind.

    Compared to the speed he revealed in battle, Forcalor''s rate of travel seemed twice as fast, seeing as they traversed thousands of meters every time Geneva blinked, leaving her astonished.

    Approximately 2 minutester, Forcalor hovered above an immense mountain with arge opening in the center. If it weren''t for the fact she was in Luxnia, Geneva would have guessed this mountain to be a volcano. On the contrary, as Forcalor descended, Geneva noticed stark differences between this mountain and a volcano.

    For one, instead of seethingva, a dense pink mist filled the atmosphere, which grew thicker the further they descended. Eventually, the fog solidified in drops of pink liquid that formed a docile pool in the center of the opening.

    Surrounding the pit was primitive furnishing created by Forcalor carving the exposed rock. Even then, it was simple as this was a ce tasked with regting Forcalor''s Luxuria.

    "Make yourselffortable because we''ll proceed the moment you reach full power. But, to make sure that you don''t taint the focus of this training, I''ll have to take some precautions."

    Following his words, Forcalor flicked his finger, injecting a sudden cluster of energy into Geneva. Within moments, it felt like her ess to her other Sins was blocked, only leaving her with Luxuria.

    Of course, Forcalor meant no harm, even going as far as to exin himself.

    "I''ve blocked the openings in your other Sin Vessel. As long as you''re here, there will be no consumption of those Sin since the density of Luxuria here is enough to sustain you."

    Just as Forcalor said, Geneva felt surprised as her body absorbed the Luxuria ravenously topensate for the loss of her other Sins. Moreover, since she only retained sole ess to the one Sin Vessel, the absorption rate increased by three times the average pace.

    Meanwhile, Forcalor''s eye shed with a pink light as he continued to assess her injury. Ignoring her fractured ribs, there wasn''t any extensive damage done thanks to Forcalor''s timely interference. Still, as he knew his training would be quite challenging, the slightest prior injury could prove detrimental.

    Thus, Forcalor gave her an entire day before finally starting their training. A slender longsword appeared in his hands as he pointed the de towards Geneva''s. All prior signs of his gentle aura disappeared, reced by one of harsh intent that rivaled on the edge of savagery.

    "Your hell week starts now."

 Chapter 531: The Disgruntled and Anguished Bunch

    Chapter 531: The Disgruntled and Anguished Bunch

    <strong>The Disgruntled and Anguished Bunch</strong> ---- 1

    Meanwhile, deep with an independent space formed within Ashiraem¡­

    Fuhrer stood before many individuals, frozen in ce with a stern expression. Since he agreed to tutor the inexperienced demons in the ways of unlocking their Aura, he spared no effort in his training. As a result, despite being a Noblesse at the very least, each of the demons before him showed signs of crumbling.

    However, the crumbling wasn''t rted to their physical bodies. It was rted to their spirit. After all, Aura was the purest manifestation of one''s will¨Dthe culmination of all of one''s hidden properties. Thus, the method of training Fuhrer chose was rather drastic.

    Although it seemed as if nothing was going on, Xorgrah, Saehtyn, Asmidia, Belphegor¨Devery individual present was subject to immense mental agony, so much so that they required frequent breaks before reaching their current progress.

    Unsurprisingly, the first to request a break was Belphegor, gasping and howling in pain as he clutched his head. "N-no more! Give me a well-deserved break, dammit! I can''t do this forever; I''m not like these masochistic heathen. I like to engorge myself, not feel pain."

    "Tch."

    Fuhrer clicked his tongue in annoyance as a tinge of disappointment shed within his eyes.

    Experiencing that gaze, Belphegor shivered as he looked away. Even though Fuhrer didn''t activate any semnce of aura or power, for that matter, Belphegor now possessed an innate fear towards Fuhrer after experiencing his robust mental strength.

    Just the division of his mental strength was noughing matter, not to mention the fact that Fuhrer manipted each portion of mental strength to form the foundation of a unique mold singr to each of the Lords and Xorgrah.

    "I''m well aware that you like to engorge yourself. But, what you know now is a mere tip of the iceberg. Gaining ess to this ability will allow you to surpass your prior limits and even adjust them to augment your devouring. However, if this as far as your desire for power goes, then take your break," Fuhrer said in an indifferent tone.

    One need not be mistaken; although Fuhrer agreed to assist, he didn''t necessarily care if this endeavor yielded results. Unlike these demons, the household was filled with fledgling demons that possessed near-perfect foundations for their Aura.

    The system may have alerted Apollo of the Auras each of his followers possessed, but that didn''t mean each of them was active. For example, ia didn''tpletely awaken her Aura of Illusion upon her evolution. It was forty percent active at most since it took far too long for her to muster the Aura.

    In fact, she didn''t understand the proper utilization of her Aura during the demonstration of her power. Apollo''s defenses would have suffered a greater impact if she understood the intricacies.

    Of course, the Complete Immunity trait would neutralize any damage before adverse effects could appear.

    Meanwhile, Belphegor grimaced after noticing Fuhrer''s indifference. Although part of Belphegor wanted to give up, his demonic nature was stimted after seeing how easily Fuhrer dismissed him. Evidently, his worth was nearly inconsequential in Fuhrer''s eyes.

    As a result, Belphegor pped his cheek, using a primitive shock treatment to ovee his muddled mind.

    "Dammit! I''ll try it again? Alrig-..!"

    Fuhrer''s eyes shimmered with a mystical aura suddenly, interrupting Belphegor before he could continue. Gradually, Belphegor''s expression turned nk as his consciousness became trapped within aplex quagmire.

    Both Saehtyn and Xorgrah''s eyelids trembled as cold sweat appeared on their bodies during that time. Judging by their current state, it was only a matter of time before they woke up forcefully.

    Fortunately, Fuhrer wasn''t a heartless savage. Each scenario was instilled with a failsafe measure in the event that their mind teetered on the edge of shattering. Once that point was reached, they would be forcefully ejected from the illusion.

    On the other hand, Fuhrer was pleasantly surprised by Asmidia''s mental stability. Out of the individual''s present, she was the only one who had yet to reveal signs of her mind bing unstable. Then again, Fuhrer had an assumption as to why this was the case.

    ''Since her power relies upon the strength of her mind to continue to mental corruption, her mind is her strong suit, whereas the rest of these individuals are brutes, focusing solely on physical techniques. If that''s the case, then it should be safe for me to do this.''

    Fuhrer steadily lifted his hand while turning it clockwise. The further he rotated his hand, the more a soft hum affected the space before him. Subsequently, Asmidia''s expression finally revealed a change, but it happened faster than Fuhrer estimated.

    From what he sensed, she could be capable of epting more pressure, yet her left eye had already begun to bleed, leading Fuhrer to question if he should continue or not. ''I''ve seen this once before; this situation only manifests when one''s mind is more resilient than their body.''

    If there was an imbnce of the mind and body with the former being much stronger, it was only a matter of time before the physical vessel failed. In this case, Fuhrer was unsure if her vessel would sustain extensive damage since it was linked to a unique source.

    Perhaps if the Nihilistics Rings were in a healthy state, Fuhrer would be willing to take this chance. Regrettably, after recalling the Lord''s deterioration, he decided against continuing in this fashion. Instead, Fuhrer exhaled beforeunching apressed wave directly to Asmidia''s mind.

    This way, her body didn''t receive any shock, but the mental contraption formed to pin these demons against their most severe shoring received a hefty surge of power. It was by no means meant to be underestimated as the previously unfettered Asmidia inhaled dramatically while falling to the ground.

    However, she wasn''t the only one to sumb to the test as everyone fell in unison. Each one of their eyes revealed their horror as they stared at Fuhrer.

    "Is this truly what is needed to awaken this power?" Saehtyn questioned in a strained voice. Although he didn''t engage in any physical training, he had to resist the urge to regurgitate. The same went for the others as a woozy feeling rose from the pit of their stomachs.

    "Well, since youck the tempering of fire and brimstone, you must confront your weakness and temper themselves. This is the only solution in a time where most demons have lost their brutal roots," Fuhrer said with a shrug.

    "This doesn''t seem right! How is this humane? I felt as if I had died thousands of times! Do you know what it is to die repeatedly?" Belphegor screeched at the top of his lungs. His test was rted to dying by his own devouring countlessly times, and no matter what he did, Belphegor couldn''t gain control of the devouring principle emted in the test.

    "You are mistaken. I''m not the creator of these tests. Your psyche is the true creator; I am just the supplier of the foundation. All of you are facing the vital principles that you have either repressed or ignored; the only difference is that they''ve been augmented greatly," Fuhrer responded.

    Except for Xorgrah, who already possessed one foot in understanding his Aura, the others were in a terrible position. As they were now, it was simply impossible to manifest an Aura. Withoutplete assimtion of their Sin Purity, there was a blockage in the process.

    After all, Sin was closely rted to distinguishing one''s Aura. While Sin didn''t cement the chosen Aura, the Sins did produce a broad range of Aura. Only in some cases didn''t abnormalities sprout.

    "So you mean we are all naughty people? Oh my, who would have thought we''d want to punish ourselves in this way? That''s¡­ that''s pretty kinky," Asmidia said in an odd tone while biting her nail yfully. Despite her present appearance, she couldn''t hide the fear in her eyes.

    She''d be lying if she said she wanted to experience that again without a break.

    "Please, not now. Let''s focus on oveing the shorings of our given power. It''s been thousands of years, yet we have yet to address this issue. Judging by Master Fuhrer''s words, the problem stems from the foreign augments on our Sin Vessels," Saehtyn said in a gruff tone.

    Due to his harsh tone and steely re, Asmidia quieted down uncharacteristically instead of continuing to quip with Saehtyn. After all, she was well aware of how irritable he became in the face of great pain.

    Unfortunately, Fuhrer scoffed coldly. "I suggest you all be silent and focused on recovering your fractured mind because I''ll only give you one hour before catapulting back into that madness."

    Following his words, the atmosphere grew silent and heavy as Fuhrer turned his attention towards the distance. ''I wonder¡­ will the young Lord be visiting that ce before we conduct our ns?''

 Chapter 532: State of Peril

    Chapter 532: State of Peril

    <strong>State of Peril</strong> ---- 0

    On Astarat¡­

    While Apollo amassed power, apletely different situation unfolded within Astarat. As he spent over a year consolidating his influence over the Nihilistic Rings, over ten years had passed on Astarat. Those who were once his peers were no longer in their adolescence; time had already shown its inevitable effects.

    More importantly, the catastrophe that all of the War Academies, Great Families, and Supreme Families feared took ce¨Dover these ten years, the Terror''s power swelled to new heights. Compared to the firsting of this catastrophe, most felt this one far surpassed its lethality.

    As such, the War Academies entered warfare preparation mode, resulting in a severe change in their teaching style and content.

    Meanwhile, those who attended the academies with Apollo had long since graduated and migrated to the frontlines.]

    .

    Within the Catastrophe Lines¡­

    A scene of utter bloodshed and mutted bodies, both human and overgrown grotesque beings with toxic-looking green skin, spanned farther than one cared to look. Amid this devastation, a few camps and structured outposts guarded by thick ramparts defended the thin separation between humanity and the Terrors.

    However, the post wasn''t the most eye-catching presence in this area. The most notable sight on the field was a youngdy, seeming to be at least 25 years of age. Her silver eyes seemed filled with a budding mercilessness as she gazed at an extensive collection of people with her pale white yet luxurious hair flowing in the wind.

    From thepliant posture of the people kneeling before her, it was evident that her status within this sector''s outpost was high, if not the highest. Despite the respectful mannerisms of the kneeled soldiers, her gaze seemed unfazed as she nced to her side.

    Like her, another youngdy appearing to be around the same age stood this woman. While their appearance was on par with each other, causing awe within any male blessed to learn of their valor and beauty, she possessed a different feeling.

    Whereas the soldiers respected the white-haired beauty, their eyes portrayed their fear towards the scarlet-haired beauty with her cold golden eyes.

    Soon enough, the atmosphere grew heavy as the white-haired beauty made a gesture. "Nadida, these are the new batch of soldiers recently dispatched from the War Academies. How do you suppose we deal with them to get them up to speed?"

    Needless to say, the scarlet-haired beauty in which this question was aimed at was indeed Nadida, one of the people closely rted to Apollo before he left to take hold of his true identity. Nevertheless, a deep frown appeared across Nadida''s lips instead of answering the question.

    "Battalion Commander Odessa, most of these neers seem like they have barely scratched the level of a Zul Commander. Why does it seem like each following back is bing progressively weaker? Not to mention, only eighty percent of these people are emitting spiritual fluctuations," Nadida said.

    As inferred from her words, Odessa was named the sessor of her Crux Family''s Battalion following her graduation.

    Unfortunately, they were driven to make some changes as they had to shift away from their main action of defending and healing on the battlefield. Everyone was mandated to carry their weight, forcing Odessa to alter the structure of her battalion.

    Now, forty percent of the battalion''s forces were devoted to offense, which is why Odessa ensured that Nadida joined her and even bestowed this role of Vice-Commander upon her. Typically, the Commander could only give this role to another vital member of the Crux Family.

    But, it was eptable to ignore some rules in the presence of a cmity, especially since Nadida was a talent that seldom appeared. Numerous elemental affinities as well a vibrant potential in both Body and Spirit Cultivation.

    "We can''t be picky now. You know the situation back at the War Academies. Their main priority is to create soldiers by increasing their military knowledge and etiquette and performing mass training. As a result, it is up to the individuals to delve deeper into their cultivation," Odessa replied.

    At the start of the cmity, the first batch of new soldiers, including Nadida and Odessa''s likes, were amongst the strongest ever seen. Since the older generation possessed time, they poured all their resources and teachings into these individuals.

    As a result, a hundred percent of the people in that batch were spiritual cultivators, possessing Spirits to assist inbat. However, as time went on, the eptable baseline continued to fall. It dwindled to the present eighty percent from the initial one hundred percent.

    Although they weren''t as strong as possible with the right leader and correct conditions, the War Academies felt they could squeeze every ounce of potential from the chosen contenders.

    "I know we can''t be picky, but also can''t waste time by sparing too many resources to condition them, much less make sure they can keep up with the others in time ofbat. It''s brutal out there," Nadida said with a deepening frown.

    Eventually, her hand touched the hilt of the dual swords fastened to the back of her waist. Once she performed this movement, a strong ripple flooded the area, forcing a reaction in those who continually released spiritual fluctuations.

    As a result, numerous portals opened up with giant beings or items emerging from the depths of these rifts. It went without saying that these beings were the Spirits, and Nadida released a type of interactive ripple that caused a chain reaction.

    In other words, Nadida was now strong enough to bring out others Spirits since her energy signature was dense enough to appear as a threat, triggering the current situation.

    However, Nadida appeared unaffected by the Spirits abrupt presence as she took a step forward. On the contrary, her expression became more severe as she scanned the area before her. "As one who agreed to a contract with these individuals, it is up to you to protect them, that is unless you want to suffer the bacsh of your contractee''s death."

    Numerous grunts of displeasure sounded, but Nadida couldn''t be bothered since her words were the truth. The death of a Spirit''s contractee meant they would face a severe bacsh on their end as well. In the most severe case, their true body would be forced to heal for years before returning to their former strength.

    Meanwhile, Nadida continued. "You are all versed in military knowledge. So, I''ll tell you now; we stick to the basics, but we perform them swiftly and effectively. Every new member will be split into pairs and added to all existing teams and squadrons. Is that understood?"

    "YES!"

    "Understood!"

    "Roger!"

    A wave of remarks sounded as Nadida gave a faint nod before passing off the task to a lower-ranked member. In the meantime, both she and Odessa walked into a luxurious tent outfitted withvish furnishing.

    Although they were on the frontlines, Odessa''s status as the Paragon of the Crux Family was not to be overlooked. All of her needs were taken care of as well as having the family''s arsenal at herplete disposal in times of need.

    Fortunately, the situation had yet to deteriorate that far. Within these ten years, there had yet to be sighting or even rumors of a Disaster-Grade Terror being born.

    "Is there something you need to talk about?" Odessa questioned while taking a seat in afortable chair. All signs of her prior ruthlessness vanished as she ruefully massaged her temples.

    "The older generation, your father and the others, they''ve begun to suffer casualties. We''ve kept the information rted to the depths of that zone hidden for long enough, but it''s only a matter of time until that Terror truly reaches the level of a Disaster. Either you or Alistair will be forced to make a move," Nadida said with a grim expression.

    "Hah¡­ so it''s that bad? What about him? Has he been active?" Odessa asked. Her expression was strange as her tone seemed to contain hints of apprehension.

    "Him? No, he''s grown inactive once again. Actually, no one has heard from him since stepping beyond the Catastrophe Line. However, his Vitality Stone is intact and more vibrant than ever, so we know he hasn''t perished," Nadida replied.

    "Mm," Odessa nodded while taking a sip from a small cup. The one mentioned wasn''t the other Paragon, but an anomaly that appeared shortly after the cmity''s beginning. In a short time, they rose to the height of being on par with a Paragon while administering zero signs of doing so.

    "It won''t be long before the next wave of Terrors assault the Catastrophe Line. What has it been? Seven days? They must have spent this time amassing their forces," Odessa remarked.

    "That''s another thing, I came to alert you that is it time. The scouts have confirmed that their next siege has already begun."

    "Then¡­ it is time to mobilize everyone," Odessa responded. She stopped massaging her temple and recovered her earlier expression as she rose to her feet.

 Chapter 533: Handling the Battlefield

    Chapter 533: Handling the Battlefield

    <strong>Handling the Battlefield</strong> ---- 1

    It wasn''t long after Nadida''s warning that an expansive sea of green monsters with skin matching the texture of reptilian scales marched towards the Catastrophe Line. Their crimson eyes were filled with madness as they savagely ground theirrge ws against one another.

    Large scars appeared on the ground as their nails crushed the floor beneath their feet. For the most part, this race seemed unintelligent, but a select few released an air ofposure. These were the menaces within the mass of Terrors.

    While they were far fromparable to the likes of Az''kayzak or even Brukti, the Terror, who most of the forces stationed at the Catastrophe Line kept secret to avoid mass hysteria, theposure could prove troublesome. Aside from the slumbering Az''kayzak, Brukti was the Terror closest to awakening their disastrous abilities.

    At the helm of the people, Odessa and Nadida stood side by side with many powerful people standing at their rear. A dense gas formed by many formation masters split apart, revealing the genuinely awful atmosphere of the Catastrophe Line.

    A crimson miasma potent enough to erode one''s skin without the application of an Essence Aegis filled the air. As a result, a thin film appeared around everyone in varying colors as Nadida removed both swords from her waist.

    However, instead of remaining in her grasps, the sword floated beside her as two ws formed by dense essence formed around her hands. Although she used swords, the origin of her current ¨DThe Scarlet Tigress¨Doriginated from her signature fusion of knuckle and ws that led to unforeseen bloodshed.

    Meanwhile, Odessa remained calm as a gentle aura wreathed her body. At the same time, her eyes released a subtle silver undtion.

    ''There may be many casualties if I don''t make ample preparations before the sh. Therefore, I''ll be forced to take a passive stance in this fight by returning to the old ways of the Crux Family¨Dunmatched healing,'' Odessa thought to herself.

    A momentter, she lifted her finger and pointed at iing Terror. "Charge!"

    The air filled with a vigorous battle cry as many soldiers summoned their Spirits to assist in battle. But, while the other crossed the Catastrophe Line, Nadida remained by Odessa''s side while monitoring the situation.

    An odd expression appeared on Nadida''s face, which happened at the start of every battle. After all, there was a good reason for this reaction. Aside from the skin color and their reptilian skin, the appearance of a Terror wasn''t far from that of Apollo''s first demonizing.

    Thus, Nadida remembered him during the sighting of each Terror. "To think it has been over ten years. And¡­ to think his presence was the reason for the beginning of this cmity."

    "You mean Apollo?" Odessamented while observing Nadida''s expression. While she never voiced it, Odessa was confident Apollo was more than just a goal in Nadida''s eyes. Herpetitive nature aside, there were other feelings present that she felt for him.

    "Don''t say his name. He''s gone, yet we have to face the aftermath of his actions. So, I don''t want even to hear the slightest mention of his name," Nadida said in a cold tone as her aura seethed suddenly.

    Rather than continuing with this conversation, Odessa switched the topic to something else, "Have you finally decided to form a pact with a Spirit? Although you''re a Spiritual Cultivator, you''ve yet to reveal a contracted Spirit after all these years."

    "Hmm?" Nadida said while furrowing her brow. Truth be told, it wasn''t that she didn''t possess a Spirit. She didn''t use her Spirit until now because of a warning issued by that Spirit.

    "Don''t hmm me. You heard my question. Isn''t it time you stop holding back? Aside from Aran, even the Scion''s are not your match without the use of their Spirits."

    "If only it were that simple. Just a few more days, and we won''t need to have this conversation ever again. It''ll all change once I be a Soul Lord," Nadida said before suddenly vanishing from where she stood, followed by a burst of winds, leaving a stunned Odessa.

    ''She''s almost a Soul Lord without receiving the tempering of a Spirit? No, wait¡­ that''s impossible. If she''s advancing that quickly, then she''s receiving constant tempering. In other words, Nadida has a secret Spirit? No wonder¡­'' Odessa thought to herself after deducing Nadida''s situation.

    During that time, Nadida arrived behind her forces with a solemn gaze. ''Countless Rank 1 and 2 Terrors with a small portion being Rank 3. We''ll have to make sure that we separate the Rank 3 from the rest.''

    Once a Terror evolved into its third rank, it became a genuine threat as only Zul Lords could deal with them effortlessly since they were on par with strong Zul Generals. Unfortunately, most of her battalion consisted of Zul Commanders and Zul Generals with an underwhelming number of Zul Lords.

    Therefore, Nadida couldn''t risk mass casualties by allowing Rank 3 Terrors to run amok in an area handled by Zul Commanders. Nadida took immediate action, revealing her monstrous essence reserves.

    The two floating dual swords formed a spiral utilizing the opposing principles of Ice and Fire Essence to tear through the ranks of Terrors. While her attack didn''t im many lives as it was aimed at the terrain housing her allies, arge fissure formed in the ground as she delivered her next order.

    "Earth Essence users of Soul Master and higher, form a barrier, NOW!"

    There was zero defiance as the essence users poured their essence in the ground and wielded the crushed rocks to erect an enormous barrier while using the fissure as a guideline for the wall.

    "It''s not a true countermeasure, but it''ll make do for now," Nadida mumbled to herself before recalling the swords as she appeared in front of her first enemy, which happened to be one of the Rank 3 Terrors. As mentioned before, these enemies were the ones who achieved slight sentience, giving them the ability to make decisions aside from the ones Brukti or Az''kayzak delivered.

    As a result, Nadida instantlyunched a frightening attack, fueled by her lightning affinity. A low crackle sounded as threerge gashed appeared on the chest of the Rank 3 Terror.

    However, this result didn''t excite Nadida. In fact, it rmed her. After all, not every Rank 3 Terror was the same¡ªthe more mature their evolution, the greater their physical power. Hence, judging by the fact her w didn''t rip the Terror to shreds, this Terror''s evolution was quite mature.

    ''It seems they did more than just amass forces; some of these Terrors have grown much stronger. Could it have something to do with the increasing miasma''s density?'' Nadida wondered.

    At the same time, she shifted her body to the side, dodging the Terror''s rtion. But, she didn''t simply evade the attack; she even took the opportunity tounch a counterattack in the same instant.

    On the surface, the counterattack seemed like a copy of her initial attack, but her ws had grown more fearsome, giving Nadida the ferocity needed to rip the Terror to shreds with a single swipe.

    Sadly, Nadida didn''t possess the luxury of taking a breather as she was on the battlefield. The moment her foot touched the ground, it signified the start of her next attack as her dual swords zoomed forward in a criss-cross pattern.

    As this was an item given to her by the Crux Family, its worth and power were amongst some of the highest on the battlefield. Not to mention, its conductivity was off the charts, hence, why Nadida manipted them effortlessly through mental power alone.

    A path of mutted bodies was left in the wake of Nadida''s second attack as she shifted her gaze around the battlefield. ''Luckily, I haven''t sensed a single Rank 4 Terror yet. One of those appearing at the start could only symbolize a perilous fight.''

    On the other hand, she released an ear-piercing whistle, bringing two individuals to her side. If Apollo was present, he''d recognize these two people at a nce. They were much older now, but their general features hadn''t changed much.

    "Ragnvald, Adeon, keep the Rank 3 Terrors that you can sense busy. We''ll let Socorra remain by Commander Odessa''s side to assist with any necessary healing."

    "Keep the Rank 3 at bay? Too bad it isn''t a Rank 4, that''d be much more fun," Ragnvald muttered disappointedly.

    On the other hand, Adeon was sparse with his words. "Consider it done."

    Both of them revealed power on par with Nadida¨Done of which produced infinite ice-cold shards and the other a blinding radiance.

 Chapter 534: The Battle Intensifies

    Chapter 534: The Battle Intensifies

    <strong>The Battle Intensifies</strong> ---- 0

    While a quadrant of the battlefield filled with blinding light and a chilling vortex, the makeshift barrier formed by the mass injection of Earth Essence achieved the desired effect because many of the lower-ranked Terrors¨Dlimited to Rank 1 and 2¨Ddidn''t possess the physical strength to break through the dense wall.

    As a result, they were forced to focus on the many Zul Commanders in their presence since they possessed the means to defeat them if they weren''t careful. Even those without a Spirit posed a threat if their Natural Essence was dense enough to prate a Terror''s defenses.

    Unfortunately, this scene only urred on one side of therge wall as the other side paused to look at the barrier with hostile gazes. Evidently, if they weren''t stopped, these particr Terrors would spare no effort to destroy the obstructive wall.

    "Don''t let them target the wall for the time being. I don''t care how you achieve it, but keep all those strong enough away from it," Nadidamanded amidst ripping another Rank 2 Terror to shreds. After each kill, it seemed her ws sharpened as she continually tweaked the amount of Essence funneled into the technique.

    In the beginning, her ws were no longer than fifteen centimeters, but now, it was over double that length with a razor-sharp sensationcerating the surrounding space.

    "Allow me," Ragnavald said before suddenly mming his hand against the immense barrier. His action sent a vibrational wave through its interior, and any of the Terrors that approached within a certain radius of the wall was pierced by spikes formed on the wall.

    Although Ragnvald revealed a blinding light, the color was an earthen yellow, signifying that his specialty was linked to Earth Essence. Of course, a single attack wasn''t enough to overwhelm the thousands of Terror presence. It was only enough to temporarily deter the first set of Terrors that approached the wall.

    Luckily, the following individual to make a move was Adeon, moving with a storm of chilled winds. His eyes darted back and forth as he took in all of the events happening before his eyes. He filtered out all unnecessary information and focused solely on the Terror that emitted a signature below a certain level.

    Since they felt this would be a drawn-out battle, it was best to reserve their Essence as much as possible. Therefore, Adeon targetted the Terrors that could be dealt with in under two attacks. Of course, the desired number was one, but Adeon was realistic enough to understand that the best-case scenario was a rare urrence.

    The chilled winds condensed intorge spears of ice in the next movement. However, the spears possessed innumerable cracks as Adeon wasn''t focused on merging the fragments seamlessly. In fact, leaving these cracks would make his subsequent actions easier.

    With a wave of his hand, the massive ice spear rushed past Ragnvald and separated once it approached the area filled with earthen spires. The ice avoided the spikes and hit every target in the chest, imnting a fragment of ice that expanded into a polyhedron of ice after receiving Adeon''smand.

    Mutted Terror flesh sttered everywhere after receiving Adeon''s attack. The single attack cleared out arge radius, and what''s more, the fragments of ice that expanded into the sharp polyhedrons shrunk back into crystals the size of dust, which were capable of issuing another attack.

    Watching this unfold, Ragnvald clicked his tongue. "Tch, always a simple show-off. You''re not the only one who''s capable of performing such a feat. But, good job, nheless."

    "I didn''t do this for your praise. We have an objective; make sure toplete it," Adeon responded in an indifferent tone before removing a slender longsword from the sheath by his side.

    When he did so, at least twenty percent of the ice crystals surged towards his body and gathered around the sword, creating a stunning crystalline exterior. Just a simple swing of this sword left a trail of blistering cold currents.

    "Sometimes, I doubt whether you''re human. Perhaps you''re just a machine made to achieve optimal results," Ragnavald quipped. However, he too withdrew a weapon in the form of an enormous broad sword with a yellow gem embedded in the de above the hilt that thrummed with a subtle gold radiance.

    At the same time, two simultaneous portals opened behind these two. One Spirit appeared to be an ice maiden dressed in frostbitten clothing. Signs of frost appeared on their leather clothing as an icy gaze peered through her hood.

    On the other hand, a robust figure appearing to be a barbarian of the sorts emerged from the portal behind Ragnvald. Seeing as these two were required to be serious, it was inevitable for their Spirits to make an appearance.

    "Crush them," Ragnvald ordered while pointing forward. The Spirit behind him snickered at first, but as soon he began his rush, the snicker grew into a burst of raucousughter.

    On the contrary, Adeon merely nced at his Spirit. "You know what needs to be done. I expect satisfactory results, especially after facing the burden of assisting you in breaking back into the Heroic Realm."

    "Your wish is mymand," the ice maiden responded. Although her tone was calm, a frosty breath shot from between her lips. At a nce, this Spirit appeared to be the embodiment of cold, or at the very least, a very skilled controller of it.

    In the next moment, the Spirit waved her arms, weaving a diagram in the air. The moreplete the diagram grew, the further the temperature within a hundred-meter radius plummeted. Soon enough, a thin sheet of frost expanded from beneath Adeon as the Spirit''s feet touched the ground.

    Upon contact, the Spirit''s hood dropped, revealing a breathtaking appearance. Until now, Spirits with refined appearances were rare. Most were concealed by sturdy armor or cloth, so the Spirit''s ice-blue skin and silverish white hair came as a shock.

    The Spirit took a single step followed by an elegant stride as she slid across the sheet of ice. Every Terror she brushed past sufferedceration that soon turned an unusually blue color, followed by the freezing of their entire body.

    Her attacks were overwhelming for her targets since this Spirit had attained at least the Heroic Realm. Not even the reptilian type of skin, which was resistant to cold, could stop the inevitable oue.

    With the addition of these two Spirits, the overwhelming sea of Rank 1 and 2 Terror dwindled at a considerable rate. Even Odessa had to praise the effectiveness of these Spirits on the battlefield.

    Whereas Adeon''s Spirit massacred elegantly, Ragnvald''s Spirit was an absolute brute. In addition to crushing the Terror with frighteningly heavy sword strikes, the barbarian often gripped the earth and nketed a tremendous area by ttening them with an absurd earth boulder.

    However, their actions couldn''t stop the one thing guaranteed in war¨Dinjuries and casualties. Odessa sensed an increasing number of rming injuries within the neers as well as the older members who were on the weaker side of the spectrum.

    Compared to the prior waves, the number of Terrors they were facing was at least three times greater. The fresh recruits barely equated to the increase in difficulty that the battalion was facing.

    Fortunately, Nadida didn''t allow the battalion to idle when not in battle. They spent every waking moment honing their personal power, especially those who wielded a Spirit.

    After sensing the injuries, Odessa closed her eyes and pressed her palms together. While she wouldn''t be able to cover the entire battlefield with her following action, she didn''t need to. Her main concern was to assist those suffering from dire wounds.

    As mentioned before, Terrors were one of the worst opponents if they managed to kill anyone. Due to their racial traits, they could extract Death Essence to replenish expended energy and strengthen themselves instantly.

    Thus, it was imperative for Odessa to avoid as many deaths as possible. Allowing a Rank 2 Terrors to evolve before their eyes while in a Zul Commander dense zone could result in a catastrophe.

    Sadly, just as Odessa felt she had the situation under control by healing the extensively wounded, her eyes mmed open. ''No way¡­ that isn''t what I think it is.''

    Far in the distance and closing fast, Odessa could sense six significant presences iing. Compared to the other Terrors on the battlefield, the six release an aura on par with Nadida and the others. Aside from the powerful fighters on the field, who possessed the physical strength of a strong Zul Lord, the rest would face disaster.

    Not long after, Nadida sensed the new foes as well.

 Chapter 535: The Tedium of Fighting Terrors

    Chapter 535: The Tedium of Fighting Terrors

    <strong>The Tedium of Fighting Terrors</strong> ---- 0

    Nadida''s expression grew solemn as she sensed the iing enemies. After all, the sudden appearance of six Terrors of this caliber was enough to cause a headache for any battalion assigned to a battlefield. Let alone six, just one Rank 4 Terror appearing was enough to change the tide of a battle.

    Because, unlike the rest, a Rank 4 Terror possessed an extremely perverse ability. As it was the stage right before the Disastrous State, these Terrors were, for the most part, sentient, allowing them to manipte ambient Death Essence in a variety of ways that weren''t present to the lower ranks.

    Furthermore, a Rank 4 Terror was on par with a Zul Lord in peak physical condition in terms of raw power. Aside from Nadida, only three other individuals were present who could match this power requirement. Luckily, they weren''t as outnumbered as they appeared to be.

    Without a second''s hesitations, Nadida created ample distance between her and the small collection of Rank 3 Terrors in preparation for handling the iing Rank 4''s. During that time, Nadida arrived by Odessa''s side.

    "You''ll need to call for them as soon as possible. Six of them are slightly beyond our capabilities. If left to our own devices, the number of casualties suffered will be absurd," Nadida muttered with a darkening expression.

    As much as she hated to admit it, the situation wasn''t favorable. Even if she could counter the Rank 4 Terrors, there was still the threat of the Rank 3 Terror interfering that she couldn''t overlook. The oue could be severe if she were to split her attention while battling an opponent of this caliber.

    "I agree. This is why I named you as the Vice Commander. I''ve already requested reinforcements. Apparently, the magnitude of the wave varies in different areas of the Catastrophe Line. Fortunately for us, our nearby allies aren''t facing such a severe wave. Just keep them at bay for ten minutes tops," Odessa answered.

    However, Nadida''s frown deepened as she scanned the battlefield. ''Ten minutes? While it may seem like a small task to ask for, that''s an eternity while inbat. Who knows how the situation could deteriorate.''

    Regrettably, Nadida didn''t possess the luxury ofining. All she could do was sigh and nod reluctantly as she extended her arms. The initially floating swordsnded in her palms, only to be coated in the same rampaging energy that formed her ws.

    Since her opponent would be a genuine Rank 4 Terror, Nadida couldn''t withhold any techniques, especially if she wanted to manage the casualty level.

    Meanwhile, an order was passed down to the strongest on the battlefield. They were to uphold the morale instructing their Spirits to act individually. Since they were strong enough to neutralize a Rank 4 Terror, they were essential in bridging the gap in firepower.

    Thus, the frigid beauty and brutish barbarian shifted their attention towards the overgrown Terrors charging towards them. Unlike the humans, who continually exhausted Essence to maintain their Aegis, these two were formed from Spiritual Bodies.

    So, the miasma of the Terrors couldn''t prate their bodies. At least, not at this density. Both of the Spirits rushed into the areas submerged in miasma without the slightest apprehension.

    At the same time, Nadida took a step forward while ncing towards Odessa. "Those 10 minutes start now; let''s see how rming the situation bes."

    A secondter, Nadida rushed forward with a shocking sonic boom as she clutched her sword with an iron grip. Her gaze became frightening as she zipped towards the closest iing Rank 4 Terror. A bloody trail of mutted Terrors appeared in her path as her momentum remained constant.

    Although the screams of pain and exertion filled the battlefield, she paid it no mind. Death was inevitable in times of war, so all she could do was steel herself whilemitting her fallenrades'' faces to memory should they perish.

    Rooaaarrrrgghhh!

    Suddenly, a devastating roar echoed throughout the battlefield. Violent undtions appeared following the outcry as a surge of Death Essence grew into a tide and smashed towards the Catastrophe Line''s barriers.

    Of course, no one revealed fear towards this attack. For one, it was aimed at the formation structure that served as the line''s foundation. However, this formation was the handiwork of the first generation of Paragon merging their abilities. A mere Rank 4 Terror wasn''t enough to threaten the stability of its framework.

    Nevertheless, as it was an attackunched by a Rank 4 Terror, the Death Essence instilled in the blow was deadly, especially towards the weaker member. Anyone under the Zul General level that was touched by this tide had their Essence Aegis stripped away forcibly.

    Unless their energy control was strong enough to create a new one immediately, some of the weaker soldiers suffered unavoidable wounds as the Death Essence seeped into their bodies.

    Fortunately, Death Essence attacked in stages. The first stage resembled being burned by a concentrated acid, causingrge patches of skin to fall off, exposing rapidly deteriorating muscle underneath. However, the affected could easily survive as long as they could expunge the Death Essence before it caused extensive damage by burrowing into the energy centers.

    Upon sensing this predicament, Nadida understood that the Rank 4 Terrors couldn''t be allowed tounchrge-scale attacks. Therefore, she snapped her fingers, and everyone rushed towards their enemy at blinding speeds.

    For example, Nadida kicked her enemy into arge boulder the moment she appeared before them. And, it just so happened that she chose the one responsible for this Death Essence tide as her enemy.

    But, unlike the other Terrors, this one emerged from the boulder''s rubble rtively unaffected by her kick. Its crimson eyes narrowed as it scanned Nadida cautiously before revealing an eerie grin.

    "No¡­ partner," the Terror said in a guttural voice. The partner in mention was undoubtedly the Spirits that roamed the battlefield. Since the Terror failed to sense one of the Spirits linked to Nadida, it felt this should turn out to be an effortless ordeal.

    Sadly, the Terror didn''t know that the woman before it shouldn''t be underestimated in the slightest.

    "Tch."

    Nadida''s eyes filled with disgust as she looked at the Terror''s grotesque smile. The decrepit teeth seemed jagged enough to bite boulder. Not to mention, after reaching this level, the Terror''s skin gained a viscousyer of toxin that sat above their skin. So, the scene wasn''t very appealing.

    Nadida didn''t spare any extra word as her body flickered, appearing before the Terror with a rapid horizontal spinning sh aimed at its torso. If any of the weaker members watched her movements, they''d fail to grasp it as she channeled a generous amount of Essence into augmenting her natural speed.

    Shhnkkkk!!!

    However, rather than achieving a clean hit, Nadida''s attack was parried, as the Terror moved its w and guided the sh to the ground. But, as the subtle hue of the metallic sparks appeared in her eyes, Nadida snapped her fingers.

    Immediately, Nadida''s actions caused abustion by flooding the sparks with Essence. A cloud of smoke appeared, followed by both sides exiting quickly. While Nadida was uninjured by the attack, there were scorch marks on the Terror''s upper torso.

    "Snea¡­ky," the Terror said with a gurgle. However, its eye shifted to the ground as it dipped its toes in what seemed to be a murky puddle. Within seconds after doing so, the scorch marks vanished.

    Compared to its weaker counterparts, it healed much quicker after absorbing Death Essence.

    ''Ten minutes of this?'' Nadida thought to herself ruefully. Unless she could one-shot a Rank 4 Terror, then it would heal as soon as the chance presented itself. Then again, even if she could muster such an attack, she couldn''t ignore the fact that the Terror could unleash something frightening as well.

    Starting at this rank, the Terror gradually morphed into the true embodiment of death.

    After it healed, the Terror took hold of the battle''s momentum and unleashed an onught of heavy strikes that Nadida was forced to either dodge or parry. The longer they fought, the more baffling the scene became.

    Massive deathnces impaled the ground near Nadida as her previously neat hair became disheveled by the mes of battle. However, her opponent''s body was littered withrge gashes.

    Suddenly, Nadida''s body twitched as she flickered once again and sliced the Terror''s left arm offpletely kicked it aside. She had already witnessed the regenerative ability of her opponent. If she allowed it too, the arm would be reattached.

    On the other hand, Nadida realized her Essence Reserves, despite being massive, showed signs of reaching critical levels.

    ''How much longer?!'' Nadida wondered while temporarily extending her perception through the battlefield.

 Chapter 537: Emergency Meeting (I)

    Chapter 537: Emergency Meeting (I)

    <strong>Emergency Meeting (I)</strong> ---- 1

    Although Sirius showed up alone to handle the mess that urred at the battlefield, his expression didn''t lighten at all. Just as he suspected after receiving information about this matter, the Terrors were moving unusually. The scale of battle varied depending on the number and strength of the soldiers stationed at differing posts on the Catastrophe Line.

    After learning of this predicament, the higher-ups of the World Remation Task Force understood that the movements of the Terrors were influenced by an entity with sufficient knowledge of their actions.

    Terrors couldn''t receive information through memories, so they didn''t believe this to be the issue. In fact, the fact of the matter was much worse. Hence, Sirius''s solemn expression.

    Nevertheless, he didn''t wish to risk anyone overhearing the critical detail he had to reveal. So, he first waited until the leftover Terrors performed an unusually tactile retreat before their entire forces were annihted.

    During that time, Sirius continued to examine Odessa.

    "You used the Seraphic Exchange, didn''t you? Luckily for you, you possess a Spirit that possesses an abundance of vitality. While it''ll take some time, you''ll have to rely on your spiritual connection to recuperate your exhausted vitality," Sirius said before ncing in Nadida''s direction.

    Unlike the rest of the Crux Family, Sirius was one of the members who wasn''t opposed to an outsider taking up the Vice Commander role. Not only was this woman before him valiant, but she was also the former pupil of Irauk. Just that fact alone meant there was something special about her worth fostering.

    However, thinking about this matter caused Sirius to grow curious. ''Just where have you disappeared to? It''s been years since you showed your presence, and all signs of your existence have been erased. Even the Supreme Families are unable to locate you.''

    It wasn''t long after Apollo''s departure that Irauk vanished abruptly. After ensuring that his pupils were all situated, he left an abundant collection of resources to tide over their cultivation needs. But, in doing so, he also revealed that it would be an unknown amount of time before he reappeared.

    This only led to more questions since he was a pivotal figure in the prior war against the Terrors. Without his presence, it was unknown if the Grand Masters, who faced the weathering of time, would be enough to appease this cmity as well.

    Meanwhile, Nadida felt Sirius''s gaze and turned towards him with aplex expression. "The soldiers¡­ they''re not enough. If the Terrors continue to grow at this pace, the new batches of soldiers will be obsolete. But¡­ I assume you''re already aware of this."

    "Correct," Sirius admitted before glimpsing at the battlefield filled with mutted bodies and destroyed terrain. Although the scenery was enough to unsettle seasoned veterans, Sirius remained unperturbed by the sight.

    Instead, he continued to speak shortly after. "Follow me into your headquarters. Allow the others to gather what remains of this battle''s aftermath."

    "Right now? Can''t we hold off on any conversation until we''ve identified all of the casualties?" Odessa muttered in slight shock. It was customary for the salvageable remains to receive a proper burial as well as a constion package for the kin of the deceased.

    Sadly, it seemed they couldn''t partake in these usual customs as Sirius shook his head.

    "This is very important. Once you learn of what I have to say¡­ you''ll understand why this can''t wait at all," Sirius answered. Although reluctant, Odessa was forced toply as she sighed with a defeated expression. Judging from Sirius''s tone, nothing good woulde of this chat.

    Eventually, the trio arrived within Odessa''s personal quarters, cordoned off by a powerful formation to ensure her privacy and protection. Sirius wasted no time exining the matter as he took a seat and leaned forward.

    "The War Council,prised of the Supreme Families, Great Families, and Headmaster of the War Academies have called for an emergency meeting. All leaders of battalions andrger parties are mandated to appear in the center of the Catastrophe Line," Sirius revealed.

    For a moment, the room was silent as the atmosphere turned heavy. If an emergency meeting was called, that could only mean a few things. One, the War Council obtained proof of an unprecedented threat.

    Two, the War Council is unable to ascertain how they should move forward and require the input of everyone to reach a suitable choice of action. Lastly, the situation has deteriorated so much that the leaders need to be made aware of vital information. Any of these scenarios were enough to make a leader wary.

    If the War Council, which was made up of the most senior individuals of the World Remation Task Force, couldn''t devise a proper n, then that could only mean that this war had indeed taken a forsaken turn.

    Be that as it may, Odessa didn''t overreact. Instead, she sighed while looking directly at Sirius. "They''re calling for an emergency meeting right now? What is the cause for it?"

    "It''s quite simple actually¨Dthere is an extremely pressing matter that the War Council needs to reveal. It hasn''t been made known as of yet, but since you''ve been called upon, I can tell you beforehand¨Da mature Disaster has been born," Sirius admitted.

    Brukti amassed enough Death Essence to solidify his transformation into a Disaster throughout the constant disputes. However, he had been inactive during this time since even the slightest injury could interrupt this process.

    In his stead, Brukti exercised his influence over the weaker Terrors by mentioning the one they feared¨DLord Az''kayzak. Just the mere mention of this name was enough to have all Terrors, Rank 3 and below obey Brukti''smand. As for the Rank 4 Terrors, fear only worked to a certain extent since their sentience also awakened the urge to preserve their life.

    Both Nadida and Odessa''s expressions filled with horror as they learned of this information. Although they didn''t experience the past firsthand, they had heard terrifying stories from that time. ording to what they knew, Disaster-level Terrors were, in a word¨Dnightmares.

    The stories that circted through the Supreme Families and Great Families inscribed the events involving those monsters as nearly hopeless times. So, the thought of sinking back into that mire was enough to frighten these two.

    Not to mention, the fact that the War Council withheld the supposed birth of the Disaster. After all, a Disaster took ample time and Death Essence to mature, especially since the maturing process was, in truth, a consolidation stage.

    From what they could tell, Brukti''s current state was far from the true power of a Disaster. As far as they knew, this state consisted of many phases. The more Death Essence absorbed, the deeper they advanced into the stage. And only when the carnage of the battlefield reached its epitome could they genuinely flourish.

    "That response is to be expected," Sirius said with a faint chuckle that soon turned into a grimace. Truth be told, he didn''t expect to bear witness to the birth of Disaster-level Terrors once again.

    "So, in a sense, you came to act as an escort for us to return to the central area?" Odessa asked while settling her troubled emotions. Even though she was a Paragon, she had yet to master all of the abilities that apanied her level of Soul Talent.

    Unlike her peers, the title of a Paragon meant her Soul was strong enough to delve deeper into the intricacies of the spiritual rtionship shared between a human and Spirit. At most, most cultivators could only draw upon ~twenty percent of their Spirit''s power by utilizing its spiritual body.

    But, Paragons who mastered their Soul, it was a different story. Their solid Souls were resilient enough to withstand the tyranny of stepping before a genuine member of the Upper Races.

    "Correct. But, you don''t need to worry yourselves. I''ll handle the transportation," Sirius said. A momentter, he retrieved an odd stone resembling onyx, except there was a rune letter emanating a bluish light embedded in the center.

    Shock appeared across Odessa''s face as she noticed the stone. She didn''t expect the use of such an essential item just for something as simple as traveling. "A Teleportation Stone?"

    "Your aunt is the one who supplied me with this and ordered me to use it now. Even I was surprised since this can be a tool to save one''s life on the battlefield," Sirius said as the rune flickered right after.

    A mystical ripple filled the room, vanishing instantly along with the three previously in the room.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Odessa noticed many familiar faces present¨D the Astarte Family, the Dongguang, the Braum, and even her Crux Family. More importantly, members such as Solomon, Soren, and Valerie were present.

 Chapter 538: Emergency Meeting (II)

    Chapter 538: Emergency Meeting (II)

    <strong>Emergency Meeting (II)</strong> ---- 0

    Although Sirius had told Odessa that there was a need for this emergency council, she didn''t expect to see a room filled with peopleuded as the strongest of the Supreme Families in thepany of the Headmasters with such solemn faces. After witnessing their expressions, she immediately understood that the situation was much more rming than they let on.

    Thus, Odessa and Nadida took their seats after entering. However, although they sat down, the meeting had yet to start since a few crucial members were not in attendance.

    In the meantime, Valerie leaned towards Odessa and caressed her cheek while observing her niece''s conditions. "It has been very hard on you even though you''re a Paragon, hasn''t it? I can tell that you''ve used that technique."

    "Yeah, the Terrors are growing much faster than I anticipated. Not to mention their numbers keep increasing as if they''re multiplying," Odessa admitted with a severe expression.

    The massive amount of casualties suffered in thest sh was still fresh on her mind, and she didn''t have any time to process the severity of the number. So, now that her aunt showed the slightest bit of concern, all of her emotions showed on Odessa''s face.

    Over the years, in addition to maturing and understanding the current state of the world, Odessa also amassed a considerable amount of grief that she couldn''t show because of her position. Her subordinates would inevitably suffer from the same affliction if she revealed a wilted outlook.

    And, in a time of war, low morale was one of the worst things amander could ask for. A bleak outlook and despondent attitude could result in a substantial decrease in individual strength since they wouldn''t tap into the will to survive that typically enhanced one''s battle power.

    "Don''t feel responsible. It''s not a unique situation limited to your side of the battlefield. The entire Catasptrophe Line is going through an unprecedented change. We''ve never seen anything like it before," Valeria said with heartwarming affection.

    Odessa losing her focus was thest thing Valerie wanted since she would y a pivotal role if the battlefield needed to be taken over by the new generation.

    As time passed, more higher-ups appeared in the room, with the final individual being Alistair Braum alongside someone of a simr appearance. Although their aura was reserved, everyone present understood that when it came to ability, the only one in the Braum Family above this individual was their Grand Master.

    "Good, now that everyone''s here, I say it''s a perfect time to get this meeting on the road. After all, we have important matters to discuss, some of which are extremely relevant but have been buried throughout history," Solomon said with a somewhat exhausted expression.

    While most of that exhaustion came from the non-stop battle that he, Soren, and Valerie were forced to engage in, the truth was that he had grown incredibly lethargic after his daughter left for more than a decade.

    Although he never visited her face to face, he would watch over her and ensure that while her life wasn''t the best, she was never in imminent danger. So, after learning of her disappearance and his inability to see her, Solomon''s disposition plummeted to an all-time low.

    If it weren''t forbat, it was safe to say that Solomon would be disinterested in everything else.

    "I agree; we should begin because time is not of the essence," Sirius answered in agreement.

    A brief silence followed as Soren opened his eyes and nced around the room. Unlike the other two Supreme Families, the Dongguang was the only family without a Paragon present. Despite this fact, they still maintained the strongest presence in the room due to their unhinged aura of the spear.

    "We''ll start with the most widely known information. A Disaster-level Terror has been born. Despite our attempts to pierce through the deep zone within the Endless Death Domain, we''vee up short," Solomon revealed.

    The room didn''t overreact since everyone present was already aware of this fact. Even Odessa doubted that the higher-ups of the Remation Task Force would sit idly by as a Disaster matured into a full-fledged nightmare. There had to be a deep-rooted reason as to why Brukti managed toplete his evolution without any interruption.

    "As you know, we moved to intercept this Terror as soon as we received the knowledge surrounding unusual Death Essence activity deep within the Endless Death Domain. Sadly, to our dismay, there was some bizarre barrier that we couldn''t invade no matter our angle," Solomon continued.

    "Before you continue, was this a joint effort that included the efforts of the three Heavens of the Supreme Families?" Sirius questioned while rubbing his chin in thought. It was a known fact that the joint actions of the Supreme Families rarely happened due to their ego.

    However, if the situation called for it, then it had happened on more than one asion in the past.

    "It was. This meeting wouldn''t have been called if that wasn''t the case. While Soren, Valerie, and I working together resulted in small damage, it wasn''t without a few drawbacks," Solomon answered.

    "Oh? Care to name them? Because while I was briefed on the matter, this is still news to me," Sirius replied with deep intrigue. Even though Solomon was younger than him by a few decades, Sirius understood that he wasn''t Solomon''s match because not only was he a Zul Saint, but his position as the patriarch of the Braum Family signified his unmatchedbat ability.

    Besides, being a peak Zul Emperor, Sirius understood the divide between realms at this level.

    Shockingly, as they spoke, Soren grunted and took over the conversation. "If you don''t believe the guy, then we''re more than happy to bring you there. Just keep in mind that the miasma was strong enough to erode the Essence Aegis of Zul Saints. I hope you understand what that suggests."

    "I''m sorry¡­ could you repeat that again? Did you just say that the deathly miasma was enough to a Zul Saint''s Essence Aegis, which is unbelievablypact?!" Sirius muttered in disbelief.

    "Oi, what part of my words did you not understand? Is your hearing deteriorating as you age, or do you just need to wipe them clean? I said what I said," Soren grumbled in annoyance.

    At the same time, he nced at his side, which was the reason for his irritable mood. He was injured during their attempts to pierce the barrier. Although it was only for a split second, his Essence Aegis waspletely eroded, leaving his skin vulnerable to injury.

    Fortunately, Valerie, who possessed the most capable healing abilities, was nearby and treated the wound before it could escte into an issue.

    "I''m just asking for confirmation. There is no need for you to get rude, youngin," Sirius said in a disgruntled tone.

    "Well, you''ve received it," Soren answered. If left alone, the atmosphere would undoubtedly be hostile. So, Alistair stepped forward with raised arms in an attempt to mediate the angst.

    "I believe there is a more important question¨Dhow long ago was this incident?"

    "Approximately a year," Soren said after giving the question some thought. While a year seemed like a long time, it truly wasn''t, especially when it concerned the gradual umtion of a Disaster.

    "This Disaster has shown zero presence on the battlefield in an entire year? Is that not odd? I''ve never experienced a Terror at that level, so I''m in no position toment on what typically happens. But, it does seem out of character for a conquest-motivated race," Alistair muttered.

    Until now, most people who had gone up against a Terror understood that they would rush without a second thought. So, the fact that Brukti, a Terror who had reached the rarely achieved Disaster state, didn''t appear on the battlefield was seen as fishy in the eyes of others.

    Even the older individuals in the room struggled to find a suitable answer since the year of absence felt unusual to them as well. As a result, Alistair posed another question that got their minds scrambling faster.

    "Could it be possible that something else is brewing? I find it almost impossible that a Zul Saint isn''t enough to deal with a newborn Disaster. Perhaps we need to go back even further."

    "Precisely. We need to mention that there''s a Terror whose even more frightening than the rest, and ording to our family records, it''s unknown if they''ve experienced aplete death. Perhaps they''re the culprit behind that absurd barrier," Valeria added, causing the atmosphere in the room to grow heavy.

 Chapter 540: Unusual Presence

    Chapter 540: Unusual Presence

    <strong>Unusual Presence</strong> ---- 1

    Following the emergency meeting, all parties gradually dispersed since they needed to prepare for what they suspected toe. The fact that Brukti had yet to make a personal appearance meant he would only appear once he was strong enough to cause unforeseen destruction.

    Since that was the case, the World Remation Task Force leaders felt it was better to prepare even their weakest members to sacrifice their lives. However, it wasn''t a simple sacrifice. Instead, they weremanded to essentiallymit suicide if they felt their death was inevitable.

    On the journey back to their base, Odessa released a heavy sigh. "Why can''t we just experience peace? All this endless fighting is tiring. If only our wasn''t the one that was invaded."

    "Yeah, but there''s nothing we can do now. All we can do is continue to fight so that we survive. Do you want it to be them or us?" Nadida asked while turning towards Odessa. The question stumped her for a while as she fell silent, simply gazing back at Nadida.

    Compared to her teen years, experienced at the start of the selection process, all signs of immaturity and unsightly greed vanished from Odessa''s mannerism. Even if an extremely powerful soldier boasting high growth potential appeared, she didn''t actively seek them out the way she did with Apollo.

    Admittedly, Apollo''s disappearance didn''t just change Nadida but Odessa as well. Aside from missing Apollo, she also felt resentment towards him because he hadn''t fulfilled his promise. He was supposed to enter her legion and be a guardian of all those weaker to ensure their safety and, more importantly, hers.

    Sadly, after learning a part of his truth, Apollo couldn''t care less about this piddling world. Even those he acknowledged in the past didn''t enter his sights because the darkness in his soul had sprouted in full force, awakening his desire to rule over the demons.

    These humans didn''t fit the criteria, nor did he want to waste time on converting all of them.

    "Wait a minute¡­ whatever happened with that boy who entered the Endless Death Domain?" Nadida asked all of a sudden after remembering a pressing issue. An anomaly arose not too long after they graduated from their respective academies.

    Some students experienced an unprecedented dyed awakening, receiving a Spirit and pulling them on the path to bing even mightier. Likewise, one such individual remained an outlier throughout the entire experience.

    "His name was Aaron, right? I don''t know what significance he holds, but hasn''t he refused to join a legion even now? He''s like an untethered soul, appearing where he pleases," Odessa answered after recalling.

    "Wasn''t he closed to Apollo? Like family or something, I believe?" Nadida muttered.

    "I think that''s right, if I''m not mistaken. However, most of their family has been pulled into the war. So it wouldn''t be odd if Aaron were to appear in the same area as them. Though¡­ I''m not sure why you''ve thought about him all of a sudden," Odessa said.

    In response, Nadida rubbed her chin in deep thought. The only reason she brought up Aaron''s name was because of the matter that Soren and the rest had revealed. Since he often ventured into the Endless Death Domain, then Aaron should have been killed or, at the very least, seriously wounded by the intensifying miasma.

    "Don''t you find it odd that he''s walked into the Endless Death Domain yet emerged unscathed every time? Aren''t you curious how deep he went? Do you want to try going there ourselves? Just you and I?" Nadida asked.

    "Walk into the Endless Death Domain?" Odessa muttered before turning her gaze to the right. The sight of an endlessly spanning chasm surrounded by a dense ck aura reflected in Odessa''s eyes. "Don''t you know how insane that sounds? The Commander and Vice-Commander of a legion disappearing unexpectedly just to address our curiosities?"

    "It might be crazy, but who''s to say that is not something that we need to do? Sometimes good thingse from spontaneous thoughts," Nadida muttered with a slight pout. She didn''t know how to exin it, but she felt like someone should explore the Endless Death Domain and do so fast.

    "Yeah, and sometimes it creates unexpected issues and even worse, sometimes imminent doom," Odessa retorted. But, after seeing nadida''s pout, Odessa''s stance wavered slightly. "Alright, alright. Let''s say I entertained the idea just for a while; what will we do about my damaged vitality? We should at least wait until I recover fully before doing so."

    "Eh¡­ and how long will that take?"

    However, Odessa didn''t have a solid answer to this question. While she didn''t expend too much vitality converting the remaining Essence and some of her vitality into a form that could sustain Nadida, a considerable amount of her energy was redirected towards nurturing her second Spiritual Mind. Fortunately, Odessa made an approximation after sensing how much she recovered in the little time she possessed thus far.

    "I say no more than a month or so."

    "Fine, I''m willing to wait that long."

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, deep within the Endless Death Domain¡­

    A figure sauntered through a valley surrounded by eroded stone. A dense liquid dripped from the rocks as a low sizzle filled the air every time a drop touched the surface below.

    It was a male who appeared to be no older than Nadida or Odessa. They possessed light brown hair that faded into an unusual white color towards the end of each strand. Although their appearance seemed while it also carried with it a vague sense of refinement only found when sunlight cascaded on the reflective surface of tranquil waters.

    What''s more, despite their missing arm, the individual didn''t seem unbnced at all, even carrying arge spear across their shoulders. Evidently, the person in mention was Aaron, who was revealed to have ventured into the Endless Death Domain.

    "Mmn, how deep have Ie? This energy is truly unusual, but it doesn''t matter," Aaron muttered to himself beforeing to an abrupt pause. After a second, he turned towards his right and narrowed his eyes.

    "Come out; it makes no sense for you to lurk in the darkness. I can see you very well."

    Despite what he said, there was zero movement in the distance. Evidently, whoever he was talking to, didn''t intend to move.

    "I suppose this new high figure has sent you out to monitor my movement. After all, it must a be first for someone to visit this deep without having to turn back," Aaron said in a tone that seemed as if he was talking to himself.

    Afterward, he pointed his spear to the sky. Then, after muttering what seemed to be a soft chant, a blinding radiance engulfed his spear in a faint heat signature that resembled the sun.

    He didn''t waste a moment of his time as Aaron thrust his spear forward immediately, sting an apparent hole in the miasma before him. Though he managed to do so, the miasma copsed quickly, filling in the sizable opening.

    Be that as it may, Aaron witnessed the enemy on the other side followed by a low gurgle and then a deafening roar.

    "Roooooarrrrghhhh!"

    Suddenly, a robust figure burst through miasma with arge puncture wound in the pit of their stomach. Even though it continued to spew a vile liquid on the floor, the Terror continued to rush at him.

    "Mmm, amusing," Aaronmented. He waved his spear in the next moment, creating a string of faint afterimages that soon merged as one to form a whipposed of soft white light.

    Just as the Terror reached him, the whip straightened and dropped to the floor, cutting the Terror in half before it could inflict a single blow.

    After finishing off the Terror, Aaron shook his head with a small sigh. "Just a simple Rank 3 Terror; I don''t understand why it''d rush to its death like that."

    Aaron didn''t spare the Terror another look as he turned around and resumed his journey deeper into the unknown areas. But, a strange sight urred as he moved into the distance.

    The Terror, which usually seeped back into the Endless Death Domain to replenish the Death Essence exhausted during its creation, was engulfed by me and soon burned to ash.

    Even the Death Essence that seeped from the puncture wounds was burned thoroughly. Since this happened within the Endless Death Domain, two characters were immediately alert of this strange urrence.

    One of which being the newly born Brukti.

    "Damn vermin, just what the hell are you for you to enter here. Something is not right here. Lord Az''kayzak, what do you suggest we do?"

    "Don''t worry. He''s onlybatting the expendable; we have much more important matters to focus on. Now, continue to grow stronger, so they don''t see what''sing."

 Chapter 541: Genevas Training Ends

    Chapter 541: Geneva''s Training Ends

    <strong>Geneva''s Training Ends</strong> ---- 1

    Within Luxnia, deep inside a colossal stone mountain¡­

    Geneva, who was currently surrounded by a gathering of pink feathers with sharpened tips, heaved endlessly. Although her training was far from easy, the result more than justified the unusual amount of pain and torture she had to endure to reach this level.

    Although each of the feathers seemed as if they had fallen off her wings, that wasn''t the case at all. On the contrary, each feather was created from a small yet remarkably pure cluster of Luxuria and they were almost just as durable as her real wings.

    These feathers were the fruits of herbor that spanned over the course of a few weeks, at the very least. The only leeway she was given was when she needed to rest on the brink of copse.

    Once that happened, Forcalor took the time to assess the strength of her technique. He didn''t just factor in how strong it was; he also evaluated the speed of umtion, how long it took for the technique to fall apart, and just how much of her mental focus wasmandeered to give shape to these feathers of lust.

    After considering all of these factors, Forcalor judged that Geneva had made ample progress in a few days. It was truthfully faster than he had expected since he had never dealt with a demon who was the byproduct of the system''s interference.

    "You''ve done well. You''re continually gathering Luxuria at a faster rate, and it''s bing morepact with each sessive use. The only issue is your focus. It takes far too much of your focus to maintain this technique," Forcalor said while appearing by Geneva''s side.

    A look of intrigue surfaced in his eyes as he tapped his fingers against one of the feather''s tips, which gave him a general idea of their sharpness. ''If I had to judge, I''d say that these could puncture even the strongest of Greater Demon Bodies; however, things change when we mention Mature Demon Bodies.''

    Since Luxuria wasn''t a Sin blessed with impressive attack capabilities, to begin with, Forcalor didn''t have high expectations for these feathers. At least, not in their current state. If she wanted to elevate them to the next level, it''d require the injection of another Sin orbining another dimension to their effect.

    Sadly, infusing a single technique with two Sin signatures without a proper medium was next to impossible. Even Fuhrer had to wield his Tenebrous abilities to restrain theplete fusion of his two Sins while employing his techniques.

    Only one individual could fuse Sins with no medium, and that was only because his purity escaped the realm of standard ssification. If the system were to categorize Aztraval''s Sin Purity while in his peak, it would either read "???" or "N/A".

    As the first wielder of the Primal Sources, you could say that Aztraval was somehow linked to every Demon through their threads of Sin. If he willed it, it was even possible for him to strip demons of their Sin and im it as his own in times of need.

    However, although he possessed the ability to do so, he never used it as his reserves were next to inexhaustible while merged with the Primal Sources of Sin. Sadly, he understood that he couldn''t maintain their possession since it would forsake his race if he were forced to disappear.

    If the Sources were to disappear from the Rings, they would lose all ability to manipte Sin, which in short, granted their identity as Demons, one of the Upper Races famed for their conquest and brutality.

    "I know," Geneva said in a hoarse tone as she tried to catch her breath. Simr to her currently exhausted state, the feathers started to vibrate and soon after dissipated since Geneva''s Sin Reserves had been thoroughly depleted.

    Unlike before when this happened, Forcalor didn''t berate Geneva for her ipetence. After all, he soon discovered that her body wasn''t primed to absorb Sin while expending it, which was understandable since he had only learned this technique from Fuhrer after evolving into a Noblesse.

    ''Should I teach her that technique? But, I''m also not the best teacher as I''m not entirely sure how to guide her through the process. I''m almost certain that her body is different from mine, based on the number of Stigmata alone,'' Forcalor thought.

    Before she could fall over, Forcalor waved his arm gently, directly a soft wave of Luxuria which soon guided her towards his body. "Let''s wait for a full recovery unlike the other training days. I feel as if today is different from the rest; we can even move to dual utilization if you feel you''re ready."

    In this case, dual utilization meant her technique would attach on two fronts¨Dphysical and mental. While the physical feather would deal damage to one''s body, the Luxuriaced within was meant to take hold of one''s mind and permit Geneva to manipte it as she pleased.

    In other words, her technique could serve as both an attack with extensive coverage as well as a crowd control ability. Sadly, this almost meant the strain on Geneva would be much higher, a pressure that Forcalor remained unsure about.

    Thus, he felt it was up to Geneva to ultimately determine if she was ready to face that level of bodily burden.

    "Dual utilization? That sounds hard but also rewarding. Will it help me earn a stable position in my Lord''s eyes?" Geneva questioned as the gentle cloud of Luxuria disappeared from around her. However, although it was gone, Geneva remained fine as Forcalor ced her on a t rock to recuperate.

    "It''s possible. But, if I''m being frank, your Lord should already feel you are valuable. Your potential is immense, and so is your arsenal. You''ll be an indispensable presence if you continue to refine them," Forcalor answered.

    However, he was shocked to find that Geneva presented a wry smile. Unbeknownst to Forcalor, the household was filled with individuals rivaling Geneva. Thus, she felt she was nothing special regarding Forcalor''s praise.

    "I''m sure your view would change if you understood the setting of my household. But enough of that, it appears that I won''t be able to stay much longer. I can feel that my return is soon needed."

    "Understood," Forcalor said. "Then, if that''s the case, how about I follow you to where you must go? Think of me as a guide to ensure your safety so that a situation like before doesn''t recur."

    At first, Geneva''s eyebrows rose in surprise. But, after recalling the simrities in their insignia and Forcalor''s unusual offer to train her, Geneva finally understood that he must have intentions of meeting her ruler. Of course, she didn''t sense any animosity, so she wasn''t against the idea.

    Not to mention, she doubted that anyone was foolish enough to want to harm Apollo while in the presence of Fuhrer. That was simply seeking their death, like entering a dangerous area marked with many indicators yet ignoring them.

    "I''d like that," Geneva answered with an alluring smile. Despite the enrapturing scene, Forcalor waspletely unaffected by Geneva''s beauty since he was an avid controller of Luxuria.

    Besides, he grew up alongside the 9 Kings, so he had witnessed truly overwhelming beauties as well as devilishly handsome demons capable of swooning any mate of their choosing.

    "How long do we have before we must leave?"

    "Judging by the level of rm, I''d say a day or two at most," Geneva estimated.

    Subsequently, a grin appeared across Forcalor''s face. "Then we have more than enough time to polish some of the things we addressed during training."

    Geneva didn''tin, but there was a visible frown on her face as she listened to Forcalor suggest more training. Luckily, their current setting supported her speedy recovery. So, she was refreshed and ready to continue within the hour.

    Granted, she couldn''t overlook the tenderness deep within her body that would only be solved after sublime rest, something that she found difficult to obtain. She wasn''t sure when the opportunity to have a good rest would arise.

    Just as Geneva suspected, two days passed before she received Apollo''s order to return from Luxnia and meet back in Ashiraem. And as he promised, Forcalor apanied Geneva to the Link Portal and watched over her.

    The aura released by his Noble Demon Body alone was enough to deter anyone from within one hundred meters since it had long since reached the peak of that level. So, the duo reached the Link Portal underneath Luxnia''s Tower without any mishaps and stood before it.

    "After you," Forcalor said while gesturing towards the portal. Basic manners were something that members of a household needed towards one another, especially since it stressed the importance of hierarchy.

 Chapter 542: Apollo Awakens

    Chapter 542: Apollo Awakens

    <strong>Apollo Awakens</strong> ---- 1

    Back within Ashiraem¡­

    Apollo gradually opened his eyes while in the center of a dulling inscription circle. Before him, Furcas steadied himself with an unusual pale color. Evidently, healing Apollo back to peak performance was an abnormal task that Furcas hadn''t adequately prepared himself for.

    ''Motherfu-! What is wrong with his vitality? I should''ve expected something absurd like this to take ce, seeing as he possesses both an unprecedented bloodline apanied with a bizarre body,'' Furcas swore internally.

    At first, it was reasonably simple for Furcas to manipte the energies of the runes to heal the wounds within Apollo''s body and spirit, but that soon changed as he delved into the deep-rooted wounds. This was linked to Apollo''s use of all seven Sins at one time.

    While the runes didn''t differentiate between the Sin signatures, it was still tricky to partition seven streams of energy, some of which needed to be more robust than others since the state of Apollo''s Sin Vessels varied greatly. The vessels that housed Sins which Apollo rarely used required twice, if not thrice, the amount of attention the others needed.

    "You don''t look so well," Apollo said with a faint chuckle. At the same time, he analyzed his internals and saw that Furcas had properly sealed up all the cracks and ruptures. If Apollo weren''t the reason for his earlier wounds, then Furcas''s healing would have made it practically impossible to discern that his body was previously close to peril.

    "You jest? Are you mocking me? I''ll have you know that simultaneously tending to both of you buffoons is not an easy feat," Furcas yelled with an incredulous expression. He couldn''t believe that the usually cold Lord was in the joking mood and doing so after he worked tirelessly to ensure his full recovery.

    Of course, Furcas wasn''t offended by Apollo''s actions, especially after witnessing Apollo''s next move.

    Apollo waved his hand, summoning a small ring in the palm of his hand. "This is for you. I know you went to great lengths to help me. I don''t care if it''s your duty to serve your Lord; it''s also my responsibility to ensure the longevity of my household."

    "But, Lord¡­"

    "No buts," Apollo interjected. "There are some rune materials found in the ruins and some Fragment of Sins. I''ll make sure to keep you in mind once wee across stronger materials."

    Before epting the ring, Furcas looked at Apollo silently with an unusual expression. ''Something''s¡­ different. Just what happened in the fight against Asteroth? It feels as if the Young Lord has matured a great deal. Either way, this is extremely beneficial for the household.''

    "I understand, my Lord, and I appreciate the sentiment," Furcas replied with a nod before taking the ring.

    Suddenly, a low rustle was heard beside Apollo, causing his attention to gradually shift towards the source. Just as he had awoken, so had Asteroth. But, unlike Apollo, there seemed to be unsettled emotions in Asteroth''s eyes as he gazed at Apollo.

    "Just so you know, neither of us won," Asteroth said with a grunt.

    "As I said before, I''ll take a draw, but the results won''t stagnate. I promise that I will overtake you," Apollo answered with a faint smirk. All Asteroth could do was snicker in response.

    Meanwhile, Furcas was taken aback by their exchange. Usually, Asteroth would have resorted to extreme violence after listening to someone iming that they could best him. Only individuals Asteroth acknowledged could utter such words with little to no consequence, but that was limited to Aztraval, Fuhrer, 9 Kings, and some of the absurdly powerful Dukes.

    Afterward, Apollo closed his eyes and smiled before opening them with a cold glint. An intangible ripple spread from his body as he sent a message to all of his subjects within his vicinity, which was the summons that Geneva answered to.

    But, unlike his usual actions of opening a portal for them to appear immediately, Apollo didn''t create one. He was well aware that most of his household members were engaged in extensive training while he healed, so rather than interrupt their progress, he merely reminded them that their timeline was shortening and they should finish up whatever endeavors they were currently in the midst of.

    "Will you be joining us on our household mission?" Apollo asked while ncing towards Asteroth.

    "Don''t feel like it. Besides, I doubt you''re getting into any real fun at your current level; it''s not something I want to trouble myself with," Asteroth answered before rising to his feet.

    "If that''s the case, then I have a request. You don''t have to honor it, but my subordinate begged for this opportunity. I have a forger in my ranks, and they''ve studied your molds earnestly; however, they require more guidance if they''re to make any more notable advancements. Would you give them a few pointers to broaden their path," Apollo asked.

    He hadn''t forgotten about Xonnomor''s request, and now that they were sufficiently healed and Asteroth seemed unupied with time to spare, it was the perfect time for Apollo to raise this request.

    "My molds?" Asteroth muttered before recalling the weapon Apollo used for a short while during the fight. It truly possessed some of the qualities found in his mold, but Asteroth also sensed many inconsistencies since those were molds meant to create the perfect container for an Armament''s soul.

    "Perhaps the forger behind your weapon has the making to be a great smith, but theyck the fire found in all smiths at that level, both physically and in the sense of their spirit. But¡­ it wouldn''t hurt to converse with aponent forger versed in thenguage of the smith," Asteroth said with a partially interested look.

    There weren''t many forgers in the old household, and those who were present typically made up the production crew tasked with creating the mass-manufactured armors and weapons for war.

    "Excellent. I''m sure they''ll be ecstatic to learn of that chance. Though, I''d much rather leave it to surprise," Apollo said. Part of him didn''t want to promise Asteroth''s guidance because he understood his finicky attitude that changed on a whim depending on how Asteroth felt in the moment.

    Soon after, Apollo rose to his feet and moved to the courtyard, where a crowd gradually appeared. At the same time, a portal opened behind Apollo with weary dropping on the ground repeatedly. However, thest one to appear remained indifferent and perfectly healthy.

    "Did it go well?" Apollo questioned.

    "As best as it could. Regardless of my expectations, I can''t doubt Estran''s eye for individuals," Fuhrer said with an imperceptible nod. During his training, he foresaw multiple recurrences, but to his surprise, the Lords didn''t appreciate the fact that another demon was closer to iming an Aura than they were.

    So, even when on the verge of crumbling their soul, the Lords continued to trudge forward. Sadly, all of the Lords weren''t present of Fuhrer would have been satisfied by the results.

    ''Hmm?''

    Though he was interested in learning about the events that transpired inside the separate space, Apollo''s interest was stolen by a rapidly approaching party of two. Their absurd speed caused a constant disturbance in the atmosphere littered with Ira.

    ording to his knowledge, even Amduscias, the Demonic Duke blessed with obscene speed, paled inparison to what he sensed. But, what unsettled Apollo was the fact that he hadn''t perceived this party until it was ufortably close.

    If it weren''t for Apollo''s exposure to all Sins, he probably wouldn''t have sensed the neer at all since the fluctuation happened in near imperceptible intervals, as if the other side was seeking to conserve their strength.

    Apollo''s eyes narrowed slightly as a dark aura appeared in the palm of his right hand. ''Based on their actions, this should be far from their true strength. Furthermore, they''re not from this Ring. Wait¡­''

    Suddenly, Apollo noticed a change in the notifications disyed in his eyes. Since he wasn''t focused on seeking out any more of the hidden members of the Lost Council, he didn''t spare the location markers any attention.

    But, the change was so apparent that he couldn''t help but look at the rapidly reducing distance. ''Someone hase to meet personally? How unusual; this is a first.''

    The ck aura in Apollo''s palm gradually dispersed as he returned to his rxed while awaiting the party''snding.

    Whoosh!

    Two individuals, one a female with tantalizing features wreathed by feathery clothing, spawned from her bloodline''s inherent traits and a wild demon with an oppressive presence.

    Needless to say, the two who appeared were Forcalor and Geneva.

 Chapter 544: A Name Beyond Everyones Current Limits

    Chapter 544: A Name Beyond Everyone''s Current Limits

    <strong>A Name Beyond Everyone''s Current Limits</strong> ---- 1

    Along with acquiring another strong demon on his side, Apollo also received benefits linked to Forcalor''s power source. Since he was a demon who mastered all aspects of Luxuria underneath the maximum level, Apollo''s benefits were shocking.

    Namely, Apollo''s Luxuria purity, which he had shown little to no attention to since he didn''t require any mental antics to overpower any of his foes thus far. And, even if he wished to use the mental corruption linked to his stigmata, Apollo understood the effects were temporary, inevitable forcing him to return to the former predicament once they wore off.

    For example, even if he attempted to control Saehtyn in hopes of bringing him to his side forcefully, Apollo would be back to square one once the system revealed his inability to maintain control after manipting Saehtyn''s mind.

    At most, this ability would only pose some use when he required temporary assistance for a situation beyond his physical limits. Not to mention, there was also the issue with its purity being Primary. Apollo doubted this inferior purity was enough to tamper with a Noblesse''s mental rity.

    Based on his assumptions, he would need a purity matching the corresponding evolution to yield any worthwhile results. Nevertheless, Apollo continued to marvel at the changes found in his status screen.

    ''No way¡­'' Apollo thought to himself while expanding the contents of the status screen. Aside from the information that didn''t change, such as his Level and Race, absorbing a fragment of Forcalor''s power had equalized a number of his stats!

    ----

    (Demon Monarch System) Lv.6

    Name: Apollo Kaiser (Zethroz Dominus)

    Race: Greater Demon [100%]

    Title: Monarch''s True Heir, Azridan''s Sessor

    Age: 18

    Level: 199

    Experience: 100%

    Health: 100%

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 220,000 units

    -----

    Strength: 6,315.0

    Agility: 6,060.0

    Intelligence: 5,787.5

    Vitality: 5,668.0

    Comprehension: 608.8

    Willpower: 578.8

    -----------

    [?Traits?]- 8

    ?Supreme Demon Body?

    ?Unbound Eyes?

    ?Gluttonous Soul?

    ?Vacant Soul?

    ?Eye of Mimicry?

    ?Eye of Desire?

    ?Intrepid Mind?

    ?Tempting Corruption?

    -----------

    [?Techniques?]- 5

    ?Demonic Imposition: Adamantine Servitude? [Partially Awakened]

    ?Demonic Providence: Domination? [Sealed]

    -----------

    [?Sin Margins?]

    Ira - Late [Infernal Hellfire]

    G - Primary [Endless Devouring]

    Avaritia - Initial [Boundless Desires]

    Superbia - Late [Adamant Will]

    Invidia - Initial [Covetous Eye]

    Luxuria - Late [Corrupted Eye]

    Acedia - Initial [Languish Perception]

    ...

    Until now, Apollo''s intelligence stat had been his mostcking quality because he didn''t mingle with mental aspects and focused primarily on physical training. But, after epting Forcalor, the digested fragment rewarded more than 3,000 points of intelligence.

    Although it also gave other stats, the boost was iparable to the rest! While the gain seemed nonsensical at first, Apollo gradually understood why it was so. Forcalor was the first Noblesse member and ording to the information present on his status screen, calling him exceptionally strong was an understatement.

    ¡¸Name: Forcalor [Follower]

    Race: Noblesse (99.99%) [Restricted]

    Title: Deadly Temptation, Irresistible Savage

    Bloodline: Umbra Moonlight Griffin (Aura of Attraction)

    Demonic Anima Reserves: 105,325,000 units

    Sin Volume: 396,600 units

    -----

    [?Traits?]-

    ?Silver Charm?

    ?Irresistible Nightmare?

    ?Savage Empowerment?

    ?Fatal Attraction?

    ?Dual Facade?

    -----

    [?Attributes?]-

    Strength: 28,500.0

    Agility: 28,500.0

    Intelligence: 29,500.0

    Vitality: 27,000.0

    Perception: 30,000.0

    ----

    Luxuria: Perfection [Eyes of Temptation] [Tantalizing Presence] [???] ¡¹

    ''What well-rounded stats,'' Apollo thought to himself while sparing Forcalor a sidelong nce. One of the reasons Apollo barely used Luxuria was its inferiority to Superbia, G, and Ira inbat. When used in tandem, these powers amplified Apollo''sbat effectiveness several times.

    However, Apollo couldn''t overlook the relevance of the Sin after browsing through Forcalor''s attributes. Although Forcalor numbers reflected the enormous efforts to strengthen himself, Apollo also realized that his traits and Sin Abilities posed some unique uses.

    In fact, the longer Apollo inspected the screen, the more he wished to see Forcalor in action. Sadly, no one present even came close to matching those ridiculous numbers.

    And, even if he wanted to use the Lords as test subjects, they weren''t exactly in the right state to engage in battle. Fuhrer''s training had left them mentally battered and physically enervated.

    Eventually, Forcalor rose to his feet as a strangle glint shed in his eyes for a moment. Simr to Asteroth, he maintained arge portion of his self-awareness. While he was loyal to Apollo and his cause, it wasn''t as blind as the weaker subjects.

    Of course, Forcalor wouldn''t step out of line for two reasons; his respect for Aztraval and his fear towards Fuhrer and what he was genuinely capable of.

    ''Although I said he hasn''t changed, I can sense his power has been spread thin,'' Forcalor thought as he silently examined Fuhrer.

    Fuhrer sensed Forcalor''s prying gaze but only smiled faintly in response. After all, he expected this to happen. As one of the Demonic Dukes with a remarkably high perception, Forcalor was bound to sense something that the others couldn''t.

    For example, while it was extremely faint and barely even noticeable to Forcalor, after straining his senses, Forcalor perceived an innumerable amount of threads sprouting from Fuhrer and linking to an absurd number of locations.

    Most importantly, over two-thirds of these threads seemingly disappeared after flowing skyward and piercing through a veil of energyprising an unblended mixture of Demonic Anima and Sin.

    Eventually, Forcalor could make out the image of Fuhrer cradling the worlds, except the image bordered on the verge of a practice only employed by the Spirits. Regrettably, Forcalor could also sense eerie gaps widening at a snail''s pace.

    Forcalor slowly panned his gaze back down towards Fuhrer, unable to conceal his shock. "Old Man Fuhrer? Just what happened?" Forcalor muttered incredulously.

    "That''s not something you need to know, for now, young boy. We must prepare instead of indulging in our curiosities," Fuhrer answered while refusing to address the subject.

    "If that''s so, then it is good that I''ve returned to the household. What about Eligos? Have you all tried to contact him?" Forcalor asked suddenly. Since Fuhrer didn''t wish to speak about the previous question, Forcalor immediately understood that it was a situation with extreme repercussions.

    Since that was the case, Forcalor first thought was to reim the strongest of the Dukes, Eligos the Undefeated. As the name implied, he was undefeated within the ranks of Demonic Dukes, earning the undisputedbel as the strongest duke of the Dominus Household or even the Nihilistic Rings, for that matter.

    "Eligos?" Apollo muttered in slight surprise.

    The source of the surprise was the fact that this name was linked to thergest dot on the Sin map. Apollo didn''t need to assume anything as the system already revealed that the size of the dot corresponded to the piece''s power. Such an enormous dot could only mean one thing.

    "I''ll take that as a no then," Forcalor said before rubbing his chin meaningfully. Suppose they were to weather a frightful storm without their omnipotent Old Monarch; it''d be next to impossible to aplish with their current numbers. So Forcalor felt the household''s foundation should be fortified, which undoubtedly included assembling all of the Dukes.

    "Eligos has always been an unusual character. There''s no need to rush to meet him if the Lord isn''t strong enough. In fact, I forbid itpletely," Fuhrer said in a stoic tone. Evidently, he wouldn''t sway in his decision, and there was a reason for it.

    Eligos was a Pseudo-Daemos, meaning that while he hadn''t forged a Daemonic Soul, his Demon Body had already surpassed the highest form a Noble Demon Body could achieve. Just his body alone was enough to tank Asteroth''s attacks fueled by his Aura of Destruction.

    That feat alone was a testament to his absurd strength when considering the monstrous amount of destructive force Asteroth could produce.

    "Why does it sound like you''re terrified?" Apollo questioned while observing Fuhrer''s behavior. There was a cold glint in his eyes as he looked at Forcalor, even causing the surrounding area to fill with an oppressive pressure.

    Thest thing Fuhrer wanted Forcalor to do was fill Apollo''s head with more insane ideas. It was bad enough that he nearly put himself out ofmission in his fight against Asteroth. Matters would turn out tens of times worse if he truly went about confronting Eligos.

    "I am terrified, but it is for you. Regardless of your achievements until now, we both know that your pride has led to extremely risky decisions. Thus, I''m telling you now that Eligos will challenge your pride, and you won''t appreciate it. So, drop the matter for now," Fuhrer insisted.

    Contrary to the intended effect, Fuhrer''s warning only spurred Apollo''s curiosity even more. Fortunately, his curiosity didn''t trump his thirst for vengeance.

    "I understand. I''ll listen to your suggestion."

 Chapter 545: Multifaceted Intentions of Conquest

    Chapter 545: Multifaceted Intentions of Conquest

    <strong>Multifaceted Intentions of Conquest </strong> ---- 0

    Apollo ultimately agreed to Fuhrer''s suggestion as he listened to him and Forcalor recount many of Eligos''s feats as well as his attainments during the era before the household''s disappearance. If any other demons possibly retained their power, then it had to be Eligos.

    His mutated Demon Body, which was stuck between a Noble Demon Body and a Daemonic Demon Body, should be rtively resistant to the erosion of time, primarily if he actively maintained his Sin Purity and level of physical strength like Forcalor did.

    All he needed was a setting with Sin Purity that was not much weaker than the Primal Sources and an asional battle with someone that could stimte the portion of his power he kept repressed.

    Meanwhile, Apollo moved to the reason for his summons. "As I mentioned before, everyone moved to make themselves stronger, so our household is due for a conquest. A change of scenery and mint source of power should work wonders for our current members."

    "Wahaha! I get to kill some motherfuckers! I''m telling you, I''m going to shove this spear of my so far up someone behin- ooof... uummf!"

    Vc was immediately overwhelmed with excitement causing him to spew unpleasantries like an open faucet. However, Amduscias appeared beside him and covered his mouth to shut him up while nodding towards Apollo as if he was saying: "I''ve got this under control; you may continue, my Lord."

    "Heh," Apollo snickered lightly. After a short pause, he continued. "As I said, we''ll be going on a conquest. However, we''ll be making a little detour before we arrive at our true destination."

    Geneva''s expression changed as she listened to Apollo speak. "A detour?" There was only one possible detour on her mind, and it had been quite some time since she had been there. She could only specte how much the situation had changed. After all, time passed differently between these two worlds.

    As a more robust ne of existence, all of the rules belonging to the Nihilistic Rings were strengthened inparison. Thus, even the flow of time was significantly reduced, allowing the demons the luxury of incredibly robust lifespanspared to the likes of humans.

    "Yes, we''ll be returning to Astarat. You can think of this as a test," Apollo said before panning his gaze through Typhir, Sapphyr, and Geneva¨Dthe three who possessed former intimate ties for this world. Sadly, Apollo had other ns for it as he understood the immensity of certain inevitable events he had to engage in if he ever wanted to unseal the sealed Demonic Providence.

    ''A test?'' Geneva thought while frowning for a brief moment. A string of memory shed in her mind as her gaze gradually found its way back to Apollo. It wasn''t easy to dispose of all the memories etched on her soul.

    Conversely, Typhir seemed entirely unaffected by Apollo''s word as he matched the look given to him with almost equal indifference. Unlike Geneva, Typhir''s life wasn''t as long, and except for a select few, Typhir didn''t have many intimate ties to Astarat.

    Even the other progeny of the other Great Families were only acquaintances. But, they were no longer of this world after experiencing the onught of Typhir and Apollo working together to eradicate them.

    Lastly, Sapphyr''s expression seemed conflicted. On one hand, she wanted topletely forget about Astarat and her terrible standing. But, she also wanted her half-sister Sarai to suffer the same torture she felt. Hence, the confliction in her eyes.

    Apollo noticed the struggle in Sapphyr''s eyes but didn''t address it. Some situations could only be solved by the individual who experienced the turmoil. And, the person who emerged from the darkness of the struggle would no longer be the same.

    "So you''ve made up your mind. I expected this to happen," Fuhrermented. The glimmer in Apollo''s eyes that appeared when Fuhrer told him about the conquest told Fuhrer all he needed to know at the time. Apollo most likely began to devise his n at that very moment.

    "It''s just inescapable," Apollo said with an indifferent shrug. The fate of Astarat mattered little to him as he was searching for something much more profound. For one, he needed to understand why the wandering part of his soul ended up on that world, a world in a destitute region outside the detection of the Upper Races but inadvertently linked to them in many ways.

    Evidently, it was no mere coincidence for him to end up there. Even if he had to cause shocking amounts of mayhem, Apollo wouldn''t stop until he obtained his answer. And, even after receiving his exnation, that didn''t mean he would simply up and leave. He couldn''t just leave his actions unfinished.

    "At least you understand this much," Fuhrer said with a faint smile. Truth be told, he patiently awaited the day this conversation appeared because he needed Apollo toplete thest rite of a demon to fully adjust to the role he''d have to yter on, just on a far more exorbitant scale.

    Besides, although he hadn''t mentioned it before, Fuhrer felt as if Astarat was still a crutch for Apollo, a symbol of his faint attachment to humanity. If that attachment, no matter how small it may be, continued to exist, it meant there was a slim chance that Apollo wouldn''t have the best graces of the Demon Race in his mind at all times.

    His mind would be fragmented and tied to another world as well, which was uneptable in Fuhrer''s eyes. Regardless of Apollo''s unique circumstances, he was a true-born Dominus, so his loyalty couldn''t preside anywhere else but in the Demon Race.

    "Hmm?" Apollo looked towards Fuhrer with an intrigued expression. Based on Fuhrer''s tone, he felt Fuhrer already knew his intentions in returning to Astarat, although he had yet to disclose it.

    "It''s nothing important. As always, I will apany you to anywhere you must go, whether it be impractical or inhumane," Fuhrer said. There was a proud glint in his eyes as he mentioned thest inhumane part since the Demon Race as a whole was spawned from odious, inhumane sources.

    "That''s not something that needs to be spoken. You''ve already shown through your actions that''s what you intend to do, and after experiencing some of these memories, I believe it," Apollo responded.

    For a moment, Fuhrer looked at Apollo silently. A tinge of shock was apparent in his gaze as he didn''t expect Apollo''s soul to be mature enough to experience ancient memories through his stigmata linked to trace amounts of the Primal Sin Sources.

    However, Fuhrer didn''t know that he was still far from that point. Apollo''s experience originated from Azrtraval''s actions themselves. But, while Apollo trusted Fuhrer, he couldn''t reveal the system even if he intended to.

    There were times he thought of addressing the system and making Fuhrer aware of it, but an unknown influence immediately negated it. But, the odd part was that influence was absent when he thought about introducing it to someone like Typhir or even Sapphyr, which Apollo found to be strange.

    ''The only difference between Fuhrer and the rest is that the system has established zero control over him. He is an anomaly in the system''s perspective, so perhaps it will only allow those under its unwavering control to be wary of its existence,'' Apollo thought to himself with an expression that was hard to read.

    Afterward, Fuhrer nced in Forcalor''s direction with a meaningful expression. "Will you be bringing him along as well?"

    "Mmm¡­"

    This was a question that Apollo hadn''t considered in the slightest. First of all, he didn''t factor in the surprise visit of such a powerful member, which created a number of opportunities for Apollo to capitalize on. Although their presence would considerably reduce the difficulty of his conquest, there was also an adverse effect of ruining the experiential gain of the weaker household members.

    Then again, there was also Tirasha, who Apollo intended to leave in the Nihilistic Rings toplete her change thoroughly. So, she would be the only member of the Dominus Household who wouldn''t participate in the conquest, at least not initially.

    Meanwhile, Apollo turned his attention towards the winded Lords and pale Xorgrah. "Are any of you interested in leaving the Nihilistic Rings for the time being?"

    "Negative." Xorgrah declined.

    "After how bad I''ve been treated, I''ll have to respectfully decline the offer, even if it''sing from a handsome man such as yourself~," Asmidia said with a faint pout. Evidently, she hadn''t got over the torturous pain.

    "You damned dimwit, you know what he did to us?" Belphegor snarled.

    "Mmn," Saehtyn grunted softly, not giving a definitive answer like the rest.

    Nevertheless, Apollo turned towards Fuhrer. "How long will it take to create a spatial channel linking more than one destination?"

    "Linking them? It will take quite some time depending on the distance and number of dimensional membranes I have to cut through," Fuhrer answered.

    "I see, then you may begin soon. But, not from here. Let''s return to that ce," Apollo said.

 Chapter 547: Endless Death Domains Changes

    Chapter 547: Endless Death Domain''s Changes

    <strong>Endless Death Domain''s Changes</strong> ---- 1

    Back on Astarat¡­

    The situation on Astarat, specifically regarding the warzone linking Catastrophe Line together, had grown unusually tense because of theck of activity. Over a year had passed since thest wave of Terrorbatants, yet the side showed little to no signs of movement, which many found to be extremely odd.

    ording to the written records, the only time the Terrors experienced such a low level of activities was when their leader suffered extensive injuries to the point it required astronomical amounts of Death Essence to recover. Of course, the Grand Master at that time doubted that this leader could ever manage to recover from how severe the injuries were.

    But, as their information regarding the Terrors was somewhatcking, the Grand Master would never have guessed that their assumption sorely underestimated the regenerative abilities of the Terrors, or rather the race known as Absorbeyns in the open universe.

    Apart from theck of activity, another matter rmed the World Remation Task Force. In addition to theck of movement, the Death Essence''s concentration levels experienced wild fluctuations. Despite theck of activity, the general levels continued to spike as if new bodies were being introduced to the Endless Death Domain.

    However, the World Remation Task Force''s upper echelon was confident this wasn''t the case. After all, they hadn''t sent a single individual within the timeframe of unusual activity. At least, that was their understanding of the matter.

    As promised, both Nadida and Odessa ventured past the Catastrophe Line and into the Endless Death Domain to unearth the reason for Nadida''s uneasiness if possible. Despite the apparent signs of danger, Nadida couldn''t shake the feeling that this was something she must do. She didn''t know if this feeling was present in the others or perhaps just unique to her due to an inadvertent suggestion made by her continually silent Spirit.

    Either way, it wasn''t an impulse she could ignore. However, it wasn''t long after entering that both Odessa and Nadida understood the truth behind the Three Heaven''s words. The Death Essence within the Endless Death Domain possessed many different zones, and the thick vapors littering the atmosphere grew increasingly dreadful as one delved deeper into the zones.

    Furthermore, each zone was unique to the rank of the Terrors. Meaning, the first zone only held Rank 1 Terrors, whereas the following site held Rank 2 and so forth. Of course, this wasn''t an issue right now since both of these women could handle up to Rank 4 Terrors at their current level without suffering losses.

    So, the two stood at the precipice of the fourth zone, which acted as a divider between the significantly different miasma. Before taking a step forward, Odessa turned towards Nadida with a skeptical expression and whispered. "What exactly are we looking for here, Nadida? I don''t understand; this valley of death all looks the same."

    "I don''t know either, but it has to be something that highlights this anomaly taking ce. Surely, there''s some big reason behind it; we just need to find it and alert the others of it so they can make proper preparations," Nadida answered while looking forward.

    ''This new miasma looks unsettling¡­ are our Essence Aegis strong enough to explore inside? More importantly, is there any Terror that inhabits that area?'' Nadida wondered. Aside from Brukti, Nadida wasn''t sure if other Rank 4 Terrors surpassed the ranking but didn''t faultlessly qualify to begin their transformation into a Disaster.

    While they''d be weaker than someone like Brukti, who was a full-fledged Disaster, they''d still be much stronger than a typical Rank 4 Terror, even rivaling some of humanity''s strongerbatants.

    "That''s not very reassuring. We''ve been slowly exploring this domain, spending at least a few months here. Whatever we''re looking for should have appeared by now," Odessa murmured with a slight frown. Due to the constant exposure, Odessa was forced to activate a unique variation of her Essence Aegis, which relied upon her Spiritual Essense as fuel.

    Regrettably, employing this particr variation siphoned some of the Spiritual Essence reserved for nurturing her second Spiritual Mind. Though it was already at its final stages, Odessa didn''t wish to impede its progress because thest stages were especially crucial.

    "Tell me something I don''t know. Wait¡­"

    Nadida''s eyes narrowed as she focused before her, attempting to pierce the miasma with her gaze. It was faint, but she could sense something unusual on the other side, almost as if the Death Essence was stirring and shifting its flow towards the center of the domain rather than remaining stagnant.

    Soon enough, the stirring of energy became violent enough that both Nadida and Odessa could see it clear as day. The continually increasing volume of Death Essence started to plummet at a shocking rate. For a moment, an opening formed in the miasma dividing the two zones, making the two women look at each other with tacit understanding.

    Without a word, both Nadida and Odessa rushed forward to explore the reason behind the sudden change in the Endless Death Domain''s atmosphere. However, to their dismay, they discovered the temporary opening disyed signs of reverting to its prior state despite the energy continuing to thin.

    "How long do you think we have?" Odessa asked.

    "No idea, but it''s safe to assume that we need to move as fast as possible to make sure we avoid the toxic damage of this ce," Nadida said before causing a massive disturbance due to her absurd eleration. Each of her steps crossed at least a hundred meters, with Odessa following close beside her.

    Since there was not much time, they avoided irrelevant matters and focused only on what seemed abnormal enough to warrant the situation currently unraveling within the area.

    While moving, the duo witnessed a shocking number of Terrors in a semi-slumbering state with tiny sprouts surfacing beside them. The sprouts gradually grew into miniature Terrors, which developed faster than either of them could''ve expected.

    "Wasn''t it said that it takes weeks for lower-ranked Terrors to be born? Howe they''repleting the initial birth in a matter of seconds? Isn''t this ridiculous?" Nadida asked with widened eyes.

    "It must have something to do with the unusual Death Essence. It''s drastically reducing the incubation period. Something is wrong," Odessa answered.

    However, they soon came to a stop after they noticed something peculiar before their eyes. A familiar figure seemed to be gazing off into the distance with shimmering spear nestled across their shoulders.

    ''Isn''t that¡­''

    The figure turned around before either of them could call out to them. Their gaze seemed distant, but an intrigued expression appeared across their face. "What brings you two so deep within this domain? I''m surprised you made it this far; no, perhaps the unprecedented situation was to your advantage."

    Both Nadida and Odessa''s expressions grew stiff as they watched Aaron stand there without an Essence Aegis erected. They couldn''t understand how his body withstood the corrosion of the miasma without its help.

    "Your tone¡­ does it imply that you know what is going on? Why is the Death Essence stirring so much?" Odessa questioned with a solemn expression. She didn''t know why, but being in Aaron''s presence made her feel uneasy. Although she was supposed to be a Paragon, she couldn''t help but feel somewhat defenseless before this man.

    "Sure; the answer is straightforward, in fact. Something or rather more than one thing is absorbing the Death Essence in the center of the domain. You should probably ry this message as quickly as possible," Aaron said before turning his gaze towards the center of the domain.

    A weird glint surfaced in his eyes while he watched two unique presences voraciously soaking up the Death Essence. All signs pointed towards movement taking ce very shortly.

    "WHAT?!" Nadida shouted hysterically. Aaron didn''t need to delve into deeper detail as she understood there was a limited number of Terrors capable of causing this disturbance. Aaron''s revtion implied that Brukti should be ready to make a personal move.

    If that were the case, everyone needed to mobilize and do so immediately.

    "Uh oh, maybe you''ll witness the beginning of it all firsthand," Aaron said. Afterward, a colossal tremor assaulted the Endless Death Domain, almost as if a bizarre army was beginning their march now that their home was nearly void of their sustenance.

    Nadida and Odessa froze in horror following the tremors as they watched an oversized figure slowly floating up into the air. Their grotesque physique carried signs of overwhelming raw power as they spread their arms and roared to the sky.

    ''We can''t stay here; we have to let everyone know,'' Odessa thought. Without hesitation, she retrieved a valuable transportation rune and grabbed Nadida before crushing it.

    They disappeared on the spot whereas Aaron remained where he was.

    ''Sadly, it isn''t you that we''re interested in,'' Aaron thought to himself before continuing his slow-paced trek.

 Chapter 548: Astarats War: Humans v. Terrors (I)

    Chapter 548: Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (I)

    <strong>Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (I)</strong> ---- 1

    Odessa and Nadida quickly appeared within the World Remation Task Force''s headquarters after crushing the Teleportation Stone. Once they appeared, they rushed to the depths of the main building and burst through the door with frantic expressions.

    Even though they hadn''t verified Aaron''s ims, it was enough to trigger their apprehension, given the fact that he was one of the most abnormal situations to grace their generation. It was a known fact that Aaron roamed the Endless Death Domain on a whim, and he would puncture deeper than his previous journey every time he did so.

    Initially, the World Remation Task Force higher-ups found this peculiar because Aaron showed almost no signs of increasing power. Thus, they couldn''t understand how his body ignored the zones atmosphere.

    Nevertheless, having witnessed one of his journeys firsthand, both Nadida and Odessa understood that his situation was just too strange to put into words. Not to mention, there was an odd air surrounding Aaron, which was strong enough to influence these two.

    Meanwhile, those within the conference room turned towards Nadida and Odessa after the minor disturbance they made. Upon first thought, the people inside intended to scold the two women, but Odessa spoke first before the room''s upants could voice their displeasure.

    "We need to mobilize everyone, NOW!" Odessa screeched hysterically. There was only a two-second dy between crushing the Teleportation Stone and the effects of it activating, but in that small window, Odessaid eyes upon something terrifying.

    In addition to the enormous figure suspended in the sky, countless more miniature figures floated while attaching to tendrils extending from the gigantic figure in the sky. If it were in the past when Odessa was weaker, she wouldn''t have any clue as to what she witnessed. But, after fighting Terrors for so long, she understood very well what that mass was.

    "I believe the period of respite ends now! The entire Endless Death Domain is seething with Death Essence activity!" Odessa added.

    Naturally, the individuals in the room didn''t immediately believe her. After all, most of those present were strong enough to pierce near the center of that ce. If the activity was truly as she dered, they should''ve sensed it by now. There was no way that someone with an inferior cultivation possessed senses surpassing their own.

    However, Soren''s eyebrow rose as he sniffed the air then stared at Odessa and Nadida with narrowing eyes. "You two¡­ you''ve pierced the internal zone of the Endless Death Domain. Don''t you know how catastrophic that could''ve been? That ce is ruthless even to us!"

    "That''s the thing. We only took the chance because something inside the area changed, allowing us the opportunity to do so! This is my earnest discovery; the Terrors are ready to make arge move. I think their Disaster has finally amassed enough power," Odessa replied with a solemn expression.

    Her tone was grim as she recounted the vast mass shrinking and eventually taking on a ballooned version of the Terror''s figure. Though she had never seen Brukti, this was the only usible exnation for the current situation.

    "I see," Solomon answered in a deep voice while also opening his eyes to gaze around the room. He gave a faint nod while also standing from his seat. "Begin the preparations immediately. In the meantime, I''ll take this opportunity to confirm Odessa''s ims."

    However, just as Solomon stood, Soren raised his hand and gestured for him to stop. "There is no need for you to do that. Everyone, take a look."

    Silently, everyone within the room turned and looked through one of the spacious windows. Deep in the distance, a number of greenish-ck lightning strikes surrounded by a frightening swirl of dense energies in the sky. As for the location, it was situated directly above the center of the Endless Death Domain and spreading quickly.

    Even Odessa was shocked by this development. ''It''s been no more than a few seconds, but the situation has already escted to this level? At this point, there won''t even be a need to alert everyone. They''ll just have to look up, and that''s it.''

    "What kind of horrendous concentration is this?" Solomon muttered in exasperation. Just like what Nadida and Odessa experienced firsthand, following the initial presence of robust Death Essence, the density was rapidly thinning while leaving behind the same unsettling feeling.

    "Gather everyone; NOW!" Sorenmanded to all within the room before turning towards the east. As it was the area covered by his family, his first thought was to have everyone migrate to the center of the battlefield. After all, Soren had a feeling that all of the Terror''s forces would being from a single front.

    "It''s really beginning," Nadida whispered with an exhausted visage. All the fighting for survival and maintaining a stoic attitude was taxing, both physically and mentally. Her one wish was for it all to end to give her the breather she needed.

    Finally, everyone departed from the main headquarters, including Nadida and Odessa, since they needed to ry the order to their troops and have them prepare for imminentbat.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, the situation deep within the Endless Death Domain reached the height of its effects. The enormous figure eventually shrank to a Terror at least 5 meters tall. The entire inner zone shook from his absurd weight when he descended from the sky. Then again, this tremor was also caused by the sheer power emanating from their body in droves.

    "Arise, my minions, for there is a great cause we must realize. This world will be ours rightfully and gain its name as the next birthce of us Absorbeyns," Brukti announced. A slight stir urred, steadily growing into a considerable reaction as countless unsightly beings roared to the sky.

    Some of their appearances were akin to mud monsters emitting toxic fumes, while others possessed moreplete bodies: either way, each type of being had an unmistakable role and reason for its creation.

    ''Some of you will cause destruction while some of you will bathe in it and perish as a vehicle for our great cause. For there are no sessful conquests without sacrifices," Brukti said. Afterward, he raised his clenched to the sky, slowly opening it to reveal a marble-sized orb.

    It was green and ck, with the two colors improperly mixing. But more importantly, the marble felt alive because it pulsated in a rhythm reminiscent of a heartbeat. What''s more, after each pulse, it drew in a considerable amount of Death Essence. The only indication of this happening was the minute growth it experienced.

    Roarrrrrrrghhh!!!

    Another wave of earth-shaking roars sounded within the Endless Death Domain, resulting in Brukti''s gruesome grin.

    "As we mark the demise of this race, we will also etch our uprising in stone. So, march my minions! Unleash all the terror sleeping within," Brukti bellowed, sending out a burst of Death Essence.

    Acting in response, the tremendous concentration of Terrors began their march. Each step was taken in unison as if Brukti was the one orchestrating their movement. Furthermore, what started slow soon grew into a violent stampede of Terrors rushing towards the Catastrophe Line.

    Meanwhile, Aaron hid in an inconspicuous area, covered by arge boulder as he gazed at Brukti leaping to the helm of the march. ''Although it may not be our target, it is still plenty powerful. Is this something that they can handle?''

    Based on the Brukti''s energy fluctuations alone, it was far stronger than a simple Heroic Spirit. Even the showed signs of sumbing to Brukti''s influence, given that the protective principles were in an extremely fragile state. After experiencing Apollo''s presence and shes between the first ever Terror, the condition of Astarat''s Source was not so great.

    Only after the army of Terrors moved far away did Aaron encase himself in a shimmering brilliance as he took steady steps towards a construct resembling a corroded mausoleum. Pirs decayed by the surrounding energies littered his view, but Aaron paid them no mind. Ever since he obtained the power to neglect the energies present, this area was his goal.

    ''Let''s learn of the secrets this holds. Why were you attracted here?'' Aaron wondered. But, just before he entered, he froze and stared inside the abyssal entrance with a faint frown.

    "I''m¡­ scared?" Aaron muttered to himself. Despite wanting to take a step forward, something seemed to stop him from doing so. Being as he was the wielder of his emotions, Aaron could only perceive it as fear.

    While Aaron dealt with this dilemma, Brukti watched as arge army of humans awaited his arrival at the Catastrophe Line. "Ahahahahaha! Bring it on!"

 Chapter 549: Astarats War: Humans v. Terrors (II)

    Chapter 549: Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (II)

    <strong>Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (II)</strong> ---- 0

    The prominent figures, such as Soren, Solomon, Valerie, and many other strong characters, stood at the forefront of the battlefield, watching as Brukti advanced towards the Catastrophe Line. At first, each of them seemed emotionless as they gripped their weapon and silently recorded the number of Terrorsprising the army.

    And, the final number was truly frightening.

    ''Over four hundred million Terrors marching towards war. This is truly an unprecedented number. Even if half these numbers are made up of mere Rank 1 Terrors, it''s too many to overlook. Numbers can ovee even the strongest of warriors once their stamina is depleted,'' Solomon thought to himself.

    Solomon then removed two rapiers from his waist with anguid sigh, wielding them with equal expertise. From his stance, it was clear that Solomon took ambidextrous to new heights.

    Simrly, Soren and the others withdrew their weapons as well, producing robust energy signatures. If one looked from a distance, they''d see each of the Three Heaven''s power taking on a tangible color. Soren''s color was pale gold, Valerie''s a milky white, and Solomon''s adopted a ck color with speckles of silver interspersed throughout.

    Afterward, they wasted no time summoning their Spirits. In Soren''s hand, he held the pseudo-Legendary Spirit Weapon, Gaelbolg, which possessed an ability of unsurpassed sharpness. If pierced by this weapon''s Spiritual Arts, the odds of dying were extremely high.

    On the other hand, Solomon summoned a Dark Spirit with long ck hair extending into wisps of smoke. Its body was wreathed in silver clothing that seemed to sparkle like the multitude of stars in the night''s sky. However, the most unusual trait about this Spirit was their eyes; they werepletely white, giving off the impression of blindness.

    But, anyone would be sorely mistaken to judge this Spirit based on appearances alone. This Spirit''s perception was amongst of the powerful to ever grace Astarat.

    Lastly, Valeria''s Spirit took on the appearance of some type of celestial maiden, with their appearance obscured by a veil. No matter how hard someone tried to peer underneath the veil, it blocked out all intrusive gazes. Thus, till this day, save for Valerie, no one else had ever seen the true appearance of her Spirit.

    Just the fact the Three Heavens summoned their Spirits before the battle even began told the soldiers that this would be a dreadful fight. After reaching the level of a Saint, rarely did the Three Heavens need to summon their Spirit to deal with an opponent.

    Simr portals of varying sizes littered the battlefield, creating doorways that invited the soldier''s Spirits to their sides. And, by the time all of the Spirits were summoned, Brukti performed a mighty leap,nding upon arge triangr rock.

    His foot crushed the peak of the rock while he spread his arms in uproariousughter. "Bring it on! But you will inevitably suffer defeat at the hands of my race. This will not be a repeat of the past as we''ve more than sufficiently prepared ourselves!"

    "No one wants to hear your inconsequential words," Soren said with a sneer. He pointed his spear towards Brukti as his aura erupted with a golden ze. While raising his spear, Soren uttered a chant in a cryptguage that only Gaelbolg understood.

    Three symbols illuminated on Gaelbolg''s shaft, followed by a condensed beam of golden light being fired directly at Brukti''s chest. Soren was the type who rarely used words and determined his stance by actions. Hence, he was the first to make a move.

    However, Brukti only stared at the iing beam with a grotesque smile while its radiance reflected in his eyes. Just before the beam made contact, Brukti extended his hand and created a shield from arge amount of Death Essence.

    Though some cracks were formed after the impact, overall, it protected Brukti from any harm as the shield dispersed thereafter.

    "If this bug''s bite is all you can muster, then your race is in for a rude awakening. TRAMPLE!" Brukti bellowed. The Terrors responded with a heated roar before crossing the Catastrophe Line.

    "Defend our world! Subdue the Terrors!" Solomonmanded in an authoritative voice. His words stretched across the entire army, numbering more than ten million as they yelled back with contagious vigor. Even the weakest of soldiers rushed forward after locating the Rank 1 Terrors.

    Now that the war had escted to unprecedented numbers, there was no longer individuality on the battlefield. Every member of the World Remation Task Force united under one banner. Whereas the Terrors terrorized the battlefield, the soldier moved in units possessing at least one soldier well-versed in healing arts.

    If the attackers and defenders in the unit sustained an injury, it was healed if it was detrimental to theirbat ability. If it wasn''t negatively impactful, then the healer held off on healing until they showed signs of losingbat effectiveness.

    Meanwhile, the Three Heavens watched as Brukti targeted them as his opponent.

    "It is clear that you all are the backbone of this army. So I must destroy you for it to fall apart!" Brukti snarled.

    Bang!

    Immediately after, Brukti leapt explosively, destroying the rock in the process. While in the air, Brukti waved his arm, conjuring a few Death Spears that leaked a toxic liquid. A sizzling noise appeared as the liquid left a corroding trail on the ground far below.

    Once they were prepared, Bruktiunched the Death Spears at the three. Since he was aware that they were powerful opponents, Brukti didn''t attack with just one spear. Each of the Three Heavens witnessed as a set of five Death Spears targeted them separately, simultaneously attacking from numerous angles.

    Solomon''s eyes shifted back and forth rapidly while also tightening his grip around his rapiers. A thin film of silvery energy coated his rapiers during the tiny instant it took for him to read the trajectory of the Death Spears. Having obtained this information, Solomon turned into a silver stream as he rushed forward, deflecting three of the five Death Spears instantly.

    Thest two were shed in half as Solomon executed a spinning sh that made him seem like a sharp yet suspended tornado.

    On the other hand, Soren adopted a wide stance as his left foot slipped back and his right arm dropped toward the ground. Gaelbolg''s weight was gathered around his palm and channeled through his back foot as Soren took a forceful step forward at the right time.

    The Death Spears gathered on Soren By the time Soren fashioned his spear and made his move, but unlike Solomon, Soren wanted to deal with all of them at once, obliterating the Death Spears with a seemingly ordinary spear thurst. However, if one looked closely, one would notice the five afterimages parting from Soren''s body, indicating the abnormal movements he performed.

    Conversely, Valerie''s Spirit pped her hands together, forming a barrier that inhibited further movement from the Death Spears aimed at Valerie.

    Despite the three efficiently dealing with his attack, Brukti maintained the same attitude. Not only had his physical process been bolstered by his transformation, but so had his pride. Besides, he was aware that the oue resulted from his effortless creation.

    Until now, he hadn''t cinched an opportunity to test out his new strength. So, what better chance than a war for him to explore the depths of his power. Brukti didn''t give them a chance to reset as he gathered Death Essence in his palms and pped them the moment hended.

    A burst of potent Death Essence reminiscent of the miasma found in the Endless Death Domain billowed towards the three. After sensing the inherent properties of this wave, the three were forced to erect their Essence Aegis despite being on the safe side of the Catastrophe Line.

    Brukti then followed up by channeling an absurd amount of strength into his legs.

    BOOM!

    The ground faced devastation as it sumbed to Brukti''s monstrous power. Soren, Solomon, and Valerie''s pupils constricted to the size of needles as they struggled to understand how such a massive figure could move so quickly.

    Nevertheless, they didn''t sit around to learn of the reasoning as they split apart in three directions, avoiding the inevitable aftermath of Brukti''s next attack. A massive tremor apanied Brukti''snding, followed by a deep pit filled to the brim with dust and debris.

    Inside the debris, a set of rabid green eyes shimmered within and locked onto the Three Heavens. "Hehehe, you puny humans are scared. Even those Spirits by your side can''t bridge the inherent fear you feel towards what you don''t understand."

    Suddenly, a low humming noise urred as the Death Essence in the area vibrated in response to Brukti. Arge amount converged in his palm, taking on the shape of a spiked axe but the bottom of the axe resembled a mace.

 Chapter 551: Astarats War: Humans v. Terrors (IV)

    Chapter 551: Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (IV)

    <strong>Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (IV)</strong> ---- 0

    The sudden wave of pressure assaulting everyone on the battlefield surprised most soldiers for a brief moment. Although they were aware that the situation could get messy, they didn''t expect for it to happen this early on, nor did it dawn on them that a single individual could release an aura that spanned across the entire Catastrophe Line.

    Not only was the Catastrophe Line hundreds of thousands of meters long, but its width was nothing to scoff at either. So, just the fact that a single formidable aura nketed the entire area was enough to cause some minor worries.

    Fortunately, this single aura didn''t overwhelm the Catastrophe Line for long as the Three Heavens unleashed their pressure in full effect as well. Despite their collective efforts, Solomon and the others only managed to create a standstill where the weaker members remained unaffected by Brukti''s pressure.

    ''What a monster,'' Solomon thought to himself with a faint frown. Solomon intended to suppress Brukti entirely, but obviously, they didn''t aplish that even with theirbined auras.

    "It''s the Death Essence. He''s converting the ambient Death Essence into pure power for himself," Soren said. Based on the flow of energy and the unusual glow on the gauntlet, Soren discerned the interaction urring within the gauntlets.

    In short, the gauntlet wrapped around Brukti''s arm was the manifestation of Death Command in a perpetually active state. This way, Brukti''s reliance upon invoking themand would disappear, effectively reducing the dy between his order and the effect taking ce.

    Now having increased his strength to another level, Brukti roared to the sky while also pointing the colossal axe skyward. A dense beam of toxic energies pierced the sky, parting the cloud as Brukti''s actions caused a slight shift in that segment of the sky. Its original blue color changed into a green capable of instilling difort in others.

    "Feed the Lord. ughter all these humans," Bruktimanded. Afterward, a wave of Death Essence moved towards the green pir piercing the sky before disappearing without a trace.

    However, its disappearance yed an essential role.

    The pir faded shortly after as Brukti lowered his weapon. His malevolent green eyes darted to Solomon then Xezos before moving to Soren, who was not too far away. A slight grin appeared on Brukti''s face as he suddenly jumped backward and mmed the axe against the ground.

    Many massive chunks of rock filled the air as Brukti''s maniacalughter sounded from the other side. Then, a series of deafening bangs were heard as rocks the size of boulders flew towards Solomon and the others.

    Immediately after, an arc of concentrated Death Essence sliced the rocks in half while maintaining a speed that made Solomon and the other''s eyes widen.

    ''Damn this thing! Does his power know no end? How is it continuing to climb so drastically?'' Soren wondered while gnashing his teeth. Fury surfaced in his eyes as he slid his hand down Gaelbolg''s shaft, gently tracing his finger over a few of the dim inscriptions gracing its body.

    Despite theck of any wind, Soren''s hair started to rise and sway as odd markings appeared on his cheeks. Both Valerie and Solomon sensed Soren''s intentions and rushed to his side.

    "Don''t! It''s far too early to activate Spiritualization! Once you do that, only one decision will remain," Solomon warned in a grim tone. His severe expression and deep voice conveyed a message that he didn''t speak aloud. However, Soren seemedmitted to seeing his action through.

    "What''s the point of attaining this level if we can''t activate the power freely? Besides, it''s not like I''m invoking the sacrificial power of an Avatar," Soren said. His gaze remained locked on the iing wave as he understood the gauntlet empowered this attack to a level far more frightening than Brukti''sst attack.

    It was almost guaranteed that this attack would thoroughly destroy their Essence Aegis if left alone.

    "Still, that''s not the problem! You know how fast Spiritualization exhausts Spiritual Essence. The moment you exhaust your Spiritual Essence is the moment we start fighting a losing battle. Valerie won''t be of much assistance if you can''t fight alongside me," Solomon said. Although he was furious as well, he maintained a reasonable mind and kept his levelheaded demeanor.

    Unfortunately, it was challenging to change Soren''s mind once he determined to do something. Thus, the faint markings extending down Soren''s cheeks darkened quickly as a torrential stream of Spiritual Essence burst from his body and turned into a pale blue aura that looked oddly simr to that of blue mes.

    Of course, the appearance of this aura came from the basis of a Soul Temple, the fires of one''s soul, otherwise known as Soul Embers. Soul Embers produced unimaginable power whenbusted, but it also ced a significant burden on the Soul Temple.

    Apart from simply burning the Soul Embers,busting them meant that the user relied heavily upon their Spirit''s current state. The stronger a Spirit, the more powerful the Spiritualization of their partner. What''s more, a Normal Spirit could never sustain the link needed to contain the burning of Soul Embers.

    Then again, it was impossible for a cultivator with a Normal Spirit to grow into a Soul Saint or even a Soul Emperor, for that matter, which was the prerequisite to activating Spiritualization.

    As Soren was a wielder of a pseudo-Legendary Spirit, he didn''t need to worry about failing Spiritualization. On the contrary, his Spiritualization was particrly powerful and rming¨Da double-edged sword in the truest sense; hence, why Solomon suggested against activating this technique right now.

    Sorenpleted the transformation right before the wave of energy reached them. With a simple downward swing of his spear, the wave halted. Then, simr to the sound of ss breaking, the toxic wave shattered as Soren made eye contact with Brukti.

    His indifferent expression grew more proud as the blue mes of energy rolled off his body in droves. "I''ll deal with you so that your mindless race devolves into chaos. However, I won''t kill you, so you can witness as your imperfect race moves towards extinction."

    "That''ll never happen. You are not my match," Brukti retorted in an equally contemptuous tone.

    Meanwhile, Solomon signaled towards Valerie. "You may have to use the Seraphic Exchange if ites down to it. We can''t risk losing Soren''sbat power."

    "I know. I''m willing to make the necessary sacrifices," Valeria responded. Despite her words, she didn''t look too great as she knew the costs of recovering someone stronger than her. While it wouldn''t kill her, her condition wouldn''t be far from it.

    Bang!

    During their talk, Soren and Brukti made their move. Their exchange resulted in a cataclysmic tremor, followed by both sides retreating a few steps. However, whereas Brukti took some time to deal with the aftershock, Soren advanced without making an effort to do so.

    Apact beam fired from his spear as six inscriptions instantly lit up on Gaelbolg. Even Solomon and Valerie could sense how dangerous the beam was because a faint spatial crack mirrored its trajectory. After the vague crack formed, it seemed as if the world quivered in response.

    Evidently, Astarat''s condition wasn''t ideal. Attacks of this caliber ran the risk of damaging the sensitive source even further.

    Brukti grunted in annoyance as he executed a heavy smash, using the sharp side of his axe to meet the attack. Due to his pride as a Disaster, Brukti felt this simple-looking attack was beneath him, but the reality was quite different.

    Brukti''s jaw dropped after he struggled to push aside the beam, mming into countless boulders again and again. He even spat a thick blob of dark green blood as the beam caused half of the axe to sink into his chest.

    "WHAT!?" Brukti roared indignantly. His underestimation of Soren ended up with him suffering a gruesome wound that even he would need to spare a lot of effort to heal. Of course, that would require the opportunity to do so.

    Before Brukti could resolve the attack, Soren teleported before him and first kicked him, sending him flying into the earth. Afterward, he followed up with a devastating dive with his spear aimed directly at Brukti.

    BOOOOOOOM!

    The attack burrowed Brukti''s body deep into the depth of the earth, forming a bottomless pit that extended further than either of them could sense.

    A momentter, the symbols underneath Soren''s eyes vanished as he exhaled. His face turned pale for a moment before gradually recovering a healthy glow. "Three attacks, yet I''ve exhausted over 40% of my essence."

    "It was the right choice to deactivate it. What''s more, that should buy us time to help anyone on the battlefield who requires assistance," Solomon said.

    "You think so?" Soren replied. His expression grew uneasy while looking at the hole. "Even if I used Spiritualization, that was too easy of a defeat for a Disaster. I suspect this is only the beginning."

    Not even two minutester, the rocks near the pit rattled as a result of continuous quakes.

 Chapter 553: Astarats War: Humans v. Terrors (VI)

    Chapter 553: Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (VI)

    <strong>Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (VI)</strong> ---- 0

    Gideon''s expression gradually shifted into a solemn one as a strange gleam circted in his eyes. His gaze reached the barrier that barred the Three Heavens from entry within seconds. While they were helpless before the barrier, Gideon merely narrowed his eyes until his perception condensed into a sharp beam, puncturing the barrier after a few moments.

    Of course, the barrier wasn''t physically broken, so none of the putrid Death Essence leaked out. Even the faintest wisp of that Death Essence was enough to kill nearly all of the soldiers below the Zul Lord Realm. That''s just how terrifying the power Az''kayzak wielded was. Even Brukti, who was born from a tiny fragment of his power, posed a significant threat to humanity despite his infantile age.

    One could only imagine how powerful a Terror as ancient as Az''kayzak was.

    What met his sights was the carefree smile of a being who seemed to personify death itself. Gideon closed his eyes and released a heavy sigh as his spections were now confirmed. After a moment of silence, he turned towards Solomon and the others.

    "It''s just as I feared; that thing is alive. And, judging by his expression, he''s doing much better than we''d like," Gideon said in a heavy voice. The severity of the situation just skyrocketed as he could sense abnormal fluctuations deep within the Endless Death Domain.

    What''s more, Gideon also noticed the faint tendrils linking to the Endless Death Domain withdrew, taking a tremendous amount of Death Essence along with it. This amount of Death Essence could only be consumed by one entity.

    Thus, Gideon tightened his grasp on his staff until the archaic wood emitted creaking sounds and his palm turned white. "War? This war is about to be an absolute nightmare. I must go; their audience is now required. There''s no doubt about it."

    "Go? But you just got here Headmaster Gideon. You can assist everyone on the battlefield, greatly reducing the number of casualties we suffer early on. Won''t you reconsider?!" Valerie eximed, stepping forward with eyes full of troubles. Since most of the healers bore a special marking, she understood the general situation by gathering information through the markings.

    Plenty of Zul Knights and Zul Commanders had already perished, not to mention the astronomical amount of Zul Warriors who only served as cannon fodder. While their numbers were ridiculous inparison to the other realms, they were too fragile when it came tobat. They could only withstand a few exchanges against a Rank 1 Terror before suffering extensive damage.

    "Your understanding of this battle is far too narrow. The number of lives that have been lost already is iparable to the devastation that will take ce if I don''t move right now. Besides, those who persist are those who deserve to survive," Gideon replied.

    Valerie was stunned, not by Gideon''s word but by the fear she saw in his eyes. If someone as strong as him felt fear strong enough to be deemed palpable, Valerie could only assume that the situation was far worst than she could imagine.

    ''Headmaster Gideon is a Saint like us. If I''m not mistaken, he should be a Zul Sovereign like the rest of the Grand Masters. What type of character is strong enough to invoke fear from him?'' Soren wondered while quietly analyzing Gideon''s behavior.

    Unlike Valerie, Soren and Solomon merely took a step back as they understood where Gideon wasing from. Since they usually focused onbat, they weren''t sensitive to casualties like Valerie was. Naturally, ying the supportive role influenced Valerie''s thought process.

    Meanwhile, Gideon gradually floated upward while staring down at Soren and Solomon, "Continue to inflict severe wounds upon that Disaster down there. Do not let him allow him the chance to recover again as he bears the power of a terrifying existence."

    "Understood!"

    "I already promised that hideous thing that I will cut it down. You can rest assured that I will make good on this promise," Soren answered decisively.

    Gideon gave a simple nod in response. Afterward, he turned away from the Endless Death Domain and Catastrophe Line altogether, moving in the opposite direction. His target was a remote ind coated in a dense fog with a single mountain piercing high into the sky.

    The atmosphere surrounding this specific ind seemed serene since the dense mist blocked out everything under a certain level. Unless one had reached the level of a Saint, it was impossible to locate this ind. This was the sole reason for the Grand Masters migrating to the ind; it provided the perfect istion to explore their spiritual attainments.

    However, Gideon was sure of one thing¨Dhe needed to go there and alert the Grand Masters to Az''kayzak''s condition.

    Seconds after Gideon left, Brukti burst back to the surface,nding with a heavy thud as he red daggers at the Three Heavens. Simr to a bull, Brukti''s chest heaved with each of his exaggerated breaths. Needless to say, he didn''t appreciate Soren''s earlier attack.

    But, suffering from that attack came with some hidden benefits as well. Due to his excessive consumption of Death Essence, Brukti gathered enough power to activation the second level of the Death Command. It was a power simr to Spiritualization in that it greatly increased how much Death Essence Brukti consumed.

    "Did you enjoy that earlier disy? Well, I should repay the favor. It''s only right," Brukti said with a menacing grin. Another catastrophic tremor urred as Brukti raised his arm to the sky. The gauntlet surrounding his arm emitted a blinding green light, generating a response from many of the Terrors in the area.

    Although all of the Terrors reacted towards the blinding light, Brukti''s control over the Rank 1, 2, and 3 Terrors was broken when he clenched his fist. Since their numbers were pivotal to maintaining pressure on the battlefield, Brukti chose to focus on the rank of Terrors with the greatest prospects.

    The essence of a thousand Rank 4 Terrors liquified, gathering to form a viscous glob of greenish-ck liquid in the middle of the blinding light. All of this happened instantly, leading the Three Heavens to believe this glob was part of an attack, but their assumptions were far from the truth.

    The purpose of the glob wasn''t to attack; it was meant for Brukti''s personal usage. After the glob ballooned to 50 meters in diameter, Brukti jumped inside and disappearedpletely.

    Soren''s first instinct was to unleash an attack upon the glob as he didn''t know what to expect from Brukti, especially after listening to the Disaster im that he would reciprocate the injuries he suffered earlier.

    Seven symbols lit up on Gaelbolg right before Soren hurled it at the center of the orb. The spear arrived instantly, but violent winds and sparks appeared, keeping the spear at bay.

    "Is this blob not soft? Why is it exhibiting properties of hardened metal?" Soren muttered with a confused expression. The soft ripples that appeared when Brukti entered the glob misled Soren. Following Brukti''s entrance, the glob solidified and adopted the property of the power seen earlier inside the depths of the Endless Death Domain.

    As his attempt to interrupt Brukti was fruitless, Soren recalled Gaelbolg and conserved his Spiritual Essence. Despite lighting up seven of the nine symbols on Gaelbolg, Soren''s earlier attack only consumed two percent of his Spiritual Reserves.

    "So long as Spiritualization isn''t involved, I can unleash as many attacks as need be," Soren said. A momentter, Soren steadied himself and crushed several Spirit Jades, replenishing a significant amount of his Spiritual Essence by absorbing the energy within.

    "Prepare yourself. You heard Headmaster Gideon''s warning. This guy possessed some monstrous growth potential, so we can''t let his wanton absorption of Death Essence. Let this be thest time he absorbs a massive amount of it," Solomon suggested.

    Each of Solomon''s rapiers went enveloped in an aura identical to the night''s sky as he stared at the cracks spreading down the orb before their eyes. Throughout their fight, Solomon identified their issue to be theirck ofpound attacks. Perhaps they wouldn''t be in their current predicament if they overwhelmed him from the start.

    Crack! Crack! Crackkkkk!! Tsssssssh!

    The massive orb surrounding Brukti shattered, revealing a monstrosity donned in thick armor. Compared to before, Brukti now looked like a goliath as his body from head to toe was covered in a dark green alloy.

    "Round two," Brukti said. His voice was deep, guttural even, but it was filled with vigor.

    Boom! Bang! Bang!

    Brukti''s speed now was iparable to before as despite perceiving his movement, neither Soren nor Solomon could react before being sent flying by Brukti''s attack. More importantly, Brukti''s fist momentarily morphed into two maces before reverting to its prior form.

 Chapter 554: Astarats War: Humans v. Terrors (VII)

    Chapter 554: Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (VII)

    <strong>Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (VII)</strong> ---- 1

    Now that Brukti stimted the second activation of the Death Command, he could essentially merge with other Terrors of his choosing to advance his power as a Disaster. As mentioned before, this ability also meant that he exhausted Death Essence at an absurd rate in exchange for unprecedented raw power.

    Nevertheless, the trade-off was more than worth it as he absorbed enough power to catapult himself to the next stage in the Disaster realm, hence, why both Soren and Solomon failed to react in time. If either of them had to guess, the current Brukti was somewhere between the middle levels of the Saint power level, whereas Solomon and Soren were in the earlier levels.

    Soren and Solomon would be at a disadvantage at their base level. Of course, they weren''t alone. After realizing they were at a disadvantage, Valerie performed a set of hand seals. Her unique milky aura appeared behind the two and ced her hands behind their backs.

    Strength flowed into Soren and Solomon''s body, invigorating their vessels. There was a faint reaction at a deeper level, but it was within the limits of their vessels, and the empowerment didn''te with any detrimental effects. It was simr to the principle of tapping into hidden potential in the body.

    Both Solomon and Soren looked at each other before slowly looking towards Brukti.

    "Are you ready? We need to do this together."

    "I''m ready. However, I''ll be the one taking the lead whether you like it or not," Soren asserted. It was already embarrassing enough that he needed to team up with Solomon at all to ovee an opponent.

    An instantter, the same symbols appeared down Soren''s cheeks as he stimted his Spiritualization once again. The presence of the Soul Embers returned, presenting the torrential blue aura from earlier.

    Meanwhile, as Solomon activated his Spiritualization, his eyes lost their color, bingpletely white. At the same time, his expression became tranquil while his hands became as dark as the night sky. It was quite an odd sight because from his wrist up, the color of his skin was left unchanged.

    "Ahahaha! Trivial actions! I will remain superior no matter what you do!" Brukti roared. His hand morphed again, taking on the form of two axes as he rushed towards the duo at a speed that defiedmon sense. Even Valerie struggled with following his movements as Brukti seemed like a blur in her eyes.

    Fortunately, Solomon and Soren didn''t experience this issue. Unlike thest attack, both Soren and Solomon responded in time. Solomon deflected the attack aimed at him by shifting the blow away from his body with fluid actions. The unabated flow of his movement resembled water flowing down a snaking stream.

    On the other hand, Soren performed a back step and stabbed the ax sideways, forcing the weapon to the ground with a huge explosion. As both sides wielded frightening power, the effects of their attacks were genuinely devastating!

    Bang! Bang! Bang! BOOM! BOOM!

    As Brukti continued his exchanges with the Spiritualized Solomon and Soren, constant explosions and tremors were felt around the battlefield. However, Solomon stressed the need to extend the fight as long as possible, limiting their exchanges to physical attacks.

    "Even if you''re tempted to, don''t use any of your big moves just yet. After all, this guy has yet to pull anything big out of his arsenal," Solomon said. He stood beside Soren as Brukti savagely rushed towards them once more.

    Soren grunted while sparing Solomon a sidelong nce."I''m aware. You don''t need to walk me through battle as if I''m some sort of child. I have more than enough battle experience to understand what needs to happen."

    Solomon only gave a faint smile in response as he followed Soren''s lead, matching his momentum. Unlike Brukti, they possessed the upper hand in numbers. Whereas Brukti was limited to his two hands and feet, Solomon and Soren had both four hands and four feet to work with.

    Bang!

    Solomon and Soren''sbined attack sent Brukti flying backward but not as far as they hoped. Brukti destroyed the momentuming to an immediate halt. "The fact you can only attack me together shows your insecurity towards your own strength. Alone you aren''t strong enough."

    "Save your words. They mean nothing now that you''ve dered war. We''ll use any tactic necessary to ensure victory," Solomon said, ignoring Brukti''s goading words. He understood that Brukti was trying to goad them into acting individually. However, why would they make such a foolish decision?

    It wasn''t happening.

    Since his attempt was unsessful, Brukti resorted to what he knew best, absolute decimation. Brukti manifested a vast amount of Death Essence, which turned into a tidal wave of power as Brukti smashed his fist downward.

    The ground beneath Solomon and Soren''s feet caved in as they received the attack in unison. If any of the others soldiers witnessed this sight, they''d be left wordless. The aftershocks of the attacks decimated every area this fight touched.

    Now that Brukti had made a big move, Solomon and Soren reciprocated. A terrifyingly sharp aura appeared around Soren as his Soul Embers transformed into a massive spear image. There was an unusual pressure within the aura that touched upon a mystifying power.

    As for what that pressure what, it was Soren''s unique Spear Intent birthed from his extensive experience with this weapon. Since it was his most beloved weapon, it was only fitting that his Spear Intent reached a baffling purity.

    The spear image and tidal wave of power met, with the spear trying its all to pierce through. At first, it seemed as if both sides were equally powerful, but then a change urred, headed by Solomon''s actions. Tworge hands formed by dark energy grabbed the spear image, adding the slight advantage needed to pierce through the tidal wave.

    However, before the spear could hit Brukti directly, his hands morphed into two shields that protected his body from direct impact. The explosive noise eclipsed all other battlefield sounds, almost causing a considerable disturbance.

    Sadly, the situation on the battlefield wasn''t leisure enough to warrant misced attention. Everyone engaged in battle paid full attention to their opponent lest they received a fatal injury.

    Brukti emerged rtively unscathed despite therge attack as he lowered the two shields. In exchange, Solomon and Soren panted as their first significant move resulted in a substantial blow to their Spiritual Reserves.

    "We need to force him to employ an evenrger move. Any ideas?" Solomon asked while gradually regaining control of his breathing. His panting subsided, and he stood erect once more.

    "Of course. It''s just a matter of whether or not you''ll like what I have to say," Soren replied.

    Solomon''s expression was conflicted at first because Soren''s suggestion typically bordered on the edge of insanity. His high-risk, high reward battle style truly wasn''t Solomon''s forte. However, Solomon could disregard the fact that this battle bordered on the edge of insane as well.

    "Fine, what do you suggest?"

    "Push ourselves past exhaustion. Fight him until neither side can continue. Once that happens, we can just substitute ourselves," Soren said.

    As Solomon expected, Soren''s suggestion was truthfully insane. It was dangerous to exhaust themselves without understanding the limits of Brukti''s endurance. How long could hest? And would they drain themselves before reducing him to the same state?

    These questions made it difficult for Solomon to agree. Moreover, he didn''t quite understand what Soren meant by a substitute.

    "You do know there are no substitutions, right? Who do we have on our side that''s capable of going up against this monster? Certainly not Sirius. While he is strong, he isn''t strong enough," Solomon answered.

    "Fool. We''ll substitute ourselves with the young Paragons. As long as we make him weak enough we can have them finish off this monster," Soren said with a scoff.

    "What?!" Solomon eximed. His eyes widened as he couldn''t believe his ears. ording to his knowledge, the young Paragons were only Zul Lords and Soul Lords. That was far too weak to be effective in this fight. In fact, Solomon was confident that one attack was enough to end them.

    However, Solomon understood what Soren implied after giving the matter some thought. "You want them¡­ to use that state, don''t you?"

    "That''s the only way we''ll be able to clinch victory. We must make sacrifices. But if they''re careful, perhaps we can avoid sacrifices altogether."

    "That sounds about right," Solomon muttered in a cryptic tone. Suddenly, his body emitted a strange presence as a symbol appeared on his forehead.

 Chapter 555: Astarats War: Humans v. Terrors (VIII)

    Chapter 555: Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (VIII)

    <strong>Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (VIII)</strong> ---- 1

    A symbol in the shape of an ink-ck diamond materialized on Solomon''s forehead, yielding an immense change in his presence. What''s more, the pale-blue Soul Embers surrounding his body gradually flowed towards the symbol in the center of his forehead.

    Since Soren suggested that they make some sacrifices, that''s precisely what Solomon intended to do. However, he chose to take them on personally rather than force it upon the younger generation, primarily because he could mitigate some consequences that the others couldn''t. Of course, this special privilege wasn''t the only reason for his decision.

    As mentioned before, Solomon''s will to live was weaker than the rest seeing as he was forced to bend to his ancestor''s will. Power took precedence within the Supreme Families, and unfortunately for Sapphyr, she didn''t possess the same caliber of talent that Sarai did.

    Nevertheless, Soren''s eyes narrowed upon sensing Solomon''s move. "What are you doing?"

    "Taking matters into my own hands," Solomon answered indifferently. His dark ck hair floated behind his body after the symbol on his forehead continued to absorb all of the Soul Embers. At the same time, Xezos turned towards Solomon and became motionless, losing all signs of spiritual activity.

    Naturally, this was rted to Solomon''s action. The drawbacks of invoking the Avatar Form restricted use of one''s Spirit. After all, the simplest exnation of this power was the human using their vessel as a medium to merge with their Spirit''s creation. So, in a sense, it could be said that once a Paragon activated this form, they were thebined existence of their power coupled with their Spirits.

    Afterward, mysterious ck lines appeared from the symbol on Solomon''s head, stretching down to the sides of his jaw. Amidst this change, Solomon''s hair also turned white, starting from his roots. It took some time, but the white hair soon adopted a pale cerulean luster that seemed to sparkle like distant stars in a clear night''s sky.

    Most importantly, the ck skin crawled up to Solomon''s elbows, and blue lines reminiscent of a human''s veins surfaced after a few seconds. Solomon''s aura seemingly vanished when those lines appeared, emerging as an unforeseen calm. Though he seemed calm, the power contained with his bodybusted an infinite number of times in the wake of his usage.

    Meanwhile, Valerie paled once this decision was made. She even prepped her Seraphich Exchange to an extreme level if the adverse effects surfaced too quickly. ''Fighting against a Disaster is truly noughing matter. It even forces one of us to invoke the Arcane Avatar?''

    Valeria pursed her lips while clutching her staff lightly. Memories of a past event involving this power flooded her mind causing uneasiness to arise in the pit of her stomach.

    Conversely, Soren took a step back without uttering a word. He understood more than anyone that he couldn''t change this oue. "Acquire desirable results to justify the injury of a Saint this only on in the war."

    "You''re mistaken. This was never meant to be a drawn-out war. If it were, the Terrors wouldn''t have sent everyst member of their force to this ce. They intended to conquer quickly in one fell swoop, so we should respond in kind. Likewise, this war has already moved towards itster stages," Solomon answered in a deep tone.

    Due to his current form, his voice and demeanor sounded like an ovep of his and Xezos''s unique mannerisms. After responding, Solomon turned towards Brukti while slowly stabbing his rapiers into the ground. The use of a weapon in this form outside of a Spirit in the form of a weapon was foolish.

    The violent surge of spiritual force would shatter it in an instant.

    Solomon''s sudden change sparked an odd reaction from Brukti as his finger twitched uncontrobly. ''Am I afraid right now? What exactly is this power to make me feel afraid? When have we Absorbeyn shirked from an enemy?! It''s even written in our flesh; we seek to devour all we must. There is no way that I will retreat in fear when we are so close!''

    Brukti felt an inherent fear towards the outrageous increase in Solomon''s power. This didn''t originate from his mind but Az''kayzak''s power fragment. Az''kayzak was the most ancient member of the Absorbeyns present, meaning he was the Absorbeyn who led both the first and second catastrophe.

    While he was strongest during the first catastrophe, he sacrificed arge portion of his power to create many Disasters during the second catastrophe. Since he identified his most damning mistake to be his limited forces during the first catastrophe, he decided to change his angle.

    It worked but unfortunately, by that time, humans had increased their mastery over wielding their Spirit''s powers. But, that didn''t mean Az''kayzak was hopeless. It was quite the opposite. After all, he gained ess to an unprecedented amount of Death Essence over time, as well as a unique signature he sought but couldn''t grasp no matter how much he tried.

    Now, he decided only one Disaster was enough to stall the humans while he made an unimaginable move.

    Suddenly, Brukti''s chain of thought was broken as Solomon appeared before him without any indication. "You are to me for me using this power, so ept the punishment."

    Solomon extended his arm, pressing his palm against Brukti''s torso with seemingly slow movement. However, the afterimages that followed the path of his hand signified a truly shocking level of speed. Three specks of silvery energy migrated to the back of Solomon''s palm and after feeling this, Brukti''s eyes constricted to the size of needles.

    BOOM!

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    The attack seemed gentle, but the result countered that assumption. Brukti''s body was blown away the moment the three specks pressed onto the back of Solomon''s palm, uncontrobly smashing into the floor,rge rocks, and finally a dense wall.

    Regrettably, Brukti wasn''t allowed the opportunity to recover from the intense shock before Solomon arrived before him with a gust of gentle wind.

    "You should be iparably sturdy, so that wouldn''t be enough to injure you. With that being said, there''s more toe," Solomon said in a tone filled with calm confidence.

    Bang!

    Another soft blownded on Brukti''s body, creating a deafening but also a hollow explosion. A huge chasm spanning three hundred meters appeared behind Brukti as the wall holding his body was obliterated under the pressure of Solomon''s attack.

    This time, Brukti tried to defend himself as unconcealed madness filled his eyes. Sadly, the divide in their strength wasn''t something that could be bridged so easily. Brukti''s attempt to defend was unsessful, even causing Solomon to unleash a series of ruthless yet effortless attacks upon his body.

    Eventually, numerous sunken imprints appeared on Brukti''s body from the constant attacks Solomon dealt.

    The drastic change in predicament should''ve excited Soren and Valerie, but both of them bore serious expression while spectating the fight. Regardless of how much damage Solomon inflicted, it wouldn''t be fatal unless they could stop the constant resupply of Death Essence.

    Despite how simple that sounded, it was easier said than done. Stopping the resupply entailed preventing the deaths on the battlefield altogether. In times of war, death was inevitable.

    Of course, they could also drag Brukti away from the Catastrophe Line, but the issue with that was they didn''t know if Brukti possessed any hidden abilities linked to the perverse Death Command of his. If he could conceal Terrors and virtually transport them, who''s to say he couldn''t return to the origin of the Death Essence at will?

    Nevertheless, Solomon had yet to show signs of injury, so they were still in the clear for the time being.

    "Only a few seconds have passed. He should persist for more than ten minutes if he continues utilizing the power boost at a minimal level," Soren estimated. Even under heavy usage, this state could be held stably for five minutes. After those five minutes, the toll on the body became too taxing.

    Fortunately, Solomon''s Spirit possessed aparatively gentle power signature, so it wasn''t as rigid as Gaelbolg, which shredded Soren''s body from the inside.

    "Too early to say," Valerie muttered in response. The worry in her eyes grew when she watched Brukti rush back towards Solomon with a torrential aura. A huge cluster of deathly energy appeared in his left palm while his green eyes filled with a crimson hue.

    "Death mes!" Brukti roared as he clenched his fist. An aura of death appeared within sweltering mes that cause great decay to anything in its vicinity. The technique exhausted a considerable amount of Death Essence but Brukti ignored the costs.

    Solomon took a step back after analyzing the mes. Once he gained enough separation, he made a counterattack by summoning tens of silver specks surrounded by a ck aura. This was a move only essible to him now that he delved deeper into Xezos'' arsenal of techniques.

    "Arcanic Practice: Constetion Press," Solomon muttered.

    The silver dots expanded, taking on the form of a monumental palm that pressed the sweltering mes into oblivion. A sea of Solomon''s energy deluged the area after the technique dealt with Brukti''s attack.

    If he had any, Brukti would clutch his hair in fury after witnessing the ineffectiveness of these mes. Instead, Brukti could only release a bestial roar as all of the Death Essence within a kilometer shuddered.

 Chapter 556: Astarats War: Humans v. Terrors (IX)

    Chapter 556: Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (IX)

    <strong>Astarat''s War: Humans v. Terrors (IX)</strong> ---- 1

    Solomon''s expression remained unperturbed while Brukti''s anger triggered a spontaneous reaction from the Death Essence within a kilometer radius. Although it grew quite active, Solomon''s pressure interfered with the fluid movement of the energy. In fact, Solomon raised his hand and exerted an immense amount of pressure on the Death Essence in the area.

    "Whether or not you be angry is meaningless to me. Far too many humans have been sacrificed for your horrendous cause," Solomon said as his expression finally showed a small change. The constant battles between humans and Terrors had truly taken a toll on Astarat''s people.

    Their freedom to perform small tasks was robbed from them, especially from those who lived close to the Catastrophe Line''s borders. For example, small families like the Kaisers, who lost a considerable amount of family members to the frequent Terrors assaults, were just some of the few affected by the Terror''s actions.

    Despite the fused demeanor of both Solomon and Xezos, Solomon''s strong emotions bled through theposed demeanor gained from Xezos. Fortunately, it wasn''t overwhelming enough for Solomon to make an irrational move. As he possessed the upper hand, he understood there was little to no need for him to waste his precious Spiritual Essence.

    Nevertheless, Brukti felt no concern over Solomon''s opinion. He simply wanted to destroy the human before him that seemed to have grown beyond his caliber of strength. Thus, his immediate decision was to absorb all of the Death Essence nearby.

    However, Brukti had never absorbed such a huge amount of Death Essence, and his body hadn''t even finished digesting the surplus of Death Essence used to form the armor wrapped around his body.

    Of course, Solomon was unaware of Brukti''s potential limit. After all, the Disaster in the past showcased bizarre limits. Compared to how much Brukti had absorbed thus far, the Disaster in the past consumed at least ten times more.

    "You shall not decide what I can and can''t do! You are not the master of my actions," Brukti roared. He struggled against Solomon''s pressure, increasing the force of his Death Command. As a result, the Death Essence stalled by Solomon''s interference once again disyed signs of flowing towards Brukti.

    After witnessing this scene, Solomon took a moment to contemte his next decision. ''Should I just let him absorb this Death Essence? If he does so, then thin remainder won''t be enough to increase his strength once again. The only issue is just how strong will be if I allow him to absorb that?''

    While Solomon''s current power far surpassed a normal Zul or Soul Saint, Solomon couldn''t overlook the tremendous boost in power Brukti gained after absorbing the Death Essence from a thousand Rank 4 Terrors.

    It was difficult to gauge if this subsequent absorption could potentially equal up to his current power. Thus, Solomon remained conflicted. Although he could request help from Soren, it wasn''t ideal as his transformation was too brutal. Besides, risking both of them losing theirbat ability was too severe of a consequence.

    As he contemted this decision, the ground surrounding Brukti caved in. It was impossible for the ground to withstand the monstrous forces of both sides battling against each other. However, Brukti continued to struggle while savagely ring at Solomon.

    Eventually, Xezos'' voice sounded in Solomon''s mind. "Let him advance with his actions. Even if he grows stronger, I''ll share stronger techniques with you. However, you must understand that these techniques ce a hefty burden upon you."

    "How extreme?" Solomon asked, trying to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of taking the risk.

    "It''ll reduce the time limit to the standard number," Xezos admitted.

    Upon hearing this, Solomon''s expression grew solemn. The use of those stronger techniques would effectively reduce the technique''s duration by half. Before he could make this decision, he needed to understand just how much stronger these techniques were inparison.

    "How much power can I draw out inparison to the Constetion Press?"

    "Approximately four times more. But, it can only be used in instant bursts, or you run the risk of causing an unstoppable internalbustion," Xezos answered.

    "Fine, I''m willing to take the risk," Solomon said while lowering his palm. Like water rushing out of a broken dam, the Death Essence flooded towards Brukti which created a typhoon of deathly energy around his body.

    The influx of strength ted Brukti, which soon brought the menacing grin back to his face. "Hahaha! That''s right. You should know when to give in because I would have inevitably had my way with this power. Nothing is powerful enough to trounce the Death Command of Az''kayzak the Wicked Devourer!"

    A few momentster, Brukti flew towards Solomon as his physiques continued to growrger mid-flight. By the time he reached Solomon, Brukti''s physique had swelled to over twenty meters tall. Just Brukti''s fist was enough to dwarf Solomon''sparatively small body.

    However, the size difference didn''t affect Solomon. He remained rooted in the spot as a burst of starlight appeared around his fist for a split second. The moment the two fists collided, arge spatial crack formed, followed by Brutki''s arm being blown apart by an infinite series ofcerations.

    "Arcanic Practice: Starlight Wolf Fang," Solomon muttered. For an instant, his body lurched, but Solomon exhaled, regaining control of his body. It was just as Xezos described; anything more than a split second was too dangerous for his body. Even the instantaneous sh of increased power caused a bout of instability to wash over his body.

    Fortunately, this state wasn''t maintained by Solomon alone. Xezos''s Arcanic Soul assisted Solomon in stabilizing the transformation. So aplete disruption could happen if Xezos could no longer keep this state together for Solomon or if his vessel was in tatters.

    Brukti stared at his missing arm in shock before looking back towards Solomon''s tiny figure. "What trickery are you using?! Why are youing out superior in all of our exchanges despite my increase in power?! I don''t understand!"

    "That''s the reason; you don''t understand. You think raw power is all there is tobat? You''re too inexperienced to be our true opponent. You will never amount to more than an overgrown bundle of useless power," Solomon answered indifferently.

    The rage in Brukti''s eyes deepened due to thisment. In his eyes, Solomon was criticizing the power given to him by Az''kayzak, an individual he worshipped as his idol. Needless to say, Brukti found this uneptable. Therefore, he regenerated his arm instantly and released the same energy from earlier.

    "You will not belittle the power of an esteemed member of our race," Brukti snarled. He sped his hand together and smashed them towards Solomon''s head. But, unlike the earlier strike, his hands emitted a dense collection of deathly energy.

    Solomon could sense the difference in this attack as space around the deathly energy seemed to tremble in response. Usually, this response only appeared after their attacks collided.

    ''He''s using a ridiculous amount of Death Essence now. This is good,'' Solomon thought as a starry film appeared before his closed fist. The attack looked simr to his previous strike, but it was in fact different. The starry light enveloping Solomon''s hand didn''t appear as sharp.

    "Arcanic Burst!" Solomon announced inwardly. His fist collided against the space right under Brukti''s fist, creating an explosion of arcane energy. Although the explosion was sudden, Solomon kept the technique confined to a four-meter radius. But, the energy with that small distance was absurd.

    The blunt st radius flung both Solomon and Brukti backward as a humongous spatial rift fluctuated before them.

    The other side released an unusual energy wave that exited the rift for a split second before returning along with the closure of the rift. However, this didn''t escape Solomon''s detection.

    ''Was that the world''s source back there? Has this fight already grown to the level of requiring the world''s intervention to maintain its stability?'' Solomon wondered. The world''s deterioration was a known topic amongst the War Academies and Supreme Family.

    So, Solomon felt some worry for the aftermath of their battle. Sadly, it was unavoidable.

    Unlike the prior strike, while the energy surrounding Brukti''s hand was shattered, his arm wasn''t blown apart. This surprised Solomon as the devastation of the Arcanic Burst was even stronger than the Starlight Wolf Fang.

    Of course, Solomon understood that Brukti used a copious amount of that deathly energy. So, it was only fitting that it absorbed a considerable portion of the attack.

    Be that as it may, Brukti didn''t emerge unscathed. He staggered as he climbed to his feet.

    Meanwhile, Xezos urged Solomon to remain motionless. It was already a horrendous struggle for him to subdue the violent burst of energy circting throughout his body. Regrettably, Solomon made a grave underestimation.

    Brukti''s regeneration triumphed his own! By the time Brukti recovered from the attack, Solomon was still motionless. The only saving grace was theck of emotion from Solomon''s expression made it challenging to discern his internal state. At least, that would have been the case for a sane opponent.

    Brukti smashed his hands into the earth carelessly, injecting the ground with an abundant stream of Death Essence. Geysers of deathly energy sprouted from the ground in an erratic path heading straight for Solomon!

 Chapter 558: New Generations Emergence (I)

    Chapter 558: New Generation''s Emergence (I)

    <strong>New Generation''s Emergence (I)</strong> ---- 0

    It had been a gruesome fight, but Solomon emerged victoriously in the end. Sadly, the win could also be seen as a pyrrhic victory because the remnants of power circting throughout Solomon''s body gushed out relentlessly as his form quickly reverted to normal.

    Even calling it normal was incorrect as hair appeared dull and brittle while his physique noticeably thinned, with his cheekbones protruding. At the same time, there was a listless color in Solomon''s eyes when he unexpectedly bent over and vomited a huge mouthful of blood.

    Following this regurgitation, the fluctuation in Solomon''s aura became worrisome, so much so that Valerie immediately rushed to his side and offered support by leaning his head against her ample chest.

    A soft warmth enveloped Solomon''s cheek, but there was no change in his expression as his vision continued to dull. Eventually, his world went ck. While he was still conscious, Solomon''s body experienced such extensive damage that it could no longer maintain basic facilities such as his sight. Simrly, his hearing was filled with a droning ring that persisted no matter how much Solomon tried to focus.

    As stated before, the repercussions of using the power of an Avatar were noughing matter. Had this been Soren, he would have most likely breathed hisst breath by now.

    "Rx, Solomon, let me take care of you," Valeria said in a gentle tone while carefully rubbing his cheek. Her eyes became watery as she felt Solomon''s heartbeat reduce to the point it seemed as if it wasn''t beating.

    Fwooom!

    Suddenly, a portal opened beside Solomon, in which Xezos stepped out form. His appearance wasn''t ideal either, as the arcane energy that typically surrounded his body was inactive. The only sign that he wasn''t in danger was the fact his body remained the same.

    "My friend, you need to rest," Xezos said while reaching his hand over Solomon''s eyes. A subtle pulse of calming energy flowed from his hand and encased Solomon''s mind, shielding it from further erosion.

    "At most, he''ll lose fifty of his abilities for some time. He truly pushed himself during thatst attack, evenpounding the Spiritualized Power," Xezos said with a heavy sigh. It pained him, but he understood that this was a required move. Brukti''s retaliation was equally as fierce, so if he didn''t make a drastic move, there was a significant chance that the attacks would neutralize each other.

    "I know. I felt it," Valeria said in a voice simr to a hurt whisper. She exuded a dense steam collection soon transformed into a cloudy white color with a faint verdant gleam hidden inside. Simr to Soren and Solomon, swirling symbols appeared on Valerie''s cheeks as she activated her version of Spiritualization.

    Simply healing Solomon with a standard Seraphic Exchange wouldn''t be enough to repair even a tenth of the damage Solomon suffered. Thus, Valerie decided to use the empowered version of it. While it came with a hefty cost, Valeria felt it was worth it.

    Losing one of the Three Heavens was not on her agenda, especially after listening to Gideon''s previous revtion. They would need all the firepower avable if that situation transpired as Gideon foretold.

    Once the swirling symbols solidified, Valeriaid Solomon down on his back and opened his robed, revealing a partially sunken chest. "You really did a number on yourself. From your previously perfect body to this debilitated state¡­ Our Spirits are truly a mystical power."

    A momentter, the aura surrounding Valeria moved to her hands as she pressed one over Solomon''s heart and the other on his forehead. Solomon shuddered involuntarily because the feeling of Valerie''s technique was pleasant after experiencing a world of unthinkable pain.

    Silence filled the area as Soren walked up besides them and watched Valeria transfer her energy to Solomon. Despite therge influx, Solomon recovered at anguid pace. By the time she exhausted fifty percent of the Spiritualized Energy, Solomon''s state had only be twenty percent better.

    It was just as Xezos estimated. Even if Valerie exhausted herselfpletely, Solomon would only recover to fifty percent of his peak power. But, even half of his power was better than nothing.

    Even Valerie''s Spirit felt a reaction when she witnessed his partner''s actions. "Does he mean this much to you?"

    "Undoubtedly. Both of them mean a lot to me. Not only did we grow up together, bing the closest of friends, but we''ve been through many difficult experiences together. Whether it be Solomon or Soren, I will always try my best to ensure that they are safe," Valeria replied with a focused expression.

    Her expression grew pale, but the swirling symbols on her cheeks burned with a bright verdant gleam. Upon noticing the gleam, Valerie''s Spirit expressed some shock underneath her veil.

    "Are you¡­ directly consuming some of your lifeforce to further refine your Spiritual Essence? Lady Valerie, I''m sure I''ve told you how dangerous that is. It''s essentially using the weaker version of your Avatar power!"

    "It''s okay, Evalia. I''m well aware of the stiptions behind my actions. I just need Solomon to be awake and recover as much as possible. His active role triumphs my own."

    Resolved in her actions, the healing aura surrounding Valerie''s hands surged as Solomon''s eyes mmed open with a coughing fit. His hazy gaze steadily recovered, allowing him to focus on Valeria''s enchanting appearance. However, a pained frown appeared on his face causing him to soon grab her wrist.

    There was no strength behind the grab so Valerie felt no difort, but she didn''t find his actions unusual. It was almost as if he didn''t wish for her to heal him like he had resigned himself to death.

    "You didn''t need to do this. Our opponent was already defeated. Therger battlefield should be left to those above us," Solomon muttered in a hoarse voice. Each word was a struggle because only the exterior had been dealt with, the major internal damage was still being treated.

    "You''re wrong. I did need to do this. I''m sure Sapphyr will want to see you at least one more time. So, hold on until you meet her again. Don''t give up on life too early, ok?" Valerie smiled faintly as the shining symbols gradually faded up.

    Upon fading, Valerie''s body wavered, almost falling forward but Solomon extended his arm, bracing Valerie. "I will cherish the opportunity you''ve given to me. Now, it''s your turn to rest."

    Suddenly, Solomon stood up while turning his head towards the opposite side of the battlefield. Although Brukti was no longer the leader on the battlefield the war and carnage continued. A strong, indomitable was required to end the warpletely.

    "Let''s ensure that many of these people make it home to be with their loved ones," Solomon said while exhaling. There was still some pain felt in his body, but he disregarded it as allowing the Terrors to create more Death Essence meant their earlier action could be useless.

    However, before Solomon could make a move, Soren appeared beside him and pressed his hand on his shoulder. An overwhelming force caused Solomon to return to his seated position beside Valerie.

    "You''ve done enough. Just rx; I will provide the aid needed on the battlefield."

    Without waiting for Solomon''s response, Soren dashed forward explosively, disappearing from their sight within seconds. Solomon could only smile wryly as he closed his eyes.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, anotherrge event happened on the battlefield. Nadida stood in the center of the war, watching as an insane amount of bodies piled up on the battlefield. The sight disturbed and even infuriated Nadida, causing her to clench her fist in anger. She felt helpless because her singr existence felt inconsequential on this battlefield.

    There were far too many Rank 4 Terror at the height of their rank present on the battlefield for her attempts to make a significant difference. She couldn''t stop her legion from being torn to shred before the overwhelming sea of Terrors.

    ''This¡­this¡­. Why? Why am I so weak? I should be protecting those who offered their lives to pave the way for a bright future. But, here I am, helpless to preserve the lives of myrades.''

    Regardless of how strong her individual power was on a smaller battlefield, her current realm didn''t allow for instantaneous movement, instant power build-up, or the ability to one-shot a Rank 4 Terror. So, unless she exhibited this power, Nadida was nothing more than a strong fighter in the war, not a pivotal character like the Three Heavens.

    ''Why aren''t you here? You were stronger than all of us without even trying. After these ten years, I''m sure you''ve grown to some unimaginable state. So, why aren''t you here to help us, Apollo? You promised¡­'' Nadida sulked.

    Just then, a feminine voice filled with pride as well as an oddly reassuring presence of power sounded within Nadida''s mind. "Are you relying upon another person to solve an issue you should be capable of resolving yourself? Could it be I chose the wrong human to be representative? If this is the extent of your confidence then perhaps I should revoke your position as my envoy."

    Nadida''s eyes immediately widened as she had only heard this voice once before! It was her Spirit! Even now, she still didn''t know their name or power for that matter. But, judging by her tone, it was evident that this Spirit should be rtively powerful.

 Chapter 559: New Generations Emergence (II)

    Chapter 559: New Generations'' Emergence (II)

    <strong>New Generations'' Emergence (II)</strong> ---- 0

    Nadida froze on the battlefield as her mind shifted to an entirely different ne of existence. Eventually, the earlier voice of her Spirit guided her to a mystical ce clouded in arcane energy of every color. The rainbow colorway produced a calming feeling in Nadida as her earlier worries seemed to flow away from.

    Next, a shrine appeared within the mist with crystalline steps leading to an open seating area. Seated in the middle, a remarkably beautiful female sat with her legs crossed, slowly wafting her hand causing the liquids in a small teacup below her hand to swirl.

    Experiencing this scene, a respectful expression appeared across Nadida''s face and she didn''t understand why that was the case. While she knew Spirits possessed a background eclipsing that of humans, she didn''t expect that a Spirit''s mere presence could influence her mental response.

    "Sit," the Spirit said. Her voice was akin to a soothing luby as Nadida carelessly took a step forth. There wasn''t the slightest bit of fear or apprehension present in Nadida''s expression while she took a seat on a chair that appeared out of seemingly nowhere.

    "Don''t mind this disy. It is simply my Ethereal Elements," the Spirit said.

    Still wordless, Nadida blinked as she looked around. She felt the energy surrounding her was familiar, appearing oddly simr to Spiritual Essence except it was tens of times better in terms of purity andfortability.

    "Aren''t there some things you wish to say? From what I recall, you had many troubles just moments ago. So much so that you were reduced to the pitiful state of relying upon someone else, is that right?" the Spirit asked.

    "Y-yes¡­" Nadida stammered, pausing afterward as she struggled to meet the spirit''s enchanting and hazy gaze. It felt like the Spirit was looking through her to her deepest thoughts every time their eyes met. Needless to say, it was an ufortable feeling. Even more so because Nadida was virtually unfamiliar with her Spirit.

    "As I said before, that is uneptable for someone I''ve chosen to be my envoy. After all, I''ve even gone through the trouble of establishing the Ethereal Elements as your second Spiritual Mind. You may be unfamiliar with the stiptions of my words, but they are much grander than you realize," the Spirit said.

    While the Spiritual Mind seemed like a contract between the Spirit and their contractor, that wasn''t the full extent of this power. The state of this internal site was the direct link to the power in which a sufficiently strong Spiritual Cultivator could wield. In Solomon''s case, his Spiritual Mind resembled an expanse filled with a few constetions. But even then,pared to these ethereal elements before Nadida, the constetions weren''t asplete.

    Conversely, Soren''s Spiritual Mind was a mirage of Gaelbolg. Once the manifestation of Gaebolg resonated with the actual weapon it would trigger a violent response, ending in the absurd increase to Soren''s power.

    However, the difference between Nadida''s Spirit and the Spirits of these other Paragons was that they retained the ability to assist inbat while also molding the Spiritual Mind. Under normal circumstances, the fact that Nadida''s Spirit couldn''t supply any aid wouldbel her weaker than the other Spirits.

    But, that assumption was a gross misunderstanding. There were other special reasons as to why this Spirit could intervene while preparing her Spiritual Mind.

    Soon enough, the Spirit continued after realizing that Nadida finally looked her in the eyes again, "There hasn''t been many to spark my interest throughout the cosmos, not to mention one who possesses broad affinities with so many elements. It''d be a shame for me to discard you now after all this word, so can you please deal with this unsightly mental state that you''re cultivating?"

    "That''s easier said than done," Nadida responded with a wry smile. "Many of myrades are dying. It''s impossible for me to be that heartless and disregard their lives."

    Suddenly, the Spirit''s expression changed as she gave Nadida an unusual look. "When did I ever tell you to disregard their lives? Besides, I have never been one to side with the heartless. In fact, a heartless personality irritates me. What I''m saying is you need to steady yourself. Believe in yourself and your ability to prevail."

    Listening to the Spirit''s words, Nadida clutched her fists against herp with a deepening frown. Although those words sounded simple, Nadida felt the battlefield''s condition wasn''t as simple as the Spirit believed it to be.

    "To believe I would first need to have the power. I won''t fool myself into believing that I can do something that is virtually impossible. My ego isn''t thatrge. Now, if I had the power, that''d be a different story."

    "Very well. You''ll notice a great difference the moment your consciousness returns to the battle. One that won''te at a huge cost during your first use. It''ll be up to you whether you wish to push that power to the point of inflicting bacsh damage."

    "Wait¡­ after all of this, you still haven''t revealed your name. How can be partners if I''m not even aware of the simplest things?" Nadida muttered. At the same time, her expression brightened as her confidence gradually returned.

    Before answering, the Spirit released a soft giggle. The surrounding energy fluttered as if sumbing to the appeal of the cheek before steadily returning to its motionless state. "We aren''t partners. You just intrigue me. At best, you can think of yourself as my acolyte. With that being said, I''m known as Aethelia, the Overseer of Elements."

    "Overseer?" Nadida muttered with a mystified expression. She scratched her head in confusion since she had never once heard of a Spirit with a title nor one that imed to be an overseer. After all, that meant they would be in control of essentially all things rted to these "elements".

    Of course, these elements were only in regards to the elements that arcane energy could adopt. The only difference was that unlike the rest of the Spirits that were confined to a single domain depending on the attribute of their arcane energy, Aethelia didn''t have this issue. She could transverse through the domains of the Arcana as she pleased.

    Although, most of her time was spent inside the true version of this manifested ce.

    "I''ve never heard of that before."

    "I doubt you have. There are not many Spirits who can say they''re on my level. In fact, there are less than ten who can do so," Aethelia said with a proud smile. Unfortunately, Nadida didn''t understand the magnitude of Aethelia''s ims because her knowledge regarding the Arcana, their power system, and their history were allcking.

    Regardless, ording to Aethelia''s ims, if there were only less than ten Arcana that could equal her in terms of strength, that meant she was implying her power was on par with the Primordials, since that was the only part of the power system with numbers matching her statement.

    However, if that was true, then that would mean a character on par with a Primordial was aware of Astarat''s location! What''s more, it was unknown if her power could even be used in this ce.

    Nevertheless, while keeping her proud smile, Aethelia looked over Nadida once more, analyzing her remarkable golden eyes. ''She''s definitely enough to test out my curiosities. I''ll have to find her once more when all of my preparations areplete.''

    Suddenly, as if remembering something important, Aethelia snapped her fingers, attracting Nadida''s undivided attention. "When you return, gradually increase the power you use. Don''t unleash it all at once because you need to give this Ethereal Elements Abode time to equalize. I''ve built many rune circles that will regte the power stream needed to avoid injuring yourself."

    "Okay," Nadida nodded.

    "You may return then. I''ll be monitoring your actions from the other sides of the abode. If you run the risk of severely injuring yourself I will forcibly cut off your link. I''m sure you under the implications of having your power removed on the battlefield."

    "I do," Nadida answered in a solemn tone. Afterward, she gradually closed her eyes as she felt her body shake in the seat. It was time for her consciousness to return to her body.

    ¡­

    Inside the Catastrophe Line¡­

    Nadida''s eyes opened, weing the gruesome sight of the battlefield. To her surprise, there wasn''t much change as the people engaged in battle seemed to have barely moved. Only after a few moments did Nadida realize that her visit to that mystical ce onlysted less than five seconds in the real world.

    Upon noticing this fact, Nadida''s eyes widened. At the same time, she also felt something new in her mind. Not only was it a technique, but it was a new stream of power. Curious, Nadida lifted her hand and thought about summoning some of this power.

    The space within two meters immediately trembled as rainbow arcane energy appeared in Nadida''s palm. The amount of power emanating from the small sphere made Nadida smile. But, if that wasn''t enough, her entire body began releasing an ethereal ripple!

 Chapter 560: New Generations Emergence (III)

    Chapter 560: New Generations'' Emergence (III)

    <strong>New Generations'' Emergence (III)</strong> ---- 1

    The ethereal energy ripple billowing from Nadida''s body was extremely unusual, in that it didn''t quite present the same omnipotent power signature that the Avatar Form presented. Be that as it may, the power surrounding Nadida was more practical inparison. Compared to the finite and exceedingly limited duration of the Avatar Form, Nadida felt as if this power could be wielded indefinitely.

    After all, Aethelia spent an exorbitant amount of time refining and solidifying the Ethereal Elements Abode to house all the energy that Nadida would. In fact, the amount of energy inside her Spiritual Mind eclipsed the energy within the Spiritual Minds of the Three Heavens.

    While that didn''t mean she was stronger, it just highlighted her unique advantage¨Dthe robust energy reserves thatbeled her a monster in terms of endurance. As for directbat power, that would only be understood after Nadida engaged in battle.

    Nevertheless, with the surge of power she felt right now, nadida''s valiant demeanor returned in full effect. The death and carnage on the battlefield now felt like a matter that she could influence.

    ''I promise that I''ll help you all as much as I can. There won''t be as many deaths on my watch if I can do something about it,'' Nadida vowed to herself. A momentter, she took the time to digest the information of the technique in her mind. Since the Ethereal Element Abode only held arcane energy of the highest purity, the only way from Nadida to wield was by employing a special technique.

    In her case, the technique was known as Soul Coalescence. By using her original contract with Aethelia as the base, she could have the remnants of Aethelia''s Soul reinforce hers to open a slender stream of arcane energy linked directly to her Soul Temple. While the reinforcement appeared simr to the Spiritualization and such on the surface, it was totally different.

    Whereas Spiritualization burned the Spiritual Essence in the Soul Temple at an rming rate in exchange for a hefty boost in power, Soul Coalescence was a technique limited strictly to the Spiritual Mind. It would only use the energy inside there and not the Soul Temple.

    Hence, why Aethelia expressed the certain superiorities of this technique. If the energy inside one''s Spiritual Mind was strong enough, then by using Soul Coalescence, a human could gain power nearing the Avatar Form without suffering the horrendous bacshes and forcibly merging with a Spirit''s Soul.

    Eventually, Nadida understood the in and outs of the Soul Coalescence techniques. If pushed too far, it would immediately force her into an Avatar Form. because Aethelia''s origin Arcane Soul was far too powerful, that would mark the moment that Aethelia canceled Nadida''s permission to use this power.

    Thus, Nadida decided that she would avoid reaching that point at all costs. The ethereal ripple surrounding Nadida''s body soon transformed into a thick lightningsso as she raised her left hand above her head and created numerous cracking lightning.

    ''It''s just as the technique said. My ability to conjure elements is heightened exponentially while using Soul Coalescence. The arcane energy funneling through my body can be changed into any element of my liking,'' Nadida inwardly eximed with a fleeting expression of glee.

    Now that her curiosities were sated by verifying her capabilities, Nadida snapped her finger and pointed towards the nearest gathering of Terrors on the battlefield. Most of the Terrors in that general direction were Rank 2 and 3, but the pressure they put on the soldier in that area was immense.

    Despite losing their leader, the Terror maintained the same level of activity, as if they were never being exclusively led in the first ce. In truth, Brukti''s main objective on the battlefield was to ensure that the Seed of Death received enough of the Death Essence generated on the battlefield.

    As for the fate of the lower-ranking Terrors, that mattered little to him as Az''kayzak power was enough to trample all of these Terrors, even if they were added to together and assaulted him all at once.

    The arcane lightning consisted of three types¨Cazure lighting, purple lightning, and finally golden lightning shed, striking the ground below in an instant. A ring of scorched was left in its wake as the berserk energies inside the lightning were mentally controlled by Nadida so they dealt minimal interference towards herrades.

    Be that as it may, a terrifying lightning strike appearing in such a close vicinity rmed the soldier, leading to their mystified expression once they realized they were unharmed. Eventually, they understood Nadida was the origin of this attack.

    However, thest thing Nadida wished for was to have the deaths increased to their negligence on the battlefield. So, employing another effect of this new power, Nadida delivered a mass message to the others.

    "Return your attention to the battle. Just know that we are backing you up. So, fight; fight with all your valor until we win this war!"

    The messages resounded in every soldier''s mind within a kilometer radius. As a result, a wave of uproarious battle cries filled the atmosphere as arge number of soldiers raised their weapons with increased morale.

    Conversely, Nadida revealed an enchanting smile while pushing a locket of her beautiful crimson hair behind her hair. Suddenly, the temperature within a 200-meter radius skyrocketed to the point sweltering heat waves appeared. At the same time, an orange hue exuded from Nadida''s golden eyes while her crimson hair progressively adopted the rainbow colorway of her arcane energy.

    The surrounding heat waves then condensed into a sphere of orange mes with a faint cerulean outer glow. Those nearby felt their Soul Temple tremble as the mes surrounding this me incorporated bits of arcane energy resembling Spiritual Essence.

    Fortunately, this attack wasn''t aimed at the humans in the vicinity of their minds would have been potentially destroyed by the aftermath. Even if this attack was controlled to avoid humans, the aftershock would be too great for Nadida to perfectly influence, thereby potentially leading to unwanted casualties.

    Rather thanunching a close attack, Nadida raised both of her hands, resulting in the sphere of sweltering levitating high above her head. Once ready, she unleashed the attack on the area closest to the Endless Death Domain''s entrance where not a single human soul was located.

    Boom!

    The attacknding on the attack caused arge tremor throughout the battlefield. What''s more, ming limbs filled the sky as destroyed Terror bodies scattered across the battlefield near the back of the Catastrophe Line.

    A proud smile appeared across Nadida''s face as she lowered her hand and traced her finger against the ethereal ripple surrounding her body in a suspended state. As long as she willed it, this rippling ring would trante her desires into reality by activating the corresponding element.

    "Thank you for this power, Aethelia," Nadida muttered to herself while slowly closing her eyes. She sped her hands together over her chest as her emotions were riled up by her ability to now cause a difference on the battlefield. Despite using two immense attacks, Nadida felt no different.

    The stability of the Ethereal Elements Abode and the energy inside was simply absurd! Even Soren and Solomon felt weakness after unleashing tworge techniques. Hence, when Soren arrived on the battlefield and looked down, only to see a young female singlehandedly deal with two huge clusters of Terrors, he was intrigued. But, he wasn''t overly impressed.

    Soren rubbed his chin in thought before ncing to his right for a moment. ''That''d be a different story if these attacks could deal with Rank 4 Terrors all the same. They are the true menace for the soldiers. If you''re capable of doing that besides your young age, then you''ll have my praise.''

    Suddenly, two symbols lit up on Gaelbolg''s shaft as Soren tightened his grasp, turned his wrist, and unleashed a terrifying spear throw. A huge crevasse opened in the floor as Gaelbolg continued to obliterate the ground while obliterating a huge amount of Rank 4 Terrors with unstoppable pierces.

    Although Gaelbog soared further into the distance, Soren didn''t chase after the weapon. Instead, hended beside Nadida to get a general understanding as to why someone who wasn''t revealed to be a Paragon could unleash a power stronger than Spiritualization but just slightly inferior to the Avatar Form?

    Could it be there were hidden Paragons that the War Academies failed to identify? If so, then Soren felt that there was perhaps a chance that this war could be won with infallible victory.

    "Are you not the Vice Commander of the Crux Family''s Legion? When did you gain the ability to utilize a Spirit''s power at such a level? Is it something you learned in the spur of the moment or have you been hiding this power all of this time in fear of some sort of repercussion?" Soren asked.

    His unannounced presence took Nadida by surprise because while she could sense all of her allies nearby, she couldn''t sense Soren in the slightest. Not to mention, he appeared beside her the moment he released his spear. So, the booming noise of his spear causing rampant destruction only further rmed Nadida.

    As for the reason for Soren''s question, it was because he had witnessed a few individuals who awakened power in times of crisis by feeding their indomitable will to survive. He wished to know if Nadida fell into this description.

 Chapter 563: Azkayzaks Full Awakening

    Chapter 563: Az''kayzak''s Full Awakening

    <strong>Az''kayzak''s Full Awakening</strong> ---- 1

    Looking at the spear draped over the young fellow''s shoulder, both Hakkur''s and Tiberius''s expressions showed some change. After all, a spear was the signature of the Dongguang Family, so to see a youth appear here with a seemingly unusual spear perplexed Hakkur.

    For one, he wasn''t aware of someone with this appearance being amongst the family''s powerful children. But, after also noticing Aaron''s golden eyes, Hakkur was confident that this b0oy before him was linked to his family. Thus, before moving forward he needed to acquire some answers.

    "Is he¡­ one of yours? It seems like that should be the case, but there is also something unusual in his bloodline like he was born of a much weaker talent," Tiberius said while rubbing his chin in thought. A medley of emotions appeared on his face as he continued to notice new abnormal things about Aaron.

    "That might be the case, he presents all of the unique characteristics of a Dongguang. What''s more, he''s extremely unusual. I wonder where his poweres from for him to survive this deep in the Endless Death Domain without suffering damage or even feeling some difort," Hakkur muttered with a perplexed expression.

    Typically, this deep into the Endless Death Domain would cause difort due to the extremely dense miasma present. However, much less feeling ufortable, it was as if Aaron didn''t even detect the miasma nor did his body. Had it not been for his young and their strong perception revealing that his cultivation was no higher than a Zul and Spirit Lord, they would''ve thought they ran into something even stronger than a Paragon!

    Nevertheless, this set of older people couldn''t waste all of their time trying to figure out the exact origins of Aaron or unearth the source of his abnormalities. For now, there were many more important issues to deal with.

    Thus, Hakkur raised his hand that coated with a terrifyingly sharp aura before pressing it forward again the miasma. The miasma was split apart like a divided sea while the energy continued to travel deeper into the spacious cave.

    "Come along," Hakkur said before traveling deep inside the cave. He didn''t wait for the others to follow as he casually observed his surrounding. There were many broken pirs with deep-green and toxic feeling runes leading towards the inner parts of the cave.

    Even Hakkur felt some apprehension towards these runes as they pulsated with a deathly aura. If it weren''t for his Spirit that he prided himself for, there was a high chance of him taking a small step back, whether it be from instinct or absolute fear.

    Soon enough, the other Grand Masters, Gideon, and Aaron arrived behind Hakkur. They noticed he hade to a full stop right before a door. His expression was unusually grim as he gazed deep into that area.

    A pair of ck eyes exuding a green aura so dense it almost appeared ck glowed in the not so far-off distance. A low rumble followed when Hakkur and the others noticed signs of movement taking ce. "My old adversaries, I expected your audience sooner orter. So, you have felt my subtle presence on that battlefield have you?"

    "Correct, and we''re here toe to apromise. There is no need to continue all of this carnage for the time being. Both sides have suffered enough casualties, enough to justify ending this thing," Gideon said in a firm tone. Unlike the other Grand Masters, he had witnessed the state of the battlefield firsthand.

    It was an extent of carnage that he had only witnessed a handful of times prior to that moment. And, all of those events ended in both sides suffering such catastrophic losses that it took a significant amount of time to recovers.

    As for those who survived the carnage, they emerged from the war apletely different person. Whether it be an increase in power, change in the mental state, or their overall sanity¨Dnone of these things stayed the same. Participating in a bloody war always produced some unavoidable effects.

    Sadly, Az''kayzak seemed uninterested in this matter. The look in his eyes remained the same if not even moreckadaisical as he looked at Gideon and chuckled. Gideon''s firm request amused Az''kayzak.

    "Oh? Do you believe my race treats death the same way you do? Unlike your inferior race, mine draws power from the event of death. So, tell me, why would I tell them to stop what they''re doing when it is the sole reason for my grand return? Do you believe me to be foolish?" Az''kayzak responded. His tone towards the end seemed slightly agitated as the Death Essence present in the room formed a vortex despite hisck of conscious control.

    This was just how powerful he was inparison to Brukti. Whereas Brukti needed to focus before influencing the Death Essence to do his bidding, Az''kayzak only needed to show some emotion for the energy to be subservient.

    "It''s not a question of whether or not you''re foolish. But, if I''m being blunt, then yes; I believe you to be very foolish. After all, we have traveled down this road once before. Why can''t you be content with the domain that you''ve imed for yourself and exist quietly? You''ll just lose again in the end," Tiberius voiced. At the same time, he shook his head disappointedly while releasing a deep sigh.

    "Oh? Is that so? But, you see, I don''t believe that to be entirely true. In fact, I''m willing to take that chance," Az''kayzak said with a faint smile. After a short pause, he continued. "I see that the state of the battlefield is devolving on my side. A number of humans wield that same power that brought an end to the war."

    "Precisely, so stop your foolish escapades. They''re fruitless and resulting in needless death," Hakkur barked.

    However, Az''kayzak merely smiled in response as he stepped forward from within the darkness, revealing his figure that betrayed Aaron''s earlier image. He expected this being to be a colossus, seeing as most of the records detailed that a Terror''s size indicated how much power they possessed.

    Yet, Az''kayzak seemed more closely rted to a human than a Terror. While his skin was the same unusual color, it gradually turned into a color that resembled leather dipped in midnight blue dye. What''s more, his burnt orange hair flowed down his back, creating a scene that one would fail to liken to a Terror.

    "That''s where you are wrong, human. These aren''t needless death. They are very much filled with intent. Because it is only when my kind is killed by another entity that I can reim the power I''ve invested in their bodies. So, it is I who ultimately benefits from this war!"

    Whoosh!

    A burst of absurdly powerful Death Essence pushed everyone back in the cave as Az''kayzak stretched his body that hadn''t performed any intense movements in centuries. But, now that he did, his first attack, while effortless in nature, caught the Grand Masters off-guard.

    Fortunately, these Grand Masters weren''t your everyday run-of-the-mill opponent. Each of the Grand Masters mitigated the force of the attack with their unique aura before recoveringpletely. On the other hand, Aaron closed his eyes and muttered an incantation.

    A dazzling golden aura interspersed with radiant sparkles appeared for a moment but it was soon by a golden me. The presence of the mes burnt the Death Essence, but because of the purity, it took some time and extreme focus.

    ''This guy is as powerful as I assumed. No wonder I felt inherent fear towards this being. Just this attack alone will take a few minutes for me to deal with through my own means,'' Aaron thought. His gaze narrowed upon Az''kayzak, treating him like an inevitable opponent.

    However, Hakkur flicked his finger and sent a surge of sharp energy towards Aaron''s chest. The Death Essence encasing his body was shredded to tiny pieces in mere moments.

    "Be mindful of your surroundings, young one. This is not an opponent that you can deal with. While itmendable that you managed to make it to this ce, it''s not the same as experiencing the dreadfulness of this opponent," Hakkur said.

    Afterward, he returned his attention to Az''kayzak, who seemed focused on Aaron alone. ''That golden ze¡­ we Absorbeyns have experienced something simr once before. Sadly, we couldn''t im any of that power for our own since doing partaking in that cataclysmic event would''ve been nothing more than suicidal, resulting in our guaranteed demise. Regardless, I''ve alreadye across something much more befitting of our nature.''

    "Since you don''t want to do this the civil way, then we''ll have to take a more forceful route. Don''t me us for being this way; it''s just the survival of our race take precedence over making a deal of peaceful coexistence," Gideon said.

    In the next moment, Gideon raised his staff above his head and conjured a huge orb of ck mes. Simrly, Tiberius and Hakkur made their moves, unleashing two mighty attacks in the form of a golden spear and shadow sword.

    Despite the rming presence of their attacks, Az''kayzak smiled. "Assuming that I''m the same opponent that I once was would be a sore underestimation of my power, but that''s a mistake you humans usually make."

    Az''kayzak waved his hand indifferently, summoning an astronomical amount of death orbs. They were only 1 meter in diameter, but the overall feeling of the attack made their pupils constrict.

    Boom!

    Astarat and the Endless Death Domain both trembled violently as five figures flew out of the area at astonishing speeds.

 Chapter 565: Sovereigns Avatar Form, Strengthened Disasters (I)

    Chapter 565: Sovereign''s Avatar Form, Strengthened Disasters (I)

    <strong>Sovereign''s Avatar Form, Strengthened Disasters (I)</strong> ---- 1

    The one to lead the assault after witnessing the true power of Az''kazak''s Death Command was Hakkur. His Avatar Form was simr to Soren in that many symbol appeared around his body while an exquisite spear materialized in his hand. Unlike Soren''s form, however, a violent tempest with crackles and golden lightning surfaced around Hakkur''s body as his expression grew increasingly wild.

    A sharp aura continued to climb around his body and his expression seemed to resemble an apex predator locked on their prey. In the next moment, Hakkur lifted his spear-wielding arm while rotating his wrist. This movement resulted in an enormous spear stprised of lethal lightning and winds spiraling around an unusual spear aura.

    Compared to any strike Soren unleashed before, Hakkur''s attack seemed capable of ending the world! The feeling linked to his attack was simply horrendous. Even some of the nearby soldiers were forced to create some space unless they wanted to suffer from the attack''s aftermath.

    However, Az''kayzak remained motionless while watching the spear st pierce through the atmosphere at insane speeds. He twirled the scythe in his possession before nonchntly striking it down. An arc of condensed death energy followed by the images of many phantoms impacted against the spear st.

    An eerie took ce, persisting for a single second when a frightening explosion suddenly urred. The resulting explosion created a huge crater between Az''kayzak and Hakkur from which a stream of essence seemed to gush out endlessly. The attack was so ridiculously strong that it punctured the on a subterranean level!

    "Surely this isn''t the extent of my former opponents? Can''t you unleash something more powerful than this?" Az''kayzak said with a faint chuckle. He felt it was too easy to deal with Hakkur''s attack. What he wanted was a worthwhile fight since he was forced to sit out all battles for countless years.

    "Come on now. You think that''s all I have in my arsenal? This is just the warm-up," Hakkur answered back. A faint smile appeared across his face while numerous symbols on both his body and exquisite lit up in quick session. Soon enough, more than fifteen symbols shared between his weapon and body light up in unison.

    They all carried a unique color, which also produced a unique sensation. The tempest from earlier reappeared but in greater strength. Followed by its appearance, Hakkur exhaled, but the sound of his breaking wasn''t too far off from sounding like an earthquake in his chest.

    "Astral Spear: Tempest Barrage," Hakkur said in a low voice. The spear in his hand vibrated subtly when Hakkur executed countless strikes within an instant. In Az''kayzak''s eyes, it seemed like each of Hakkur''s movements were building on thest since the singr tempest divided into two, until the number reached the towards.

    Immediately after, the tempests condensed into spears aimed directly at Az''kayzak! For the first time, his face showed some expression as a thousand of these spears seemed difficult to deal with. At least, that''s how the situation should have unraveled.

    Despite how devastating Hakkur''s attack felt to everyone in the area, Az''kayzak vanished and reappeared over 300 meters away with the help of a specter-like movement technique. His body seemed to blend with Death Essence in the air, allowing him to materialize his body a great distance away from the original spot.

    With a calm spot imed, Az''kayzak gathered an absurd amount of Death Essence at the tip of his scythe. By the time, Hakkur''s attack arrived at his new position, Az''kayzak tapped the tip of his scythe against the ground, sending a fluctuation of deathly energy deep inside the surface.

    As a result, numerous eruptions of Death Essence mixed with shocking mes burst through the ground, destroying many of the spears that came in contact with the eruption. As for the spears that didn''t get touched by the eruptions, Az''kayzak handled those personally.

    His scythe snaked around his body as a result of Az''kayzak unusual wielding style. Each movement incited a wisp of Death Energy to zap a spear out of the sky. Thus, a scene of one individual singlehandedly handling a relentless barrage of spears created a sight that shouldn''t be so mystifying.

    After all, Az''kayzak was the enemy. It wasn''t the time to marvel at his power. Sadly, most couldn''t help it because they simted this scenario by recing Az''kayzak with themselves. Needless to say, no matter who performed this, they didn''t see how they could emerge victorious in this seemingly endless barrage of spears

    Even more frightening was the fact that Az''kayzak grinned throughout the entire ordeal. He didn''t even seem pressured by Hakkur''s attack! Naturally, Hakkur took notice of Az''kayzak''s unperturbed attributed and narrowed his eyes.

    ''Oh? Is this some time of joke to him? Very well, enough of the long-distance attacks,'' Hakkur inwardly thought. In the next moment, a crevasse split open the earth as Hakkur dashed forward, cutting through any and all obstacles that stood in his way.

    Thus, Hakkur reached Az''kayzak in mere moments. However, before attacking, he snapped his finger and recalled the remaining spears. The leftover energy surged towards the spear in his hand, forming a riveting energy exterior.

    "Interesting, interesting. So you''ve decided to meet me head-on. But the question remains¨Care you strong enough to do so? You shouldn''t take up a monumental task that is beyond you," Az''kayzak said yfully.

    His words caused a sharp gleam to arise within Hakkur''s eyes. It had been quite some time since his emotions were stimted this much and it showed by the violent reaction of his energy. It strengthened three times over as he executed a frightening piercing strike.

    Even Az''kayzak felt this attack would cause some trouble for him. So rather than defend against it directly, Az''kayzak''s torso moved unnaturally, almost as if he possessed malleable bones or no bones at all, either way, he dodged the strike before returning an attack of his own.

    In contrast, Hakkur didn''t avoid the attack. The astral energies provided by the Avatar Form intensified around Hakkur as he met Az''kayzak''s strike. A destructive ripple filtered throughout the battlefield, kicking up debris andrge rocks as a result.

    Despite this oue, the two sides continued to exchange attacks at a rapidly increasing frequency. Soon enough, they were unleashing hundreds of strikes every few seconds. Of course, the bizarre amount of attacks were far from enough to put an indent in their energy reserves.

    Both the energy reserves of a Sovereign-level character and Az''kayzak were not to be overlooked. Even Soren, Solomon, and Valerie fighting together at once weren''t enough to make a Sovereign be serious. That''s howrge the chasm between a Saint and Sovereign is. They were two different realms of power.

    Meanwhile, Tiberius and Gideon''s expressions showed some change after analyzing the fight between the two monsters before them. "Was this guy always that strong? I don''t recall Hakkur having such a difficult time in the past."

    "Who knows," Tiberius answered. He felt the same way but he didn''t have the answers they were looking for. The best Tiberius could do was make a solid guess while also preparing to interfere in the battle. "Perhaps he wasn''t at full strength during our first fight. After all, he was also present in the first catastrophe ording to the records."

    "I see. That''s usible. Nevertheless, let''s go," Gideon said. Unlike these two, he didn''t wish to sit around and engage in "fair" one vs. one fights. As this erupted during times of war, any decision he made was the right decision. It wasn''t the means that mattered but the result that rose from those means.

    Thus, Gideon lifted his aged staff above his head and created a huge ball of ck mes. However, unlike the first orb he created, this one was much different. There was arge crack in the center of the orb that caused the me sphere to copse on itself.

    Eventually, the ming sphere revealed a figure coated in ck armor. The armor was made from mes but based on the fluctuations from the figure, this didn''t seem like a Spirit. Rather, it felt more like a being summoned from one of Gideon''s special techniques.

    Therge figure donned in a ck me armor soonnded on the ground with a huge tremor. It didn''t waste any time in joining the fight as a huge ming ymore appeared in its grasp. The temperature within a certain radius skyrocketed after the appearance of this being.

    However, Hakkur was unaffected by the change. The Avatar Form granted extremely high resistance towards outside influences.

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    The figure unleashed a strike everytime there was an opening between Az''kayzak and Hakkur. But, rather than inflict damage, these attacks only seemed to irritate Az''kayzak as rage surfaced in his eyes.

    "Insignificant bug! You aren''t even a real thing and you dare interfere in our battle? Very well! Let''s see how you like the power of my Death Command!" Az''kayzak said in a frigid tone.

    The Death Essence suddenly stopped moved and opened six deathly portals, from which six of the newly created Disasters emerged from.

 Chapter 566: Sovereigns Avatar Forms, Strengthened Disasters (II)

    Chapter 566: Sovereign''s Avatar Forms, Strengthened Disasters (II)

    <strong>Sovereign''s Avatar Forms, Strengthened Disasters (II)</strong> ---- 0

    The six Disasters that emerged on the battlefield exhibited pressure rivaling Brukti''s fight against Solomon''s Avatar Form. Now that Az''kayzak had digested the remnants of Fuhrer''s aura and a considerable amount of the energy within the Seed of Death, he could grant a more powerful version of his Death Command.

    As a result, it was as if six more beingsparable to Brukti''sst stage were now present on the battlefield. Of course, this wasn''t enough to make the Grand Masters shirk back, but they did frown when they realized the purpose behind summoning these Disasters.

    "How many of ours are capable of handling Disasters of this caliber?" Tiberius asked with a grave expression. At the very least, it''d require a Paragon of the older generation. As for those still in the condition to fight, there was only one, possibly two.

    Noticing the intentions of Tiberius''s words, Evangeline immediately separated from the group and teleported to a part of the battlefield with a wildly fluctuating aura. Evidently, the wielder of this aura was wounded to the point it affected their battle power.

    Fortunately, no one alive could im to be Evangeline''s equal when it came to healing, especially after invoking her Avatar Form. If she willed it, healing arge mass of people on the battlefield wasfortably within her limits. Of course, doing so wouldn''te at a small price.

    At the very least, Evangeline would need to exhaust half of her Spiritual Reserves to sustain the healing process. Sadly, it wasn''t worth it to do so in her eyes. Unless the individual''s power were equal to or greater than a Saint''s, their presence had be virtually useless on this battlefield.

    ''If only our enemies weren''t as tricky as these Terrors. I wouldn''t mind remedying everyone here,'' Evangeline thought. Trying to heal anyone mortally wounded would be impractical since attacking the remaining Terrors would result in countless deaths. Those deaths would then trante to more power for the nearby Terrors to tap into, effectively replenishing their power reserves.

    It was simply a losing battle that Evangeline wasn''t willing to fight. Instead, she soon arrived before her granddaughter Valeria and Solomon, who kneeled beside her with a visibly drained appearance.

    "Pardon my condition. It seems I''ve sacrificed too much to ovee my opponent," Solomon said with a wry smile. He only made eye contact with Evangeline for a moment before silently bowing his head. While he wasn''t ashamed of his feats, their statuses just weren''t on the same level.

    Even though Evangeline focused on healing, she was plenty strong herself. After all, how could a Sovereignck strength whenpared to a Saint, who was at least three times less effective inbat?

    "Stop your childish jokes. You are one of the reasons we even managed to make a dent in their forces. Sadly, I must confess that you''ll have to face the burden of this pain once more," Evangeline answered with a contrite expression.

    However, her expression became resolute as her hand inched above Solomon''s head. A momentter, a surge of pleasant energy engulfed his body, returning his vitality rapidly. Compared to Valerie''s desperate attempts to heal him, Evangeline healed Solomon''s wounds at least five times faster!

    This was the difference in their essence purity as well as the deep understanding of their Spirit''s strengths. Although both Spirits originated from the domain centered around healing, there was a vast disparity in Valerie''s and Evangeline''s capabilities.

    Solomon recovered to his peak state in front of Valerie''s shocked gaze. "N-no way¡­ you''re telling me it was that easy?"

    "Calm yourself, my treasured granddaughter. My attainments are a condition you''ll reach eventually. We''re one of the few types who can wield a true Legendary Spirit without breaching our world''s defenses," Evangeline said, inducing even more shock in Solomon and Valerie.

    ording to her words, the Spirit in Evangeline''s possession was a legendary one! One might not understand the stiptions of her remark, but the world''s guardian and source forbade the presence of Legendary Spirits because of their extreme power.

    However, Evangeline''s predicament was a loophole because her Spirit never participated in direct battle. Or rather, it couldn''t do so. As one could infer by Evangeline''s role, her Spirit specialized in healing and defending. Thus, Evangeline was allowed to use her Spirit as she pleased.

    Meanwhile, Tiberius and Hakkur could only manifest a power equal to a pseudo-Legendary Spirit''s offensive strengths. Anything beyond that limit would trigger an instant response from Astarat itself. The spacial storm seeping from cracks in the atmosphere was one form of Astarat''s self-preserving reactions.

    The most extreme measures have yet to appear.

    Whoosh!

    A burst of arcane energy rippled from Solomon''s body the moment Evangeline withdrew her power. His Avatar Form had returned in full effect with zero signs of seque from his earlier transformation. More importantly, it didn''t seem like Evangeline''s involvement in handling this situation was finished since she also replenished Valerie''s weakened state.

    However, throughout the entire time, her attention never left Hakkur and Tiberius since she knew her proper position on the battlefield was with them. Nevertheless, Evangeline took onest precaution.

    Three clusters of dazzling white energy appeared in her palm, growing to the size of baseballs while Evangeline scanned the battlefield. "Even if you exhaust all of your Spiritual Essence, this will uphold your transformation. In doing so, you and Soren must kill those new Disasters as soon as possible!"

    "Understood, Lady Crux," Solomon responded with a bowed head. In the next moment, one cluster assimted with Solomon''s body while the other assimted with Valerie. As for the third cluster, it flew over the horizon, vanishing almost instantly.

    In the meantime, Solomon''s expression grew severe when he stretched his perception over the battlefield. He noticed three extremely vicious and powerful presences running rampant on the battlefield. ''So, there''s many more of them now. Then that would mean this oppressive force in the center of the battlefield is the one Gideon spoke of.''

    "Take care of it all now," Evangeline said before lightly tapping her foot against the ground. A gentle wave followed by a light breeze urred after this action. However, the only difference after the phenomenon dissipated was that Evangeline had utterly vanished.

    Following his scan of the battlefield, Solomon extended his hand towards Valerie. "Will you apany me? I feel your presence will be need on every step of the way."

    "I know¡­ this won''t be an easy battle at all," Valeria responded. She grasped Solomon''s extended hand and clung close to him as an astral fluctuation propelled them high up in the air.

    Afterward, Solomon kicked the air, zooming towards the closest Disaster. Eventually, Solomon could see that this Disaster differed greatly from Brukti''s appearance and power signature. Their frame was slender, and their arms and legs were reced with remarkably sharp long des that radiated a toxic sheen.

    Boom!

    Solomonnded heavily and alone, allowing Valeria to drift to the floor alone, albeit slowly. By the time Valeriended, Solomon had already arrived before this unfamiliar Disaster.

    Bang!

    Solomon wasted no time in unleashing a terrifying attack in the form of a palm strike augmented by arge amount of arcane energy. But, while he attacked, he also received a quick counterattack attack from his opponent.

    As a result, Solomon lightly pressed the space beside his cheek, deflecting the sword by a hair''s breadth. Nevertheless, his attack broke past the defenses of the Disaster, sending them flying into the distance.

    Now that he was aware of a Disaster''s terrifying regeneration rate, Solomon allowed no time for the Disaster to heal. He instantly followed up his initial attack with a catastrophic mix of Soul Embers and arcane energy. Thus, he replicated hisst attack against Brukti on a smaller scale.

    ¡­BOOOOM!

    The attack sent boulders flying everywhere, with Terror limbs interspersed throughout. Solomon thrust his hand into the ground and inevitably imed arge deep-green gem from inside the mess. This was the core of Terror that they couldn''t regenerate. As long as the core was separated from the main body, then they couldn''t regenerate.

    In the next moment, Solomon clenched his hand engulfed in the energy mixture, simultaneously crushing and burning this Disaster''s source. Compared to anyone else on the battlefield, Solomon possessed the most throughout understanding of a Disaster''s strength and thought process, hence why he defeated this one with such ease.

    Solomon didn''t relish his victory or be excited despite defeating this Disaster. Excitement was simply a luxury that couldn''t be afforded to this battlefield. Too much excitement led to apse in awareness, which could lead to mistakes.

    On the contrary, Solomon merely turned his attention toward the only free Disaster.

 Chapter 567: Domination on the Battlefield

    Chapter 567: Domination on the Battlefield

    <strong>Domination on the Battlefield</strong> ---- 1

    Moments after¡­

    Soren''s eyebrow jumped when he noticed the pressure rted to Solomon''s Avatar Form reappear on the field. At first, he thought to scold him for making a foolish move, but his decision changed when a cluster of pure energy came before him. It paused for a brief second and then merged with his body seamlessly.

    Soren could tell at a nce that this power was beyond Valerie''s capabilities and probably the source for Solomon reactivating his extreme state once again. After merging with the energy cluster, Soren immediately felt the effects, which included but wasn''t limited to augmented vitality.

    ''Truly remarkable. So this is the power the Grand Masters have stumbled upon while separate from society,'' Soren thought to himself with a look of marvel cast upon him. But, understanding the situation at hand, Soren soon recovered and brandished his spear.

    An eruption of golden energy in the form of a ring appeared underneath Soren''s feet, which soon shot to the sky, attempting to smite and pierce everything obstructing its grand rise. However, the sharpness presented by this ring felt unmatched as even the space surrounding Soren disyed signs of crumbling.

    Regrettably, this wasn''t something that Soren could spare any attention to. After all, activating his Avatar Form required all of his focus since the energy granted by this transformation traveled through delicate pathways to reach the spear in his hand.

    Only after the powerpleted its entire cycle could Soren freely wield Gaelbolg''s destructive power and do as he pleased. Throughout this process, sharp symbols piercing down Soren''s chin surfaced on his face while his hair adopted a pale-gold glow with a wild sway.

    Compared to Solomon''s presence resembling a star with untold power, Soren seemed to be a golden warlord brimming with strength. Even Nadida was forced to take a step back when she realized how unnerving the sharpness of Soren''s aura was.

    ''So... this is the dreaded Avatar Form that I''ve been warned not to use. I think I understand why she forbade me from doing so,'' Nadida muttered, using a volume only she could hear.

    "Stand back and don''t get involved in this next battle. Stay within your limits and continue to clean up the Rank 4 Terrors terrorizing the battlefield smoothly," Sorenmanded in a deep voice. His voice felt imperious and caused Nadida to tremble despite not feeling fear.

    ''Is this the presence of his Spirit? So overbearing¡­ No wonder Odessa said that General Soren is typically disliked on the battlefield,'' Nadida thought. Although she thought about this, she still nodded and heeded Soren''s words regardless.

    "Don''t worry. I won''t be a hindrance to any of your battles," Nadida answered confidently. A bed of violent winds surrounded her body in the next moment, which surprisingly caused a gentle updraft. Gradually, Nadida rose into the air, gaining a bird''s eye view of the battlefield.

    With the change in perspective, it didn''t take long for Nadida to find an area of the battlefield that needed her help. What''s more, this area was being handled by Alistair, who seemed to be having an unusually tough time, as indicated by his troubled expression.

    Therefore, Nadida chose to render aid to his part of the battlefield.

    Whoosh!

    The gentle updraft stopped, soon turning into a burst of wind that caused Nadida''s rapid eleration. Since she was approaching quickly, Alistair took quick notice of her presence and looked up. But, an expression of horror crept upon his face when he witnessed a colossal sickle constructed from brilliant cerulean lightning cleaving the sky.

    Time seemed to pause around Alistair as he stared at Nadida''s current appearance in awe. The dazzling prismatic rays that her hair exuded only entuated her peering beauty. This scene reinvigorated Alistair''s desire to draw her to his side. Sadly, he had done so incessantly, for years at that, to no avail. Now that she found an even more formidable power, what are the chances of her defecting to his side?

    Essentially ZERO!

    Shiiiiiiinggg! Krrrrrr! ¡­BOOM!

    Although the sickle felt extraordinarily sharp and made from refined lightning, giving the impossible of a docile aftershock, the resulting explosion that urred after it cleaved through the air was truly frightening! In fact, most of the soldier''s jaws dropped when they witnessed the wreckage of countless Rank 3 and 4 Terrors who had given them plenty of problems.

    ''No way¡­ isn''t this powerparable to what they say us Paragon can unleash in extreme situations? Does this mean¡­ is there an emergence of hidden Paragons?!'' Alistair wondered with widened eyes.

    As far as Alistair knew, he thought the degree of talent revealed by the War Academies assessment was definite. After all, there had never been anyone to surpass the recorded talent level given to them at that time. It was never more than a slight increase that stayed within the same general spectrum if there was such a situation.

    On the other hand, Nadida''s talent was documented to be at a Scion''s highest degree. Even though that seemed infinitesimally close to bing a Paragon, a vast chasm separated an utmost Scion and a Paragon. A Scion couldn''t establish a Spiritual Mind deeper in their Soul Temple.

    Aside from this issue, Scion still possessed ample room for growth. For example, Aran, Aaron''s eldest brother from his Dongguang lineage, was especially powerful despite not being a Paragon. On some encounters, he even bested Alistair.

    Granted, that was before Alistair finished his Spiritual Mind incubation period. Nevertheless, Alistair''s expression soon darkened when he realized Nadida was now even more effective on the battlefield than he was. He felt this was uneptable, but he wasn''tmitted enough to potentially sacrifice himself by invoking his most substantial power.

    ''They''re not worth it,'' Alistair thought to himself while shaking his head. He wasn''t an altruistic or heroic person. In his eyes, self-preservation came first. So, he would only use that power if it boiled down to a personal life or death situation. Aside from that, only a few scenarios would warrant him using the Avatar Form.

    Eventually, Nadidanded before Alistair and spared him a fleeting nce before looking to the wounded soldiers nearby. "Take this time to heal yourself. I''ve given you a window to use the resources distributed to the troops. Don''t let this opportunity go to waste."

    The soldier hurriedly obliged to her words and retrieved all the pills, paste, and other recovery items in their possession. Meanwhile, Nadida paused for a moment, shifted her gaze to Alistair, and then continued.

    "You could have protected your troops better, why didn''t you? Even those behind you have been wounded. I understand the soldiers outside of your reach as there is nothing that could be done, but why are those beside you wounded?"

    "Wounded people are inevitable in wars. I''m not going to injure myself trying to spread my power thin to protect others. My well-beinges first. All those behind me understood this the moment they joined my legion," Alistair answered calmly. He didn''t fear speaking his mind because, with his identity, there were not many who would disagree with him.

    "Hmph," Nadida harrumphed with a faint nod before turning her bad towards Alistair. While walking away, her cold voice entered Alistair''s ear, and the words in her message made Alistair seethe with fury. "And you wonder why I''ve never joined your side. Detestable, and youck the ability."

    If it weren''t for Nadida''s identity as a Vice-Commander of a Supreme Family''s legion under another Paragon, Alistair would have attacked her on the sport. Of course, the oue of that attack, given the fact that Nadida''s strength underwent unprecedented changes, was unknown.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Soren stepped before the Disaster that arrived in his area. This particr Disaster resembled a statue whose exterior possessed a stony texture. Deep green lines flowed through the cracks in its exterior, while when it opened its mouth to roar, the inside appeared to be some kind of molten poison.

    Just its roar caused a toxic heatwave to undte forward.

    Despite the iing wave, Soren eyed it indifferently. "Insignificant bug."

    Zeut!

    A sh appeared out of nowhere as Soren wielded Gaelbolg at lightning speeds. None of the symbols were illuminated, but the sensation of this sh of golden light was dreadful! The toxic heatwave pierced through and then shredded to bits effortlessly!

    Evangeline''s empowering technique wasn''t just for show! Both Soren and Solomon could now dominate their opponents without fear of their Avatar Form''s duration running out!

    As a result, Soren twirled Gaelbolg around his body, creating numerous golden scars in the atmosphere in the process. After more than a hundred appeared, Soren followed up with an offensive stance and callous expression.

 Chapter 568: Solomon & Sorens Domination

    Chapter 568: Solomon & Soren''s Domination

    <strong>Solomon & Soren''s Domination </strong> ---- 1

    Soren''s opposing Disaster tilted its head slightly when he destroyed itsst attack, followed by his unusual stance. It was clear from its behavior that the Disaster didn''t quite understand Soren''s actions. After all, it didn''t have the luxury of developing sentience over time like Brukti. Thus, while its power was on par with Brukti, its ability to process information wasn''t.

    Soren instantly noticed this disadvantage, which made him reveal a faint smirk. "Truly as stupid as I gave you credit for. It appears your race is nothing more than brainless tools of destruction."

    Soren''s contempt towards the Terrors was obvious. After all, what individual would be pleased with a race who contributed to the destruction of their and countless deaths? Soren''s opinion and reaction were all justified.

    Suddenly, the golden energy surrounding Soren impacted the ground in a ring shape. Soren made no indication of making such a move because he remained motionless throughout this unexpected change. But, of course, this was his doing, or more precisely, it was an effect that Gaelbolg had in its current liberated state.

    The ring of golden energy soon disappeared from underneath Soren, but the Disaster seemed to look around frantically, almost as if it sensed something. A faint rumble urred, but it was nearly undetectable unless within direct range of its coverage.

    Instinctively, the Disaster pulled back and mmed its giant fist into the ground, intending to destroy whatever it sensed underneath. However, how can you destroy something that has yet to take on a tangible form?

    The energy injected into the ground was too scattered for the Disaster''s attack to affect it. Thus, Soren remained confident that this would spell the end of the Disaster, which he was right about.

    Soren inverted his spear and gently tapped the tip against the earth. Although this action seemed innocuous, that wasn''t the case. Eight symbols lit up on Gaelbolg just before the light tap. The energy previously injected into the air expanded countless times over in response.

    Because of the expansion, dozens of golden spears filled with devastating energy pierced throughout the Disaster''s body. The attack was so ruthless that the spears even pierced one another since the target''s body was soon riddled with golden energy spears.

    All of the spears, including those which were destroyed by Soren''s attack, pierced the Disasters core. But, Soren snapped his fingers and made all of the spears simultaneously explode to ensure that it was thoroughly destroyed.

    "As I said, this was your end," Soren said lightly before turning his attention towards another area on the battlefield. He could tell that Solomon was quickly advancing towards that section of the battlefield, which made him frown. Frankly speaking, Soren didn''t receive enough thrill from thest battle.

    So, he intended to reach thest Disaster outside of the center of the Catastrophe Line. Sadly, it appeared that Solomon would make contact first. At least, that''s how it should''ve been.

    Soren abruptly drew back his dominant spear-wielding hand as the symbols alongside Gaelbolg''s shaft gradually lit up. Unlike the other times where the characters lit up, the energy surrounding Gaelbolg raged like the winds of a hurricane. Faint crackles even surfaced the tighter Soren grasped his weapon.

    ¡­Bang!

    Finally, Soren released his weapon. This action caused a terrifying bang as the sharpness of his spear even split apart all of the ambient energies. However, this action wasn''t meant to be an attack at all. It was simply an exceptional means of transport unique to Soren and his weapon.

    Afterward, Soren closed his eyes and exhaled. A secondter, they mmed open while Soren''s body vanished.

    Meanwhile, Solomon came to a gradual halt as he looked up into the sky. The terrifying bang seemed eerily familiar. And, with the help of his augmented senses in the Avatar Form, he could sense that this attack, or more precisely, the turbulent energyced into the attack, belonged to none other than Soren!

    A faint smile slowly appeared across Solomon''s lips as he shook his head. ''This guy is still such a child. What is this, some type of race? Very well. If that''s how you see, then I''ll back indulge in your little disy!''

    Wooooooooom!

    A burst of astral energy spiraled Solomon''s body that soon flowed to one of his palms. The energy condensed into a small yet opaque sphere right before Solomon''s palm. The energy signature was by no means inferior to the power present in Soren''s technique.

    Once the energy umted sufficiently, it exploded but caused zero damage to the surface. The only reason for the sphere was the propulsion it granted. Thus, Solomon''s body elerated in the form of blinding light, almost appearing identical to a shooting star. If anyone were to witness the scene, the mixture of cerulean and milky white would make one revel at the scene''s magnificence.

    Not even a secondter, the golden brillianceing from Soren''s side and the blue magnificence originating from Solomon''s side arrived right in the middle of their flight paths. Both Solomon''s and Soren''s gazes met and to their surprise, both of them sported a faint smirk.

    Meanwhile, the Disaster directly underneath their position looked up with a strange glint in its eyes. Perhaps for the first time in Astarat''s history, a Terror disyed evident signs of fear! However, that was understandable. Having two Saints in their Avatar Form converge on your position was a pressure that barely anyone could withstand.

    Their eyes conveyed an unspoken message. While Soren deftly snatched Gaelbolg out of the air without losing any of its absurd momentum, Solomon formed an astral tform and kicked off it to change his angle midair seamlessly.

    An instantter, Soren''s spearhead and Solomon''s fist enveloped in powerful energies impacted the Disaster''s frozen body. As expected, a humongous crater was formed with the Disaster''s obliterated remains in the center. Soren and Solomon''sbined attack was so frightening and fast that Disaster didn''t have any chance to react.

    Both of these individuals illustrious figures peered through the debris, seeming to be gods of war as they stared at each other amidst their wild auras.

    "I believe that''s my win. Inded my hit a fraction of a second faster than you did," Soren said with a proud smile. It was unknown if this was true or not, but Solomon didn''t ept it, seeing as he responded with an apt headshake.

    "Nonsense. Your eyes are just feeding you information that you wish to be true. We both know that I am the one who excels in speed between the both of us," Solomon responded.

    Despite their disagreement, they both broke out into light chuckles. No matter what they experienced, they had been through far too much not to understand each other''s personalities. While they were born to two different families, their rtionship was simr to brothers.

    Regrettably, they could enjoy thisugh for long. Even though they finished off the newly summoned Disasters by totally destroying their source, neither Soren nor Solomon could revoke their Avatar Form. They entertained doing so, but then it dawned upon them that there were still more of these Disasters present.

    "They won''t being back any time soon, if at all. But we still need to do more," Soren said as a grim expression slowly reappeared.

    "Yeah. While the Grand Masters can easily deal with Disasters, who''s to say that this monstrous presence would allow them to do so," Solomon agreed.

    Regardless of the fact that the Grand Masters could deal with the Disaster in little to no time, just Az''kayzak alone was enough to cause them trouble. The Disasters coupled with Az''kayzak''s presence would only be a true nuisance. Thus, these two decided it was best if they could pick off the excess number and whittle it down to a manageable state.

    Even killing a single Disaster could reduce the Grand Master''s stress considerably. Of course, before even thinking about interfering in the center of the Catastrophe Line, they needed to pick up their third.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Hakkur and Tiberius revealed irritated looks as they gazed between the six Disasters. Only one seemed particrly problematic out of all of them, given that its Death Command seemed more adeptly applied to its power.

    It went without saying; this one that raised some wariness was Brukti, who had learned a grave lesson from his fight against Solomon. He even appeared moreposed as he patiently waited beside Az''kayzak.

    "It seems they have perished rather quickly. It must be the work of the old wench," Az''kayzak said after noticing Evangeline disappear and reappear within a brief window.

    Brukti merely grunted in response without moving his head towards the distance. A cold gleam entered his deep emerald eyes after Az''kayzak''s words, however.

 Chapter 569: Inconsequential Disasters, Azkayzaks Real Power

    Chapter 569: Inconsequential Disasters, Az''kayzak''s Real Power

    <strong>Inconsequential Disasters, Az''kayzak''s Real Power</strong> ---- 1

    "Are you irritated by something?" Tiberius asked with a faint smile. Brukti''s change in expression and irritated behavior didn''t escape his superior senses. What''s more, Evangeline immediately revealed that she had both healed and augmented Soren and Solomon before returning here.

    So, there was absolutely zero chance of them losing against Disasters while in their current state. In this war, where they continued to face losses, it felt excellent to emerge on top for once. Thanks to her actions, none of the Disasters summoned outside of the Catastrophe Line''s center received a chance to wreak havoc on the battlefield, which spared many human lives.

    Even if the war was still underway, the Grand Masters weren''t anxious about the oue. After all, they had yet to be serious. Only the three of them had revealed their Avatar Forms thus far, but they didn''t utilize them at their highest potential.

    For one, doing so would damage the delicate principles holding Astarat in ce. At the very least, something would need to be sacrificed to appease all of the damage dealt to the world.

    "That thing is talking to me. Is it time to do away with them yet, Lord Az''kayzak?" Brukti questioned while ignoring Tiberius''s questionpletely. After being revived, Az''kayzak delivered a new set of instructions to Brukti, which also doubled as the reason for his inactivity. Since there weren''t as many deaths happening, the amount of Death Essence nearby was finite.

    "Mm, almost, I suppose. In the meantime¡­"

    Az''kayzak casually waved his hand, and the five extra Disasters standing between both sides released guttural roars. One of the closest Disasters, a monster with green crystals protruding from its overgrown fists, rushed towards the Grand Master. Its movement was simr to an ape, using itsrge hands to bombard the ground. However, this action softened thend by sending decaying ripples into the earth.

    Of course, this type of attack wasn''t very effective on the Grand Masters since their attainments allowed them to fly. But, it did allow for the Disaster''s ally to benefit from this attack.

    One of the Disasters took on the shape of a giant snake resembling a colossal cobra. Its enormous body released a potent toxin that turned the softened ground into a poisonous swamp within seconds. Fortunately, Disasters were immune to the poison created by their race, so they remained unaffected while advancing through the toxic swamp.

    Meanwhile, the Grand Masters eyed them with some amusement in their expressions.

    "I believe we''re being underestimated. It would seem this guy has too much faith in his lesser creations," Hakkur said with a slight darkening expression. Although they were beneath him, Hakkur felt some vexation towards the fact that Az''kayzak sent these inferior creatures to distract them.

    "No worries, I will deal with them. Don''t get all worked up over something trivial. We all know how you like to explode. Save that for the real ordeal," Gideon responded before slowly floating forward before the others.

    A deluge of umbra mes spread out from his body while he moved forward. Like the others, he also took the time to activate his Avatar Form. After reaching a scope of 500 meters, the sea of umbra mes then reversed, rapidly flowing back towards Gideon''s body.

    The temperature in the area rose drastically as even the toxic swamp below him began bubbling. Gideon''s Avatar Form, like the others, manifested as something rted to his Spirit. Thus, a refined cloak made entirely of those earlier mes graced his body.

    At the same time, the staff in his hand gained small crystalline clusters of ck mes.

    "Burn," Gideon said. It was a simplemand, but a horrifying scene urred when he tapped the bottom of the staff against the air beneath his feet. A pir of ck mes shot towards the ground, vaporizing everything in its path.

    Despite appearing mindless, the Disasters instinctively stopped their charge beforeing too close to the pir. Sadly, their actions were useless. Gideon merely shifted his arm forward, dragging the bottom of his staff across the air.

    The pir below responded to this action and mirrored his movement, moving forward quickly. The two Disasters¨Dthe serpent and giant fist monster¨Dwere incinerated on the spot without Gideon sparing much effort.

    Even Az''kayzak felt astonishment towards how fast Gideon disposed of the Disasters. "While that attack was strong, I dare say it only targeted the two weakest present. There remain five more who are of greater ability. You may all go."

    "Understood," Brukti said with a faint nod. Afterward, a colossal greatsword, the same one wielded during his fight against Solomon, appeared in his grasp. Before moving, he looked towards the other four then narrowed his eyes.

    After returning from death, Brukti''s senses were much sharper. In light of those sharpened senses, he sensed presences approaching rapidly. In fact, they moved so fast that they reached this area before he couldunch an attack against Gideon.

    Bang! ¡­Boom!

    Twondings caused a storm of debris, but it was split apart by a golden spear and the wave of a chiseled arm. Naturally, the neers were Soren and Solomon, with Solomon carrying Valerie by his side.

    Upon noticing their attendance, Gideon spared them a cursory nce. "Take two of your choosing, and I shall dispose of the remainder."

    "Fine by me," Soren shrugged.

    "Consider it done," Solomon replied.

    The moment they appeared, Brukti squeezed his weapon so tight that it creaked faintly. More importantly, his emerald eyes adopted a crimson glow, indicating just how enraged he was.

    "Do as you must. You have the support of my power," Az''kayzak said.

    These words were just what Brukti wanted to hear. Using his grudge as a means to fuel his assault, Brukti rushed forward with tunnel vision on Solomon, who noticed his advance shortly after.

    Solomon smiled and took a single step forward. By the time he performed this action, Brukti had appeared before him with better energy control than before. Be that as it may, Solomon wasn''t at the slightest disadvantage.

    Bang!

    A colossal forced collided against Solomon''s body, but he grabbed Brukti''s de and redirected the attack towards his side. Brukti was mmed into the ground, causing an outward tremor, but that wasn''t the end of Solomon''s counterattack.

    Therge imprint of the Constetion Press appeared just above Solomon''s body before heavily pressing down on Brukti. The force embedded deep into the ground while arge shockwave filtered throughout the area.

    Meanwhile, three fireballs reminiscent of miniature suns burned two Disasters out of existence. The mes within this attack even outssed the one present in the pir since it appeared to be a condensed version of this pir.

    On the other hand, Soren resorted to activating seven symbols on Gaelbolg. The monstrous attacks he used punctured gaping holes in his opponent''s body. However, each attack seemed to borrow a portion of his previous momentum and power. The simple pierce was akin to a raging st of spear intent and energy fused toward by thest strike.

    Just like that, all of the Disasters, save for Brukti, were annihted and made utterly inconsequential. Despite this happening before Az''kayzak''s very eyes, he continued to smile.

    "Good. I must thank you for making the process easy for me. I reached my limit earlier, but now, my vessel is more than ready after creating the needed space," Az''kayzak said suddenly.

    He then snapped his finger, causing even the shattered cores of the Disaster to react to his call. The remains of the Disaster circled Az''kayzak''s body, but arge portion of it also pierced the palm print on the ground.

    "There only need be two of us; as for the rest, they were meant to be disposable engines anyway."

    Screeeeeeeeee¡­

    A droning ring resounded throughout the area as Az''kayzak shed his scythe against space. A purple line appeared, from which an unusual energy seeming to be dead souls seeped out and assaulted the Grand Masters.

    "Oh¡­ this type of attack is very unusual. What are these¡­ perhaps souls?" Gilbert wondered.

    "Who knows, but we just have to destroy it," Hakkur replied.

    Just as he said, heunched an attack against these seemingly dead souls twirling around his body. To his surprise, however, his attack was ineffective. Even when split apart, this unusual energy regrouped and continued to circle the Grand Masters.

    "Heh, did you think eluding the proper use of death is that easy? If so, you humans wouldn''t possess a finite lifespan. Your understanding of death isn''t enough to ovee this attack, so now you all may disappear," Az''kayzak said.

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